Green perfumes: leafy, herbal and mossy scents explained
Green perfumes smell of leaves, stems, herbs and moss: galbanum, vetiver, fig leaf and oakmoss are common building blocks. They are less common than other families, which makes them distinctive. Here is the family, the best-known examples and how to try them.
What it smells like
Snapped stems, wet moss and crushed leaves. Alive, a little bitter, never sweet.
You'd rather be outside. You like things that feel real and a bit unexpected.
When it shines: Spring, rainy weekends, long walks, days you want to feel awake.
The notes that keep coming up
Counted across the 7 perfumes in our catalog that lean green & herbal.
musk (5)bergamot (4)oakmoss (4)galbanum (3)vetiver (3)patchouli (3)leather (3)cedar (2)neroli (2)jasmine (2)rose (2)cedarwood (2)
Where to start, by budget
$$ department-store price
- Chanel N°19 (1971): green, floral, chypre; notes include Galbanum, Hyacinth, Oakmoss, Cedarwood. source
- Ralph Lauren Polo (1978): green, spicy, woody; notes include Juniper berry, Basil, Oakmoss, Tobacco. source
- Paco Rabanne Paco Rabanne pour Homme (1973): green, spicy, fresh; notes include Rosemary, Clary sage, Oakmoss, Musk. source
$$$ a splurge
- Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle French Lover Bois d'Orage (2007): green, spicy, woody; notes include Galbanum, Pimento, Frankincense, Musk. source
- Nishane Sultan Vetiver (2014): green, spicy, earthy; notes include Java vetiver, Absinth, Brazilian vetiver, Amberwood. source
- Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle Vétiver Extraordinaire (2002): green, woody, spicy; notes include Bergamot, Bitter orange, Oakmoss, Musk. source
- Amouage Beach Hut Man (2017): green, fresh, woody; notes include Mint, Galbanum, Dry woods, Myrrh. source
The best-known green & herbal perfumes
| Perfume | Main accords | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle French Lover Bois d'Orage | Green, Spicy, Woody | $$$ |
| Chanel N°19 | Green, Floral, Chypre | $$ |
| Nishane Sultan Vetiver | Green, Spicy, Earthy | $$$ |
| Ralph Lauren Polo | Green, Spicy, Woody | $$ |
| Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle Vétiver Extraordinaire | Green, Woody, Spicy | $$$ |
| Amouage Beach Hut Man | Green, Fresh, Woody | $$$ |
| Paco Rabanne Paco Rabanne pour Homme | Green, Spicy, Fresh | $$ |
Cheaper alternatives
- Roja Parfums Apex → Guy Laroche Drakkar Noir (8 shared notes)
- Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle Vétiver Extraordinaire → Chanel N°19 (5 shared notes)
- Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle French Lover Bois d'Orage → Dior Dior Homme (4 shared notes)
Notes and accords from Parfumo via the TidyTuesday dataset; price levels are our grouping by house. Sources