Guerlain • Insolence • Fragrances

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Vferent on 12/15/2012 2:25:00 PM more reviews by Vferent

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

Okay so not everyone is going to like this scent. But I love it! It reminds me of Parma violets and there's just something so great about it. I started wearing it when I was 14, in Greece and four years on it always makes me feel nostalgic. Someone described it to me as smelling of 'Unicorn farts' ha haha, and the thing I like most is that you only need a couple of sprays and the strong scent lasts all day! Lavely! Not expensive either

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Lola452 on 11/5/2012 10:30:00 PM more reviews by Lola452

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I adore this fragrance. That said, I can see how it's such a polarizing scent. It's an intense, powerful fragrance that probably wouldn't be for everyone. To me, it smells primarily of candied violets and raspberries, which I think is lovely. And let me tell you, this is a sillage and longevity MONSTER! This was still going strong 15 hours after I put it on. There is something very familiar about this scent, too, although I can't put my finger on what it is. I find the bottle very pretty - looks as nice on your dressing table as it smells!

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millymichelle on 6/8/2012 11:19:00 AM more reviews by millymichelle

Age: 19-24   Skin: Other, Dark   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

So I actually don't own this, I just sneak a few sprays from my mom.
I love this scent even though I agree with the person who said it smells like bathroom cleaner. It really does. But, really, I just think A bathroom cleaner HAPPENS to smell like this.

The staying power is ridiculous. Just riduclous. I sprayed some on last night, rolled around in my bed for 6 hours, and when I woke up it smelled just as strong. So that is a huge plus.

My mom is a mature lady, but I am 21 and my other 21 year old friend owns and love this. Defnietly transcends generation if it suits the person's taste.

It's very soft smelling and powdery.Very alluring. I sneak smells of myself and fall in love every hour. It's a problem.

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*TOP REVIEWER* amnahp12 on 3/25/2012 10:56:00 PM more reviews by amnahp12

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This is such an on-again, off-again fragrance. It seems to be between the line of people that tend to prefer department store fragrances, and the people who prefer the really heavy niche stuff. I would never have been introduced if my lovely sister in law hadn't given it to me since her husband [my brother] couldn't stand how heavy it was. I won't go over notes - but this is definitely a 'heavy' perfume. Nothing light and airy about it, and it SCREAMS violets. I don't know what makes a perfume 'heavy,' but this is it. It seems to catch in the back of your throat, and have a distinct weight and muskiness going in. Every time I've tried spraying my arm or wrist, I've wondered what I was thinking, since it can be pretty overwhelming. Still, despite the 'weight'/cloyingess, the scent itself was pleasant. I've usually reserved it, VERY occasionally, to spray on my winter coat as I'm heading out, as it seems to be a very nice cold-weather fragrance to follow you around.

Today though, I decided to spray from far away on my skin right after a shower - and that was the right move! It's much lighter that way [still heavy/musky] and so sexy. This is definitely an 'older' scent, in that you have to have the charisma and PRESENCE to be able to pull it off. I can pull off and smell fabutastic in stinkers like Kenzo Jungle Le Elephant, but I couldn't pull this off in the daytime.

edit: doesn't seem so heavy anymore. Now I spray my decolette and wrists and mmmm bask in the powdery violet-drowned turkish delights bathing in a basket of rosewater. Delicious. Better sprayed than smelled from the bottle. So happy I had the opportunity to try!

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*TOP REVIEWER* combatmedicwife on 3/4/2012 2:31:00 PM more reviews by combatmedicwife

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

This is for the EDT...
Sigh. I really wanted to like this- I wanted it to be my dream French powder-floral; I love Iris.
Unfortunately, I never got used to this- even after using the whole bottle. The initial blast is pure artificial chemical harshness! It does die down about 4-6 hours later and becomes more gentle.
The best way to wear the EDT would be to spray it on before you go to bed so the rudeness wears off by the time you have to be anywhere around other humans in the morning.
Too disenchanted to buy the EDP.
I started spraying it on my laundry, though, and I can still smell it days later- it smells very nice this way.

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ECPienaar on 1/16/2012 10:38:00 AM more reviews by ECPienaar

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I am a massive Guerlain fan and after discovering them a few years ago I cant get enough. I think that My Insolence is the nicest out of the insolence range but this may be because it is more girly and flowery than fruity. I dont really like Insolence EDP, I think it smells odd after a while and reminds me of something unpleasant that I can't put my finger on. The EDT is pleasant enough but I would say the My Insolence is the nicest.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Sambalina82 on 12/26/2011 4:51:00 PM more reviews by Sambalina82

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Green    

This review is for the edp rather than the edt, I tried both and they are different scents not different concentrations of the same scent. The edt has the same violet opening that quickly settles into a hairspray note, yuck, not for me, thanks. The edp is VERY different. I've wanted to get this forever since I heard its one of the best violet perfumes out there, and it doesn't disappoint! Even before spraying I get a gorgeous parma violet note, it changes within an hour on the skin, but if sprayed on clothing it lasts a lot longer. I only regret not buying this sooner. Beautiful!

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*TOP REVIEWER* LizWords on 12/24/2011 11:25:00 AM more reviews by LizWords

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

UPDATE 1/15/12: So I read a review after I posted my initial review that mentioned the drastic difference between the EDT and EDP version of this fragrance so i added a 1ml decant of the EDP to my latest TPC order. I wore it all day yesterday and wasn't nearly as repulsed as I was with the EDT version. The EDP is much much better than EDT, it actually develops as you wear it, and that synthetic chemical floral note that I refer to as lysol below fades much quicker and the candy sweetness and musky patchouli mix to make it far more pleasant and wearable. Overall, still not my cup of tea, I still strongly dislike the lysol floral note even at its weakest, but I bumped it up a lippie for being better crafted than I initially thought. I would definitely suggest that if you want to try this you get a sample of the EDP version, I believe I paid 3$ for a 1ml decant from the perfumed court.


I agree mostly with the review directly below mine, for me, chemical cleaner abounds. It's very hard to put my finger on, maybe a bit of floral lysol? Then there's the cotton candy that isn't bad but doesn't mix well with the chemical floral smell. I really wanted to like this, but alas, I just can't. I've tried letting it develop for hours (great staying power), but it stays equally gross as it starts out on my skin, very little development. I always eventually wash it off since I just hate it. So sad really, I love Guerlain, they make some of my favorite frags of all time.


I've got some samples up for swap if anyone is interested, this is definitely a try before you buy scent...

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greenclover on 12/19/2011 2:14:00 AM more reviews by greenclover

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

This is A-TROC-IOUS. Bleck. This is supposed? to smell like violets? I don't get it - maybe a git a bit of violet - but MOSTLY I get really synthetic, caustic, chemical cleanser smell. Seriously - that's what it smells like - some kind of gross heavy duty scented bathroom cleanser - disgusting.

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sublue23 on 12/2/2011 5:50:00 PM more reviews by sublue23

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

Insolence Eau de Parfum concentration was named a five-star masterpiece by the famous fragrance writer Luca Turin in his Guide to Perfumes book. The Eau de Toilette is rated a recommended 4 stars due to a top note that bothers some, but honestly, I'm not sure what everyone is talking about. Insolence is a beautiful, gorgeous, masterpiece of a perfume. The top notes are fruity and the middle notes I picture as a purple mist of violets, this is where the sweetness really comes out. The base is a lovely dusky vanilla/tonka with the violets more calmed yet just as sweet. Some say Insolence is an unsophisticated fragrance, but I disagree. It is a masterpiece on par with other great Guerlain fragrances and smells like a strong Apres L'Ondee. Magnificent sillage and wearing power, a few sprays usually last me all day. I get compliments on this all the time. It is a complex scent that not everyone appreciates, but for those that do, it is magnificent.

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thepinkhedgehog on 11/18/2011 2:39:00 PM more reviews by thepinkhedgehog

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

This scent reminds me of uni! It's quite a sweet floral, I get the smell of parma violet sweets from it! I got it in a set one xmas about 5 years ago and liked it so bought the gift set in boots xmas sale and have bought about 3 more bottles since then. It's quite an unsual scent and gets a lot of compliments however I started to get bored of it after a while. I do still have about half a bottle which I very occasioinally use but I wouldn't say I'll be investing again

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mas1958 on 10/24/2011 10:14:00 PM more reviews by mas1958

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

Got it as sample. One of the most intriguing scents ever. The initial blast is offensive, the middle is like walking through a cotton candy factory, and the end is fabulous. The dry down is full of incense and warmth and sexiness. I'm telling you, like nothing I've ever smelled. For the brave and confident only. I'll be buying.

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asoka on 10/16/2011 6:23:00 PM more reviews by asoka

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

This review is for the edp and the edt. I first tried Insolence edp at a perfume counter, after inquiring about several Guerlain fragrances they sadly did not carry- the SA pulled insolence edp out for me to try- calling it "interesting". When I pulled the trigger on the tester- my first impression was regret. It was just pure insanity, this smell; very garish, like a lady with orange hair and blue eye shadow. Thankfully that phase did not last long, and the fragrance settled into the sexiest thing I've ever experienced with my nose. It has a nut like creaminess to it, and that garish top note just barely lingers to create this sweet confection that is simply irresistible.

I wish I could rave about the edt in the same manner. I've tested the edp every chance I've had to do so, yet stupidly bought a small bottle of the edt at sephora one day thinking it would produce the same results. That garish "hairspray" top note takes over and stays for much too long. It smells uncomfortably sour on me, and it lacks that sexy creamy character that made me love the edp. Oddly it smells great on my best friend, hairspray and all, so this is a matter of chemistry. Having said that, I must buy the dark purple juice for myself, and gift the little pink bottle to my friend- it smells too good on her for her not own it.

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annemarieke on 10/4/2011 11:10:00 AM more reviews by annemarieke

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Completely different from all other scents I've ever had. It's invasive but soft at the same time. I love it and get compliments everywhere I go when I wear it. It's an unique scent that gets even better after a few hours.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Phyllo6 on 9/10/2011 10:51:00 PM more reviews by Phyllo6

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

This perfume is lovely. I am 25 and I can honestly say this and Coco Mademoiselle have been my favourite scents for the last few years. Insolence definitly has a strong scent that absolutely lingers throughout the day which is one of the reasons why I love it so much.

Ive recently added Shalimar Parfum Initial to my collection which is just as lovely! (different, but lovely!)

I also have the clear/pink bottle of Insolence (I think its the eau de toilette, but I may be incorrect) and I do not like it as much as this one. This prob sounds silly be to me they are slightly different.

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*TOP REVIEWER* lollsazz on 7/29/2011 1:04:00 PM more reviews by lollsazz

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Other    

Very violet-y and sweet, with a lot of raspberries. I actually liked it in the winter, when it was dark and cold, because it's such a warm and heavy smell (you should be VERY careful with how much you put on!). Has good staying power. This is an invasive smell, I would say simple and not very mysterious... Smells both a bit childish and sophisticated. Probably not for shy girls. I liked it for quite a while, but got tired of it, which is why I won't repurchase. But I'm probably going to try it out in the winter again.

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pitsipopaki on 7/29/2011 7:10:00 AM more reviews by pitsipopaki

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This is magic- the first time I tried it I had no idea if I liked it or not. Maybe that's why it's so magical ;it kind of creeps up on you! The scent that stays with you reminds me of something I smelled when I was a child- now that's a powerful memory. Maybe it's the violet, or the powder? Not only I love it but also every other guy that happens to pass by! It will definitely be one of my favorites (if not the top favorite) along with Prada (Iris) and Cabotine (Gres).

By the way this review is for the eau de toilette (edt) as I hear that the edp has slightly different meta/under tones.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Shazzer1976 on 7/21/2011 5:18:00 PM more reviews by Shazzer1976

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Love this. Such an attitude problem. No respecter of personal space. Parma violets, raspberry. Eat me!

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Whiffnotes on 7/7/2011 11:29:00 PM more reviews by Whiffnotes

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This is my:"still dont' know if I hate it or love it perfume but I wear it anyway." People have smelled popcorn, burning tire and licorice on me, wearing this. I get an initial kick of what smells like plastic and bubble gum and then an insiduous, proud violet. I wear it for the heck of it and I don't mind. :-)

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*TOP REVIEWER* enamacheylove on 7/1/2011 11:19:00 PM more reviews by enamacheylove

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Medium   Eyes: Green    

This is one of my all time favorite fragrances. It's a beautifully hard to describe scent. All I can really say is that its soft and subtle. I am completely in love.

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