L'Instant Magic (2007)
by Guerlain

A little drier and not as fruity/sweet as the original L'Instant. People seem to be generally disappointed by this, but I happen to think that the creamy, woody drydown was worth waiting through the boring and average beginning, but only if you can get this for half price at TJ Maxx, like I did. It's light enough to make a nice, unisex summer scent.

How nice and comforting. L'Instant Magic gives me stronger than usual images of colours and fabric. The colours are lilac, beige, eggshell white, pearl gray, peach. And the fabric I almost feel is a hand woven silk carpet in the lightest pastels, with some silver and gold. L'instant Magic smells like iris, almond, bergamot, musk and powder to me, and I always, always enjoy wearing it.
There is a trick though to this perfume's wonderfulness. Spray it on clean cotton clothes (shirts, jeans..) and it stays so good. Spray it on skin and there's a good chance it turns musty, dirty, sweaty musky.

Maybe it’s the bergamot, but there’s quite a fresh feeling to this fragrance– certainly fresher than the notes would indicate… Although it is a light scent, the bergamot, rose, and anise come through clearly in the opening and the heart notes. I even find a little darkness here – probably because of the violet and a bit of woodnote from the base. I simply do not get an excessive fruity sweetness – that would be more like the original L’Instant. This one, L’Instant Magic, is a definite improvement over the original in that respect. Magic’s base is woody and powdery and in all – non remarkable. I am one who has unpleasant reactions to several Guerlain scents, but this one provides one of the better Guerlain performances on my skin without the pain. I sort of like this scent, certainly don’t love it. It’s pleasant though uninspired…

Boring, so boring. I do expect something more of Guerlain than such a bland, inoffensive pale powdery floral without character. L'Instant Magic was a big disappointment to me.

I received a tester vial of this fragrance and have thus had several opportunities to wear it before writing my review. I am a huge fan of many Guerlain fragrances, but this one left me extremely disappointed. It smells as generically pink and fruity as any drugstore scent launched in recent memory, yet it carries a hefty price tag. Lasting power is shocking--gone in under an hour. I have Body Shop fragrances that perform better. Bland and uninspiring and a big thumbs down.

Very feminine, rounded edges, not as sickly sweet as L'instant. It has a fruity opening and dries to a very powdery finish. Average and nothing to write home about, but pleasant and wearable.