More Cacao - Less Sillage

L'instant EDT is a winner for me. I find the EDP to be not only softer, but closer to the skin. The Eau de Toilette concentration seems to be the bigger gun, giving off more projection and also allowing the fragrance to breathe more clearly. I feel the Parfum closes off a lot of the notes and limits the fragrance to cacao, anise and a timid patchouli. This is the same case with La Nuit de L'Homme EDT and EDP. It's a nice scent overall, but L'instant EDT is classier and every note is active within. Dior Homme Intense is a far more complex and addictive structure of the cacao element with amazing projection.

Yummy spicy cocoa

This treasure is part of my collection of late (edit: original comment from 2.9.2011). I had tested the EdT various times (in summer) - it is much easier to find in ordinary perfumeries. It was somehow very nice, but it seemed to lack some harmony. i suppose that the combination citrus + cocoa does not work that well on my skin (although I really love the citrus note of l'instant). Maybe it was the temperatures. In food, I don't like the combination choclate + fruit/lemon either. Rather either or. Well, an exception is bitter choclate (at least 85% cocoa) with bitter orange. Maybe Guerlain should do that as a flanker.
Well, I tried to love the EdT, because I loved the citric-spicy top notes so much. But somehow, the development on my skin did not convince me. Maybe I should try again in winter.
Then, in july I finally got to try the EdP in the Alterhaus (Hamburg) and it was obvious that I would get this version instead. The drydown is more beautiful, better balanced, more high grade.
The scent sweetens when smelled directly on the skin, when smelled from further away it's not that sweet (depending on the weather conditions) although I have a quite "sweet skin".
The EdP is heavier and more intense than the Edt, but I don't think it is too heavy or cloying. Elemi and aniseed give it an ethereous character. To me, the EdP is more unisex (not feminine) than the EdT due to the lower key citrus notes and because of a noticeable jasmine note in the heart/drydown. Instead of the citrus here the peppery elemi takes the role of a counterbalance to the bitter-sweet cocoa. In the beginning it tingles a bit in the nose, which must be the elemi. The aniseed supplies additional spice and character. The discreet jasmine note in the heart blends in seamlessly.
It is difficult to identify all the single notes. I got no idea how hibiscus seed smells actually. And I would never have thought of tea. But that's not important after all. This is just a very well balanced composition. Very pleasing, at the same time it has character and recognition value.

Longevity: very good.

Sillage: imho the sillage is medium. It is not breathtaking nor room-filling. It is significant directly after spraying. But when it starts drying down it has a rather discreet presence, it is noticeable, but rather subtle. Some reviewers on the internet call it a sillage monster. I cannot see why. I think, in autumn/winter it is very suitable for the office. It is also perfect for special occasions or even as a signature scent. Very versatile in my opinion.

Concerning the category: I would name it a borderline-gourmand. Despite of the cocoa I wouldn't call it a pure gourmand. It is too complex and hard to categorize. The choclate-patchouli also has some woodiness.

PS: They try to prevent women from using this scent by making the 75 ml bottle nearly too broad for my hands to hold - and i don't have particularly small hands :))

Piece of Art

This is a piece of art . one of the best Guerlain fragrances for Men. In fact I love most of Guerlain fragrances!

Long-lasting and so unique. This is my signature fragrance > I love it

Class & distinction in a bottle

I own the EDP & have tested the EDT! I much prefer the EDP! & here is why. The EDT is a nice offering from Guerlain which opens with a nice citrus burst, a tad of cocoa & woods. In the EDT version the citrus is the more dominant player. While it is nice, it does not last very long for me to get a full bottle! 4-5 hours max is what I get out of the EDT.

Now for the EDP! The first initial blast of this concentration is a heavy, yet sharp dry, bitter cocoa accord with a hint of citrus & woods. This concentration the dry, cocoa is the main player. It last @ least 10 hours on me & is indeed lovely! It leaves a nice lingering aroma for people to follow & its just awesome! Pure class here! For fans looking for a sweet cocoa note, THIS IS NOT YOUR FRAGRANCE! The only sweetness I may get from this is when the citrus & cocoa note collide.

I Would not really call the EDP a straight gourmand, because clearly it is not, but its more so a mixture between a gourmand/oriental if that makes any sense. Not for the faint of heart, or who is looking for something sicking sweet! The EDP is more mature than the EDT & for the $$$ its a better option to go with including the fact that the EDT has longevity issues compared to this! Kudos to Guerlain for this masterpiece!

House of pralines

In Duesseldorf – one of the nicest cities in Germany – was a little shop called “Haus der Praline” (house of pralines). They offered belgian pralines in different kinds. Some of them was made of bright or dark or white chocolate.
The stuffing was with chocolate-, nougat-, fruit- or buttercreme. All pralines was handmade and tasted excellent. No doubt – they was made with exquisit and freshest ingredients.

Who ever degust one of these little artworks never wants cheap pralines of a factory.

If you entered this doom of confiserie, you smelled this wonderful yummy flavour nobody can resist. Inherently to take a breath, your calory requirement is covered for a half day.

It´s a long time ago and I´m missing this “Haus der Praline”. L´ Instant de Guerlain pour Homme Eau Extrême give me back this trip down memory lane. Especially I can see again these little darkbrown pralines covered by kakaopowder and filled with lemoncreme, if I smell this fragrance.
For me a divine revelation of a gourmand scent. Guerlain has done everything right and is remain true oneself.

A little bit kakao and a little bit fruity but not excessive sweet, wonderful aromatic with light dark fragrance notes and for me definitely enough masculine. Yepp – basically women can wear this fragrance too, but as man I have no unpleasant feeling. However this fragrance press on some synopses of my brain, so it makes me hungry. Hungry for pralines …

I can advise L´ Instant de Guerlain pour Homme Eau Extrême, but more for cooler seasons – like a little reward for oneself.