Ma Griffe(1946)

Created by Jean Carles for Carven, Ma Griffe opens on aldehydes, galbanum, and gardenia, moves through a heart of jasmine, rose, and ylang-ylang, and closes on oakmoss, labdanum, and clary sage. Its name, meaning My Claw or My Signature, plays on the dual meaning of griffe in French, both a designer's mark of authorship and a literal claw, hinting at the fragrance's sharp, green, assertive galbanum opening. Ma Griffe is frequently cited as one of the definitive green chypres of the mid-20th century, its bracing galbanum-oakmoss structure influencing numerous later green florals. Carven, a fashion house known for its petite, youthful clientele, used the fragrance to establish a distinct identity in perfumery alongside its couture business, and Ma Griffe remains one of the house's most historically significant creations.