Porcelain

Porcelain opens up with a soft nuttiness that orris butter and coconut and just when I thought it was going to continue to develop in a gourmand direction, it took a surprising turn. The sweetness you expected is not there (which is ingenious); instead, there is creamy nutty airy elegance that I often find in Guerlain fragrances. The scent development is linear with no big difference from opening to dry down. The orris chypre has been the star of the show through and through. At dry down, coconut becomes more prominent but still not overpowering because the earthiness of oakmoss/orris and the woodiness from petitgrain balanced the sweetness. The orange blossom is not quite perceptible to me but typically orange blossom has that “bright and sweet” smell, I suspect orange blossom lifts up the damp quality of oakmoss. Exactly how it works, I have zero idea but when notes are balanced expertly, you find yourself keep coming back to sniff the same patch of skin you sprayed because you’re trying to figure out why the fragrance is so intriguing. I got the fragrance when it was first launched so it has macerated beautifully. The longevity is pretty good at 4-6 hours. Projection is light to moderate and honestly good for any season.

Such a unique take on orris. It’s soft, powdery, cozy, there’s some beautiful white musk. The coconut adds something so different and a hint of my favorite, orange blossom. I also love the addition of lavender in this for a really relaxing experience. And easy reach for any day, event, or time of year.

Orris is hard to get right, and this is very pleasant. Nicely dry and a little rooty, while keeping a powdery, gently floral essence to soften the edges, without going too sweet. I had really hoped for more oak moss. I get very little. The gentle musk and coconut become more prominent after about 40 minutes and are lovely. This is perfectly named- it’s clean, elegant, sheer, and just a wee bit austere, but still comforting. It’s earthy but light, nutty, just sweet enough, and gets better as it dries down. This and Pistachio Queen stand out to me as the most creative, appealing of the bunch, and this one goes on my want list.

Porcelain is one of those scents that feels really calm and put together without trying too hard. It’s mostly a soft mix of orris, lavender, and white musk, with a creamy coconut note in the background that never gets too sweet. There’s also something slightly earthy from the oakmoss that keeps it from feeling too delicate or boring. It smells clean, elegant, and a little dreamy the entire time. Perfect for everyday but still polished enough for something like a meeting or brunch.

This is an absolutely beautiful fragrance!! I need to upgrade soon to a larger bottle. Catherine is super sweet too!