Insolence (2006)
by Guerlain

I like this little violet candy...I can't help but think of Howard's violet candy that is in deli's all over NYC. This is a reinterpretation of L'Heure Bleue? Well, hmmmm...there is no spicy carnation here...and less pronounced vanilla, although it is sweet. This is a violet soliflore to me, so it mostly depends on how you feel about that specific note. I find this a fascinating well composed and sweet sweet little lady.

22nd September, 2011.

Insolence is not nearly as bad as what people make it out to be. It's unique, I'll give this fragrance credit for that. It's something you'll either love or hate.

I'll admit that I disliked the opening of this scent. The raspberry, bergamot, lemon and red berries were synthetically sweet and there was a strange medicinal type smell which reminded me of cough syrup. Not only that, but the scent was very strong and almost cloying.

However, an hour later Insolence softened into a beautiful, sweet and powdery violet and rose blend. The slightly medicinal scent remains, however in the heart it becomes bearable for me and adds a certain sense of uniqueness which I rather like.

Insolence is daring from beginning to end. I'm finding myself loving the strange sweetness and fabric softener type smell. It's odd yet somewhat sensual to my nose. With fantastic lasting power and sillage, I can't help admiring this fragrance.

I like it in the concentration that it is now. Although I haven't tested the Eau de Parfum version, I feel as if a stronger Insolence would be too much. If over applied, this fragrance could be a nightmare, but with a few small squirts, Insolence is enchanting.

15th June, 2011.

Insolence varies from EDT to EDP concentrations. I can see the olfactory similarities and differences, but the ideas that they suggest, the references they make are where they differ chiefly. I’ve read that Insolence is Maurice Roucel’s paean to Après l’Ondée (1906--a perfume I’ve never smelled) but I take Luca Turin’s point that Insolence EDT lobs a number of l’Heure Bleue’s (1912) accords at you at various times in the fragrance's evolution. It’s as if l’Heure Bleue is being quoted or at least closely paraphrased. I enjoy this. It’s clever. Subtract these quoted bits, though, and the whole fragrance seems quite a bit less like a reflection on l’Heure Bleue. The bits ARE the reference.

Contrary to the naysayers, I love the opening notes of Insolence EDT. They’re like a warning.

Insolence EDP is substantively different from the EDT and doesn’t sing the l’Heure Bleue jingles that the EDT does. I see Insolence EDP as l’Heure Bleue reincarnated in the 21st century. I’ve read Après l’Ondée referred to as wan, but I’ve seen l’Heure Bleue called melancholic. I love l’Heure Bleue. It’s probably my favorite of the classic Guerlains, besting Jicky, Vol de Nuit and even Mitsouko. Though I wear it often, it best suits my darker hours. I can’t describe how L’Heure Bleue embodies a state of melancholy. Maybe it’s my Irish heritage showing through and I simply tune into it.

It’s a great term, melancholy, but a bit anachronistic. ‘Black bile’ and all. Insolence EDP was born into the era of neurotransmitter insufficiencies and psychopharmacology. EDP is l’Heure Bleue with the benefit of an SSRI and an atypical antidepressant on board. A bit less romantic, I’ll admit, but here we are.

The EDP seems a more studied reflection on l’Heure Bleue that the EDT is. Seen as family, the EDT might have her ancestor's eyes, but EDP and l’Heure Bleue are like siblings born into different eras. Insolence EDP and l’Heure Bleue both are reflections on orange blossom and violet and both play with olfactory chiaroscuro. Each underpins the florals with a vanillic amber, but where l’Heure Bleue uses a clovelike carnation to pull things toward despondency, Insolence EDP uses a raspberry/tonka combination that gives it a warm, easy laugh.

30th May, 2011. (Last Edited: 31st May, 2011.)

I've just applied a couple of drops of the EDT Insolence for the first time and am overwhelmingly smelling violets and vanilla. It's strong, I don't think this is one I'll be wearing often but in the right mood, for the right occasion will be perfect. Very feminine, with a touch of fun but wouldl never be my signature scent.
This is the only perfume I have that my son has commented on - he's 2 and keeps demanding to smell my wrist and repeats, "that's nice!" - so it's a winner with him at least!

10th May, 2011.

The problem of Insolence is that it comes after so many masterpieces of Guerlain that a comparison is almost anavoidable. Compared to them, I'm sorry, Insolence lack depth, persistence, complexity, originality. Otherwise it would have been a nice perfume.

22nd October, 2010.

Wow, it really does smell like L'Heure Bleue! l don't really get raspberries, but cherries from this, along with those violet, almond & anise notes. lt's quite linear on me but has good sillage, & lasts a good six hours which is better than average on my skin. l thinks it works as a modern interpretation of a classic, but l still prefer L'Heure Bleue over this.

13rd September, 2010.