GUERLAIN

I have sampled two leather perfumes recently - this and Tom Ford's Ombré Leather. I find they create similar impressions in completely opposite orders as if one's top notes are the other's drydown - of course, roughly. Guerlain Cuir intense is intense per Guerlain, that is, preserving the house's softness and comfortable approachability. It is a multifaceted leather that starts dry but becomes soft, mellow and very nicely spicy. Stated top notes are osmanthus and ylang, which I think are wonderful if you want to add a bit of softness and also twist to a leather fragrance. When I spray Cuir Intense, I first get a soft peachy oriental (osmanthus?). I would even call it a mellow tobacco fragrance at this point. Then, to my surprise, Cuir Intense takes a turn and becomes a dry leather. I'm surprised by this transportation from somebody's luxury library with leather goods in a mansion to an expensive boutique in Italy full of chic leather bags - to a wardrobe that has some leather jackets and has not been aired for a while. This the thing about luxury leather bag scents. Very little separates them from the not-so-one-million-dollar leather jacket smell.This is not the daring and risky stench some leather and patch combinations offer sometimes. It is dry and clean, but the vibe is there. In this Guerlain, it feels like I am moving my nose from the inside of a chic bag - with makeup and other stuff that softens the leather smell- to outside. I wish the transformation was not this recognizable. I appreciate both facets, but preferably separately. When it settles on my skin, Cuir Intense is a soft leather with a little woods, a little tobacco and still some lovely peachiness from osmanthus. None of these stand out, it is a well-blended oriental. I don't get the Guerlain powder but the Guerlain vibe is definitely there. It is well-made, it is comfortable and it is indeed a compliment getter. Does it warrant a bottle? Not in my opinion. I would love it as an oriental without the dry leather. If we are talking about soft oriental or wearable stuff, I would prefer both Cuir Beluga and Micallef's Vanille Cuir over this. If we are talking about risque stench, I believe Azuree has been unsurpassed. Per dry leathers, the Armani Prive collection offers a very wearable luxury handbag fragrance. If I want this oriental feel, maybe I sacrifice leather and enjoy Ambre Sultan, again I find it unsurpassed in my individual journey. So, perhaps the problem is that both this Guerlain and TF's Ombre Leather are doing so many things at once that they keep on taking me to other fragrances in my mind. Sometimes I wonder if they have a mission of summing up everything I have smellt so far. Strong sillage at first, though it becomes lighter later and OK lasting power though. I can see the drydown getting many compliments.

I bought #62. It is a beautiful rose, pink. Bright enough for a little color, but neutral enough to carry in my bag for all occasions. I love the formula and especially love the beautiful mirrored case. I will purchase other colors to swap in/out of my case.

I love this lip "foundation". My lipstick stays on for hours without feeling dry or sinking into lines. It comes in a beautiful gold case somewhat smaller than a regular lipstick tube. The case is so beautiful that I do not mind quickly applying it in public before swiping on a new coat of lipstick. Really worth having in my purse and on my makeup counter.