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Spring/Summer Refreshing Green Floral

post #1 of 24
3/3/10 at 6:42am
Thread Starter 
I'm looking for at least one new (to me) green floral for spring/summer that has a nice galbanum or vetiver bite, but also crisp, clean, fresh flowers and citrus/fruit optional. A woody or mossy or hay base wouldn't hurt.

I've got some contenders on my radar:

Chanel No. 5 Eau Premiere (I'll probably get this soon)
Bel Respiro (just tested and it's very good, but it's very diaphanous, not sure I like that)
Guerlain Chamade (looking for vintage edc at a reasonable price)
Cristalle (need to retest all the variants: edt, edp, eau vert)
Ormand Jayne Tiare (high hopes for this and plan to sample soon, but it's pricey)
Diorella (love Eau Sauvage, so perhaps).
Vintage Vent Vert (is the new stuff really that bad?)


Already in my collection are: Balmain de Balmain, Concentree d'Orange Vert, Eau Sauvage, Ivoire, No. 19, and Un Jardin sur le Nil.

What have I missed? Thanks as always for your suggestions, help, and comments.

I should add, masculine, feminine, unisex, martian, venusian, atlantean marketed scents are all fair game.

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post #2 of 24
3/3/10 at 6:44am
You have good taste, and it seems that you're all set to go - once this horrid winter finally goes away.
Do you like Calyx? It's kind of spring-ish.
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post #3 of 24
3/3/10 at 6:52am
Thread Starter 
Merci beaucoup Madame. I have heard of Calyx, but never researched it. Exactly the kind of stuff I'm after. Cheers.
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post #4 of 24
3/3/10 at 7:06am
How about Miss Dior (the original) and maybe also L'ombre dans l'eau?
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post #5 of 24
3/3/10 at 7:31am
Annick Goutal Eau de Camille
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post #6 of 24
3/3/10 at 7:33am
You have excellent tastes. We share Eau Sauvage, Ivoire and No. 19! You made a good decision of seeking Chamade vintage version. The opening of current version is way to sharp for me.

Sorry I have nothing to recommend (sitting here waiting for other peoples's comments)
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post #7 of 24
3/3/10 at 7:49am
Thread Starter 
Mmmm, grapefruit, rose, and greenery. The Dyptique sounds lovely.

I will search out the Miss Dior as I've only seen Miss Dior Cherie in stores. I tried that once and if I ever feel the need to go back I will mix together some Cracker Jack caramel corn and Strawberry Poptarts--it was not a pleasant fragrance for me.

The current Miss Dior has longevity issues I can see from the reviews, but is it an adequate representation of the vintage (i.e., if I love it, but find it fleeting will I only love the vintage more)?
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post #8 of 24
3/3/10 at 8:20am
Hi Antaeus! I particularly like your Chamade and Tiare ideas. And I think you might love Parfums de Nicolai Le Temps d'Une Fete. It is just gorgeous! Also, I recently discovered Paco Rabanne's Calandre. It is a lightly aldehydic (if I can take it, anyone can!) green floral. Super refreshing!

If you can handle a touch of aquatic, I highly recommend trying Eau d'Italie Magnolia Romana and L'Artisan Fleur de Liane.
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post #9 of 24
3/3/10 at 8:32am
I would suggest Gres Cabotine, very underrated gem!
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post #10 of 24
3/3/10 at 8:38am
Parfum DelRae's Amoureuse is simply the most beautiful green floral I've ever worn. Tangerine, cardamon, tuberose, over a sheer green blanket of oakmoss and cool florals. Otherworldly.

Gucci No. 3 is excellent, and much more in line with what you already own. I reviewed it here. It's discontinued but not too hard to find.

If you want a much more traditionally "masculine" green floral, the male counterpart to Ivoire is Ebene. I reviewed it here.

Continuing on Huanani's mention of a touch of aquaticism, En Passant is truly haunting though may not be green enough for you, and Ofresia is an interesting watery-green take on the genre that's quite light, but still complex.
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post #11 of 24
3/3/10 at 8:42am
I'm not sure about how widely distributed they are, or what the current formulas are like (they might even be discontinued at this point) but I would recommend two of my favorites for summer, Yendi by Roberto Capucci - bright, vivacious and refreshing green with a gorgeous floral signature, and Fidji, by Guy Laroche. It's a bit softer (but not sheer) and with slightly more tropical-feeling florals, though I don't find it beachy. They're both sunny, warm-weather classics. I always try to find the older formulations (lots on eBay) but as good as they were, I'm sure whatever you can find would be wonderful.

Regarding Vent Vert - I much prefer the original formulation, but there are fans of the next one, too. It's really very good, as long as you're not already addicted to the first. It has a cap that looks like grass blowing in the wind. The latest one is the one to avoid - it has a green cap with the white polka dots.
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post #12 of 24
3/3/10 at 8:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by alicka61 View Post

i would suggest gres cabotine, very underrated gem!

yes!
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post #13 of 24
3/3/10 at 8:53am
Really good suggestions so far. I just discovered Givenchy III -- it is galbanum-green at the top, floral in the middle, and mossy/woody at the bottom, and it is gorgeous. I also suggest Murasaki, though some say the newest version cannot compare to the circa 1980 version. Murasaki is a wonderful scent.
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post #14 of 24
3/3/10 at 9:11am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the quick and overwhelming responses. I see Cabotine and it's flankers at Marshalls all the time and may one day impulse buy (but should I look for older?).

Good news about the three versions of Vent Vert. I'll seek out the middle with the pretty cap if price or availability are an issue.

Haunani, Calandre and Les Temps should definitely be on my list and had slipped my mind... thanks!

En Passant is already on my "to test" list and even if it's not a "green floral," lilac and fresh bread sound like a dream combo to me. Thanks for the reminder.

Givenchy III was another that I had forgotten to include.

Thanks so much for all the responses... lots of research and sampling ahead, but keep them coming! It's still winter for a while in Minnesota, but I hope to have a few picks by the time daffodils and baby bunnies show up.
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post #15 of 24
3/3/10 at 9:17am
You might check my SOTD today. I'm trying Un Couer en Mai by MDCI and Delrae- Debut. Both are glorious greens that you should look into.
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post #16 of 24
3/3/10 at 9:46am
Rêverie au Jardin by Tauer Perfumes is my favorite in this category.

Top Notes
Lavender, Galbanum, Fir balm, Bergamot, Rose absolute.


Middle Notes
Frankincense, Ambrette seeds, Orris.


Base Notes
Vetiver, Tonka beans, Oakmoss, Vanilla, Ambergris, Sandalwood, Cedarwood.
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post #17 of 24
3/3/10 at 10:25am
Another idea - Penhaligon's Bluebell is known to be a very pretty, fresh green floral centered on English bluebells, or hyacinthoides. I haven't sniffed Penhaligon's version yet, but nature's version is wonderful!
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post #18 of 24
3/3/10 at 10:53am
Antaeusintheair,

Your list of contenders looks great. Eau Premiere is one of my staples. And everyone's suggestions are also very good. Much of my thunder has already been stolen, but I did want to suggest Jacomo Silences. Similar to Ivoire, only mossier in the drydown.

As suggested above, Annick Goutal's Eau de Camille is a good one to sample, as is her Le Chèvrefeuille.

EL's Pleasures also springs to mind.

Also, have you tried Chanel's Sycomore? It's not the first thing that comes to mind when someone says green floral, but it's green and it's floral with a distinct iris note in the middle to base notes.

Editing to add the newest version of YSL's Y. The newer version is greener and more flowery. It's quite good, despite the obvious lack of oakmoss overdose as in the original.
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post #19 of 24
3/3/10 at 10:56am
Estee Lauder - Private Collections, too. Very mossy.
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post #20 of 24
3/3/10 at 12:05pm
Paco Rabanne's Metal has always been one of my Spring fragrances, also perhaps YSL Y.
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post #21 of 24
3/3/10 at 1:20pm
Have you checked out Gucci's Envy (women's version)?

One of my favorite greens for men is Bowling Green by Geoffrey Beene.
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post #22 of 24
3/3/10 at 1:24pm
You can tell that we like your thread, Antaeus. We're all ready for the GREEN of springtime!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Galamb_Borong View Post

Parfum DelRae's Amoureuse is simply the most beautiful green floral I've ever worn. Tangerine, cardamon, tuberose, over a sheer green blanket of oakmoss and cool florals. Otherworldly...

As usual, GB chose just the right descriptive word. Amoureuse is unique, gorgeous, and yes otherworldly!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Antaeusintheair View Post

...En Passant is already on my "to test" list and even if it's not a "green floral," lilac and fresh bread sound like a dream combo to me...

En Passant is an ethereal wonder, Antaeus, and I can almost guarantee that you'll like it!

Quote:
Originally Posted by VintageVogue View Post

...Editing to add the newest version of YSL's Y. The newer version is greener and more flowery. It's quite good, despite the obvious lack of oakmoss overdose as in the original.

I think Y is a good suggestion, too!
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post #23 of 24
3/3/10 at 1:39pm
like most flankers, Cabotine is the best in its original version. Look for EdP rather than EdT.
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post #24 of 24
3/3/10 at 3:52pm
Thread Starter 
I really am grateful for all the great suggestions... and I'll be looking at SotD threads to see what springtime choices everyone is making. Now to cull through the ample possibilities and get to sampling. This will be fun! Keep the options coming and I'll let you all know what joys the sampling brings.
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