Mon Guerlain may feel, at first, forgettable. It is a smooth and polite fragrance, a bit powdery, a bit fresh, sweet but not a “candybomb”… in short, not “too much” in any front. And yet, on a closer look, it has a subtle, complex je ne sais quoi which makes it unique.
Review
Mon Guerlain is an Eau de Parfum, composed by perfumers Delphine Jelk and Thierry Wasser, and launched in 2017. The lovely bottle is heavily inspired by Guerlain’s old (and I mean, early 1900’s old!) perfume bottles.
First there’s a blast of bergamot, then enters Mon Guerlain’s main accord, centred around lavender. Not a laundry style lavender, though: this is a beautiful, gently spicy and crisp lavender, that feels very natural as well as gives off the impression of being… candied? Just imagine fresh lavender flowers dipped in a rich, thick licorice syrup. Then, there are the lovely supporting accords, a smooth floral heart and a powdery vanilla-tonka base¹, with just a hint of resinous sweetness to wrap up the “candied flowers” impression.
This counterpoint between fresh-herbal-fizzy lavender and warm-sweet resinous-vanillic notes is the highlight of Mon Guerlain. It gives the fragrance both balance and interest, making it feel pleasing and complex. The final effect is sweet, ladylike and romantic, with a subtle powdery texture – not enough to weight down the scent’s transparent impression, but present enough to give it a chic, poised feel.
Fragrance Impressions
Notes: (Top) Lavender, bergamot; (Heart) Rose, iris, sambac jasmine; (Base) Vanilla, tonka, sandalwood, benzoin, licorice, patchouli.
Colour Impression: A mid-tone rosé.
Evokes: “Day” red lipstick; a romantic, chic outfit in dusty light tones; a reading nook with a garden view, in a cool morning.
Similar to: Dior Miss Dior (EdT); Dior Poison Girl (EdP).
Season & Occasion: Spring & Autumn, day & night. Versatile, “signature” style.
Conclusion
Mon Guerlain feels rich and cozy, but also transparent, in spite of its powerful sillage. It smells comforting and chic, delicate and intense, classic and modern, sparkly and warm, herbal and sweet. A scent of opposites singing in harmony to actually create an effect of smooth serenity.
Beautifully well-blended, and my favourite fragrance from Guerlain so far!
* The beautiful cover photo is from the pretty baking blog Sprinkles for Breakfast!
¹ It couldn’t be called Mon Guerlain without the classic Guerlinade base, right? 😉
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A Tea-Scented Library 
Very nice review! I’ll have to revisit Mon Guerlain. I didn’t dislike it when it came out, but it didn’t leave much of an impression, either. I think I was also resistant to the overwhelming marketing campaign, lol! But you’ve inspired me to try it again.
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My first impression of Mon Guerlain was also a bit “meh” – but the lavender note was interesting, so I kept revisiting it, and finding new subtle nuances… It really grew on me in the end! (and I know what you mean about overwhelming marketing… it can make a product seem annoying instead of compelling!).
Thank you so much, I’m glad my review was somehow inspiring to a fellow perfume fan! And if you want, do tell me your thoughts on Mon Guerlain when you revisit it! 🙂
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One of my favorites on a woman.
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