Chypre

French for Cyprus, chypre originally referred to fragrances made using materials endemic to the island. It’s modern usage dates to 1917 to the release of Coty's Chypre. His fragrance took inspiration from the chypre fragrances of old and modernized the accord. Since 1917, the term has been used to refer to fragrances that contain a combination of oakmoss, cistus labdanum, bergamot and patchouli. In recent years, as restrictions have hampered the used of oakmoss in fragrances, so-called modern chypres have increasingly relied on patchouli and treemoss to create the characteristically earthy-mossy effect.

Chypres can vary wildly from the sparkling effervescent of citrus chypres to the dark, woodiness of classic chypres. One thing that links all of these fragrances is a decidedly 'perfumey' character—chypres are abstract portraits rather than attempts to replicate nature faithfully. As such, they possess a refined, glamorous character. Sub-categories within the Chypre family include citrus fruity chypres, white floral chypres, gourmand chypres and green chypres.

ABSINTH  Nasomatto
AU DELÀ NARCISSE  Bruno Fazzolari
AZEMOUR LES ORANGERS  Parfum d'Empire
BOHA Jeroboam
CHYPRE-MOUSSE Oriza L. Legrand
CHYPRE PALATIN  MDCI
CORSICA FURIOSA Parfum d'Empire
DOLCEACQUA Masque Milano
DRYAD  Papillon
ELLA Arquiste
EVERNIA Ormonde Jayne
ERAWAN Dusita
LAST SEASON Meo Fusciuni
LA BELLE HÉLÈNE  MDCI
MAL-AIMÉ Parfum d'Empire
NUIT DE BAKÉLITE  Naomi Goodsir
TERRONI Orto Parisi
THE LOBSTER  Moth and Rabbit Parfums
THE SOFT LAWN  Imaginary Authors
VICTRIX  Profumum Roma