Green Tara

I have the perfume oil version of this and absolutely love it. At first sniff, the patchouli and spices remind me of Estee Lauder's Youth Dew, which my mom wore in the 1970s and I could not stand back then. However, Green Tara does not have the sharp incense note. On the skin, it quickly becomes a bit sweeter and very cozy and warm, with a slight powdery softness. I love it! For me, this is the perfect winter fragrance, though I wear it year round. It is a very warm spicy treat, fresh green notes giving way to amber lusciousness that lasts forever. A grown up, chic, sophisticated fragrance that wraps me up in a generous hug.

I don't know WHY no one here has purchased/ written about this; it's so beautiful, so longlasting, so inexpensive ! All those costly brands can't hold a candle to this one. Do yourselves a favor- you can purchase a small bottle blind, and enjoy it endlessly <3

I've noticed that Green Tara is one of the more underappreciated gems in the Ava Luxe line. I have to admit that I would probably never have tried it, had I not received a sample several years ago with an Ava Luxe order, because I am phobic about lavender. In decades of sampling, I've found only two lavender-note fragrances that I like: Serge Lutens Encens et Lavande and I Profumi di Firenze's Mirra; all others I have uniformly loathed, due to lavender's strident, herbal, bitter, medicinal tendencies. Fortunately, I sampled Green Tara ignorant of its notes, and while I immediately knew that lavender played a prominent role in the fragrance, I was entranced by the simultaneous wafts of lavender and oud in its opening. These two notes seem to balance out the others' extremes, making the lavender bright and fresh, and the oud smoky but not medicinal or rubbery. I also detect the faint but distinct greenness of geranium, the dry, rooty whispers of vetiver, the soft brightness of lemongrass, and a tiny hint of pepper. I get no distinct patchouli note; I actually like a well-done patch, but for patch-phobes, Green Tara's patchouli is extremely well blended into the fragrance. In the later drydown, the benzoin, labdanum, and musk become more evident, softening the bright and cool edges of the fragrance and making it gentler and slightly warmer. I am relieved that these later notes do not take Green Tara towards the direction of a powdery lavender, as I abhor powder as much as I do herbally lavender. Green Tara is a fragrance that I particularly enjoy on weekends, and during times when I want a relaxing scent to quietly envelope me, rather than a complex fragrance that constantly competes for my attention. I don't find that it has a particular season; rather, it's good anytime you want something fresh but meditative. I have recently purchased my second bottle from Serena, and find it unchanged from the original one that was purchased several years ago. Recommended! (2014-03-08) EDIT (2019-03-17): I revisited this review today when I chose Green Tara as today’s fragrance, and read the reviews after mine. My review is for the EDP version of the fragrance, so perhaps this explains in part why I’m getting a lot of the top notes. I’d recommend trying it in the EDP first if you’re seeking a stronger presence of the lavender, geranium, and resins, and less of the patch. I own many of Serena’s fragrances in oil and EDP versions (although not Green Tara), and find that the base notes tend to dominate in her oil versions.

Extrait concentration: I'm getting mostly oud and amber from this. The sandalwood and pepper in the background lend a spiciness that reminds me of a winter holiday candle. I don't smell any lavender, which is listed as the main note. I like it, but it's a little too ascetic for my taste.

This is the one Ava Luxe scent that I don't care for out of those I've tried. Perfume oil version, I get a huge amount of patchouli, some rose, sandalwood and not much else. Definitely no lavendar - which I love - at any point. Probably my chemistry, and it's unfortunate because I don't like patchouli as a prominent note in fragrance. This smells very much like Midnight Poison on me. I got it as a sample and came here to write the review without any idea of the notes - no way I'd have guessed them from what it smells like on my skin. As with all AL's longevity is excellent, sillage moderate if dabbed, larger if sprayed.