L'Instant de Guerlain pour Homme EDP

A review born out of frustration: I will skip details of wearing experience to the extent that it is a fragrance all too familiar to me. I recently tested the new square bottle and, as expected, is fresher upon first spray but then it recedes to that comforting blend. But, as noted very below by a few members, it is not a reliable fragrance: indoors it does have projection but then it also tends to be cloying. Outside, or outdoors virtually disappears as it is losing each confrontation with other perfumes and various urban smells. Hectic weather nowadays worldwide doesn’t help either. I have a tester bottle from the end of 2016 so it is the less potent 3rd formulation according to affectionate LIDGE historians. Which gets me to compare with my old LIDGE sample: that had much better projection and also a corresponding sillage with half amount (3 sprays). Sadly the sample was ultimately wasted when the bottle containing it broke...As I kept the broken sample bottle I can detect nuances when compared to my intact bottle (in terms of gravity assigned to cacao and patchouli), which is as close to being objective as i desire to be. Because LIDGE is one of the very few scents which i can link to past ‘instances’ of my life, like for e.g. remember heading to theatre some 8 years ago. Wearing LIDGE was not exactly out of place but largely flooded over my theatre experience. There was no contemporary feel to it, and that was part of the charm. Since prices have been high for 1st formulation, i was contemplating to get the vintage eau de toilette but read somewhere that it is basically the now available L’instant edp in terms of projection and overall performance (even if notes and accords are somewhat different). With ‘not letting go’ being a constant cause of suffering I should also mention a happy or fortunate accident to which I really owe this writing: I have been using L’oreal Barberclub shower gel and deo because I love that cedarwood smell so one day I sprayed L’instant onto a leftover quantity of the just mentioned self-care product. To my amaze, it helped to keep the sandalwoods of L’instant sticked to the skin and improved overall performance. It has become a little more than a skin scent; moreover, it dials down that naughty character of patchouli (or which I associate with patchouli when smell it up close). Edit 03/25: Since last year, I have been using it alternately in spring and on rainy days. As a result, my bottle has gone below 50%, then 40%... and I have noticed an increase in its performance. While it generally stays within personal space, the sillage remains noticeable even after 5 hours. More importantly, the projection of the base notes lasts—something I was initially really looking for. It feels somewhat unsettling to claim that partial 'listerine' bottles represent the ideal version.

This scent will always be a masterpiece. It is intriguing, exotic, and utterly unique. Yes, there are similar scents - Pardon, Tempo, Coromandel - but none of them give me quite the same sensation as L'Instant. I was just gifted a 100ml of the new formulation and so I'm reviewing based on that, though I was fortunately able to sample the black sides version of LIDGE back in the day before it became so rare. The hype is absolutely justified for that scent - it is sublime, and yes, on a whole other level than this version. It is deeper and darker, with sharper edges and much more note separation and clarity. I would give my left nut to have a bottle and probably will one day seek out a vintage. However, that isn't to say what's available in stores now is bad - far from it. Though it is a step down from the sublime, it's still a beautiful scent. L'Instant brings to mind so many things at once. The immediate image I get is of a Parisian autumn twilight with a golden sunset...crisp, cold air, with a tang of smoke...and all the lights beginning to wink on one by one. The original LIDGE bottle represents the scent so perfectly. It feels as if it's emerged from the mists of Art Deco Paris, like a lost philtre concocted by some genius polymath designer to represent their vision of the "nouvel homme". It's incredibly chic, elegant, and, yes, so very French, in that it achieves a beautiful balance of elements - the warm, rich patchouli base is braced against the more astringent citrus and anise which is softened by the tea, florals, and powdery cacao. While it smells extremely French, there is also something so exotic and interesting about it. I'm reminded of the notion that Chinese silks, when they were shipped across vast distances on the Silk Road, were preserved with patchouli. This is sort of what I'd imagine they'd smell like when they arrived in Constantinople, bearing the imprint of the distant Chinese court, but faded, glimpsed through a coromandel screen. It's almost an Orientalist scent in that sense, sort of like a Western interpretation of what they imagine the East smells like. All that to say - it is a masterpiece of perfumery. Something that can inspire so many images, associations, memories, and imaginings, can't be anything but. I put it on my shelf next to Bois d'Armenie, Angelique Noire, and Bois Mysterieux as my personal favorites from Guerlain, and what they all have in common, other than smelling amazing, is creating imagery in my head. Painting a picture, making a mood, making colors and sounds and smells pop into my mind. If that's what you're seeking, look no further. If you're looking for a crowd pleasing, mass appealing scent, then you'd be better served by the L'Homme Ideal line. This truly stands apart. 10/10

Maturate Maturate MA-TUR-ATE! So, Ive heard that the current formulation of L'Instand de Guerlain edp is a "Shell of its former self,".... but OH MAN, if thats so, WHAT A "SHELL" IT IS! This fragrance is freakin' STUNNINGLY GORGEOUS and super complex! Thing is you must have a bit of patience when ya get a newer formulation bottle! When Id first recieved my (Square Bottle) about a month ago and sprayed it, it wore EXTREMELY faint and close to the skin lasting 3 maybe 4 hours tops! Id try it every now and then the first two weeks and it had minimal improvement, so Id left it alone in its box for another 3 or so weeks, tried it again last night for the first time and sufficed to say, its almost like a different scent all together compared to when Id first recieved it. L'Instant de Guerlain Homme has these amazingly well executed transitions starting off with this smooth yet bright burst of delicious candied Lemon (nothing at all sharp) and stays that way for a good 30-45 mins as the more "Gourmand" Nuances start to appear. Ya start sensing the smooth, rich Cacao along with the rich, Chocolaty Patchouli. Now, what (imo) truley makes L'Instant "Special" is definately the gorgeous, elegant classic Sandlewood which again, is done in the traditional, classic manner where its actually a "Creamy Sandlewood" and although I like the fragrance, this has ZERO Santal 33 vibes! The (Maturated) performance is night and day from how it was initially and while its not a projection beast, it definately does project well as Id done only 2 sprays on my neck to test it, then went over to my mom's about an hour or so later and she could smell it when I walked behind her as she was cooking and she actually said that it was "Strong." (AGAIN, this is while she was cooking cuban food at the stove!) Now, while I don't really consider this a strong fragrance, the smoothness may be deceiving me into thinking its less projecting than it actially is. Today I put on the sweater that I wore last night and can still smell L'Instant as some of the fragrance must've gotten on it when Id done just the 2 sprays my neck. Oh and on skin Im now getting 7 to 8 hours with a good 2 hours of solid projection. Ive been trying to keep my reviews shorter bc I too get annoyed when reading unnecessarily long posts, but theres so much to say and praise about L'Instant de Guerain that I couldn't help myself. This is at the very least a 9 outta 10 fragrance which is a super rare score coming from me, but the more I wear it it might just reach a perfect 10. This is 100% worth the $100 pricetag it can be had for, but remember MATURATE!!! Lol! CHEERS YA'LL! And thanks for taking time to read my REDICULOUSLY LONG review!

Classic perfumery from Guerlain's L'instant and L'homme line: very well blended notes, and just absolutely nothing to hate on whatsoever. Off the top I get a fresh hit of citrus, which lasts maybe 1 minute and then I immediately feel with the incense and tea and pepper notes (the lemon does hang a bit though). My nose is probably recognizing the incense and tea likely because I don't wear fragrances with those notes that often. This may be the only part of the fragrance's evolution that I don't totally like. The anise is also definitely there. Licorice-like. I can talk about every single note listed as "being there" but that's just what's great about Guerlain: their notes are so well-blended that it's hard to say what's more prominent. Maybe 30 minutes later I'm only now starting to pick up on that kind of earth-woody cacao pod which, like most people, is my favorite part of this fragrance's evolution. If you're looking for a warm, comforting yet manly gourmand cacao note, this may be the cologne for you! I think the earthiness may be coming from the patchouli, although I could be wrong. Certainly powdery, deep, rich, and fairly masculine. Performance: This scent sits quite close to the skin but it has a nice intimate scent bubble. For a lot of people, this is a problem, but this description of sillage is exactly what I've been looking for. Not too strong, but not underwhelming either. And remember, nose blindness is a thing: 2-3 sprays if you don't want people to hate you. Audience: (UPDATED 12/1/2024) Elegance. I'm personally not within the age range to be wearing stuff like this but it's not completely out of my style. This is a fantastic signature in a colder climate for someone in their mid-20s (youngest). But I'm younger and live in a warmer climate where I reserve this for more special occasions. Most will enjoy this scent. Wearability + Occasions/Seasons: Don't wear this if it's too hot. More nighttime than daytime, but good for both. That being said, I wouldn't wear this to school for example. This just feels like a nice cool weather/cool evening signature that you wear to a formal event or something like that. PERFECT for dates or close encounters like that. If, however, you're not like me and you happen to be an adult, its versatility could expand to other areas, like just general casual wear, for example. OVERALL STATEMENT: I don't typically let performance cloud my opinion on a fragrance, and thus, I feel there is nothing to dislike about this fragrance. The scent is one of the best I've smelled, performance is great for ME, and although the price is steep at $145, it's pretty worth it. It has grown on me significantly.

It is indisputable that I like a perfume that catches the attention of other people, ladies in particular. However my main criterion of choice is that it pleases me above all. I don't really have a preferred choice by perfume type. I have no doubt that I greatly appreciate oriental woody and resinous perfumes. But my entrance gate is wide enough to let a good fougere pass by, or a pleasant chypre, or even a fresh citrus or aquatic. Guerlain L'Instant belongs to a personal section of perfumes that I mentally qualify as a pleasure generator for myself. It is not a scent that draws much attention in public, much less a magnet of female attraction. But it transfers an aura that "everything is fine with us". It gives us confidence and well-being and transmits it to the people around us. L'Instant can be an extraordinary therapist and for much more than just an instant. It just places you instantly in downtown Paris or New York. The fragrance is woody, full of spices and just a bit sweet. At first glance, and after 3 to 4 sprays, the power of citrus is impressive, with a light resinous aura and a soft anise gratifying sweet note. As this first wave slowly dissipates, chords of a light patchouli with some lavender and white flowers emerging, creating a captivating, manly and dignified scent. After this busy evolution, we entered a calmer phase, revealing a rich dark and greasy cocoa, as well as wood, both a more austere cedar and a more creamy sandalwood, accompanied by a strong and complex patchouli. This base extends itself through the drydown and is soft and warm, transmitting a firm and secure masculinity. L'Instant, even in its Eau de Parfum concentration, is not a performance star. Longevity is a bit above average, but the sillage is moderate and the projection is a bit low. Probably I would expect a bit more stamina from this star fragrance, but its undoubted elegance requires this type of moderation. I have both releases of the older square bottle and the newer taller flask. I don't devise any scent or behavior difference between the two versions, but I like the older bottle better. ____________________________________________________ Recommendation: This is a very good elegant and unique fragrance and an unexpected good value for money choice due to its intrinsic quality and affordable price. It exudes masculinity and confidence. The average performance may be overcome by a couple of sprays on the clothes. As far as I'm concerned it's a must have for me. I do recommend it, even as a blind buy. ____________________________________________________