Green Water

Received my big 6.65oz flacon of the new GREEN WATER parfum today. The emballage is gorgeous and, to me, sumptuous. The bottle is chunky glass, with a smart magnetic-adhering cap. GREEN WATER was a fragrance I used to wear often in the 1990's... went through two bottles of the EDT formula as it appeared in that era... It was the frosted-bottle 1991-released formula. The new 2015 parfum formula is gorgeous and I approve fully. The basic "algorithm" is the same as I remember it from the old EDT version, but everything is MUCH more refined, regal and slow-developing now than it was in the 90's: a long, brilliant tart head of crisp aldehydes, tart lemon/bergamot/lime, spearmint laced with a peppery basil unfold for a dramatically long period at opening spritz. A thrillingly authentic neroli, its clean white floral duskily inflected with an almost licorice-like tarragon/caraway, gives a soft pillow to the proceedings. As we know, despite the name, this is not really a "green" scent-- nothing here smells stemmy, grassy, leafy, weedy--- more correctly it should be called an "aromatic hesperidic floral musqué" fragrance. In 1947, Fath had originally called it a "givrée" fragrance: frosty and frozen because of the cooling mint components. After a while, the lower notes of clove, oakmoss, and ultimately a magnetic, sensual musk appear. I love that a simple skin musk is the basic underpinning of GREEN WATER, with no vanilla, sandalwood, patchouly, vetiver or other traditional basenotes stealing focus away from the bright minty/citrus/neroli song. Every note in GREEN WATER smells exceedingly natural... no trendy new faux synthetics ever appear here at all, thankfully. All in all, Ms. Zarokian's new Parfum interpretation is faultless and highly recommended. Amazing to learn she composed this with no written recipe, but rather by using her own nose alone, repeatedly visiting the Osmothèque for a sniff of the vintage formulas. Truth told, GREEN WATER is not a dazzlingly complex scent, but the utter naturalness and authenticity of the botanicals make it a gorgeous, memorable perfume. GREEN WATER is easily unisex, but some might consider the smell to be leaning slightly masculine. As it is basically a Kölnisch Wasser type of scent (but a highly refined, particular and stylish one), it is appropriate for wear at absolutely any time, any occasion, but its brilliant freshness will make it especially welcome in spring and hot summertime.

Gorgeous! Full circle. Bought Green Water Eau de Toilette as a recommendation for slightly better in your face performance over Acqua Di Parma Colonia Club Eau de cologne (my signature and fave). It is similar to Colonia Club though brighter - the mint very heavy and fresh, bright strong lime/lemon and an earthy base - almost the most simple three layered product I know. Like a simple fresh home made product - very impressive longevity and silage for an EDT. I mix it up with CC for a change occasionally. I finally found a bottle of Green Water EDP - it arrived today after such a long search. So excited - I could not wait! I didn't let me down... Wow - AMAZING - ironically this is almost EXACTLY like Colonia Club just dialled up to 11. High quality build and oils - unfortunately the longevity and silage is not as good as it should be so requires a very generous application. Still, one of my top shelf scents for a refresh, to hide the sweat or help get past the headache of the day and uplift - it will sit with Cool Water, Bulgari Aqua Marine, Heeley Menthe Fresh, Acqua Di Parma Colonia Club and Green Water EDT. VERY VERY NATURAL unlike say Pino Silvestre which is a horrid cheap synthetic that gives headaches. Its like floating in a fresh water lake with a bowl of Lime Sorbet on your chest whilst you can smell the Pine Forest nearby... I'm drifting down stream right now...

When I found out that Green Water EDT was discontinues I was mourning for so long. When I found out there was a new EDP creation my mourning was replaced with uncertainty. When I finally had a bottle in my hand I was happy but I still longed for the EDT in the Frosted bottle formula. Long one of my all time top perfumes. Given time I grew to realise I was harsh - the EDT was in fact exactly what it was supposed to be in comparison to the EDP and indeed vice versa. My Original judgement clouded by stubborn bias gave way to the realisation that whilst the EDP was a syrupy and stronger in the green darker earthier body (thanks to the tarragon, basil and mint). The citrus now much sweeter and syrupy helps provide a feel of high quality oils... clearly distancing itself from the super refreshing airiness of the EDT as it would and should. I managed to secure some more vintage bottles of the EDT which I will continue to enjoy for a while (originally this was purchase to give me a stronger alternative to Aqua Di Parma Colonia Club). When it runs out I will enjoy even more so the new EDP as I realise now it is indeed a worthy successor to the original keeping the ethos of the original but updating it to be relevant to a wider audience - thank you Cécile Zarokian...

This smells like a turkish delight. Maybe the green mint ones, the essence of sugary menthol and light freshness is definitely there. It also smells like wearing a suit on a Sunday. Then nostalgia overwhelmed me; this is a scent I remember clinging on textiles in my grandparents' house. My grandfather had immigrated to Germany in the 60s and he spent his first paychecks on looking sharp and dapper. There is a strong possibility the original Jacques Fath Green Water fragrance was a scent he knew and used. I really, really love this fragrance, enough to forgive its short projection and duration. I also miss it. Side note: This is the very first perfume I experienced when I decided to begin collecting fragrances. Bought a handful of testers, collected them from the post office, sat on some steps, impatient to sniff them. I was very pleasantly that cold winter morning.)

A really lovely, uplifting minty green fragrance. Wonderful stuff. Longevity is only average but the projection seems to be quite good. It's broadly reminiscent of Beach Hut Man by Amouage, although BHM is less minty, more herbal and has a much greater longevity. Both BHM and Green Water are great fragrances and I'm happy to have them both as permanent members of my collection. Green Water is just really fresh and invigorating, but not in a harsh way. It's just a beautiful easy to wear fragrance. I didn't think I would appreciate the mint note in a fragrance, but both BHM and Green Water have changed my mind on that. If you like green, if you like mint, if you like having your mood uplifted and feeling like your cares have melted away - then this perfume's for you.