Guerlain • L'Instant de Guerlain • Fragrances

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ladyc74 on 4/2/2013 7:01:00 AM more reviews by ladyc74

Age: 36-43   Skin: Very Oily, Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I love Guerlain fragrances - that heavy, old-fashioned vanilla powder just does it for me. My most beloved is L'Heure Bleue. Unfortunately, my husband feels the opposite - he loathes the very same powdery note that I adore. So this scent is my compromise. It is very definitely Guerlain, with that trademark musky vanilla powder. But it's a lot more subtle. Guerlain-lite, if you will. I am not overly keen on the initial fragrance, which has a fresh, watery, shampoo-like note. But that fades within minutes to a beautiful, soft, slightly floral powdery honey - and let's face it, it's the drydown you live with for most of the day, so I'm happy with that. Nobody has ever commented on this fragrance and that's because it's not in-your-face, I think - but it's warm, comforting and pretty. A great everyday Guerlain fix.

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shanx on 1/12/2013 3:47:00 PM more reviews by shanx

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I have many perfumes, this is the only one my husband actually likes.... Luckily I buy and wear them for my self but this one I can wear for both of us:)
I usually don't like vanilla/honey/gourmand type perfumes but this is not cloying or sickly sweet.
This is love in a bottle for me. It is a warm cloud of calm and serenity. It is also totally different to any other frag I have come across.
Though I do concur with others that this is best used with discretion. It is strong in the EDP and the sillage is quite powerful.Also be careful in hot weather. Yesterday I was wearing this and the temp was nudging 40*C (hot!!!) and it was too much.
BTW the atomizer/spray is the best I have used.

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bululu on 1/12/2013 1:05:00 PM more reviews by bululu

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Tan, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

There's something special about this fragrance that can't be captured in words. Not for the faint hearted, it's strong, sexy and very feminine. I truly love it in winter but it's too overpowering for summer.

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*TOP REVIEWER* cocorocha on 12/17/2012 4:21:00 AM more reviews by cocorocha

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

I've been reading reviews of this scent and some left me speechless...both in a good and in a bad way...

for me, this is a short and sweet aberration from the guerlinade-based Guerlains (heheh), that doesn't have so much in common with the full blooded guerlaines familliar to the wide audience.but I think that is exactly what makes this one so special....
this is a very beautiful, hypnotic and extremely sexy gourmand, based on a magnolia/honey accord and brought to extreme by very luscious amber note.....there's vanilla also, but that vanilla isn't childlishly sweet or overdone...

now- Shalimar,Addict,Roma???...no resemblance at all...!!
first of all- Shalimar is a powdery bergamot/lemon/opoponax oriental,Addict is a tonka/vanilla based oriental, Roma is a floriental with a heavy blackcurrant/mint note, and bergamot/patchouly base, not a honey/amber gourmand like L'Instant....

this is a unique,sweet,ultramodern and feminine perfume,but you have to be very careful when wearting it in public... it has very powerful sillage and almost a surreal projection, so try to be modest (1,2, spritz will do ok)....a perfect winter-daytime scent (I don't recommend it on a hot,humid day), and a wonderful companion for an evening out...followed by....well, yeah, THAT!!

creamy,dreamy,steamy little miracle.....try it before the buy...


p.s. EDP and EDT are not so different considering the notes, but edp is rather deep and more dense...has less citruses,more amber and all in all is a monstruous in a sense of sillage...edt is a tad lighter and fluffier, but also very charming and unusual...

I recommend an EDP, because it captures perfectly the idea behind this wonderful perfume- strong,feminine woman,but with an edge...provocative,maybe not decorative enough to be called a sex bomb,quite shy and introverted...until the vulcano in her works his way out...

that is how I experience L'Instant....

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stayce on 11/21/2012 10:11:00 PM more reviews by stayce

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

Pretty! A nice, orange blossom-magnolia with a sweet vanillic-honey (but no uric acid) base. I'll probably get a full bottle once it makes its way down through the discounters.

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AlessBL on 11/14/2012 8:06:00 PM more reviews by AlessBL

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

My favorite together with Mitsouko. Simply the best. It's not a fragrance, it's a whole atmosphere that surrounds you.

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brunettex on 11/2/2012 5:13:00 PM more reviews by brunettex

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

You know when you're so in love that you can only smile and be happy and just love the other person (in this case, Guerlain L'instant)? That is how I feel right now. I never thought I could do warm/vanilla scents. But it is on me. All over me. I love you so much, Guery.

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mdimitrova on 9/27/2012 2:30:00 PM more reviews by mdimitrova

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I can't figure it out... i smell it and i like it but i don't think Wow i love this, but its pleasant and welcoming. What draws me to it is the fact that everyone keeps asking what i am wearing and would go as far as follow me to the bathroom and watch it when i take it out of the bag. Random people stop me on the streets and ask me what it is and i can easily say that does not happen with any other. So that is the main reason i buy it as lets face it after a few minutes you adapt to the smell and can very rarely smell your own perfume so what others think is the key, it being your husband, friends, colleagues or just people around you... I like it but prefer the Gucci Guilty smell a lot more, however i never get complimented when wearing the Gucci as nice as it is.

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theblushbabe on 9/6/2012 5:15:00 PM more reviews by theblushbabe

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

One of my all time favorites, this one is comforting and sexy all at once. Using it makes me feel happy, sophisticated, confident, and calmed down. Brings back good memories too :-) I love this, and I use it all the time. That being said, it's more of a cold weather fragrance, not that it can't be used in warm weather, it just strikes me as more of a cold weather fragrance. 90% of the time, I'm wearing either this or Dior J'adore. Also, I hate putting an age on fragrances but this is one of those that doesn't seem better suited for any particular age, absolutely anybody could pull this off. I'm not good with notes, so I'd describe this as soft, yet warm and sexy. It's great for those who love perfume, but don't like/can't wear anything too loud. But it's not boring by any means, I personally find it quite original and have yet to find anything like it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* BigEars on 7/31/2012 4:29:00 PM more reviews by BigEars

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

A pretty magnolia/vanilla fragrance that will not offend anyone. Great for the office. Good staying power, sillage fine. Safe but a tad boring for me

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zannyvic on 5/24/2012 11:36:00 PM more reviews by zannyvic

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

one word: WONDERFUL!!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Donnz on 2/24/2012 11:17:00 PM more reviews by Donnz

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

As other reviewers have said, the magnolia stands out strongly in the first half hour then as the basenotes kick in you can smell rose (even though none is listed) mixed in with warm honey. A very safe fragrance, will not disgust anyone but will not grab your man by the 'ehem' and make him crazy for you either.

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JELo on 11/30/2011 4:24:00 PM more reviews by JELo

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This scent is creamy and acidic at the same time. Very white and floral but also powdery and sweet; the magnolia note is very pronounced. I love the bottle!

On me, the sillage is exceptional and one spritz lasted all day and was not overpowering but definitely noticeable. This is not one of my favorites because I prefer "darker" fragrances (like Midnight Poison and Opium) but it definitely has some appeal.

Top Notes: Bergamot, Mandarin Orange, Red Apple
Middle Notes: Iris, Jasmine, Ylang-ylang, Magnolia
Base Notes: Musk, Amber, Benzoin, Vanilla, Honey

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glassofwater on 4/14/2011 2:37:00 AM more reviews by glassofwater

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Love, love, love this! I am a very harsh critic when it comes to scents, especially florals! This scent is the perfect balance of floral, amber, and citrus. It evokes memories that are just on the tip of your brain, and is unique enough to create new ones. Please try this!

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Belle2112 on 12/28/2010 10:52:00 AM more reviews by Belle2112

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

I only discovered L'Instant de Guerlain earlier this year, but now I wear it all the time - it's my new favourite scent.

One reviewer on here described it as smelling like rice pudding and roses, and I'm with her on that.

I do think the packaging is surprisingly plain for such a pretty and feminine fragrance, but no matter: it's the scent that counts, and this really does smell divine.

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middlemarch on 7/22/2010 8:31:00 AM more reviews by middlemarch

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

L'Instant (meaning "the moment") was created 2003 for Guerlain and it's a treasure of mine. Just looking at the bottle makes me smile, it's so luxurious and classic. The scent is oriental, feminine and floral. I recommend that you splurge and buy the Eau de parfume because it will last longer.

Top note: bergamot, mandarin.
Middle note: chinese magnolia, sambac jasmine, ylang-ylang, iris.
Base note: vanilla, benzoin, musk, amber.

The moment for this scent is evening, I think it's a bit too heavy for daytime although I wear it all day long : )

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*TOP REVIEWER* jarona on 6/30/2010 2:16:00 PM more reviews by jarona

Age: 44-55   Skin: Very Dry, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Hazel    

I first received this as a gift when my fiance took a trip to Paris to visit relatives. Now..realize that I was never much of a "perfume" girl because so many scents give me a massive headache that my fragrance collection is really very limited. Anyway...from the second I first used this I loved the scent--the test would be waiting for the headache. Suffice it to say, I never got a headache!
Since then, this has been my go-to, regular, every day scent. It is clean and not heavy at all, but during the day it leaves a subtle scent. It really feels so fresh!! This is the only scent I've worn where so many people have asked me what scent I'm wearing--because they love it. In fact, I actually had a guy follow me throughout a store one day to find out the name b/c he wanted to purchase it for his wife. I love L'Instant and always get it when I'm in France--it is actually easier to come by there than over here.
I'm also totally in love with Guerlain's L'Heur Bleu--OMG. I love that scent so much..that said, due to our personal body chemistry, we all wear our scents differently. My fave may be your clothspin-over-the-nose scent and visa versa. However, Geurlain just has so many beautiful scents.
Hope this helps!

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chimpyblue05 on 6/16/2010 2:57:00 AM more reviews by chimpyblue05

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I loved the scent of this on a scent strip, but it turned into disgusting baby powder with a hint of jasmine on me. Not only that, it's very strong. I don't know which note makes things turn into baby powder smell, but things do have a tendency to go that way on me, so if you have the same problem, I would steer clear of this fragrance.

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caita on 5/20/2010 5:45:00 PM more reviews by caita

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

so sweet and feminine!

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*TOP REVIEWER* foe on 4/25/2010 1:15:00 AM more reviews by foe

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Olive   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I LOVE Luca Turin's review of L'Instant -- something that sounds like a great idea when you're drunk and then the next morning, you're just kicking yourself. I totally agree and would add that during that drunken fit, what an effing grand time you're having. Forget the perfume snobs, though. This is a great scent -- and probably the first "grown up" perfume I ever bought. I fell in love with it because it seemed so elegant and ladylike, all the things I wanted to be. Now I know the perfume snobs hate it because they see it as bringing down the house of Guerlain. Whatever. This was my first Guerlain fragrance and it served as an intro to the even better things their house had to offer: L'Heure Bleue, Chamade...we could go on forever here. With hindsight, I can see the validity of the argument that Instant doesn't quite fit in with the illustrious company of Guerlain's other perfumes. But, again: whatevs, man. Instant's sillage is great, the longevity is great. Compared to Shalimar, it's mediocre...but what isn't mediocre when compared to Shalimar? In short, I'd say Instant is a naive young woman's vision of what an elegant, chic perfume smells like. I wore this once and one of my girlfriends told me I smelled like a young woman who knows what she wants out of life -- what better compliment is there?

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