Eau D'Orange Verte

Ahh freshly cut tomato stems and juicy, sour, and bitter oranges. Funny enough, nowhere do I see anyone of an official capacity describing the notes of this classic EdC as having a tomato leaf/stem accord. Hermes says it should smell of orange, mint, and woody notes of moss. A couple websites (you know the ones) also include lemon, papaya, mango, cassis, and patchouli, depending upon where you look. Is this a good sign? I think so; I think it says that Francois Caron's masterful 1979 creation is (was?) so unique that no one can or could quite agree as to what it does. I certainly smell lemon and orange, and as it dries down a very light and airy patchouli does seem to come through (in older formulations this was likely oakmoss, before the heavy hand of our overlords said we couldn't be trusted with our own health), but I still get this overall accord of freshly cut tomato stems. No matter. This is a most invigorating, revitalizing perfume that never fails to put a big smile on my face as it perfectly transports me to a beautiful fruit and vegetable garden on the Mediterranean coast in Southern France where I sit on a chaise under an umbrella, caressed by the warmth of the orange afternoon sun, sipping an ice cold lemonade and eating cherry tomatoes with olive oil and fresh herbs. I am no stranger to summer freshies as my perfume collection will show, and of the enormous number I have tried this is still one of my all-time favorites. Drawbacks? Well, some will say that it is very short-lived to the point of being disappointing and not full-bottle-worthy, and I have to say that criticism is valid; it is unusually short-lived, even for an EdC. Older formulations likely last longer. I need to try one. However, if you wear it in warm balmy weather, and since by relative standards it is quite cheap, go hog-wild with it - douse your skin, clothes, and hair in it and - guess what - it lasts just long enough. Besides, you'll want to reapply it anyway, no matter what, to get one more hit of that gorgeous bitter orange and tomato stem at the top. In fact, I think I'm going to put some more on right now.

Eau d Orange Verte. I've been wanting to comment on this for some time now, after I tried the whole line of EDC, the concentrated one, the shower gel, the body lotion and the deodorant, either on their own or combined. I have read the complaints about the lack of longevity and sillage of this fragrance. Well, it is supposed to be a light, citrus fragrance and as such it contains minimal synthetics or chemical compounds (something that makes the shower gel very aggreable to dry skins) which in other fragrances give longevity and sillage. Personally, I can smell this fragrance until the next day. Lightly, I must admit, but it stays on my skin and on my clothes and people who come close enough to me can smell it. So, to sum things up: either product, from the whole line, on its own is not enough to make you smell for a long time. But the combination of shower gel, non-scented body lotion or cream and the concentrated EdOV, sprayed on strategical spots on you body can give longevity that lasts many hours (and, thus, avoid spending too much money on this beautiful but expensive fragrance). If you are into heavy, complicated, fragrances, forget this one, because your nose will forget it fast.

I'm aware that, much like Mugler Cologne, Eau d’Orange Verte is a fragrance of simplicity. This minimalism is a characteristic element of Jean-Claude Ellena's style. However, these perfumes positively radiate with greenery and citrus. They're juicy and distinctly orange, with undeniable cooling properties. I've also read about their similarity to Eau d’Hadrien by Annick Goutal. Currently, I'm not familiar with the composition created by Isabelle Doyen, but if that changes, I'll certainly address the comparison in an appropriate review. Nonetheless, I can wholeheartedly recommend Eau d’Orange Verte to anyone seeking a breath of fresh air in the summer heat (these perfumes are suitable for both women and men). Furthermore, I'd like to remind you that the third and final part of this mini-series is still ahead, featuring a fragrance from the truly top shelf. Are you curious?

Top 3 fragrances I currently use. It's a perfect light daytime smell. Fresh and alive with punchy orange, held back by a musky citrus that sits 'warm' on me personally. I have the body wash and cream, and they are great and make the bathroom smell luxurious and welcoming! There is a downside...it really doesn't last long, or get any compliments - like my acqua di parma colonia essenza - I literally get stopped in the street with that on! You really need to spray lots to get any real purchase, and this obviously makes the bottle go quicker. There is a concentrate version, but it's very expensive - it's an alternative if you want it popping more I suppose! All round lovely fragrance with a timeless scent that evokes happy vibes, and positive energy!

Damn! This is sooooo goooood! Yes, performance is less than adequate but, I can give two shits. This is just an amazingly realistic burst of orange & green zing to it that is just breathtaking from the start. Delicious & mouthwatering for those first few minutes that actually brings a sensation of cooling and freshness that's to die for. Jean Claude Elena produced a masterpiece that though is lacking in the performance department is still an amazing creation. Simple yet heavenly and worth every single penny. I purchased a 200ml. heavily discounted Flacon w/sprayer in the Concentre version from a fragrance discounter. Truth be told, I'd still pay full retail for it that's how beautiful, sophisticated and unassuming this fragrance is.