guerlain

Mon Guerlain EDP by Guerlain

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I bought a bottle of Ultra Male from Macy’s last week, as that cologne is about to be discontinued, and Macy’s sent along a bunch of sample fragrances in the box. Naturally, they were all perfumes for women…luckily, I own this website and do reviews, so it worked out.

Anyways, one such sample was the 2017 release from Guerlain, Mon Guerlain, in an EDP spray. In this post, I am going to share my thoughts on how this perfume smells, performs, and whether or not it is worth a purchase.

What does Mon Guerlain EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: jasmine, vanilla, lavender, sandalwood, tonka bean

Click here to try: Guerlain Mon Guerlain Eau De Parfum Spray 100ml/3.3oz

My Full Review

The opening 15-20 minutes of Mon Guerlain reminds me of two other perfumes on the market, BonBon and Black Opium, both of which I enjoyed. Not to say that these three scents are the same, just seem to be in the same family of sweet, candy-like perfumes (at least at the start).

Mon Guerlain has an aroma that is sort of similar to the caramel note in BonBon and it of course shares the vanilla note that is featured so prominently in Black Opium.

It’s probably a mix of the tonka, vanilla, licorice, and that light bergamot citrus note up top. A nice blend of sweet, creamy, powdery (iris), and bright. It’s not super heavy, but it does have a substantial body to it. Very wearable.

However, as this perfume progresses it loses some of its similarity with those two fragrances and becomes more of a vanilla/lavender combo. It is a fresh blend of floral notes with a smooth and inviting sweetness.

As a man, I find this perfume to be really attractive, and kept wanting to smell it on my arm throughout the wear. Mon Guerlain is very feminine without being overpowering or bothersome and I enjoy the mix of jasmine and lavender.

There is some lingering fuzziness/resin from a touch of benzoin, sweetness with that little licorice note, and the woods in the base.

The floral is still that jasmine and lavender in the end, but a can pick up some iris and perhaps rose in there as well.

Mon Guerlain has gourmand qualities, but isn’t completely a ‘baked goods’ smelling perfume. The lavender’s heavy influence helps to make sure of that.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it isn’t a heavy perfume at all. Mon Guerlain is very well blended and even tempered. This isn’t a bad thing, as it still lasts for a long time, pretty much past a full work day.

It’s by no means a weak performer, so one will get their money’s worth when using this scent. This is a designer perfume that will leave behind a nice scent trail for a good period of time. Jumps off the skin with a wide projection radius for a long while.

After that, it’ll settle closer to the skin, but much of the wear it’ll be noticeable to you and those in close proximity to you.

It seems to hit anywhere from 8-11 hours, depending on the circumstances. Expect somewhere around the midpoint of that.

Update: After testing it out multiple times over the years, that’s about  what I get each time. It seems to be able to cross that 10 hour mark without too much issue.

Honestly, since it doesn’t stay that same warm gourmand fragrance throughout, as it is in the start, Mon Guerlain could be worn about any time except the high heat of summer. It might turn into a mess with that much heat bearing down on it, but it’s good to go any other time.

Ideally, this will be worn in autumn and winter. The cooler temperatures help this one to develop and not become cloying and unbearable.

I’ve tested this one outdoors in October or November and Mon Guerlain was fantastic when it’s chilly out.

Another plus, it just how versatile of a scent this is. It is soft enough and attractive enough to be worn in an office or school type of environment. So long as you don’t go crazy with the sprays.

You might also want to give it some time to settle before going into a close quarters environment with other people. That opening can be bold, but it’s tolerable thereafter.

Meanwhile, that attractiveness is also quite sexy, and could be worn on a date. Now, is it a loud club type of scent? No, but I have to say, I would love smelling this on a woman.

Overall Impressions of Mon Guerlain

Overall, would I recommend Mon Guerlain? Yes. I think it is a very well done fragrance from Guerlain. It smells great and performs quite well. If you’re not into vanilla or lavender, you’d do well to look elsewhere.

Now, you do get more than just that, but those are the dominant notes here. I like that bold and sweeter opening act, however, as you get so many different facets from this perfume.

This has grown a lot in popularity since I first wrote this review. It has also spawned a few flanker fragrances under this same Mon Guerlain banner. It’s not a super unique fragrance, but you get a great smell and performance out of it.

This perfume can usually be found at a fair price point and can serve as a daily wear go to scent. There’s not much to complain about here.

This is a safe fragrance, in the sense that, it isn’t going to draw a lot of negative attention and enjoys a rather universal appeal. Mon Guerlain is a winner in my book.

Insolence Eau Glacee by Guerlain

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Winding down on my current crop of scent to test out, I have today’s entry from Guerlain’s women’s collection, Insolence Eau Glacee. Now, I’m pretty sure that this one has been discontinued by this point in time, but you can still find bottles available online. I will of course cover how it smells, performs, what notes are included, and if it is worth a purchase.

What does Insolence Eau Glacee?

Notes include: red berries, apple, iris, violet, and citrus

Click here to try: Guerlain Insolence Eau Glacee Eau De Toilette Spray for Women, 1.7 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Insolence Eau Glacee was marketed as an ‘icy’ aroma and while I have come across multiple men’s colognes which also go this route, this one doesn’t seem to strike the same ‘cold’ tone. I mean, it’s there but not nearly to the same degree.

Initially, I get a lot of violet and apple in particular which is supported by the iris note. This gives the fragrance a crisp yet powdery sensation, that is quite pleasant.

Apple is the main fruit note, but the berries and a very light citrus blend is there as well. The citrus isn’t a major factor in this Guerlain. All together, the fruity notes are more tart at the beginning, then it’s a tad sweeter during the dry down.

This is a pretty linear scent and after a few minutes, what you smell is what you get. More of the iris note development and some juiciness supplied by the red berries. Violet, apple, and iris, with the additional highlights of the berries.

It’s a watery sweetness, as if the fruit notes have been soaked in a vase of the floral notes that are present here. The iciness is a nice touch, that gives it the feeling of more depth versus what it actually has.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Eau Glacee is soft and understated. This isn’t a bold or in your face sort of fragrance, it is quiet but you’ll know that it is there. It’ll project maybe 3-5 feet from the skin and that’s about it.

While it isn’t a strong perfume, it is one that lasts a work day. During testing, I managed about 8 hours with a few sprays. The performance is good, as a low key scent, that isn’t going to take over a room.

It is interesting when you get a softer fragrance that actually sticks around despite not being a complete bomb.

Eau Glacee strikes me as a casual scent or one for a business type environment. It elegant and has a seriousness to it, that doesn’t come across to me as a ‘sexy’ perfume. Nonetheless, it is pleasant and has its own charm.

I’d also say, it’s probably best in the springtime or other days in which the climate is mild. Maybe venturing into the early days of summer.

Overall Impressions of Insolence Eau Glacee

Overall, do I think Insolence Eau Glacee, is worth a purchase? If you’re a fan of violet and iris and you happen to need something low key. I think it smells fine, it’s not harsh or ugly in anyway, but I don’t think it’s incredible.

It is a solid performer that is well blended and takes you on an easy and steady ride. I like the iris, berries, and that chilly quality that comes through. Nice, clean, tart/sweet, and plenty of powder.

Eau Glacee has some very familiar aspects found in many other perfumes. It’s not super unique, though, it’s nice enough for what it is.

Update: This one seems to be long gone and got discontinued at some point after this review.

L’homme Ideal Eau de Parfum by Guerlain

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The L’homme Ideal series from Guerlain is both extensive and extremely popular. I’m close to finishing my reviews on the last two that I grabbed newer samples of. Today’s entry is Ideal Eau de Parfum, which I’ve already experienced multiple times, but was excited to come back to it. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it actually worth a try?

What does L’Homme Ideal EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: cherry, almond, thyme, vanilla, spices, lavender, rose, bergamot, incense, leather, tonka bean, and sandalwood

Click here to try: L’Homme Ideal EDP

My Full Review

The opening of Ideal EDP is quite interesting. In many ways, it has overlap with L’Intense, yet much less smokiness from the incense note.

Instead, things are lead by cherry, leather, almond, and a mix of spices. On my skin, it is a smooth leather freshness with a warm blend of spice and a cherry note sitting on top. As it moves along, more of the nuttiness from that rather distinct almond note will peak through.

Pretty complex blend of sweet, spicy, leather, and the peaking of some floral notes. Lavender and some rose.

Actually, once those top spices lighten up a bit, I do start to pick up more of the incense. Decently close to my bottle of L’Intense.

The next phase: almond, vanilla, and tonka bean start to create a wrapping effect around the leather and cherry notes. Ideal EDP still has a nice sweetness, just sans any type of sugary candy-like aroma.

For a time, the rose will come out and I really don’t get much lavender anymore. The fragrance feels drier and has a nice balance between warmth and cold freshness.

Finally, it’s leather, sandalwood, vanilla, almond and cherry (in that order). The dry down is pretty leathery/woody with just hints of the more gourmand elements found earlier on the wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is pretty moderate. You do get a fairly strong start, but it really never overwhelms or dominates a room. You’ll get decent projection from Ideal EDP, though, it doesn’t hit the higher end of the spectrum.

The longevity is good, better than the sillage. I will usually get a full 8 hours of wear from this version and up to 9.5 hours, on a good day. Spectacular? No, but really a solid performer and one that won’t just quit on you. No real complaints.

Seasonally, I like this for autumn and winter. The colder and crisp temperatures really bring out its full presentation. More nuance and it simply smells better versus when it is in the heat.

This is more about the nighttime than being a jack of all trades. At least, that’s when I prefer it. It can venture into semi-formal occasions, dates, and even in the office at times. Maybe not a main daily wear, but one that will have a heavy spot in the rotation.

Overall Impressions of Ideal Eau de Parfum

Overall, do I like L’homme Ideal EDP? Yes, I really do enjoy this Guerlain fragrance. I think that it is the best of the line, that is currently available.

The cherry note, blended with leather, almond, and vanilla really is a fine experience. This one has depth and nuance, delivers a good performance, and gives you plenty of opportunity to wear it. Guys of all ages could easily wear this one without much issue.

In the US, it is no longer sold. So, you’ll have to purchase from the UK, Europe, or eBay. That can be a problem for a lot of guys and really drive up the price of acquiring a bottle.

Update: They brought it back. EDP is now widely available

Is it worth it? If you like this line, yes, it probably will be. Personally, I already have a full bottle of L’Intense and don’t really want to own multiple flankers of Ideal. I certainly thought about it and almost pulled the trigger.

Ideal eau de parfum is a fantastic wear. Not my personal favorite, but something that I can certainly want to come back to when the mood strikes.

5 Best Smelling Guerlain L’Homme Ideal Fragrances

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L’homme Ideal has gained a ton of adherents to the fragrance line, for almost a full decade now. With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to pick one out, if you don’t want to invest in the entire line. In this post, I want to break down my top five colognes that have been released thus far by Guerlain. Hopefully, to at least give you some idea about which of these scents will fit with your own style.

What’s the Best L’Homme Ideal Fragrance (Ranked)?

My Favorite

Ideal Cologne- I think my pick for number one has shifted a few times over the years. However, after giving it some more thought, I think Ideal Cologne was the best of the line. It is now discontinued, so, not great for those who want to try it out.

This one was a great summertime option. The focus here is going to be on the citrus notes, such as: grapefruit, bergamot, and orange. The Ideal almond note, plays a lesser role with Cologne, especially early on. But, it will come around with a nice vetiver.

Fresh and has an almost frozen profile to it, that’s perfect for the warmer weather. Lighter sillage, but it could last for around 8 hours. If you can find a bottle, for a reasonable price, L’Homme Ideal Cologne is worthwhile. Ideal Cologne Review

Best Available

L’Homme Ideal EDP at Selfridges (ships from UK)– Ideal eau de parfum has taken over the second spot on the list. Coming back to both it and Extreme, I now distinctly favor it versus the other.

Cherry and almond are the stars of EDP early on. The sweet warmth is very attractive, with some very light spiciness and other notes, like leather and vanilla. It’s not too sugary sweet or overwhelming with its sillage, just a nice balance, and a pretty similar aroma at times to L’Intense.

The main issue here, is getting a hold of a bottle in the US. They no longer sell it here, so, the best bet for getting Ideal EDP is to buy from the UK or grabbing a bottle from an eBay seller. To me, this is the best one that is still produced. Ideal EDP Review

Leathery Sweetness

Ideal Extreme-At times, Extreme has been my favorite. But, less so this time around testing out these fragrances. Though, it may again claim the top spot. This one gets me a ton of leather versus the others.

Extreme is actually pretty similar to the others, with the standard nutty almond note, but paired with fruity notes such as plum. Quite tart to me, rather than sweet, early on.  Add to that, Ideal Extreme has spicy notes and a tobacco finish. Still dry fruity sweet, but not overly sugary or unbearable.

Yes, the fragrance lasts all day and while the sillage isn’t insane, it’s a very solid wear all around. L’Homme Ideal Extreme is also very difficult to find, as of now it’s not even for sale on Guerlain’s website, so you’ll have to dig a bit. Another one, Americans will have to order from Europe. Ideal Extreme Review

The Original

Guerlain L’Homme Ideal EDT Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce– Ideal EDT seems pretty underrated here in the number 4 spot, because it is a very enjoyable fragrance to wear.

Almond, citrus, and woody spice start this one off. To me, this has the most almond in it, especially in the early stages. You get leather in there as well, but mainly its a citrus blast with a nuttiness. Sweet, dry, and clean coming down the home stretch.

I like the versatility of EDT. It’s not purely a cold weather fragrance and can venture into the springtime or for summer evenings. Really easy to wear and all around a solid cologne. Also, it is a lot easier to find in the States versus Extreme and EDP.

Spicy and Smoky

L’homme Ideal L’intense By Guerlain FOR MEN 3.4 oz Eau De Parfum Spray, black– As I mentioned before, L’Intense has some overlap with the EDP versus the other fragrances on this list. But, it is distinct and a separate fragrance in its own right.

L’Intense opens with chili pepper and cardamom spices blending with the strong leather note, in this blend. It’s not as sweet as EDP, more leather, more spice, and a smoky finish. However, there does seem to be plenty of the same DNA.

It has a dry sweetness to it, almost tobacco-like at times, but this is ultimately a spicy/smoky blend that dries down into a leather/vanilla cologne. The sillage actually isn’t all that heavy and the fragrance lasts around 7 hours.

Not my favorite of the lot, but L’Intense is readily available and brings a somewhat darker and more mature vibe to the Ideal name. L’Intense Review

Santal Royal by Guerlain

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When getting myself some new samples to go through, I saw some from Guerlain, and decided that I should pick up these fragrances that I hadn’t experienced before. One of these colognes, is Santal Royal. Obviously, it is going to be much more of a niche, sandalwood based scent. Is it worth a try?

What does Santal Royal Smell Like?

Notes include: sandalwood, oud, leather, rose, amber, cinnamon, musk

Click here to try: Guerlain ‘Santal Royal’ Eau de Parfum Spray 4.2oz/125ml

My Review

The opening of Santal Royal is much more about the oud and leather than the sandalwood with a touch of cinnamon spice. While it’s there, the sandalwood isn’t the main attraction, and much more of a supporting player…at least at the beginning.

The Guerlain fragrance has a warm air and a rose note that is joined by a sweet fruit note. It’s almost a fermented sort of fruit smell. Santal Royal is very rich and thick at times, which I guess adds to it’s ‘royal demeanor’.

As it dries down, Santal Royal becomes drier and woodier than it had been previously. The leather and sandalwood emerge much more and form a triumvirate with the oud note. I’m glad because oud and rose can be a bit too much for my nose, so, I’m glad that this one balanced things out.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Santal Royal is strong. This is a sillage beast and it really doesn’t require many sprays to be effective and I think too many would be a hindrance to enjoying this fragrance.

Longevity, is absolutely great also, it doesn’t crap out at any time during the wear and will last all day long. I’ve gotten at least 9 hours of wear with this one, each try during testing.

I would put this as an autumn/winter cologne. It is not at all a summertime scent and I can’t imagine wearing this in the heat. It is unisex to an extent, though, much more suited to the masculine end of things.

Santal Royal could be worn dressed up or for an evening on the town. It is mature but not old man smelling. One could wear it to the office, if you went light with the sprays.

Overall Impressions of Santal Royal

Overall, do I recommend Santal Royal by Guerlain? Yes, provided you fall into this niche of oud/sandalwood lovers. This isn’t something that everyone could wear or even enjoy, it’s much more unique (but very much like others in this niche) and complex, than an average best selling cologne.

You get a lot of oud, sandalwood, leather, and rose with some other notes giving their best support. For some, that’ll sound appealing. For others, not so much.