Nahema

The vintage rose that makes Jean-Paul Guerlain proud. Luca Turin bestowed on Nahema the nickname "Virtual Rose". "Daughter of Fire" is noble and sexy, with extraordinary bearing. What is burning are petals made of velvet, not fire. A back-and-forth dance song "Polileo" sets the tone for Nahema's structure. Nahema is Guerlain's second most expensive fragrance in terms of raw materials alone, at more than 2,000 francs per kilo of formula. Nahema rose to the challenge as a pioneer, and was unpopular for being too avant-garde, but after 1980, several future imitators have greatly dipped in Nahema's light, such as YSL Paris and Lancome Tresor. Not being born at the right time is a classic regret. If you query Nahema, you will find that there is a 1998 rose named Nahema, which is indeed a rose to pay tribute to Nahema and its creator Jean-Paul Guerlain. IFRA restricts methyl eugenol. The absolute content of methyl eugenol in the Bulgarian rose of Nahema is between 2.5% and 3%. In 2016, Nahema parfum was discontinued due to an IFRA ban. Nahema is bright and beautiful. Its attributes are very clear, a velvet rose with a sweet trend, the texture is like rose petals, and it is also like Catherine Deneuve's skin, delicate and delicate, like pearls and flawless. Nahema is pure and round, infinitely endearing. I would never think of a rose. Jean-Paul Guerlain has the character of being bold and daring to create new things. Nahema is not a garden, don't define and understand it directly with figurative things. On my first impressions, Nahema doesn't smell like roses, specifically, a sticky, rose dew-like consistency different from rose jam. Roses of the Nahema type, mostly seen after 1980, are still of the chypre type. Categorizing it in oriental florals is another approach. In 1975, the rose coordination proposed by Jean-Paul when he made Parure was used in Nahema in 1979. Nahema evolved from Chamade, removing the greenness in Chamade, and the rose core was infinitely enlarged and stripped. Based on Rose Nouvelle, Nahema gradually took shape and was born as an independent individual. Made with Guerlain's proud peach aldehyde, infused with a Firmenich rose base, Rosessence, the apricot presents a rich honeyed finish. The cool aldehyde fragrance, with the soft greenness of white rosin and hyacinth, the eternal peach rose-ylang-ylang smiles away, and on the honey-like texture, small and lovely molecules are built into hexagons, building a pocket Rose Tower. The conflict between cold and warm, Nahema blooming in golden light is pink in color, with the breath of early spring, beautiful and unparalleled. I smelled the Nahema again, and it showed the scene from The Roses of Heliogabalus, ecstatic, with rose petals all over the sky, fluttering lightly on the faces of the guests, blocking their breath. The standard concentration of PDT at the time of design is very practical, and the gradient of Parfum is slow and traceless. Jean-Paul said in an interview: "Nahéma, which I created in 1979, is a real bouquet of roses, a hymn to roses. It's one of my favorite scents." I was so overwhelmed by the magic of Nahema that anyone who smelled it revered or adored it, it was irresistible and completely addicted. And I know very well, I'm just amazed by the perfumery skills shown by Jean-Paul

oh, nahema! i've waited a long time to try this, unable to find a tester at ANY guerlain counter in multiple countries (i travel a lot). i heard that nahema does NOT age well, so i avoided the vintage juice. i read several interviews with thierry wasser, head perfumer at the house of guerlain and hand-picked successor to jean-paul guerlain. he talks about the increasing fragrance restrictions that requires extensive reformulations of the classic house fragrances—including nahema. wasser is generally regarded as a very good reformulator. so long story short, i wanted to smell the very latest version of nahema. quick note on extrait vs. eau de parfum. the extrait was discontinued in 2016, though it is still available. i decided to seek out the freshest (and only current) version: the 2017 eau de parfum. now on to my review.... oh. my. goddess. there is NOTHING that compares to nahema. it's a unique bird: exotic, mesmerizing, unforgettable. as such, it's not for everyone. the opening is powerful and in-your-face. i detect two strong notes: green and rose. the green note is hyacinthus orientalis, or rose hyacinth. i love it so much. i keep sniffing through the composition to identify this note. it's strong at the opening and stays through the middle, though in decreasing strength. sometimes i can even smell it in the dry down. the second opening note is of course the rose. this is an oily, powerful rose. it has that lemon note in bulgarian rose oil. i usually dislike that lemon note in rose as too sharp and strong, but in nahema it works. jean-paul guerlain simply could not have used a mild, pretty rose in his composition; it would not have worked in such a statement fragrance. the strong opening mutes quickly into a medium sillage green rose heart. the middle character of nahema is quite blended. it's harder to isolate just the green or just the rose, so i call it "green rose". the dry down is surprising to me. usually i lose most of the green and rose and get just a sweet woods and vanilla base. this base is quite different from the opening and middle. i don't mind it, but that "big" character of nahema is gone. never in a perfume have i smelled such a clear opening, middle and end. despite nahema being a "big rose" its life cycle is only 3-4 hours on my skin. i believe this is largely due to the fragrance restrictions. the old formulas were touted as sillage monsters, but for better or worse that is not the case in 2017. i find nahema perfect as an evening fragrance, with just the right longevity for a date night or cocktails with the girls or an evening of debauchery ;-) nahema wears well in the winter and in open air, as well. in summary, nahema is magnificent.

I was 18 when Nahema hit the stores. A lover of Opium, Shalimar and Cinnabar (as I still am). I had no time for this with its roses. I was scarred by Lauder's florals of the time and the imo hideous Perfumer's Workshop Tea Rose that women of my mother and grandmothers age were overspraying themselves with. I still don't like those. and I'm picky about rose in fragrance. But I love Nahema. I've read it's totally synthetic rose, and I've read that it contains huge amounts of rose absolute. Interesting, but in the end I don't really care which is true. Nahema bursts open as a fresh, damp-leaved bouquet of roses - red, pink, coral and yellow - with a bit of hyacinth and the peach of Mitsouko. The aldehydes in this have a very different effect than I expect with aldehydes - no soapiness. I can't find words to describe it but they are there on the top and give the perfume a sort of joyous lift. It's a gorgeous, happy, elegant fragrance. I'm not generally a big fan of green notes but they are perfect here. The rose just goes on forever. When the aldehydes and peach walk away there are more flowers - jasmine, hyacinth, I don't know what else. It seems that the peach and the green are dynamic at this point. I catch whiffs as I move my hands for a few hours, but when I sniff my wrists they're gone. In the drydown I get subtle, velvety sandalwood - rich and luxurious but not at all heavy - with a bit of fruit, some vetiver and the lightening yet ever present rose. I see vanilla listed but I've never picked up on that. Rose is the star here from start to finish. Without deliberately thinking about it I wouldn't much notice any other flowers, they're all background for the rose. I get neither powder nor wateriness from Nahema at any point. There's a hint of sweet but nothing like the sweetness of currently popular perfumes. I guess it's a soliflore but it's not a linear scent. It's much more interesting than any of the other rose soliflores I've worn. I'm afraid that I'm one of those old ladies who is all like "Back in my day our perfumes lasted all day, the sillage was huge, and the oakmoss was real." I have a new tester of the parfum and a 1985 bottle of Parfum de Toilette, and I had a 2010 edp. I assume there have been reformulations along the way but I don't really notice a major difference in Nahema like I do with so many others. The sillage is great (more with the pdt/edp than the parfum of course) and longevity for me is all day.

Absolutely staggered by this perfume. I'd tried a vintage sample of this years ago and my recollection was 'very nice, rose dominant, Guerlainesque' and this was all I had in my mind but it's sooooooooo sooooooo good. So another great pal sent me a vintage sample recently and I'm blown away by a key element of this perfume, the rose as a fleeting top note. Well it's not fleeting it remains present probably but not in the way I've experienced in any other perfume, it's like a wave of the most beautiful, faceted, sweet but not too sweet, almost cool (temperature wise), perfect rose absolute washes over you and then retreats right the way back so this exotic, powdery, floral mixture with warm vanillic amber tones and inherent, classy, gorgeousness can come to the forefront. It basically flips from fresh, vibrant, rose dominant opening (and super intact fruity pitchy topnotes for the age of this bottle BTW) to all of a sudden a sort of exotic infused, white floral, Lilly of the valley but with a really resinous warm, vanillic (in a good way) ambery base. It's an absolute revelation!!! It's not pungent or commanding in that way old, seen as stuffy, "WOMEN'S" florals can be. I'm absolutely enamoured and looking at the notes list here, rose in the top notes (and it's in the heart too but I'm gonna give Fragrantica some credit here) is really accurate because it's there, then it's basically gone. Working with rose, understanding and experiencing rose perfumes, I've never witnessed this effect, and Jean Paul Guerlain did that. I think it's creative genius and we've not even really got into the base which is one of the most nose nuzzling drydown's I recall experiencing. Listed here is peru balm and I'll go along with that as I've read that used correctly in an amber accord of sorts it creates a playful powdery sort of effect, even though when you smell the raw material or use in heavier doses and you get a spicy, cinnamon/clove/anise inflected heavy balasmic resin effect. Everything about this screams quality to me and has come at a time I maybe needed it as I'm feeling slightly disillusioned with everything at the moment and Nahema has done a great job of lifting my spirits. Fantastic!!! Now comes the hard part... keeping myself away from eBay, Etsy and the like because a vintage bottle of this is likely to set me back a few quid.

This really is a bit of a masterpiece. I am wearing a decant from a wonderful fellow Frangrantician, and I'm not sure which version I am wearing, but I think it's the most recent EDP from the bee bottle. I gave this a quick spray to get a sense of it when I first received it months ago, but quickly realized that one must devote some serious time to unlock and appreciate just how singular this perfume is, and today is the day I am doing so. The first few minutes are almost intolerably dry and medicinal on my skin, so much so that if I was a fragrance novice I would have immediately scrubbed upon application! However, it does not take very long before Nahema begins to unfurl, releasing a rose that somehow manages to be simultaneously hyper realistic AND abstract. There is a honeyed sweetness that steers well clear of cloying territory through use of spices, woods, and resins. Again, I find myself marveling at the contradictions, the duality of this fragrance - real AND abstract, sweet AND dry. I use "dry" the way a wine lover would, not as the opposite of "wet". It is extremely difficult for me to identify individual notes, other than the majestic rose, and I don't think I'd want to even if I could. I am far more content just allowing Nahema to be Nahema - far, far greater than the sum of her parts. Right now, I am just enjoying the ride! I am not one to limit myself to wearing certain types of perfumes based upon what clothing I am wearing. This is the exception to the rule. I plan on purchasing a full bottle, and can only see myself wearing this under the most special of circumstances, not because I think it needs to be preserved for those moments, but because it almost demands to be worn in situations where it's beauty can be fully exploited. Nahema is NOT an "I don't know what to wear so I will just spray some of this on" type of fragrance. As a matter of fact, that is probably the only aspect of this work of art that is not based on duality. Is this my favorite perfume ever based upon my personal likes and dislikes? No, but I would be hard pressed to name any other fragrance that is superior to Nahema in terms of it's execution. It exists among a pantheon of masterpieces where others may equal but none exceed.

I had a mishap with this perfume. I ordered a vintage pure parfum in the mail, along with Mitsouko and Petit Guerlain. It traveled all the way from Ireland to Canada, and when I opened the box - just guess. Mitsouko and Nahema had spilled. It was revolting, the combined scents filling my home for two days afterward. It took me weeks to be able to try what was left in my bottle of Nahema for the first time. It took me several more weeks to be able to think about reviewing it. So here I am. I'm a big rose fan, and this is something bigger than a rose. It's ros-y, for lack of better word. I do love the glassiness and heaviness of this scent. It reminds me of a millefiori vase, coloured burgundy, purple, green and black, in a dark room, sitting in front of flickering candlelight. I don't like the aldehydes in Chanel scents, but I like them in Guerlain. A couple hours after applying ONE drop (and only ever one, please!!!) of this pure parfum, I started looking around for what smelled so good. It was. . . me. The person who mentioned rotting pumpkins... it's interesting, there is something that smells damp in this perfume that turns the sandalwood more earthy to me than woody. I like it, though, it gives the peach a kind of red apple glow. Once at university, I went to a fancy party where I met a Baron, and he whisked me away for a night of expensive wine and romance. Around lunchtime the next day, while I was back at home working on an important paper, I could smell roses... or was it red apples? The scent was strong everywhere but I couldn't find the source until I realized it was myself. The massive amount of wine I drank was coming through my skin... and it was turning into something pretty! This perfume reminds me of that scent. The day after I wore Nahema for the first time, I realized that everything smelled... kind of bad. Everything. My sofa, my clothing, my car, the whole city. Nahema had cast a glow over everything, and I missed it. Nahema is beautiful, it adds so much to life. I've only been in Paris once, and only during the day. When I wear Nahema, I feel like I've been there at night, too. I feel like I have memories of beautiful, romantic, adventurous things I haven't even done.

Nahema in pure parfum form is a stunning, bewitching and spellbound creation. Translated as Daughter of Fire, it is dark and opulent rose, seductive, sensual and passionate. It is one of my favorite rose creations and I think it truly deserves its revered place among rose lovers. I also own modern EDP version of it but it does not come even close to the pure parfum’s beauty. I can smell the difference right from the first sniff. The opening of the pure parfum is a deep, earthy, woody and balmy elixir infused with rose petals. It is opulent, rich and silky soft. It smells divine. The EDP version opens with rather sharp, woody green and also a bit balmy rose notes but there is something in the opening that reminds me of a wet wood that I don’t like. It is missing the sultry smooth qualities of the pure parfum. In the heart notes, the pure parfum develops into a heavenly rose. It is elegant, slightly powdery, dark and velvety. There is a slight woody note that mixes perfectly with the luscious beauty of the rose. Perhaps it is peru balsam. The middle notes of EDP version are quite different from the pure parfum. It is a bright floral bouquet of the rose, lilac, jasmine, ylang-ylang and lily of the valley. I do like this stage way better than the opening. It smells pretty and girly. But I miss the opulent, velvet rose that I love in the pure parfum. The base notes of pure parfum are very rich and smooth. The vanilla is noticeable but it is not a gourmand but woody vanilla and vetiver. I find that the pure parfum lasts longer than EDP and it develops for quite some time on my skin. The sillage of this beauty is not overpowering. The scent stays close to the skin but it definitely lasts and has a presence. The base of EDP is less complex. It is powdery vanilla and sandalwood. It also lasts shorter than the pure parfum. Pure parfum – 10/10 EDP - 7/10 If you really want to experience what Daughter of Fire is all about then I definitely suggest locating the pure parfum. I will go to another planet to get a sniff of this scent.

Whew! I ordered a sizeable 8 ml sample from Surrender to Chance of the good stuff--and at first whiff, I almost passed out. Aldehydes! And just...strong. I did not get rose until I shoved my nose deeply into my wrist and imagined a rose. I tried it again. I liked it. I tried it one more time, throwing caution to the wind (spraying lavishly with no intention of meeting anyone in public for three hours)--and I loved it. Its stage on me is about 3-10 minutes long, very strong aldehyde, almost "fake" smell with the bergamot, & "uber floral." After one hour, the rose, the peach, ylang-ylang come out in force more gently (though this is not quite like any of the roses I've smelled before--and I personally would NOT call it a rose scent). The vanilla, woods, and trace vetiver appear later in the composition. After hitting this lovely sample hard, I also kept getting whiffs of "Kenzo Jungle Elephant." It isn't quite as tropical, not quite as warm and spicy, and not quite as sweet--but definitely I smell a kinship. Luca Turin writes that it's "like an explosion played in reverse: a hundred disparate, torn shreds of fragrance propelled by a fierce accelerating vortex to coalesce into a perfect form that you fancy would then walk toward you, smiling as if nothing had happened..." This is one time I have to agree with him. It is an explosion. Regarding the "is there rose or not" debate, my sense of this perfume is that there is not an "actual rose" in this, though "actual" in perfumery these days is slippery. Molecules...molecules... I do think this is a sleight of hand olfactorily speaking. I almost get a spicy, pepper, carnation smell that roses DO have--but this doesn't smell like that kind of rose. There are similar notes in both Nahema and Kenzo Elephant, but only a few; however, this is reminiscent of that lovely (big, bold) beauty, so if you like this, you may like that and vice versa. I'm through with my sample and may be in search of more juice!

I thought I’d fallen had for Shalimar Vanille Mexique and Parfum Initial but Nahema has stolen my heart yet again! I’m ecstatic that the decant bottles have screw top lids so I can keep sniffing the perfume straight from the bottle to sample the top notes – rather than spraying it and wasting any of this precious juice. Initially, Nahema, to me, is amazingly bright and fresh roses complete with that citrusy tang that makes fresh roses so delightful and topped off with a touch of gorgeous ylang ylang... I’ve been inhaling this like an addict for the last hour and, as intense as it is, I haven’t the slightest feeling of having had enough – I think I could bathe in this stuff! It is truly divine! From the dabs I put on my wrist a couple of hours ago, I felt the top notes lasted for the first hour or so then it began to develop into a warmer rose/vanilla aroma... it’s mellowed considerably but still enchantingly beautiful. I can’t pick up the softer nuances of the dry-down at the moment (probably because I keep going back and sniffing the top notes from the bottle!) but I know they are there because I was getting slight wafts of them a short while ago – soft powdery, dusty rose with the occasional burst of freshness again when I move in certain ways. As a note of interest, I found this transcript of an interview with Theirry Wasser... It seems that the rumours of Nahema containing no rose are untrue.. "Nahema! There is so much rose in it. I think, with Après L'Ondée, it's my second most-expensive concentrate. So much rose! Absolute, oil and everything. And that's why IFRA is after it, because of the rose and the methyl eugenol. Rose from Bulgaria is between 1.5% to 2% methyl eugenol, and the absolute is 2.5% to 3%. And that's the chemical which, allegedly, potentially, will kill us all. I really and truly suspect that Nahema is a weapon of mass destruction.' Extract from Persolaise blogspot or google 'nahema-is-weapon-of-mass-destruction'

Great scent, one of my favourite ones, another stunning old Guerlain. It's not easy to wear, because it's strong and requires certain chemistry. It's very powerful, luscious, rose power witn peach and honey and I also detect some spicy black tea. In the drydown woody notes come out very softly. In spite of its strenght and invasive aura, it can be very suave, too. It all depends on your chemistry and style. If it doesn't suit you it will wear you like a big animal. I tested it many years ago for the first time in Parfum strenght and although I was in delight it was not me at all and it almost stinked. Many years after I wear the Parfum de Toilette wnen I'm in a mood for that and i love it on my skin. A little goes on a long time. Overapply would be a big mistake. Nahema likes small doses on pulse points that swift small clouds of scent every now and then, like a sensual recall "I'm there". Extremely womanly, also classy in a gipsy way (don't know if it makes sense), I hardly can see it worn by a man, but who knows? I think it's a very luscious and sensual fragrance, but to be honest it's not one that provoke waves of appreciation among people. Women like it better than men. Men say: "Old lady!" Not my aim really. Its firey elegance is not well understood. Once I sprayed some before going out for Mardi Gras dressed in total devil red with little red horns, devil tail and everything and a very demure but sensitive girl told me: "This scent seems very suitable for a little devil!" Well, I took it as a compliment :-) I don't look like a devil vamp very often :-) If only! Actually I have a quiet youngish appearance in spite of my age, I'm small and look more like a grown-up Little Red Hood. Anyway I wear Nahema. If they ever discontinue this one Guerlain can go to the trash bin together with all the silly works they've done lately just to be alligned with easy-going tastes.

Now watch me let rip. Nahéma is without question my desert island perfume. If I could forego every other perfume house for Guerlain, I could forego every other Guerlain, even Shalimar, Mitsouko and Apres L'Ondée, for Nahéma. Except that the latest soup that was sold in bottles labelled Nahéma, before it was withdrawn from general sale, was just not it. I wear a mid-noughties pure perfume, but I also have a 1984 vintage and though they are not identical, they are the same thing: Rembrandt copying Reubens. Yes, it is a rose perfume (and I have found roses which smell astonishingly like Nahéma) but there is so much more. Not a hint of the banality of the soliflore. The intelligence with which it is constructed is astonishing. And on a simply emotive level, it has an unquestionable force. Not the offensive force of Poison or Opium (kudos to anyone who can wear them nowadays) but something much more refined. A beautiful, intelligent person with excellent conversation. I always get compliments when I wear it. And this is what I find so hard to understand. It is incomparably superior to the endless flankers and sub-flankers of Petite Robe Noire yet it is less popular. Why? Only because it has not received the right marketing treatment. Miss Dior and No19, which for me both smell of snide comments over tea and cake circa 1950, are still big sellers, and even No5, which is perhaps the perfume which anyone in the street would most likely name when asked to a name a perfume, any perfume, still has millions thrown at keeping sales high. So why let Nahéma, a masterpiece, be forgotten? I probably have to reconcile myself to a world without Nahéma, so my two bottles are being carefully managed. And all I have to say to finish, is thank you to my Guerlain mentor who introduced me to it and, Jean-Paul Guerlain, I salute you. Chapeau.

This is for Nahema EDP in the refillable Habit de Fete metal flacon, mine is probably about 15 years old. Ever since Nahema disappeared from my local Dept store I’ve been “rationing” it. A few days ago online, I found & ordered a newer bottle...yay! Hoping it hasn’t changed too much (will add an edit on my impression when it arrives) Nahema is (imo) unlike any other rose perfume out there. I’ve tried/bought (& passed on!) a lot of rose scents - because often I find them too fruity/citrusy, & my brain & nose reads them as coming off as sour. I’m not great at picking apart notes, so won’t even try here. What I can say is that Nahema is, I think, THE most soft creamy dessert like rose I’ve ever come across. Not fruity/citric at all - It’s like a soft sweet lightly spiced pink rose bouquet on the typical Guerlain base. It reminds me of both Chamade & LHB, all of them I think are fantastic. Nahema is beautiful, from the initial truly dizzying blast of the stunning top notes, right down to the soft comfortable dry down. I wore Nahema a few days ago & then went perfume shopping. The SA gave me 3 blotters of high end stuff. I told her I’d choose one & then pop back later. As I continued shopping I kept noticing gorgeous wafts of scent which I kept trying to identify from the blotters. After about 10 minutes I realised that the gorgeous wafts were actually my Nahema! I never bothered to go back, there didn’t seem any point. I thought I loved most rose perfumes, but I think the reality is that what I actually love is the rose of Nahema, ”real” rose or not, I don’t know...or care 😀 Edit: New formulation arrived (EDP in bottle with inverted heart cap). It still smells great & still smells like Nahema. Posted review on new page.

Nahema is such a strange smell. I am not a big rose person nor a big vetiver person but I am a big Guerlain person (this house only produces quality, or at least did back in the day) so its up to me to educate my palate!. I got this to complete my collection. I am slowly learning to understand this more. Its like an old fashioned turkish delight, its a musty, damp rose. Someone here wrote its goth, I can see that. It intrigues me. Many Guerlains have this strange push and pull, with notes that I don’t find easy but which keep me interested. It will never be a scent that I will looooove but it is something that, in small doses, on the right day, in the right mood, I will quietly, tentatively sample. It makes me think of Cairo at the time of the heyday of the Mena House Hotel, Agatha Christie murder mysteries and ladies having high tea, maybe laced with poison. Clarification: the above is for the Bee Bottle version, just before they discontinued it. I recently had an opportunity to test the extract de parfum of the older version and oh my god, it was divine. Out of this world beautiful. I actually like them both but the ‘goth’ designation only applies to the bee bottle formulation which is different, but interesting in its own right. The original Nahema though - absolutely incredible, so beautiful, so intoxicating.

Nahema. Guerlain certainly put an effort not just into the composition of their perfumes, but also in putting a name to their latest creation. And this one is not of minor importance or unremarkable, quite the opposite. A rose so plush and full, like no one had ever imagined her before. Nahema must be the definitive rose fragrance of all time. The opening is dirty, to be sure, and one needs to get used to this quality of this fragrance. It’s not designed with a flaw in mind, the fragrance is just so strong that the initial sensation is a bit too much for your nostrils. I ascribe the dirtiness to the Peru balsam, as well as to the hyacinth, lilac and ylang-ylang. Then, you just need to be patient and allow yourself to be carried on a cloud of exquisite florals, rose foremost. The miracle of Nahema works all day long, without a sign of weakening in sight. Consider yourself warned about the imminent floral orgy you will be subjecting yourself to, and others around you, when wearing Nahema. I am not too surprised to find out Nahema has disappeared from online outlets. Hardly anyone can pull her off in our time, and her production costs must have been exorbitant, keeping the same quality. Still, the relatively high price I paid for my bottle seems negligible compared with the quality of the contents.

Guerlain NAHEMA is a truly unique creation. It actually reminds me of chewing on crayons for some reason. Not that I've ever chewed on crayons, but the texture feels the same to me as I imagine it would feel to chew on crayons. What is odd, however, is that instead of being put off by the slightly soft crayon wax, I actually love it! In spite of all that has been written about the lack of any true rose in this composition, I myself do smell a dark red, very rich rose quality here. True, it is nothing like the rose notes of typical rose perfumes--whether soliflores or fruity florals. And I also prefer the quality of the rose note here to that of rose geranium, which often accompanies or substitutes for rose. What marks NAHEMA as distinct is that this "rose" is coated with wax: these "petals" are dense and thick and waiting to be shaved—or chewed. Is NAHEMA the queen of all rose perfumes? I think that to make such a claim is to do a great disservice to this sui generis perfume, as it exhausts its own genre. It doesn't really make sense to compare this to anything else. It is what it is, and it's not what it's not. One thing is clear: it's definitely nothing like any other perfume known to me. Many thanks to the generous fellow fragrance traveler who sent me this beauty!

I bought a new bottle of EdP as mine from 2007 is reaching bottom. The new one apparently is from 2009. Well... there is a considerable difference between the two! The older one is definetely stronger, more balsamic and more nuanced with lilac and hiacynth really coming out in a beautiful evolution that keeps changing all the time. Nahema was never a perfume with a friendly first impact. I remember being repulsed and chocked the first time I smelled it when I was a teenager. A few years later I fell in love with it. Not one that I wear often, but I love having it in my collection. The new bottle smells much weaker, with the usual cut on notes. It smells nice and still recognisible as Nahema, but it's less luscious and juicy, more pungent with an airy rose in the opening. After a while it settles to usual Nahema on fabrics, but less complex. On my skin the 2009 lasts only 2 hours as faint rose, where the 2007 keeps 4 hours and still nuanced. I will use my new bottle, it's nice, but won't re-purchase a new one after 2007. Being so expensive I cannot see the reason for poor quality. Oh, yes, health... and profit!

Nahema EDP (in the modern formulation) is a beautiful, soft, hauntingly lovely creation. Not a pure rose fragrance--it contains many of the sweet flowers of springtime like jasmine, lily of valley, hyacinth, and some fruity accords--it nonetheless "imprints" as a luscious rose scent to the nose. The combination of many floral accords deepens the middle notes and makes a more rounded, interesting fragrance. Even the opening is quite soft, the aldehydes whisper, not shout, and rose begins to appear almost immediately. Nahema stays soft throughout; the drydown is fruity and gently woody; very harmonious from beginning to end. Some fragrances have such a moodiness about them, (oddly enough, many of these come from the house of Guerlain, like L'Heure Blue and Mitsouko) and this is another slightly melencholy scent, in spite of its beauty. It makes me happy but at the same time makes me aware of the brevity of beauty in the world; the fleeting rose, glorious one day and dropping its petals the next. Sillage is good, longevity about 8-9 hours. A lovely day or night fragrance. Highly recommended.

Nahema is almost impossible to review because I can hardly pick out individual notes. In fact, I'm not sure I would have guessed rose was in this. It is certainly neither the chintzy, pale pink variety nor a realistic soliflore. What I do know is that I love this, and it renews my faith in perfume. Rather than notes, I get a few olfactory memories jogged by this scent: slitting open a dandelion stem with my thumb nail, peeling the labels off crayola crayons, Christmas cooking with honey and spices, a glass of red wine. This smells like nothing else. This is probably a very unhelpful review but everyone should rush out and try this. You will need to ask for it, most likely, as they keep it tucked away behind the Petite Robe Noire et al. But do ask for it, as my local Guerlain SA said there are rumours that some classics are going to be discontinued (and the extrait has already gone). The downside is that you'll have to cope with one of the less attractive bottles, the considerable upside is that you'll smell incredible.

I just received a .27 oz travel spray from Fragrancenet. I am sure,of course, that it is the newer formulation of Nahema. But..I don't care ...this Nahema is wonderful. As a Guerlain fanatic.....all these years....I never ever smelled Nahema before.....!!!....How did I over-look it ????? duh !!! First spritz, I get florally aldahydes....with a musty leather....to my nose...IMO. The rose effect then comes out, but it is not a "typical" rose....a balsamic rose.......if that makes any sense....???...lol. IMO.....I am getting a vibe of Cabochard...with rose added.....the scent becomes a little sweet as it dries down....and the aldehyde vibes comes back....I also get vibes of a more sweet Robert Piquet Bandit....or even Balmain Miss Balmain and slightly EL Azuree....a maybe if a touch of Habanita,,,?? I can only imagine what the "original" smells like.....or the extrait. With all this said and done....this is vintage-y and classic Guerlain. Glad I finally discovered Nahema. Need a full size bottle.....ASAP !!

(Review Edp) I Change My Mind So Many Times about this fragrance. My first impression wasn't the best, I thought Nahema was overly sweet for my taste, and difficult to assimilate, duet to the Bittersweet notes. So It has taken some time for me to appreciate Nahema's beauty. Recently I try various samples of the best rose fragrances and they bore me to death! That's when I realized how good Nahema is. I get Peach and a Green-lemony edge, it's strong at the beginning, but it became increasingly a Spicy-fruity-Rose fragrance less green, more soft and pleasant as time progresses. Nahema outshine Chamade and jardin bagatelle. Chamade and Jardin are too greeny and not as pleasant as Nahema. I don't really see the similarities between chamade and this fragrance. They are quite different, Nahema makes more emphasis on Rose and Peach, and on the other hand, balsam, cloves and amber shine more on Chamade. Good Sillage and Lasting-Power!

I'm wearing Nahema today. In addition to various miniatures I have had over the years, I purchased the bee bottle version a few years ago. I had purchased several of the Guerlain classics that were given the bee bottle treatment, something I found heartbreaking, because back in the day, before flankers were de riguer, these beauties came in unique bottles. I ended up putting them aside for a long time because they didn't perform or measure up to what I remembered. I was motivated to give Nahema a try again today due to a friend's interest in getting the newest version, and all I can say is that some perfumes are truly like wine that needs time to mature. I am putting Nahema back into rotation! It's stunning, even in bee bottle form! I'm going to pull some others - Chant d'Aromes, Apres, and Jardin to name a few - and see what happens. As for now, I feel like I've gotten a brand new bottle of a masterpiece.

I was looking for a realistic rose scent and Nahema was listed among the top 10 best rose scents on various forums (I’m quite a Guerlain fan). I recently managed to buy it blindly as no sample was available - new bee bottle - and was a little perplexed. The opening is a bit harsh for me, woody rose, there is a dryness that reminds me to the smell when the stem is cut or injured. Fortunately it quickly changes to a nice rosy-flowery-sweet scent but Hyacinth here is extremely dominant and that also softens after an hour or so. At this stage now it is really beautiful rich rose scent. At the end it becomes sweeter, on my skin it was close to be a little bubble-gummy. Based on the reviews below I suspect the original one before reformulation was more on the Rose side. Overall it is a nice spring-summer scent, and will wear gladly, but still looking for a rich non-soapy and unsweetened Bulgarian rose scent.

For me, Nahema EDP is a powerhouse. I wish I had come across it sooner. I don't know what the 1979 version was like, but in the bottle I have made in 2015, there's no waiting for it to settle in and become what it is. Nahema is just amazingly gorgeous from the moment it is put on. But then I love the bitter aldehyde top note at the beginning when many don't. Could have fooled me there's no real rose in it. Luscious rose with green notes, peach, purple flowers of hyacinth and lilac, the jasmine and ylang-ylang, blended with a hint of woodsy sandalwood, and the medicine of vetiver. Fully-realized potential a woman transported back to 1979. If I only knew then what I know now. If I had met Nahema then, a change in course of history? My history. I can wish all I want but some things are not meant to be known until later. Longevity is awesome compared to many fragrances that fade within 2 hours.

Have I ever said that I love roses? Normally I keep my distance before daring to express any opinion about historical masterpieces or 'giants' in perfumery but not this time because I could not resist to join to the chorus of Nahema addicted! I do remember the old version but in my cupboard I've got the reformulated one, great the old one but still very good the available current version. It's a frag that changes quite a lot from the opening till the dry down, but I do love all its mesmeric evolutions. It's a classical interpretation of 'rose' - even though it is said N. has been done without using 'roses'?! - but it doesn't seem to be dated at all. Beautiful sillage and good persistence also. I believe that its formula is one of the most adherent to the fragrance compared to the other 'variations on the same theme' of this great Maison. p.s. The pure perfume is even sublime!

I am so glad that I am ridiculous enough to periodically blindly buy an expensive perfume. Nahema is not a scent I would've purchased otherwise. BUT...I really like it. It is not at all what I expected. It's so light and pretty and unlike anything I've smelled. I just got my bottle and I keep spraying it. The smell is lovely and girly and just sweet enough. I feel like I need to be very clean and free from other scents(shampoo, soap, b.o.) to wear this perfume. It's not a headachy kind of perfume, it's ever so subtle and it's not my typical style (I love lingering powdery/musky scents). I thought I was buying a traditional bottle, but I received a spray refill instead. I don't care though....this is an unexpected addition to my collection that I am SO glad for! I will keep this bottle for sure.

First, a disclaimer. I've never been a fan of rose scents. Blame it on all those watery, insipid tea rose fragrances that were so "hot" many years ago. Nahema is my first rose EDP, and I thought long and hard before buying because it's an expensive purchase for me. But I'm thrilled I made the jump, since this fragrance is complex and has depth that I hadn't anticipated. Sherapop is right; it does smell "waxy" at points, but it's a luscious, honeyed, and layered fragrance that is now among my favorites scents. Whenever I want to feel soft,open hearted, and utterly feminine this is what I wear. Every woman should search for the right rose fragrance which suits her--there are so many out there. Worlds apart from that cheesy stuff we could afford as young women.

Review of a vintage Parfum de Toilette Nahema. Nahema smells like a dozen roses from a passionate lover on Valentines' Day: rich and luxurious and makes you feel giddy in a lustful way. I get lots and lots of roses from this, the deepest red roses with honey drops on their petals, instead of dew. I get a bit of peach, but not very sweet, which is fine, I think the slight sweetness from Nahema comes from the jasmine and/or lilacs. Starts off a little green but soon those roses take over and carry themselves all the way throughout, right to the vanilla and vetiver base. Sillage and longevity are fabulous, I spritzed some on almost 10 hours ago and I'm still getting treated with it's scent here and there. I'm sure my coat will still smell wonderful tomorrow.

EdP When the rose settles and makes room for the the other notes, the remaining soft and juicy fragrance is absolutely beautiful. It could easily take the number one spot in my favourite fragrances. A sensual smell that makes me wanna curl my dark long witch-like hair and genuinely become a romantic...something. Unfortunately, not even a whisper remains after two hours. This combined with the fact that I don't get along with roses (roses=headache) makes it hard to justify the expenses for a purchase. I would have to endure one hour in order to enjoy it the last hour. SAD!! My middle name is ambivalence, maybe it's still worth it? Update 2012: Yes, it was worth it. Definitely, and it is lovely all the way through. I seem to get along with this rose.

I bought a decant of this on a whim thinking I wasn't going to like it at all. On first spray this is a very green very woodsy sent, which I don't like. Once it drys down the rose starts to bloom and it's just gorgeous. It's not really a sweet sent but to me it smells like a rose candy. And it's so wonderfully complex and well balanced. The sandalwood is not over powering and the Aldehydes and Ylang Ylang, scents that usually don't agree with my nose at all. are blended in so well that I wouldn't even know they are in there. I loved this so much I had to buy a full bottle and am a little bummed it's getting hard to find. It's such a beautiful scent. And long lasting too. I spray this on before bed and my pillows smell like it in the morning!

Nahema is a sultry, woodsy rose fragrance that has no equal. It is not pure rose, it is rose simmered in spices, florals, and sandalwood with the added touch of vetiver and green notes in a rich, honey-like base. Nahema is quite simply one of the most beautiful fragrances that has ever been created. It is not for youthful indulgence; it is a fragrance to give a woman in her prime. The peach and bergamot combine with hyacinth, Bulgarian rose, ylang-ylang, jasmine, passion flower, and lily of the valley to create a complex, exuberant floral scent that marries deliciously with the dark, honey-like base notes to create a complex symphony of fragrance whose heart is eternally the rose. There really is nothing to compare it to.

Nahema is an all glammed up deep burgundy rose. This is rock chick Debbie Harry circa 1979, I can just see her wearing this ,as it has that opulent orientalism typical of the time yet is also very low key chic, it isn’t a loud oriental (a-typical of its time)but rather wears closer to the skin, inviting others to ooh and aah their way in. This is a rose that has got all caught up in the London-NY party circuit and kind of smells like a cocktail used as an ashtray, - you know how clubs used to smell before the smoking ban where all the perfume and smoke would intoxicate... p.s. I love its decadent gold casing! And the extrait’s ‘Champagne cork’ flacon as they both perfectly fit its louche party girl image

A lot of people have described this as a green rose but I get more of an abstract fruity rose smell. Quite sweet, with no acidity, spice or citrus to my nose. There's definitely a detectable vanilla in the dry-down. This is not powdery to me. The performance on this (EDP) seems to be good - I wore it to an art gallery and it remained pretty much at the initial strength for at least 5-6 hours, I then went to bed for around 4 hours and had the faintest remnants left on my skin. Sillage is good, I kept getting wafts of it throughout the day - with only 2 sprays, and persistent. I'd caution against over-spraying. I imagine a full bottle would last an individual for over a year at least.

Cette fragrance est une belle ode à la rose, qui s’épanouit dans un admirable jardin verdoyant. Dans l’extrait, on sent un effet immédiat et recherché reproduit grâce aux aldéhydes, ce sont ses épines, qui piquent subtilement. Ensuite, on respire la rose encore humide de rosée, toute agréablement fraîche, qui ouvre tout en douceur ses pétales pour atteindre la plénitude de sa senteur chaudement épicée et délicieuse à respirer. Ses nuances fruitées amplifient d’avantage sa finesse piquante, qui se transforme en quelques minutes sur ma peau tiède, en douceur exceptionnelle de la rose fondante veloutée aux effluves sensuelles et chaudes. Une véritable création pleine de grâce !

Not a review but an observation. This perfume really needs time to unfold, and only on skin. It does not smell the same way, or show it's full potential on fabric. It has to mesh with your skin and develop. The reason I am bringing this up is because I wore it one day while around family and my daughter didn't think it smelled good when I first put it on. A half hour later she was telling me how beautiful I smelled and now wants a bottle of her own. Most experienced perfume users know this already, but amateurs and newbies may not. So if you don't love it when you first put it on, give it time to develop, and you may come to love it as much as my daughter did.

Epic, extraordinary— yeah! Do not get the extract if you can find it unless you want a woody mess. This is exactly what it says, an amber floral. The most beautiful rose in the beginning. Best i have ever smelled of its type (without oud, without jammy or spicy) not sure if this counts as a green rose, but if amber fragrances are too bland for you, this is the ideal addition. I’m reviewing the original not this new eau de parfum “recently” re-released. I have heard that is near identical to this. I don’t smell any fruit, and I wish the rose lasted longer it was so beautiful, but the amber and bit of wood and balsam is nice. Like a rose tree, no green.

I'm not hugely into sweet fragrances but I do like this. This is SWEET very well done. It's honeysuckle, melon and peach sweet not saccharine/ artificial sweet. It smells warm and comforting and evolves beautifully to a soft amber. A note of caution: this stuff is strong- overspray at your peril. You can have too much of a good thing! A little goes a long way - one or two sprays are all that's needed and this will last for up to 8 hours on me . Even though this is an expensive (for me) fragrance , it's hugely economical. By my reckoning if I did 2 squirts every day, my 100ml bottle would last me well over 3 years! It's also a compliment grabber.

(Extrait review, 2008 batch) Nahema is a peppery, seasoned rose that comes with no apologies: you either like this bad girl or you don’t. It is not suggestive, it is not bold. It is a confident fragrance that wears the same way as Mona Lisa wears her smile. I prefer the extrait form, which is lighter on the aldehydes and smoother on the finish. If you sit patiently you’ll detect the delicate sweet note that whispers something fragile lies beneath. Lasts 6-8 hours on me. I hear the parfums are becoming more scarce, but I'm not sure if this is a marketing ploy. But in general, I’ve tried many ‘hot rose’ wannabes but this is my favorite.

On my skin Nahema begins her beautiful life in a dreamy state of mind. Silky red she trustingly opens her rosebud just for me while I am thrusting my impatient nose deep inside. It’s an act of euphoric hierogamy, a divine sensation, a sacred union between man and perfume. Nahema is nothing short of the Holy Grail of rose fragrances. The whole thing, not just the blossom. The green of the leaves is played by hyacinth. The jammy sweet drops on the verge of the petals are peachy in flavour. The hard of the stem is represented by sandalwood. And the thorns are as much imaginary - because Nahema is so pretty it hurts. *****

I first obtained a vintage mini of the extrait and although I could tell that it had suffered a bit over time (the curse of the mini), it bloomed into a crushed honeyed garnet rose. I was happy enough with the result that I ordered the EDP and pow! It is different at first with so many elements present. It was like a jolt of joyfulness from the first green and hyacinth flush and the unfolding of peach, ylang ylang and of course roses and lots of them. This is so evocative of a really warm sunny Spring day. Not early chilly Spring but Spring in all it's glory. How did I ever miss this one?

̈Honey and Rose, it is time for you both to get dressed. We will be late for the show. ̈ said Mamie to the twin 21 year old girls. Atlanta was still a drive away, although thankfully cooler now, as the dry heat of the summer day was winding down into a restful sunset. Honey and Rose had been picking lilacs, in the shade of the old peach tree and had then plopped the blooms in the nearby hammock. Honey grabbed a fresh peach, and handed one to Rose. The golden setting sun fired embers of light into the juice as it glistened streaming down their necks. This to me, is Nehema.

I was given Nahema perfume as a gift in 1980 and it was indescribable how this was a total knock your socks off spicey, heady, intense exotic dark rose fragrance. Otherworldly ancient exotica comes to mind as my first impression. Very powerful juice reserved for special occasions. The longevity was astounding, it lasted for days. I recently sampled the latest much toned down sweeter version from the powerhouse original, it's pretty but lacks the deeper, richer, spicier intensity of the original version. Still, a very beautiful sweet green and lilac, rose fragrance.

I don't find it dated, but extremely interesting and unique. The opening bursts with a lively fleshy almost lactonic rose, then come in all the other flowers with an aldehydic-balsamic-peach-juicy touch and it ends in a powdery-dusty dried rose exactly like Rouge Hermes. In the drydown I find them exactly the same. I love them both, but this one is much more alive. Sillage is good for the first hour. The lasting power is no more than 4-5 hours on me. Gorgeous rose interpretation. (I'm not a fan of rose in perfumes, still I found some very good made ones)

Oooooommmmm!!! I wore a few sprays from my Parfum de Toilette (Eau de Parfum) and I like it as I wrote before, but I really go head over heels for pure Parfum! I know only one place where I can have a spray of pure Parfum from tester and SAs don't like my attitude, LOL! I wish I will be able to afford the extra-luscious pure Parfum one day, because it is so much better! All Nahema line has become a nightmare to find here. I heard that Guerlain wants to discontinue this one. Are they crazy or what? I hope they will never committ such a crime!

Got a micro-mini on ebay, since I heard it is being phased out. I swear this is a variation on Guet-Apens/Attrape-Coeur, which I know by way of an extravagant 3 ml decant from a dear fragrance friend, the difference being not ingredients but proportion. Although Mitsouko's charms are lost on me, clearly she is the great-aunt to these gamy/rosy/plummy beings which I adore, tho not enough to pay a ransom that is something more than the price I paid for my first car. Agree with another reviewer that there is a Turkish delight vibe here.

Nahema tickles me in the same place 100% love does. They are both “rose”, but I don’t look to either of them for a rose-bouquet experience. For that, I like Un Rose if I’m feeling posh, Portrait of a Lady if I’m feeling highbrow, or Tea Rose if I’m feeling downtown -chic. Nahema (and for that matter, 100% love) is acid-trip rose. These are the roses they’re painting red in Alice in Wonderland. I love it for world-weary days when I am bored with reality. It’s a welcome vacation from the smells of Planet Earth.

I have the an older EDP and this is one of my most favorite Guerlains as well as one of my most favorite roses. I feel like it's along the same vein as L'arte de Gucci-a dark, spicy rose, but w/o the dirty touch L'arte has. This is very rich, but mellow. The peach is fuzzy and soft--velvety is a good way of describing how this goes on. I have a problem wearing aldehydes, but this gives me no troubles. In fact, I wouldn't have guessed that there were any aldehydes in this.

Another big, glorious, marvelous, real masterpiece gone? It's not sold anywhere anymore where I live! Years ago, I could still find at least one bottle of EdP in old traditional perfume stores and with some VAT discount. Pure parfum was available at certain stores only and has never been affordable for me, but what a treat it was to have just a spray from tester! IMO these perfumes are history and pleasure. There are still so many fans around, why frusttating them?

I have a little miniature of the extrait de parfum which I absolutely adore. The lush rose and sparkling aldehydes are so strong that only a dab is needed. Impulsively, because i loved the parfum so much, I invested in a reasonably priced 100mL EDP. I'm actually really excited to see how they differ. As I couldn't find the EDT, which I know to be quite ethereal, I'm intrigued to see how this goes on my skin. Will edit with first, second and final impressions.

Wow! Another Guerlain masterpiece that just gets better and better into the drydown. Rich, opulent, succulent, peachy, glowing and rosy. I imagine this may be a little like 'Femme' de Rochas pre reformulation. It's absolutely beautiful in all of its parts and has that wonderful 'skin scent' feeling that all the classic Guerlains have, along with a certain veiled melancholy that they also share. This is another on my Guerlain want list. Just divine.

You know when you see “this fragrance inspired by...” ? Well that’s what Calvin Klein should say about Eternity, inspired by Nahema. It’s a rich, warm rose with a delicate sweetness and a touch of bitterness. It mellows and twists during the day, but never turns into a bitterly sweet litter box! And I know I’m nuts, but I get some fleeting cocont flesh sweetness here too. Raspberry in the middle. Violet in the dry down is reminiscent of YSL Paris.