La Collection Couturier Parfumeur Granville

The most wonderful "earthy" fragrance I have experienced, masterpiece, lots of character. I was looking to cap off a large complete collection. I was enjoying my favorite Fall/ Winter Pine fragrance, Lauder for Men (vintage). I thought it would be great to find a pine fragrance for Summer. I tried and purchased Creed Epicea, and Granville. Wrote a review of Epicea, a great unique fresh/ pine fragrance. I tried Gypsy Water, it's okay, but not for me. Penhaligans Blenhiem Bouquet they say is a poorer quality Granville, so won't bother. Granville is a very unique herbal, citrus, woody fragrance. From late mid to dry-down you get more of the Pine, which gives a pinny, resinous richness, to the otherwise dryness. The great lemon keeps it juicy and slightly sweet I have tried very herbal frags in the past, that are too bitter, and not enjoyable. Not so with Granville. This is wonderfully blended with beautiful fragrance accords. Its very hard to describe. Some knock it, as its not a mass appealing scent. It's in a catagory of it's own. The pine is not very distinct, but it makes a beautiful accord with the greenweed, or broom, which smells like potato chips, and is bitter green in a wonderful way. There is also pencil shavings note along with the pine. The slight sweetness of the best, natural lemon is in accord with a bitter green note that is so uniquely appealing. Lemon and greenweed perhaps. The thyme is slightly bitter, but not unpleasant. It makes the lemon more unique and enjoyable, and nicely blends withe the pine as well. The lemon makes the rosemary less medecinal. The pepper ads vibrancy. Everyone about loves pine. Its a piquant note here that balances with richness and depth. It is like I'm on the Normandy coast, and every now and then a gentle Pine scent wafts in with the breeze. I dont smell the pine all the time, but when I do, wow, its really nice! The genius of this fragrance is that it does smell like the wind/ air on a rocky coast, as in Dior's home in Granville... This has such unusual frag accords that do smell like granite stone at times, pine, some old fallen tree. Making a fragrance that smells like the air I have thought would be an impossible challenge. The perfumer here, does it amazingly! It only smells like an Eau de Cologne for 15 minutes while citrus is strong. Then it is always changing, evolving to something very unique. I am giving Granville a 10/10 rating . It is great for the unique category of fragrance it is. If I had to put it in a catagory of fragrance, Ctrus/ Aromatic; The best one out there. Sabastian on "Smelling Great" said the same. Rating: 10/10 God bless. John 3:16

UPDATE : Having worn this for another year, I've upgraded my scores. This is a favorite. Just a wonderful fresh scent that can be worn year round. I'm not a big fan of pine notes. I guess I have too many childhood memories of pine air fresheners and scented cleaners that associate a cheap, overly accessible scent. And while Granville leads with pine, the supporting notes of lemon, herbs (rosemary/thyme/mint) and soft woods transform it into something wonderfully fresh and inviting. I really enjoy Diptyque Hesperides, which was my very affordable version of Granville before I even knew it. But after discovering Dior discontinued it, I decided it was time to explore this fragrance. Longevity is rather like an EDC than an EDT, so one may find reapplying is necessary. I don't mind that, because not every fragrance has to be a powerhouse or bold enough to last 24 hours. This is something very office safe and yet, different from so many other fragrances. It comes somewhat close to being "mouthwash scent", but stops just short of it. A little more mint and it would smell terribly cheap. Ironically, retail prices are rather high for what you get, but it isn't the most popular fragrance from Dior's Couturier Collection so slightly used bottles can be had for very decent discounts. Get it before it starts becoming scarce! Fragrance 9.1 / Value 8.5

A dry, stark and austere fragrance. Granville is an aromatic green composition centred around pine. It heavily borrows from Blenheim Bouquet. It's more herbal and has a bit more of the spices. The initial citric burst of lemon is deceptive. Briefly the composition turns piney with some herbal elements. Thereafter it is quite relentless in its green character, and quite linear. It is bitter, medicinal, formal and somewhat unisex with moderate sillage and fair longevity. Personally I feel it misses a supporting cast. Even though it is deep, it mostly has a single facet, and in this case it is intriguing but not that compelling. Any hint of sweetness or a touch of incense or a mild accent of patchouli would have provided an interesting contrast. Instead its dry, bitter, green apporach is uncompromising. It is also outdoorsy, evocative of vast open greeneries, and cool, cloudy days spent wandering about in the woods, not without a sense of wonder. The palette is mostly shades of green, yet the painting board has some blank, abstract spaces to let imagination complete the story. A weak thumbs up. 3.5/5 (positive)

I strongly disagree with my respected fellow reviewers that this is a poor effort from Dior - in fact, I believe Granville is the most special in the exclusives range (and I own, or at least have very considerately tried them all many times.) Yes - it is a somewhat simplistic blast of lemon up top. But I ask you to do one thing for me: Get a good spray of this on your skin then go for a little walk around the mall. After 20 minutes, the complexity of the herbal notes comes through and the lemon is tamed into something beautiful, broad and brisk. Quite unlike anything out there in my opinion, Granville is not a citrus, not a herbal, but something in between - and all its own. I DO THIS: It's good enough on its own, but try this: Wear your two-sprays Granville as a base layer, then add single tiny spritz of Santal 33, followed by a single tiny spritz of Vetiver Extraordinnaire. Good lord, what a dovetail. This three-way combination is my current office signature - clean, dark and otherworldly.

This is the only citrus smell that I like. To me pretty much all others smell like limon kolonyası. But when I wear this i feel so good and i smell like a salad!! In a good way of course. The thyme and rosemary make it so unique and it is also very fit for combining with other aromatic greeen or spicy scents. Goes so well with lavender. To me it reminded me at first of no 19 then Chloe Capucine but i might also just be biased from the color, or maybe the pepper is the common denominator. it was a blind buy second hand and the seller told me it was masculine but as a woman i think it can be worn very easily by women and since it is discontinued it will be a unique signature smell. Although I wish it was a bit more intense. Longevity is good but sillage could be better. P.S.: IMO all of dior's private collection is great for mixing and combining just like jo malones. 8.5/10

I don't understand why Granville was voted as most fitting for spring - it's indeed lovely on this last day of March, but to me, it's a French summer holiday in a bottle. It's the combination of pine, lemon, rosemary and thyme that does it: these are all quintesentially French, and they're done so well here, realistic in a borderline culinary way, slightly oily. The combined effect is wonderful, almost intoxicating - if this has really been discontinued, I need to get my hands on a bigger amount as soon as I can. It's definitely more masculine than feminine, but still unisex, and I like it on myself as much as I would on a man, I think.

This is a masterpiece of the green, herbaceous genre. This is not mass appealing, but it is art, yet thoroughly enjoyable. It seems to have some unlisted base notes, like a bitter myrrh, as there is a richness in the base, that does not take away from the overall freshness. I was thinking about what to wear today from a large collection. I am going on a first date with a girl friend from church. I'm choosing Granville. I wanted something understated, and not to try to be attractive or impressive with a fragrance. Granville does give a pleasant mood, of nature, a pleasant meadow by a pine forest near the sea...

As others have said, the opening is quite OTT lemon. In fact I find the first five minutes quite horrible, too savoury and very like Pino Silvestre, which I find repulsive, but then it becomes an exquisite green piney aura (slightly pesto-ey too), addictive and delicate somehow whilst being powerful. So glad I snapped this up while I had the chance! .... Wearing this again as we go into spring, it's breathtaking. I still find the first minute or two a bit much, but it's fleeting. This is definitely a perfume which is best experienced passively, i.e. without burying your nose in it.

This is somewhat of a masterpiece in it's genre. It won't be mass appealing as a green fragrance. It is so well blended. There are earthy slightly bitter green notes, but they're not screechy or harsh in any way. It's dry, but slightly sweet at times. There is some surprising richness, maybe from the pine. This is the main difference between this and Blenheim Bouquet: Granville has more depth and richness somehow... Since this is really hard to find and very expensive if you do. Blenheim Bouquet is a very good alternative that's quite close.

Granville I tried only once at the Dior boutique in Melbourne and found it to be so fascinating. A true pine scent, so perfectly representative of a walk through the woods. As it has been discontinued, I ordered a miniature of it from an Australian website. I'm so very keen to smell it again, as I loved every single moment of my wearing. It didnt last an incredibly long time... but it was worth the time it lasted. Will edit when I get my second impression which is sure to be different.

I'm down to - probably - 150ml of this discontinued masterpiece. What a shame. I bought many of the Dior specials and have three of the Patchouli bottles (I hate them). A bottle and a half of the Boire D'Argent. But I begged a friend to buy me 500ml Granville. That's the only one I want. And it's running low. Such a shame.

The best fresh fragrance i have ever smelled. I own a lot but if i will settle down with only 5 fragrances for life, this will be among them. it Garners a lot of compliments.

I find Granville to be a continuous burst of spicy and herbaceous green notes, with its central accord dominating the fragrance. The opening is explosive, reminiscent of freshly cut lemon zest combined with black pepper, creating a pungent, spicy, and naturally cool start. Notably, there's a subtle hint of minty menthol, adding complexity and freshness from the outset. The herbal accord, featuring thyme and rosemary, unfolds as an explosion of spicy and fresh herbaceous fragrances, hint a bit little medicinal, complemented by lavender and sage, resulting in a refined, soapy, and barbershop-like effect. The pine needle accord is soft, refined but calm, evoking the scent of lemongrass under tall pine trees, with a delicate balance between green, dry, and the characteristic lemongrass aroma. As Granville transitions to the drydown phase, it paints the picture of a tranquil garden bathed in sunlight and gentle sea breezes. The dry wood accord emerges with a dry, spicy, and slightly bitter woody aroma, possibly from pine needle and thyme. The initial image of a herb-filled garden gradually transforms into a vast sea of green pines, creating a sensory journey through Dior's herbal garden. Throughout the fragrance, despite the presence of lemon, green herbs, and spice notes, I perceive a serene, calm, complex and somewhat melancholic undertone???. François Demachy has skillfully blended the green, spicy, and herbal elements, resulting in an elegant and nostalgic fragrance. Granville exudes a touch of luxury, sophistication, and seriousness, capturing the essence of a visit to an herbal garden at a seaside villa atop a pine-covered hill. I believe Granville is a neutral and unisex fragrance. Despite being marketed as a scent for women, in my opinion, anyone can enjoy a stroll through Dior's herbal garden with this fragrance. Those seeking tranquility, serenity, and immersion in the refreshing greenery of the pine forest can all appreciate this scent. Granville is said as an Eau de Parfum, but personally, based on the scent profile and my experience, I find its performance to be more similar to Eau de Toilette. The projection is quite good in the first hour, reaching about an arm's length, but later it settles to half an arm's length, creating a subtle bubble of fragrance around you. Granville lingers on my skin for approximately 4-6 hours, which I consider quite satisfactory for a fragrance dominated by herbal and green spicy notes.

Granville is a fresh, woody, herbal, slightly spicy mix that reminds me of a traditional men's cologne along the lines of Dior Eau Sauvage or Chanel Pour Monsieur, though certainly it's quite different from both in actual smell. It nonetheless occupies an intersection of fresh and woody aromatic, a nice combination of lemon, pine, pepper, and sandalwood. It's not sweet at all, either. Performance is decent--moderate projection and longevity. Work-safe and year-round wearable, versatility might be one of Granville's strongest attributes. It's agreeable, To me, it's akin to Bois D'Argent in that it's very agreeable but nonetheless just a "like" not a "love," especially considering the price (standard Privee pricing of $210 for 125ml). I would certainly wear it if I had it but I probably wouldn't buy it apart from the sample I have. Definitely worth trying--this could be a signature scent, especially for men. 7 out of 10

This is the atmosphere of Christian Dior's hometown, in a small town in Normandian, where he spent his childhood. Granville smell very similar to Chanel's Édimbourg, but an upgraded version with better quality. Both refreshing and transparent. A little spiciness of juniper berries and pepper makes the fragrance smell fresher, thyme and rosemary are leaves of grass, they are green and fragrant, these characteristics have the tartness of lemon, the lightness and dryness of wood. Granted, Granville's scent combinations aren't uncommon, but people won't be able to resist this practical, picnic-friendly scent. Granville was a gust of wind from the forest, and it was rolled in the wind, and the end of the wind was the bay. My mind goes away.

Indeed, Granville is a concentrated Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet (1902) . We might call it as Blenheim Bouquet 2.0 . Just that simple, nothing more and nothing less. Thanks to the concentration, the lemon is a bit dirtier in the very opening and the wood is more concretized compared with Blenheim Bouquet , but you will not notice much difference anymore. Rating: 6.5-7.0/10

This is really sharp and tough scent. At first spray i said "oh my god what is that, cat urine..??" after a while sharp tones are calm down and become more suitable but first 30 minutes was a torture for me. Wearable for spring and summer but you have to strong for begining :)) Generaly very fresh, citrusy, woody but dirty imo. Scent 6/10 Longevity 8/10 Silalge 6/10

An extremely classy, sophisticated and well-crafted herbaceous woody citrus scent. I get mint-like aspects in the opening, and there is some citrus in the background. Another one to prove that the pre-2015 original privee line was some of the best stuff fragrances could offer, and this is no slouch compared to the rockstars of the line.

This one sounded like it was just for me. I have a large bottle of Bel Respiro, and use it lavishly. I love windy, woody airy scents. And even though I anticipated a good start, the opening was still a wonderful surprise, with the citrus/vegetal whooosh. I was knocked out by the gusty airiness and herbal tones. But then the mint/camphor started to come through, and combined with the pine has turned into some kind of industrial cleaning product on me. It's turned chemical/astringent on my skin. I am going to leave it on for another half hour or so, but if there is no further evolution, then this one is a scrubber.

I agree with review by "henri345que" and also with the "Pino Silvestre" comparison. Opening is okay but then it develops into this bitter piney, herbaceous cough syrup. Yuk! Overall, this is a very poor offering in the rather pricey Cologne Exclusifs range by DIOR. Connotations I have are: Medicinal, clinical, bathroom cleaners, sauna products, mouthwash, toothpaste, licorice, pharmacy, hospital. Not a fragrance I would like to recommend, unless you are a nurse or a Birkenstock wearing vegan nurse or medical staff.