This has been a good year for me for fragrances and especially good this past week. Knowing I was going to be where (Las Vegas) I could smell all the Guerlain and Chanel fragrances that can only be seen in limited places, it was number one on my list of sniffas and to-do’s for my trip. I went specifically with the idea that I would buy at least one of the Guerlains for Christmas if I liked them, since I generally can wear Guerlain and like the house.

I wanted to smell the Guerlains first, but that was not to be. I ended up heading to the Chanel boutique where I could find their fragrances in the Les Exclusif line. I have to say the SAs were not attentive. I must not have looked like I was a serious buyer, but truly I would have bought at least one with a little encouragement. There I was smelling Cormandel and all the others, and barely anyone noticed me. If I had thought I was truly unnoticed, I would have spritzed some to go! I had some containers with me.

I was familiar with Bois des Iles and Cuir de Russie (I wear both of them) and also # 22 (which is a little too floral for me), so I went to the others.

Coromandel was my favorite. It’s call a “dry ambery oriental” with some chocolate and vanilla thrown in (which I didn’t really pick up.) Oriental and I usually agree with each other.

31 Rue Cambon was another favorite of mine. Chypre with oak moss and bergamot — what’s not to like! I wonder what they are using for oak moss right now.

28 La Pausa with iris and woody notes isn’t memorable to me right now a few days after the fact. I’m quite leery of Irises after buying Guerlain Iris Ganache unsniffed, so perhaps I just put it aside quickly because I’m not over that yet.

Bel Respiro — a fresh green scent — was a little too fresh and green for me (though I love greens), but it might be perfect for spring vs. the seriously cold weather we were experiencing. (My youngest two daughters saw snow for the first time and even packed a few snow balls.)

No 18 was mostly rose and musk with a bit of ambrette thrown in. I’m not really into rose, so I set it aside.

With a little encouragement, I would have gone home with Coromandel or 31 Rue Cambon, but I felt I’d be safer to try a decant first or at least spritz my skin, which I was reluctant to do, knowing I full well intended to go to Guerlain the same day, even if my family felt I could do it the next day. (If you have decants you are willing to part with, let me know!)

On to Guerlain where they were super attentive and fun. What a contrast! The SAs were involved and friendly, but not obsequious. The manager (Jorganne) was there and also very pleasant, which isn’t always the case with managers. It was the SA (Claire) (a man) who suggested I should have my purchase mailed (at no cost) and save the sales tax, whoo hooo! I don’t know why I wouldn’t have thought of that. And it was another SA (Kyler) who suggested I have a makeover with Claire because he was the resident makeup artist and very good. So I was glad I went the first day so I had an opportunity to do that the second day. He reminded me of what it must have been like to have Kevyn Aucoin do your makeup, may he rest in peace. And don’t forget Terri, who was also there.

Cologne du 68 was lovely. Cardamom and coriander blended with citrus fruits, warmed with pepper and ginger. This did not smell masculine or even unisex on me, though it could be worn by both men or women. I overheard someone say that they expected the notes to be masculine.

L’Ame d’un Héros cologne for men features notes of lemon tree leaves, bergamot, juniper, coriander, nutmeg, ginger, oak moss, wood and everlasting flower. I liked this very much on me, though my husband didn’t like it as much as Chypre Fatal.

Chypre Fatal with notes of rose, patchouli, vanilla, and white peach was a favorite of mine. I already have a decant of Oriental Brûlant with notes of vanilla, tonka bean, styrax, white almond, and I thought perhaps Gourmand Coquin with notes of black pepper, chocolate, rum, cacao, spice, rose, vanilla would be too similar to the dreaded Iris Ganache (on me) which I had bought unsniffed. The manager confirmed that Gourmand smelled entirely different on her than on me, much more chocolate (I preferred the chocolate in this to the chocolate in IG.)

We had a lot of fun layering up IG with various other Guerlain scents trying to kill the heaviness of IG. It is the scent that refuses to die. Thirty seconds after layering, when IG seems hidden, it comes out full force again and deadens whatever we sprayed with it. But I’m still gonna try until I find something — or share more decants until it is gone.

The SAs sent me on my way with generous samples of the various scents and a lot of good feeling. (They spritz ribbons for the scents.) I went back the next day for a delightful makeover.

The only thing I wished I had done was smelled Homme, which I forgot to do. There was too much going on.

My advice is to skip buying Guerlain from anyone but the Guerlain boutique in Las Vegas. I was not happy with my service from Bergdorf Goodman. The Guerlain boutique in The Breakers, West Palm Beach, has no sample containers so it would be difficult to smell the scents if you weren’t present.

I hope you enjoy 2009 and have many wonderful scent memories to entice you! I felt 2008 went out with a bang for me. I was so pleased to get a chance to smell these fragrances.

What do you think I bought?

Karin

See others in this series here:

Ars Aromatica
A Rose Beyond the Thames
Bittergrace Notes
Grain de Musc
I smell therefore I am (Brian)
The Non Blonde
Tuilleries
the Perfume Shrine
Legerdenez
Notes from the Ledge
Olfactarama
Octavian

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