Florabotanica, Balenciaga

A modern offering in the category of clean, soapy, just-out-the-shower scents, with the emphasis on modern. You would not catch someone’s grandmother (the main demographic to which soap-smelling perfumes are usually directed towards) wearing this concoction. It’s nowness is a result of the masculine synthesis of the mint and vetiver top and base notes respectively, that along with the dominant rose middle note, make a refreshing, green floral offering.

Florabotanica tells its story in a very linear fashion; no surprises here; but is blended in such a way, that I do not mind its simplicity in the least. I also suspect that its artificiality is responsible for its monstrous staying power: twenty four hours, one shower and half-a-dozen handwashes on, and I can still smell it wafting off of the back of my hand as if I just sprayed it there. On clothes, this thing is downright indestructible.

I would love to smell it on ultra feminine girly-girls, teenage boys, or indeed, someone’s grandmother.

Books and Perfume Final Verdict: 7/10