Reviews of L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme (2004)
by Guerlain

Re-review from last year.

I am wearing the EDP version. Bitter cocoa and a cup of tea from the get go. A swirl of vanilla is also in the mix of this non-gourmand gourmand.

Wait....is that a bergamot flower that just whiffed past my nose? Is someone near me eating licorice? Oh, my bad....that the star anise kicking in and sitting atop a very soft accord of wood and possibly vetiver....no wait....maybe it's patchouli........Oh hell......I'm having a difficult fragrance day.

However, I do know this smells very good. Borderline gourmand and very well blended. The EDP has a midrange that the EDT lacks. Very good juice here folks.

Unlike many, I do not find L'Instant to be a straight-up gourmand, though I do agree that the cocoa is definitely identifiable. I strongly believe that L'Instant is a model example of a "modern classic" - contemporary, complex, and appropriate for all occasions. This is one scent that actually lives up to its impressive list of notes.

This review is for EDP.. L'instant has to one of the best scents i have sniffed...the overall feel of the scent is just so rare to find..the bitter, powdery nature of cocoa combined with amber..the soft, exotic touch of vanilla and woods with floral elements sprinkled over it and all of this embraced by a luxurious note of leather.....the best part of this scent is it's sillage..just wow! the way it engulfs and surrounds the wearer creating a sort of dome..any mortal being crossing into this dome is sure to be wowed....pls do not judge this scent by a spray on wrist...try wearing it as an sotd and im sure it'll surprise you with it's unique blend...

I bought myself a bottle of the Eau Extreme long time ago but i rarely used it. Somehow it smelled a bit like a milder version of A'men. The last month that has changed. Big time. One day I put on a jacket that i hadn't used for long time and i was noticing this great smell....it came of my jacket. Weeks earlier i had put some L'instant on the collar and it smelled great! The perfume had developed in a great way! I guess i never gave L'instant a good chance. Now i do and i learn to appreciate it. L'instant is sophisticated because it is not in your face and still lasts for hours and hours. Now it is one of my great favourites...and not only for me. When i ask my girlfriend which of my perfumes she likes best she always chooses M7 from YSL and L'instant..

I split my fragrances into groups - "work a day"- evenings - weekends - days off -etc ..... this is a weekend, possible sunday fragrance. Rich, sumptuous, refined. A warmth develops through to the drydown and this conjours up a relaxed classical masculine perfect for an autumnal sunday.

This was the yummiest thing on my boyfriend, and even though I was wearing the glorious Estee Lauder Private Collection Tuberose Gardenia, I felt quite upstaged by how fabulous he smelled! Perhaps a touch too sweet for him, was his opinion, and mine too: I want to wear it! Love the elegant bottle too. EDIT: So I tried it on last night, and it's LOVELY on me, and indeed, boyfriend again said it would be a touch sweet for him. I must say, I don't find it 'manly' at ALL. My grandmother or something in her home used to smell like this, so to me, it's just cuddly, safe, nice. Not too exciting, just NICE. Fabulous bottle!

I find this is actually wonderful in the summer. Maybe not for a day at the beach, but the citrus opening is delightful. Longevity isn't fantastic, but the dry-down certainly is. I wrote my review for the Extreme version - of which I was able to appreciate the dry-down a bit more.

L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme is one of the easiest fragrances. A "go to" for a day at the office, a job interview, etc. The sillage certainly isn't overpowering and I think it's unquestionably masculine and maintains its status as a fantastic gourmand without being synthetic/cloying or too "edible". I'll also say that the bottles are substantial, heavy glass with a great design. A wardrobe staple!!

Three words: ABSOLUTELY PERFECT SMELL

Review is for the EE or EDP version

The olfactory equivalent of a Los Angeles traffic cloverleaf... So many entrances and exits yet this still maintains an "easterly" flow. Very well crafted as the notes seem to meld into one another from spray all the way into drydown. I can feel almond, I can feel cocoa, I can feel some indoles but nothing prominently noticeable. I totally agree with Jenson this is definately a sillage beast as there is a radiant warmth that begins to surround you within the first five seconds and keeps pulsing and swirling around you as if you were wearing a sweet syrupy cloak... This is gourmand in a way I've never experienced, as I don't get the "taste" of a particular food, but more a melange of delicate pastries, reduced sugar compotes in various stages of production, and finely ground spices simmering in a steam bath... I can't get over the blending prowess, as individual notes are indistinguishable for any amount of time before getting lost in the cacophany that is the innate beauty of this scent. This is definately a tough to wear fragrance in high temps or high humidity, and I could never see it as a work scent due to its powerful sillage and pronounced "hello here I am", but nonetheless a treasure for certain moments. I haven't sampled the EDT version yet but I definately will soon. By the way I was able to steal this for 15 bucks on the "bay"... can't see how I was the only one to bid on it, but yay for me.

Whilst this is unquestionably made of quality ingredients, this Guerlain release leaves me feeling somewhat unfulfilled. I smell the rose, the bergamot and the anise, but the overall effect seems dated and stuffy. If you like Habit Rouge and want something flatter and less impressive, this one is for you.

Whenever I smell this sprayed on paper or on my clothing, I love it. The "green notes" are a lovely accompaniment to complex woods. When I wear it, however, I smell Pledge on an antique bureau. It seems like a very "old" fragrance, perhaps from Edwardian England. I am reluctant to give it anything but a thumbs up because it really is an intriguing and handsome scent from a quality house. It was just not intended for my body chemistry. My misfortune.

This is for a long time my favorite fragrance in my small collection.
I own both the EDT (already second bottle) and the EDP.
To me, it is ultra wearable. I just feel good, when wearing it.
The EDP has the nicest smell of chocolate you can imagine.
Both versions last all the day. Sillage is appropriate, but much weaker than for example Allure PH (using the paper test).

I so wanted to love this one as I generally prefer Guerlain's 'feminines' to its 'masculines' (apart from the deep and luscious Heritage). Although I enjoyed the spice, floral and gourmand notes in L'Instant, the linear patchouli note in the drydown drove me to distraction, and I gave my bottle to a friend with more tolerance to it than I have.

I have the Eau Extreme version of this fragrance and it is simply awesome. I didn't think I was a fan of gourmand fragances until I tried this. L'instant completly changed my mind. Won't even bother to go into details other than say I KNOW I smell amazing when I wear this!!! HUGE thumbs up!

This is good stuff. A lot like a slightly less sweet, more herbaceous version of Lolita Lempicka. LL is like candy--sweet and fun. L'Instant is a little more complex. I like them both. But if I had to pick between the two, I'd pick L'Instant.

First sampling; indifference. Second; enjoyable. Third; somewhat irritating. Fourth; horrendous. During at least the fourth sample, several months ago, I seemed to have had a "chemical sensitivity" problem, and the anise and sandalwood really got to me. Now that seems to be gone, so I decided to sample it again, fifth time. Back to indifference. It's not quite a gourmand yet it's not really anything else, aside from being a decent blend that gets boring very quickly. With my skin chemistry, there is little or no development. I washed it off after four hours. Valenti's 101 for men is similar, but less gourmand and less expensive (though it might be a bit "synthetic"). It is also a nice smell that just lies there, becomes boring, then irritating. If you move around a lot during the day, unlike me, it might not bother you in the same way. Sillage and longevity seem to be good to very good.

L'Instant is a triumph and an absolute classic. It is a real chameleon -- its opening is fairly crisp and classic, but it progressively mutates into a soft, moist gourmand within a couple of hours. And yet, unlike so many gourmands, it isn't gimmicky. It's able to pull this off by hedging its bets across a gigantic array of beautifully-blended ingredients without over-committing to any in particular. As others have pointed out, it could easily have been marketed as a unisex -- yet it easily wears a discreet masculinity thanks to the vetiver, patchouli, and astonishingly inventive anise, all of which give it a bitter chill. I think of this as a modern Habit Rouge: different from everything else, yet timeless. At a more mundane level, it's a gourmand for people who hate the brash, somewhat vulgar examples of the genre. Everything about this juice reeks of quality -- including the stately, heavy bottle. Superb!

If anyone asked me to pick the perfect masculine oriental fragrance, I'd pick L'Instant in an instant (Ha! Get it?). It not only defines "oriental" in my mind, but it's the most beautiful example of a masculine oriental I've ever smelled. It's got the requisite sweet, caramellic amber basenotes, but has a great, rich lemony top note with a sort of dusty green and cinnamon-smelling heart. It actually smells a bit like a feminine fragrance (a woman could easily wear this) because of it's rich sweetness, but a sophisticated, self-assured guy can easily pull this off. Any guy wanting to try something new, unique and nothing like the same old boring schlock perpetually cranked out by Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Armani, Azzaro, etc., needs to give L'Instant a sniff. It's one of my top three all time favorite fragrances, along with Equipage by Hermes and Chanel Pour Monsieur.

Guerlain L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme

L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme was created in 2004 by Beatrice Piquet and she has created a singular masculine scent in this one. So many masculine scents begin with a citrus and bergamot top note that I am almost disappointed when that isn't the first thing that hits my nose when "pour Homme" is on the bottle. Ms. Piquet starts with a tart citrus paired with a deep green note and anise. This is such an unusual start it makes me want to have it stick around but then I would miss the incredible mix of jasmine that rises out of these top notes by first seeming to come from a distance before eventually becoming the prominent note. The floral aspect of the jasmine begins to intertwine with a smoky tea note which cuts the sweet of the jasmine and adds an unexpected contrast to the heart of this. From here a mix of rosewood, patchouli and amber ground the scent. What is even more amazing is the citrus present in the top makes a surprising reappearance and the very slight acidity this adds to the base is like a reminder of the beauty of the beginning of this all over. This has "pour Homme" on the bottle but this is one of those that I would love to smell on a Femme.

An adequate modern day fragrance, that just kept its nostrils above the water level of mediocrity. The opening swept in a Germaline and oranges blend that was thankfully short-lived. An hour later it had softened into something more pleasant and amiable, but there was still very little to find remarkable in something so powdery and vague. Certainly not the worst of its type, but I can imagine only purchasing this at gunpoint.

This review is for the Eau Extreme version. A very foody scent! Along the lines of Angel (patchouli and chocolate) or L by Lolita Lempicka (patchouli and anise) or possibly a more quiet version of A*Men (patchouli, chocolate, incense). Although the name has "pour homme" in it (French for "for men"), it is still wearable by women -- especially those who like gourmandy scents like Angel.

The opening is kind of lemon-powdery-berries, which is nice. And the anise (licorice-like) smell comes shortly after! But, I don't care for patchouli, and that is predominantly what I smell on the drydown -- powdery patchouli. Some say it smells like chocolate, and I guess I do smell a little chocolate under the patchouli. Longevity is good on me. Over 6 hours later, I'm still giving off waves of powdery patchouli. Sillage is moderate. Not as in-your-face as A*Men, but not close-to-my-skin either.

A very distinctive, recognizable scent. I would know this immediately if I smelled it again. It's very different from a lot of the cool aquatic fresh things that are being put out lately.

half sweet/half fresh/half woody/half something else that is definetly there but i at this moment can't remember what....
...and i know that 4 halfs don't exists... :)
This thing is definetly veeery good scent, special and makes you always go 'hmmm.. on what this very good smell reminds me ? ..why, what?.. this is good...mmmmmm..mmm ....very good' ..
But.....,
yes-but,
.... i can't resists and say that this would also(hmm.. maybe i should use word better) go veeeeery good on ladys.
Just can't help myself to think that.
And that is currently the only reason for me not to buy it. I will definetly try this on my skin, i tested it on paper in perfume shop and i enjoyed it all the time i smelled that paper. I'll see how it will evolve and smell on me and than think about it if i could forget that unisex/femine side of this.
Anyway, very good, special and a 'how good you smell' scent.

Strength: Medium/Strong

Lasting: 4hrs

If i could picture somebody middle aged striding though an office dressed in a sophisticated suit.. this is the scent I would imagine. Unfortunately I don't fall into that scenario so this cologne is not for me. I would recommend this to anyone for a daily office scent imo its not much of a casual scent.

The gingerbread with mint-chocolate opening is truly wonderful. Edible and very crispy.

Then it turns into more citrus scent. Transparent and juicy lemon-like smell takes over.

It takes only some time before it settles down into mixture of these two before mentioned layers plus amber, soft woods and jasmine-like bright floral tone. There it stays (very rounded composition of all the possible notes) before the aroma actually dies; after many many hours.


This is a good scent. It is not particularly exciting or different, but it is pleasant and quite compelling. I could not possibly do anything else than put my thumbs up.

Another winner from Guerlain!! I am consistently amazed at the scents they offer (at least for men). This scent reminded me of a smoother, less intense gourmand eventually. An elegant version of Lolita Lempicka, Rochas Man, or Angel without any harsh notes. I really can't describe the top accords too well so I'm not going to try. I have yet to find a masculine Guerlain I didn't like (yes, that even includes the underrated Guerlain Homme).
8.5/10

I can't believe it's taken me so long to get a bottle of this, but better late then never. I picked up the EdP, though I've tested and enjoy both. I prefer a richer, more gourmand experience so I went with the EdP.

What a terrific melange of notes! As many reviewers have noted, there's a lot going on and L'Instant cannot be pigeonholed into any one genre. There's a subtle touch of citrus that persists into the base (less so in the EdP), there are cocoa and vanilla gourmand notes, there's patchouli and sandalwood, and there are spice and floral notes. The beauty of L'Instant is that the whole composition is so well blended that the composition truly is the sum of its parts - individual notes are not particularly noticeable or distinct, but the total effect is that of a rich, oriental/gourmand that is lightly sweetened and slightly musky. The EdP lasts forever on my skin and the sillage is typical of a masculine EdP.

Another Guerlain classic.

L´Instant Eau Extreme.
This is a truly sensual and intriguing fragrance that can be perfectly used by women. Versatile ,it distils elegance without pomposity.
The opening is a sublet touch of lemon that last close to nothing and leaves the door open to a sweet, woody almond cocktail. However don't think it is very scandalous or loud, nothing like that, it is quite tamed and clean.
Then prepare for a rich and delicious cacao long lasting effect. Lovely. This is almond light chocolate with a spicy twist served in a wooden aromatic tray. I also detect hidden in there some floral note or ...cedar?
This one is a winner.
My only "but" is sillage, seems to have a great longevity on me but not a great sillage...pity.

I'll start by saying that I'm talking about the extreme version. I've never tried the original.

At first I thought that this fragrance could dodge bullets, but then I realized that when it's ready, it won't have to.

You can read the other reviews to find out about chocolate this and musk that, however, I'm here to tell you all you need to know.

This is The One

woody,spicy,green and gourmand. well blended pure genius. well developed all around scent. similiar to vera wang but with a bit more sweetness added. longevity is also great. 4 -6 hours on me.

Spicy woods, green notes, and a touch of sweet citrus dominate the opening of L'Instant pour Homme, with a warm, nutty heart accord developing in their wake. Spices - particularly nutmeg - and woods remain central to L'Instant's structure, and are bolstered by touches of powdery amber and vanilla. The olfactory texture is smooth and buttery throughout, which makes L'Instant feel oddly reassuring to wear.

L'Instant could easily have slipped into the overcrowded realm of crass vanilla gourmand scents for men, but there is absolutely nothing crude about this fragrance. The balance between woods, spices, and vanilla is so perfectly judged that L'Instant appears to float effortlessly outside of traditional genre boundaries.

My only reservation regarding L'Instant is that the drydown is too powdery for my taste. This is a matter of personal preference, though, and if you're comfortable with sweet powdery accords it probably won't put you off.

This fragrance sort of has an identity crisis because it fits the category of many different types of fragrances without being exclusively one. If I had to choose one though, I'd say its closest to a gourmand. But the wood, spice and floral notes do stick out. It seems like the fragrance is constantly shifting its focus from sweet gourmand, to wood and floral. Its somewhat of an enigma to me.
I love it! It keeps me guessing as well as my wife as what exactly is going on with it. Its sweet without being cloying and floral without being too feminine. The wood and spice notes hold it all together and the star anise makes it sparkle. Once it drys down to the base the fragrance is resinous. Definitely get the contrasting warm and cold vibes with it.
Excellent fragrance if you want something different. Great Guerlain choice if you ask me.
Thumbs way up.

I sampled it and loved it.

Surprisingly, it seems to be composed of two entirely different fragrances. At first it is a nice, warm wood with a pronounced element of citrus. After an hour or so, it's basically a powdery chocolate cake.

It is certainly one of the more youthful Guerlain fragrances (though Mouchoir, given the affinity for flamboyance displayed by today's teenagers, may be up there too, despite its age) for men, and I would certainly recommend it.

It also lasts a ridiculously long time. I sprayed a tester ten hours ago. I have since showered, and I can still smell l'Instant on my wrist.

I can't really detect the notes as separate components in this one. It's a gorgeous melange of wood, leather, resin, cocoa and vanilla all rolled into a gorgeous symphony, with a classic guerlinade dry-down. I love it and wear it often. Guerlain is one of my all-time favorite houses and they certainly didn't disappoint with L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme.

This was definitely love at first sight... or sniff I should say!

If you look at my reviews, I tend to really lay it on thick about the scents that I adore. Heavy with compliments... but I must say, when you smell a gem like L'Instant Pour Homme, how can you not be generous with the praises? It is perhaps one of the most elegant scents I have ever had the chance to use in my life. I absolutely adore it. I had said in another review for Youth Dew Amber Nude, "this is how a woman should smell" and now I am saying the same about L'Instant PH: this is how a man should smell. It is very sparkling, subdued, yet bold at the same time, very luscious and colossal, but not particularly wet, nor dry. It is very smooth and slick; very layered at the same time.

It is a gourmand scent, and yes, it feels slightly edible, but nowhere near offensive nor dubious. You don't feel like an apple tart in this is what I am trying to say. It opens with lemon, grapefruit, star anise, bergamot and jasmine. Instantly, it is slightly on the sweeter side, and I'll admit, kind of androgynous in the beginning. But slowly, the bold opening melts on your skin and becomes one with it, and turn into a very sensual and awake experience. The heart notes of the scent are patchouli (kind of heavy to my nose), lavender, tea, sandalwood, cedar and cacao. Now, I detect a heavy layer of woods mixing with delicious other notes, but to my nose, cacao is not particularly chocolate in this case. It is not as sweet as you would expect, that is why it is not particularly feminine. It is sensual, rich and slightly warm, and the lavender note compliments cacao and jasmine pretty well.

And finally the base notes hibiscus flower and musk. At the end of the day, you end up having a warm woods and musk cocktail with a bit of sweet notes lingering near by. Very acceptable longevity on my skin. It is absolutely heavenly and quite sexy at the same time. I cannot imagine anybody HATING this scent: it is just too precious. And in no way it smells synthetic (I have no problem with synthetic scents, but in this compostion of notes, a synthetic resolution would not have worked well).

Sweet scents like this one, Bulgari Blu Notte PH, or even Opium PH are being favored by women on their men so much, yet men usually tend to feel uncomfortable wearing them. The cacao note in this scent is particularly scandalous, not unlike the cumin note in Kingdom, or iris in Dior Homme, to me. But in no way is it offensive. I can see a woman wearing this scent as much as I can see a woman wearing Guerlain Vetiver or Versace Dreamer. It is for the rather adventurous ones in my opinion.

The bottle is fantastic with a good weight to it. It looks chic, tall, and distinguishable among all the other scents in your collection. The cap is jet black, the bottle looks streamlined with bold cuts on the surface, and the juice is champagne.

It is a statement.

Great brand, great product, great fragance.
L instant is a perfume absolutly wearable, specially in cold weather, in my view of course.
Romantic style with a tremendous longevity and sillage on my skin. Again....bravo Guerlain.

The first few times I smelled this, I was indifferent. My mind was changed when I sprayed 3 times on my neck and I could really get a feel for it as it warmed up.
A truly sophisticated scent that I can seem myself wearing for many years to come. I can't really imagine a scenario where this wouldn't be appropriate, summer, winter, daywear, work, evening...
I do wish that it projected a little more but it does last for hours so that kind of balances out.
My fiancee's favourite fragrance on me used to be YSL Homme and when I moved on to 'better' perfume houses and fragrances, it took me a while to find one that she preferred and this was it. I'll be wearing it on my wedding day.

Woody, spicy, slightly floral, and gourmand all at once, this is an unusual scent. The top is citrus, spice and resin; the heart, white floral-sandalwood accord on a tea and chocolate gourmand center; and the base, with patchouli and the malvaceous seeds of hibiscus, gives an intriguing slant of depth and provides fixation anchoring the whole. This produces an overall feeling of warmth and woodiness as well as a touch of resinous earthiness, both of which enhance the mildly floral central gourmand theme. Very nice for day or evening social occasions, it radiates the right amount of warmth and inviting coziness to set one's companions at ease.

at first sniff, i detected nothing but a sour lime but than in 2-3 minutes l'instant started to develop to a creamy and a little bit sour, fresh woody fragrance. this one is first class and subtle, pleasant and soothing. perfect for daytime use. i unexpectedly loved the slight floral side of l'instant and looking forward to test the "intense" one for a better longevity. but thumbs up anyway...

This is 'Heritage Light' in my opinion and none the worse for that. I don't really get much chocolate although it is there in the background but I do get a citrusy/lemony opening which evolves quickly with a spicy kick (peppers) and a lovely wood note together with another note which I can't quite identify, but helps the fragrance brilliantly. I have re-visited after many years and L'instant is still outstanding. (It puts to shame some of the overpriced, lasts one hour, efforts of Creed's edt's, which are a complete rip-off -millesimes excluded). The sillage and longevity are excellent with L'instant and this fragrance, in either form, should be a pre-requisite in every man's collection. A Joy.

Kaern

Do I detect a slight hint of a leather/velvet vanilla? Well, it's good. Mostly a very smooth sandalwood and green citrus.

I like edible smells and gourmands in general, and L'Instant de Guerlain is one of my faves.

Once I sampled Tom Ford for Men and liked it. In a search for a cheaper alternative, I stumbled upon L'Instant. Funny enough, when I later purchased Tom Ford for Men as well, I found out that it was actually L'Instant that had the smell of Tom Ford for Men in my memories! And instead, Tom Ford smelled too fresh and calon-ey.

I don't like L'Instant's topnotes. I think the anise and bitter cacao beans are a bit weird and don't particulary smell nice. But it's very original, compared to all the citrus openings of other scents. The middle and basenotes are what I love about L'Instant. A very refined, warm, distinguished scent, suitable for a dinner, a date, a party, the theatre and well, even the office, actually.

Nice one.

According to Guerlain, the inspiration for L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme was a chocolate pastilla combined with a Mediterranean drink. And it's true that this is a 'foody' scent, heavy on chocolate note and, yes perhaps, an exotic lemony-sweet long drink. Especially in the EdP-version the chocolate is so dense that it has notes of liquorice. L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme is definitely a Guerlain - their signature gourmand-oriental style (quite daring for their fragrances for men) is evident, even though this is their first pour Homme not made by Jean-Paul Guerlain. It's well a well constructed, fascinating scent, not unlike the fabulous Héritage from 1992, but heavier, less refined, more in-your-face and, therefore, perhaps also less interesting - even tiring? - in the long run.

Guerlain puts this creation in a new olfactory family called “Luminous Woody”. Without reading that description, I felt the effect: if it could be seen it would glow in the dark. Florescent sandalwood! At points, it takes on a gourmand character and feels edible. I suspect the cocoa notes contribute to that effect. If I were to put in a family I would say it is an oriental-gourmand hybrid. I get decent longevity and I enjoy the scent. It is unlike anything else I have tried and feels familiar and foreign – it is hard to put in words. I don’t see myself wearing it with frequency, but I do commend it. Stated notes: citrus and star anise crystals, peppery elemi from the Philippines,Jasmine petals from India, Mysore sandalwood, Lapsang tea, bitter cocoa beans, hibiscus seeds, patchouli flowers from Indonesia

The EdT is fresh and light, opens with citrus/grapefruit and anise and a discreet note of cocoa and slowly evolves to a pleasant vanilla drydown with a bitter note
Very different of all the man fragrances created in the last years
Surely one of the most appreciable

The EdP (eau extreme) shares the same notes as the EdT but the citrus opening is briefer, the heart and the drydown are at the same time very bitter and sweet
a masterpiece

By far the best Guerlain, this is a highly elegant and sophisticated fragrance. One of the richest and most complex scents, this multi-faced fragrance never ceases to amaze me. Sweet and woody at the same time, it's perfect for a gentleman's signature. A great modern symbol of the legendary House of Guerlain.

a totally seductive scent in my opinion, it has a warmth that lasts an awfully long time, but without being amberish or too musky. It has a very charming sweetness as well, which is a difficult thing to get right in mens fragrances. It is traditional and yet modern in It's composition, and is one of my all time favourite smells.

Rafined, evening scent. Perfect for a very pleasant evening in a quite an exquisite restaurant or Cafe.

These are actually TWO wonderful scents: L'Instant de Guerlain PH and L'Instant de Guerlain PH Eau Extreme.

The packaging is viturally identical, and you'll have to look carefully at the boxes to spot the differences (basically small type identifying one as the EE and as "Eau de Pafum"). The juice is the same colour and the bottles are identical in size, shape and typography. The EE bottle has black edges, and makes no mention of Eau Extreme whasoever (only the label on the bottom of the bottle mentions Eau de Parfum).

L'Instant PH opens with a citrus-tinged green blast before settling into its truly warm and enveloping mid- and base-notes.

L'Instant PH EE EdP has just a hint of citrus and instead majors on luscious gourmand burnt sugar-chocolate notes in its opening. Those notes remain throughout the dry-down and give it quite a different "hue." (It has much more depth, warmth and sophistication than New Haarlem.)

The two L'Instants draw closer to each other as time passes, but there is still a discernable difference in tone.

Put simply, I'd say that L'instant PH is an ideal daytime scent, while the EE is the perfect after hours choice.

Both have pretty good staying power too, though (ironically) it's not the Eau Extreme EdP that lasts the best on my skin but, rather the EdT.

Love them both and wish only that the Eau Extreme wasn't so hard to find. They are the urbane counterparts to Caron's masterful PH and 3rd Man, which I also adore. I choose one of the Carons when I'm feeling puckish, and one of the Guerlains for my more "refined" moods.

I love that this fragrance last a long time. Reminds me slightly of Heritage mixed with the scent of cookie dough.

I found myself loving this one at first sniff. As others have said, it is very pleasant, but also very deep. Without the richness and warmth, it would almost be too sweet or play it a little too safe. But, in the hands of Guerlain, the mixture is just right and it really makes for a pleasant experience.

I find it best worn in cooler weather and in the evenings, which makes it a great counterbalance to a daytime classic like Chanel Antaeus or PM.

Definitely give it a try!

These days, its not often I run into a scent that has a curious and intriguing depth to it. "L'Instant PH" is one that pleases me greatly. It has a bold presence that does not serve to assault the senses; rather, it's fascinating blend of woods and spices act as an "olfactory marinade"... completely surrounding the wearer in a rich cloak of woody-oriental intrigue.
The drydown is a rich incense-like note that lingers 8+ hours on the skin.
I would compare this fragrance to "Scent Intense" by Costume National as both share similar hibiscus and tea accords. Where 'Scent Intense' is a dark and threatening raven, 'L'Instant PH' is a magestic bird of prey. I will add this scent to my wardrobe alongside my Costume National so that I may enjoy the nuances that each have to offer.

I feel a definite similarity with YSL L'homme. I think this one trumps YSL though. This is a great playoff on the vibrancy and mellowness of the notes.

Great unisex scent. I'm a woman, and this frag is exactly what I want from everyday scent: complex, warm, sweet but not "womanly" sweet, dark and even a little "dangerous", not common smell. I tried an Extreme version, and going to buy me a bottle. Viva Guerlain!

I agree with all the reviews with a thumbs up here. A subtle and refined men's fragrance, as is expected from Guerlain.

l'instant edt is a very classy and luxurious scent.its a subtle one wich doesnt hurt but its long lasting(10 hours approximatively)and remains detectable until the end of the day.the edp has a cocoa dominant note and lasts forever(detectable even after 24 hours!).I love both of them.in fact the edp and the edt share the anis note wich stays throug the day.

People really slam Demeter for longevity, but most Demeters last much longer than this. After trying it a few different times during different seasons, I still only can detect it only about an hour.

If you're looking for something subtle, L'Instant might be your thing...

Not a bad scent per se, but indeed very light. A 1.5 ml sample bottle was good for about two wearings and even then, the scent was detectable only an hour or so. It lingered really close to the skin. But it was very nice while it lasted. For what it's worth, it remotely reminded me of Antidote by Viktor & Rolf.

Very Irresistible is resemblant to this one, but far better. This fragrance is too leathery-suede, too synthetic and definitely not for me. Guerlain, I expected much more from your L'Instant range for men. Anyway, you're far better than Armani.

I like this fragrance a lot. It combines elegance and sweetness very nicely. Along with the notes pointed out by everybody else, it seem to me that that there is a hazelnut note in there, which is welcome.

The longevity isn't that good on me, even with a pretty heavy application.

Get the extreme version, definitely. Benb was right -- "heaven in a bottle." That said, bear in mind that this is NOT a fragrance for those men who don't favor sweet scents. The initial spray will almost knock you over with its incense-y (benzoin? frankincense?) notes. The drydown is nice, true, but it takes about an hour to begin. In short, expect very sweet and intense for the first hr., then a lovely drydown that lasts all day.
I've tried both versions, and far prefer the extreme one. VERY nice buy -- can't wait to wear this one during the holiday season. (Probably NOT a summer fragrance, at least not for me.) Would also make a nice women's fragrance -- I could definitely see this one as unisex, no matter how Guerlain markets it.

Classy, special and "light". A fresh patchouli fragrance with hibiscus, topped by a well balanced citrus and badian note. Not overbearing. Real Guerlain quality. I like the Vetiver of Guerlain and this is just another refined fragrance! Not common at all. Different, but in a subtle way.

The Extreme Version of this which I have bought is absolute heaven and perfection in a bottle.
benb

Partly exquisite, partly campy as a row of tents. An usual combination between the most exclusive, ridiculously expensive fragrance notes and some very cheap ones, reminding me of the afforedable candy i ate during my childhood: a pink-coloured combination of liqurice and cinnamon, made out of lots of suugar plus a hint of artificial, synthtic spice...
A typical postmodern scent- one of the few both suitable for formal wear and a night out in a flashy, bling-style clubbing. Half a conservative, French-Made Oriental, half a post-post modern, destructural, outlandishly modern synthetic.

In my humble opinion this fragrance makes an ideal compliment to another great Guerlain frag' namely Jardin's de Bagatelles which is a favourite of my Wife. The two never fight but compliment each other in my experience.

It took me a while to realize the full value L’Instant Pour Homme. At first I thought it was nice but a little ordinary—another superficial 90’s type mass market. Around about the fifth time I wore it I began to formulate the idea that there is, indeed, something very special about it. L’Instant’s marketing says that it is a contrast of warmth and cold, and this is one of its special properties. The cold citrus and the warm pepper and star anise form a single accord that is warm and icy. This creates a tension in the notes: A tension not really of the nose but of the perception. Actually, it’s possible for the wearer to choose which he wants to perceive: warmth or coolness, so L’Instant might be worn in any temperature.
The mid notes have a wonderful, comforting warmth to them, warmth enough to give the scent a solacing quality. This special feeling comes, first, I think, from the jasmine, sandalwood, and tea, and later, from the cocoa bean note that emerges towards the end of the mid notes. The cocoa, with the patchouli, is the fulcrum of the total scent progression IMO—a stroke of genius: The combination is addictive. The dry down is reminiscent of the dry down of Héritage in the sense that it is rich and peppery and lasts for hours. L’Instant de Guelain Pour Homme is an exceptional light Oriental scent—accommodating, fragrant, versatile, and bearing a light touch of intrigue.

So far I've tried two Guerlain scents, L'Instant and Eau Emperiale. If these two are good examples of their work, I'm hooked. The L'Instant is perfect, to my nose. I like it inparticular because it doesn't smell like "cologne"--somehow, it smells like really high quality talcum powder, but, of course, talc with a scent that sticks. Really hard to describe. I'd say unisex for sure. Sublime in the sense it has qualities that can't really be described. Floral and spicy and herbal at once. It changes after it's been on your skin a while. Suitable for both formal and casual, but something about it screams "intimacy" to me, like, rubbing noses with another, they'd be very pleased to smell this. Best of all, being an EDT, this sticks a lot better than the Imperiale, an EDC.

It took me a little while to figure out this fragrance. Though there are vast differences between the two colognes, something about L'instant's spicy/woody warmth is reminiscent of M7, without the sweetness and smokey nature. Quite versatile oriental... and though friends describe it as "stuffy" and a little "old man-ish".. but it is one of the scents that has me sniffing my wrist incessantly. A deliriously "yummy" refined and masculine blend. I find the longevity and sillage very good. Very well made fragrance...

Another Great fragrance from Guerlain! A refined Oriental surrounded by a mint/refreshing smell! Modern, luxurious, great for going out at night! Never cloying, simply amazing!

I like the L'instant de Guerlain pour homme EDP one! Smells damn good, too good to be true! My favourite!!!

It starts out Sweet and powdery with a hint of Lemon in there. There are less prominent wood notes but it dries down to a dry powerdy wood. There is a small amount of spice in there. It is quite amazing.

Compliments to the chef for this one. Warm and cold. Now what?
Have had the honour to savour the summer 2006 lighter rendition, which is nice and true to the spirit of the original. What puts me irreversibly off is the blue colour of the fragrance set against the original brown bottle external. Am sticking to the original fragrance (colour) slash bottle. Extreme version will make me even more happy. More than I can wish for.:)

A lot of people will say this scent smells generic... I DISAGREE! It's definitely one of the "powdery" scents, but one of the BEST I've tried! It smells fresh, clean, and just lasts and lasts and lasts... I sprayed a tiny bit on my arm at the SF airport to test how it mixes with my skin, and by the time i got to Singapore (22 hours later) the scent was still strong enough for me to smell it when I moved my arm. I immediately bought a 125ml bottle. Great, fresh, gets compliments, and lasts all day... Thank you Guerlain!

Really a great Fragrance! Its really something new!
I love it... I think it is sometimes fruity, sometimes you smell some citrus accords, sometimes some jasmine, some patchouli -- always elegant. A complex Fragrance

I really love this scent! As with many, there is longevity problems with this one, probably because of the lack of use of synthetics as a fixative. For those who think that a lot of orientals are too cloying and too strong for them, this is one for those to try! I love how it has the right degree of sweetness from the Badian (anise) and the hibiscus. Truly a thumbs up concoction. I gotta work at finding the EdP version!

If you have longevity problems,get the edp version if you can. The edt is a bit more "airy" , and the fresh notes are more dominant, with the a hint of the sweet,cocoa bean notes lingering in the background. The edp is more "full" . I get less fresh notes and more , sweet vanilla , chocolate notes, it's smooth and it lasts forever! I like both, for different occasions. Love it!

I truly love the the exotic/ spicy fragrance, just wish it lasted longer.

I felt that it was quite similar to Baldessarini without the mint and more woodiness and a rich vanilla basenote.

I love it. Much better, infact than the female L'Instant.

I just love this dry oriental spicy fragrance - Guerlain at its best! It is very sensual and elegant. I would not at all consider it "weak" - it certainly is one of the very few dark-side scents on the market, shining in a darker shade of black, not a loud scent, but nevertheless very heavy in my opinion!

Very nice, the first of Guerlain's that I have tried and I like it. Bought a bottle. Slightly sweet, powdery, woody, smooth. I look forward to trying some of their other scents. I would not compare it to Vera Wang for Men though. I tried that too, and although I love the scent of VW, it was much weaker than L'Instant.

While not the most pwerful or overwhelming fragrance on the market, L'Instant certainly is the most refined and pleasant offering in years. I wish it had a bit more sillage to it, but I am impressed with the overall quality, not to mention it's effect on those who smell it. A compliment every hour is a reward I'm willing to accept. Smooth, warm, and inviting...a gentleman doesn't doesn't require much more than that.

Sorry, i don't like it - it's to weak, has no class and above all: it's not at all Guerlain!
It's a pitty that Jean-Paul Guerlain retired!!

Excellent fragrance for day time and casual moments. Top notes of jasmine, citrus and star anise, ultimately leading to tones of hibiscus, patchouli, sandalwood, lapsang tea and bitter cacao bean. Engaging.

I really like this, mostly because i love VERA WANG and this smells absolutley like it, just a little more mellow,and light. MUST BE THE ANISEED.

I was of two minds regarding L'Instant. The composition is exquisite. A column of notes, all perfectly balanced. Definitely the sweetest Guerlain for men. However, there's that staying power issue. Somedays, it lasted for the entire day. Other days, it seemed to disappear an "l'instant." Doesn't seem to be weather or humidity related. Just a mystery. Final vote? A thumbs up. Well, how can you NOT add it to your collection?

Absolutely one of the best releases of the year. Very classy and understated. Love the sandalwood, jasmine and aniseed. I know now what some refer to as 'that bubblegum smell'. I love it, love it, love it! Well done Guerlain. This has restored my faith in you.