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Post by Gabriella
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Hello fragrance peeps!
Today I want to ‘fess up and review a perfume that has been widely ignored by the perfume community and even reviled and condemned by some bloggers but, nevertheless, has well and truly captured my heart. That perfume is from Guerlain’s Elixir Charnels line.
Floral Romantique by Thierry Wasser for Guerlain 2011
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Mandarin, orange
Heart: Jasmine, ylang-ylang and tiare, with additional accords of lily, carnation
Base: Cedar, smoked tea, chestnut, ambrette, mate
I happened to discover this luminous gem completely by accident. I was at the Guerlain counter trying Angelique Noire and Cruel Gardenia when the SA suggested I also try Floral Romantique. This sparkling, pretty yet very sophisticated scent kept my nose to my wrist for hours, and like any self-respecting perfume lover, I took to Google to read about my fabulous new find.
Gaia of The Non Blonde called it “a Guerlain bastard” while Victoria of Bois de Jasmin said that Floral Romantique “is an orange blossom version of Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue with an ultra-luxurious price tag”.
So while others don’t, why do I love this one? Well, wearing Floral Romantique feels like slipping into a perfectly cut ball gown of the purest pink silk. It sits so seamlessly and beautifully on my skin that the first wearing had me wondering how I had lived without it for so long.
Photo Stolen Flickr
Floral Romantique starts with a rich and bright juicy mandarin note and then segues softly into a rich floral accord of jasmine, lily and tiare. The white florals are so well blended here, it’s hard to pick out the individual notes. Ambrette and tea lend a smoky fruity counterpoint to the blend, underscoring but not overwhelming the floral heart.
Wearing Floral Romantique also brings back strong olfactory memories of another great perfume love of mine: the sadly discontinued Eau D’Eden by Cacharel. Although Eau D’Eden was more an aquatic composition, there’s some similarity to the treatment of white florals. However, in Floral Romantique, they are of better quality and feel much more chic and elegant in nature.
Eau D’Eden accompanied me during some great times in my life: a beautiful holiday in Thailand; the Sydney Olympics, when the whole city was alive and in party mode; listening to one of my favourite U2 songs, Beautiful Day, on a clear and bright Sydney morning.
Photo Stolen Flickr
Thanks to these associations, Floral Romantique makes me feel joyous and optimistic. And once I finally land a bottle for my collection, I hope to have some more great memories to associate it with.
Further reading: Bois de Jasmin and The Non Blonde. For a more positive take, see CaFleureBon.
Floral Romantique is available at most Guerlain counters in department stores: $330/75ml.
Posh Peasant has samples starting at $8/ml
So, have you tried Floral Romantique? Was it love or hate for you? What perfumes do you love that others don’t?
With much love till next time!
M xx
Australian Perfume Junkies 
I’m kind of hit-or-miss with the Guerlains. Some I love with a passion, others not so much. But I hadn’t heard of this one, and it sounds like something I might like. Thanks for you review. I’ll have to try a sample.
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Hi Kandice,
Guerlain is hit and miss for me too. This I find is gorgeous…if you like white florals, give it a try!
M x
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Hey there lovely Madeleine,
I love it. You wear what YOU like princess. Not what they tell you to like. It’s all just fashion anyway.
I have a feeling I sprayed this on my skin but it was only nice for me, I was also TOTALLY overwhelmed by being in a Guerlain boutique in Prague. Tried a bunch of the Charnal series and I can’t remember which couple I loved but I do remember leaving the store with Mitsouko parfum spritzed down my shirt and smelling totally fabulous.
Portia xx
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You, Prague and Mitsouko Portia! Extremely fabulous!! And yes, damn it, I’ll wear what I want! The fact that Mr M adores it is an added bonus 🙂
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I’m not much of a Guerlain girl, I will admit it. I had a sample of this and exhausted it early – it is Just So Pretty. SO SO pretty. Not particularly memorable or groundbreaking or distinctive, but so pretty. And not, I agree, very Guerlainy, but not being Guerlainy is probably a plus in my personal book.
My husband said of it, “Mmm. I really like it. That smells like… you. It smells like you, but with extra flowers.” (Yes, I am something of a white floral ho, I’m very comfortable in them.)
Having said that, I also have to admit that I didn’t buy any. It does seem overpriced to me for something that is really just a nice version of a zillion other things I already own, but I honestly don’t get the disdain with which so many bloggers addressed it.
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Hi Mals,
I so totally agree. Pretty, pretty, pretty! And with you on the Guerlainy comments. Glad to find I’m not alone!
M x
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Hi M. I have just added this to the “to sniff in Vienna” list on my iPhone . Thanks a lot. Will report back if I can remember too. 😉 xxx
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Hi Mals,
I so totally agree. Pretty, pretty, pretty! And with you on the Guerlainy comments. Glad to find I’m not alone!
M x
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Hi Val,
Do try it, but not sure it would be your cup of tea….and you’ve reminded me to try Rozy….
M xxx
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Sometimes pretty is just perfect. Wear what makes you happy. I’ve never even heard of this one but now I want to try it.
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if I were to choose to wear commercial perfumes Guerlain’s are the best hands down!!! Just saying.
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