Friday, April 26, 2013

Geoffrey Beene - Grey Flannel (1976)

"whole scent is like the moist lively scents of newly blossomed violets after a rain.."


Grey Flannel is a well known and loved fragrance around world. It was launched in 1976 and still in production. What's behind this success is its modernness thanks to its visionary creator Andre Fromentin. It's not behaving like a cologne created in the 70's, but rather a 90's or so. Grey Flannel is one of those "themed" fragrances and its a violet themed fragrance. 

Grey Flannel's blend consist of:

top notes: galbanum, neroli, petitgrain, bergamot, lemon
middle notes: mimose, iris, violet, sage, rose, geranium, narcissus
base notes: tonka bean, oak moss, almond, vetiver, cedar


It has a loaded and potent blend. When we look at the blend we can see its very heavy on the flowers in middle notes, but its not acting that kind of flowery in reality. Is not heavy on the woods too. The blend is mostly homogeneous with just a little bit syntheticness, its a rounded blend with no overpowering character and spiky notes. Except violet of course. Again, for its age it has a very clean, quite modern and freshly light type fragrance. It's not a harsh, spicy, musky masculine. Well blended and soft. So still perfectly usable today.

About the scent, well it's kinda hard to describe the grey flannel's scent. Because it has a scent both so plain but also real complex. Having violet as main theme, it mostly smells like a very much watered down,  fresh and cool lavender scent. Its actually violet of course but along with the combined scents of other flowers it reminds the lavender a bit. But this violet scent is not as spicy as a real lavender scent and much more fresher.

The flower notes in the middle is adding the scent character femininity just a bit. Grey Flannel is an awarded fragrance and makes you feel it. It feels higher quality than today's regular fashion shelf brands' colognes. Like its name; it has a grey aura, and the whole scent is like the moist lively scents of newly blossomed violets after a rain. 



A tad metallic, both masculine and a bit feminine. Not strong, heavy, spicy, bitter or cloying. Light and easy. Its a strange fragrance when we look at is launch date and to must be tried for once at least, but it's definitely not every body's cup of tea. It's not a fragrance to blind buy. Violet as a main theme is not common for men's fragrances, some love it, some hate it.

photo from badger&blade.com

In summary, Grey Flannel with its sexless build is a very unique scent especially when we think about its launch date. Not a fragrance to blind buy, but if you like its scent character, chances are high it can be your signature scent because of its uniqueness. Needs a bit experienced users to get it right.

I'd suggest Grey Flannel to people 25 and older. It can be used through the year and any time in a day. A good choice as a signature scent.

Olfactory group: Oriental Woody
Scent: above average  6/10
Silage: above average  6/10
Longevity: above average  6/10
Quality feel: average to above average  5,5/10
Recommended: Yes, especially if you like lavender/violet themed slightly feminine unique fragrances

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