It’s Not Easy Being Green

Kermit knows what’s up! When he sang “It’s Not Easy Bein’ Green,” he was singing about his discontent with life. However, by the song’s end, Kermit accepted his “greenness,” citing positive examples of being green. Indeed, the song’s sentiments can be applied to the fragrance world, as I often think green perfumes are vastly underrated and much-maligned. To be sure, the green scent profile never receives the plaudits afforded to vanilla fragrances, ambers, or even perfumes dominant in sandalwood and florals.

I find green scents versatile, energising, and easy to wear. They also vary in note structure, running the gamut from fresher frameworks containing herbs, cut grass, violet leaves, and galbanum to earthier compositions comprising moss, patchouli, and vetiver. Even within these note parameters, they diverge, with herbs such as basil, mint, and rosemary fitting within the “green” colour scheme. So, this week, as a tribute to the much-under-appreciated scent profile, I will “go green” and wear seven green scents that I think deserve more love. I’m sure Kermit would approve.

It was Monday evening when I got around to posting this. Therefore, I’d already worn my day one choice, which was:

Monday, 22 April – Cyber Garden – Costume National.

Antoine Lie builds Cyber Garden’s curious green assembly around violet leaves, geranium, and an odd plastic-like vinyl accord. It smells synthetic and futuristic, like a garden growing on an alien planet being tended to by cyborgs.

Tuesday, 23 April – Diptyque – Eau Duelle EDT.

In my introduction, I mentioned that vanilla gets more love than green. But Eau Duelle combines the best of both worlds, melding green aromatic notes such as juniper with a soft, light vanilla that never strays into cupcake territory.

Wednesday, 24 April – Guerlain – Herba Fresca.

Like vanilla, mint can often stray into undesired territory, drawing associations with toothpaste and dentists. Thankfully, at least for me, Herba Fresca never conjures up such images. Instead, it makes me think of springtime, clovers, nature, and maybe just a smidge of Wrigley’s spearmint.

Thursday, 25 April – Chanel – Deauville.

Chanel’s Deauville always makes me think of their classic Cristalle. It sits somewhere between the sparkly, dewy, icy freshness of the EDT and the added heft of the EDP. Whatever way it goes, it never fails to put me in a good mood.

Friday, 26 April – Laboratorio Olfattivo – Vetyverso.

I had to include a vetiver perfume, but I didn’t want to go down the obvious route of Guerlain or Chanel, so here we have Vetyverso. Bitter orange makes for a bracing opening. Nutmeg, pepper, and carnation ratchet up the spice factor, while the duo of cedar and sandalwood complements the vetiver.

Saturday, April 27 – Geo. F. Trumper – Wild Fern Cologne

Wild Fern Cologne smells like the outdoors—rugged but still somehow sophisticated. The fougere framework of lavender, geranium, and mosses mixes with the herbal crunch of basil and rosemary, evoking green forests replete with ferns and wildflowers. And even though it’s not listed in the note pyramid, I pick up the subtle hint of tobacco wafting in the background. Gentlemanly green.

Sunday, April 28 – Miller Harris – Wander Through The Parks.

What’s the best way to finish my week of green – wandering through the park with Miller Harris? Certainly! Wander takes me to an urban park with its spiky green union of nettles and galbanum. As the scent progresses, it turns almost vegetal and earthy, with violet leaf and patchouli stepping up. Indeed, the combined effects of all the notes make me think of a stroll through a park, the lingering sweet aroma of fresh-cut grass and spring flowers drifting in the air.

What’s your green scent of choice?

Note: All the pictures are my own. I paid for all the bottles in this post.