Bold, unconventional, and utterly unlike anything else in the fragrance canon — Jean Couturier Coriandre Eau de Toilette is one of the most singular and quietly beloved classics of 1970s French perfumery. Launched in 1973 as the debut fragrance of the House of Jean Couturier and created by perfumer Jacqueline Couturier — the designer's wife — alongside Jean-Louis Sieuzac and Gérard Pelpel, Coriandre drew on Jacqueline's own childhood memories and her deep connection to the perfume traditions of Grasse. The result was something genuinely audacious: a green chypre with a strongly herbal, almost masculine backbone, softened by a lush floral heart and grounded by a rich, earthy base of oakmoss and vetiver. Decades later it retains every ounce of that original character, and has earned a devoted collector following among lovers of true vintage chypre perfumery.
Coriandre opens with a distinctive, invigorating burst of coriander seed, angelica, aldehydes, bergamot, and orange blossom — spicy, green, and defiantly original, immediately setting it apart from every conventional feminine fragrance of its era or any other. The heart unfolds into a beautifully composed floral accord of rose, geranium, iris, ylang-ylang, lily, and jasmine — softer and more traditionally feminine, yet always anchored by the fragrance's herbal, slightly earthy personality. The fragrance settles into a deep, mossy, powerfully classic chypre base of oakmoss, patchouli, vetiver, civet, musk, and sandalwood — dark, velvety, and deeply satisfying, with the kind of long-lasting, skin-close warmth that defines the great chypres of the 20th century.
Fragrance Profile
- Top Notes: Coriander, Aldehydes, Angelica, Bergamot, Orange Blossom
- Heart Notes: Rose, Geranium, Iris, Ylang-Ylang, Lily, Jasmine
- Base Notes: Oakmoss, Patchouli, Vetiver, Civet, Musk, Sandalwood
Coriandre is a fragrance that chooses its wearer as much as its wearer chooses it. It is not for those who want to be safe, sweet, or predictable. It is for the woman of strong personality and quiet confidence — the one who wears her scent as an expression of genuine character rather than trend. Its evolution on the skin is extraordinary: from the sparkling, spicy-green freshness of the opening to the velvety, earthy warmth of the dry-down, it tells a story over hours and never loses interest. Longevity is impressive and sillage is refined — present and distinctive without overpowering, the mark of a well-crafted chypre. Described by fragrance writer Susan Irvine as a scent for a red-headed Raymond Chandler heroine, it is that rare thing in perfumery: a fragrance with a genuine point of view.
Product Details
- Brand: Jean Couturier
- Fragrance: Coriandre
- Type: Eau de Toilette (EDT) Spray
- Size: 3.3 oz / 100 ml
- Gender: Women's
- Fragrance Family: Green Chypre / Herbal Floral
- Occasion: Daytime, Office, All Seasons, Everyday Signature
- Year Launched: 1973
- Perfumers: Jacqueline Couturier, Jean-Louis Sieuzac, Gérard Pelpel
A must-have for lovers of green chypre fragrance, vintage French perfume collectors, and women who appreciate bold, character-driven scents with genuine history and depth.