L'Artisan Parfumeur's L'Eau de Jatamansi

Why It's Good:

For those who would rather not smell like Britney, Paris, or Sarah JP, and wish for a whiff of individuality, this fresh yet mysterious citrus-woodsy scent may be for you.

Why It's Green:

Certified organic by Ecocert, a French standard, the fragrance is free of artificial perfumes, coloring agents, preservatives, synthetic or petroleum elements, paraffin or mineral oils. Also, it hasn't been tested on animals, and is packed in recyclable materials.

Where To Get It:

http://www.artisanparfumeur.com/ |   $145.00

Your Neck, of the Woods

According to mothers, France, and women's magazines, there are two components to womanhood that must not be overlooked: a good underwear wardrobe and a signature scent. While we admit that the middle ground between basic cotton whities and sexy-lacy-bikinis has not always been successfully negotiated with the former, we have always relied on L'Artisan Parfumeur for the latter. Since stumbling upon its Premier Figuier (the first fig fragrance) in a dark Manhattan Village basement boutique back in the mid '90s, we’ve been obsessed with L'Artisan's original, provocative yet light eau de toilettes (which can be used more liberally and often than an eau de parfum). Now we can also get pure: L'Eau de Jatamansi is made from a plant called nard (or jatamansi), which is harvested from organic soil at high altitudes in the Himalayas, and has been used as a healing and calming essential oil by medics and mystics in ancient Egypt, the Middle East, and Rome. But how does it smell? It sprays on like green lemons and sweet tangerines, races impulsively from the grove to a peppery, herbal garden, then unexpectedly ends up in a woodsy, powdery church. L'Eau de Jatamansi is made from a Tibetan ingredient, by a French company, but it plays like a film by an Italian auteur.