A green scent is pure escapism. A freshly mown lawn, an almost overripe fig, the sun-blistered bark of a cedar tree – these are all the nostalgic notes that evoke a lazy summer’s day, and with just one spritz and a bit of imagination, I could be sunbathing under a copse of trees in the Mediterranean.
“I think their appeal comes from their ability to make fragrance feel both uplifting and grounding at once,” Almira Armstrong, perfumer and founder of LUMIRA tells me.
“A green fragrance can feel like opening a window, stepping into a garden or beginning the day somewhere far away. It is fresh without necessarily being overtly citrus, and sophisticated without feeling formal. In a world that can feel increasingly fast-paced and digital, these scents offer a sensory return to something more elemental and alive.”
Best green perfumes at a glance
As for the key notes to look out for, Almira recommends galbanum, violet leaf, fig leaf, basil, mint, rosemary, sage, thyme and tea. “Green citrus notes such as bergamot and lime can add brightness, while tomato leaf, grass and moss create a more earthy, botanical character,” she observes.
“The green effect can also come from floral materials such as jasmine, rose leaf or violet, combined with woods, vetiver, cedarwood and musk.”
How I tested
I’ve long loved these fresh, vibrant green scents
The Standard
Once I’d had my first taste of green all those years ago (thank you Diptyque’s Philosykos), I knew I could never go back to my old fruity staples. They felt too cloying, too overpowering. Whether it’s tomato leaf, fig tree sap, or green tea you’re after, I’ve cultivated the best vibrant, leafy spritzes that will sate your need for a fresh, grassy summer scent well into autumn and beyond.
Diptyque Philosykos
Ekin Karasin/The Standard
★★★★★
Best: Overall green scent
What we love: This will instantly transport you to balmy Mediterranean climes with its androgynous, herbaceous yet fruity notes
Nothing reminds me more of my family home in Istanbul, where fig trees grow like weeds in cracks in the pavements, than Diptyque’s cult classic. Created by perfumer Olivia Giacobetti in 1996, this unisex offering was designed to capture the scent of the entire fig tree, including the leaves, the fruit and the bark, and was inspired by memories of a Greek summer on Mount Pelion.
Intoxicating fig leaf takes centre stage in this iconic scent, underscored with white cedar and black pepper. It smells delicious on my skin in the heat and is just the right side of fruity. The minute I spritz it on, I feel like I’m skipping through a grove of wild fig trees in Turkey, instead of pressed up against someone’s armpit at rush hour in dreary London – and I think that’s all you can really ask for from a fragrance.
- Blend: Eau de parfum
- Key notes: Fig leaf, fig tree sap, black pepper
Hermes Un Jardin Sur Le Toit
Hermes Un Jardin Sur Le Toit
The Standard
★★★★☆
Best: Long-lasting fragrance
What we love: Fruity yet fresh and boasting serious staying power, the ‘greenest’ of the Les Jardins series
Created by perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena in 2011, this gem was inspired by Hermes’ own hidden rooftop garden in the heart of Paris. Part of the French fashion house’s celebrated Les Jardins series, the Sur Le Toit scent opens with red apple and pear, complemented by the earthy freshness of green grass, unfolds into rose and magnolia and dries down with an unexpected twist of rosemary.
I used this every day during my recent holiday in Bali and was impressed with its longevity – it’s on the fruitier side of green, and the olfactory notes were still going strong a few hours later. It even passed the mum test. “Oo, I actually like this one!” my mother would remark every time I spritzed it. Coming from her, a scathing scent critic at the best of times, that’s very, very high praise indeed.
- Blend: Eau de toilette
- Key notes: Apple, pear, grass, rosemary
Vyrao Verdant
Vyrao Verdant
The Standard
★★★★★
Best: For mood-boosting freshness
What we love: The epitome of green, the enlivening aroma feels mossy, citrusy and like a grassy lawn on a summer’s day
Intended to evoke the sense of joy you feel upon stepping into a green landscape, Vyrao’s scent is the result of neuroscience-backed research and promises to enhance your self-confidence by 87 per cent and your happiness by 71 per cent with its notes of bergamot, cedarwood, spirit-lifting orange flower and cleansing juniper. Pink and black pepper vow to ease anxiety and bring calm.
I can’t speak to the science of it, but I did find myself feeling decidedly perkier after having a spritz before stepping out of the house. Bonus marks go to the supercharged Herkimer diamond sitting within the chic bottle that’s been energised by brand healer, Louise Mita.
- Blend: Eau de parfum
- Key notes: Cedarwood, bergamot, frankincense, orange flower, iris and juniper
Aesop Virere
Aesop Virere
The Standard
★★★★★
Best: Warming woody aroma
What we love: A truly grown-up take on the green scent, combining citrus, greenery and wood
Probably the woodiest and most aromatic pick in this list, Virēre feels like a sophisticated evocation of an afternoon spent lazing beneath a canopy of Cypress trees. Top notes of galbanum, petitgrain and bergamot unfold to green tea, mastic and pink pepper and base notes of green maté, cedar and hay.
This did need several touch-ups throughout the day, so take note to pop it in your bag if you’re heading out, but I’ll forgive anything for that minimalistic amber bottle. A sexy scent, too, for a fancy dinner or a first date where you want to make an impression.
- Blend: Eau de parfum
- Key notes: Fig, green tea, bergamot
Maison Margiela Replica From The Garden
Maison Margiela Replica From The Garden
The Standard
★★★★☆
Best: For everyday use
What we love: On the sweeter and more citrusy end of the green spectrum, perfect for evoking summer
There’s a reason Maison Margiela’s Replica series consistently tops the best perfume lists and has spawned a myriad of dupes – the brand is unmatched when it comes to evoking personal memories. Perfumer Olivier Cresp was inspired by his own memories of spending time in his childhood garden with his father in From The Garden, and years later, doing the same with his own son, Sebastien.
This unisex perfume combines the fresh notes of tomato leaf and green mandarin with patchouli and geranium. It’s a lightweight, citrusy aroma that feels fresh and is on the sweeter end of the green scale. Perfect for wearing as we head into autumn (devastating) if you want to immediately conjure the idea of a sun-drenched holiday. I’d also be remiss not to mention that signature stylish Replica packaging.
- Blend: Eau de parfum
- Key notes: Green mandarin, tomato leaf, geranium
What is the best green perfume?
It’s got to be Philosykos thanks to Diptyque’s unrivalled use of every part of the fig tree in its sun-drenched offering. Perfume is such a personal and subjective thing, and for me, that aroma perfectly evokes memories of long, heady summers spent in Turkey with my family. Special mention has to go, however, to Aesop for its earthy, woody creation and Vyrao for the good vibrations of Verdant.
Why trust me?
As a fragrance fanatic, I have been on the hunt for the perfect ‘green’ perfume for the past decade. I’ve tried and tested dozens of different scents in my search, basing my findings on everything from the recommendations of friends to deep dives into beauty pages and fan forums.