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All her life the old lady had shopped at the tea shop on the street corner. The small, aged house housed a cosy, always warmly lit parlour. There were the most select tea blends and sweets to admire. Often the lady came here just to enjoy the wonderful aromas or to have a good conversation.

Today, however, was different. There was a sign on the door that said, "Permanently closed as of tomorrow!". Confused and dismayed, the longtime customer opened the door with her usual soft ringing. It was even darker than usual in the antiquarian-furnished room. The only person besides her was the frail shopkeeper; busy clearing out shelves. When the lady saw this forlorn and sad bustle, tears came to her eyes. Covered, she asked, "Is it true? Are you really closing?". The melancholy reply, "Yes, I'm afraid we can't keep the store open. Would you like to take one last look around?". "I can't believe it's coming to an end now after all the years I've been coming here. Somehow it saddens me..."
This brought tears to the owner's eyes as well, "Excuse me for a moment."

She then returned five minutes later with a freshly brewed teapot. The two ladies chatted over a fine Ceylon orange pekoe and candied ginger while laughing and crying all evening. Then, when One had put on her leather gloves and stepped out into the cold October air, she took in the smell of the shop one last time and made her lonely way home.

The lady may well have associated with the shop the scent of five o'clock au gingembre. It is a sensual, melancholic and elegant composition. First unfold delicious tea aromas of fine bergamot, spicy orange and sweet noble honey. This reminds me of a certain Ceylon orange pekoe, which I like very much. Mild pepper and very subtle dry cacao gradually join in before fruity ginger dominates. Sensual leather and wood dust notes then develop. Earthy patchouli adds depth to the scent. Here, about halfway through the course of the fragrance, there is already a harmonious, extremely complex overall picture.
Then the fragrance becomes even rounder and brighter. Fresh lemon juice plays in and compliments excellently with a now smoky ginger peel. I also mean to perceive musk and sandalwood. A hint of passion fruit also makes an appearance. Towards the end, the ginger tea becomes pleasantly powdery.

Five o'clock au gingembre is truly exceptional and immediately enchanted me. Here succeeds an incredibly complex, multi-faceted fragrance, which nevertheless remains balanced and gentle. In a word: Beautiful!

Initially, a well-groomed, warm leather base unfolds, enlivened by pure, sharp orange and ginger essential oil. In the next few seconds, various spices, of which I perceive especially cinnamon, and a tart, candied lemon are added. The light leather remains dominant and gives a fine, lively impression. The fragrance develops a gentle, but necessary power.
Thereupon, the basic composition is continuously underlined. Thus, light-powdery neroli emerges and provides a quaffable bouquet, sandalwood brings in an oriental spiciness and subtly sweet vanilla with soft patchouli round off the fragrance. This is quite refined and fascinating.

Habit Rouge eau de parfum is time-honored perfection in virtuoso purity! I am thrilled by the balance that succeeds here without losing the fragrance to the extreme. However, for all the harmony, I find it lacks a certain tension that is to be expected, especially from a house like Guerlain. In fact, this perfume otherwise combines everything that makes a compositional masterpiece. An elegant, perfectly formed character, a timeless wearability as well as an unsurpassed diversity.

Vetiver is an allegory of fairytale romance. The time is the Belle Époque and the setting an autumnal London. Just now the soft evening lights begin to shine, light rain falls on the heavy woolen coats of the comfortably strolling gentlemen, it is still pleasantly warm.
Just then an equipage rolls up and a well-groomed middle-aged man gets out. He is the typical old English nobleman: distinctly formal, conservative and always in control. A perfect moustache adorns his attentive face. His eau de toilette is both elegant and time-honored. Tart lemon and sharp orange with a subtle soapiness keep his exhausted mind alert. He smokes Russian cigarettes.

Suddenly, something catches his eye. A gentle but deliberate woody scent. He turns around and is enchanted in one fell swoop. Before him stands a woman, oriental, Indian perhaps; the most beautiful creature he had ever laid eyes on. This could not be! How could he fall for such a strange, extraordinary apparition? Yet he had already offered her a fine French chocolate...

The two met daily. An intimate love affair, under the utmost discretion of course. In the evenings in the room, after their passionate meetings, it smelled of vetiver.

This fragrance is for me in its composition as perfect, as a fantastic love affair! The prelude takes that elegant freshness of tart citrus and ethereal, cool sharp bergamot. Subtle pepper and a light note of nutmeg provide a spicy tingle. Cold tobacco and tangy lime juice with cinnamon add further complex depth to the fragrance. Also, a sweet green lavender awakens now and then.
I perceive the fragrance in its quality as pure and unclouded-dynamic.

After about ten minutes, the vetiver then asserts itself with a powerful volume and provides this Indian spice aroma. The woody, sweet vetiver is down-to-earth rustic, yet pure and exquisite. He quickly determines the character of the fragrance.
In the further development, which remains quite exciting, emerge for me hot-soft pimento pepper, sweet, old wood and a cleansing bergamot. In the process, nothing of the original qualities is lost.

Vetiver is almost perfect for me in its purity and finesse. He awakens quite a lot, actually sensual sensations and is extremely distinguished to wear.

So this is my first gourmand. To preface it: Of this fragrance / (taste) direction I am torn. The transmitted signals are too contradictory for me. Am I now serious-distant or playful, indulgent or sensual, pleasant or tasteless? These are questions that are asked of me here. Unfortunately, I can't answer them exactly, at most with the help of my personal preferences. These demand elegance, timelessness and seriousness from a perfume in the first place. Although I don't think the qualities just mentioned really apply in the case of gourmand fragrances, I consider No. 3 Intense to be artfully executed. Personally, however, I would have to search laboriously for opportunities for such a fragrance.

The opening finds favor with me nonetheless. A sour, ripe bergamot initially belies the sweet gourmand character and, together with the dry orange blossom, creates a fresh, substantial fragrance. Then an intense sweetness of caramel and powdery icing sugar takes over until my perception is overloaded and completely saturated. The layer of scent continues to be compacted by heavy, oppressive florals as well as a subtle but equally oversweet vanilla. This is just too much for me!

Although the overall scent develops relatively easily and the gourmand components seem fluffy rather than solid, I am almost slain. The fragrance is yet to get used to...

Eternity begins citrusy-spritzy with a shower-bath freshness. Synthetic water and ozone notes provide an invigorating lightness. The equally artificial apple forms the head of the fragrance with indeterminable herbs. This seems a bit overloaded and indistinct.
Also the warm spice wood base remains spongy and brings no balance. Here I perceive at best still lavender, nutmeg, vetiver and perhaps cypress.
After some time, the fragrance becomes green-herbaceous, underpinned by aquatic-sterile amber, until finally the spicy vetiver comes to the fore.

The perfume is extremely pleasing and modern, but just because of that also seems uninspired and vulgar. My taste it does not meet in any case.