Reviews of Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic (2007)
by Guerlain

According to Osmoz, Aqua Allegoria - Mandarine Basilic consists of the following notes.
Topnotes: Green Tea, Ivy, Clementine, Blood Orange, Orange Blossom
Heartnotes: Mandarin Orange, Basil, Peony, Chamomile
Basenotes: Amber, Sandalwood
This is probably one of my citrus category favourite recently. I have put on 4-5 spritzes for the review. The opening is notably citrusy and juicy. The smell of orange is overwhelming, it concealed the green tea, ivy, orange blossom which is listed on the notes. The scent of orange lasted a considerable of time, at least 1.5-2 hours before it toned down into a softer citrus / floral scent. The dry down is soothing, which smells like a pale citrus water with a drop of amber wielded together.

I agree with kewart, it is definately a good fragrance for summer months.

Wear it on a summer holiday, make it, 'code it' to a happy memory and voila! Its a tall glass of mandarin flavoured happiness surrounded by lush green meadows, a white hammock near some planted basil...or whatever you like. Quite delightful once you've programmed it to a memory, juicy and lush without being a teenagers fragrance. No, its too elegant for that. A firm favourite with me.

This is a welcome addition to my summer wardrobe. The juicy topnotes (orange blossom, ivy, white peony,
roman camomile and green tea) combine to smell very much like grapefruit to my nose.That is not to say that MB is similar to Pamplelune, it is less harsh and more cheerful. Orange blossom and mandarin are very "happy" notes.

After about five minutes, if I inhale deeply enough, the basil appears and seems to wrap itself around the lush mandarin and just stopping it from being overly sweet. I love the green/orange interplay at this stage!

Lasting power is quite good for an AA - after three hours I get a warm, woody drydown that lingers
softly. Definitely a staple for the warmer months.