Guerlain Homme by Guerlain, 2008

In the same vein of the greats Eau de Rochas, Guerlain Vetiver, Eau Sauvage and Eau  d'Orange Verte because of its partially successful attempt to rise up a similar geyser of classic exoticism, this masculine woody aromatic is an infamous fragrance that is not so bad to me. Probably this juice is not a sort of original  masterpiece at the same level of the other Guerlains but i don't find  so evanescent the original citrusy accord and i think that the Off Scenter' s cousin Howie must have been plagued by an embarassing  problem  of stinky fat skin (look at the review), probably that was the concern. The middle accord of neroli, cedar, smoothness and vetiver plus subduet bergamot and prickly spices reminds me the one of the Guerlain's Vetiver new formulation (with a reduced dosage of bergamot and hesperides) while the initial exotic astringent mohito accord with lime, mint and orange (but i detect some addition of mango and may be grapefruit), the best part of the juice, is a reminiscence of  the dry and translucent l'Eau d'Orange Verte's refrigerating freshness. Mohito (indeed mint+lime), neroli, bergamot tea and vetiver with an hint of something resinous and creamy as galbanum plus a touch of benzoin may be or simply amber, that's what i smell with its certain level of synthetic temperament. After the first sip of dry-tart alcoholic rum based tropical cocktail  the fragrance slides, passing through an averagely aromatic tea phase, towards something a bit resinous and smooth that becomes powdery and common in its final level, the part i appreciate less (which reminds me a bit Salvatore Ferragamo, Chanel Allure editions Blanche and Costume National Homme). There is something bitter-spicy that prickes in the air since the beginning  and may be is a touch of pepper or rhubarb while the powdery final is a sort of silky-soapy woodsy vetiver. The fragrance lasts for few hours as a powdery woodsy ambery scent, may be common but certainly not cloying of disgusting. It's a versatile fragrance for a fresh dynamic day in the warm months. A bit tropical at the beginning It's nice to be worn in white clothed while driving a convertible car. Longevity and sillage are averagely bodied on my skin.

I don't understand the reviews which classify this as "generic" or "synthetic" or "poor quality." It's not any of those. Guerlain Homme is a completely modern fragrance with a fantastic mojito note in the opening--fresh lime, mint, and rum immediately deliver a fun, upbeat attitude that simply feels good. The opening accord is superb and one that I have not encountered in any other fragrance to date. Not only is it well executed (clean, smooth, and balanced), but it feels NEW. And I think that's the problem many Guerlain traditionalists have with this fragrance--it's a departure from their classic men's lineup of Heritage, Habit Rouge, and Vetiver. Well...get over it. I think Guerlain Homme was very intelligently crafted, i.e., it fits right in with the modern mainstream men's market while remaining distinct and altogether different from anything else that's out there. Nothing smells like this. And furthermore, Homme smells better than 95% of its contemporary competition. I had heard terrible things about it until I actually tried it myself while in a local Sephora. I was expecting it to be bad (bland and redundant), but instead I liked it immediately and bought it on the spot. This was after sampling numerous 'modern' men's fragrances beforehand, so I can honestly say that this stood out from the crowd and also head and shoulders above it. Around the two or three hour mark, Guerlain Homme transitions into a pleasant, woody base with a light, white musk as traces of its opening accord occasionally waft in and out. The sillage of this fragrance is fine, in fact its quite good, and the longevity is actually better than you may initially perceive it to be. Just like its flanker, Homme L'Eau, this is one that other people notice much later on in the day while you have all but forgotten it's even there. So I would say the projection is good and the longevity just above average. Best in the Spring and Summer, Guerlain Homme is well-suited for work and socializing outside of work. It's an easy wear that leans toward the casual, carefree side of the spectrum. It feels like a day time scent, but wouldn't be out of place at night. I highly recommend Guerlain Homme to anyone looking for something unique and uplifting with a cool, modern edge. As a side note, the Intense version differs in several ways: It features a strong rhubarb note, which gives it more of a dark, fruity quality. The mojito note is not as strong either. Also, Intense lasts much longer, but projects less. So, increased longevity but decreased sillage. Finally, the Intense version is darker and richer, while Guerlain Homme regular is brighter with greater diffusive properties The other flanker to Guerlain Homme, Guerlain Homme L'Eau, has much more citrus to it (smells like lemon and lime to me), and is fairly different than Homme. It's an EXCELLENT summer fragrance, possibly my favorite, and is definitely worth looking at. Jan 26 2013