Virgin Mint

This is my updated review and final verdict of Virgin Mint. Down below you can find my "first impression" which I made earlier in the year after I first got the bottle. Virgin Mint is fantastic, and one of the best, if not THE BEST mint fragrance I've encountered (it's a close call next to James Heeley Menthe Fraiche). To begin, it's exceptionally fresh, vibrant, and natural. The mint is a sparkling, crystalline green that shimmers in the air around it and gives the wearer a cool, refreshing, and bright aura. It's airy and even slightly aquatic; not that there are any kind of "marine" smells occurring, but it leaves a very breezy, at times watery impression. If I were to place the mint itself in terms of the almost-candy-like sweetness it can sometimes possess versus the unsweetened, herbal quality it shows at other times, that displayed in Virgin Mint probably lies directly in the middle. It's a very natural mint, with hints of some sweetness but also some degree of an unsweetened, herbal quality. It's balanced by bright citrus notes in the opening, crisp and energetic, which give Virgin Mint some initial bite. And due to the presence of geranium, along with the citrus notes, you also get a bit of that "citronella" smell which is largely present in the opening of another excellent mint fragrance, Geranium Pour Monsieur. If you're familiar with GPM, I'd say the citronella component in Virgin Mint is significantly less intense, but still present and noticeable enough to impact the overall smell of the opening. The citrus gradually settles in over the first hour as the mint really becomes the central focus of the scent. Virgin Mint has an interesting dry down, or base phase. After about 3 or 4 hours it develops a gentle earthiness, moving away from the mint to some extent and becoming more reflective of vetiver and possibly some patchouli. These notes are blended with musk and result in a soft, musky-earthy aroma with light mint notes remaining from the opening. I think Virgin Mint has good performance, though some may find it short-lived. But don't forget to put it in its proper context--mint/citrus fragrances. As far as those go, VM is doing just fine. It projects very well for the first hour, really getting out there and leaving a nice trail of sillage in its wake. It's still quite noticeable during the second hour and it's not until the third and fourth when it becomes fairly quiet, sitting close to the skin. By the 5th and 6th hour it's mostly a skin scent, giving off occasional little wafts here and there. For mint fanatics this is 100% a must-try. Though it's very hard to find (even more so than Mystery Tobacco and some of the others), it would be worth tracking down a bottle if you can. My final rating for Virgin Mint is a solid 9/10, and I'm almost tempted to give it a 9.5. While I don't believe in a "Holy Grail" of mint fragrances, along with Menthe Fraiche, this is as close as it gets. Thumbs up. Original Review/First Impressions are Below: Initial impression is very good. This is a light but present composition whose main notes consist of mint, geranium, and bergamot. The mint is of the unsweetened herbal spearmint variety. It is given an icy chill by the supporting geranium note, which is cold, mildly bitter, and slightly floral...more floral than spicy, as some varieties of geranium are. The bergamot lends a nice citrus kick but doesn't upset the balance, as it remains off to the side to some degree, providing the mint with a bit of an edge. This fragrance is the middle ground where Menthe Fraiche and Geranium Pour Monsieur meet. It is not as sweet as Menthe Fraiche, as it has the bitter dimension of geranium and the sharp edge of bergamot, yet it is not as cold and bracing as Geranium Pour Monsieur and its aggressive citronella opening. Still, it is a cold, semi-bitter, semi-sweet, citrus-tinged herbal spearmint with a very diffusive, ethereal quality. It creates a nice scent cloud and projects well, albeit lightly. At times the mint is given to a wonderful watery quality which wafts softly as a liquid breeze before retreating and disappearing. The base is nice, a soft, floral earthiness resulting from a gentle white musk, vetiver, and traces of the geranium. You can go heavier with this, 5 or 6 or more sprays, as it's light and lacking in any particularly sharp or aggressive qualities. If you are a mint fan, this is an absolute must-try, as I find it exceptionally good, though the casual seeker of a mint fragrance might be happier with Menthe Fraiche. This one is more nuanced, more delicate and balanced, but also somewhat shy, lighter, and perhaps requiring a greater appreciation for mint. Initial rating after one day of wearing it: 9/10 UPDATE: Wow. After owning this for a couple of months it has become my favorite mint fragrance by far. It's really a beautiful use of the theme, and so vibrant and bright and uplifting. One of my favorite things about using Virgin Mint is not only how it smells when I'm wearing it, but also the beautiful smell it leaves behind, inside of my house. As I mentioned above, there's a great mix here of natural green spearmint, bright, brisk citrus notes, and a pleasant, subtle, watery-marine breeze. It make for a truly impressive first couple of hours. Though it wears closely after the second or third hour, I don't mind. It would be hard to imagine a scent of such crisp, lively, natural notes lasting much longer than that, and to do so, synthetic fixatives would need to be introduced, which are all but absent here. Those would surely give the fragrance a feeling that it doesn't need. I'll take 3 near perfect hours over 8 imperfect hours in the case of Virgin Mint.

The perfect mint fragrance! One of the best fresh scents I've came across in recent years. It's absolutely fresh & green. Uplifting, cheerful, & happy. I love it! And despite being a freshie with a very good performance, it is not sharp or overwhelming as one might think. It's invigorating & bright mint-&-citrus first, supported by a very cozy green musky accord. The mint here is more not very spicy & sharp, but rather green & with a lively spiciness, like a spearmint chewing gum. As it dries down, it becomes a musky minty green scent, with the same fresh & happy vibe. As I've said, beautiful scent with good performance. However, that price. It's expensive, like the rest of the private line of Carolina Herrera. Which begs the question, if they were always able of such creations, scent- & performance-wise, why were they holding back? If you want something affordable with a similar vibe, try Hugo Just Different. Fresh, invigorating mint with a strong woody musky background of cashmeran (cashmere). Not the same smell but from the same family. Nonetheless Virgin Mint gets a "Love". Hoping to find it discounted.

It's not every day that you're able to enjoy a truly unique DNA from an established designer brand (albeit from their niche line). Enter Virgin Mint: a sparkly, refreshing take on a minty musk fragrance. Where this one truly shines is in the mint note (duh!). This mint is NOT toothpasty in the slightest. Unlike other mint fragrances (like Kryptomint, for example), this mint is GREEN. It smells like you took mint leaves and rubbed them between your fingertips. Underneath that green mint note is a bed of fresh citrus and musk - overall the composition gives you the smell of an alcoholic beverage, minus the alcohol. Think citrus soda with mint leaves as a garnish. Longevity is fine for the type of fragrance that it is. The mint note tends to stick around while wearing this one, and the sillage is adequate too. One thing to note about this one is the quality of the presentation. Absolutely stunning bottle, it might be my favorite bottle ever. The cap is weighty, the green colour is pleasant to look at, and overall it just looks and feels high-quality. Definitely check this one out! Very unisex.

This has no geranium flower, it's all about the stems and leaves. Juicy, fresh, herbaceous goodness with incredibly beautiful green freshly cut mint accord. Out of entire CH collection this is most mesmerizing and is FB worthy for any mint fan. If you love Guerlain's herba fresca, Heeley's menthe fraiche, Kilian's love the way you taste, MFK's Aqua celestia /(forte) Virgin mint is a must'have for your collection. It is a very sophisticated take on mint. HAven't smelled anything this gorgeous before in minty realms. Very superior and cold scent with prominent vetiver backbone. It makes me want to stand taller when I wear it. Seriously gorgeous stuff. Gender: 100% unisex Longevity: 8+h (superb for an edt) Projection: solid arm's length and then some update: now 4 years later on my 2nd bottle, this is the best mint there is.

This beauty is the one that stole my heart! . Geranium smell in perfumery is not because of its red, pink, or white flowers. If you crush a geranium leaf between your fingers, you’ll smell citrus and fruity accents with a hint of spice and a rose smell of course! Geranium used in many fragrances as the traditionally masculine fougere and chypre accords but it has herbaceous green scent & sweet minty-rose undertone which can make a strong fresh aromatic accord too. That’s why it‘s the main player in Virgin Mint. Virgin Mint is so fresh, cool & refreshment. Like the feeling of human presence a breath coming from behind mint gum. Icy mint, wrapped in a blend of lemony grass & vetiver with white musk in base. It’s too breezy & joyful scent. Moderate long lasting & sillage. I love it for summer days.