Pure DKNY - Verbena / A Drop of Verbena by DKNY

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Pure DKNY - Verbena
A Drop of Verbena
DKNY 2011

7.0 / 10 90 Ratings

A perfume by DKNY for women, released in 2011. The scent is fresh-green. It is still in production.
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Main accords

Fresh

Green

Floral

Aquatic

Citrus

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Basil

Vervain

Heart Notes

Honeysuckle Jasmine

Jasmine

Peony

Base Notes

Vetiver

White amber

Irish moss

Ratings

Scent

7.090 Ratings

Longevity

5.365 Ratings

Sillage

4.564 Ratings

Bottle

6.773 Ratings

Value for money

8.614 Ratings

Submitted by Kankuro, last update on 09/16/2025.

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Manifesto

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Reviews

11 in-depth fragrance descriptions

03/06/2012

5Scent 7.5Longevity 7.5Sillage

Sherapop
1240 Reviews

Sherapop

Helpful Review 2

Citrus Opening, Industrial Clean Drydown

Where the original DKNY PURE boasted the inclusion of "socially conscious" Ugandan vanilla (though each bottle contained about a nanodrop, according to my nose), PURE DKNY A DROP OF VERBENA (as my manufacturer's card reads) basically changes the entire composition. The white jasmine core is still intact, but the vanilla has been switched out for a huge dose of Togolese lemon verbena, along with a fairly big bunch of basil (not sure where that's supposed to be from).

The floral elements in this new flanker are so light as to be pretty much overwhelmed by the strong verbena and basil. So the flanker, although vaguely based on PURE, has actually become a unisex scent, unlike its namesake, which was a clear jasmine (feminine) perfume.

Unfortunately, this composition takes something of an "industrial" turn on the way to the drydown, which I find much less pleasant than the invigorating citrus-aromatic opening. In the mid-stages, PURE VERBENA smacks vaguely of something from the house of Clean or perhaps the new Jennifer Aniston perfume. The difference is that PURE VERBENA does not bottom out as a soap scent--it simply fades away.

03/04/2019

9.5Scent 2Longevity 1Sillage

Athenaida
41 Reviews

Athenaida

45 Sporty Minutes

So...
I had in my mind this perfume since sometime...
I'm a "All about greens" and vintage lover and I wanted one day to try it.
I bought it blind an 100ml tester brand new straight ahead.

The bottle came and the perfume is very good for all the "green perfumes" lovers.
It is very refreshing, it is like a tonic lime drink, very clean and safe.
I expected something very strong and maybe more verbena style but beware this is a soft perfume.
The longevity is not good unfortunately... :((
You have to re-apply even if you add 8 spritzes of it.
They won't last more than 3,5 hours on your clothes.
On me it lasts a about1 hour max.
So if you really want to get to Donna's Karan Verbena world buy a big bottle.
It is great for sports and gym.

01/24/2012

7Scent 0Longevity 0Sillage

Turandot
839 Reviews

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Turandot

Top Review 15

Delicate, more delicate, most delicate

After returning to work today after a few days off, I almost overlooked that there is a new fragrance from DKNY. The light packaging with the light green lettering is so inconspicuous. But unfortunately, the scent is just as unremarkable. Since I really like Pure DKNY with its delicate vanilla note, I was quite curious. Especially since I also enjoy the scent of Verbena, the lemon verbena. But then I must have made quite a long face, because Pure DKNY Verbena is so fresh, delicate, and light that you can only recognize the namesake ingredient with a lot of imagination. I couldn't perceive the juicy green spiciness of basil at all, and I remember honeysuckle being much more pronounced. Mossy, vetiver, or even amber?? No chance. Pure DKNY Verbena is so delicate and fresh that even I, as a staunch fruit denier when it comes to perfumes, would wish for a bit of red berries, peach, or citrus.

In all fairness, I must admit that it is quite possible that I have done the fragrance an injustice in the general perfume haze in the department. However, I don't believe that, because I can certainly perceive other very light and fresh scents. Therefore, I will keep DKNY in mind to test it again on a hot summer day - I hope there will be such a thing in 2012. According to today's judgment, there is no sillage, and the longevity defies description. I believe the "perfume" lasted less than an hour.

I consider Pure DKNY to be one of those desk drawer fragrances that are used for a quick refresh, to spray the scent on a tissue and clean your hands with it, or to freshen the air when the colleague who loves garlic has been around. But even for that, the sillage could be better.

What a pity, after Pure DKNY this is probably not a worthy successor.

08/27/2013

Anjuli
26 Reviews

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Anjuli

Very helpful Review 12

Yes - This is how I want to smell!

In the many years that I have been enthusiastically asking well-scented acquaintances/ colleagues/
S-Bahn or disco co-users... about their respective heavenly fragrances, I have repeatedly pursued a specific scent trail. The fragrance that I find so desirable and fascinating is neither sweet nor too harsh, light and elegant but not too ladylike. Neither aquatic nor herbal, not too warm/sensual nor cool or even scratchy, no fruits, also no citrus, not too much musk and certainly not in the direction of aftershave...
Very subtle and light yet still feminine it should be... However, I could never really say what it should smell like - ?Almonds? (Sandalwood?), amber - but that can also turn out too sweet and heavy. Honeysuckle perhaps - but only in a very delicate dosage, noble soap?

I believed I had briefly discovered it again and again in colleagues and strangers, and during my own attempts, I mostly experienced bitter disappointments. For example, one person actually managed to smell wonderfully with Charlie Blue, which I could never achieve even with a homeopathic dosage. Another with J'adore by Dior - I thought, there it is! But on me, it smelled like "fallen into a flower with a sugar bowl" (and so far, I have not encountered a Dior fragrance that I didn't find too intense). Another one that was a tick in the right direction but still "over the top" was Hermes 24 Faubourg...

But now - through a fortunate coincidence test, I have finally found it - this is how I have always wanted to smell with perfume :-) !!
It is neither floral nor herbal, it smells delicate and slightly bitter but not harsh. Not too clean or soapy or powdery, definitely no "fabric softener scent," but somehow still in this "care fragrance corner" and yet clearly a perfume without being "too perfumed." I find it perfect!
As I said, I am not a fan of sillage and prefer body-close scents; here, DKNY Pure Verbena suits me very well - while I find the perception and longevity quite sufficient.

(By the way, I don't like Aqua di Gioia... But I would be thrilled to receive more tips in this right fragrance corner for me :-)

11/18/2013

8Scent 5Longevity 4Sillage

Blauemaus
223 Reviews

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Blauemaus

Very helpful Review 12

Could also be a Japanese/Asian fragrance - clear and transparent

I received a sample of this DKNY last summer. I was quite taken with this wonderful scent, yet it somehow never found its way to me. Until today, when I discovered a display for the Christmas season at our Müller with all sorts of drugstore fragrances. And on the shelf next to it were some 15ml Pure DKNY scents, including this one. I somehow remembered this fragrance. I've only been wearing my winter scents for 2 (!!!) days, and already their sweetness is getting on my nerves. So something fresh came just at the right time (not that I lack in that department *gg*...), olfactorily I’m just not a sweet tooth. I prefer to eat sweets rather than spray them on myself. Moreover, I often get quite severe headaches from sweet fragrances, especially lately. That's why scents like "Vanilla" and "So Elixir" (EdP) have had to leave my collection. But back to the topic.

"Pure DKNY - Verbena" is truly as beautiful as I remember it. Just the right scent for a cold, foggy day. I perceive the citrus-fresh verbena most strongly, shortly thereafter something slightly spicy comes in: basil, which, however, does not come across as intense at all. It merely keeps the scent from certain toilet cleaner associations. Once the fragrance reaches the heart note, it is primarily aquatic for me. I perceive honeysuckle most strongly, while jasmine - thankfully - not at all. There’s also a delicate-fresh floral note from the peonies. The base is green and reminds me of fresh grass, moss, and green stems. Specifically, vetiver comes through well, as does the moss. But it’s also very soft, possibly due to amber; I can't say for sure since I don’t know what white amber smells like.

All in all, a wonderfully harmonious-fresh fragrance that reminds me a lot of "mat;" by Masaki Matsushima. It is pleasantly subtle and airy-transparent. Green and definitely suitable for year-round wear. At least I rarely like warm, heavy, or even sweet fragrances. This DKNY manages the balance between green-fresh and soft quite well. The longevity is normal for a fresh scent, lasting about 4 hours.

More reviews

Statements

10 short views on the fragrance

Blkbrd

2 years ago

1

Soft sweet velvety verbena; dry on top, saturated below, w/ a bitter, syrupy background. Fits the shade of green they used. Not longlasting.

GreenIvy

2 years ago

8Scent 6Longevity 5Sillage

14

11

Green summer meadow
with juicy herbs,
blooming flowers,
tangy grasses, and a
fresh breeze from the sea.
Unisex fragrance.

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Kikmelone

4 years ago

7.5Scent 4Longevity 4Sillage

4

Pleasantly calm. Fresh, clean, green. Great for a quick refresh.

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Greenfan1701

4 years ago

9Scent 3Longevity 4Sillage

4

2

Delicate, subtle, green, and fresh. Just right for these "dog days" :-) it doesn't last long, but you can always reapply. Mild scent.

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Nici1993

10 years ago

6.5Scent 5Longevity 4Sillage

4

The fresh and light scent that actually works for spring/summer. Everyday? Yes. Work? Yes. Leisure? Yes. Going out? No.

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Connyusw

2 years ago

8.5Scent 6Longevity 7Sillage

4

Fresh green scent with a perfect basil note. Great for summer or sports. It's fun to smell!

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Paperlily

6 years ago

4

1

Basil is unfortunately too weak. The rest is an undefinable floral scent because it's already gone. Synthetic scratchiness like Boss/Hugo "woman" or the unbearable "apples."

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