Hey Posse! Interestingly, Nettare di Sole is Italian meaning Nectar of the Sun. Surprising that Guerlain, eminent French perfume house owned by LVMH would head this way. This decant came in my recent Surrender To Chance order. For US$23 I’ve got 8ml in a spritz bottle, so enough for this summer. Perfect also in my bag for touch ups.
I’ve been waiting for a little Southern Hemisphere warmth to give it a proper test drive. The Aqua Allegoria range is a lighter, free-er, more vivacious line in the Guerlain oeuvre. They are very hit & miss for me. Though I really loved Ginger Piccante, Pamplelune and Lys Soleia many others have left me cold and uninspired. One that seems to have bored everyone to tears was Teazzura, which I love and have gone through quite a bit of my bottle. Nettare di Sole has been very polarising with very vocal lovers and haters. That makes it even more interesting for me.
Nettare di Sole Aqua Allegoria by Guerlain 2021
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Orange Blossom, Watery Notes, Calabrian bergamot
Heart: Solar notes, Magnolia, Jasmine Sambac, Rose
Base: Honey
Nettare di Sole opens so pretty. How can people not like this? Honey, orange blossom and the dream of clear, fresh, flowing stream water. This is EXACTLY what I hope an Aqua Allegoria will be. It’s exuberant and joyous, so full of life and a saucy wink of invitation. The honey is not a furry animalic, nor is it dense and sticky. Imagine honey added to a champagne & fruit punch. That’s the feeling here, effervescent.
This smells like a happy summer day.
That solar note! Jasmine, honey and I’m smelling ylang. It’s like the smell of my skin after spending a day in the sun but later that night after I’ve had a bath and washed the sunscreen off. So, a solar skin scent.
For an Aqua Allegoria Nettare di Sole is surprisingly long lasting. Now, don’t get too excited, it won’t last all day. Sillage and projection are moderate and longevity equal to most EdTs. I’ll wear it as a dude but it’s not a masculine scent by any means. I do think that the fragrance is rich enough to also take you into the cooler months.
This is so bloody good I want a bottle. Let’s see if I use this decant up, eh?
Do you have a favourite Aqua Allegoria?
Portia xx
I am a collector of these… unfortunately I only started in recent years so the only oldish one I have is Ylang and Vanille ?
I currently have 18 in my collection.
My true love, and the one that got me started, is Mandarin Basillic. Followed closely by Pamplelune
OOOHHH! Aqua Allegoria aficionado! Glad to see you here Lynda. Not only do they smell great but very good value. I only have 6 but love so many.
Portia xx
I do not have an AA fave – I mostly let that line pass me by – but your delight in this one has me wondering… those watery notes, though, give me pause. They aren’t Eau du Grenouille, by chance (she asks, wincing) or Essence of Pond Water? If not, this may be one for me to try! xoxoxo
HA! Nope. I think you’ll be safe Musette.
Dewy rather than bong water.
Portia xx
The only AA I have is Ylang & Vanille, a purchase years ago when I only wore Shalimar from Guerlain. I am savoring what I have left, it still smells stunning.
Nettare caught my attention because of the notes. I think I’ve mostly ignored the AA line because of my impression EDT are fleeting. Subtle isn’t my style with perfume!
YAY for another Ylang & Vanille lover Kathleen. SNAP!
Yeah I get the EdT can be fleeting problem but if subtle isn’t your style then the throw and sillage is often the best, yet needs more regular top ups.
Portia xx
My favorite is Mandarine-Basilic. It lasts hardly any time at all but is SO juicy and happy!
I also bought a used bottle of Flora Nerolia. I experience it as honeyed orange blossoms. It light and heavy at the same time. It is a beautiful fragrance!
HA! Yes, some of the lifespans are negligible Sunnlitt.
Never tried Flora Nerolia. Thanks for the tip.
Portia xx
The last Aqua Allegoria was the anise one and immediately despised it for some reason. Probably because it smelled nothing but licorice. Will eventually give this a shot.
Bummer Ekldarwen22.
Hopefully this works better for you.
Portia xxx
ooh! yeah. I kept wondering why I let this line pass me by – then I remembered that someone was kind enough to give me a bottle of AA…. but it was the anise one… and omg! suchSUCH migraines from that one! So there, PortiaMyLove, THAT’S why I passed on AA!
xoxoxo
Well, good reason then Musette. They aren’t all tarred with the same brush though. Mostly they are sweet and flirty fun.
I have sampled most of them, own seven, and covet several more. My fave is Herba Fresca and I also have big love for Limon Verde. Nettare is on my test list, thanks for the reminder!
Hey VerbenaLuvvr,
AHA! Limon Verde! I think I tested it and loved but didn’t purchase.
Yes, I have a few, including a really early one, Gentiana. So pretty.
Portia xx
Unlike another commenter below I really like the bottles, and I like the idea of the line (lighter and fresher) even if I don’t love all the individual AAs… my favorite is the one that makes me think of winter woods lol, have completely forgotten the name, it was awhile ago … Winter Delice!
Hey March,
Winter device goes for CRAZY money on eBay nowadays, if you can even find one. It’s one unicorn I am glad to have not needed in the collection. I’m not even going to torment myself by sniffing it.
Now you are living in Santa Fe, maybe an AA might fit the bill?
Portia xx
Well … let me ease your heart, winter delice is nice but it’s not THAT nice. I sold my big bottle awhile ago (probably for a lot less than what I could get now). It was a nice, pine-y smell. My sniffer isn’t good enough to properly appreciate any of these lol. I really need to order up a set of those Pinewards, THOSE I can probably smell!
HA! Thanks.
My Pineward samples have arrived from STC. I’m saving them for a lockdown meltdown moment. I think they might be good spiral breakers.
Portia x
The only ones I’ve liked are Ylang & Vanille and Lys Soleia, but not enough to buy. Not really a freshie girl. I do love the fancy lines from Guerlain, probably my favourite house.
AHHHH! Ylang & Vanille TaraC! I’m eeking out my bottle. It’s too precious to wear often nowadays.
Portia x
Never bought an AA. Just hasn’t happened. This sounds wondering for warmer weather. And love the notes list.
I am very excited that our summer is looming Cinnamon. I’m thinking it will get a lot of wear.
Portia xx
Pamplelune & Lys Soleia are my repeat AA purchases. The Lys being my all time favourite. Why do they always d/c the best ones?
I did get Ginger Piccante but sold it on. Where was the ginger sparkle?
I tried the salvia one this summer, it was a fail. I may try this one from the Feel Unique tester deal though the UK is now in the grips of autumn
YAY for Lys Soleia Alityke!
I am on a second bottle and also have a panic bought back up when the DC was announced.
That’s strange, I seriously got the ginger sparkle in the opening of Ginger Piccante
Portia xx
I’ve just got a sample from Feel Unique Pick n mix. I likeit.
YAY Matty,
Yeah, I think they did a lovely job of it.
You’ll be swanning around in your autumn smelling gorgeous.
Portia xx
I have never tried any. I dislike the bottles so much
that I just can’t. Horrible.
OH! That’s a shame.
Personally, I love them. They look like a gilded garden rotunda, and give me visions of the band playing. Dreaming of Gatsby.
Portia xx
I will try and look at them differently. (Sure you’re not on drugs?). xxx
HA! Sadly, no drugs, not even prescription.
You do you though Val. No judgement on you loving or hating them. We can have polar opposite tastes and still be besties.
Hug,
Portia xx