Metalys / Metallica (2000)
by Guerlain

I was right, there is carnation in there. Someone sent this along with something else I won on E-bay. It was a pleasant surprise, but I don't know if I'm sampling the EDT or EDP? If that is vanilla in there, it is a real different vanilla from what I am used to in Shalimar. This vanilla is oh so light.

I feel pretty and feminine in this scent! Must be the orange that I like so well.

The name Metallica may at first glance seem odd for a perfume who is said to be, according to Guerlain's own promotional information, 'one of the most beautiful interpretations of vanilla in a perfume'. It was a limited edition release from 2000 and drew some attention, not least because of its packaging in an unusually decorated version of the classic 'bee bottle' – flacon abeilles – and the fact that it was soon pulled from the shelves following a trademark lawsuit with the heavy rock band Metallica. Now it's sold under the name Metalys in the 'Les Parisiennes' collection. This floral oriental emanates from Jean-Paul Guerlain's wish to create a metallic odour, though some reviewers have found the fragrance to be too sweet and creamy to meet this goal. While surely being light years away from rockish black metal, this Eau de Toilette actually manages to evoke a sweet-metallic scent of old, unpolished metal coins, mainly by a contrasting blend of spicy-sharp carnation and bright, soft vanilla.

Well yes, it has a metallic edge but I prefer the heavy metal of Carons. Other than that it is far too much of a white floral for my taste and I've never been a fan of carnation either.

This is a wonderful scent. It starts with a sharp metalic note and a spiciness from the carnation. There is a vanilla note but it is creamy and subdued and not particularily sweet. I have a small sample of the EDT and have started a quest to find a full-size.

Yes! Now this is what I've come to expect from Guerlain. A shame this wasn;t made part of the permanent collection. Warm, powdery skin musk type of scent with excellent longevity and sillage. Powder, powder and more powder highlighted by an aromatic neroli note and slight spice accent from carnation. Just wonderful.