Longtime readers know I’ve never been a lover of galbanum-forward Big Green Meanies like Vent Vert and Jacomo Silences – and that’s fine, right? We all have our personal preferences. I admire them, but I have no desire to own or wear them. Galbanum can read oddly sour on me, with hints of pickle juice, spoilt lettuce, or old vasewater, depending. This time of year, though, I find myself longing for some softer green fragrances that maybe have a hint of newly-mown lawn, maybe some herbs, or vetiver … you get the idea. The only thing I own that fills that need right now is my No. 19 Poudre – more of a soft iris with pale green notes, unlike the stiletto-sharp original.
Then, rooting around in my housemate Carolyn’s stash for something I could actually smell, I spritzed on her vintage bottle of Miller et Bertaux Green, Green, Green … and Green. I doubt I even tried it back in the day. I was obsessed with Spiritus/Land, and the threat of all that green in the name probably put me right off. Notes are laurel, bay leaves, verbena, green sap, coriander, jasmine, cedar, vetiver and musk.
Oh my goodness, what a delight in our cool (but sunny!) early spring weather. It’s a herbaceous green of a perfect weight – not shy but not overpowering, either. The opening smells a bit peppery-spicy (coriander?) then it’s a not-overly-sweet, grassy floral, I can pick out verbena and jasmine. Something about it as it dries down smells like sun-warmed grass layered with incense? What a fantastic combination. It’s got good longevity, too, at least on me.
I googled and apparently Miller et Bertaux is still in business, and still making this. If they have their own website I can’t find it, but the fragrances appear to be available via several retailers who carry the line (including some discounters, for great prices). They have other, newer scents now, some of which sound well worth sampling … I remember liking A Quiet Morning, and also thinking one or two of the other long-ago launches were so light I couldn’t see the point.
Do you feel the need for a spring-green fragrance? What are your favorites? Have you tried any Miller et Bertaux?
I’m reading this on my phone at work (SSHHHHHH! Nobody knows. Quiet day and no work on my desk ATM anyway) and couldn’t see who had written this particular entry — until I got into it and started thinking, Ha, I bet this is March. Sure enough.
I lub me some galbanum, and I remember thinking that M&B would suit me before I tried it years ago. Alas, I found it kind of dull, and I think too citrusy.
I have been doing hyacinth this week, but I’m craving greens. The weather in Richmond has been spring like, everything opening up, and I want green! Next time I go back to the farm, I’m bringing my giant honking bottle of Silences PDT back with me… that thing is so rich it is OILY on the skin. Tons of galbanum, tons of rose, iris like satin ribbons.
LOVE Miller et Bertaux March! Maybe 6, 7 bottles here, not including A Quiet Morning backup.
You might also enjoy Pimento. It’s like fresh cut chillies/bell peppers. Cool and crisp with a very slight sizzle.
Portia xx
PS: and I’ll have ALL the galbanum thanks
I tried Pimiento and found it a lot of fun but not me — I don’t get on with those green pepper smells on my skin. Also, more galbanum for you, honey!
I’ll fight you for the galbanum!
Kidding. We can share.
I’m a green lover. No19, Silences, Eau de Campagne, Bougie Verdant, Cassis en Feuilles & others reside with me. I will add Green x 4 to my to try list when I start buying samples again
I thought I remembered you were a lover of green! I think Green4 will be too boring and tame for you, frankly. But I hope you get a chance to try it at some point.
I may be the lone dissenter. Very vintage Vent Vert is my #1 green, followed by vintage No.19. I even wear gal a um essential oil. When G x 4 came out, I grabbed it, unsniffed. And cursed when I sprayed it on my person. It was vaguely floral-ish on me. About as “green” as Casper the Friendly Ghost.
Thought Synthetic Jungle (since renamed) might be a good ‘un…but not green enough. Just pleasant.
Glad Gx 4 is well liked here. Me? I am still hunting for another verdant smack in the nose.
That’s galbanum e.o. Damn auto correct.
I knew what you meant!
I love No 19 edp and edt as well as Synthetic Jungle. Galbanum is one of my favorite notes. Have you tried Eris Green Spell or PG Papyrus de Ciane?
You made me laugh at – as “green” as Casper the Friendly Ghost. 🙂 Wishing you the luck o’ the Irish in finding your nose smacker! St. Paddy’s Day IS only 6 days away.
Ooops, this was meant for Mz Crz
LOL, Maya! Now ya got me thinking of applying galbanum oil, Vent Vert and No.19 all together. A way to do some Irish (which I am not) “wearing o’ the green.” I have tried neither scent you mentioned, but you bet I will!
We can be honorary Irish for a while!. hehehe. Where is a green shamrock emoji when you need one.
I miss our dumb emojis! They disappeared a few years back in a revamp and we could never get them to load properly again…
Think how boring it would be if we all loved and wanted the same things — I bet your green favorites smell fabulous on you. And I totally understand what a disappointment the Miller et Bertaux would be.
You are singing my song today! I love green scents, and have both No 19 Poudre and Miller et Bertoux Green, Green, Green and…Green. In fact, the Green x4 was one of my first scented purchases when I started my perfume hobby back in 2008. I instantly loved that leafy, stemmy, grassy combination. On me, the drydown is very coriander forward and, as you said, it lasts a long time. I’m glad to see this one get some love today. Thanks March!
Ooooh, one of your first purchases! How can it have been so long ago, you know? It’s the perfect combo of greens. Huh, maybe it’s the coriander in the drydown that makes me think of incense? And they have some newer ones that sound well worth sampling.
I’m a fan of galbanum /green… but it has to be Just Right. I sprayed Silences yesterday… nope! So I washed it off and applied TDC Charmes and Leaves. Perfection. I used to love Vent Vert but now… ( shrug)
Glad you’re smelling again!!
I’m only smelling some things, and it is wildly scattershot. So now I just do a browse until something registers. I remember that TDC!
I bought a bottle of Silences a long time ago. I tried, but no here too. Same with my daughter. I do think vintage Vent Vert is nice but have no interest in owning any.
I feel like Silences is sort of a love it or hate it? I remember when everyone was talking about it and I tried, I really did!
Like you, green is really not my perfume friend. And I was trying to think if I actually have anything green in my collection (don’t think so). But I love the idea. I think I’m going to have to get my green fix from the Trudon Josephine and the Boujee Bougie Succulent candles. It feels like we’re almost moving seasons here. Not quite yet though.
We’re going to get high winds and snow (again) later this week, the last of the weekend snow is melting. But the daffodils are up and the apricot tree is budding, so it’s definitely a mix here! Those candles sound lovely.
I’ve never been very interested in most green fragrances. I don’t really dislike them or like them. Some green in fragrances can be very nice and I have no problem with galbanum. I don’t think I have tried any Miller et Bertaux but if you like Green, Green, Green it might be worth a sniff.
Right now I’m mainly exploring fig fragrances and loving it. How could I have ignored it for so long.
Oh my goodness, I love fig. Years ago I did two lengthy posts on all the figs I could get ahold of — I think they’re called Figmania.
I will definitely check them out! Thanks!
I haven’t tried this one but I think I’m going to have to. I do remember loving Spiritus (and beating no less than Lauren Bacall to a seriously discounted tester at a now defunct store on Montana Avenue) and buying another bottle off of eBay. Which of course has disappeared into the depths of my hall closet. It supposed to rain over the weekend so maybe I’ll go spelunking in there and try to make some sense of it all..
Which ‘defunct store’? Between Northridge (? hope I got the right quake) and general recession… so many fabulous shops vanished. Do you remember A Room with a View? I got a gorgeous pale green silk charmeuse duvet cover ( embroidered with pale pink roses) there.
And the beauty shop – not the beauty supply store… the other one, down the street , been there since the 60s, starts with a ‘p’ in green lettering…
… and Edward Fox shoes with his signature court heel and fabulous bows…
… sigh
Oh, these LA stories — I’d have loved those stores. I loved a court heel with a bow, too! Trying to picture you with a duvet cover with pink roses is confusing me lol although it sounds fabulous.
It was GLORIOUS, March! A cool, pale green with teeny little roses embroidered in the corners ONLY!
Cost the earth, too!
Alas, Lu( my first Rottie) tried to paw me awake… got the duvet…
… and …
Oh it took me a while and acme googling but I found it- Palmetto. They kind of focused on candles, home stuff and bath stuff with a minor in perfume (at least at the Montana Ave store- the Melrose one had more of the latter.) Lovely people owned it. I do remember Room With a View. Lovely Stuff. I also remember Rachel whats-her-teeth’s Shabby Chic, which always struck me as used furniture (or stuff that looked used) with a healthy dose of attitude..
Yes! Palmetto!!! Thank you!
And yes, Shabby Chic always confused me…for the exact reason as your description!
There was a shop on Ocean that sold a similar style… but theirs evoked Acapulco rather than some dusty old country club
Loved Palmetto on Melrose! My 2 late friends, David and Hal, had an English country antique store, Gazebo, on Melrose in the 80s. Bill Shoemaker’s (also late) ex wife Babs used to help out in the shop. Good times and good memories.
You all are making me so jealous with these memories, it sounds absolutely delightful.
What a FANTASTIC story! I’d have loved to run into Lauren Bacall in the wild, although I’d probably have meekly handed over that bottle. I adored Spiritus and have a decant somewhere or other.
No way I was giving that one up. It was almost full and marked down to like $25. (it was a tester and the label was smudged.) and it smelled wonderful on me.
You have forced me to buy a bottle (also seriously discounted) of Green x4. I’m sure I’ll love it..
Yay!!! I think you’ll like it (fingers crossed). also ordered various samples (the ones they had) from StC.