The Guerlain house has always made nature its finest source of inspiration. Moreover, it is also one of the French perfumery houses with the longest history. Drawing on the past while looking toward the future, Guerlain has developed an entire collection of eaux fraîches: the Aqua Allegoria. Today, some of these fragrances are elevated into exceptional editions. Such is the case with Aqua Allegoria Harvest Nerolia Vetiver by Guerlain.
For perfumers, nature is an immense source of inspiration. Thus, even though they frequently use synthetic raw materials, they do not forget their first loves. Guerlain has understood this well, and this is how the house takes pleasure in taking us through different gardens, with the prestigious Aqua Allegoria collection. In 2023, Guerlain even decided to bring some of its fragrances back into the spotlight, turning them into more prestigious limited editions. Here is our review of Aqua Allegoria Harvest Nerolia Vetiver.
Olfastory’s review
Aqua Allegoria Harvest Nerolia Vetiver, a garden inspired by Italy
First, let us begin by letting ourselves be swept up in the Mediterranean whirlwind of Aqua Allegoria Harvest Nerolia Vetiver. With a single breath, this perfume sets the scene. It is a bucolic stroll through the heart of the Mediterranean, and more specifically on the island of Ischia. With it, the raw materials seem to have been captured at the height of summer. This fragrance is an allegory of nature containing particular harvests, rare and more virtuous. Its raw materials are rigorously selected. These plunge us into the heart of Italy, while resulting from exclusive partnerships with producers who cultivate in a sustainable and responsible manner.
When Calabrian honey elevates Guerlain's creation
Aqua Allegoria Harvest Nerolia Vetiver highlights the luminous breath of neroli, counterbalanced by the more woody, shadowy facet of vetiver. However, it also offers a little extra sweetness, relying on an exceptional ingredient: orange blossom honey from Guerlain's own hives, located in Calabria, Italy. As perfumer Delphine Jelk reveals, this is a fragrance inspired by the meeting between the bee and the orange blossom, from which springs a precious floral, citrus nectar, like a neroli honey. The delight is absolute.
The Flacon aux Abeilles: a case one never tires of rediscovering
Like all the Aqua Allegoria, this prestige edition comes in the legendary Flacon aux Abeilles. Here again, the aim is to echo the prestigious history of the Guerlain house. Indeed, as a reminder, this bottle was first created in 1853. It was then intended for the Empress Eugénie. For Aqua Allegoria Harvest Nerolia Vetiver, it is further enhanced with a colorful label resembling a floral watercolor. This is the work of the artist Laura Gulshani. This transparent cylinder is topped with a magnificent golden mesh. The whole captures the light and has everything needed to spark desire.
Aqua Allegoria Harvest Nerolia Vetiver, a more responsible perfume
Finally, because nature is a source of inspiration, Guerlain makes a point of preserving it. Aqua Allegoria Harvest Nerolia Vetiver is a perfect demonstration of its commitments. It contains 95% ingredients of natural origin. The whole is distilled in French beet alcohol from supply chains committed to responsible farming. Aqua Allegoria Harvest Nerolia Vetiver is also presented in a refillable bottle, made of 15% recycled glass, manufactured and assembled in France.