Green

Green fragrances capture the smell of living plant matter: freshly cut grass, crushed leaves, tomato stems, green tea, cucumber, and the sharp, almost painful brightness of just-torn herbs. These are scents of the garden and the forest in their most immediate, chlorophyll-rich intensity. The primary material tradition draws on galbanum, violet leaf, and various synthetic molecules like Stemone and Triplal.

Green fragrances have a long history in perfumery as a counterpoint to the floral and oriental traditions. The Chypre family relied on oakmoss and galbanum to give green bitterness to their constructions. The 1970s saw a surge of bright, vegetal green fragrances that felt radical next to the heavier orientals of the era. Today green notes are more often supporting players in fresh and aromatic compositions.

Green accords pair naturally with floral, aromatic, fresh, and earthy notes. If the brightness of green fragrances appeals to you, explore aromatic, fresh, aquatic, and herbal accord families.