Coriandre by Jean Couturier, 1973

DRY, like Campari. A bracing, soapy, thin and fairly linear scent. The coriander is more dried coriander seeds than the fresh green leaves. There are better chypres than this out there, but I am glad I have this in my collection. It's a fine scent for daytime, whether for work or weekends when you want to feel brisk and no nonsense.

CORIANDRE Couturier 1973 [floral/herbal chypre] Another totally unique scent, blending herbals, florals and chypre notes into a light, warm, sophisticated and intoxicating blend. The unique blend of coriander and angelica, mixed with Bulgarian rose, wafting over a gentle chypre base, has to be experienced to be believed. A dry, spicy delight. One of my very favorites and a birthday gift this year for every woman and man on my list. Top Notes: Coriander, Orange Blossom, Angelica Middle Notes: Rose, Geranium, Lily, Jasmine, Orris Base notes: Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Vetiver, Musk, Oakmoss, Patchouli, Civet

Top notes: Aldehydes, coriander, orange blossom, angelica Middle notes: Violet root, lily, jasmine, rose, geranium Base notes: Sandalwood, patchouli, musk, civet, oakmoss, vetiver Coriandre must be one of the most daring fragrances of the 70's. Nothing comes even close to it. It has a "dark green" quality that remotely reminds me of Jean-Louis Scherrer. However, Coriandre is a little lighter and somewhat brighter. Also, the aldehydes are much more noticeable. Coriandre shares quite a few notes with Empreinte by Courrège as well (coriander, aldehydes, rose, jasmine, patchouli, oakmoss and sandalwood). I vividly remember a shocking advert for Coriandre showing a very dignified lady sitting on a chair with the right sleeve of her blouse half ripped off. This is the image I associate with this EDT. Dressy and decadent. Coriandre is a true work of art.

Unfortunately this fragrance comes across smelling like heavily perfumed soap on me when I first apply it. At least, it makes me think of soap more than anything else. On the one hand I don't fully dislike this fragrance, and there is definitely something about it that almost makes me want to give it a thumbs up and a slightly higher rating. On the other hand though I'm left with a feeling that this is a bit of an overly "stinky" perfume. It might be nice on some people, but I probably wouldn't make this one my signature scent.

Coriandre was my beloved signature fragrance throughout the 1980s, ever since I first smelled it (and immediately bought it) at an airport perfume store in Nairobi. The bottle was a 4 oz. atomizer, $27, and I felt very decadent for spending so much on perfume! (Needless to say, I've come a long way since then!) I was saddened when I smelled the dismal reformulation last year; this excellent fragrance has been ruined. However, as of this writing, the earlier version can still be found in cylindrical 1.1 oz. atomizers, both in small independent perfume shops and on the Web.

If you loved Jean Couturier...you'll love Agent Provocateur (the pink bottle)...very very similar...

I have been a fan of Coriandre since 1984. Purchased my first bottle at Gidding Jenny. Over the years it has been missing in action and one day about 10 years ago Marshall's started carrying it. I was amazed, it was still the same soft, beautiful, green fragrance I had remebered from years past. However, I purchased a bottled a little over a year ago because I could no longer find it at Marshall's and to my chagrin, it was not the same soft notes, it has a bit of a bite to it and can be overwhelming at times. I noticed it almost immediately. I figured it was a old bottle. I then happened upon an article about the fragrance and low and behold it told the story of the sale of and the change of the the world's most perfect fragrance. (for me anyway). I was saddened to hear this. The soft green, woody fragrance had been changed. How devastating is that? Anyway, I use it sparingly and had a lotion from the purchase before and have been holding on to the last little bit because it is the original notes that I so loved.

I bought my first bottle at Joseph Magnin's and fell in love. The sales clerk said it was so special .... "You won't find this at Nordstrom," she said, as if it was a cut above anything Chanel or Dior made. She may have been wrong about that, but I never wanted the bottle to end. Very bright, green, and piquant.

I has high hopes for "mossy" and "green", but there's something about Coriandre that just doesn't agree with me: I perceive it as "perfumey" in the worst possible way: musty, soapy and plasticky all at once. I think there must be quite a lot of aldehydes in it because I get that sharp, piercing, bright, powdery/soapy smell I associate with aldehydes. Apart from that, a vaguely fruity sweetness, fruity in a watery, insipid kind of way like a supermarket apple or pear. Underneath all that, perhaps some green and herbal notes. I get none of the notes listed, and no coriander, which is a pity because unlike many I do appreciate coriander. My girlfriend found it yummy when smelling it on a paper strip though, and I admit it's better on paper than on my skin, vaguely greener and less piercingly sharp and "white". I suppose I'll give my sample to her and hope it smells better on her...

I knew of Coriandre before but dismissed it- spice, kind of green/sharp. But recently I came across a mini of the parfum and tried it again. Wow! Light and spicy coriander is clean and transparent, with touches of delicate airy floral nuances, on top of mossy greens. It gets prettier as it dries down, the spice sweetens, and a vegetal musky base emerges. Lasting, too, traces cling to your bed sheets and scarves.