Diabolo Rose by Les Parfums de Rosine, 2007

I wore this all last summer when the weather was hot and humid, and frequently in winter as well, and my bottle is almost gone. Who doesnt want to smell like the green drifts in a darkly shaded garden? The mint in the top notes is more the living plant leaves you bruise in your hand when picking herbs than artificial mint; I think some who were expecting chewing gum were disappointed and some who feared chewing gum never tried it, because this never got the accolades it deserved. Tomato leaves and maté add to the overall greenness, and the lush rose note gives a shadowy gravitas as well as an overall smoothness, but its never dark or heavy, nor is it harsh and bitter. It stays crisp and cool right to the end, without drying down into vanilla or anything hideously sticky. Its biggest problem is that the end comes sooner than Id like, but its the sort of thing thats sensuously pleasurable to reapply. Its not sweet, a refreshing change from the usual womens fragrances, but, although its feminine, its only a womens fragrance in the sense that a freshly pressed shirt and a black leather watch band are womens items.

The name refers to the juggling game and isnt a poorly spelled diablo, in case you were wondering where the devil went. :)