Mainstream Monday: Sniffing a Popular Perfume
Even though Guerlain hasn’t launched anything that has interested me in years, I still get excited when they have a launch. I used to consider myself a Guerlain Gal but throughout the years my focus has shifted into Chanel territory (because Chanel has been launching things I’m more likely to wear). With the launch of Mon Guerlain, I tried to ignore all of the copy and ads¹. I didn’t ignore the note list because it sounded like a sweet amber, a genre that Guerlain does so well (is there anything more glorious than the vanilla in Shalimar?).
In my opinion, the best thing about Mon Guerlain is its opening. It’s lavender. This lavender isn’t medicinal. It’s almost like lemon candies and licorice; yet, it’s very distinguishable as “lavender”. As expected, Mon Guerlain is a sweet fragrance. It’s a syrup-like jasmine, powdery iris and creamy vanilla. Here’s what I didn’t expect: Mon Guerlain, for a gourmand, is sheer and light. It’s like a gourmand fused with a breezy fougère. The dry-down is a creamy with vanilla and lots of tonka bean/coumarin. It’s sweet, sort of milky and almost like caramel. It the sort of base you expected this pink juice to smell like the entire time!
So, here’s the deal: Mon Guerlain is basically Mon Exclusif, a Guerlain perfume launched in 2015. The real differences between the two? Mon Exclusif is about double the price of Mon Guerlain and has a more limited distribution. Overall, the perfumes are very similar (just compare the note lists) and are even the same shade of pink. This should make me angry but it doesn’t. Fashion brands do this a lot. They have a more expensive line and then later introduce a similar design in their less expensive line (think like Michael Kors handbags to MICHAEL Michael Kors handbags or Ralph Lauren Collection to Lauren). But, the difference with the Guerlain is that the quality hasn’t really changed between these two. Why they decided to disrupt their own product market, I don’t know, but for once the consumer is sort of benefiting from a decision a big brand made!
Notes listed include lavender, citrus, jasmine, iris, vanilla, sandalwood and tonka bean. Launched in 2017. PERFUMERS – Thierry Wasser and Delphine Jelk
Give Mon Guerlain a try if you like gourmands (especially Guerlain’s gourmands) or if you like sweet floral ambers. Or perfumes like Guerlain Mon Exclusif, Lancôme La Vie Est Belle, Mugler Angel Muse, Bond No. 9 Nuits de Noho, M. Micallef Mon Parfum (!) and/or Harvey Prince Eau de Creme.
Projection and longevity are average.
Mon Guerlain comes in a few sizes with the 1.7 oz retailing for $94 at Sephora and Saks. (FYI – Mon Exclusif is $180 for 1.7 oz).
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – A pink Guerlain – lavender, powdery florals and sweetness. I didn’t rush out and buy Mon Exclusif so I’m not rushing out to buy Mon Guerlain. I like Mon Guerlain but when I’m in this mood, I’m going to wear Insolence. This doesn’t mean that I dislike Mon Guerlain at all (it means I already own Insolence). This is the sort of perfume genre that Guerlain does so well. They’ve updated their style for a modern audience. It’s an easy-to-wear, polished amber with a sweet tooth.
¹Briefing: Angelina Jolie is the face and inspiration of the perfume. As well as “the choices, emotions and dreams that embody modern femininity”. What does any of this even mean? Stop pandering to me like this and just sell me a good perfume. Here’s the corny ad.
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Hi Victoria,
Thanks for reviewing this. I find Mon Guerlain kind of blah, yet I sort of like it because it reminds me a bit of Guerlain’s late, lamented Plus Que Jamais from the mid 2000s, albeit mostly in the heart notes and dry down. I am kicking myself for not having gotten a full bottle while it was still around and have not yet found anything similar.
I sort of like it too. I see why it exists. It’s also pleasant to wear.
I remember Plus Que Jamais too! I regret not buying it while it was available. I can’t really think of anything similar either 🙁
I really like Mon Guerlain because it is a sheer gourmand. Usually, gourmands make me a bit nauseous and are not in my wheelhouse. Lancome La Vie Est Belle is that camp. Have you sniffed Maison Margiela Lipstick On? The Mon Guerlain smells like a close sibling which makes me happy.
A sheer gourmand isn’t easy to find. That’s one reason why I appreciate this one. It’s a gourmand but not “heavy” DESPITE having heavy notes. Guerlain is usually good with making gourmand notes feel like they aren’t sticky or sickening.
I have tried Lipstick On but that was pre-Mon Guerlain’s release. I was too busy trying to find similarities between it and Malle Lipstick Rose. I liked it but put it aside since I own that Malle (even though they aren’t *alike*; I was trying to talk myself out of it). I’ll try it again after trying Mon Guerlain. I’ll go in with a different perspective 🙂