Covent Garden

This fragrance deserves to be better known. That said, I'm happy no one I know wears (or is ever likely to wear) it. Jack is actor Richard E. Grant's line, and his fragrances are about as far from celebrity scents as you can get--low key, plain packaging, limited distribution. Covent Garden is the best of the lot and like no other fragrance I can think of. It starts with a zesty blast of citrus before warm, earthy ginger and carrot and spiky pepper and pimento move in. Rose is listed as a note, but my nose can't find it (almost every perfume I love has a rose somewhere, so I know whereof I speak). CG isn't what I'd call a floral or fruity fragrance--more like a vegetable garden. It's a good spring scent, but I'm looking forward to experiencing it during autumn harvest season. And it's definitely unisex--nothing exclusively "girl" or "boy" here! On my skin CG lasts longer than average, maybe six hours. Which is remarkable because my skin swallows most perfumes up within 30 minutes. Overall, a unique, high-quality scent appropriate for daytime wear.

I bought it based on some reviews and after watching Persolaise's interview with Richard E. Grant. I took a leap of faith and in this case it did pay off. At first I had to get used to the opening, not that it is challenging but because it was the first time I reached for this kind of scent profile. I kept coming back to it drawn by its character and charm. After wearing it during hot summer days Covent Garden became my scent of June and has been in my rotation throughout this summer. To me Covent Garden starts with a really delectable orange followed by rose and ginger. Pimento and pink pepper support other ingredients creating this bright and vibrant impression of the old Covent Garden market in London. Later on carrot with a good dose of orris and added musk come to play making the whole composition more mellow and pleasantly powdery. Well done creators! Really happy to have it.

I blind bought this as I had it on my list to try, and it turned up in TK Maxx for a reasonable price. The opening to this fragrance is bright citrus happiness. This is unisex and I really enjoy wearing this for daytime as I find it energising. The drydown stays bright, not slipping into the musk too much. This only lasts fleetingly on me, though I have not tried it yet in warmer weather or overspraying.

And for an alternative view to cricketapollo’s: I think I could achieve this smell by sprinkling crushed Parma violets over Turkish delight and then covering with fresh grated carrots. Rose is clearly identifiable in this inoffensive and Intriguingly original linear scent. Smells more feminine than Jack or Piccadilly 69. Ultimately though (and compared to those other two) it is a dual personality scent by which I mean the flowers and the vegetables are doing their own thing which I find confuses my brain - much as the original Camberwell carrot might..... When I struggled to find samples the lovely people at Jack sent me a set free of charge - thank you!

I like this from the vial, but on a card it's overpoweringly limey which doesn't suit me at all. I also smell a little ginger essential oil (which smells terrible). So the opening sucks but the drydown smells much better. The top notes burn off and the rose, musk and orris comes through for the drydown. I love the drydown but hate the opening. Maybe I'll change my mind after a few wears and actually start appreciating the opening. -