Metallica (Metalys)

I don't have a full bottle of this. But several years some nice eBay seller offered 10ml decants and I snapped one up. Gosh I wish Guerlain would bring this out again, under a name that actually implies what it smells like. I wore Metallica for the first time in months yesterday and experienced again what a wonderful scent it is, and how bad marketing choices made by Guerlain cost everyone so much. First bad choice: The name doesn't match the scent. No metal notes that I can discern. Whatever metal notes really are, but I'm expecting a sharp chypre scent or something at least crisp. Paco Rabanne's Metal is sort of the gold standard on that, but there must be others. Metallica to my nose anyway is a soft floral scent. Absolutely not bold and brassy, but a steady push of carnation and light rose notes and a light vanilla. Lots of contrasts; muted but strong, floral but lots of amber and vanilla, a little sweet but not cloying. Very long lasting, 8+ hours yesterday on my skin yesterday. Good sillage too. But I don't suppose Guerlain thought that would sell. Or some marketing guru said "we have to bring in the younger, hip customer if we're going to stay in business. What do they like? Edgy rock music. What is that? Oh heavy metal." Obviously this marketing person or team had no idea of the nuances of rock music, or the relatively low percentage of the 20-somethings that were fans of heavy metal. But no matter, they thrust the name Metallica onto a lovely floral fragrance that would have had many customers under another name, put it in a fancy bottle, and marketed it to the 0.5% of the perfume market who would buy a $600 bottle of a perfume they couldn't test beforehand. Because indeed, Guerlain never had testers for those limited edition bottles. (If they had, I might now own one of those Baccarat turtle shaped bottles. But even rosequeen will not drop $600 on a perfume she can't smell beforehand.) And obviously they paid no attention to the real culture of the people who follow heavy metal bands, or they would have realized that an exceedingly small percentage of them would ever have worn a perfume from what they considered to be a snobby French perfume seller, even if it was $20 a bottle, let alone $600. (I don't remember the exact price, but it was at least $600 and maybe even $800.) And then the nearly fatal mistake Guerlain made was misjudging how good the lawyers could be for a heavy metal band. Or how good trademark/ registered name laws really are. You'd think they'd pay attention since YSL had to change its perfume named Champagne to Yvresse because the French Champagne makers complained/sued. Champagne is integral to French culture; sacred especially when so much of it was slipping away. The Americanization of France - horrors. Proof that the wine industry triumphed over the perfume industry. YSL's little blunder must have cost tons of money. Anyway, I've delineated the history of Guerlain's Metallica debacle. All of it on a perfume few people have had the opportunity to smell. So it's an opportunity for Guerlain to bring it back. They sort of did; that Eau de Lingerie scent they brought out a few years ago is similar. I don't follow Guerlain all that closely anymore, but I think this scent could be brought back for another run under a decent name. It's that good.

Where oh where do I start with this treasure? Truly a thing of beauty this one is. Both bottle and scent are just amazing! Metallica is a spicy Carnation with a dusty Amber and a warm semi sweet vanilla base. The Amber note in this scent is very bright and luxurious and is well blended with all the other notes, I find it easy to pick up on individual notes in this fragrance, it's as if it has dimensions but it is well blended at the same time. I also detect some soapiness throughout the whole wear, just slightly. Carnation and Iris are probably the most prominent floral notes in this composition. Metallica is perfect to wear on cold days/nights, it is one of those scents that make you feel warm and cozy with a feeling of comfort and satisfaction. It has a unique dusty, old vintage feel to it and can be easily worn as a Christmas holiday scent. The silage and lasting power is extraordinary! People will be able to smell this on you as soon as you enter a room, it really is one of a kind! I would say that if you're someone that does not enjoy the modern Vanilla scents of today but loves that old school, not so sugary, mature vanilla, then you would most likely love Metallica.

A very warm scent, perfect for winter, perfect for Christmas time. Maybe not a monument in the Guerlain dynasty (the competition is high with those Mitsouko, Shalimar, L'Heure Bleue and all the others around!) but lovely indeed. Very vanillic but not too invasive or annoying; vanilla scents may be obnoxious when the vanilla is too sweet or let alone to play the tune. It opens strong and little by little it settles down flowery and powdery. You can tell miles away this is Guerlain. It has a sensational lasting power and what I love most is the trail it leaves on your clothes, on your skin hours after wearing it: a mix of tender spices, soft flowers, light vanilla so gentle and yet so assertive, never dull, never plain but complex and always changing. It's Guerlain, you know. I bought the original bottle in 2000 and years after it is still wonderful. I have always marveled at seeing such a big bottle while the two Christmas preceding ones (Guerlinade and Guet Apens) were smaller. Who knows? And who cares? Let's enjoy its beauty.

Thank you Xrayer for this generous sample. I love this and I am not usually a fan of too much musk and tonka combined with iris! But the composition of this is so beautifully executed, particularly in the opening notes, that the divine experience of smelling the notes change and unfurl has moved this from the like to love category for me. What sorcery does the house of Guerlain possess?! This is modern and old fashioned at the same time, classy and youthful yet timeless. A light rose dances through the citric top notes in a very feminine and fresh manner - and then comes the iris, partnered with carnation and delicate spices for the second song. The finale comes in the form of a soft, slow dance at the end of the evening, with a sexy blend of non-sugary vanilla and musk. The notes all hold hands, take a sweet bow and exit the room in a softly perfumed, deftly choreographed and delicate dance, leaving the remaining guests wondering where they came from and who they were. Fit for a princess.

Long discontinued, I was lucky enough to find a sealed bottle of Metallica for a reasonable price earlier this year. The bee bottle is a work of art, but the juice itself is equally impressive. Metallica is a spicy-floral-vanilla. The spicy carnation is a prominent note in the earlier phases of scent development. In the heart, ylang-ylang is the primary floral I detect. The classical warm Guerlainde base follows, highlighted by the gorgeous vanilla note that Guerlain has mastered. The fragrance perfumes quite well for an EDT. Personally, I plan on wearing the fragrance all-year-round (except daytime in the summer) and I would classify it as a unisex fragrance. Metallica is a true masterpiece from Jean-Paul Guerlain and is one of the best vanilla fragrances I have come across.

My signature, no doubt. Was lucky enough to find someone who split her bottle with me and sold me 100 ml WITH BOTTLE for an amazing price. So sad they discontinued this and I will never understand why. But the hounds of EBay and such are rejoicing because it has driven prices to insane levels ($1000 for a full bottle?!). This is a spicy floral carnation bomb that I will always wear in any setting. Classic Guerlain written all over this beauty. Bold but not offensive. If you can find it for a decent price GET IT!

Sorcery . Yes. That's what this is... Pure magic and fairy tale wishes to come true to be able to finally try this elixir and I'm head over heels in love with another too far out of my abilities to own by at least I've now been able to know it, thanks to a beyond generous perfume fairy.... I'm a Guerlie Girl, through and through now.

An absolutely beautiful vanilla! Yes the overall floral profile is the spicy scent of carnation, though it is grounded by a sweet, woody, and three-dimensional vanilla note that is anchored by musks. It definitely doesn't feel "fusty" or "old-fashioned" though and, on the contrary, is a timeless and prototypically Guerlain scent.

If I had to summarise Metallica in just a few words: sexy cognaccy maple syrup. So I have learned to wait with the older Guerlains. I often do not like the beginning, it can be off putting. It happened with Champs Elysees, it happened with Nahema. Then a miracle happens. And its happening here, with Metallica. Too cloying, honey syrupy, a funny burned note on top. My bottle is probably over 20yrs old, it has been opened but its virtually full. Believe it has been kept in its silvery box so should be intact other than a natural burning away of citrus top notes. This is a winter time issue. Very heavy and resinous for an edt. I can clearly smell the guerlinade accord in the background (I have a bottle of the Guerlinade they issued in 1999) and a powdery, veiled heliotrope scent on top. Very resiny and ambery with tonka/vanilla at the base. After some 20-30minutes it dries down and becomes more rounded. Very sensual and rich. At one stage it reminds me of an old decant of Balenciaga’s Le Dix, which is aldehydic and powdery with spices & iris like here. But Metallica is much more refined and smoother compared to the dated and more sharp chemicalness of Le Dix (on my body chemistry anyway). I regret I no longer have it to compare. Nevertheless, Metallica is much more complex and rounds up to become almost chocolatey/nutty. Its a gourmand without being a gourmand. Long drydown is like a sexy maple syrup. Jean Paul Guerlain is a genius perfumer. What he manages to do is layer different notes on top of each other and layer by layer as your day passes, a different picture emerges, a floral symphony. I do not know another perfumer who can create this effect like he does. Even though I prefer the pure joy and brightness of mimosa Champs Elysees and the sensuous deep richness of rose Nahema (I you have never smelled the pure parfum, you must) to the more mature iris of Metallica, the process is still the same: a symphony of many acts. I am not a poet but I have seriously considered writing a love letter to Mr J-P Guerlain to try to express in some small way what his perfumes elicit in me. Like with any outstanding piece of art, it becomes a transformative, almost a spiritual experience. Absolutely stunning, gorgeous presentation - the flacon is a Guerlain bee bottle with metallic embellishments. One of my very favourite bottles of all times. Its a shame I have to keep it in its box to preserve the juice! If you have something rare and want to exchange decants, PM me :). Kadine would be amazing..!

I've got a sealed bottle of Metallica. Wow... here comes J-P Guerlain.Aside the name, it smells gentle flowers and, turns to classical (very expensive ) soap at the dry down.Rather quiet ant comfort than excitement. I just wonder why they named this beauty "Metallica". Yeah, the bottle is covered with silver plates, so looks armored, armored ones are KISS, not Metallica...

I wonder how hyped this frag would be if it wasn't discontinued or super hard to find. This opens with loud carnation. It's spicy and sharp but, unfortunately, there are no metallic components. Maybe soapy but not metallic. The drydown is very ambery. The profile reads late-70s/early-80s. It smells like a mystery fragrance you find at a vintage shop. Projection is moderate. Longevity...3 hours? Maybe 4 as a skin scent? Could be due to age of the juice but I wouldn't call this frag long-lasting. Overall, I bought this for the name thinking it'll smell metal rock 🤘 but instead I smell like a bougie grandma 👵

I was so afraid to test it because it costs a fortune on the secondary market. And I am so happy I did not like it! Usually I can let Guerlain get away with all kinds of strange combos but carnation-butter-soap is not something I see myself wearing. While Oeilette Pourpre and Bouquet Guerlain are also not favs, because of the strong carnation in the middle stage, at least they have a spicy, dark twist. While this one is just settles into a carnation soap with musk. I lack sweetness and spice which is awkward considering the listed base notes.

I have tried and tried...I have the big tester and from time to time I have sprayed it on my wrist and tried to understand this. It's quite nice in the beginning, but only carnation in the end. I have not opened the beautiful bottle att all,in a way it's a pity. This's the exception in Guerlain's excellent line, only this parfum is one I can't understand att all. My feeling of my skin is reminding me as a cream in my childhood in the cold Januarydays. I loved the cream, Vitalis, but this is too metallic. On my skin. Sorry.

Yes! It smells very much like and expensive luxurious Ban de Soleil. Warm, soft, spicy - and rich heady carnation, not cold peppery carnation. Something tropical is there so very gauzy and sheer like maybe...frangipane or heliotrope but so lofty and escaping. Think of the way these flowers smell when it’s so hot out the air seems silent, compared to the way they smell at a florist, or inside your home. Resinous spiced vanilla evaporating from hot wet benzoin. Woah did I just write that? I miss this fragrance. It was my signature scent, too. My last almost bottle leaked out in my suitcase. How wonderful the entire airport smelled! Haha but I write bc I saw Tom Ford newly released “Métallique” ...could it be he has taken Mettalica to resurrect? >PLEASE< Love to hear any experiences of those able to compare Mettalica to Ban de Soleil to TF Métallique. PS the only metallic i imagine maybe imparting a tinniness itself from the metal tube BdS Orange Geleè #4...or zinc! That must be it. ZINC. Zinque? :) cheers!

On me this a very soapy orange blossom and ylang-ylang. The gorgeous coppery carnation of the opening leaves much too soon. The Iris is buttery and while metallica settles into a vintage style vanilla (not modern gourmand or woody) it's deep into the dry down. I thought this would be a warm spicy buttery Iris but that soapy componant (think N°5, Keiko Mecheri’s Myrrhe & Merveilles) that many didn't even mention dominates the wear. I got no amber, no resin no “maple cognac” like another reviewer beautifully mentioned. I will say this is a fragrance you must sample as its smells different on other people. A friend of mine doesn't get any soapiness and it's purely a vanilla with lots of Iris. I sold my bottle to buy Mon Guerlain Extrait. Please it is not worth the eBay prices at which are insane ans extortionate. I'm happy I have access to other wonderful collectors.

Guerlain's METALYS/METALLICA is a beautiful vanilla with a classic floral twist. Not the usual vanilla one encounters everywhere ... the sweetness of this fragrance is tamed but opulent. The dominant vanilla is in perfect harmony with the floral notes distinctly the lush ylang-ylang. The tonka and vanilla impart a desirable warmth that is surprisingly not heavy. The quality is undeniable right from the potent initial spray to the dry down of its heavenly aroma which is quite hard to resist sniffing from my wrist. The softened scent is slightly sweet, mildly warm and powdery with hints of fresh musk -- I love it! Another remarkable beauty from the brilliant house of Guerlain. If you are looking for a sophisticated vanilla, this is a must try. Neither juvenile nor common, this is elegance at its finest. ♥

Metallica is not quite metallic. However, it is definitely something that could be mistaken for it. The spices and carnation create such an effect. However, to me, this creates more of an 'Obsession' feel. It's odd. Mixed with ylang and white flowers, this creates such a confusing feeling that makes it feel like it could be perfect for either cold or hot seasons. It's warm, it's cold. Sheer and clean, and a blanket. The powdery iris gets me all the time, it's so very beautiful. Kind of vanillic, kind of musky. There's not a thing about this fragrance I dislike, I guess you could say that I love it. I just wish I could find it! One of my top 20 favorite Guerlain fragrances, easily.

Metalys smell like a radiant walk between sunflowers. Dans le Soleil, This could be a name of this fragrance smell Which no metal at all. Or I mean not enough to justify this name. This is a real sunny vintage fragrance, immediately recall to my mind Californian Poppy by Atkinsons, but also, Voile d'Ete and Ylang Vanille, both Guerlain who evidently has revived or played with this combination even later. This is an perfume centered on carnation and ylang, with high presence of vanille, tonka, and iris. I smell also fruity notes like pineapple or banana. Buttery, oily, lipstick and suntan lotion sides, lightly gourmand. Very nice, very elegant.

OPens on me a strong, spicy iris like Santa Maria Novella's with a hint of well-subdued vanilla that accents. People are not familiar with true iris scent and confuse it with carnation. It is a spicy floral when done right. The monks at Santa Maria Novella explained to me that Iris does smell very fragrant but we have bred that out of them in the States. This is lovely with a metallic edge. Classic Guerlain without being powdery or soapy. I am sorry I only have a small decant that cost gold.

I would be willing to buy this and decant it for people. I wonder if there would be much of a desire. I have no problem fronting the money and shipping decants to people at cost. It would essentially be $5 per ml + shipping ground is $6 to most places. It would be 16 for a 2ml, 21 for 3ml... and so on. Amazon sells decent little decant spray bottles in 2, 3, 5, and 10ml bottles. I can get bigger sizes, but it would probably cost more for the bottle. Im not looking to make money off people.