So I found a sample of Gris Dior on my usual decanter’s site on clearance and decided to pick it up. I remember trying it at Selfridges, but by the time I reached the Dior counter my nose was already fatigued, so I never really formed an opinion back then. Here are my thoughts now. The official listed notes are oakmoss, Turkish rose, Indonesian patchouli, bergamot, sambac jasmine, and amber. Fragrantica also lists cedar and sandalwood, which I do pick up slightly. Gris Dior is considered the successor to Gris Montaigne, which had a much more complex note pyramid. Some say Gris Dior is simply a repackaged version, though I am not entirely convinced. I have attached the note breakdown of Gris Montaigne below for reference. This is a chypre fragrance and fairly linear in its development. I do not have much experience with chypres, but the quality here is undeniable. It is very well blended and refined. That said, chypres are still not really my thing, and this one is just as confusing to me as others in the genre. To my nose, it smells like the kind of toiletries my granny used to use. Very herbal, natural, and old school. I genuinely cannot picture a clear occasion where I would want to wear this. It is powdery, clean yet slightly dirty, sweet, green, old fashioned, and fresh all at once. The drydown reminds me strongly of rose talcum powder. Honestly, give me $5 and I could probably recreate this scent by buying a few basic products. I might have to call my granny and ask what she uses. Jokes aside, I am simply not the right audience for this fragrance. That said, I can clearly imagine a scenario where it works perfectly. Lying on a hammock on a warm but cloudy spring afternoon at my granny’s countryside house, trying to read a book. That feels like the ideal moment for this scent. Performance was another slight disappointment. I got around 6 hours on skin before it disappeared, though it lasts more than twice as long on clothes. Projection is soft to moderate for the first one to two hours.

Don't you hate it when you spray something because you think it's a good fit for the moment, and then you immediately regret it? Welcome Zest+Vetiver this afternoon. I had fairly good experiences with this in the past, but now I wish I went with an Hermes instead. Anyway, I'm pretty sure we all know the story with this, so I'll just give you the quick AI review to remind you what this one is all about: Overall Vibe: Clean, citrusy, blue, soapy, and slightly earthy. Many find it very easily likable and an excellent, safe designer-style scent. Top: Lemon Peel, Basil Leaves, Clary Sage that creates a bright, zesty (love that word, but I don't agree this time), and aromatic opening. The Vetiver: Reviewers note that the vetiver is not smoky, but rather gives a slightly earthy, green quality that anchors the bright citrus. Mid: French Lavender, Orris Root, Rockrose (Adds a soft, powdery, and clean nuance. Alright. I guess so.) Base: Warm Amber, Vetiver, Oakmoss (Provides a warm, earthy, and grounding dry down). I shoulda gone with the Hermes. 6.0 / 10.0