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Sous le Vent - batch variation

post #1 of 25
3/29/12 at 9:43am
Thread Starter 
I admit I finished my first bottle in a flash and now with my second bottle I realize there is a very small difference. In fact, I *think* that the verbena had to be replaced end of 2008 (IFRA) and was replaced by a green note (same as in the new Vol de Nuit Extrait). The difference is of minor significance, but still something I noticed immediately. I think the verbena gave it a dry quality, which the later version lacked. Thus, the reviews (including my own) referring to a juicy lime note. I could simply not see that dry breezy quality, whereas it is perfectly evident in the 'verbena' version. The new green note seems to be of the synthetic kind as it can very quickly become overpowering on fabric. The verbena version however is fine to spray your clothes as much as you want. Sillage is better with the green note version.
Anyway, no big deal, but I thought worth sharing my impressions with you.
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post #2 of 25
3/29/12 at 10:34am
And my week seemed to be going so well . . . .
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post #3 of 25
3/29/12 at 1:15pm
Thread Starter 
My guess is Sous le Vent wasn't produced after 2009. Guerlain might have produced one more batch with the newly introduced green note instead of the verbena and then possible decided to cease production at all. Just my guess...
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post #4 of 25
3/29/12 at 2:22pm
I hope they won't screw it up in the near future....
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post #5 of 25
3/29/12 at 9:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larimar View Post

My guess is Sous le Vent wasn't produced after 2009. Guerlain might have produced one more batch with the newly introduced green note instead of the verbena and then possible decided to cease production at all. Just my guess...

I have several bottles purchased over the last couple of years, Larimar.

I just finished my first and popped the most recent one today to check it out and first impressions are that all is well. Is your label the same as below? All five of mine are identical but it's possible they all came at the same time. I'm not sure if the number means anything at all but if your label is different then maybe something has changed?

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post #6 of 25
3/29/12 at 11:47pm
Thanks to Larimar, I've been able to do a side-by-side comparison of both batches to which he refers.
The difference is indeed very slight, though I can imagine it might be magnified by a liberal application. To my nose, the variation is most apparent in the opening; the 'limey' batch reminds me more of Chanel's Pour Monsieur, which I always perceive as having a lime note tucked in amongst the citrus.
I'd be happy with a flacon of either.
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post #7 of 25
3/31/12 at 8:22am
Thanks for this Larimar! I was wondering about this; my decant is very recent (or so I thought) and dry as a bone to my nose. I like it perfectly this way; it's just as well I don't know the more citrus-y version. Don't need to make room for this in the budget right now, anyway!
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post #8 of 25
3/31/12 at 8:35am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for bumping this thread with your reply, PerfumedLady! Somehow mr. reasonable's reply escaped with the several BN outages...
The verbena version's batch code 9Q01, whereas the lime-y is 9R01. According to www.checkcosmetic.net the former is March 2009 and the latter April 2009. The ingredients' list is identical.
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post #9 of 25
3/31/12 at 12:21pm
Cool . . . detective work 'n stuff

I'll see if there's a 9Q01 at either of the Guerlain counters (probably unlikely) as I'd be very interested in trying a variation - I only know the one I have and I have clearly become obsessed with it, it just strikes a chord for me at every level.

PS

Later that same day . . . I was in Tsim Sha Tsui and looked in to Guerlain and my SA friend had just one Sous le Vent 0W01, which means there was a September 2010 batch as well. Couldn't try it as the open tester was the 2009. I never knew that the first digit = the year . . . handy info to have, actually
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post #10 of 25
4/4/12 at 7:55pm
This is very interesting. I will have to look for my box.
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post #11 of 25
4/6/12 at 11:49pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks, investigator reasonable Interesting!
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post #12 of 25
4/8/12 at 11:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larimar View Post

The verbena version's batch code 9Q01, whereas the lime-y is 9R01. According to www.checkcosmetic.net the former is March 2009 and the latter April 2009. The ingredients' list is identical.

Larimar, thank you for sharing this link!
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post #13 of 25
4/8/12 at 11:27am
Sorry, doubled up...
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post #14 of 25
4/8/12 at 8:29pm
In Attrape Coeur, there was an oakmoss version (listed in ingredients as oakmoss) and later the treemoss version. The treemoss was clearly reformulated by the way the fragrance smelled, and the color of the juice was different, too. I'm curious if that might be on distinguishing factor between batch variations, though a friend of mine told me that his *vintage* Sous le Vent (flacon Goutre I think) smells almost identical to the Sous le Vent produced right before it was discontinued...
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post #15 of 25
6/3/12 at 6:30am
Encouraging news!

I dropped in to buy the remaining 0W01 (from 2010) only to find we now have a 1N01 from January 2011. This recent batch must have shown up in the last couple of weeks, so even though it is dated early last year it at least shows production was ongoing, 4 batches from 2009 - 2011 and despite murmurings and musings no sign of stopping yet.

An hour or so in it seems to me that 0W01 (2010) is identical to 9R01 (2009). I'll see how it performs over the next week or so and if I detect any difference will repost here and over in the Guerlain Social Group for the three of you still reading
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post #16 of 25
6/3/12 at 7:32pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks, mr, reasonable! ^^
Interesting news!
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post #17 of 25
8/5/12 at 6:57pm
Just tried Sous le Vent for the first time today. I'm impressed, it's quite a good fragrance. I'm trying to decide if I enjoy this more or the Vol de Nuit parfum I'm also testing.

Any update on batch variations? Also, is Sous le Vent still in production?
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post #18 of 25
8/6/12 at 1:26am
Thread Starter 
loki, Sous le Vent is no longer produced - according to my contact at Guerlain Paris. So, what is sold is/would be remaining stock.

- - - Updated - - -

Ah yes, and I meant to add here that I meanwhile (surprisingly) got hold of a flacon goutte vintage Sous le Vent EdT. The color of the jus is dark yellow and it does not smell turned to me, however I perceive faint aromatic notes, which have probably disintegrated. The oakmoss heftiness is immediately perceptible (I assume these notes come accross more concentrated given the age of the jus) and makes for a very 'perfumey' impression. I find that my vintage EdT differs quite a bit in feel from the re-issued EdT. I am not going to change my new EdT for the vintage.
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post #19 of 25
8/6/12 at 1:40am
In June, they had plenty of bottles at Guerlain Champs Elysees but once they're gone, they're gone...Already out of stock in several other places around Europe...
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post #20 of 25
8/6/12 at 1:48am
Bummer.
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post #21 of 25
8/8/12 at 5:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larimar View Post

loki, Sous le Vent is no longer produced - according to my contact at Guerlain Paris. So, what is sold is/would be remaining stock.

Oh no! I just opened a bottle last night, only to find it has been d/c'd...Is the same thing true of Vega do you know?
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post #22 of 25
8/8/12 at 7:24pm
Thread Starter 
I asked, but there don't seem to be signs that the production of Vega ceased. Get back-up bottles of Sous le Vent NOW if you feel the need!
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post #23 of 25
8/12/12 at 7:50am
thanks for the heads up! this stuff is addictive. I thinkI must have verbena-laden batch. works well in the heat. the tarragon note kills me in this one! What is the status of Liu, any info on that one?
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post #24 of 25
8/12/12 at 8:19am
Thread Starter 
Nothing special. The current EdP is part of the regular line-up! Maybe Gandhajala knows more or differently!?
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post #25 of 25
8/12/12 at 9:31am
As far as I know, Liù EdP is safe (for now).
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