Néroli Outrenoir

I'm furious. Like, big-big mad. Drunk-scrolling on one of the fragrance trade and sales groups on FB, I saw someone post that they had 10ml decants of Neroli Outrenoir for sale. It's not my fault that my PayPal details just fell into my phone. The wine did it. It whispered "Girl, you don't have full-bottle Guerlain money... just get this instead. What's the harm?" I'm not a neroli lover, I shrugged. I'm safe. HUBRIS. Don't look at me. I knew not what I was doing. A few days later a glass vial arrived, cocooned in bubble-wrap like a sweetly-snoozing, innocent-looking amber-coloured panacea to sooth the raging beast of impulsive blind-buying that lives within us all. Traitorous little bitch, upon first sniff it became absolutely clear that there was nothing innocent or snoozy about this juice AT. ALL. Transporting. That's the first word that came to mind. A grey-skied London was left behind in an instant- I was like a siren in a Herbal Essences shampoo ad, instantly whisked away to a rainforest oasis to shower under a waterfall. That sparkling citrus burst hit me first, so hard I genuinely think my third eye or root chakra or something else awakened in me. I could hear colours. I could see music. I was away in the clouds. Then the grounding, slightly damp and mossy astringency of black tea wrapped its way around my ankles to pull me back to earth. Wet from the waterfall, dizzy-drugged with intoxicating citrus, and now romping and rolling around in wet, fertile soil with someone unbelievably sexy, surrounded by crushed waxy-white petals. Sacred-ritual love-making, scented with sticky-sweet resins burned over an open fire. Its grip on me abated, just about, and I felt like I was in the most expensive, luxurious spa. Coddled in the fluffiest white robe, cuddled by damp, heavenly-smelling steamy air, sipping on a hot, sweet lemon black tea as the rain pelted down outside. Mind you, it's actually 8.15am, and I'm coming down from a multi-sensory hallucinatory trip while I stand in my hallway, halfway out the door and late for work. For fuck's sake. For the rest of the day, it clung to my clothes occasionally sending nostalgic wafts of white-floral intoxication straight to my synapses. I missed my rainforest lover and my waterfall. It wasn't a decant. It was a masterfully sneaky, calculatedly created wallet assassin, designed specifically to bankrupt wine-addled imbeciles like me. Don't do it. Don't smell it. For the love of god, don't even LOOK at it, unless you're happy living off ramen for the next two months with a shiny new bottle on your shelves and a Guerlain-sized ballistic hole in your bank account. On the upside though, you'll smell so good that strangers want to nuzzle your neck, and it will be the start of your romantic lead character arc, so.

"Resinous Neroli Tea" MASTERPIECE Neroli Outrenoir doesn't scream Guerlain. It only has hints of the traditional guerlainade sauce in the base. As many have said before me, it is a neroli + black tea + myrrh/resins scent. These notes might sound simple or maybe boring. But it is absolutely stunningly gorgeous. I'm constantly on edge that it's going to be discontinued because everything I love this much gets the axe. Neroli Outrenoir somehow manages to be a refreshing green citrusy neroli that actually lasts and lasts throughout almost the entire life of the fragrance on my skin; which is an impressive 8+ hours (a full day at the office). Usually neroli and citrus scents are the quickest to fade, so I'm not sure how Thierry Wasser & Delphine Jelk are doing this, but this little number lasts. This bright, cheerful and sunshiny neroli is paired with a steeped and brisk black tea note that's unmistakable. I think of a proper traditional tea service, afternoon tea at the Savoy in London. Fresh tea leaves in a silver strainer with a porcelain tea pot. Later this brisk tea meets a guerlainade base of sorts; this one is focused on myrrh along with some slightly smoky, earthy and ambery notes. You don't smell these three elements separately after a while, it just all melts together into this bright sunshiny scent over a slightly sweet resinous base. It's literally brilliant. Neroli Outrenoir has been my signature scent for my professional life for a few years now. It works in all seasons. Brisk enough for summer and resinous enough for winter. I'm always aware how so many people are sensitive to fragrance so this seems to be perfect for wearing around office colleagues. They can smell it because it projects, but it seems to only smell bright and refreshing to them. It's expensive so I don't have a back-up bottle. I only need about 3 maybe 4 sprays to last almost the whole day so my bottle is still about half full and I've had it a few years. I never have to worry about anyone else wearing it or smelling similar; it's my signature for my work life. Absolutely perfect for the office because I think it conveys a seriousness (not sexy) yet it's a bold, confident and crisp fragrance. I wear entirely different scents for downtime with family and friends but this is just so perfect for my office persona. I love Neroli Outrenoir so much. It's a MASTERPIECE. BRILLIANT 10/10

UPDATE! HOLY GRAIL & MASTERPIECE - 7 months later! ———- Yes; I shelled out $360 USD for this. Year rounder that’s versatile for any occasion. I’d be remiss not to mention the engraving & customizable flourishes. I normally don’t give a hoot about presentation, but this is a lasting experience and gives me an extra luxurious feeling every time I reach for it. **My description: I enjoy tea scents. The tea here strikes me as black, & of the highest quality. It’s bitter & realistic, but not off-putting. It’s subdued yet present, smoked, yet damp, fresh, yet earthy, light, yet substantial and deep. When I say light, I don’t mean fleeting or freshie. Far from it! It’s uplifting on the deepest level. This is deeper neroli/orange blossom, not a bright citrus, thank goodness. I’m bored of those. (Wulong, etc.) This is a welcome change, & that’s the clincher. There’s no black tea like this on the market that I’m aware of. It pains me to say, I do find this “traditionally femme,” not unisex, if that matters to you. I don’t understand the smokey reference. It’s not smokey. It’s more ‘baked.’ Smokey, it is not. **Mood: It’s calming & therapeutic. Very versatile & great for work, given its calming effect. In fact, the day I received it & wore it, both my mother & sister commented (via phone) that I sounded more calm than usual. **Comparison: I struggled with making the decision to get this or Angelique Noir. In the end, this was less sweet, lasts longer, fuller bodied & more complex. If this helps anyone, A.N. lasts 3 hours on me. (For the record, I Love A.N.) **Performance: This one gives me 5-6 hours, with projection for 2, and nice wafts for 6. I won’t lie- For ME, the price to performance ratio is disappointing for my conservative wallet. To get my personal desired effect, I have to spray 10 times, & it’s still not overbearing, intrusive or offensive. If you have the resources to spray to your heart’s content, or if you prefer a light, personal scent, I do recommend it, & envy you! (It’s quite a good performer compared to the rest of the L’Art collection. **Overall: Delightful experience with each wear. The bottle has gotten better and better over time. Would I repurchase? As long as $$ is flowing in, yes.

I think the most commonly used word in this comments section is "masterpiece", and knowing what Neroli Outrenoir smells like, that word completely befits the fragrance. It is, indeed, a masterpiece. The fragrance is oddly and vaguely nostalgic upon opening--I can't quite place my finger on it, though I think it associates with a childhood tradition I had with my family where they would go to the beach every year for no other reason but to sit in the hotel lobby to snack on tea and lemon biscuits (for some reason). Notwithstanding that slightly irrelevant point, the opening is very much a blast of citrus and black tea. The accord here is almost salivating--this might be the first and only time I'd ever describe a citrus fragrance as "gourmand". But to me it just feels like that very much. As the fragrance develops, the citrus and tea notes remain a constant but now feel quite akin to an expensive soap, and blend well with luxurious resins and a hint of a ginger note somewhere right before fading away. It's a beautiful symphony of scents, from start to finish. Now, performance time--it's a cool, smooth 5 hours of projection (typically) on my skin, with up to 9-10 hours of lasting as a skin scent before completely dying out. Which, honestly, isn't so bad for a citrus fragrance. I'm not gonna lie--prior to my purchase of Neroli Outrenoir, I kept hearing from different sources that Guerlain is the gold standard for fragrances, but due to my obsession with the work of brands like Creed, Parfums de Marly, MFK, etc. I hadn't really had a desire to explore Guerlain fragrances until recently. Now, I understand. Guerlain's collection of private-blend fragrances might run expensive, but I put them on-par, or even superior, to the famous niche perfumeries like the ones listed above, when it comes to quality and craft. The actual scent profile? Now that's subjective, but so far, I'm loving what I'm seeing, both with this and Herbes Troublantes (the hand soap of which I intend to buy very soon and place beside every faucet I own). Job well done, Guerlain (as if you needed to hear that).

Very special indeed ... a bit like a scented version of one of those optical illusions where your brain flits between two completely different interpretations of the same image (is it a glass or two people in profile? Ducks or fishes? that sort of thing.) My brain toggles between getting greenish-smoky tea and bright clean citrus from this, with both aspects done with impeccable taste and deeply deeply satisfying as well as staying intriguing. Only got a tiny spritz of this amid a department store sniffing rampage so I need to go back to it in spring before deciding to jump or not - it's far too expensive to be an impulse buy - but it has tickled my nose in all the right ways. Just hugely seductive. ETA: got a FB as a present and falling for it all the way, baby - its true magnificence comes out when you've had time to wear it on different days and see how it plays. Applied generously enough the longevity will stretch to 9-10h and it cycles fascinatingly from tea to citrus to tea to deliciously sweetly-powdery, almost earthy amber notes underneath, wisps of smoke drifting through, but all in a contained and discreet forcefield of loveliness all around you. Also presents different facets in different temperatures / humidity. At some moments it even seems to have a bizarre, yet welcome, sort of toasted-rice or other cereal note to it - which sounds horrid but isn't. That sweet, earthy, vanilla-tinged amber effect at the end hangs on for absolutely aaaages and is a delicious closing chapter, too. This is just *SO* good. Don't write it off after a first sniff as just a 'light, short-lived, overrated and overpriced citrus" like I almost did. It is so so so much more.

I remember trying this in store, and it was magnificent. I couldn't pick out the notes, but it was warm, jungle green and yellow. It was like hugged by a thin warm cloud of black mist, dark but with gold dust. It doesn't change much over time but has such incredible depth, which I love. I guess it's the contrast between the lighter and the darker notes that create that depth, but they are so well blended hence cocooning and comfortable. I just got a 10mL dabbing sample because it's much more affordable. It's not the same experience unfortunately, but still smells amazing. I'm considering transferring it to an atomiser. When dabbed, it does remind me of Elizabeth Arden Green Tea, which I also love, because they are both very tea-forward. But I'd say NO is much darker, perhaps less floral and a bit warmer/spicier. Given a spray, NO has a lot more depth. Day 2: My partner disagrees, but it now smells like Johnson's Baby milk bath to me, and I love it! One of my favourite bath scent! Lactonic and comforting. I also want to add that it feels so universal across all seasons, genders, time of the day. It could be my signature scent if I could afford the full bottle (and regularly at that!) and care enough to wear perfume every day.

It's silly to get emotional about a perfume, but I am for some reason. If you know this beauty, created by T. Wasser, you know why. I guess I'm just looking back and thinking that nothing good has come from this Grand Dame of a perfume house here lately, that everything seems overwrought and, well, uninspired. Thankful for the ones that are still maintained by a great nose, thankful for the beauties we still have. I'm going to be happy that it's still in production and that a new generation is apparently starting to love this newish classic from Guerlain. Not everyone will love or even like it, but if you need your fragrances to be well constructed, to have beautiful dichotomies, to smell like a fragrance not a floral room spray from the '80's. If you can understand the beauty of Mitsouko or Jicky, which some call masculine. If you can enjoy more than one type of scent. If you can accept that everyone/everything doesn't need to smell the same, that variety is the spice of life. If you're bored to tears with the sameness of the dry downs of today's scents. Well, you might understand and love Neroli Outrenoir. But if you don't, that's ok too. It's a bit silly to get all worked up over a perfume. ;)

nitially taken aback by the first blast, I thought welp, another unisex that leans masculine on me. but then the middle notes came out and I swoon :) Can I smell like this forever? Waiting for the dry down to change like to love ;) EDIT - i tried it again and wow, WOW. I don't know why that first try was so overwhelming, sharp and masculine. This juice is spicy to smooooooooth, natural, unisex - as a woman I feel GORG in this, i would LOVE to smell this on a man. Smells like it owns itself, like money in the most effortless way (at this price point it had better smell as such) but the exact opposite of "pick me". It's grounded, feet firmly planted, confident, serene - it looks you in the eye, sees you, honours you, and walks alongside you as you walk your path. Like has been moved to love, adore, obsess. This is SO expensive but will I apologetically acquire? YES. It's like I've been WAITING for this! Does it last? Not all day, not like Neroli Outrefoir (on me). Mid notes are fading after about 3hrs. Though, it is late July in Canada and I suspect once the heat settles the longevity will improve. Don't care. Buying anyway.

On my skin, I get mainly (in order) bergamot (with a candy like effect), ambrette, tea, vanilla, incense. When I tried this years ago, I remembered it being a lot more headache inducing but thankfully my memory served incorrectly as this is just marvelous. I, too, see connections to Teazurra and it attaches itself to my skin in much the same way the Aqua Allegorias typically do, but perhaps the cloud around my skin is a bit more dense and, thus, it has a bit more present. Is it worth the money? I don't really know. It wears better on me than Teazurra, but not by a whole lot more... by this I mean it smells a little better, it performs worse on my skin. I guess it really depends. Regardless of the similarity, I think that this over Teazurra alone would make the price tag worth it. Having both would also have its benefits, too. I'm writing this more so I remember, but it would be advisable to anyone to try both before diving for either. Edit: despite the close-to-the-body sillage, it lasts quite a bit!

This is one of the most beautiful perfumes I know, the contrast between light and dark here is very well done. Complex and definitely adult, not vintage, but adult. I don't think it will satisfy most people under 30. Neroli Outrenoir opens with a slightly soapy citrus Neroli and gradually notes emerge that show its dark and mysterious side. Black tea is the first one you notice and is the most evident note along with Neroli, a smoky tone begins to emerge and I think this smokiness appears more or less depending on the weather. I sense earthy tones that increase its complexity and contrast. Vanilla, Myrrh and Ambrette bring a dose of sensuality to the fragrance. Without a doubt one of the best in the L'Art & la Matière line and without a doubt the best among the fresh fragrances. It's the most chic and sophisticated fresh perfume I know, without a doubt whoever wears it will not have an ordinary smell and will not be similar to others. Yes, this is a declaration of love!

This is one of the best creations of Guerlain ever. I usually don’t like neroli or for that matter even fresh scents, but this is so beautifully done. On a hot summer day this shines like a gem but can easily be worn in any weather. I consider this as a unisex scent that evokes a great feeling whenever I wear it. Everyone may have a different wearing experience but to me the tangerine and neroli note pops out the most and gives me a feeling that I am about to sip a best smelling orange mock-tail on a summer breezy day. The tea note is not over powering but it plays a major role in rounding the fragrance experience. When that note appeared for the first time it just made me speechless. How can such a beautifully changing fragrance could ever be created. I had to spend retail and buy this one. But I am enjoying every spray of it. Guerlain I will be singing your praises for the rest of my life. Thank you for creating this.

Opens bright with touch of citrus after, you get dark and smokey tea with hints of neroli florals that dries down to a creamy light vanilla with a touch of sweetness. Personally, this is a tea fragrance for me much more so than a neroli one despite it's name. When I'm looking for a neroli forward scent for those blistering days to evoke sun baked sand dunes, Neroli Plein Sud is my choice within the Guerlain line. Loumari AOMAK, TF Neroli Portifino and LV On the Beach are some of my other neroli go to's from other houses. The bergamote/citrus top fades very quickly on this and I will sometimes layer with Bergamote Fantastico Extrait 11 or Le Labo Bergamote 22 for a bit more of the bitter zest depending on mood. Doing so reminds me of a London Fog even well into the dry down especially with the extrait lasting just as long as the tea notes. Wonderfully blended, one of my top 10 from Guerlain.

You're sitting out on a terrace surrounded by beautiful flowers and lush foliage. It's going to be a sunny day, but the sun is just popping up and the air is still crisp and a little chilly. The only noise you hear is a few birds chirping here and there. Your tea has been steeping for a few perfect minutes. You squeeze a little lemon juice, add a little sugar , give it a stir and take a sip. And you sigh...Ahhhh ! At the scenery, the delicious warmth of that slightly sweetened tea , and that very peaceful moment. That is Neroli Outrenoir. Guerlain managed to perfectly capture the essence of that perfect cup of tea with lemon and a hint of sweetness, with the perfect amount of neroli to add something special. Stunning and perfectly unisex. Lasts for around 6-8 hours on my skin, with moderate sillage and projection. A must try for any tea lover.

Guerlain excels at delivering realistic notes. Case in point, Vanilla Planiflora, Tobacco Honey, or here, Neroli (and Black Tea). Yes there's more in there if you look for it, but the neroli and tea are such obvious superstars. I think what some people described as smokiness is simply the black tea. The neroli is the sweet sugar - and this is a very neroli forward fragrance, first and foremost. Somehow it stays unisex, even with the white florals, which are just beautiful. Projection is moderate, longevity is an easy 6 hours on skin for me. I probably wouldn't choose this for hot and humid weather, but it's otherwise fine in warm weather and works well on cool days as well. It gets compared to Wulong Cha, which is more of a citrus green tea where Neroli Outrenoir is more like a jasmine black tea. If you enjoy Neroli, definitely sample this.

A warm, polished blend of soft benzoin and fragrant, darjeeling-like tea that's elevated to the top tier by its thick layer of calming neroli and fuzzy orange blossom. Just inhaling this slows my heart rate and puts a smile on my face whenever I catch a whiff of it throughout the day. I'm not normally big on tea scents but this lighter and slightly smoky note definitely appeals. The supposed "underbrush" note — it smells a little like being under a hedge — is there too but it's subtle. A manicured Guerlain underbrush, adding earthy complexity without altering the perfume's balance. The challenge with Néroli Outrenoir is when to wear it. In deep winter it can be too thin and green and in warm weather the neroli can be overshadowed by the tea and the ambery benzoin. But today, in cool, early spring it was perfect.

I am not generally a fan of neroli; in fragrances, it usually smells a bit harsh and outdated to me. Néroli outrenoir was suggested to me at a Guerlain consultation, and at first, I wasn't into it. I ended up buying Angélique noire (also an outstanding creation) that day instead. Nonetheless, I couldn't forget Néroli outrenoir. I went back, sampled it a second time, and bought it on the spot. The main thrust of the scent is a sort of sparkling black licorice/black tea accord, but this is elevated and made luminous by the sharp neroli and sweet resins. This one has garnered me two compliments by strangers. Very unisex, and works better in warmer weather. I'd also say that this is a bit "younger" than many of the classic Guerlain. A wonderful addition to their collection and mine.

I went to the Guerlain store and asked for a good fragrance to perform on classical concerts especially on my favorite era, the baroque era. I wanted a fragrance that represent my love for Rameau, Couperin, Lully and all the great french baroque composers. They made me test this one and I was completely bewildered. It did exactly what I wanted, transported me to this space of a grand french opera of the baroque era. It's a neroli fragrance with a dark undertone. There's a sublime smoked tea note. The neroli and the citruses give off a very classic clean vibe. It gets more flowery and smokey but also there is theses mosses and vanilla. It's poetic, it has an artistic yet likeable vibe and is very very unique.

First impressions: It opens with citrus and incense, which is my favorite combo. The tangerine is a little too juicy considering it disappears so quickly. The strong base notes keep it grounded though. It’s very sophisticated but not as complex as I was expecting or hoping. But then, just as it’s drying down there’s a cola note that sweetens up and makes the neroli sparkle in a way it didn’t before. But then it settles again into a softer neroli vanilla bouquet that just oozes class. Over the next several hours the florals fade and it leaves a buttery smooth earl grey scent that is just perfection. I resprayed this after half an hour just to go on the journey again. Huge fan.

A cup of herbal tea with the fragrance of citrus and orange blossom. I was immersed in the fresh greenness of Bergamot and Petitgrain and couldn't help myself, especially the astringency of the very real tea aroma, orange blossom and neroli oil, both sour and sweet. very good. When Ambrette came out of the tea with myrrh, on the surface, Ambrette added a bit of wood to Neroli Outrenoir, and Thierry made sure Neroli Outrenoir wasn't too monotonous thanks to the presence of patchouli. The scent of Neroli Outrenoir is airy, light, clean and moist, perfect for the heat of spring and summer. It is a rare and excellent work in the theme of orange blossom.

Less brooding than its name suggests, Neroli Outrenoir is instead a rather comforting blend that feels grounded yet inviting. It's not hard to see why this sells so well in Asia—the mass-appealing black tea note is earthy but soft, like a warm cup shared on a quiet afternoon. Honeyed neroli and bergamot weave through the teatime ambience, adding a gentle natural brightness that keeps things light and easygoing. It’s not dark, not heavy—just a beautifully balanced scent that’s effortlessly likable. A definite crowd-pleaser, the most elegant neroli charming in its familiar simplicity and a touch more sophisticated than your average tea fragrance.