Fragrance Reviews by mermaid

This is a sweet and comforting scent with a hint of woody, spicy something. I wear it on days off - my small daughter without fail grabs me by the collar, sticks her nose into my neck, resurfaces and says, mmm, you smell lovely Muma. Which is a good reason to wear it.

Charming? Elegant? Maybe. But Madame Rochas is also a dirty, dirty girl, though admittedly d'une certaine age.

I tried this in the wonderful Haute Parfumerie in Harrods. I opined that this was, actually and surprisingly, rather fab. My guide for the day, a charming and knowledgable young man, said nothing. It was a diplomatic silence, but he is young, and could not, I think, help looking ever so slightly pained. So clearly this scent is not for everyone.

But I liked Madame Rochas; I recognised her; and will visit her again soon. As we say in Ireland, aithnin ciarog, ciarog eile.

I was given this scent by the man who broke my heart into 1,000 little pieces when I was 18. What was he thinking? What 18 year old could possibly wear this scent? I drained the bottle dry and did not smell it again, until yesterday, in Harrods, when I came across it after more than 20 years. My heart has long since healed, but it smells of heartbreak still.

I think I'll have to get some.

This opened promisingly - very much so. A strong, dark, spicy confusion of scents that were, indeed, evocative of the southern med.

But for me it was totally ruined by the sweet vanilla note that emerged within minutes of spraying it on, an unwelcome Northern European intrusion into what had been a hot, primal mediterranean scene.

If they had just stuck with the sandalwood this could have been my HG but as it is, it's a scrubber.

I really love this scent - it's my favourite of all the Exclusifs - but it only lasts on me about an hour. And the bottle is far too big to lug around. Otherwise I would buy it.

For some reason this is the scent I always spray on myself, furtively and superstitiously, at airport perfume counters. Perhaps because I find this fresh, breezy marine floral so uplifting. I love it.

My husband is a wine writer and my seven year old daughter has inherited from him a deadly accurate nose. When I offered her my wrist without comment, she said, after a couple of thoughtful sniffs, "it smells like a perfumed zoo".

Not sure where that came out of.. but I think this is an extraordinary scent. For me it paints a picture of a garden at the end of the summer, with the sweet/sharp scents of flowers and leaves, sun baked earth and somewhere in the background, the a faint, sweet and not unpleasing smell of compost. I don't have it now but I soon will.

Ths was my first ever frangrance. I was devoted to it between the age of 16 and 20 or so and for that reason I will always feel fondly towards it. It will alway evoke a special tiime in my life. I wouldn't wear it now if you paid me, though.

I was given this perfume as a gift about ten years ago, put it away and promptly forgot about it. I got it out again this Christmas and find that I rather love it. It's warm and feminine, but with a brisk edge; a frangrance for a domestic goddess. You can't get it in Europe anymore which adds to its charm.

I adore this perfume but do not want to wear it every day. AP have gone to town on the sexy/outrageous image but it does not, for me, relate at all to the juice itself, which I actually find old-fashioned, restrained, simple, even austere, but with a discreet, but powerfully sexy undertow.

I wear it to work on tailored-black-suit days - sniffing my wrist throughout the day is a secret treat to myself.

The powdery/rose/spice notes are gently contradictory. An intelligent, yet carnal scent, to be worn with discretion.

I tried this today and found the anis note too dominant, too strident.. could not get past it. I still think it's the most interesting of the classic Guerlains though and will try it again.