Guerlain l'Instant Magic

Every time I wear Magic I am amazed by how well it works on my skin. The fragrance is deliciously soft and powdery, quite luxurious and I cannot get enough of it. It also lasts forever on me and I have to be careful not to use too much.

Bulgari Eau Parfumée au thé vert

During summer this fragrance vanishes way too quick but in cold weather it is released softly from under my clothes for most of the day. The tea note is fantastic and my favourite from Bulgari.

Yves Saint Laurent Kouros

I wonder how many cupboards have this tucked away in the back, never to be used. It probably needs only one over-application to put you off this for life. Fortunately I was forewarned and did the sensible thing to under-apply from the start. In fact I spray in front of me and walk into the mist. Kouros starts off pleasantly soft and sweet but then gradually increases in strength over the course of an hour. Even when under-applying you reach the stage where you think, 'o bugger what have I done'.

Correctly applied Kouros delights me each time the fragrance peeks out from underneath my shirt and it lasts most of the day. I prefer to wear this on cold days where I know I am not going to get sweaty because the combination of Kouros and sweat becomes unpleasant.

Guerlain Vetiver

Let me start by saying that I am very weary of vetiver in a fragrance because of its unpleasant reaction on my my skin, becoming cloying and reminding me of b.o. It is fine if it is blended behind other notes but when it moves to the front I run away. My bottle of Guerlain's Vetiver occupies a spot in the back row of my fragrance collection, seldom used, often ignored.

With winter approaching, and cooler days, I have started to wear my less popular fragrances under my shirts as it masks their more undesirable notes and still leaves me feeling properly dressed. Not expecting much I decided to use some Vetiver for a change. The surprise came about 2 hours later when I noticed this divine little fragrance peeking through my shirt. Heavenly. The vetiver is still there but I have to concentrate to catch it.

Guerlain Insolence

Strong stuff. Next time I'll use less. I recently smelled this behind a lady at a convenience store and told myself that I'll never use that much. When I first smelled this I was afraid that it would become nauseating but fortunately that never happened. Insolence to me smells fresh and clean and is perfect for winter.

The Different Company Bois d'Iris

From the first blast hitting your skin to the last traces of the dry down, this fragrance is a pleasure. Just one problem... I doused myself in the stuff and no one noticed, but then I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and applied it to the inside of my elbows. Even when wearing it with a short-sleeved shirt the fragrance still hugs the skin.

Guerlain Héritage

When I tried Guerlain's Heritage a couple of years ago I was not impressed and quickly dismissed it. I remember it smelling generic, nothing special. Well, it turns out my nose now adore this fragrance. What used to smell old and dated now smells unique and fresh. Recently I found it on sale for a ridiculously low price and it now fills a gap in my collection. Heritage is one of those fragrances that swirls around me, quite sensual and also noticeable. It lies dormant for quite a while but then develops into a full performance.