Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire model 2, Aqua Allegoria Jasminora & Elixir Charnel Floral Romantique : new fragrances

Guerlain has set up its sights high again this spring with several releases vying for perfume enthusiasts' attention: some are meant for the exclusive boutique circuit, some are for wider distribution. Let's see them in detail.



La Petite Robe Noire - Model 2 (set to launch widely on Valentine's Day 2011 and already circulating in Guerlain boutiques and espaces at Bergdorf Goodman's and Harrod's). This is version 2.0 of the previous contrarian opus La Petite Robe Noire which had Guerlain fans up in arms back in 2009 ("sacrilege! cartoon of a nighty! what's Chanel doing chez Guerlain?"). The new version in Eau de Parfum, created by Thierry Wasser, will be less fruity-tangy and more powdery-floral with an orange blossom note and accents of iris and...marshmallow, "infinitely delicate and perfectly sweet" (all right, the first edition wasn't the paragon of mature sophistication either!). At least the new one has an intriguing note of leather (!) and is promised to be powdery which is unusual to say the least for a fragrance aimed at the quite young.

Head notes: Bergamot, Lemon, Galbanum
Heart notes: Orange Blossom, Marshmallow, Iris
Base notes: Leather, White Musk

ETA: We have updated with a full review on this link.




Elixir Charnel Floral Romantique: It launches on May 1st, i.e. one day exactly after the exclusive -and supremely ephemeral, one day only- distribution of Guerlain Muguet which we announced a few days ago and have now supplemented with an official pic of the special bottle. Elixir Charnel Floral Romantique is another fragrance for the Guerlain boutique circuit and not for wide distribution.
The fifth chapter in the notoriously bad-copied line of Elixir Charnels (Carnal Elixirs) ,after Boisé Torride, should see the line-up completed, as it tackles the one fragrance family that was lacking: the floral.

Composed as an Eau de Parfum (in 75ml bottles) by Thierry Wasser, Guerlain Carnal Elixir Floral Romantique includes fresh top notes of mandarin and orange, heart notes of jasmine, ylang-ylang and tiare, with accents of lily and carnation and a woody base of cedar combined with smoked tea, chestnut, ambrette and mate tea.
The fragrance will make its debut in early June 2011.


Aqua Allegoria Jasminora: It launches in May 2011 in the familiar Aqua Allegoria line in the revamped packaging we got to know last year from Flora Nymphea and the travel exclusive Bouquet No.1. Jasminora will be part of the big department stores fare although the name is a nostalgic throw-back to glamorous eras of Guerlain history.
Head notes: Bergamot, Cyclamen, Galbanum
Heart notes: Jasmine, Freesia, Lily of the Valley
Base notes: Musks, Amber

Edit to add: We have updated with a full review of Jasminora on this link

Everything is coming up floral for Guerlain this spring it seems! What gives?

Related reading on Perfume Shrine: Upcoming releases from Hermes, or Guerlain, et al.

pic via tunisiefemme.com and Skin Care Beauty Product blog

8 comments:

  1. Fiordiligi17:19

    Oh dear. As always, I am very grateful for the news, which is to say at least I am prepared for the olfactory onslaught - I think. These offerings, plus the new Shalimar horror.....what can I say? Perhaps I will be pleasantly surprised. No, didn't think so.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You're welcome (I guess!!!!) dearest D! :P

    Well, it doesn't look too sophisticated, I'll grant you that. And the first LRN was tooth-aching sweet and bonbon-tangy. Yet,the new might be an improvement on the old(er), what with the powdery feel and the leather "note". Kinda like "Return of the Killer Tomatoes" (Google it, I dare you!).

    I might enjoy the AA though: I think a biting (galbanum) green jasmine if nicely musky could be just the thing for when the weather is very hot and I want a floral. I very much liked Flora Nerolia and Ylang & Vanille after all...(there's hope!)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hmm... I also don't know whether to be excited or worried...

    Thanks for the info, though. And I agree, the AA sounds interesting. Terrible name, though!

    ReplyDelete
  4. You know, I'm afraid to say anything. Because I think I'm going to try LPRNv2, despite my deep reservations. And I have a feeling there's a small chance I'll like it.

    Then who can I make fun of? Oh, right; as usual, myself. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  5. P,

    no one comments on the Elixir CHarnel Floral Romantique yet, LOL. I guess everyone is too focused on LPRN2!!

    Jasminora is a very old name in the GUerlain archives, btw. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. S,

    don't worry, it's happened to us all! (eating our words I mean)

    I think v.2 actually sounds much nicer than v.1! (powdery floral with a leather note? sign me up!) That marshmallow is a bit of a gamble, I'll grant you that! :P

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous02:36

    Well I loved LPRN ... there were a lot of really nice notes in there! Best case scenario you get with v.2 a Cruel Gardenia that's less cruel and more vibrant. That I would like. Worst case you get sugary dreck; marshmallow accord was in Bois Torride too, and that went from woody to trash in an hour or so.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anon,

    your theory is not without merit!! Clever thinking!
    I personally love Cruel Gardenia, even though it's a misnomer through and through. So if it veered into that direction, I would personally like it. Can't say I was excited by the BT, so like you, that is less of an exciting prospect.

    Taking into consideration that Guerlain has copyrighted an entire "couture" range ALREADY, we're bound to see several versions on this ide later on: LPRN v.3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 ;-O

    ReplyDelete

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