Terracotta Voile d'Été (No.25, Quand Vient l'Été)

Guerlain's Terracotta/1999 Quand Vient is a gorgeous, sun-kissed scent. It has a lovely, abstract floral core dominated by ylang ylang and grounded with vanilla. There is a salty, skin-like aspect to this that gives the impression of a body that has laid out on the beach for the day. EDIT: After trying a more well-preserved version of the original Quand Vient L'Ete, I can amend my comments. Smelling the original fresh, the kinship with the modern scent is actual much clearer than I thought. It almost smells as if someone took the same floral bouquet--ylang, jasmine, carnation, rose--and situated it in a slightly more pastoral background. At the top, lemon pricks the nose and there is a hint of mintiness, but not too much. The aforementioned floral bouquet emerges. The tea-rose smell of phenyl ethyl alcohol does stand out more in this original. The drydown similarly has the sweet combo of heliotropin and coumarin, though it smells less "polished" than the newer one does and is a bit more agrestic/haylike. The original feels a bit less heavy on the vanilla and, overall, definitely more overtly animalic. A cheesy civet is threaded throughout the original. The 90's QVLE has some animalic aspects, but they definitely stand out in the vintage more obviously. Some aspects of it remind me of both old Amouage Golds, but not as incensy, and without the super heavy aldehydes...mostly the combo of indolic flowers, civet, and lemony notes. I still say the newer one (and Terracotta Voile) has a more sunblock-ey feel and it's overall just more round and modern. Both are absolutely lovely!

I was able to find an affordable bottle and I am so happy I went for it. Terracotta Voile d’ete is a sumptuous carnation fragrance. When I smell the atomizer I perceive creamy vanilla, pear and banana- like Ylang Ylang. The opening when sprayed is dry spiced carnation- almost metallic or copper like. It could also be the rose because I get the same metallic feel from YSL NU, Serge Lutens La Fille de Berlin, Tom Ford Shanghai Lily. The metallic tones warm and make way for florals, most predominantly the Lily, Iris and rose. A little later on, I sort of smell root beer but I mostly smell the heliotrope, vanilla, spiced carnation and Lily. It reminds me of Lys Fume and Lui. The Guerlain fragrances from the 90’s are some of the best fragrances I’ve smelled. Guet Apens, Mahora and now Terracotta Voile d’ete. A masterpiece! If you adore Lily or Carnation fragrances try and check this one out.

My next Guerlain just arrived (another one on its way :P)and what a surprise! I expected a light floral summer fragrance and instead I get a big dose of spices like freshly crushed pepper with a bit of cardamon and they are not listed here! This only shows what a beginner I am in the world of perfumes. Do they squeeze carnations so hard that they produce pepper :D I guess it takes a master to blend the above components so that one can smell pepper :) No kidding, lots of it and for a long while. After an hour it becomes more delicate but the spices are still there. Very nice scent, love it, but for me Voile d'Ete will work best evenings or cooler weather due to the long developing stage. Finally I get the gentle floral wave but till then in the hot and humid air I could die of pepper overdose if used Voile d'Ete around noon :D

I am wearing this today for the first time and it is 70 degrees outside. I decided to give you a weather update in this review, because many say it is a scent for cooler weather. I found that it is absolutely beautiful. I love spice notes and these are detectable to my nose. I do detect some carnation and the vanilla, but after a few minutes what is left is a sweet spicey smell. I sprayed it over a perfume fixative that is suppose to increase a perfume's longevity and I have been wearing it for four hours and the sillage is moderate. I can't credit that to the perfume or to the fixative, since I used both, but it hasn't faded away yet. I too love the bottle design, it matches a few of my Shalimar bottles and I like consistency and uniformity. Overall, I would probably re buy this if I ever ran out.

We are having a heatwave in LA and it's near 100 degrees here. My skin tends to project spice, so I am leery of carnation notes or anything spicy. On the first spray, it was loud and I thought maybe I had chosen wrong, but no. This softened down to one of the most gorgeous creamy carnation scents ever! I got a nice opening that smelled like warmed flowers on baked terracotta tiles. The heart was a lily, the same lily in Lys Soleia. The dry down is a gorgeous creamy ylang-ylang and vanilla. It's similar to the creamy ylang-ylang in Mahora. Wow, this is stunning and it is the perfect scent to wear on a hot day. The spices aren't overwhelming, they are soothing.

I just acquired Voile d'Ete after positive reviews from some Guerlainophiles. I usually fear blind buys but I am so pleased with this soft and caressing warming scent. The natural spicy note of fresh carnation is the first note I encounter followed by exotic florals with a kiss of mint. Not so sure that it has much to do with the original Terracotta le parfum but that is the way it sometimes goes with Guerlain flankers. Lovely scent that had me immediately planning on buying a back up bottle.

Dry, clay-clad spicy flowers in fragrant mingling with pulpless citrus fruits in a water-deprived oasis. Makes me think of the beautiful mexican Talavera pottery art, the convoluted designs of flowers and the vivid polychromatic brushstrokes over dry earthenware, as altar offerings that celebrate abundance of life even in places you’re not suppose to find it, like in a desert. Perfectly counteractive against humid climates.

I was lucky enough to just acquire a bottle of the limited edition no. 25. The initial blast is quite strong, pure carnation! Not sure why everyone keeps mentioning root beer, not in here. Stats soft and close to the skin after ten minutes. Some faint ylang-ylang and vanilla appear in the Dry down but I cannot detect the other notes as the carnation is extremely front and center. Definitely reminds me of Golconda by JAR.

Carnations being kissed by sunlight, spice-tinged petals shrouded in warm vanilla haze. This is soft, enveloping, and sweet. Marshmallow-y in character. Every time I wear it, I'm comforted. I'm not even into carnations much, but this one's a 10/10. Voile d'ete performs most beautifully in warm weather, but it is more magical in humidity. There's nothing quite like it that I have found, yet.

Bug spray, really?! Voile d'Ete is a lovely scent. It reminds me so much of summertime and the beach - wish I were there now! It's a bit harsh at first, but after 10 minutes or so - lovely! I'm not a big carnation fan, but I really love it in this perfume. And a big bonus - a fabulous bottle. I think I won't ever be without a bottle of this in my collection.

Yum yum... This is sweet summertime in a bottle. Light yet sweet, hot with the occasional fresh breeze. Tanned, wearing elegant sandals and the perfect white beach dress, covered by a grand hat and diva sunglasses... She rules the seas. Or at least the beaches.

Carnation. This gives off the aroma of flowers baking in the sun, like a garden in the summer. Very floral but IMO unisex. Unfortunately, for as wonderful as Terracotta Voile d'Ete smells, it does not last very long.

This is a spectacular for me, and it's much better than the original. I got this when I was 18! It is boozie spicy ambery floral. It is summer leaning scent but, we can use it through any seasons.

I have the Voile d'Ete. I live in Florida. Love this one. This is my go to everyday scent. Always want to have this one on hand. Comforting to me.

Terracotta recreates the arid beauty of pure red sand sunbaked under a turqouise sky spicy texture of cinnamon adds to the dry earth Red carnation blooms in the vastness of a barren dessert the warm dry air blows across the horrizon reveals a scent of powdery sweet nuances iris turns terracotta sharp with a cold metallic tinge it conjours a image of ancient pottery found in dark caves of the Southwest colorful Markings of a long forgotten tribute to some Maiden, Creator or earth goddess from a mysterious Civilization Nocturnal Jasmine grows out of tiny creavasse of rock blooms an intoxicating green menthol scent, Rose opens the heart with an velvety texture Warm Red Roses that hangs like vines of adobe houses basking in the sunset Airy and powdery smell of Vanilla steeps though the senses sweet and delectable, diluted white lily subtle and yet i noticed Her scent of sweet spiciness trying to come though but it's drowned out by the more domineering notes of Cinnamon Vanilla and Iris, Green mint brings freshness to Terracotta briefly relaxing but it doe'snt last long it flees quickly off my skin sometimes i don't agree with the note cards some scents i can detect some scents is like finding a needle in a haystack and pear is one of them, Terracotta maybe the first Fragrance to recreate the scent of nature without any synthtic artiface when it comes to Perfumery it does'nt use any plastic synthictics it smells like they choose the finest ingrients to recreate the essence of Terracotta Guerlain makes the Best of the Best.

Guerlain's VOILE D'ETE, like METEORITES, appears to have been a fragrance launched after it had been used successfully to scent a cosmetics line. This floral-amber (if that's not a category, it should be!) edt opens as very, very floral, but in an intriguing way. Ylang ylang makes the dominant carnation a bit darker than it would otherwise be, so this smells nothing like the floats at a parade. In fact, VOILE D'ETE evolves into an entirely different, amber skin scent, with carnations always detectably present, but vanilla inching in to moderate the ylang ylang. This is not, contrary to the listed notes, a linear perfume. Nor is it possible to believe that amber and vanilla are not present in significant proportions! My associative memory of TOCADE with VOILE D'ETE was of their drydowns: both are amber vanilla, with the vanilla much more prominent in TOCADE than in VOILE. Compared to Fendi's THEOREMA, VOILE D'ETE is not at all spicy, although next to TOCADE it seems somewhat more so because of the carnation/ylang ylang opening. All in all, I'd say that VOILE D'ETE is aptly named. The image here, however, is more that of a walk down the oceanfront at Cannes. Or perhaps this is Saint Tropez? Yes, I believe that is it: the woman with huge tortoise shell sunglasses and a big floppy hat lying on a lounge chair next to the water in her gold ring embellished white mesh bikini, her skin shimmering brown-orange from Bain de Soleil!

Voile is a smooth, light fragrance, with a mid-weight warmth & low, caramel sweetness in its heart. A gentle Guerlain, well-mixed, well-bred, polite. The overall impression I find is of warmth & dryness, the colour of the juice is perfectly matched. Sunbaked terracotta pots in a parched garden where you catch a warm waft of fragrant flowers...parched, peppered carnations swaying in a butterscotch heat-haze. I never thought I liked carnations in fragrances until I realised that I disliked them in high, sweet "white" florals & green frags. Amid the dry-vanilla they do not shout & instead produce a beautiful spiciness - I am a convert! There is a faint copper-coin tang in this perfume, that is suprisingly pleasant. For me it fuses the old, baked earth & the modern metallic world. It straddles time effortlessly, being neither an old or young perfume. For me, this is where its design lets me down: it fails to make a clear statement remaining uncommitted & ambiguous, too lazy to be sure of its direction....to some it verges on pot pourri, to others it is a relaxed urban-earth scent. Definitely not a fragrance I would have expected myself to like, but it is commendable as a soft, laid-back affair that manages to ride out the heat without resorting to lemon, water or fizz.

I didn't think I'm going to like this one as I dislike carnation a lot.not a huge fan of ylangylang either.still I was happy to receive a sample of it from a generous perfumista friend because I love the new Terracotta and I was curious to see whether they're similar or not No,they're two totally different perfumes but surprisingly I like it.I can't find anything old smelling here,I could easily think it's a recently launched perfume.I'm glad that I don't pickup any carnation in it.on me it's a vanilla-lily-heliotrope(and something like mimosa!?) perfume blended with some spices and soft powder.and I can sometimes smell a whisper of mint freshness which makes it so pleasant,not a green herbal mint,more like a sweet mint bubble gum. I can't say that I'm madly in love and can't live a day without it but I sure like it and if I had a bottle I would happily use it from time to time.to me it's not a summery,beachy fragrance I guess I'd wear it mostly in spring and fall if I had a bottle.I find it comforting.warm and spicy also airy and subtle.longevity and sillage are moderate

I've had this one tucked away for a while and reached for it today as we're having some hot dry weather right now. It really is one of those perfumes that needs hot weather. It's warm, dry, a little sweet, a little spicy. But light. And an unusual freshness that is not aquatic, not tropical, not citrus and not green. It's like an Aperol spritz on the terrace. It does invoke terracotta and all those sunny colours. Perfect with an airy linen dress and tan sandals, a straw hat and sunglasses. It's like a distant cousin of Tuscany per Donna. Yes you can detect the cloves and spice but not like the heady assault of Kenzo Jungle l'elephant. And the sweetness of the vanilla and ylang ylang. And men could wear this too, it's very friendly.

Spiciness from carnation on the summery terracotta vanilla ylang ylang bed. Hint of what is almost black pepper overlaying the sweet sun tan lotion vanilla ice cream but all this in a light, airy, sophisticated, mature way. Very, very comfortable to be in, this scent surrounds you like plumes of soft incense wafting in the air - subtle tendrils moving around you as you move. Very, very lovely indeed.

Spice, spice, spice! That’s all I get from the original Terracotta perfume. This spiciness, I’m assuming from the carnation flower, dominates the composition to my nose. I can’t detect any other note. Very soft and linear. Not a bad fragrance, it just doesn’t suit my tastes. For a summery Guerlain fragrance, I recommend Mahora.

I think this is quite lovely. It's a bit ethereal, in that it is transparent and doesn't last forever, but it is just grounded enough, toes skimming along the grass as your run along in your freshly laundered white cotton dress, hung up to dry in the sun. It's charming, easy, enjoyable. Why not?

It's a little spicy for me... I think it's good only for cool/cold days unlike its name..

i have a dry oil version and adore it!didnt even know it was limited?!

I thought I’d revisit this since Fragrantica just added the bee bottle version to the review library. I strongly suggest testing it before laying out tons of money based on its being hard to find. In my original review, I described this as root beer on top of a “clay” note. Now, several years later, I tried it again, 2 days in a row. This time, I get bland clove permeated with an overwhelming bitter flatness. It took me a while to figure out what that bitter note reminds me of. It’s aspirin. Which makes sense, since the fragrance is advertised with a “solar” note. Apparently, “solar” in perfume means old school suntan lotion, which used to contain salicylates. Aspirin also contains salicylates. Rub an uncoated aspirin in your hands and sniff – you’ll get a good dose of what this perfume mostly smells like. I went ahead and did a full acid test for my Fragrantica buddies and chewed a little aspirin to make sure. Yup (blechhhhhh) that’s the note. There’s also a flat vanilla clove tinge lurking in the background – nothing to write home about, but it does evoke American root beer. I get no rose, mint or any of the other official “notes.". I get no floral at all. I suspect “iris” is included in the advertising notes because it also can smell flat and chalky like aspirin. Sometimes they throw whatever they think might apply onto that list. In retrospect, it was the flat aspirin bitterness I was originally projecting a perception of “clay” onto, helped by the marketing suggestions. For me, it’s too flat, synthetic and bitter, and the weak clove just adds to the cloying. It would be interesting to see how "solar" perfumes would fare, saleswise, if they were marketed with an "aspirin" note, though.

This is an odd one from Guerlain. According to the pyramid there's carnation, ylang-ylang, mint and bunch of other notes. I get a bit of clove, which is the carnation, and yes, ylang-ylang. The rest is a mish-mash, rather indistinct for a Guerlain. Modest sillage and lasting power, this one's work safe because no one will notice it. TV isn't bad, but it's not good. It's unremarkable and forgettable. Why wear a forgettable perfume?

I guess Guerlain knew well it was a flop, that's why it was sold so cheap and then discontinued. Yes, it is kind of spicy and you can detect something like carnation and ylang ylang in it, and the blend is done according to all the rules, but.... the overall impression I get is of something totally artificial and flat. Luckily, it stays close to the skin, so I do not drag the scent around me.

I was "lucky" to get a bottle today, hoping that it is similar to a later Terracota perfume. It is not :-( It is carnation, I hate. The only benefit, I find a faint cigarettes note on the back. it is not the worst carnation possible. Also longevity and projection are weak. I will keep it for collection as it is rare, but it will be a candidate for a swap.

All I can say is this perfume's opening reminds me of dental office. Thanks to the sample I was given by fellow fragrantican, I am not digging a full bottle.

The "clay" note is nice, but I just can't get past the root beer spilled all over it. Wish I could detect carnation.

I quite like this. It's one of the least synthetic modern creations by Guerlain, but the lilial is just too strong. It kind of steals the show. It seems to wear well on a wide variety of body chemistries. The banana and pear are surprisingly versatile and don't skew sour or childish on anyone. It's still very French-style, but is so unusual in its combination of scents. Whoever would have thought to combine carnation, banana, pear, and sandalwood (I swear I smell the tiniest bit of sandalwood in here)? Yes, the carnation note can be quite noticeable. It's a very dry carnation and the shared cinnamon aldehydes are there, but it's a whisper. There's a bit of Eugenol but it's not overbearing or medicinal. The banana and pear keeps it very summery and tropical in tone, without smelling like a teenager. This is a grown up version of some of the early 00s Escada summer editions. '03-'05 come to mind. One of them had a banana note that reminds me of this. Ete is more realistic, though. That one was almost Laffy Taffy! Thankfully the ylang ylang is not too heavy and it blends very nicely into the composition. Overall, this is a very nice summer scent that will make you feel young, while also making you want to be outdoors and socialize under the bright sunshine! Highly recommend it. Just know it's heavier on the carnation.

It's a little harsh and medicinal straight from the bottle but let it sit on your skin for a few minutes and it transforms into a beautiful warm, kind of earthy scent. One of the few orientals suitable for summer. I was really pissed yesterday when someone I know commented that she smells some perfume that is like bug spray ( obviously it was me wearing Terracota). But i try not to be self conscious about stuff like that especially if it comes from somebody who is raving about Love Spell and Bombshell by VS. To anyone who encounters that kind of "compliments": from my obsevation they generally come from ignorant and devoid of class and manners people, and therefore should be ignored and not taken personally.

The first note I get from Terracotta Voile de'Ete is nutmeg! Lots and lots of freshly ground nutmeg! As that starts to settle, I get creamy, warm nutmeg... Like a warm mug of milk sprinkled with nutmeg and perhaps a bit of cinnamon. This fragrance is so spicy! At first I was a bit disappointed by this but it's growing on me so very quickly! It seemed 'old' (as in traditional) at first but maybe it's changed as it's settled because it seems more unique now whereas initially it just felt old style. I can see myself liking this more and more as I become more accustomed to it... It's so incredibly comforting!

On my skin, Voile d'Ete is very light -- a "summer veil" indeed. This is, from the first moment, definitively a Guerlain, with whatever-it-is that makes Guerlains - from Apres' l'Ondee to Attrape-Coeur to Mitsouko - smell like part of the same family. The carnation is lightly spiced, and the iris is a cool background. Dries down to a warm, slightly salty, skin scent. I'm looking forward to wearing this in the summer, when it's hot and sticky and I only want a light floral.

Mellow, warm and soft fragrance.Scent reminds me a lot the way good quality make-up powder smell. You could throw a whole bottle of this light liquid on youself, and even then it woud be not owerpowering...So light, that even it's nice, I don't see many reasons to wear it.

After many years I received this scent just today. It's as pleasant as I rember. Slightly spicy and warm. For me this is definitely summer fragrance, tanned skin, summer, beach...Lovely!

i test this parfum this winter , first i felt worm cinnamon and vanilia after carnations,i think it is very nice discreet and diferent parfum,for all seasons

Sweet carnations. I agree with barbiot -- I will probably only wear it in the fall. If you like CdG's carnation scent, you'll probably like this one as well.

I've since swapped this, but I found a root beer note to it that I liked. But it wasn't for me. Happy to have found it a loving home with Coffee Bee

Tender carnation, delicate iris - a discrete parfum for every day. Not my favourite Guerlain, but a good one. Very happy to have it!

I"m also agree,that it smells to close to Aqua Allegoria Ylang & Vanille Guerlain . Perhaps,carnations are more stronger.

Haiku review Summertime is here The sun raining down on me Aglow with floral spice

Carnation meets vanilla ice-cream ! Creamy and scrumptious!