Guerlain • Liu • Fragrances

*TOP REVIEWER* YoHarajuku on 1/23/2013 11:19:00 AM more reviews by YoHarajuku

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

Very similar to Chanel No.5, in fact wears like a lighter daytime version. Its still a little dated for my tastes but it might be something I try again in the future.

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shaktigal on 2/28/2011 10:10:00 AM more reviews by shaktigal

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

Very Perfumey, something like a "expensive-leather-bag-containing cosmetics" note in the centre, which is heavily underpinned by an awfully sickening overpowering older-lady-amber undercurrent. Not my cup of tea, actually makes me sick to the pit of my stomach. This review is for the scent Liu that is now part of the Les Parisiennes line.

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*TOP REVIEWER* crickett85 on 4/2/2010 4:46:00 PM more reviews by crickett85

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

I love the top notes of Guerlain Liu, but that's because they remind me of my favorite fragrance, Chanel No. 5. Quite lovely aldehydic florals open up this scent.
However; on drydown, this scent starts to remind me of that other famous Guerlain fragrance, Shalimar. And, while I've always liked Shalimar....I wouldn't wear it on the same day and for the same occasions that I would wear Chanel No. 5 to. For instance, Shalimar is a lovely spicy scent that I like for winter wear but would STILL only very lightly dab if I were going to the office.
I would wear Chanel No. 5 to church but probably would not wear Shalimar to church.
I would wear Chanel No. 5 with a floral gown but would not wear Shalimar with a floral gown and wide brimmed straw hat. It sould be so out of place.
So, I'm quite flumoxed when My Chanel No. 5 ringer turns into Shalimar. Do I go home and change into something more exotic now?

Liu was first launched by Guerlain in 1929. I am uncertain if this relaunch is true to the original scent or not as I've never really worn Lui.

However; I prefer to keep my Chanel No. 5 separate from my Shalimar. As such, I probably will not be using Liu. And, Liu is quite pricey as well.

I can't really give this less than 4 lippies because I do like both the opening notes and drydown on this. Just not in the same fragrance.

More on Liu:

Guerlain perfumes and colognes
Floral Green fragrances
Liu by Guerlain

Liu by Guerlain is a floral green fragrance for women. Liu was launched in 1929. The nose behind this fragrance is Jacques Guerlain. Top notes are aldehydes, neroli and bergamot; middle notes are rosemary, jasmine and rose; base notes are iris, amber, vanilla and woodsy notes.

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*TOP REVIEWER* msm4slm on 4/2/2010 3:01:00 PM more reviews by msm4slm

Age: 44-55   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Liu is a vintage Guerlain perfume, reintroduced as part of the upper-end boutique line, Les Parisiennes. I am reviewing a decant I purchased on ebay. This is not a bad scent; I reiterate it has a great similarity to No. 5, classically elegant aldehyde floral. However, with price taken into account (over $200), I would not repurchase. If I want this effect, good old No. 5 is the one for me!

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*TOP REVIEWER* traes on 6/22/2009 5:38:00 PM more reviews by traes

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I so wanted to like this one. I have a thing for Guerlain and this sounded like it would be something I'd really like. But it smells like La Base on steroids. Much too candied floral to me. Just not my thing.

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*TOP REVIEWER* lvpoetess on 2/26/2009 1:43:00 AM more reviews by lvpoetess

Age: 36-43   Skin: Very Oily   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Other    

Liu is my favorite Guerlain fragrance - no surprise since I love Chanel no 5 so much! In its opening it is much like No. 5, with aldehydes and pretty jasmine. It is not at all musty. The drydown, which lasts for ages, smells like a typical classic Guerlain - vanilla, tonka, spice etc. This is actually my only problem with the fragrance - I don't feel the drydown matches the top notes very well. It is as though I have switched to a new fragrance. I find the drydown a bit cloying after awhile, and it starts to remind me a Shalimar, which I cannot wear. I do not need to own it, but I wish it were more readily available in case I change my mind later - the opening notes are so beautiful!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Laurel15 on 2/23/2009 11:09:00 AM more reviews by Laurel15

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Liu from Guerlain. Intriguing name. Gorgeous packaging. Nasty olfactory surprise.

Here's what I wrote in my notes as I was testing Liu: "aldehydes ...champaca ...baby powder/pampers ...dirty baby smell" ...and there the list ends, because I quickly ran to scrub it off.

Normally, I try to be open minded about fragrances that I don't initially care for, letting them develop and allowing myself a chance to understand them. But this is the first fragrance that I can honestly say made me - literally - gag. It really, really did. Liu quickly develops into the sour odor of a neglected infant. Of all the perfumes I've have had the opportunity to sample, this one is hands down the most godawful. And that's all I have to say. Beware of Liu.

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truffle_me on 1/23/2009 11:15:00 PM more reviews by truffle_me

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Liu wears like Chanel no. 5's younger, happier sister with its sparkling aldehydic jasmine-flavored lemonade top notes, smooth floral heart, and cuddly musky vanillic dry down. Very proper and very appropriate; the kind of fragrance that would make a good sweet sixteen gift for a girl who follows the rules. Liu doesn't get knocked up in the back of a pickup truck; she's not even allowed to ride in it. She doesn't sneak out and do it anyway, either... she tells him he can have his promise ring back if he can't respect her parents' wishes.

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*TOP REVIEWER* condesadepitimini on 1/9/2009 9:47:00 AM more reviews by condesadepitimini

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Fine   Eyes: Green    

As others already commented I agree that Liu is the next of kin of Chanel n.5. Just deeper I guess.
Very strong on the aldheides, a warm vanilla base in the classical Guerlain way, add a damascus rose and some resins in the drydown - all the way mix plenty of aldheides of course!

Very classy, sophisticated. Needs a styled woman & cool weather to go well with.

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Angela1013 on 11/13/2008 5:55:00 PM more reviews by Angela1013

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

Actually got a sample of this at Saks! ooooh!!.

and yes,
This is very similar to the pure parfum of No. 5.
I really can't say for sure if I like this more than No.5. as they are both an acquired taste imo. In Liu, the aldehydes seem more refined and there are no brassy soap notes like in No.5. Liu is alot easier on the nose and is very soft however, dosen't seem to last very long on my skin, it becomes very faint after about 20 minutes. Not sure if others can smell it, I know I can not.
No.5 seems to last longer as it softens (pure parfum only) on my skin than Liu.
It's way too expensive to have to keep reapplying. Although, the crystal bottle is a very beautiful collecter item.;)

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*TOP REVIEWER* MizLiz211 on 8/11/2008 11:08:00 AM more reviews by MizLiz211

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

The version of Liu that I am reviewing is the reissued Eau de Parfum currently available at Guerlain boutiques. It is similar to Chanel No. 5 in that it's also an aldehydic floral, but Liu has enough unique aspects of its own to recommend it. For one thing, it has the classic Guerlain base of vanilla and tonka bean. It also has a floral aspect quite similar to the cassie note in Frederic Malle Une Fleur de Cassie, but in Liu it's easier to wear. This is a lovely composition, and I'm glad that it's available again.

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*TOP REVIEWER* satsuma on 4/18/2008 8:51:00 PM more reviews by satsuma

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Black, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Oh, why did they discontinue this? I discovered this more than 10 years ago (maybe nearly 15?) at a Nordstrom Guerlain event - the SA helped me select three Guerlain perfumes which seemed to work for me & for which she gave me decants - this was the one I went back to purchase & wore religiously for many years until I couldn't find it any more.

Yes, its a cousin to Chanel 5 but it had that something else that made people who knew No 5 stop & think twice when they smelled this on me. Something in the deeper vanilla, less sandalwood feel of this with its ylang-ylang note & great staying power simply worked on my skin & I miss it terribly. I keep telling myself to find something else in this class of aldehydic floral perfumes, but nothing comes close to my memory of wearing this.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Lisaandtheword on 12/3/2007 4:27:00 PM more reviews by Lisaandtheword

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

the parfum: Deep yummy resinous vanilla w/ soft aldehydes, a smidgen of dried fruit, not too sweet. Very sultry.

the edt: didn't like at all! all aldehydes, flavor so different, I much prefer the parfum

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*TOP REVIEWER* Wyrmiax on 8/31/2007 6:05:00 PM more reviews by Wyrmiax

Age: 44-55   Skin: Very Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

I don't think this smells much like Chanel No. 5, because I don't think the aldehydes are handled as well--they're soapy and harsh. But then it dries down to Guerlinade of the purest ray serene, which is indeed reminiscent of the drydown of Vol de Nuit. As popular as vanilla is nowadays, no one now can do vanilla like this. Just genius.

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*TOP REVIEWER* LipstickLil on 1/10/2007 5:41:00 AM more reviews by LipstickLil

Age: Unknown   Skin: Normal, Medium, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Liu is a very beautiful, abstract aldehydic floral - now discontinued and very similar to Chanel No 5, especially in its opening notes. It is extremely well blended, so much so that I find it almost impossible to distinguish different notes. Although it is very similar to Chanel no 5, I find it slightly softer, and I can smell a great deal more vanilla (and no sandalwood) in the dry-down. In fact, I'd describe Liu as a softer, more vanilla version of Chanel no 5. Just gorgeous and fully worth 5 lippies!

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pgeissler on 12/10/2005 1:27:00 PM more reviews by pgeissler

Age: 44-55   Skin: Very Dry   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

Definitely a cousin of Chanel No. 5, but a much more wearable one for me. A creamier floral, though still the aldehydic floral.

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*TOP REVIEWER* rnornan on 11/17/2004 12:59:00 AM more reviews by rnornan

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Red, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

Ok, this is delightful and alehydic as everyone else has explained. I am learning something on this board--without peeking I too could tell immediately how alike it is to Je Reviens, Chanel 5 and Arpege. I would need them all in front of me, since in my mind aldehydes are so distracting tho in a good way, that I can't tell them apart by themselves. If you already own one, I don't see the point of tracking this nearly impossible-to-find aldehyde, but if it drops in your lap and you like that sort of thing, you'll be one happy camper.

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Kyahgirl on 8/22/2004 10:36:00 PM more reviews by Kyahgirl

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

Like others have said, this fragrance is a full bodied aldehydic floral. I like it but would not wear it simply because it reminds me so strongly of Lanvin 'My Sin' which I simply bathed in at the tender age of 20! I don't want to go back to 20, so I can't smell this fragrance-nothing personal against the Guerlains!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Clearing on 7/30/2004 11:53:00 AM more reviews by Clearing

Age: 44-55   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

This one surprised me. I thought I'd be disappointed because of it's brash resemblance to Chanel 5 in the beginning, but the dry down is richer and creamier and more interesting than #5. I agree with others that it's worth a try if you love 5, and if you like aldehydic floral openers. This is better.

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*TOP REVIEWER* lolly5377 on 7/5/2004 2:50:00 AM more reviews by lolly5377

Age: 25-29   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I recently obtained a small decant of LIU, and the resemblance to Chanel No. 5, First by Van Cleef & Arpels, and countless other aldehydic florals was immediately obvious. It was also instantly obvious that LIU is by far and away the most beautiful, subtle, well-crafted fragrance of them all. I don't generally wear aldehydic florals, but I plan to try to find a bottle of Liu, just for that odd day when I want to pay homage to a true classic.

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