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Helpful Review
Diva or Taboo?
When I read "floral-fruity," I usually know right away that such scents are not for me. Even when I want to try something new and the consultants rave about it, many perfumes in this category remind me more of air fresheners. The thought of being overwhelmed by an intense bouquet of flowers and then drowned in a fruit cocktail is my absolute nightmare. Often, it's just too much, and on top of that comes the inevitable association with something overly feminine, which bothers me even more.
When I discovered Guidance 46, an Extrait de Parfum, I thought: Why not? Although I had previously tested the Eau de Parfum on a scent strip and dismissed it as too fruity - definitely not my thing - I decided to give the scent a chance on my skin. After a consultant once again presented me with various floral-fruity cocktails (even though I had clearly stated that I do not like floral or fruity scents), I tried Guidance 46.
To my surprise, I thought at first: "Okay, for a fruity scent, this isn't so bad." It was pleasant, but not quite "my style" yet. At first, I smelled something that strongly reminded me of peach - fruity, but not too sweet, rather silky and muted. Peach and pear have a certain elegance for me; they don't feel overloaded but rather soft and rounded. Combined with the soapy rose, it almost created the scent of a high-quality, fruity hand soap. There was also something earthy, darker - at first, I wouldn't have immediately thought of hazelnut, but it was definitely there, with a slightly gourmand note.
My partner said the scent had a somewhat "grandma-like" quality at first because the rose is quite strong. The fragrance has an incredible presence - a spritz was enough to feel it on the skin for up to eight hours without needing to sniff it again.
What I particularly like is the change over time. The initial fruitiness fades a bit, and the scent develops in a spicy direction. Frankincense, saffron, and a light leather note emerge, and together with the rose, it creates something almost oriental. It vaguely reminds me of Le Parfum Royal by Elie Saab - not identical, but there are parallels that I can't ignore. In the middle part, you can definitely smell the floral notes, but not softly or fresh; rather, they are powdery and sweet. With the spicy components, this scent is quite loud and takes some getting used to.
And then, as if Guidance hadn't surprised enough already, a creamy, almost milky softness comes into play. This perfectly hugs the spicy notes, and everything merges into a creamy-floral composition of vanilla, blossoms, and a hint of pepper. It's not sweet but remains bitter and multi-layered. The initially only subtly noticeable hazelnut becomes more pronounced in this phase, and the creamy note highlights it well.
For me, Guidance is not an ordinary floral-fruity perfume. It is much more complex, with main notes like hazelnut, saffron, rose, leather, and in the end, creamy, woody vanilla. Definitely a diva among fragrances - strong, multifaceted, and unconventional. If I had to compare it, I would say it is a more refined blend of This is Her by Zadig & Voltaire and Le Parfum Royal by Elie Saab.
Despite everything - and as much as I appreciate the scent for its complexity - Guidance is not a fragrance for everyday wear for me. It is simply too intense to wear every day and definitely not a scent that one should buy blindly.
When I discovered Guidance 46, an Extrait de Parfum, I thought: Why not? Although I had previously tested the Eau de Parfum on a scent strip and dismissed it as too fruity - definitely not my thing - I decided to give the scent a chance on my skin. After a consultant once again presented me with various floral-fruity cocktails (even though I had clearly stated that I do not like floral or fruity scents), I tried Guidance 46.
To my surprise, I thought at first: "Okay, for a fruity scent, this isn't so bad." It was pleasant, but not quite "my style" yet. At first, I smelled something that strongly reminded me of peach - fruity, but not too sweet, rather silky and muted. Peach and pear have a certain elegance for me; they don't feel overloaded but rather soft and rounded. Combined with the soapy rose, it almost created the scent of a high-quality, fruity hand soap. There was also something earthy, darker - at first, I wouldn't have immediately thought of hazelnut, but it was definitely there, with a slightly gourmand note.
My partner said the scent had a somewhat "grandma-like" quality at first because the rose is quite strong. The fragrance has an incredible presence - a spritz was enough to feel it on the skin for up to eight hours without needing to sniff it again.
What I particularly like is the change over time. The initial fruitiness fades a bit, and the scent develops in a spicy direction. Frankincense, saffron, and a light leather note emerge, and together with the rose, it creates something almost oriental. It vaguely reminds me of Le Parfum Royal by Elie Saab - not identical, but there are parallels that I can't ignore. In the middle part, you can definitely smell the floral notes, but not softly or fresh; rather, they are powdery and sweet. With the spicy components, this scent is quite loud and takes some getting used to.
And then, as if Guidance hadn't surprised enough already, a creamy, almost milky softness comes into play. This perfectly hugs the spicy notes, and everything merges into a creamy-floral composition of vanilla, blossoms, and a hint of pepper. It's not sweet but remains bitter and multi-layered. The initially only subtly noticeable hazelnut becomes more pronounced in this phase, and the creamy note highlights it well.
For me, Guidance is not an ordinary floral-fruity perfume. It is much more complex, with main notes like hazelnut, saffron, rose, leather, and in the end, creamy, woody vanilla. Definitely a diva among fragrances - strong, multifaceted, and unconventional. If I had to compare it, I would say it is a more refined blend of This is Her by Zadig & Voltaire and Le Parfum Royal by Elie Saab.
Despite everything - and as much as I appreciate the scent for its complexity - Guidance is not a fragrance for everyday wear for me. It is simply too intense to wear every day and definitely not a scent that one should buy blindly.
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