La Petite Robe Noire - Ma Robe Cocktail 2017 (2017)
by Guerlain

Whilst all the three ingredients in the opening blast, orange blossom, jasmine and rose, all figure in the top notes, on me the rose is in the background initially, leaving the field to the other two, only to increase in strength a bit later for a while. The rose is bright and blossom-focused with only little of the leaves or the stem incorporated into it. The jasmine is quite green and bright, whilst the orange blossom adds richness to the opening stage.

There is a lot of fruitiness in the drydown, with cherry and a young and fresh apple note - the latter is not particularly sweet and as a nigh-unripe character. A blackcurrant that treues to develop is rather perfunctory on me, and downs in the fruits, the residuals of the initial florals, and in a fresh green background aroma that develops further down the track.

The base is characterised by a somewhat predictable Guerlain triad of amber, a bright and mon-earthy patchouli and lots of white musks. The patchouli is soft and lacks any harshness - this is pretty much the opposite of Tom Ford’s Purple Patchouli. Towards the end whiffs of nutty tone - a bit like hazelnut - briefly make a transient appearance.

I get moderate sillage, very good projection and a very good ten hours of longevity on my skin.

Whilst this is a pleasant spring creation, it is a bit predictable at times, and a certain generic and synthetic feel of its components prevents it from excelling on the whole. 2.75/5.