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20.1 Sorong Pierre Guillaume 2019

7.3 / 10 60 Ratings

A perfume by Pierre Guillaume for women and men, released in 2019. The scent is woody-resinous. The production was apparently discontinued.
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Main accords

Woody

Resinous

Spicy

Smoky

Leathery

Fragrance Notes

Saffron

Cistus

Elemi resin

Fenugreek

Gaiac wood

Kyara oud

Labdanum

Nagarmotha

Blackcurrant Cypress

Cypress

Iris

Patchouli

Benzoin

Citrus fruits Ginger

Ginger

Tonka bean

Perfumer

Pierre Guillaume

Ratings

Scent

7.360 Ratings

Longevity

7.950 Ratings

Sillage

6.953 Ratings

Bottle

7.358 Ratings

Value for money

6.523 Ratings

Submitted by ExUser, last update on 07/30/2025.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Mortal Skin

Macaque

Reviews

5 in-depth fragrance descriptions

03/28/2019

9.5Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

Zauber600
49 Reviews

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Zauber600

Top Review

Indonesian Incense Scent

For me, the first test was simply off-putting .. I have difficulties with some of the creations by Pierre Guillaume that I know. On the one hand, recognizing the ingredients correctly (here I clearly perceive sandalwood, for example) and on the other hand, appreciating the unusual combination of them.

Here it was more the latter. A bright incense scent per se is of course good. Freshened up with a lot of citrus, it is already unusual and very much a matter of getting used to. But when exciting elements like fenugreek, fresh elemi resin, and patchouli, balsamic notes (almost unsweetened!) come in with subtle oud/musk support and the main player saffron, it gets interesting. Especially since 20.1 - despite its ingredients - does not smell like one of the usual oriental fragrances. The base is a tenderly sweet mix of ingredients that blend together ever more softly .. very very beautiful!

So intriguing that PG has an interesting treatise on Indonesian incense rituals on their homepage, which M. Guillaume was apparently inspired by for this composition of contrasting light-dark, hot-cold, and hard-soft accents. Another aspect was that of a protective scent in connection with incense rituals.
A concept that I find exciting, although of course not new.

By the way, the fragrance notes listed on the packaging are:

Agrumes
Saffron - Blackcurrant
Bois de Kyara
Olibanum
Amber
Animalic Musk

And it is precisely the last of the ingredients that distinguishes 20.1 from another scent that is similar to it in a broader sense:

Comme des Garçons Eau de Parfum (1994)

which is excellently described in image and sound by Siebter.

After wearing 20.1 for a while, I noticed the similarity to CdG, although it is distinctly darker and does not smell like an oriental fragrance despite the corresponding ingredients. However, it is significantly rougher/aggressive and in this sense more of an armor than a protective shell.

I find the new PG - as well as Aqaysos - very successful. Both process blackcurrant very differently and are worth testing for this reason alone.

Genre: Aromatic incense scent without Christmas market and Orientalism

For whom: Lovers of wearable but unusual unisex fragrances

Longevity and sillage: 8 hours + .. the scent becomes more and more a skin scent only after several hours

Alternatives: The aforementioned Comme des Garçons Eau de Parfum and Aël-Mat by Lostmarc'h in the sense of an even softer protective scent with a beautiful chamomile note

Conclusion: I will keep an eye on this brand!

11/23/2020

8Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

Taurus
1161 Reviews

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Taurus

Top Review 21

For Wearers of Black

Sorong is already an extremely interesting scent that knows how to polarize. Polarizing because, on one hand, it comes in a deep, dark black and suggests a mix of oud, tar, leather, ink, latex, charred resin, scorched sealing wax, and melted vinyl records. In between, there are some molecules of blackcurrant, saffron, and citrus fruits that might contribute something positive or uplifting. With each sniff, the light-absorbing kaleidoscope shifts a few degrees, revealing some minimally friendly scent nuances that quickly slip back into the depths.

On the other hand, the woody-resinous-smoky Sorong unfortunately also carries a few artificial notes that seemingly do not bother to appear natural. That's just Pierre Guillaume, who likes to play with and incorporate the synthetic side of olfaction.

Perhaps not necessarily the most authentic creation on the theme of incense or oud.
But for those who have no issues with this slight shimmer of plastic and prefer to roam around at night in black clothing, 20.1 Sorong should be just right. A modern statement on nihilism without immediately resorting to the patchouli-laden classic gothic crypt.
Of course, also for wearers of black... and with anything but subtle longevity.

In this sense, I can't quite figure out why Sorong isn't part of Pierre Guillaume's "Noire" series with the black bottles. It would fit perfectly.

01/07/2020

8.5Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

Bloodxclat
34 Reviews

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Bloodxclat

Top Review 22

Sorong - Oriental Lightness

How many rugs have I folded in my life? I couldn't count them.
Antique Persian kelims, knotted, woven, embroidered. Some pieces are so old that they were already hanging on the backs of the Bakhtiari when Donald wasn't even born yet.

The scent of an ancient naturally dyed kelim - an earthy, straw-like, spicy fragrance.

So here I stand before Sorong: citrus, ginger, and fruit in a trio, a refreshing kick of blackcurrant with lemon. A similar blackcurrant as found in Aqaysos has found its place here. Very well balanced, a bit of sweetness, lots of fruit. Then comes the saffron. Wonderfully earthy bitter, spicy, leathery, glowing red-gold, very authentic. The whole thing feels light and airy. There’s also a slight underlying sweetness, perhaps tonka with the saffron. A very interesting start.

The saffron gradually recedes, making way for a powdery-smoky middle part. Here we have fresh laundry, a bit of soap, and a calming fine and light note of incense - very balsamic, with the resins in interplay, a nice combo with the powderiness of the iris.

After a few hours, the iris also departs - leaving a dry woody aura of amber and resins. A golden shimmer between sand and sun.

Sorong is an oriental - a special, airy oriental. This fruity-spicy saffron composition is truly unique for me, an absolute hit. Pierre Guillaume has been impressing me since my early days in perfumery with his wonderful compositions. According to PG, this fragrance is supposed to be about Indonesian incense rituals. Saffron? Indonesia? Only he knows.

The theme isn't quite hit in my opinion, but that doesn't matter at all, Sorong is a wonderful scent for those who enjoy smoky, spicy, and leathery fragrances. Go for it.

04/04/2019

Marquise27
231 Reviews

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Marquise27

Top Review 5

The Balsamic

The first impression is that I smell something very morbid - iodine, blood, and I stretch my arm out a bit disgusted, I really don’t like that at all. I chat for about 10 minutes with the best fragrance advisor I know and cautiously draw the sprayed arm towards me..... Wow, what is this? I am now touched by a scent full of depth, warmth, and something incredibly balsamic-oriental. This is how it must have smelled in the time of Cleopatra, and I am taking a journey to another century. It’s such a thick, dark, beautiful balm that was used for incense and special ceremonies. Now I am really surprised. A very unique and extraordinary fragrance. I think the saffron is what gives it this special kick. The woods, the herbs, and the resins create a fragrance that catapults you to a completely different time. I see this scent on a woman who uses her gestures, her facial expressions, and her speech very slowly and consciously. This way, everyone is compelled to give this feminine being the attention she demands. One holds their breath a little and is captivated by her uniqueness, and this scent lingers, floating like thick fog in the room for many hours. I also find that this scent suits a man who is aware of his powerful, mysterious aura and thus captivates both men and women. Beware, the scent lasts very well for so many hours, it is completely different from anything known so far, but it develops into a fragrance that fits like a tailored garment and draws attention in a positive way. Give this scent time and more time, it really needs its development (30-40 minutes), the price is, in my opinion, okay, not cheap but acceptable for this longevity. I have sniffed many fragrances, but this one has touched me in a special way.

12/17/2022

9.5Scent 8Longevity 8Sillage

Minigolf
2500 Reviews

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Minigolf

Helpful Review 5

Topography of a Smoky Landscape

Are we standing at the foot of an active volcano? One might think so, given how full of different smokes this scent is. Yet no sooty sulfur stench escapes from it, no smell of molten rock and tarry lava.
Rather, it is a medley of resins, spices, woods, and flowers.
From this "smoky resin volcano," a vast plain stretches out, initially traversing a somewhat rough grassland dotted with berry bushes and cistus, before culminating in a dark forest. Here grow all the trees and shrubs whose wood holds rank and name in the "balsamic-dark fragrance world." Cypresses, elemi, firs, frankincense. A dry forest with moist, even swampy spots where iris thrive, clover blooms, and papyrus stands grow. Everything shows the smoky traces of the resin-spewing volcano.
But this is not just a purely "gloomy world"; it also has bright spots in the middle, consisting of warm orange and saffron notes. It is certainly fascinating there. For when the "fragrant dark splendor" seems to have passed, and the nose is about to get used to a "barely-there scent," even beginning to wrinkle in disappointment, a new surge of "lava" emerges, partially turning everything upside down, flipping the top to the bottom and switching sides, flowing forth from the "fragrance volcano." Now it may be that the cistus envelops the resins and the lighter wood notes act as a "post-scent," having been dusted with the powders of swamp iris. Or fine clover scents link up with patchouli leaves to join the cypress resins, which can evoke a scent of "moist trunks in dry earth." With each of the "eruptions" after the brief "little scent pause," there is a slightly different constellation. And in intensity, it is hardly weaker than at the beginning. It truly has a "long breath" and blows its fragrances a hundred kilometers into the surroundings :-))