Insolence Eau de Toilette

(Comparison of the EdP and the EdT) I might be alone in this opinion but Maurice Roucel and Guerlain strike me as the proverbial odd couple. His preferred compositional style and Guerlain’s pre-2000s aesthetic are a bit like oil and water: they’re not going to mix well or easily. But perhaps that was the intention. Roucel would lend his talents to three Guerlain releases, most notably during Guerlain’s upheaval period, when Jean-Paul was getting the boot and the house was being sold to LVMH, and Guerlain was going to get a new aesthetic either by choice or by force. Personally, I believe they made a grave mistake in not bringing-on Mathilde Laurent, who worked with Roucel (or rather after him) on Attrape Coeur. Something tells me that Roucel caught someone’s attention at Guerlain when he composed Musc Ravageur for Frederic Malle, a blatant update to Shalimar. So, though I say Roucel and Guerlain are like oil and water, Roucel does have a chameleonic ability when he wants to. Was Roucel ever in contention for the in-house perfumer position, or was he just pinch-hitting until someone else could be found? I don’t know. A lot is unknown about this period in Guerlain’s history, and there was quite a lot of drama and musical chairs being played. What I do know is that when I smell Insolence, I smell Roucel and not Guerlain. This isn’t a bad thing. The second thing worth noting is that the EdP was composed by Sylvaine Delacourte two years after Roucel did the EdT. I’ll still hold to my statement that Insolence - including the EdP - smells more like Roucel than Guerlain. Delacourte did a fine job of tweaking Roucel’s original composition for a slightly different creative brief; Roucel’s EdT DNA is still the majority of the EdP’s DNA. So let’s start there.... The EdP opens like the fresh pour of a Belgian framboise. It is quite boozy fruity, with plenty of raspberry being given a waxy and fermented-like quality. The EdT’s opening smells like some sort of berry soda I had as a kid - with florals! The rose and violet immediately make their presence known in the EdT’s fruity effervescent opening, whereas in the EdP after the top mostly dispenses it is violet and orange blossom forward. The violet is steered in a deeper and darker direction, and the orange blossom adds a creamy, citrusy sweetness, which has the effect of giving the EdP a much more serious and “adult” quality compared to the EdT. The EdT’s floral heart is playful; fizzy and fuzzy, fruity from the rose and puerile from a brighter violet note. The iris/orris in the EdP is quite unusual; it is not dry, starchy, powdery, or makeup-y, it is quite white floral and oily slick. The darker violet plus this slick orris note allow the EdP to live up to the name: it is insolent, and defiant in an adult way, a scowl on its face. The EdT, if it is insolent at all, is so by being immature and unserious when it probably shouldn’t be. The dry down of both is virtually the same, with the EdP being slightly richer and deeper with the muskiness of the orris and sandalwood base. I love both of these. They are like twins: they look identical, very obvious shared DNA, but the personalities are quite different. Men are probably going to have a tough time wearing either one because, curiously, Guerlain decided with Insolence that it was not going to bend in the slightest to the unisex bandwagon of the mid-to-late 2000s. It’s overtly fruity, overtly floral, and very obviously overtly geared towards women - but perhaps that's why a man should wear it. Insolence wants to be a contrarian, full stop. Perhaps its wearer should be too.

This is dreamy to me, but I have to be in the mood for a cool-toned powdery soapy scent. It always stays refreshing and dewy as it has an ozonic quality to it, without being overly cold thanks to the orange blossom which adds its warm solar effect in perfumes and it gives an ethereal white floral quality to this so it's not a pungent heady blue-toned violet scent. Violet is a hit or miss for me as it can be too heady and cool-toned with a medicinal effect, for instance I never wear BBW Candied Violet Sorbet and I sold my Lolita Lempicka which also has iris - violet. This one though is the only scent with iris and violet that I can wear. It is cool toned, but also fruity-sweet. Also the iris is not stale as in some cool-toned perfumes see DUA's Musky Marshmallow with the iris - lavender. Insolence EDT has a candy quality to it from the red berries, it's like a sugared youthful element in this so to me it's not a mature scent, just romantic and sophisticated, delicate and pure. The bluish element from the violet gives the impression of these vintage blue minty sweet candy that old people used to give me back in the 90s in Europe which is not a bad trait ,reminiscent of YSL Parisienne's candy-like element, but that one is too mature for me. It's not as minty, but I detect an almost menthol fresh element in this which I love. My mom also agreed that it's reminiscent of these blue candies. The iris also adds to the powdery sweet element being a doll-like sweet note often reminiscent of makeup, however this scent doesn't smell like old makeup or powder to me. It is more fresh than powdery. I recall the EDP being more powdery. It also has a soapy element to it which may give the impression of a clean bathroom at times, but the sugared berry sweetness helps it deviate from that to me. For others the bathroom smell impression is the most dominant so it depends on chemistry and the preferences/experiences of the wearer. Dua has a perfume Her Gaze with pear, lychee, raspberry, rose and vanilla powder added to the iris- violet - red berries note structure of Insolence EDT, minus the orange blossom. So I'm curious as to how it compares. Ppl report that it's similar but more powdery and also citrusy. Insolence EDT is full bottle worthy and I wouldn't resort to dupes for it. Too sad this bottle is discontinued. Edit - Okay so Her Gaze smells even more like Parisienne YSL due to the violet-rose common notes so more candy-like than Insolence but still has the soapy Insolence vein. It also feels sweeter and more fruity due to the additional notes. Both are nice, but I like Insolence more.

Wow. This is stunning. Candied violets is a great descriptor, I can’t stop smelling myself! Absolutely gorgeous. The red berries and violet compliment each other perfectly. It smells sophisticated and playful at the same time. Anyone of any age or profession could pull this off. I don’t think it’s an “old” or “young” fragrance. It’s womanly and confident, even a little gentile. I don’t detect anything too powdery here, it’s a delicate balance between flowers and fruits with a dash of powder. I usually lean towards gourmands, so this was a little out of my comfort zone as a blind purchase. I must say insolence has a gourmand vibe to it which I’m so glad about. I took a chance on insolence EDT because of a review by Sally Marion on YouTube. She was so right, this fragrance is a stunner. I can smell delicate sweet tarts candy or pixie sticks, what I imagine a fairy in the spring to smell like. Don’t let that descriptor scare you away, it’s a unique and special fragrance.✨sparkly✨ if you will. I could see this working well as a signature fragrance or even a special occasion fragrance. The bottle is beautiful, I’m glad I purchased the ‘new’ packaging version because of the vintage elegance it has. The frosted bottle is so well crafted and designed with care. This is a stepping stone for me into different types of fragrances than what I’m used to. I’m impressed and I love this. I would definitely buy again. Long lasting and great sillage. Timeless beauty. Give it a try, I have a feeling you’ll love it too 💕

This is probably going to be one of the hardest perfumes to describe, and it really isn't that complex. But the feelings it evokes are massive. I bought this based on the reviews, I'm not a big fan of violet or iris so this was quite the risk, and I was oh so pleasantly surprised. Do you remember those violet candies that your grandmother always had in her home? I believe you can actually still buy them today. Well that scent is prominent here. It is like sugary violets, with a bit of iris I suppose though I don't find it to stand out much, and that heavenly orange blossom scent wafting through it. This scent is powdery and some might call it mature but I disagree. To me this scent is the transition from girlhood to womanhood, while you are still holding on to your youth but you are now the independent woman you've always dreamed of being. It is youthful and playful with it's sugary tips, and the powder is so delightful it's like the passing of the torch from your grandmother to you as you are now the new matriarch of the family and you must have something of the past. All the while you are holding onto that carefree wild spirit found with sucking on your favorite candies from your childhood. I don't know what I'm even saying anymore, but god do I love this fragrance. Every morning I smell the nozzle for the nostalgia and the unknowing feeling of the future this scent simultaneously evokes within me. It's absolutely beautiful.

Was checking and buying some fragrances with my friend at the mall, came across Guerlain fragrance counter. As a guy, I mainly checked on men fragrances. However, I had most of the ones I like already, the sale lady asked me to check on some female fragrances since they smell kinda unisex to her nose and some other customers. So I checked on them, and I am totally obsessed with these two, Insolence EDT and Mandarin Basilic. Especially with Insolence EDT, it is fresh, sweet and lightly powdery, and fruity; leaning more feminine but boy, I like it so much. It's giving a clean girl/boy aesthetics to me, it's giving the scent of freedom and effortlessness. I brought the test trip home, I kept on smelling it, it was like something new to me, should I wear it or not? It was so strong, only a few sprays on the test trip yet it filled my entire room for the whole evening. Then, I forgot about it. A week later, I came across my fragrance cabinet, I got a whiff of something creamy and powdery in the air. Immediately, I remembered Insolence, sniffed at the test trip again, the scent was still there, clean airy violet candy, so beautiful and addictive. I just ordered a bottle online before writing this review, can wait to wear it, I hope on a guy, the scent would smell a little bit more masculine, but whatever, I am flamboyant, the scent is definitely for me lol.

Expectations are everything when trying new perfumes. This has been often recommended to me as a superior alternative to MMM Lipstick On. With this expectation, I was terribly disappointed. Where is the vanilla? The almond/heliotrope? Where is the depth given by patchouli or amber? The discontinued Givenchy L'Ange Noir is a much more apt alternative. The opening was both sweeter and more tart than I expected. The opening is more reminiscent of children's cough syrup than candied violets. The heart however is spot on to that comparison. The previous review bringing to mind children's bubble bath is correctly evocative if you expand the scene to include the mother putting the finishing touches on her makeup as she oversees bathtime. Insolence EDT is not an alternative for my beloved lipstick perfumes. Insolence EDT is an alternative for face powder scents as sweet, musky iris is dominant for most of the wear. With this expectation, Insolence EDT is a beautiful new favorite. The casual wearer might accuse me of semantics, but as a lover of cosmetic fragrances I find it necessary to distinguish between Coty Airspun face powder and Estee Lauder lipsticks. If you are disappointed by the Prada Infusion D'Iris reformulations, or simply found it and Atelier's Iris offerings to be too masculine, metallic, or cold then this demure beauty is for you.

I have to say I blind bought this and in the beginning I was quite disappointed. However, after I got through the first spray in the first day of wearing it and completely despising it, I woke up the next morning to smell it on a fresh piece of paper and then on my skin. I was pleasantly surprised! It took a little bit of getting used to but it really smells like some thing a Disney princess would wear! I love powdery fragrances but this could be a little too powdery sometimes but overall is so pretty with the red berries and violets. The reason why I was able to give this fragrance another tries because surprisingly I paired this fragrance with dazzled by Paris Hilton and I pair dazzle with anything that I don’t like just to give them a second thought. I have always believed that dazzle by Paris Hilton pairs with literally any fragrance and because it smells so good with dazzle I gave myself another Chance on insolence and I’m so glad I did! Now I do have to be in sort of a mood for insolence but overall every time I smell it I think of the movie that I watch that day and gets so happy because I wore this fragrance on a great day! That’s a thing about fragrances, I para memory with every single one that I have, I hope to never smell a great fragrance on a bad day🤣🤣

Apparently I’m weird, because I’m in my twenties and I absolutely adore this perfume. I don’t find it “dated” at all. But I’d also be surprised to smell it on, say, a teenager, because it’s a lot different than what many stereotypically “young” perfumes smell like. I say, wear what makes you happy, though. No matter your age or gender! As far as the actual smell goes, Insolence EDT is positively delightful. Yes, it’s powdery from the violet and iris, but not nauseatingly so, and it also has this sparkling berry-floral sweetness that I can’t get enough of. The composition as a whole makes me think of fairies, so whoever initially said that this fragrance is one that a fairy would wear, you are 100% correct. The fragrance is cute and sweet and sparkly, sure, but mischievous as well—just like a fairy. Performance is good, and I can see this working great in fall, winter, and spring. I don’t think I would personally wear it in summer, but at the same time, I can see this being someone’s year-round signature. It just depends on the person. I think I’ll be wearing this a lot come springtime, though.

I can see how people say this is what a fairy smells like. It's powdery and sweet on top of the red berries and violet. I bought this one because I read it was lighter than the EDP and found it for a great deal (1.6 oz). I was curious about the difference, and bought the EDP too (1.6 oz). I think they're practically the same, but I prefer the EDP. If I had to compare to the EDP, I'd say the EDT is airier and lighter on the woodsy notes but the red berries are more pronounced. I am glad I bought the EDP too because I like it better. It might be worth having both if you wear it all the time. I like to switch my perfume up every day and space out when I rewear perfumes by at least a couple of weeks because I just get that bored with it I need some time away to appreciate it again. So I don't know if it's worth having both for me, maybe with the slight nuance. Only time will tell. Also I forgot to say, that having this and the EDP the pink of this and the purple juice of the EDP in the frosty bottles looks cool on my dresser, especially the purple.

I am torn on this one. I want to love it, but I can’t. I wish I could experience what others do. It simply does not last on my skin more than a few hours. It’s nice while it lasts, but it doesn’t blow me away either. Sillage, for me, isn’t filling a room like some have said. I also don’t find it elegant or enchanting or magical. It smells young to me. I imagine a young princess wanting to smell this way. Bright, cheerful, winsome, playful, but a bit restrained and well groomed. I think the EDP might have suited me better, but at this point I’m not wanting to take the chance on a blind buy. All in all, I like it. Others like it on me. I’ll use it, but my favorite part of it is the gorgeous bottle filled with the pink colored juice so I almost want to just leave it in there. Edit: Okay, okay, I really love it now. The wafts drive me a good kind of crazy all day long. Just when I think it’s gone, I get another waft of it. Lovely! The EDP is great too. I don’t have a preference. I chose which one to wear based on mood, weather, and occasion.

I am absolutely obsessed with this one. I blind-bought Eau de toilette and Eau de perfume. I knew the first one from how it smelled on my work colleague and friend. When she wore it first tim and some weeks later I was so provoked how obsessively irritating this scent is ;) But with time I fell completely in love. I have changed my job so now I could try this scent on me. You know how it is; kind of kode: you dont use perfume someone else wears, at least it is like this for me. Anyway I didnt know how this scent will work on my skin but luckily both go well. At first both seemed to be so alike but their are not. EtT is more fruity on me, and EtP reacher and sweeter. But gosh, those adjectives say so little about these two george us scents... They are just so unique in the world of unity and easy expectations. Of course maybe fact that I am over 40 (more than less :D) has something to do with that I dont give a damn and wear what I want ;) - I mean also scent what are challenging, that demand their attention.

After swearing off any more blind buys, I saw rave reviews for this one and then saw it at an irresistible price at an online retailer and couldn’t resist. My initial thought after the first spritz was “oh no, what have I done?” I didn’t love it, and wasn’t sure if I even liked it. It was so sour from the red berries. But after a few minutes it developed more into the candied violet smell that everyone described and it was much more pleasant. Someone below mentioned jujubes and that is pretty spot on! The more it dried down on me, the more I developed a love for it. There is something vintage about it, I feel like I’ve smelled this before (maybe the violet reminds me of old-school lipstick) but it’s not old or dated. It’s such a beautiful, comforting smell. I find myself craving this scent. For an EDT, the projection and longevity are phenomenal. One of my more successful blind buys!

At first, when I got this fragrance, smelling it was rather an unpleasant experience. It felt way too soapy, almost fresh and not powdery or sweet at all. I asked myself, where is the violet/iris powderiness, where is the berry sweetness? However, I tried it couple of times, waiting for the proper drydown and only then I realized how pretty and powdery this fragrance is, smelling like an actual high end cosmetic product, or compact powder. Only then I realized that the raspberry and iris are actually there and that the soapy freshness coming in the opening comes from violet. Actually, now I don't perceive the soapy note as much as I did before. The longevity and projection are very good and this perfume is so admired by one of my colleagues at work. :) overall, it's very nice, and I like the bee bottle, too. A susscesfull blind buy, after all!

LOVE LOVE LOVE! This is the best violet fragrance. This is a gorgeous ethereal powdery scent. It smells so comforting and clean. Like a soapy bubble bath scented with violet soap. The red berries also add a gorgeous sweetness and juiciness to this fragrance. 🪻🫧🛁🍓 It is extremely long lasting and projects strongly. Even though it is an EDT, it performs better than most of my EDP’s. I am cherishing my gorgeous bee bottle, because once it finishes I won’t be able to own the same delicate packaging again. I think this was the best packaging by far, not sure why they changed it. But at least the juice inside is the same. If you love violet centred powdery scents, you will LOVE this one. -Projection 10/10 -Longevity 10/10 -Bottle 10/10 -Scent 10/10

This is one of my favorite perfumes ever, along with Ariana Grande’s Cloud, JPG Classique EDT, and Jadore. This is EXACTLY what a fairy would smell like. A sparkling fairy surrounded by pink bubbles and sparkles and sunshine and fluffy cotton candy clouds. This is a bright, clean, sweet, powdery, floral scent. It’s youth and innocence. This is a good girl perfume. This is a fairy’s perfume. And it’s so unique. I’ve never smelled anything even close to it. Super distinguishable. If this is your signature scent, anyone who smells this will remember you forever and they’ll know you’ve been somewhere if they smell this in a room. I love this so much.

After 15 minutes it turned into this mouth watering sour powdered sweets smell. I get a lot of violets ( candied not fresh) and fresh tart raspberry. Definitely powdery but not very sweet fragrance. For some reason makes me salivate 😂 ( must be a good thing) It’s unique and I love it 🥰 It has some romantic and vintage vibe about it. ( the fragrance in the new spade top bottle) on my skin it lasts 4-5h on the clothes around 8-10 wchich is pretty good for edt. Update: I am in love with this fragrance and I can’t live without it 😍😍😍😍 I will be buying a edp soon as well 😍

I blind bought this and I LOVE it. Not love, LOVE. It's so purple to my nose it's bleeding blue. I can't pick the notes apart, it just comes together to make such a soft purple, powdery, red berry floral. I get the reference to fairies dancing now. I'm ordering the EdP after I finish writing this review. I'd say this is a safe blind buy if you like iris and violet with powdery finishes. Otherwise test. It's amazingly affordable for the quality. I think it's going to be going out of rotation, so I'm buying the EdP and another EdT.

OMG YES, another successful BLIND BUY!! This smells exactly like what the YouTuber, Gabriella Francesca said: it smells like fairy soap! 😍 It has a clean and fresh vibe to it. On the clothes, it smells like fresh laundery after a few hours! I really like this, never came across a scent like this in my life. Some reviewers said that this is cloyingly sweet, I don't agree with them. I think it has the right amount of sweetness in my opinion. It's very powdery. Violet is the main note in this perfume. It's a 8,5/10 for me💖

In the older bottle I loved the edp and wasnt keen on the edt. However with the bee bottles, it's the opposite! The edt smells different to the older bottle one. In the bee bottle the formula appears to be more rounded and syrupy. It is like the older bottle edp on me. The bee bottle in edp is too strong for my liking and there is a note that I didnt pick up with the older formula. Perhaps it's the iris, which doesnt appeal to me. I dont smell iris in the edt and it is so long lasting. Like edp strength

I adore this scent! It's a very realistic violet perfume with lots of sweetness. It has a slight vintage lipstick smell to it too that reminds me of Guerlain's Metéorites. I can smell some of the orange blossom and red berries in there too, but I mostly get the violet and iris in this perfume. Overall I'd call it a sweet and slightly fruity violet and iris perfume. It reminds me a bit of Lipstick Rose by Frédéric Malle, which I also love. Feminine and divine!

I took a chance and blind bought this from the Guerlain website and I’m so happy I did!! When i wear this i feel like i am floating on a cloud of sugared berries and powdery violets. Love at first sniff. I get the imagery of magical fairies and pixie dust. This is still sold on the Guerlain website in a different shaped bottle with the same scent. The longevity is amazing for an EDT, I get a full 8 hour day of wear from this.

At first spray it felt heavy and old. After wearing it for a bit I started to smell violet and iris. It's floral but it's not very sweet. It's powdery like an old, classic fragrance but the violets make it more wearable, clean and youthful. It's definitely a late winter, early spring fragrance. I don't find it heavy and the sillage isn't powerful so I think it's good for the day and is work-appropriate.

EDP is Violet Queen EDT is Fruity Violet Princess Both are magnificent The first sprays are a bit over soapy hairspray laundry soap BUT WAIT IT OUT and keep trying them I don’t like powdery soapy clean floral stuff but this scent is enchanting if you allow your nose to “get” it These were both blind buys and I am thrilled each day my nose adjusts and appreciates n loves them more n more

I get the gorgeous scent of violet candies. It's that beautiful sweet, powdered candy/bubblegum scent--but SOMEHOW while I was working out it started to smell like a sweet buttered popcorn and I was so confused. I had sprayed the perfume in my hair hours before and it must've changed due to my sweat and the heat of my body. It was unexpected for sure, but I'm not complaining.

The tart, tangy berries add a kick to the powdery violet and iris that keeps this scent from being another dull old-fashioned floral. The orange blossom in the base notes also help keep things sweet without being too sugary. It has a pretty good longevity as well; it's lasted on me for about 9 hours, even after a good hot shower. It lingers on clothing for up to four days.

I love this perfume. I’m usually a little nervous to wear powdery scents because on my skin they turn SUPER powdery. But this is gorgeous. It reminds me of candied violets and that orange powder straw candy from when I was a kid but still somehow clean and fresh. It lasts forever on my skin! I think it’s more spring appropriate but could definitely be worn year round

Electric candied violets, and I love it. It gives off kind of a youthful, playful, feminine vibe even though I wouldn't call it a "young person's perfume." I've gotten chased down the street wearing this. Not lying...a Parisian woman needed to know if it was Guerlain because she doesn't smell it often in NYC. I've gotten many compliments on this one. It's beautiful.

I love this! I'm a sucker for Violet based fragrances and this is wonderful. I love the red berries with the powdery violet. It's strong and don't think younger women might like. I'm 57 and just adore it. Have Meteorites also, pretty but can barely smell it. The compacts used on my face smell much longer than the perfume. Very impressed with the Insolence.

This is a lighter version of the eau de parfum. They are both stunning and gorgeous. If you've never worn Insolence before, give yourself time to appreciate this special powdery iris, violet, berry potion. Because it is stunning. It completely carries you away. Spray it on at bedtime and wake up happy, dancing with butterflies! ;) Enjoy Perfumistas!

I love this perfume. I have the 2017 formulation in the UFO bottle. I am an oversprayer but not with this one. Four sprays is my maximum. I enjoy this one at bedtime. It is just this slightly powdery gently sweetened violet. It lasts about 6 hours on my skin when sprayed over unscented lotion. It doesn't really project but I am fine with that.

it's exactly the same as the old bottle a beast yet people see oh it's eau de toilette, let's rate it as moderate or weak sillage. yep. you have got to know your fragrance... notes are wrong, same as the pink half spherical bottle... oh spoiler alert, edt insolence is stronger than edp. sorry to disappoint you all.

LOVE this perfume, it was love at first sniff! To me it smells more like candied violets, less like powdery iris, but I absolutely adore it! My husband also loved it, and let me tell you, there aren’t many perfumes he likes! So it’s definitely a win! Can’t wait to wear this!

I have both the insolence EDP and EDT. This EDT is a slightly sweet fruity violet, less powdery scent, while the EDP is a much more violet and powdery scent. Between the two, this gives a sparkling feel, and the EDP gives a powdery vibe. Love both on different occasions.

Its very unique and it somehow grew on me. I feel like we are all quick to judge this fragrance as outdated but its has a certain charm to it. Im 25 and honestly I would rock this perfume since its so different from anything else i have ever smelt.

This has become my wear-to-bed fragrance. It’s candied, powdered violets that just took a nice soapy bath. It feels comforting to me and lovely and sweet. Absolutely divine and the bottle is gorgeous. Great performance as well.

Been scrounging for backup bottles of this since the reformulation. I smelt the newer version in Harrods and it was so obviously and disappointingly different. Very watered down and faint with a hint of strawberry.

Pure Good Mood in a bottle! I just can't get enough of it, it`s become my day-to-night happiness elixir. Main notes are frosted red currant and violets and it smells almost gourmand to me. Very uplifting :)

I love this, I am not sure but this came out less powdery to me. I can smell more the candied violets and iris. I bought 50ml of the bee bottle, I wish I bought the 100ml. Perfect blind buy.

Literally smells like that old school Violets candy. This perfume is sweet, powdery and yummy. Just don't over spray because it can easily because too much.

Powdery, clean, sweet, refreshing and gentle. I imagine this is what a Disney princess would smell like. It smells like fancy sweet soap. I love it.

Smells like a luxurious powder or a vintage high-end lipstick. It smells ultra-feminine and romantic. I love it so much.

This smells like either the purple or red jujubes. Which I LOVE, I love jujubes so I think it is fantastic.

This is my all time favorite. Absolutely love it ❤

Insolence is a lovely, vintage style fragrance. Though it is a modern fragrance, it smells like something from years gone by. While I find it vintage, I also think it is quite youthful. It smells like something young women wore, long ago. I imagine a young woman in a long flowy pastel coloured dress walking through a field of wildflowers would smell like this. It's soft, feminine and romantic. I have a few versions of this fragrance and they all give me this impression even though they do smell a bit different from one another. The EDT in the bee bottle is bright, candied violets. This version is the least powdery of the versions I own. Here the candied violets are more crystalized hard candy sugar than powdered sugar. There is a bright freshness that I don't get from the EDP or the older formulation of the EDT (UFO/flower bottle). This is a pretty linear fragrance that changes very little throughout the wear. My favourite time to wear all of my Insolence fragrances in the spring, this is the one that I also enjoy once it gets a bit warmer in the early summer. It stays light and airy while the others can get a bit heavy and suffocating with the powder, in too much heat. It is pleasant enough in cooler weather, I am just not inspired to wear it when it's cold outside. The performance is good, lasting aroung 6 or 7 hours with a moderate projection, right around arms length. I find the EDT does projects a little more than the EDP, but not a huge amount more. I also reviewed the EDP and talked about the differences between the Insolences I own. I will copy and paste that section below, for anyone interested. I own the EDT in both the bee bottle and UFO bottles and the EDP in the bee bottle ( I haven't tried the older EDP). I find the differences among the three are subtle enough that most people will find having more than one version of Insolence (EDP/EDT) redundant. I do notice differences when I smell them side by side. The EDP is smoother and richer, while the EDT is brighter...when comparing bee bottle to bee bottle. I find the EDT projects more than the EDP, but the have similar longevity. The differences between the two EDT version is I smell the resins in the UFO bottle, but I never really notice the resins, even in the drydown of the bee bottle. I don't know if the difference is because the UFO bottle has aged or if the resins really are toned down or even absent in the current formulation. I notice those deeper base notes aren't listed for the new version. For a while it was pretty easy to find Insolence quite discounted, but it is getting harder to find. Recently I saw that Guerlain has again changed the packaging and the newest bottles are similar to the La Petite Robe Noir bottles.

After reading the reviews, I thought it was going to be so right up my alley that I blind bought it. I thought that it would be clean, fresh, powdery, sweet and a little fruity with a vintage feel. The only bottle I could find was the new bottle that looks like the bottles of Mitsouko, L’Heure Bleue and La Petite Robe Noire. There’s a new page on Fragrantica for this new bottle, and that says that the notes are violet, red fruits, orange blossom, iris, tonka bean, sandalwood and vanilla... on the website, where they have it in the new bottle, it says that the notes are the same as they are on the page for the bee bottle: violet, berry notes, orange blossom and iris. I definitely get some sandalwood, which nobody seem to have gotten with the bee bottle, which could suggest that it has been reformulated since they relaunched it in a new bottle. I also get the red berries and violet, and those are great, but I would have liked it more without the sandalwood. It's still nice, but I probably won't buy it again. When I read about the Insolence from 2008, I remember some people say that Insolence reminded them of laundry detergent, which I get! This does smell like laundry detergent – I think it’s the red berries; they smell a little synthetic to me – but not in a bad way, if that makes sense. If I smelled this on someone, I wouldn’t think “oh, what perfume is she wearing?” but probably “oh, she smells lovely, she smells so clean and fresh!”

This is another "YouTube made me buy it" fragrance--specifically Mila LeBlanc! I've purchased several perfumes based on her reviews and most have gone well, including this one. This is not a safe blind buy if you have a strong dislike of powdery scents--baby powder, baby oil, some face powders, some deodorants for women, some classic perfumes--if these give you a headache, etc., you should smell this one before you purchase. All that being said, I DID blind buy it against advice, but was pleasantly surprised. It is SUPER powdery, but it is also light and fresh. At first I wasn't sure about it, but it has really grown on me. It has a very innocent lightness about it and doesn't seem as if it would be sensual or intriguing, but this is one my husband consistently notices and positively comments on. Any age can wear this. The powder leans more toward Smarties candies or sweet-tart candies than baby powder--think of it as pink pixie sticks in a fragrance, only less sweet and much more sophisticated. The longevity is great--still present even overnight. I find it comfortable (not cozy) and relaxing and very springlike. I would recommend anyone looking for something for spring and summer that is different from citrusy scents.

Another recent blind buy of mine. I knew it was a risk but based on the notes I had a feeling I would like it. Luckily I was correct. Candied violets with cosmetic/powdery nuances through and through. I get juicy berries on the opening, which is quite strong at first and borders on overwhelming, but it mellows after about 5 minutes. Then it goes straight to the heart of violet, so it’s pretty linear. It’s a sugary, confectionery violet, yet still inedible. I am really enjoying wearing it around the house, but I am having difficulty placing where I would wear it out. It feels more suited for daytime and spring. Performance and projection are quite strong. Feminine, charming, somewhat old-fashioned, yet not dated. I find it unique compared to the popular fruitchoulis of today. I do agree with other reviewers that it is not an “inviting” scent, so it could be perceived as a bit cold/stoic. But I ultimately am not too bothered by it not being a pleaser. Insolence is not everyone’s cup of tea, but if you like violets and cosmetic notes it’s a must try. Guerlain has yet to disappoint me!

I would like to start off by saying that it took me some time to understand what I was smelling. It might take some time for you too so let the scent melt in and blend with your skin. After my second take on it, this is what I discovered. The first seconds of spraying this perfume on my skin, I smell something very powdery, almost like sweet baby powder. I...like it. I like baby powder! The powder then mixes with something that smells like lipstick. You know, the real old fashion lipsticks that our mothers used to use ( I have some that smell like this). This just made me sad and disappointed...until... Iris Violet Iris A lot of iris. A lot of violet. I have to say, I am enjoying this one. It keeps powdery to the end but the mix of floral scents are gorgeous! This perfume is intense but soft at the same time. Intense because I smell of it, for a very long time. My husband commented that he could smell me from the other room. And yet, it's a subtle, simple, feminine, gentle scent because of the powdery note. A very beautifully created perfume to wear during springtime.

Bought this after seeing so many great reviews about it. Though at the time, I was still trying to figure out what notes I preferred and had no clue what I was in for. I knew that I liked powdery scents (I've loved Chanel n5 ever since I was 5 years old) but I wasn't too sure what violets smelled like so I just took a chance and bought it. Lemme tell ya, at first sniff I was taken aback because, well, I just didn't know what TO expect. It smelled great but not like something I would wear all the time. Btw I'm 23. I really do love it though but I still wouldn't wear it very often. To me, it smells like the most beautiful laundry detergent you could ever purchase. I really only see myself wearing this if I'm just wanting to smell like freshly washed clothes. This is also the perfect perfume to spray on bedding. To me, it's very calming & makes me feel happy. Whenever I'm having a stressful day, I just like to spray it in my vicinity & I'm automatically in such a better mood. This perfume is one of a kind. I'm glad I bought this.

Upon first impression, this does smell like an older and somewhat vintage perfume. I think it's because violets were a common scent in the older generation, so I instantly felt that my grandmother might like this scent and it's something that I've probably smelled on an older woman - I imagine it on someone elegant and kind, to be specific. That being said, while it's not what I'm used to, and it's definitely not a modern smell, it does smell nice. It's sweet, soft, powdery, and does have a touch of freshness to it. The fresh note and sweetness is what keeps it from smelling completely outdated. To be honest, it's not a perfume that I would characterize as a "clean" scent, since I think the powderiness of it predominates the freshness. I think of more citrus and white florals when I think of clean smelling perfumes. Additionally, I wouldn't wear this to be a compliment getter or to be sexy, but if you like something that is reminiscent of older or vintage perfumes, go for it. Overall, I like it and do plan to wear it.