Amazingreen by Comme des Garçons, 2012

I'm disappointed in this scent -- it is not really a "green" scent, in the way I think of green (dark, powerful, suggesting leaves/sap/trees). Thus, I think the title is misleading. Yet, I'll give it a "neutral" rating, in the face of fairly uniform reviewer dislikes so far. Here's why. I admire two things. First, the designer has created something DIFFERENT and arguably new. It does not smell like anything I've encountered. Associated with that is that the smell is not unpleasant or wierd, at least not in my opinion. Second, the scent has a rare dynamic in that it presents a kaleidoscope or moire impression -- a shifting and recurring series of notes which appear early and continue to present themselves. That is unusual in a fragrance. The scent starts with a very dewy and slightly sweet opening which is vaguely green-ish. There is a fruity note, which sometimes suggests strawberry leaves and other times a peach-apricot combination. A sort of grassy note weaves in and out -- mild, not powerful. A very prominent note is something unusual and hard to describe. Sometimes it is toasted and slightly nutty, other times it is slightly musty like old books or old cardboard boxes, other times it is like flinty stones or gunpowder. This is the signature feature of the scent. These various elements dance around playfully. If the scent resolved into a dry, smokey and mineral centre it would be satisfying; but it promises but never lands there. The recurring sweetness keeps me from fully endorsing it. Yet, I think it is an intriguing scent and I'm glad to have tried it. But again -- not very green!