Guerlain is indeed the perfume house of greatness, although it had a small blimp with its variation on La Petite Robe Noire - Eau de Toilette (I wrote here a few days ago praising the LPRN Eau de Parfum, but disappointed with the new Eau de Toilette which came out just a few months ago).
I went back to Sephora's to look for more Guerlain scents. I remember a series of tall, rounded bottles, which looked ominously large (and expensive). These are the Allegoria series of about ten Eau de Toilettes.
A few were on display. There was nothing smaller than 75 ml (or 2.5floz) which goes for $65. The sales girl gave me a tiny sample each of Herba Fresca and Nerolia Bianca. I wanted to analyze the dry-downs ("The final phase - or bottom note - of a fragrance, which emerges several hours after application. Perfumers evaluate the base notes and the tenacity of the fragrance during this stage.")
Here are the notes for Herba Fresca:
Top: Lemon, CloverThe Cyclamen scent:
Middle: Green Tea, Mint
Base: Cylamen, Lily of the Valley, Pear Blossom
...is light floral. A little like lily of the valley, but sweeter and lighter. It isn't obvious ...but if you pick a few flowers they can fill a room with scent for a few hours.[By Commenter Chris Bartlett at Basenotes]The mint is overpowering at first, but about fifteen minutes later, it subsides and adds a pleasant freshness. A little longer, and a flowery scent (cyclamen?) starts to dominate. But the general fragrance is fresh and leafy. I think Herba Fresca is a perfect scent for late summer: fresh and nostalgic.
I would have liked a smaller bottle, and of course, consequently, a lower price. But, as I've experienced, Guerlain is eternal, and this bottle can go through many summers.
Herba Fresca was created in 1999.
The much newer Nerolia Bianca (created in 2013) is stronger. It starts out soft, then builds up to a heavy scent. It seems suited for a hot midsummer's day. The base notes are a strong medley of musk, white amber and cedarwood, and combined with the the neroli flower, I think give it the heavy sweetness.
About the Neroli:
Neroli is the name given to the oil extracted by steam-distillation from the fragrant white flower blossoms of bitter orange trees...-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neroli has a light sweet-floral fragrance with an element of citrus. It is said to have a refreshing, honeyed floral aroma. It is commonly used as a top note in modern fragrances.
Posted By: Kidist P. Asrat
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