Always on the search for a good fresh green, my eyes popped out like tomatoes on the stem yesterday when I smelled Foglie di Pomodoro in Tokyo. There are not all that many convincingly crisp and sharp bracing summer eaux fraiches out there that give you the refreshing jolt you require in hot and sultry weather: Sisley’s Eau De Campagne is not what it once was – still very basilic and viney but not as complex and beautiful (nor green) as the original, Yves Saint Laurent’s Vice Versa is too hard to find, and other tomato leaf productions such as Lost March’s Feuille De Tomate Poivrée are almost too monothematically pinpointed and roughly photorealistic; don’t actually smell like tomato leaves whatsoeverDemeter Tomato) or else, like MiN New York’s Chef’s Table go too far in the culinary direction (do you actually want to smell like a walking chilled gazpacho?). The opening of this perfume, however – a mandarin- tea leaf- orange blossom coronet interlaced with freshly picked tomato leaves, green, lean and Italian simple was just so good, perfectly balanced and sense-delighting that I literally went speeding to the nearest ATM to get it even though I was going to be late for the meeting with my friends.
Strangely, my card wasn’t working in that convenience store, so I perhaps wisely decided to wait and feel the base notes before committing (you can see why I don’t allow myself a credit card). Walking in the hot city early evening, the perfume – postpandemic everything is buzzing and excitable right now and I felt happily stimulated to be surrounded by so many people – gradually receded to a pleasant musky mandarin soap that naturally did not have, even remotely, the exciting briskness of the opening – which for me is DIVINE – and which would be the main reason for buying it. Mmm. Sometimes, beggars cannot be choosers, though, and on reflection, I know deep in my tomato loving heart that I will be going back to get this delightful little scent for sure – you can’t unsmell a smell – beauty is beauty – and in certain moods and climactic conditions, I know I am going to definitely need that first hit.
Sadly that brand is not available in UK, but I tried Nicolai Riviera Verbena as a new summer green fragrance, and that one certainly hits the spot!
I have been looking out for that one because of thy recommendation but at the biggest Nicolai carrier in Shinjuku yesterday they didn’t have it
Neither in Germany. As a matter of fact, the YouFirst website informs us: „We’ll be back soon. We are currently updating our shop and will be back really soon. Thanks for your patience.“
Well it was definitely the new shop with brand new sleek designs that I saw in Isetan – maybe they have started there.
Sometimes I just like crisp clean simplicity
Well as an “eau fraiche,” you can keep reapplying it for the first hit! Sounds perfect for these hot days.
P E R F ECCT
It’s just the money
) though this one is relatively affordable (
I was always going to try Pop by Stella McCartney, it was a tomato leaf floral, seems to have disappeared tho …
Funny you’re talking about tomato leaves, just trimmed back the tomato jungle in my garden!
Sounds heavenly !
I love tomato based curries – I bet you can make incredible ones
I could eat rice & curry every day! Ceylonese curries especially are the stuff of dreams!
I am yearning to try