Extrême Pureté by Grès

It starts super fresh, acidic, and green, fading in fifteen minutes. Then the tobacco comes out, very soft with a hint of cinnamon. As it dries down, tonka bean with vanilla takes over. It’s a beautiful perfume that lasts 4-5 hours on my skin. The only downside is that it projects nothing and is a bit weak; you have to apply it generously. But with that ridiculous price, the quality is undeniable.

Just arrived after a long search. First impression: a delightful unisex, sparkling citrus, nothing invasive or loud, very versatile yet stylish, perfect for heat. It opens with sweet citrus and very refreshing fig leaves, seeming to lack body. But within seconds, the complexity hits: besides the green and citrus, a fine, refined tobacco appears—not dark or warm. It’s fresh, like freshly cut green tobacco. The cinnamon is subtle, wrapped in woods and the creamy sweetness of tonka and vanilla. It reminds me of the colognes my dad used when I was a girl. Will wait to see how it evolves once it matures.

Fantastic for the price. Extrême Pureté, like the other two in this exclusive Gres line, pleasantly surprises. It’s unisex and very long-lasting, a different citrus, nothing invasive, elegant, and mature that I love in the heat. It opens sparkling, with sweet citrus and fig leaves that refresh instantly. Soon you notice depth and complexity. Besides the green and citrus, there’s tobacco, one of my favorite notes, but in a much fresher version than usual, plus spicy cinnamon, the sweetness of benzoin, and woody cedar. It smells like a mature, complex cologne; I think it’s one of the best I’ve tried. It brings to mind my mother’s friends—cultured and simple people who used classic citrus colognes—and I love that. Moderate-to-soft sillage and over 8 hours on skin. I own all three in this range and would definitely buy them again. Magnificent work by Gres and their perfumers, bringing us jewels at accessible prices. Scent 7/10, Longevity 8/10, Sillage 6.5/10, Value 9/10, Versatility 7/10, Packaging 7.5/10. Would I buy again? Yes.

Late summer heat (around 25°C) and this rarity appeared at my favorite perfumerie at an irresistible price, so I grabbed all three ‘Signes de Gres’. IN SUMMER: It feels very green at first; on my skin, the freshness of the fig leaf dominates with bergamot. After 5 minutes, the soft sweetness of the tobacco emerges. Poor longevity, max 2 hours, and almost no projection. I’ll try it in different climates to find the perfect moment. IN WINTER: Lasts about 4 hours and is very soft; it’s not its ideal climate. I’ll edit this review again when I try it in spring.

Totally unisex due to the bergamot and tobacco, with a soft vanilla base. Fresh and delicate, very similar to Zara’s White Soho, also in the Bvlgari Pour Homme Extrême line. Ideal for heat, semi-formal gatherings, and hanging out with friends. This brand surprises with uncommon scents and good quality. Moderate sillage and longevity. Recommended.

It could be described as the Monotheme version of Tabaco Latino, but it’s a very unisex spring-summer eau de fraiche. It features myrrh, blond tobacco, and a very light, sweet spicy cinnamon. It’s exquisite, relaxed, and not intrusive.