Cabotine by Grès is a vibrant green floral perfume that captures the exuberant side of early 1990s perfumery. Released in 1990 and created by perfumer Jean-Claude Delville, Cabotine combines juicy fruit, spicy coriander, orange blossom, tuberose, hyacinth, ginger, jasmine, ylang ylang, rose, iris, violet, warm woods, vanilla, musk, amber, and vetiver into a fragrance that feels bright, floral, green, spicy, and unmistakably full of personality.

From an editorial perspective, Cabotine is far more interesting than its accessible price might suggest. The opening is sharp, fruity, and green. The heart explodes into flowers, with tuberose, hyacinth, ginger, ylang ylang, jasmine, rose, and freesia all competing for attention. The dry down gradually softens everything through woods, musk, amber, tonka bean, and vanilla.

The ginger is especially important. Cabotine became known for bringing ginger into a prominent floral composition, giving the fragrance a fresh spicy quality that separates it from more conventional white floral perfumes.

The result is cheerful but not quiet, feminine but not delicate, and fresh without smelling like a modern aquatic perfume.

What does Cabotine by Grès smell like?

Cabotine smells green, floral, fruity, spicy, fresh, powdery, and softly warm.

The fragrance opens with coriander, orange blossom, cassia, black currant, plum, tangerine, and peach.

Coriander gives the opening a dry aromatic spice.

Orange blossom adds floral brightness.

Black currant provides tart fruitiness.

Plum creates darker sweetness.

Tangerine keeps the opening energetic, while peach gives the fragrance a softer juicy quality.

Then Cabotine becomes intensely floral.

Tuberose provides creamy white floral richness.

Hyacinth gives the heart a green, almost watery floral character.

Ginger adds sparkling spice.

Carnation provides additional warmth.

Jasmine and ylang ylang create richness.

Rose and freesia give the bouquet femininity and lift.

Iris, heliotrope, and violet add a softer powdery texture.

The dry down becomes smoother.

Musk creates softness.

Vetiver adds dry earthiness.

Sandalwood and cedar provide woodiness.

Amber introduces warmth.

Tonka bean and vanilla give the fragrance a gentle sweet finish.

The final effect feels like a brightly colored spring garden filled with fruit, greenery, flowers, spice, and warm woods.

What are the top, heart, and base notes of Cabotine?

Release Year: 1990

Top Notes: Coriander, Orange Blossom, Cassia, Black Currant, Plum, Tangerine, Peach

Heart Notes: Tuberose, Hyacinth, Carnation, Ginger, Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Rose, Freesia, Iris, Heliotrope, Violet

Base Notes: Musk, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Cedar, Amber, Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Traditional Civet Accord

Cabotine develops noticeably throughout the wear.

The opening is fruity, spicy, and green.

The heart becomes intensely floral.

The base softens into musk, woods, amber, tonka bean, and vanilla.

That complexity is one of the reasons Cabotine continues to feel more substantial than many inexpensive floral perfumes.

Is Cabotine for men, women, or unisex?

Cabotine by Grès was created and marketed as a women's fragrance.

Its tuberose, jasmine, rose, freesia, violet, iris, orange blossom, peach, and vanilla create a traditionally feminine floral profile.

However, the coriander, ginger, hyacinth, vetiver, woods, and green qualities give the fragrance more edge than a conventional soft floral.

Anyone who enjoys complex green floral fragrances can wear Cabotine regardless of gender.

Its original positioning remains feminine.

How long does Cabotine last?

Cabotine Eau de Toilette generally provides approximately 6 to 8 hours of noticeable wear for many wearers.

Its performance is one of the fragrance's strengths. Current Parfumo community data gives the Eau de Toilette strong longevity and sillage ratings, which supports Cabotine's reputation as a surprisingly persistent floral for its concentration.

Performance can vary according to:

• Skin chemistry
• Number of sprays
• Temperature
• Skin hydration
• Production batch
• Application to clothing

The fruit and citrus soften first.

Tuberose, jasmine, ylang ylang, ginger, woods, musk, amber, tonka bean, and vanilla provide the longer-lasting portion.

For an Eau de Toilette, Cabotine has considerable presence.

How strong is Cabotine's projection?

Cabotine has moderate to strong projection, especially during the opening and floral heart.

Coriander, orange blossom, tuberose, hyacinth, ginger, jasmine, ylang ylang, rose, and carnation create a noticeable scent trail.

The fragrance can feel surprisingly assertive when heavily applied.

As Cabotine dries down, projection becomes smoother through musk, sandalwood, cedar, amber, tonka bean, and vanilla.

This is a perfume where restraint often improves the experience.

What fragrance family is Cabotine?

Cabotine belongs primarily to the Floral fragrance family with green, fruity, spicy, and woody characteristics. Major fragrance databases classify it as a floral fragrance, while the overall composition has a strong green floral identity.

Its major characteristics include:

Fruity: Black Currant, Plum, Peach, Tangerine

Green: Hyacinth, Cassia

Spicy: Coriander, Ginger, Carnation

White Floral: Tuberose, Jasmine, Orange Blossom

Floral: Rose, Freesia, Violet, Ylang Ylang

Powdery: Iris, Heliotrope, Violet

Woody: Sandalwood, Cedar

Earthy: Vetiver

Warm: Amber, Tonka Bean, Vanilla

That unusual combination of greenery, fruit, spice, and flowers is central to Cabotine's personality.

What seasons is Cabotine best for?

Cabotine performs particularly well during spring and summer, with early fall also working nicely.

Spring

Spring may be Cabotine's ideal season.

Hyacinth, tuberose, orange blossom, freesia, rose, jasmine, violet, and greenery fit naturally with mild temperatures and blooming surroundings.

Summer

Cabotine can work beautifully during summer with moderate application.

Its fruit and green floral character feel lively in warm weather.

Early Fall

Vetiver, cedar, sandalwood, amber, tonka bean, and vanilla give the fragrance enough warmth to transition into cooler days.

Winter

Cabotine can still be worn during winter, but someone who prefers dense amber, vanilla, spice, or gourmand perfumes during colder weather may want something heavier.

Is Cabotine better for daytime or nighttime?

Cabotine is strongest as a daytime fragrance.

Its fruit, greenery, flowers, coriander, ginger, and citrus brightness feel particularly natural during mornings and afternoons.

It works especially well for spring and summer daytime events.

The warmer woody base allows it to transition into a casual dinner or early evening, but Cabotine is not primarily a dark nighttime perfume.

What occasions should Cabotine be worn for?

Cabotine works particularly well for:

• Brunch
• Garden parties
• Office wear
• Spring events
• Summer gatherings
• Lunch
• Weddings
• Shopping
• Travel
• Weekend outings
• Casual daytime dates
• Everyday classic fragrance wear

Its lively floral personality makes it especially appropriate when you want something feminine and energetic.

What age range is Cabotine best suited for?

Cabotine works for a wide adult age range.

Its fruit and green freshness give it energy.

Tuberose, carnation, iris, vetiver, woods, amber, and musk provide enough sophistication for mature fragrance wearers.

Someone younger who enjoys vintage or classic florals may appreciate how different Cabotine feels from modern gourmand perfumes.

Someone who remembers it from the 1990s may appreciate the nostalgic connection.

Personal taste matters more than age.

Is Cabotine office appropriate?

Yes, but application should be controlled.

Cabotine can be an excellent office fragrance when limited to 1 to 2 sprays.

Its floral heart is surprisingly powerful.

Tuberose, hyacinth, jasmine, ginger, carnation, and ylang ylang can project noticeably in shared environments.

Applied lightly, Cabotine feels polished, green, floral, and energetic.

Is Cabotine good for dates?

Yes, particularly for daytime and spring dates.

Cabotine works well for:

• Brunch dates
• Lunch
• Outdoor dates
• Garden events
• Spring outings
• Casual dinner
• Weekend activities

Peach, plum, flowers, and vanilla add femininity, while coriander and ginger keep the fragrance lively.

For a dark formal evening, a richer fragrance may feel more natural.

Is Cabotine a safe blind buy?

Cabotine is a moderate-risk blind buy, despite its affordable price.

It is especially likely to appeal to someone who enjoys:

• Green floral perfumes
• Tuberose
• Hyacinth
• Ginger
• Coriander
• Orange blossom
• Jasmine
• Ylang ylang
• Powdery florals
• Vintage 1990s fragrances

The biggest consideration is intensity.

Cabotine is not a delicate modern floral.

Its greenery, ginger, coriander, tuberose, and hyacinth can feel sharp and expressive.

For classic floral lovers, that is exactly what makes it interesting.

What fragrances smell similar to Cabotine?

Cabotine has a distinctive green, spicy, white floral personality, but several fragrances currently available from South Beach Perfumes explore closely related floral territory.

Anaïs Anaïs L’Original by Cacharel

Anaïs Anaïs L’Original is one of the strongest alternatives for someone who enjoys Cabotine's green floral character.

It combines aldehydes, bergamot, mandarin, hyacinth and peach with jasmine, lily, ylang ylang, tuberose, rose, orris root, violet and narcissus before settling into carnation, musk, sandalwood, amber, cedar, incense and vetiver. South Beach Perfumes currently shows the 3.4 oz spray available to add to cart.

The overlap is substantial.

Both fragrances use hyacinth, peach, jasmine, ylang ylang, tuberose, rose, iris or orris, violet, carnation, musk, sandalwood, amber, cedar, and vetiver.

Anaïs Anaïs feels softer and more romantic.

Cabotine feels greener, spicier, fruitier, and more energetic.

Fifth Avenue by Elizabeth Arden

Fifth Avenue is an excellent alternative for someone who likes Cabotine's large floral bouquet but wants something smoother and more polished.

It combines magnolia, lilac, lily of the valley, mandarin and bergamot with violet, rose, ylang ylang, jasmine, tuberose, peach, clove and nutmeg before settling into amber, musk, sandalwood, iris and vanilla. South Beach Perfumes currently lists multiple sizes as available.

Both fragrances share tuberose, jasmine, ylang ylang, rose, violet, peach, sandalwood, amber, musk, iris, vanilla, and warm spice.

Fifth Avenue is smoother and more sophisticated.

Cabotine is greener and more exuberant.

Beautiful by Estée Lauder

Beautiful is a strong alternative for someone who loves the lush floral side of Cabotine.

It emphasizes rose, lily, tuberose, jasmine, and other rich flowers within a warm feminine structure, and South Beach Perfumes currently shows the Eau de Parfum available to add to cart.

Beautiful feels richer, warmer, and more romantic.

Cabotine feels greener, spicier, and more playful.

What is the difference between available Cabotine concentrations?

Cabotine has historically been available in both Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum concentrations.

The South Beach Perfumes product featured here is the 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette spray.

Cabotine Eau de Toilette

The Eau de Toilette is the classic reference version.

It emphasizes the green, fruity, floral, spicy character and has surprisingly strong longevity and projection.

Cabotine Eau de Parfum

Cabotine Eau de Parfum is also documented as a concentration variant of the same fragrance.

Parfumo currently lists both the Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum, with Jean-Claude Delville credited for each.

The Eau de Parfum generally feels richer and denser, while the Eau de Toilette retains more freshness and lift.

Cabotine Flankers

The Cabotine name has also expanded into numerous separate fragrances over time.

These include Cabotine Rose, Cabotine Gold, Cabotine Fleur Splendide, Cabotine Bleu, Cabotine Turquoise, and others.

These are separate compositions rather than simply stronger or lighter versions of the original Cabotine.

Learn more about fragrance concentrations

Is Cabotine discontinued?

The original Cabotine should not be treated as definitively discontinued.

Current fragrance databases continue to maintain active entries for both the Cabotine Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum, while the wider Cabotine collection remains commercially represented through a variety of fragrances and retail channels.

Some retailers label Cabotine as discontinued, which creates understandable confusion.

For accuracy, the better description is that Cabotine remains available through fragrance distribution, although regional availability and individual concentrations can fluctuate.

The South Beach Perfumes 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette is currently shown as sold out.

When was Cabotine released?

Cabotine by Grès was released in 1990.

Its timing is important.

The fragrance appeared at the transition between the bold floral perfumes of the 1980s and the increasingly fresh, green, and fruity styles that would shape the 1990s.

Cabotine contains elements of both worlds.

The flowers are large.

The projection has presence.

But the fruit, greenery, ginger, coriander, and hyacinth give the fragrance a fresher and more energetic character.

That combination helped make Cabotine recognizable.

Who created Cabotine?

Cabotine was created by perfumer Jean-Claude Delville. Both Fragrantica and Parfumo credit him with the original 1990 fragrance.

His use of ginger is especially notable.

Cabotine became associated with the unusual combination of ginger, coriander, green florals, fruit, and a large floral bouquet.

The resulting composition manages to feel spicy, floral, fruity, green, and warm at the same time.

How many sprays of Cabotine should be used?

Cabotine benefits from conservative application.

For most situations:

Office: 1 to 2 sprays

Everyday Wear: 2 to 3 sprays

Brunch: 2 sprays

Spring and Summer: 2 to 3 sprays

Dinner: 2 to 3 sprays

Outdoor Wear: 3 sprays

Hot Weather: 1 to 2 sprays

Two sprays are a good starting point.

Cabotine has stronger projection than its affordable Eau de Toilette positioning might suggest.

Allow the fragrance to develop before deciding you need more.

Is Cabotine authentic at South Beach Perfumes?

Yes.

South Beach Perfumes sells authentic, original brand-name fragrances, including Cabotine by Parfums Grès.

The current product listing identifies Cabotine as a 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette for women, launched in 1990, with a fruity, green, floral, woody character.

Learn more about our product guarantee policy

Who should buy Cabotine?

Cabotine is an excellent choice for someone who enjoys:

• Green floral perfumes
• Tuberose
• Hyacinth
• Ginger
• Coriander
• Orange blossom
• Jasmine
• Ylang ylang
• Rose
• Freesia
• Iris
• Violet
• Black currant
• Peach
• Sandalwood
• Vetiver
• Musk
• Classic 1990s perfumes
• Fragrances with strong personality
• Affordable floral classics

It is particularly appealing for someone who wants a floral perfume that feels energetic rather than soft and predictable.

Who may not like Cabotine?

Cabotine may not be ideal for someone who prefers:

• Minimalist skin scents
• Very soft transparent florals
• Heavy vanilla gourmands
• Candy-like perfumes
• Aquatic scents
• Completely spice-free fragrances
• Very low projection
• Simple linear perfumes

The green floral intensity is the biggest consideration.

Tuberose, hyacinth, ginger, coriander, and carnation create a very recognizable personality.

Cabotine is not trying to disappear.

South Beach Perfumes Expert Review

Cabotine by Grès is one of those fragrances that reminds us not to judge perfume quality by price.

Released in 1990.

Created by Jean-Claude Delville.

Packed with fruit.

Greenery.

Spice.

Flowers.

Woods.

Musk.

Amber.

The opening immediately gets your attention.

Coriander provides spice.

Black currant and plum give the fragrance fruit.

Tangerine adds brightness.

Peach creates softness.

Then the flowers arrive.

And they arrive in force.

Tuberose.

Hyacinth.

Carnation.

Jasmine.

Ylang ylang.

Rose.

Freesia.

Iris.

Violet.

Heliotrope.

Then ginger moves through that bouquet and gives the entire fragrance an energetic spicy quality.

That is where Cabotine becomes truly interesting.

Without the ginger and coriander, it could easily have become another large floral perfume from its era.

Instead, it feels greener.

Sharper.

More animated.

The dry down gradually settles everything.

Sandalwood.

Cedar.

Vetiver.

Musk.

Amber.

Tonka bean.

Vanilla.

The fragrance becomes warmer and softer, but the green floral personality never completely disappears.

That evolution explains why Cabotine still has passionate fans.

It also explains why it can be polarizing.

This is not a polite little floral.

It is a garden with opinions.

For someone who loves Anaïs Anaïs, large floral bouquets, hyacinth, tuberose, ginger, green perfume, or classic 1990s fragrance, Cabotine is absolutely worth knowing.

Its price may suggest an inexpensive everyday perfume.

Its composition says something entirely different.

South Beach Perfumes Expert Rating: 9.3/10

Best For: Green floral, spicy floral, tuberose, and classic fragrance lovers

Best Seasons: Spring and summer

Best Time: Daytime into early evening

Longevity: Approximately 6 to 8 hours

Projection: Moderate to strong

Blind Buy Rating: 7/10

Overall Character: Green, floral, fruity, spicy, powdery, warm, energetic, and distinctive

Looking for a fragrance that better matches your personality, taste, and lifestyle? Explore our Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Signature Scent.