9
Battle of the Decades
190 Ans, this year's limited anniversary fragrance, is coming to an end, just as the year slowly winds down. I took this as an opportunity to revisit its predecessor, 180 Ans, which I still hadn't warmed up to after 2-3 tests and had initially put on ice. 180 Ans is not as fluffy-light-beautiful, it's much more complex, and I probably wasn't in the mood for a complicated relationship, or I was simply too dazzled by the 190, too biased. The amber phase (even if only latent) had also cost me nerves every time, as amber is the death of any fragrance for me. But then came the scarf. And with it, winter. Or the other way around.
Scarves have the property of holding onto fragrances for a long time, albeit only as a vague hint, and only the more durable notes, but in this case, that was a good thing.
So one evening, I sprayed on 180 Ans (thanks Claudi!) before I dressed for the weather and left the house for the rest of the evening.
8 PM: 180 Ans works. And it hits me with a bergamot, but also smoky-spicy top note. So far, so Guerlain.
I kept trying to unravel what exactly I was smelling. It ventured into the oriental, slightly spicy-sweet territory, but also gained amber. Unfortunately.
I was already losing the desire to engage further with the fragrance or even to befriend it.
Cut.
(Switch to the next morning, around 9 AM.) I was in a hurry and threw myself into yesterday's clothes after a quick wash. Perfuming? Later.
On my way outside, I caught a whiff of the scarf. Pöng -
"wtf? What is this wonderful thing?" I thought to myself.
It was the shadow of the 180 years. It bore the unmistakable signature of the classic Guerlains: the powdery sorrow of L' heure bleue, the rough velvetiness of Mitsouko, and the beauty of the base of Shalimar. Love is everything (Rosenstolz)
Seen this way, 180 Ans is the ultimate winner. I just have to use my scarf as a fragrance carrier. Since 180 is no longer being produced, that won't happen often.
In direct comparison, one can only say: Both have what it takes to represent a decade of Guerlain with dignity. While 180 draws inspiration from the 1920s, 190 Ans is "Now!", the decade of gourmands.
Better late than never - or: Thanks to the scarf.
Scarves have the property of holding onto fragrances for a long time, albeit only as a vague hint, and only the more durable notes, but in this case, that was a good thing.
So one evening, I sprayed on 180 Ans (thanks Claudi!) before I dressed for the weather and left the house for the rest of the evening.
8 PM: 180 Ans works. And it hits me with a bergamot, but also smoky-spicy top note. So far, so Guerlain.
I kept trying to unravel what exactly I was smelling. It ventured into the oriental, slightly spicy-sweet territory, but also gained amber. Unfortunately.
I was already losing the desire to engage further with the fragrance or even to befriend it.
Cut.
(Switch to the next morning, around 9 AM.) I was in a hurry and threw myself into yesterday's clothes after a quick wash. Perfuming? Later.
On my way outside, I caught a whiff of the scarf. Pöng -
"wtf? What is this wonderful thing?" I thought to myself.
It was the shadow of the 180 years. It bore the unmistakable signature of the classic Guerlains: the powdery sorrow of L' heure bleue, the rough velvetiness of Mitsouko, and the beauty of the base of Shalimar. Love is everything (Rosenstolz)
Seen this way, 180 Ans is the ultimate winner. I just have to use my scarf as a fragrance carrier. Since 180 is no longer being produced, that won't happen often.
In direct comparison, one can only say: Both have what it takes to represent a decade of Guerlain with dignity. While 180 draws inspiration from the 1920s, 190 Ans is "Now!", the decade of gourmands.
Better late than never - or: Thanks to the scarf.
Translated · Show original