My Insolence

I was hunting this discontinued fragrance for well over a year just because of the notes, in particular the almond blossom, but I wasn’t prepared to pay the over inflated prices it gets listed for on Ebay. Eventually I found one on Ebay for a great price and so I bought it. I specifically remember this because I was moving house and had an expected moving day, so I had diverted my post to my new address, and then of course that moving day was changed due to the incompetence of my buyers’ solicitors (I’m over it now honestly but it was really stressful) and so it was only on moving day when I finally had the joy of entering my new house, with the chaos of boxes and furniture being moved in and left in all the wrong places around me and with friends and family helping out that I chose to unwrap My Insolence and have my very first spray. I was actually underwhelmed. I felt it was a little generic, not that exciting, not quite what I expected. So I went about getting settled into my new home and didn’t retry My Insolence for another week or so. That’s when the magic happened for me. I still wouldn’t describe it as ground breaking, I wouldn’t say it rocked my world but rather it just fitted me to perfection. Like that pair of jeans that feels like they were made purely for you. Out of every fragrance in my collection My Insolence is the one that is most me so the name is rather apt. She wears like a gauzy chiffon shawl, discreet but not invisible, just adding a touch of sophistication. I don’t pick up on the citruses, I get the raspberry and almond, along with clean fluffy musk. Everything combines together like a whipped aerated cream. The raspberry is not too sharp nor too sweet, the almond is light and diffusive. The vanilla gently sidles in and gradually gains momentum over time. Fragrantica doesn’t list musk but I’d say that clean fluffy musk is the most important note here, it softens an already soft as a feather fragrance. This chiffon shawl is edged in a cloud-like fur (faux of course, nothing animalic here) that is pure comfort. I don’t sense the jasmine as a separate note but rather just get a touch of a creamy white floral accord that blends in imperceptibly. I also don’t specifically pick up on the patchouli or tonka but I’m sure they are increasing the overall sleekness. My Insolence is not sugary at all, the notes may sound sweet but they are all diet and dentist friendly, of course there’s a touch of sweetness but really nothing like you might expect. My Insolence lasts on my skin at least 8 hours and projects lightly all day (amazing for an edt). The overall feel is reassuring, comforting with a lightly playful side. The perfect scent for those that work with sensitive souls, a fragrance that is clean, yet warm, soft and very approachable.

It has come to my attention that most people on Fragrantica hate long reviews, so here is a quick & dirty one for My Insolence: A long lasting, multi-layered perfume with lots of citrus & raspberry, almond-blossom/apple-blosson/raspberry-blossom sweet/musky florals, tonka bean, and sweet patchouli. Most of the notes last a long time, and the projection/sillage are phenomenal. * * * Okay, so for the rest of you I have to tell you what happened the first time I wore this perfume. I really like Insolence EDP, and I blind-ordered My Insolence just because I liked the EDP so much (and because a tester costs about $25.) My Insolence, it's supposed to be the lighter, brighter, fresher, daytime version of Insolence, right? To quote Charlie Murphy--Wrong. WRONG. WROONGGGG. The is a "Habitual Line Stepper" perfume. Without doing a trial run, like I do with most perfumes, I applied 3 full sprays before work, got dressed, and put on my jacket. On the way to work I had to open a car window to compete with the fumes, they were choking me. Once I arrived at work I really realized that this stuff was way too strong. I left a trail wherever I went. I was conscious of my perfume preceding me into the room. My coworkers politely but perceptively stayed about 6 feet away from me at all times. I tried to scrub it away to little avail. When I went downstairs at the end of my shift my jacket had fumigated the entire break room. When I drove home my car still contained a My Insolence cloud. A few days later, while wearing Mitsouko, I put said jacket on again and it reeked of My Insolence, and totally covered up any trace of demure little Mitsouko. When I took my jacket off, traces of My Insolence had rubbed off on my skin so for the rest of the day I was essentially wearing it. So, this is possibly the loudest, most tenacious, craziest projection "I will invade every corner of your life" perfume ever created. I just read this book called "The Heart Goes Last" by Margaret Atwood and I felt My Insolence embodied the quasi-character Jasmine--she doesn't exactly exist, but if she did, she would wear this--she is a fantastical teased & hairsprayed brunette, bubble gum snapping, motor bike riding, purple lipstick wearing, heavy metal listening, foul mouthed, sex crazed, badass--this perfume is the embodiment of that attitude. And I learned an important lesson--always, always take your perfume for a trial run before you take it out in public. You just don't' know what it's going to do. Oh, and even after all that, I really love this perfume:)

Tested on a sunny November day of 60*F in central Texas (moderate gusts of wind). Applied to my pulse points for my regular weekend shopping & social outing. Longevity: about 4 hours (I was not heavy handed in my application). Sillage: Radiated to within arms reach for a couple of hours and then settled into a skin scent Impression: Feminine and warmly happy. This scent reminded me of when I was a child and got to meet the Prima Ballerina of the Nutcracker before the show. She gave me a sincere and strong hug, and her skin smelled warm & softly devine. Bottle design: 8 out of 10. Simple, classy, understated elegant design. On first spray it is radiates a jammy sweet "play doh" type smell. Within minutes this settles to the lemon cakes drizzled with raspberry glaze scent that so many have identified. For me, this a preferably fall scent for the time of light sweaters and scarves. After 10 minutes I was won over. The scent settles as a radiating skin scent that will whisper delight to anyone stepping into your personal space. It becomes this light skin musk with a touch of vanilla powdery warmth (sweet without being sugary or artificial). The patchoulli is not a major player thank goodness. This would be the perfect gift for a new mother or young lady who has matured into a strong graceful feminine presence. I gave it to one of my friends for her college graduation (she use to blast Brittany Spears scents while In school) and this is her office scent. I can see it appealing to women ages 21-45. Overall, I would say that this would be an awesome gift with a wide range of appropriate occasions. Give this scent plenty of time to settle as you get ready to go about your day. Definitely a cooler weather treasure.

A soft and innocent perfume that has just enough of a tangy edge from the raspberry, combined with a sharp and refreshing citrus. A gorgeous lemon note emerges from the citrus to play with the vanilla-tinged almond blossom. Almond blossom defines the scent, with a honeyed, vanilla heliotrope nuance. Sweet, floral, succulent and fruity. As the fragrance progresses through the open, heart and base, all the notes reinforce each other beautifully. A sweet, non-indolic jasmine works with both the raspberry and the almond blossom. The woody aspects of the raspberry reinforce the patchouli and almond. The tonka reinforces the almond, and gives it a bitter almond tinge; it also backs up the vanilla aspect of the almond blossom. The vanilla in the almond blossom and tonka give the lemon a gourmand aspect. The greener aspects of the tonka help the patchouli to stay green and herbaceous, lifting the patchouli to another level. The patchouli on me is very light, more green than earthy. I think this is one that the patchouli averse might like. The sweeter darker aspects of the patchouli also combine with, deepen, and extend the raspberry. An easy to wear and inoffensive scent with depth, progression and substance. Great in Spring and Summer, but I wear it year round. Great for a day when you know you are going out socially after work, as it reveals both a day and night personae. Can be flirty and fun. Lasts 6-8 hours, I usually reapply before going out, but if I can't, I will still get whiffs. This is a subtle, beautifully composed fragrance that combines a cuddly vibe with a flirty, playful innocence. Something I will always have in my wardrobe. Bonus: Very affordable for a Guerlain.

This was the first perfume i ever fell in LOVE with, not in like not oooh this smells nice I'll buy it but rather fell in love with it. I couldn't afford it when I first came across the strip of smell in my magazine - i think it was the summer of 2007 so I used to take regular trips to the perfume counter just to get sprays of it. In my world no other scent existed or could compare at the time. I was a woman obsessed. Anyway my stepmom generously gifted me a gift set that xmas and I have kept a bottle in my collection ever since. I always go back to it no matter what. I think I would go insane if i were ever to hear whispers of a discontinuation. It is a superbly made fragrance and I don't think I've ever loved any the way I love this one. It is undeniably feminine not in an overly mature way or in a "too young" way rather I think it can suit anyone of any age. In my opinion the most versatile of the insolences day or night formal or informal function. Sweet, clean and fresh yet somehow warm, sexy and inviting. The silage is incredible, it is a definite compliment catcher and the longevity is superb. On my skin it stays for hours when layered even longer (which is rare for me since my skin tends to devour scents) and on clothing it stays until you wash it. I wore it on New Years eve and when i took the dress that I wore out of my closet last week it still smelled clearly of My insolence. As I've said before I truly love and adore it, I would recommend it to anyone to try.