Green Water Pour Monsieur

Before I review the only formulation of this that is worth mentioning, the original 1947 formula, I need to first address the lackluster 1993 and early 2000's (not sure of the exact year) formulations. The 1993 version opens with a very natural lime that stands in the place of the original lemon verbena. The mint is still there, but both soon give way to a horrible musty jasmine that just RUINS the scent. Moving on.... The version from the early 2000s (square glossy bottle with silver top and pale green juice) is a totally different scent. It smells much like Irish Spring soap with a little synthetic mint and that same musty jasmine from the 1993 formulation that, again, RUINS the formula. Moving on.... Now, for the greatest gem in all of male perfumery: The original 1947 Green Water from the house of Jacques Fath (as pictured above). It IS the greatest male scent of all time. NOTHING beats this in my book. It opens with a gorgeous tandem of lemon verbena that almost smells candied and a wonderful spearmint note. There is nothing sharp or tart about this scent. No lemon Pledge note. No chemical or household cleaner notes. Is it linear? Yes, it is. Guess what though? That's PERFECTLY fine in this case because the opening is perfection. I never want it to end. Light, urbane, luxurious, a little sweet, yet bold due to the very mild oakmoss note that very lightly blossoms in the drydown. Longevity is great considering my bottle is 55-60 years old. One spray on the wrist lasts all day. Sillage is moderate, but a quick whiff at close range is all one needs to appreciate its majesty. Scent....do I even really need to say. A solid 10 and then some. Why the reformulation, I'll never know. If the old formula were brought back, I'd never wear another scent in my life. Nothing compares to this. It is ideal. Scent: 10/10 Longevity: 7/10 Sillage: 6/10

A miracle came true! I found a vintage (60s-70s?) Green Water and it smells....fresh. Fresh as in, negligible citrus degradation, bright lemon, and effulgent mint. It is stupendous. Incredibly enough, the bergamot still has a spark and the clary sage is cool, aromatic, and tea-like. There is also a sizable amount of petitgrain, be still, my heart. Something tells me this bottle was locked up in Fort Knox conditions because fragrances such as this are notorious for turning and spoiling and faster than say, heavier chypres, fougeres and ambers. I could have very well found myself with a pretty bottle filled with rancid terpenes and fusty off-notes, but here we are, the risk was worth it, but only, and I stress only, because I didn't pay an arm and a leg. Be that as it may, it's a sensational wear, crisp like brisk air, delicious like crushing herbs in one's hands and inhaling their aroma, melissa (lemon balm), catmint, and lemon verbena. It's like a garden glory, a hothouse heaven, a repose for the weary, one of those "spring in your step" splashes on your ready to go kind of colognes that dries into a calm, collected musk. In short, its a classic. I sat for a long time, avoiding 90s and 2000s versions of this, hearing mixed reviews of its newest version from Fath, and scoffing at how outrageously expensive the vintages were, given the huge risk of purchasing one. So, I just wanted to share my elation at having this to revisit now and then and marvel, to revere it as a venerable reference in this history of perfumery, and keep it as cool and fresh for as long as possible.

The original green water 1947 has nothing in common with the latest version! No need of reinterpretation of this masterpiece! Bring back the original formula asap!

I bought the version of this bottle I think 1993 release as it was the tall green glass and green plastic top but without gold band or highlights. I purchased an old supply find in mid-2016 I had used it only once and then my rental car was broken into in spain and suitcase stolen with this in it. Fast forward to 2017 and I managed to rout through a storage above a shop and buy 4 more bottles with pre-€uro peseta prices. Despite the ambient heat I suppose it was exposed to for over 17 years due to be super-sealed all bottles are miraculously uncorrupted and fresh like a forest. Due to not being familiar with non-peppery or woody fragrances which I normally use;- I can't really describe what I'm smelling except to say that it is awesomely classy and masculine and rare. I get no cheap notes anywhere but agree that it doesn't last so long. Unfortunately as in 125ml bottles they're gonna get suitcased again as too large to go through non-hold luggage but I can endorse this version at least as being classic but not soapy or old smelling like some of the main vintage masculine fragrances.

I wore this frag often in the 1970s and it was great..even then however it didnt last on me at all...maybe 3 hrs really....a beautiful green frag...elusive and welcoming but...didnt last even then.........sad really