Guerlain L'Instant de Guerlain Eau de Parfum > Reviews (3)

Launched: 2003
Group: Oriental floral

INTRODUCTION

About five years ago when I started to take an interest in perfumery I came to the realisation that oriental fragrances have pretty much dominated the world of perfumery in the last hundred years. Being in my twenties and more keen on sweet fruity floral fragrance, I never actually wore any oriental fragrances up to that moment.

I saw a whole new world now opening up for me and I jumped in. I discovered L'Instant by simply browsing through a Guerlain counter as I knew by then that this perfume house is the place to visit if you are looking for fragrances with history and class, and most importantly, quality. I still treasure L’Instant and although I bought and tested literally hundreds of other fragrances since, it still firmly holds its place in my top ten list.

THE PACKAGING

In line with the luxurious, rich and exotic feel of the fragrance itself, the bottle is a nicely cut, lilac tinted, elongated square glass rounded at the edges. Its bottom is oval shaped and has a thick base. The lid is square, bulky and goes all the way across the width and depth of the bottle, again expressing luxury in its exaggerated shape. The letters 'L'Instant de Guerlain are written in purple on the front of the bottle. The box is luminous white with purple edges and the round Guerlain logo in matching colour printed on it.

THE FRAGRANCE

Top notes: mandarin, bergamot

Only seconds after application, the perfume surprises me with a powerful, powdery floral start that smells like lemon infused jasmine and magnolia with a subdued, husky note of ylang-ylang and vanilla that accentuate its oriental sweetness. The fragrance has great sillage that lasts for almost an hour then dries down to a moderate and more delicate floral composition.

Middle notes: black elder, orris, jasmine, ylang-ylang, magnolia

After about an hour a distinct note of honey appears and this is where I love the fragrance the most. It smells sweet, edible and sensual, like a trickle of nectar on the petals of exotic flowers. When I spray the fragrance on freshly washed hair (a great tip I read on a perfume related forum) what I can ultimately smell is citrus honey with a tiny hint of amber that lasts well into the next day.

Base notes: honey, amber, musk, benzoin, vanilla

On the skin the dry down is mainly composed of vanilla and amber that add a very warm, sensual layer to the skin. The natural skin friendly oils stay on the skin all day long and even after a shower. The base is velvety and sexy, comfortable and gourmand at the same time. L'Instant base notes are mainly made up of vanilla, some light amber while all this is accompanied by a nice dollop of honey.

CONCLUSION

Guerlain is one of the oldest houses that since its establishment in 1828 has created history by creating such perfumes as Shalimar, L’Heure Bleue or Vetiver still enjoyed and loved by many today. They are one of the few perfume houses whose focus remains on high-end perfumery ensuring that the majority of their raw materials used are natural extracts or absolutes as opposed to designer brands where the amount of synthetic ingredients used is most often around the 100% mark.

For me L'Instant is the epitome of natural, timeless beauty and simple, fuss-free luxury. I wear it when I just need something lovely and inoffensive that makes me feel dressed and classy but not classic or formal. It is tender, even playful (the honey) and luminous but ultimately a sensual scent. I find it suitable for all ages and occasions and especially to be worn in colder seasons. For summer, L'Instant Eau de Toilette is recommended which is a less dense, lighter and more citrusy version of L’Instant Eau de Parfum.

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

L’Instant is widely available in perfume and department stores and online such as Amazon.co.uk. The approximate prices are:

£24 -£36 / 30ml Eau de Parfum
£32 - £52 / 50ml Eau de Parfum
£52 – £62 / 80ml Eau de Parfum

OTHER PRODUCTS IN THE RANGE

Two years after L'Instant Eau de Parfum, Guerlain released L'Instant Eau de Toilette (2005) followed by L'Instant Magic (2007).There are also two limited editions in the range L'Instant Eau de Noel Iris Millesime (2005) and L'Instant d'un Ete (2006).

Staying power: 5 / 5
Composition: 5 / 5
Originality: 4 / 5
Overall value: 5 / 5

Summary: A versatile, modern floral oriental fragrance from a most reputable perfume house.

Thanks for reading my review.

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