Golden-Green: Perfumes for an Irish Spring

I’ve just returned from a month in Abu Dhabi, and while I left a very cold and blustery Ireland, I seem to have arrived back in time to witness the kind of spring weather that this country does best – fresh, sunny, with greenery exploding in the hedgerows and fields. It is still cold as hell at night, though, so I find myself turning to fragrances that are bitter and herbacious, but mingled with enough resins, fruit, or wood to kick in that balmy warmth I still crave. These below are doing the trick. Commune de Paris by Astier de Villatte An eau de cologne for people who like orientals more than they do eaux de cologne (which would include me). Think less 4177 and more Shalimar Cologne-slash-Shaal Nur-slash-Opus 1144. Its bright, herbaceous start smacks of lemon peel, a touch of something like anise, and garden herbs, but soon settles into a sort of powdered, glittery lemon drop accord, like resins sanded down and stirred into a key lime pie. It is very benzoin forward, and so has…