Cuir Béluga Guerlain 2005 Eau de Parfum

It's true: “Everything is worth what its buyer is willing to pay for it.” However, I would like to conduct the following thought experiment: Imagine for a moment that you have never heard of Guerlain, let alone smelled any of their fragrances, but one day you get the chance to test all the scents. The samples, of course, provide no clues about the respective bottle design. And you are also not informed about the price range you are testing - on the contrary. You are then asked to determine a price for each fragrance you tested.

Well, I know one thing: I would probably have downgraded the five men’s fragrances from Jean-Paul Guerlain (Arsène Lupin, Arsène Lupin Voyou, Chamade Homme, L'Âme d'un Héros, and Derby) to the level of fragrances available everywhere at Douglas. The general response to “L'Âme d'un Héros” would, in my opinion, be something like:
“You can hardly smell anything. And they want 75 euros for that? Who is supposed to buy this?”

In fact, I believe that none of the five fragrances would turn out to be a bestseller …
I just want to say: Even if those fragrances were available everywhere, and at more affordable prices - the feeling of “having to have it” would not arise for me with any of them. (or perhaps just for that reason …)

Certain fragrances from the “L'Art et la Matière” collection, on the other hand, I would (probably) attribute an exclusive character and thus a proud price. This is especially true for “Cuir Beluga” and “Tonka Impériale”.

But especially for “Cuir Beluga.” Just recently, I was able to test the legendary “Cuir de Russie” from Chanel. My enthusiasm was limited. Primarily because “Cuir de Russie” delivers what the name promises - in contrast to the Guerlain scent.
In “Cuir Beluga,” leather only plays a role at the opening. And it is only the opening that does not completely appeal to me in this fragrance. That short phase where “Cuir Beluga” still comes across as a leather scent. I am simply not a fan of “leather,” especially not when it takes the lead.

However, that is not the case with “Cuir Beluga.” The outstanding scent arises here from a perfect symbiosis of vanilla and leather, with vanilla being the “host” and leather the “symbiont.” The result is truly unparalleled. Some may dismiss “Cuir Beluga” as too “polished,” meaning too agreeable. But I like this fragrance precisely for that reason. Because the composition is so harmoniously elegant that it lacks any rough edges. This may not appeal to everyone, but I love it - and HOW! Sometimes you just have to remind yourself what a masterful achievement it is to build a house that comes without any corners or edges ;)
My favorite Guerlain - by far. But of course, that is purely subjective, because as always, it holds true: “Everything is worth what its buyer is willing to pay for it.”

And “Cuir Beluga” is worth every cent that is charged at purchase for me.