Our take
What does Vent Vert smell like?
Germaine Cellier composed Vent Vert for Pierre Balmain in 1947. She had already made Bandit for Robert Piguet and liked radical moves. Here she pushed galbanum to 8% of the formula, a huge dose for the time. The result founded a new family: the green floral. The opening is sharp. Bergamot, neroli and citrus mix with violet leaf, which smells of sap and cucumber. Galbanum stays up front in the heart, joined by aromatic basil. Lily of the valley, hyacinth, rose and jasmine make a fresh bouquet that seems picked in the rain. Sage, sandalwood and oakmoss give the base a chypre footing, softened by musk. Chanel No. 19, released in 1971, owes a lot to this idea. Calice Becker reformulated Vent Vert in 1990, and the original version no longer exists.
When to wear it
A daytime spring scent, best on cool damp days. Two sprays are enough since the galbanum carries far.
It belongs to the Floral, Green family. Vent Vert is one of 7 creations by Balmain in our encyclopedia.
