Guerlain • L'Instant Magic • Fragrances
(35 reviews)
| Average Rating. | 3.9 |
| Would buy this product again. | 68% |
| Package Quality | 4.4 |
| Price | 3.7 |
| Ingredients | |
*TOP REVIEWER* stls on 5/19/2013 7:46:00 PM more reviews by stls
Age: 25-29 Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral Hair: Blond, Curly, Medium Eyes: Green
L'instant magic is a dreamy perfume, the one I imagine a princess would smell like. The kind hearted one, locked in a tower with the traditional fire breathing dragon around.
Because it feels that romantic and old fashioned - in a positive way - but also optimistic, because we all know that there's always a ''they lived happily ever after'' in the end.
L'instant magic starts with a sparking lemon/bergamot combination that is quicky replaced by (powdery) almonds with soft (powdery) violets and a smidge of (powdery) rose. All of them infused with the signature ''a la Guerlain'' vanilla. The drydown is quite different as the powdery part wears of and I can mostly smell skin-like musk with subtle woody notes (cedar and sandalwood) but not in a masculine way at all.
I'd say projection is soft to moderate and lasts for a few hours. There's no ''WOW, look at this chick'' factor and L'instant magic won't demand attention. I'd never call it sexy but it's undoubtedly ultra-feminine and romantic in a pure and innocent retro way. I really like it.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Kchild on 11/3/2012 7:47:00 PM more reviews by Kchild
Age: 44-55 Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium Hair: Brunette Eyes: Blue
It's taken me a long time to write about this very intimate love. It can be difficult to put something so emotional into words. But....I'll try......(that's why we're here right??)
Soft, powdery, romance. This is ultra feminine cloud like nirvana on my skin. I get compliments every time I wear this. It's the stuff of pink tulle and satin slippers. There's not an aggressive bone in this perfumes body. It draws people closer, creates an aura of trust. (My very favorite type of scent!)This is a comfort scent that you could wear to the opera or at home watching a movie and it would be perfectly appropriate in either place. For me this is also one that gets a lot of attention from men. (Usually wondering what it is so that they can get some for their wives....)
This is blended seemlessly. I get no corrolation between this one and the original. I find them to be quite different. Magique is freesia, vanille, and almonds predominantly on my skin. I can smell a bit of rose as well but for the most part my nose doesn't take this creation apart.That's fine w/me. I have no desire to isolate the notes when the overall effect is so alluring.
This is 100% Magique indeed w/my chemistry. It's one of those rare finds that feels as if it were custom made just for me. The body lotion for this is an exact duplication of the scent. Love it! I also have the pure parfum and it's also fabulous. Just a couple of dabs will last beautifully all day and into the evening.
If I were to use one word to describe this gorgeous aroma it would be~captivating.I believe that's the perfect word. It would have made for a short review however......
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
*TOP REVIEWER* SensualSusanna on 7/25/2012 5:42:00 PM more reviews by SensualSusanna
Age: 44-55 Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm Hair: Brunette, Medium Eyes: Brown
I'm not a big fan of Guerlain in general. I do love Guerlain Jicky Edt., and Secret Intention which as I've been told is not characteristic of a Guerlain at all. I tried L'Instant as it was suppose to be a gourmand, specifically honey fragrance, which was awful on my skin. L'Instant Magic is a soft oriental, not gourmand, just warm and inviting. This is a " come hither" scent with a bit of sweetness (the honey I wanted in L'Instant) and dare I say.. .baby powder, which I like when it's got some adult fun thrown in (think KM Loukhoum without the heavy roses and thick syrup). A little amber here, a little floral there.. a little vampiness if you're in that kind of mood! Yeah. Long staying power, takes little time to dry down on the skin, so you're raring to go and it is pretty consistently linear. Not to wear in hot/humid weather as it would overwhelm someone, but in cooler climates it certainly dictates 'come cuddle dear..... " LOVE!!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
*TOP REVIEWER* AntFarm on 1/4/2012 5:39:00 PM more reviews by AntFarm
Age: 30-35 Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm Hair: Red, Medium Eyes: Hazel
I am really impressed with this one. I just dabbed a little sample on my wrist and let it settle. I was pleased to notice a very classy, comforting, powdery fragrance that had a subtle edge of sensuality. This reminds me a lot of a more subdued modern version of Santa Maria Novella's Melograno. Hmm, I will have to continue testing this and apply it over my neck and wrists in order to decide if it is full-bottle worthy.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
*TOP REVIEWER* tessture on 8/28/2011 9:55:00 AM more reviews by tessture
Age: 36-43 Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium Hair: Brunette Eyes: Brown
My first try of this was a rather nice powdery comfort blanket scent, without being gourmand or vanilla in any way. I am EXTREMELY picky about powder in my fragrance as I don't like it as a note. There are some exceptions (Miller Harris Fleur Oriental for one) and I thought this would be one, as it's just so soft and pretty. Nope. Second try, I put more on and it's very VERY powdery, so much so that if I wear it near my husband I'll get the grimace. So in the end I got a very powdery scent with a citrus edge which reminds me of Shalimar on me minus the nasty sticky edge. (Shalimar is not my friend, sadly). This one is a pass.
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bethtenerife on 7/8/2011 11:21:00 AM more reviews by bethtenerife
Age: 56 & Over Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium Hair: Grey Eyes: Green
No, no, no. This is headache in a bottle for me. I sprayed it on in a perfume shop and had to endure a half hour nauseating drive home being choked with this overpowering scent. It's way too flowery, too powdery in fact too everything for me. Didn't like it at all and couldn't wait to scrub it off.
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*TOP REVIEWER* lollsazz on 1/14/2011 5:54:00 AM more reviews by lollsazz
Age: 19-24 Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Warm Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium Eyes: Other
Agree with the comment under me and also the third under :)
.
At first I didn't like it when I smelled it in the perfumery - the top notes has a pretty strange smell I really can't completely understand. I sprayed the perfume on one of the paper strips they have in the store, didn't like it and put it away in my pocket (I always do that to see if I like the deeper notes). When I smelled it a day later I just loved it! It's such a cozy powdery fragrance! To me it's a really organic smell I don't get tired of. It 's also not the regular sexy smell (but definitely very good). I would describe the scent as sweet and powdery, which to me is like a baby-candy-smell. I don't pull any citrus scent when this sets.
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One time, me and my boyfriend were watching a movie together, he lying behind me. The skin on my neck probably got a bit hot, and the perfume began to evaporate. I laid there smelling the air all the time, 'cause it was SO good! Cannot get enough of this smell!
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This is btw for me only a winter-scent - I believe it would be too cloying for summer, and would never wear it that time of the year. Also: use this sparingly!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
*TOP REVIEWER* FleurDefendue on 11/19/2010 4:10:00 PM more reviews by FleurDefendue
Age: Unknown Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine Eyes: Green
The original L'Instant is too floral for me, so I didn't care about the Magic version until recently, when I was at a Guerlain counter and I tried on L'Instant Magic Elixir. I came home and for the rest of the day there was that sexy powdery sweet scent lingering. I went back to get it but they were out of stock, so I got the Magic instead (not the Magic Elixir). When I tried it the next day though, it was very different. It has this citrus opening, which generally I don't like, but fortunately these first harsh notes disappear rather quickly. Then I am left with a powdery scent (I wish I could detect the almond, but I don't... neither any floral notes). At first it seemed to me like a generic powdery perfume and I was somewhat disappointed, because I really wanted to love it. Anyway, I put it aside for some time and then, one morning, I was in a hurry, I saw the bottle and I just put it on. Well, I can't describe how many compliments I got that day. There were people literally following me, asking which perfume I use. The strange thing is that I can't detect the scent on me after an hour or so. But from the others' reaction I am sure that it has significant sillage and that it's very pleasant. Now I adore it, although I believe that it's due to what others are saying :-). I would describe it as a "dark baby powder". I will buy again and I will also search for the Elixir edition.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
*TOP REVIEWER* cocorocha on 8/17/2010 9:07:00 AM more reviews by cocorocha
Age: 30-35 Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine Eyes: Brown
only 3.9?
3.9?
oh people, what's wrong with you?:PPP
this is a major parfume...THE perfume...this is why god (Mr. Guerlain that is) created a woman...just to be able to put this exquisite powdery-almondy miracle on her skin...
my absolute HG scent for a long number of years...I can totaly understand though,that for some reason (too sweet, to cloying, too..something) some of the reviewers find it bad, or too much....
but you have to admit- this is the closest to perfection in perfume world as it gets...
in my humbly,humble opinion..
I realy don't want to talk about composition, notes, feelings...just try it for god's sake...try it...
ok...'nuff of histeria.....:))))
(hehe, pulled off to bring the numeros a bit higher, so now it is exactly 4.0!now that looks much better:D)
8 out of 10 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
*TOP REVIEWER* drvogue on 6/18/2010 3:32:00 PM more reviews by drvogue
Age: 36-43 Skin: Dry, Fair Hair: Brunette Eyes: Hazel
This is not a very original fragrance but I still love it. You must like bergamot, powder, almonds, and musk (in that order) to enjoy this simple beauty. The opening is a sweet citrus, kind of like bergamot jam, if you've ever had it. Then the powder and the almond kicks in. It has a very faint similarity to L'Instant in the sense that it's musky and sweet.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
chrystelica on 5/27/2010 10:25:00 AM more reviews by chrystelica
Age: 25-29 Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine Eyes: Blue
Let me start by saying, I'm not the typical Guerlain fan. I don't like the "Guerlinade." It is too sickeningly, horribly, boozy-sweet on me. But I love this. It's very pretty, fresh, juicy, like ripe fruit or soft flower petals, and powdery.
It certainly wasn't what I expected, given the other Guerlain's I've tried. So far the only other one I like is Shalimar... and normally I don't like aldehydes. I love musks, though, woods, and floral, so it makes sense that I'd like this. It is comforting as others have said, and you can put a lot of it on and it's not too strong.
It's very wearable and likeable. I wouldn't say it's especially unusual or daring, but very comforting, stereotypically beautiful, feminine and pretty. This is something a very classy woman in her 30s with a baby would wear strolling through a park. I mention the baby because the musks make this very powdery, but I don't get baby powder as much as I get a musky powder, like the scent a baby naturally gives off, if it smells sweet =0)
I have to agree with the others, though, the ad video has NOTHING to do with the smell of this fragrance. I find the woman's outfit might be appropriate, the silky white dress suggestive of the clean, skin musk part-- except that she has butt cleavage (which I don't associate with this AT all, other than the fact that this may be a 'submissive' perfume)... Anyhow, the ad suggests this is in some way a "mysterious" perfume, and it is not, in my opinion. It is soft and cuddly, not bizarre and climbing some type of crumbling elaborate staircase in a dark lit room to find some type of white shining light is just so not L'instant Magic, I have to wonder wth those marketing people were thinking.
EDIT: Not very long lasting. Maybe 6 hours max. Some EDP perfumes have much more sillage than this on my skin.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
ALiaM on 11/23/2009 9:54:00 AM more reviews by ALiaM
Age: 19-24 Skin: Acne-prone, Medium Hair: Brown Eyes: Hazel
This is my alll time favorite perfume.
I really really really love it.
It has a soft powdery smell that does not feel overwhelming or gives me a headache.
I will keep buying it everytime im out.
HR
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Alleyhen on 11/21/2009 1:11:00 PM more reviews by Alleyhen
Age: 44-55 Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine Eyes: Green
Picked this up out of curiosity at Marshall's and upon first spritz, scolded myself for wasting good money, and put it away. HOWEVER...as the day went by, a pretty, powdery scent kept wafting from my wrists. So I sprayed on more, and went through the "Eww" moments when the bitter citrusy notes dominate. But very quickly that sweet, gentle baby powdery scent takes over and stays. This is one of the few perfumes I love that actually gets blunt compliments out of the blue ("You smell so good, tell me what are you wearing?!") I don't smell it constantly, but now & then it quietly reappears...very nice.
EDIT: Ok, upped my "overall rating" to a 5 after a Target employee followed my scent through the aisles to ask "Is that YOU? I mean who smells so beautiful?" I held up my wrist for him to sniff and he said "Yes! What IS that you're wearing?!" Just ordered more L'Instant Magic! Sooo happy that I can still find it!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
ymantra on 8/28/2009 8:57:00 PM more reviews by ymantra
Age: 36-43 Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium Hair: Blond Eyes: Green
I had the chance to smell L'instant, it was nice it reminded me a little bit of champs elysees very sweet. I read the reviews on L'instant magic and went ahead and bought it unsniffed at marshalls. Let me tell you this smells amazing. It was love at first sniff. It is soft, femenine, sophisticated. The staying power is not that great so I use it deliberately almost like a body splash event thought it is an eua the perfume. I can see myself wearing this on a daily basis. I just got it today, lets see if I get compliments as others have mentioned they get with this fragrance.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
*TOP REVIEWER* spearmintstars on 6/9/2009 2:36:00 AM more reviews by spearmintstars
Age: Unknown Skin: Other Hair: Other Eyes: Other
Okay, the bottle is really nice, but this scent is very strange. For the first 15 minutes, to me it smells like a man's sweaty armpits, it's pretty weird, then.........the complete dry down is baby powder. No thanks.
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*TOP REVIEWER* footballove on 4/28/2009 1:07:00 PM more reviews by footballove
Age: 25-29 Skin: Oily, Fair Hair: Blond Eyes: Blue
I got this as sample,and didn't like it.It smells so ordinery,I got impression that there is so many other similar fragrances arround.It has very high staying power,but at the same time it is so overpowering.I can't even describe wich kind of smell this would be.Powdery,sweet,floral???I dunno.Also,I wanted it because I've read on one site that this fragrance reminds on babies.This is NOTHING like baby smell.
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maximopark on 2/14/2009 8:34:00 AM more reviews by maximopark
Age: 18 & Under Skin: Combination Hair: Blond Eyes: Green
My favourite perfume, so feminine and lovely, lasts all day for me!
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julieannmarie on 2/8/2009 6:52:00 PM more reviews by julieannmarie
Age: Unknown Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium Eyes: Hazel
I love this scent, it smells divine. Every time I wear it I get so many compliments. It does have a little bit of a baby powder essence, but it truly is a lovely frangrance.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
NATBEAUT on 2/4/2009 4:48:00 AM more reviews by NATBEAUT
Age: 30-35 Skin: Acne-prone Hair: Black Eyes: Black
Yes I love it too!!
i finished my bottle of EDP and wondering if it has a fresher lighter version.
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goodlight on 2/4/2009 3:40:00 AM more reviews by goodlight
Age: 30-35 Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium Hair: Black Eyes: Brown
After reading other reviews I thought this would be a gourmand fragrance.
Turns out on my skin it smell exactly like BABY WIPES (or baby powder). I mean, it smells like really nice expensive and classy baby wipes, but still...
So sadly, this is another Guerlain that doesn't work for me.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No