Scentrack: The Robert Glasper Trio – So Beautiful
Released in 2014, L’Homme Ideal was an important fragrance for the legendary house of Guerlain. At the time they needed a release oriented to younger demographics. Commercials were all over Paris notifying the new prince is in the city. Similarly to the Guerlain Homme, L’Ideal was enormously scrutinized by some fragrance purists. Initially I was also not impressed, but as time went by, I learned to appreciate more its structure and extremely balanced execution. Seven years after the launch, it seems that Guerlain L’Homme Ideal was a perfect start of the very successful Guerlain’s line.
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| Source: Guerlain |
L’Homme
Ideal immediately starts with a pronounced almond note paired with Tonka bean,
the hallmark of the line. A pale citrus note is present at the opening,
reminding me of some orange peel dessert. The almond-Tonka bean combo gives the
impression of marzipan or sweet Italian liquor amaretto. I have been very fond
of benzaldehyde smell of almonds since my art classes in elementary school and
glue we used in our creations. The rosemary note of Mediterranean is the key
during the opening phase - it gives the balance and juxtaposition toward the
other gourmand notes. During the middle phase of the fragrance, amaretto and
Tonka bean with some tobacco nuances are even more pronounced, while the other
notes gradually fade. Base notes of cedar and vetiver are well-hidden and
revealed after Tonka lets them out. While being a gourmand, L’Homme Ideal is
surprisingly easy to wear even in business occasions, and that is achieved by
meticulous balancing.
L’Homme
Ideal is sweet, but not overly sweet. Classy, yet romantic. Almost linear yet
complicated enough. Not ideal, but ideal for fall.
Longevity
/ Projection
Solid
(5-7 hours) / Average
Suggested
wearing
Fall
/ Daytime or Evening
Alternatives
Other
EdP members of the L’Homme Ideal family
Thierry
Mugler Pure Havane – a full-blooded gourmand on tobacco theme
Salvatore
Ferragamo Uomo – a tiramisu-based take on a similar theme
Pros
Easy to wear for a gourmand
Well balanced
Easily likable
Amaretto vibe
Cons
Spotty
performance
Too
balanced for some
Not
for Tonka haters
Rating
7.5/10
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