Geoffrey Beene
Grey Flannel
(1975)
André Fromentin
Top Notes: Galbanum, Petitgrain, Neroli, Bergamot, Lemon
Middle Notes: Violet, Rose, Narcissus, Mimosa, Iris, Sage, Geranium
Base Notes: Cedarwood, Vetiver, Oakmoss, Tonka Bean, Almond
Dredged this up out of the distant past because I saw the review in Turin's book. It really is an extraordinary scent, and I remember that when it was introduced it was very controversial. (Am I revealing my age here?) It was a novel use of green notes in the top to overwhelm the citrus, and the sweet floral notes and almondy, slightly powdery drydown seemed out of character with the rest of the scent. I guess we would now say that Grey Flannel's nose, André Fromentin, was a visionary. A leap of the olfactory imagination, for sure. This is technically a fougère, I guess, because of the oakmoss and tonka bean in the base (yet without the usual lavender), but it comes across as a wacky green floral, with the bitterness of petitgrain and galbanum playing against the sweeter middle and woody-oriental base notes. I rarely wear it, probably (to be honest) because even after all these years, it still shocks me a bit. But I've come to love the progression and the puzzling change to that soft drydown. Hooray for cognitive dissonance!
Grey Flannel
(1975)
André Fromentin
Top Notes: Galbanum, Petitgrain, Neroli, Bergamot, Lemon
Middle Notes: Violet, Rose, Narcissus, Mimosa, Iris, Sage, Geranium
Base Notes: Cedarwood, Vetiver, Oakmoss, Tonka Bean, Almond
Dredged this up out of the distant past because I saw the review in Turin's book. It really is an extraordinary scent, and I remember that when it was introduced it was very controversial. (Am I revealing my age here?) It was a novel use of green notes in the top to overwhelm the citrus, and the sweet floral notes and almondy, slightly powdery drydown seemed out of character with the rest of the scent. I guess we would now say that Grey Flannel's nose, André Fromentin, was a visionary. A leap of the olfactory imagination, for sure. This is technically a fougère, I guess, because of the oakmoss and tonka bean in the base (yet without the usual lavender), but it comes across as a wacky green floral, with the bitterness of petitgrain and galbanum playing against the sweeter middle and woody-oriental base notes. I rarely wear it, probably (to be honest) because even after all these years, it still shocks me a bit. But I've come to love the progression and the puzzling change to that soft drydown. Hooray for cognitive dissonance!
: Guerlain
