Green Notes Fragrances & Perfumes

Green notes cover the entire spectrum of freshly cut grass, bruised leaves, snapped stems and sap, giving fragrance a dewy, outdoors lift. As a family they read crisp and slightly bitter rather than sweet.

The category is built from naturals and synthetics. Galbanum provides the sharp green-resinous top. Violet leaf adds a cucumber-watery facet. Oakmoss lends a deep mineral green. Key synthetics include cis-3-hexenol (the unmistakable smell of cut grass), stemone and various leaf molecules. Modern reconstructions also use tomato leaf, fig leaf and bamboo accords for specific botanical lifts.

Green notes sit mostly in the top but can reach deep into the heart. Perfumers use them to electrify floral openings (Vent Vert, N°19, L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme), to freshen chypres and fougeres, and to give modern compositions a botanical garden feel. They pair beautifully with rose, iris, vetiver, galbanum and white musk.

Green notes perform best in spring, summer and transitional weather, and give fragrance a distinctly clean botanical character.