Hi Posse, Found a 10ml of Mon Precieux Nectar from my mate RuthK while going about my New Idea 2023 adventure. From this decant I bought my bottle, I think from Champs Élysées. It may have been Galleries Lafayette, but I’m pretty sure it was the fully renovated Champs Élysées with Neela Vermeire and Michael in 2014. Sadly my brain has been muddled. Dates and events don’t stick like they once did. It’s becoming a swirl of combined moments. Ah, ageing. There was all this guff about why it was parfum concentration in its first iteration, I do remember that. One batch only, which then became an EdP afterwards I think. It seems to have been DCd, so that’s a shame. Let’s reminisce.
Mon Precieux Nectar by Guerlain 2012
Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Bitter almond, Petitgrain
Heart: Orange blossom, Jasmine
Base: Vanilla, White musk, Frankincense, Gaiac wood, Sandalwood
Originally Mon Precieux Nectar was a very exclusive Guerlain 2009 release of only 35 one litre Baccarat urns of parfum. That it even made it to the regular 125ml Parisiennes bee bottle line in its parfum formula is astounding. My totally unsupported view is that someone made a mistake and they had to do something with the resultant juice. It was also surprisingly affordable. I bet the few bottles being sold now are much less so.
Honestly, I have no idea what bitter almond is or how it should smell. Straight out of the gate it’s all orange blossom, thick rich and luscious. It’s flanked by a few other notes but the main one I smell is vanilla, maybe a wisp of incense smoke and creamy sandalwood. So beautifully blended. Mon Precieux Nectar has a very tropical vibe and I’m always surprised there is no coconut or banana. Dry down is a warm, burnished vanilla rich sandalwood. This pairing lasts for hours and is what I think of when Mon Precieux Nectar crosses my mind. I know the word is overused but sensual is what comes to mind.
Longevity is excellent, projection moderate but if you walk past someone the sillage is awesome. It really floats behind you.
Patty wrote in 2009 about the OG
Did you ever get your nose on Mon Precieux Nectar ?
Portia x
I have never tried Mon Precieux Nectar. I lost interest in Guerlain some years ago mainly because of Thierry Wasser. He seems, in interviews, like a very fine, likable person but I don’t like his perfumes, so I let Guerlain go. I do love and adore the old Guerlain though!
As sad as losing a perfume house is, it’s also kind of a relief to have a couple you just don’t buy. For whatever reason. I’m thankful that I have a few too. Shhh!
Portia xx
My lips are sealed. 😉
HA! Thank you
Oh, this was lovely, why didn’t I buy it? I probably felt like I didn’t “need” another Guerlain lol, what a dummy. Also I adore those bottles. It’s still a bit warm for my fall scent rotation here, not that I’m complaining! I have loved this extra burst of late summer weather, I’ll be grousing about the cold soon enough.
It’s weird the things we want and never buy against the impulse buys we never use. One day I think I’d like to do a complete stocktake and add that into the info.
Enjoy your Indian Summer.
Portia xx
Don’t think I’ve ever sniffed this one but it sounds beautiful. I’ve been on a neroli kick this summer; love orange blossom too. Love those gorgeous bee bottles. Thanks Portia!
Hey there DinaC,
Yeah, the 125ml bee bottles are lovely. Such a perfect size.
I feel like this year I’m rediscovering orange blossom.
Portia xx
Yet another that I haven’t tried – I do enjoy vanilla perfumes but tbh I have a lifetime’s share. Was the one everyone talked about Calypso St Barth Lea? I actually had a bottle of that from a swap, but never got any hype from it and sold it when I saw someone on FB looking for it (did not jack the price, probably should have asked a little more since it’s hard to find, but I don’t tend to take advantage…). Anyway, I think I’ll wear something vanilla today – maybe Goutal Vanille Exquise which came out a few days ago, or one of my cheapies -Queen by Queen Latifah, perhaps?
LEA!! That’s it MMKinPA. Thank you.
Queen is my BFFs favourite perfume, though she also wears others. I have one half used tester left in my stash for her and then gone. What an excellent perfume.
Portia xx
For a contrary experience the one time I tried it my nose was hit with sickening sweetness. A literal scrubber in fact. Money saved…
OH NOOOO AnnieA,
Don’t go NEAR the Zara one then. it might kill you.
Portia xx
The idea of orange blossom and vanilla just so floats my boat. And the name of this is so good. There’s an article in British Vogue today (online) about re-emergence of vanilla perfumes as a ‘thing’. Hate to tell them it’s always been a thing. I put on Shalimar perfume this morning simply because I felt the need to have something sublime on to catch whiffs of all day.
Cinnamon, I saw that piece too. Yeah, vanilla is very popular. Did you ever try that one that all the celebs went wild for a few years ago. It was a girls name. GAH! Can’t think. Doesn’t matter.
You smelled bloody wonderful wafting your Shalimar today.
Portia xx
I do smell bloody gorgeous. It remains one of the truly best fragrances ever. Girl’s name … I vaguely recall something like Kai but nothing else. The interesting thing about the Vogue article is they managed to include a breadth of price points — not just those costing silly money.
Agreed on the Shalimar.
I’ll go back and read it again. The name was something like Adele. Gah! I’m too lazy to try and find the bottle.
I found a decant that has kept well during a recent audit of my collection. Think it’s the EdP but it is lovely but I haven’t used it all in 10 years so I don’t need a bottle.
Now that you refound it Alityke, will you be using the decant up?
Portia xx
I certainly will
Ali xxx
YAY!
I’ve never tried it but I’d love to. I love bitter almond. But then I likely could do without a pricey love that’s impossible to get and yet that I. Must. Possess!!! Been there, done that, finally paid off the bill. I’m telling myself that itch has been scratched.
Wonder if I’ll believe it?
HA! Tom, I believe it for you.
Zara Golden Decade is the same thing amped to 260% thick and rich-ness.
Portia xx
I have and loooove Mon Précieux Nectar. I think it may be my most favorite Guerlain. So I was very excited to learn recently it is still available from Guerlain boutiques that have fountains to fill bee bottles. I just ordered one from Place Vendôme perfume shop in Wevelgem, Brussels. Can’t wait for it to arrive!
Woo Hoo! That is bloody exciting TaraC,
I bought an early version and then someone here was selling half a bottle super cheap so I grabbed it too.
Sadly those early bottles didn’t come with “in box decant bottles”, and I’m a lazy so and so, so I rarely use them.
Portia xx