I just picked up Hermes's Eau d'Orange Verte and Balmain de Balmain for next to nothing online.
My first impressions:
Eau d'Orange Verte: Just what I expected: spectacular refreshing citrus, that disappears more or less instantly. I knew what I was getting into when I bought this, so I can't say I'm a bit surprised by the longevity issues. It does have a nice, mossy dry-down, but this, too, is very brief. (People complain about the longevity of Chanel PM, but, on me at least, its mossy basenotes last for hours as a skin scent. No such luck with Ed'OV!) Preliminary Verdict: glad I picked this up, but I don't think I would be had I not spent <$30 for a 100ml tester. Beautiful but a little annoying due to the longevity issues.
Balmain de Balmain: I'm a big fan of classic chypres and green scents, and the first thing that everyone says about this 1998 perfume is that it's a remarkably classic green chypre. The next thing most people say is that it's more masculine than feminine (despite the fact that it is marketed as a feminine). Having spritzed it once on the back of my hand, here are my first impressions. This is a classic green chypre, with a wonderfully complex development. But I'd call it more unisex than aggressively masculine (which is fine with me; I certainly expect to find it wearable). It's just a little more fruity and floral (especially in its mid-notes) than I had expected. But it's a real winner! Preliminary Verdict: I'm surprised this one doesn't get talked up more on BN. I'm very happy to have this in my wardrobe, though I may wait until the weather cools a bit to give it a full wearing.
My first impressions:
Eau d'Orange Verte: Just what I expected: spectacular refreshing citrus, that disappears more or less instantly. I knew what I was getting into when I bought this, so I can't say I'm a bit surprised by the longevity issues. It does have a nice, mossy dry-down, but this, too, is very brief. (People complain about the longevity of Chanel PM, but, on me at least, its mossy basenotes last for hours as a skin scent. No such luck with Ed'OV!) Preliminary Verdict: glad I picked this up, but I don't think I would be had I not spent <$30 for a 100ml tester. Beautiful but a little annoying due to the longevity issues.
Balmain de Balmain: I'm a big fan of classic chypres and green scents, and the first thing that everyone says about this 1998 perfume is that it's a remarkably classic green chypre. The next thing most people say is that it's more masculine than feminine (despite the fact that it is marketed as a feminine). Having spritzed it once on the back of my hand, here are my first impressions. This is a classic green chypre, with a wonderfully complex development. But I'd call it more unisex than aggressively masculine (which is fine with me; I certainly expect to find it wearable). It's just a little more fruity and floral (especially in its mid-notes) than I had expected. But it's a real winner! Preliminary Verdict: I'm surprised this one doesn't get talked up more on BN. I'm very happy to have this in my wardrobe, though I may wait until the weather cools a bit to give it a full wearing.
