Gris

Fresh, powdery and polished. Inspired by Gris.

Bergamot opens bright and clean, then a soft rose-patchouli comes up from underneath with oakmoss and cedar in the base. Neat, cool and well-groomed — the perfume equivalent of a well-pressed shirt.

How it develops

Bergamot opens, and little else: bright, lightly bitter, clean — an opening without a single superfluous note. The heart is a classic chypre in miniature: rose, here cool and powdery rather than sweet, with patchouli laying an earthy, dry floor underneath. The base is where the name comes from: oakmoss, grey, bitter and a little inky, with cedar for the dryness, amber for a hint of warmth and sandalwood rounding it off smooth and well-groomed. From citrus to powdery rose to moss.

Who it's for, and when

Unisex, wearable for him and her. Office and daytime, all year round; at its best in autumn and winter. Too understated for the evening or a night out. Love clean and powdery but want pear and white musk with it, see L-20. Looking for a chypre with more berry and warmth, E-30 is the neighbour.

How to wear it

Because it stays close to the skin you can use three sprays: neck, wrists and chest, on moisturised skin. Don't rub. One spray on a shirt collar keeps it near all working day.