Nature is an inexhaustible source of inspiration, and it is at the heart of it that Guerlain's perfumers draw their countless ideas. It is therefore only natural that Guerlain decided to pay tribute to the world's most beautiful gardens, in a collection named Aqua Allegoria. Within this olfactory assemblage, raw materials are elevated and appear as dreamlike, bucolic poems. In 2023, a newcomer joins this collection: Aqua Allegoria Forte Nerolia Vetiver.
For perfumers as for artists in general, nature is an immense source of inspiration. Guerlain therefore decided to transport us to gardens around the world and to showcase some of the finest natural raw materials, in a grand collection named Aqua Allegoria. Launched in 1999, it has continued to expand ever since. In 2023, a newcomer joins this collection. Here is our review of Aqua Allegoria Forte Nerolia Vetiver by Guerlain.
Olfastory’s review
Aqua Allegoria Forte Nerolia Vetiver, a very bucolic creation
Aqua Allegoria Forte Nerolia Vetiver is an eau fraîche that heightens the pleasure of the senses and instantly conveys a feeling of joie de vivre. This landscape-fragrance places us in the shoes of a bee foraging through a garden, delighting in the blossoming of untouched nature on a beautiful summer day. This time, the scene takes place on the island of Ischia, a haven of greenery in the middle of the Mediterranean, not far from the Bay of Naples. The change of scenery is complete. Aqua Allegoria Forte Nerolia Vetiver smells of Italy and Dolce Vita!
The luminous, Mediterranean breath of Aqua Allegoria Forte Nerolia Vetiver
As the name of this fragrance suggests, Guerlain's Aqua Allegoria Forte Nerolia Vetiver showcases the bright and luminous scent of neroli. Grown in Calabria, it is paired with other, greener, floral or woody notes. At first, it blends with a sparkling, zesty bergamot as well as petitgrain. Then, Aqua Allegoria Forte Nerolia Vetiver becomes more floral on contact with rose. It is enriched with a fruity, gourmand fig accord. Little by little, it gains in longevity. Despite its freshness, it holds perfectly in place on skin, thanks to a final trio of cedar, vetiver and tonka bean.
Guerlain brings its legendary Bee Bottle back into the spotlight
Like all the Aqua Allegoria Forte fragrances, Nerolia Vetiver comes in a contemporary reinterpretation of the legendary Bee Bottle. Timeless, it radiates light thanks to its golden honeycomb dome. As if to evoke the tradition of perfumery of old, all the juices in the collection are presented in an identical bottle. Only their label and the color of their juice change. For Aqua Allegoria Forte Nerolia Vetiver, it is a pale green with a very botanical connotation.
When luxury rhymes with ecology
More than ever, with this fragrance, Guerlain reaffirms its commitment to environmental protection. After all, because nature is its greatest source of inspiration, Guerlain strives to preserve it. As such, Aqua Allegoria Forte Nerolia Vetiver is composed of 95% ingredients of natural origin. It is made with French beet alcohol, sourced from a supply chain committed to responsible agriculture. Its bottle, meanwhile, is refillable. Manufactured and assembled in France, it is made of 15% recycled glass.