There's a stain on my notebook where your coffee cup was...

il Profumo Cafe Vert

Cafe Vert, part of Italian perfumer il Profumo's classic line, is described as follows:

Cafe Vert develops from the soaking of green coffee-bean into pink grapefruit and mandarin pulp. It has an evocative and energizing effect on the psyche too. Its aroma gives pleasure to the person who either wears it or to the one that perceives it. The enchanting scent released by jasmine, cyclamen and geranium notes makes Cafe Vert an unforgettable refiner perfume.

What is this trying to be? It starts out with a strong syrupy coffee candy mess, but it spirals into a strange spearmint thing. You'd think it might be nice, but instead it's kind of like brushing your teeth and then immediately drinking coffee with cream and lots of sugar. Or maybe trying to gargle with a Caramel de Leche coffee and mint mouthwash simultaneously.

It kind of reminds me of Thierry Mugler's Angel A*Men, but this one is less offensive than Angel Amen because at least it's just two conflicting scents fighting for prominence. (Side note: part of the reason I have studiously avoided reviewing any of the Mugler scents is because, quite frankly, and no matter how I try, I just hate them. Go ahead, take away my perfumista card. I don't care. I hate them. All of them. There. I said it. Moving on.) I think it would work well as a bodywash maybe, as it does in Wash With Joe, but not as a scent. Not for me.

But yes, I am sure there are many who think that coffee and mint go together in a way that is lovely. I usually do. I loves me some peppermint mocha. But here, neither is an accent for the other; instead, both keep trying to fight for prominence so it's a weird gross mishmash. If they were going for minty chocolate here, they missed. Big time. I think it's worth smelling if you have the chance, but I can't recommend buying it without trying it. This one is going to have a small but dedicated fan base.

You can buy 100ml of Cafe Vert for $135 from Luckyscent.

"From the lips without passion
to the lips with a kiss,
there's nothing of your love
that I'll ever miss.
- "Black Coffee in Bed," Squeeze

I couldn't find any reviews other than the user reviews at Luckyscent.

Images courtesy of il Profumo, Girlichef, and Listerine.