Hello APJ, Welcome to our small scale collaboration project. Old Herbaceous (OH) of Serenity Now Scents and Sensibilities and I will be doing a monthly post on different perfume notes. We are not perfumers but aficionados of fragrance. So lots of our information will come with links for further reading or text references. We are learning as you are learning, or refreshing.
Galbanum: Notes on Notes
This month Old Herbaceous picked the note, Galbanum. One of my favourite notes in perfumery and so versatile. I’m very bummed I couldn’t find my bottle of DSH Perfumes Giverny In Bloom. It’s the best galbanum rich perfume I have ever smelled. Do yourself a favour and try it, if you like a floral super green.
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What is Galbanum? From Wikipedia: Galbanum is an aromatic gum resin and a product of certain (celery, carrot or parsley family) Persian plant species in the genus Ferula. Galbanum-yielding plants grow plentifully on the slopes of the mountain ranges of northern Iran. It occurs usually in hard or soft, irregular, more or less translucent and shining lumps, or occasionally in separate tears, of a light-brown, yellowish or greenish-yellow colour. Galbanum has a … bitter taste, a … musky odour, and an intense green scent.
How does Galbanum smell? Well, Wikipedia gives these descriptors; pine, evergreen, green bamboo, parsley, green apples, musk, or simply intense green. I’m going to add that galbanum adds the feeling of the perfectly smooth green glass stones you can find on the beach and rubbed against your cheek. It’s sheer, cool, satin like and beautiful. When added to other notes it can amplify, support, add breadth and give lift. Something rarely attributed to galbanum is its slightly feral animalic undertones.
How is Galbanum used in perfumery? Known to have been used since ancient Egyptian times in incense and perfumery.It was almost a ubiquitous additive for decades and is particularly well known as part of the chypre ingredient list. Galbanum is a necessary part of the green oeuvre and adds a certain something to fragrance across the board. Also, it’s lasting power is excellent, making it the perfect base to hold a fragrance together on.
In which perfumes will you find Galbanum?
Guerlain Chamade
Chamade makes me smile. That opening hit of aldehydes, galbanum and spring florals made slightly tropical by ylang and vanilla is its very own self. I can’t think of another that seems to do it so effortlessly. Though I’m sure there are other animalics involved I’m thinking it’s the galbanum that is doing double time as green and growly. Here galbanum is not the king but playing in ensemble.
Serge Lutens Bas de Soie
A huge breath of spring, yes I know I’m repeating myself. Even in our cold, rainy autumn here in Sydney I am transported to a springtime wonderland. Hyacinth, iris and musk blowing on a cool breeze of galbanum. Much greener and with more of a bite on open than Chamade I love the way this dark forest floor gets hit by sunlight through its life and becomes warmed through. Bas de Sole is galbanum and the other notes bit players on me.
Please go check out Serenity Now Scents and Sensibilities and see what OH has to add to the Notes on Notes about Galbanum.
What are your favourite fragrances with Galbanum listed as a note?
Portia xx
I love the sharp green note of galbanum; it’s one of the top notes that really stand out for me. I immediately think of Chanel No 19 when talking about this note. I have an old mini of Givenchy III which I should dig out, as that is also supposed to be a galbanum scent.
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Heya Greg,
Yes, you are right. Both are dripping with galbanum.
Glad to see another fan of the note.
Portia xx
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Lovely and evocative description! Chamade was one of my first “grown-up” perfumes, bought for me by myself out of my college grant!
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Heya Jillie,
WOO HOO! You were super sophisticated early on. What a choice.
Portia xx
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xxxxxxxx
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I love Chamade. I will wear it today.
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Hey Matty,
I hope it gives you all the green spring loveliness you deserve.
Portia xx
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Thank you, Portia. As you know I live in Manchester. It’s a lovely spring day today as was yesterday. Chamade perfect.. I’m going to sit outside reading my book XX
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Wear your woolies & take a blanket. It’s nippy!
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Must de Cartier
Emilio Pucci Sole 149
Ralph Lauren Safari
Patou Vacances
Vintage Niki de Saint Phalle (notes are listed as “green” but I swear there’s galbanum in there)
and of course classic Chanel no 19
I am sure I could come up with a dozen more…years ago I used to add a drop of galbanum e.o. to various blends….it’s extraordinarily potent but adds such a beautiful green layer.
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100% on the Niki de Saint Phalle, it’s a divine galbanum bomb Brigitte.
Such a yummy note, love that you used to addd a bit to extra green stuff.
Portia xx
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I need to be in the mood but I do enjoy galbanum. Chanel No 19, Jacomo Silences, and Goutal Heure Exquise for more florals.
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Hey MMKinPA,
There are three beauties right there.
Portia xx
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Oooh yes, gimme some galbanum. No. 19 of course is right up there. Miss Dior from back in the day, and from recent times FM Synthetic Jungle. I probably have tons of other galbanum-rich frags but those are off the top of my head. I consider it to be a clean green rather than dark and mysterious.
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Interesting CassieFlower,
I love how the same note can mean so many different things to people. Our scent memories and experiences make everything so personal. Very cool.
Portia xx
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Givenchy III
No19 & No19 Poudre
Vintage Miss Dior
Silences
Eau de Campagne
Eau de Soir
Aerin Lilac Path
Cerruti 1881
Vent Vert
I’m sure many Estée Lauder’s earlier scents were galbanum bombs too. Estee Super, original Private Collection & Azuree positively exude galbanum to me
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Oh yes, you’re so right Alityke. they were probably swimming in it.
Portia xx
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Oh! Private Collection!! Yes!! I wonder too if Aliage Sports Spray had galbanum too.. I loved that one decades ago.
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I’m sure Aliage had galbanum, it was a signature of earlier EL classics, I’m sure even Youth Dew has some. Beautiful does, to balance that enormous stinky bouquet.
I was surprised that Cristalle EdT doesn’t name it as a note.
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I’m surprised about the Cristalle too!!
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Yes, I thought of that very one as well.
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I was just going to reply with this answer. Galbanum isn’t listed in the notes on Fragrantica but I’d swear it’s in there. I still miss Aliage.
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I am not 100 percent confident in fragrantica, and not just with Aliage. I hear the reformulated, which has also been discontinued, isn’t the same.
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I’m adding Anais Anais my list! Sampling it again right now after 40 years have passed and while researching the notes saw galbanum.
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Mum used to wear it but stopped because all three of us would call it Anus Anus. We thought we were SO FUNNY! Poor Mum.
Portia xx
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Too funny!! You need to get your nose on it again. I thunked a few bottles in the early 80s. Current formula lovely enough and greatly priced… so much so that I am considering a full bottle.
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AH! Thanks for the heads up Brigitte.
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Pingback: Notes on Notes: Galbanum – Serenity Now Scents and Sensibilities
Ooohhhh, I love galbanum in perfumes ❤
Some of my old galbanum loves include the first Giorgio Armani, Givenchy III, Mystere de Rochas…the newer ones are Weekend by Patricia de Nicolai and Puredistance Antonia.
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Very nice list!! And I am waving 👋 hello!!
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Waving right back to you!!!
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I am happy we are back on APJ!!!!
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Yeah, me too Brigitte
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Hey Neva,
So good to see you here.
LOVE Weekend. Never even thought of it and would have loved to use it as an example.
Going to put some on now.
Portia xx
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