Aqua Allegoria Winter Delice (2000)
by Guerlain

Although I found many (but not all) of the Aqua Allegoria series to be among the worst things that Guerlain has produced since the corporate takeover--even worse than L'Instant--I absolutely adore Winter Delice. I've often wondered why it was included in the series, as it's as different from its soliflore companions as it could possibly be.

I was lucky to find a 100ml bottle at my local Marshall's for a giveaway price, and about six years on I still have around 40% left. It's a formidable scent--a little goes a long way--but I'm now reserving it for special use in cold weather, as it has ceased to exist in Guerlain's lineup. The name Winter Delice (sans the Aqua Allegoria designation) has since been bestowed on one of the Guerlain exclusives, but notes for the newer scent are significantly different.

For me, Winter Delice conjures up everything that is wonderful about the colder months of the year--evergreens and the smell of holiday baking combined in a rich, deep gourmand fragrance that is actually quite, quite sexy. It recalls both Caron Nuit de Noël and JPG Classique (two fragrances I also love), though less refined than NdN and much more so than Classique.

Perhaps if it had been allowed to stand on its own and not lumped in with the Aqua Allegoria high-pitched monotone florals, it might have stood a better chance at commercial success. Instead, many of the other early fragrances in the series went to their deserved fate--but took Winter Delice with them.

Such a pity that this wonderful fragrance is no longer available. If only Guerlain would bring it back.

21st August, 2010.

Immediate sniff had me in deja vu big time... about 60 seconds and I'm proud that it came to me so quickly... I'm gettin good at this! Winter Delice is remarkably similar to Tom Ford's Italian Cypress. But I'd say it's a touch sweeter and more ambiguously gendered than Italian Cypress. Really beautifully rendered fragrance, and more gourmand, less raw-woody-forest-floor than Fou d`Absinthe by L Artisan Parfumeur.

22nd March, 2010.

I've wanted this for awhile because of all the positive comments about the pine scents it's known for, so I finally bit the bullet and picked up a sample.

???

This is supposed to be Christmas in a bottle? I smell either civet or dirty musk instead. Very heavy scent to my nose, and the animalistic note completely destroys everything else for me. And I can't believe it's considered a feminine or unisex scent, because it comes across so strong to me as a male scent. I'll pass on this one; it's awful.

Tried wearing it a second time and had complete revulsion with it. Had to scrub it off.

10th January, 2010.

This is bright and shiny… morning sun rays bouncing off crystallized snow. The coniferous notes: fir, and pine are cool and invitingly clean and the whole opening sparkles with the light aromatics of cone trees. The tenor of the fragrance is light from top to bottom – even the incense is such a light, translucent note that it does not weigh Aqua Allegoria down one bit. The base’s soft wood and gingerbread note fit in very appropriately with the conifers and incense to form a delightfully smelling winter fragrance that removes itself completely from being the cliché it could easily have been.

14th November, 2009.

One of the best of the Aqua Allegoria line. Completely different from all the others. In one word, magnificent.

8th January, 2009.

A seasonal wonder! This is one time the note pyramid can be trusted...if you imagine (in your olfactory memory) each of the listed notes you will practically know the smell of this fragrance! It is like mikeperez23 has said ~ ...feels like Christmas in a bottle!

7th January, 2009.