Sacred Green Forest

This one is amazing, nothing at Zara smells like this...not even at Sephora I may add! It is one of their best for sure, quality too is a span above their Jo Malone collab and the new series. It is one of those rare fair priced foresty/greenery perfume with a touch of camphor and balsam that is equilibrated and doesn't smell cheap (or nose spray or old colone like). Besides, the yellow flowers, incense and oily vanilla in it make this special and luxurious. I would not take it for a Zara. On the site it says it will return soon, for the discounted price of 12,90€ so if you were interested maybe you can add your email to know about the restocking. I bet only few pieces would be left since they discontinued the line. Now, to go more in depth on the scent: the opening is luxurious ylang-ylang, sweet but smoked by a river of incense's fume; incense stays in the background and it is a constant in the perfume from opening to dry down, only in the opening it's more strong. The flowers are surrounded by much greenery, I don't pick up a strong galbanum like for instance in Zara Leather Jardin, but a mix of green notes such as eucalyptus, pine and other camphorated and conifer elements, plus some galbanum. They are used gently and in a airy way. I think there's some wood too, and this are the elements that give to the perfume its forest allure... smell like the air released in a forest after a brief rain. A soapy and humid jasmine is put beside the sweet ylang and their mix is a bit honeyed, some dry oakmoss surrounds both of them. The incense is still strong, much smoky and powdery, and even balsamic, with nothing stale about it; it gives that elegant powdery feel that only incense/balsam can impart, it is a refined powderiness, not feminine nor classic (in a floral/talcum/vanillic way). The strong base on which all this elements rest is a beautiful vanilla, reported to be Madagascar vanilla; what I can say about it is that this kind of vanilla is much woody, thick and syrupy, almost smells oily but balanced by the dry oakmoss. It doesn't smell sweet at all, it's a mature vanilla, the kind I personally prefer. The mesured sweetness the scent has comes more from the flowers. The fragrance doesn't evolve in a pyramid like fashion instead all this elements dance around on the skin, alternating eachothers. I belive in the description the brand mentioned that this should smell like a Japanese forest. I can not speak about that, maybe it should be Japan inspired because of the incense, but as I was saying before it surely has foresty touches, they are not reported in the notes but I can smell many camphorated and conifer elements which imparts to the scent a pure and clean sensation, by contrast the smoky incense and thick vanilla accentuate this feeling even more. The result is a deep, dark and moody fragrance that at the same time is airy, clean and pure...even relaxing and peaceful (as they claimed). I find it alluring and a bit nostalgic too. This should be gorgeous worn during a summer night! I think the perfume is truly unisex even though there is a kind of "distinct young gentleman" vibe about it....probably it is a personal observation I make based on an olfactive memory since my father always smelled like a forest when he was joung, we used to spend entire days visiting forests, almost every week...smelling each tree, their woods, resins, needles or foliage! He used to wear Pino Silvestre Original Cologne too. Maybe this explains the nostalgia. As for performance, the fragrance lasted on my skin for about six hours, much more on clothes. It projected beautifully for the first three hours creating a bubble, but after it became almost a skin scent, leaving behind just a trail of powdery incense. Packaging is cool, outer box is sturdy with a fern like image on it, the bottle made of green glass whit a decent sprayer and a cork like cap. Be carefull though...my bottle kinda leaked a bit so I had to tighten it. Sacred Green Forest was part of Zara's *Immersed in the Forest* collection, made of 4 Edp, toiletries, candles, house perfumes and wardrobe scented bar. I was so happy to see they selected Fabrice Pellegrin & Coralie Spicher to create a new masculine line which appeared much more refined and selective. However, it was a pricy collection for Zara (I belive 30,00€ or above) and the fragrances were too peculiar, in a sense, so the usual Zara target was not hit. It didn't go well, they first discounted it and then discontinued all of it, pretty quickly too. I wish I could have sniffed Pure Frozen Forest to see how it was!

This is an amazing perfume unlike anything I own and it"s a big compliment getter too. I lingers for hours and on fabric for days. Every time I spray it on, I'm happily surprised and always have the same reaction; damn this is a good perfume. As I have quite a collection , this one is in rotation every few weeks but always happy to spray it on and enjoy it throughout the day.

I find resemblance with Adolfo Dominguez Vetiver- white flowers and neroli, possibly some jasmine- in the opening. Later on ylang ylang kicks in and preludes to a not overly sweet vanilla accord, well balanced by incense. Not a linear fragrance, which is a plus, and solid, original construction.

Very nice presentation in a pretty package. The scent itself starts bitter/fresh green but soon turns into sweet vanilla and incense. It is an interesting smell but its sweetness makes it rather feminine leaning. Still, a self confident man can nicely pull it off.

THEY ARE BACK ! This wonderful collectie of 4 are back on line and in shop so go and get them while you can . Personally this is one of the best collection of perfumes Zara brought out and they seem to listen to their fan base as they are produced again .