L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme

L'INSTANT DE GUERLAIN EDT / LIDG (2016): It's a unique fragrance. It's somewhere in between "fresh" (more than the EDP version) and woody-spicy, with certain sweetness touch to it (chocolate-anise vibe that it reminds sort of coconut to my nose.) It's not heavy / incisor at all, in fact I personally find it absolutely exquisite in every aspect: perfectly balanced (the blend is more than good, it's just perfect), delicious opening and dry down, raw materials of high quality, natural smell (nothing chemical), correct projection and longevity. I'd say it's a distinguished 4×4 "all terrain", classy, distinguished and with a slight old-school vintage touch to it, nothing out-dated but modern. Its extreme versatility makes it matching perfectly all seasons, day and night, what in other hand means that it doesn't shine especially in any particular ambient, because there are fresher ones for Summer, warmer ones for Winter and other ones better focused for nights, dating and seductive purposes (more sexy); although its aroma is, like I'm saying, exquisite and with such a versatility that's really hard to match. It results to be really delicious and tremendously equilibrated, in the opening as well as in its dry down. A true masterpiece. L'INSTANT DE GUERLAIN EDP / LIDGE (2016): The differences with the EDT are: the EDP is more dense and spicier, less fresh and less sweet, even a bit incisor (too spicy perhaps) especially in the opening. It's less versatile. I don't find it to be as equilibrated and "rounded" as the EDT, although it does certainly have more longevity. Its dry down is better than its opening, but I still think the EDT is a better aroma overall and a more equilibrated scent, in spite of having less (yet good enough!) projection and longevity than the EDP. Both have true class, but versatile class. SUMMARY: I'd say both are suitable for all seasons, day and night, with an outstanding versatility (right in the middle of freshness and warmness), being the EDT even more versatile than the EDP. Suitable for all occasions. Although you have to bear in mind that their 4×4 "all terrain" capabilities (versatility) make them also shining less than others in certain seasons or situations. Even so, their aroma (especially the EDT) is truly original and delicious. Whereas the EDP is good, really good indeed, but the EDT surpasses it, it's simply PERFECT. BOTTOM LINE: I do prefer the EDT version (LIDG) over the EDP version (LIDGE). It's both: more refined/equilibrated and more versatile. Yet classy. It's neither too citrusy (fresh) nor too oriental (spicy-harsh) or gourmand (dark and dense), but something in between all three (like in the middle of the triangle), thanks to the right mix of citrus, anise, wood, cocoa/chocolate, etc, making it just perfect for all year-round use. The EDT comes to be a perfect candidate to be chosen as a signature scent. Opening: EDT = 9.5/10 >>> Delicious, very equilibrated and nothing harsh / incisor. EDP = 7/10 >>> Too spicy. Dry down: EDT = 9.5/10 >>> Exquisite and addictive. EDP = 9/10 >>> Much better than its opening. Projection: EDT = 7.5/10 EDP = 8.5/10 Longevity: EDT = 7/10 EDP = 9/10 >>> A true winner.

Late evening in the Café Camille, Marais Pairs: The erudite waiters were all in blanched linen shirts, black wool pants and crisp spotless cotton aprons as they elegantly attended the thinning clientele. The noisy American tourists had left and only a few neighborhood regulars lingered over coffee or a dying bottle of wine. As I sat there drinking in the night from the sidewalk table I caught a whiff of something so utterly delicious, a euphoria of blending and slowly unfolding scents. It was chocolate, but not of this earth for it was richer and deeper than the darkest cocoa bean could ever produce. Then I realized that it was something more like a bouquet of jasmine dipped in warm dark chocolate and sprinkled over with anise and lavender....and a little slice of orange on the side. It was so impossibly rich and enticing and sensual. Then sadly it began to fade like a gypsy’s dream until it was finally gone. Only then did I realize that the man who just walked past my table toward the Place Des Vosges was the source of that incredible scent. If only I could know what it was that he was wearing. Days later as I sauntered past 68 Avenue des Champs Élysées I picked up the silage of this siren like fragrance. I turned to see the man from a few nights before in the Marais. He slipped into the doors of the Guerlain Perfumery. Without hesitation I spun on my heel and followed him into the palace de scent. Nowhere to be seen, he had again eluded me. As I turned I caught in the smallest corner of my eye a glimpse of him. He stood at the counter talking to an impossibly chic sales girl. In his well manicured hand he was holding a golden bottle up to the light. It glimmered, it winked in deepest gold, and he turned and smiled at me as if he knew what I was after.... “L’Instant” he said in less than a whisper. L’Instant by Guerlain is so incredibly wonderful. I was immediately enveloped in a vale of coco and jasmine on the opening notes. Not feminine at all as one might expect but so confidently masculine in the blending in of anise, cedar and Indian sandalwood that take over the bulk of the middle. It is never overpowering but still commanding and insinuates a certain confidence that is very Parisian. The dry down is incredible. Lapsang Tea and Hibiscus seed and musk it is almost oriental in feeling. But all the way through and what got the most comments from those who noticed is that scrumptious rich dark chocolate that never quite leaves. Very long lasting, a great silage, an all around winner that drew praise from both women and men. Guerlain is the master of luxe and elegant fragrances of such depth and complexity that really makes them stand out as a top fragrance house of impeccable distinction. Five Platinum Stars ****

This is a simply gorgeous fragrance and definitely one of best fragrances from a French perfume house in the last ten years. Prior to this I had been familiar with Guerlain predominantly through their Vetiver and Habit Rouge fragrances, so when I smelt this it immediately struck me as being really quite different from its predecessors (a little bit like the way Terre d'Hermes is also quite different from its Hermes relatives). After getting familiar with the beautiful cacao, patchouli, lavender and sandalwood combination - giving something of a very Parisian smell (pain au chocolat being baked next to a parfumerie?) - I realized that there was one essential ingredient which redeems this fragrance and definitely makes it unmistakably masculine: anise. It is the slight effect of the anise that is the stroke of genius in this fragrance, giving it the refreshing tendril of a nearby barbershop in the same neighbourhood. (I have noticed the same effect with the Extreme version as well but here it is amped up through the use of star anise and some other accords to give a different result.) All said, L'Instant is a beautiful fragrance which is suitable for day or evening wear in the Autumn or Winter. For me, it is a perfect Autumn work scent as its gourmand tendencies are fairly minimal once it settles down. The projection is in the moderate range you could hope for and the longevity is very generous. This is also probably the most Parisian fragrance I know - even the packaging is in a very art nouveau style reminiscent of the Metro - and it can be broadly appreciated. Well done, Guerlain, this brought the classicism of the house very much up to date... Highly recommended try.

I went to a local store and tested ir both LIDG and LIDGE. Both smelled 99% the same on my wrists so I tought I'll buy LIDG online becouse it is 125ml and cheaper so more bang for the money i guessed. The thing i didn't know at the moment was that I was testing the old and the new LIDGE with the clear bottle same as LIDG. So when i got it I tought i got a bad bottle but i went to 3 local stores and compared it( i made sure it was the EDT this time :) ) and it was the same as mine,nothing different. It smells kinda strange to me. I sprayed it on me, a friend and my girl and all got the same result,low sillage,very close to skin and about an hour of longevity. All i get are some citruses and smth kinda spicey and as soon the cacao and patchouli started to appear the thing backed down so much i can hardly detect it and stayed like that for some time before it's totaly gone. I sprayed on my shirt and left it in the closet for 24 hours. After that i smeled it and BOOOM!!! there it is,the gorgeus smell i tought this is with lots of cacaoo and patcouli still going strong.Not projecting much,about 2-3 inches but still strong. I don't know what is the problem here. My initial tought was,great,i got a bad bottle. But after i made sure that is not the case i tought that mu skin does not work with this at all but it didn't work on another two friends allso. So i have no idea what is it. Could it be the weather? Summer just enden here few days aggo and it isaround 20 celsius. Opinions?

l'instant de guerlain edt smells very early 00 but it's still here, surviving against any trend, any hype, any change. lidg is still a masterpiece and it's a shame that only few people gives the right spotlight to it. lemon, herbs, vanilla, patchouli and a fantastic note of cacao: this mix makes lidg a unique blend still relevant today. 4 or 5 years in my collection and i love it like the first day. now lidg fits better for people over 28, for formal and causal situations but not for sporty events. only for cold seasons. performance slightely above average on my skin(good projection for 1,5h longevity about 7h).very elegant, very french! merci guerlain! the review is based on the old edt bottle, never tried the old extreme or old edp. i also have the current edp in the long bottle and i have to say it's quite close to the old edt. maybe the old edt is a bit brighter, richer and better performing, but the differences are not big. l'instant de guerlain è un grande profumo, elegante in stile francese. sa di primi anni 2000 ma è riuscito a sopravvivere ad ogni cambiamento e moda. limone, erbe, vaniglia, patchouli e cacao lo rendono speciale e unico. ho il vecchio edt e il nuovo edp e li trovo molto simili, con pochissime differenze. scent-9 longevity-7,5 sillage-7,5 uniqueness-8,5 versatility-8 presentation-7 compliment factor-7,5 back up bottle? yes my vote-9 in one word- sophistiquè alternative- any flanker or reformulation of the same line, jpg kokorico.