Cruel Gardenia (2008)
by Guerlain

The fragrance name simply doesn`t reflect it at all. Cruel gardenia is not a dark or difficult gardenia fragrance; instead, it`s a sunny powdery floral bouquet where the ligth aspect of gardenia flowers is hidden inside of it. You get at first the impression of citrus flowers, then a non indolic powdery white flower bouquet, and this sings on the skin for quite a long time. When i was not expecting gardenia anymore, i could detect it emerging from the powdery bouquet, a slightly sweet and fruity gardenia, similar to the one in Chinatown (altough Chinatown and Cruel Gardenia doesn`t have so much in common). The scent fades to a soft musky vanillic drydown and stays there the rest of the day. It doesn`t seem so linked with the idea of the line, but it`s a pretty lasting powdery scent with a touch of gardenia, and maybe this is the only cruelty of the fragrance, not using more gardenia.

4th July, 2011.

l agree with Tovah that the cruelty of this gardenia lies in its' absence. l don't get any recognisable flower from this, in fact nothing remotely floral. To my nose it's sharp, chemical, bitter, with something green yet buttery in the heart. Nope, this isn't working for me.

8th February, 2011.

This is a very 'plush' scent - a very safe release for Guerlain. No doubt for popularity's sake. It would appeal to someone looking for a feminine 'pretty' but expensive and exclusive perfume - not for a gardenia soliflore/ scent maniac .At first it was all petals - more so than Van Cleef & Arpels Gardenia Petale. It's a soft white flower petal aroma. Misnomer ...again.
The perfume gets quite floral vanillic and a little powdery andthat is the end of that story .
I wil use that generic term ..'nice' but not $230 excluding tax 'nice'.

12nd June, 2010.

Maybe the problem is that I don't get ANY gardenia, and I wanted gardenia. The "cruel" thing about this gardenia, it its absence. It's as though the base of the scent shows up, but the heart never appears. Cruel Gardenia reminds me of vintage face powder, Coty Airspun, maybe? I smell aldehydes, powder, musk, and aluminum. I don't know how to classify this fragrance in my mind...it's not a floral...it's not a chypre...and it's not sweet...It's subtle, and musky, and talcum-y, and metallic. If it's supposed to give the "impression" of gardenia, rather than the scent of it, it misses the mark by a mile for me. With a dramatic name like Cruel Gardenia I thought this fragrance might be, at the very least, interesting. For me, it's, well...boring.

28th June, 2008.

Cruel? Colorless and Characterless to this nose. It must be another case of notes getting past my radar because this juice smells virtually meaningless to me.

28th May, 2008.

I recently decided to get this new creation from the Arts et Matière series. I have to say that I find it captivating. The top notes are classic: an aldehydic peach with orange blossom and rose. The scent then flows into a heart of white flowers with musk and a hint of violet. It finishes with a vanillic-coumarin and sandalwood flourish. It is gentle and not at all loud, but it has a definite sillage. The character of this is reassuring and nurturing, indulging the senses in a wonderfully innocent, yet opulent gesture.

I think in certain circumstances it can be worn by a man, lightly and with a suitable insouciance. Probably not for work or a first date, to be sure; but for a quiet afternoon, a spiritual moment, an intimate walk with a knowing lover. Wear it and wink at the world; be shy, but win the universe's tacit compliance with a frank and indisputable suchness.

26th April, 2008.