Note Pyramid
Aqua Allegoria Forte Mandarine Basilic Forte
Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Forte Mandarine Basilic Forte Eau de Parfum 125ml is the strengthened version of one of the house's most familiar summer scents, and the extra concentration changes it more than you would expect.
Mandarin orange and blackcurrant open it, and they open it loudly. The mandarin orange is sweet and juicy rather than sharp, and the blackcurrant is tart and faintly green with that slightly sulphurous bite the material always has, which is what gives the opening its grip.
Basil is the material people remember. It is green, aromatic and slightly aniseed like, a kitchen herb used as a perfume note, and it turns what could have been an ordinary citrus into something savoury and distinctive. Rose and orange blossom sit behind it, the rose adding depth and the orange blossom a clean white floral sweetness, and both are there to stop the basil from reading as salad.
Sandalwood and vanilla close it, creamy wood and soft sweetness, and at this strength that base is far more present than in the eau de toilette version. It is what makes this version wearable in cooler weather, where the lighter original would simply vanish off the skin within the hour. Seven hours is realistic, with firm projection for the first two of them, and 125ml is a generous bottle for a fragrance as easy to wear as this one. It reads unisex, it suits daytime and warm weather above all, and it works in an office without complaint. Delphine Jelk built it.
Guerlain opened in Paris in 1828 and is owned by LVMH, and the Aqua Allegoria line is where the house keeps its lighter, more immediate work.
Please note: images are a guide only. Packaging and bottle design may occasionally differ from those shown due to manufacturer updates or promotions.
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