Hey Posse! Hey Hey Posse! Down here in Australia we have now got our own Facebook group because it was becoming harder and harder to send and receive from overseas. So far I’ve had no trouble but the clouds are thickening and it seems to be getting darker so I have been trying out the newest thing. It just feels less risky to have your precious Guelarin, CHANEL, DIOR or any niche brand traveling less far. I have been lucky enough to buy some really great stuff and be involved in a sample round robin. One of the excellent buys, with thanks to Cassandra, has been
Aqua Allegoria Ylang & Vanille by Guerlain 1999
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives the featured accords as:
Top: Carnation, Ylang Ylang
Heart: Jasmine
Base: Vanilla
Surrender To Chance also add fresh citrus and iris
The sweet smell of confectionery is what first grabs my nostrils in Ylang & Vanille, like walking into a candy store in my childhood, equal parts sugar, oil, mint, dust, vanilla, orange, butter, chocolate and gum. Though not really a gourmand it is reminiscent of that moment of promise with 20 cents and liberty to choose a bag full of sweets. After the initial crazy lolly blast the minty, peppery carnation swirls beautifully through the buttery, sensual, glamour of the ylang ylang. Like a night in the summer warmth of a beautiful island getaway with the flowers sending out their endearments to the creatures of the night, it softly glows on my skin. Ylang & Vanille is not a loud fragrance but it does make you smell beautiful. The flowers fade into sweet vanilla that just sits quietly above the skin for a couple of hours and then disappears.
Quite a few reviewers have noted that this is the most Guerlain-esque of the Aqua Allegorias, I find it as light, summery and frothy as the rest, maybe a little sweeter and more structured towards dessert but it doesn’t have the spunk or pizazz of the main line.
So light and pretty that nobody will be skunked or overwhelmed by your fragrance, even in close quarters, unless your work has a strict no fragrance policy.
Further reading: TheNonBlonde
I could only find new ones on Amazon starting at $109 and up to $279 for 4.2oz
SurrenderToChance starts at $4/ml
Photo Stolen WikiMedia
Well if you liked this then you’ll definitely love AustralianPerfumeJunkies so come on over and say HOWDY!
Have you tried Ylang & Vanille by Guerlain? What were your reactions? Is it perfect for Spring and Summer or would you wear it in the cooler months?
See you next week,
Portia xx
Oh how I adored this! I actually procured a bottle of the dry oil (yes, there were bath products then) on eBay when the fragrance was discontinued. That was a lucky deal, because the oil actually lasts much longer than the original perfume!
WOW!! I didn’t know they even made a dry oil. You are lucky patuxxa. I bet it’s all gone now.
Portia xx
The only one that I’ve tried of Guerlain’s AA line was the Anisia Bella. Holy crap, I have never smelled anything so licorice like in a perfume. L’Heure Bleue was the one that really confirmed on why I didn’t like Anisia Bella, anise or cloves. It reminds me of the dentist’s office getting a cavity filled. I would like to try a couple of the others though.
Hey eldarwen22,
I’ve not tried Anisia Bella but have Lys Soleia, Pampelune, Tiara Mimosa and Jasminora in FB that get worn quite regularly around here, they are all pretty and light. Non confrontational fragrance for everyday wear.
Portia xx
I’ve liked several of the Aqua Allegorias but somehow I completely missed this one. It sounds wonderful, though. I’ll get a sample from StC and hope I don’t love it… I tend to fall for the ones that have been discontinued.
There are a LOT of the AA line Janice. Most of them have not lasted sadly. All of them are so wearable but I guess they need to keep their fresh new thing fresh.
Portia xx
I actually purchased this in Paris in 2002. I liked it initially but noticed I wasn’t reaching for it that much anymore over the last several years … It was wearing me …So I gave it away! Sacre bleue! I wish I had known you then as I surely would have sent it to you. Xox
Hi CC,
This is the world of fragrance. Sometimes lucky, sometimes not. I have a lovely big decant here, it will last me a couple of years. The thought is lovely though.
Portia xx
Howdy Portia! So glad you wrote about this one — I have a sample and think I’ll include it in my perfume starter kit for my dear friend. So sad that it’s discontinued though. And yay on the Aussie Facebook fragrance page — your goodies will get to you that much quicker!
Great starter kit fragrance Ann. I love how clever Guerlain are with these naughty, delicious, light and youth oriented gateway frags. Clever!
Portia xx
A friend gave me a mini of the Ylang & Vanille. Did not expect to ever, ever like a vanilla perfume. I dab a bit on at bedtime, in the summer…
Beautiful way to get to sleep AnnieA, softly creeping buttery warmth and sensual goodness. MMMMMMMM
Portia xx
I sampled this a few years ago, and I remember thinking that it was a nice balance of the sweet, warm and floral. Unfortunately, I think I gave away the mini I had, and now it’s really hard to find (isn’t that always the case?).
Hi LisaD,
There is only so much space in our houses. If we kept EVERYTHING it would get completely out of hand. I try to give the stuff that doesn’t knock me sideways away so I have room for new.
Portia xx
Congratulations on the new FB group!!! I haven’t had much experience with the AAs. This sounds totally the opposite of what I would wear. Confectionary makes me nervous – but you make it sound lovely!
xoxoA
Interesting that you say that Musette,
I haven’t found any of them except this one to skew confectionery, like the rest of the Guerlain range, and Ylang & Vanille only slightly. They are more about sparkling bright and fresh. So pretty and completely wearable without making you think about the stage its in or can I wear this to church. Lovely and excellent gateway products for the newby.
Portia xx