L'INSTANT DE GUERLAIN EAU DE TOILETTE

L’Instant de Guerlain eau de toilette was my signature for a while. I got it recommended by a friend year after its launch. Her recommendation was more like an order: “Go and smell L’Instant. You will buy it.” And so I did,  twice.

EDT came two years after the EDP, wit very distinctive changes. It is a livelier interpretation of the OG: no honey, no powderiness straight from the outset, a hefty dose of amber unlike its older supposedly denser sibling. Magnolia and jasmine race to take centre stage after half an hour, making this the ideal big creamy white floral, exactly what I was loving 10 years ago. I enjoy the fact that bitter grapefruit note breaks up the white floral dominance obliterating the semi-old-lady associations.

There’s oodles of personality here and it requires a bit of confidence to wear with abandon. Perfect match! My current large bottle of it properly aged, which is very noticeable due to its current dark-reddish color. With years it has changed in scent profile getting denser and bolder, while retaining its creamy vanilla-amber base.

And no, in it’s current state my L’Instant de Guerlain eau de toilette doesn’t smell spoiled. It is a perfect iteration of Guerlinade, except it ain’t sour as Guerlinade tends to be. The classic Guerlinade ages very ugly, so if you want to know how it should be smelling, L’Instant de Guerlain eau de toilette is Guerlinade but with much better and stable citrusy head attached to the  beast.

For those who don’t know wtf Guerlinade is, it is an iconic accord on which Guerlain has built so many other scents in their portfolio. Wearing them side by side, after two hours it’s almost impossible to distinguish one from the other. L’Instant de Guerlain eau de toilette is a total stunner. Loaded with memories, class and zero screechiness of modern ambers. It’s the best kind of beauty: timeless, discreet and instantly recognizable.