Perfumery is a complex field that requires just as much interest in chemistry as an innate sense of creativity. Thus, to always find new sources of inspiration, many perfumers travel the globe in search of sumptuous raw materials. It is therefore a tribute to this practice that Guerlain paid through its Aqua Allegoria collection.
A few years ago, Guerlain decided to undertake a fragrance collection named Aqua Allegoria. This olfactory assembly brings together juices inspired by the Eaux de Cologne of yesteryear, each plunging us into a very particular place on the globe. In 2007, the fragrance Mandarine Basilic appeared, its fresh and aromatic scent instantly immersing us in a joyful whirlwind. But what about the visual of this fragrance? Let us look in more detail at what makes up its prestigious bottle.
Revisiting the history of Guerlain's Flacon aux Abeilles
Like all the Aqua Allegoria, Mandarine Basilic comes in a modern reinterpretation of Guerlain's famous Flacon aux Abeilles. This takes us back into the brand's history, more precisely to 1853. It was in that year that a prestigious bottle was crafted for Empress Eugénie. Blown at 450 degrees, Guerlain's bottle was then covered in gold. Cylindrical in shape, it was stamped with numerous bees and festoons in relief. At the time, Guerlain's Flacon aux Abeilles was designed by the Pochet du Courval glassworks, a hallmark of French excellence and craftsmanship. The whole was topped with a dome inspired by the Vendôme column in Paris, located just a few meters from Guerlain's prestigious boutique, then situated at 12 rue de la Paix. When Empress Eugénie discovered this bottle, she was absolutely fascinated by its beauty. To thank Guerlain for this masterful work, she decided to name the house the official perfumer to Her Majesty. If Guerlain chose to present its Aqua Allegoria in a revisit of this bottle, it is simply to echo one of the most beautiful creations in its history.
The new features of the Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic bottle
Of course, the Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic fragrance does not come in an exact replica of Guerlain's Flacon aux Abeilles. Like it, it has a cylindrical shape topped with a dome. Likewise, the golden color is very present. It forms the dome as well as a ball surmounting the whole. The bee, meanwhile, is still present. However, it appears in far fewer numbers than before. Here, it is finely carved into the relief of the cap. The opaque surface of Guerlain's bottle, meanwhile, has disappeared. The Mandarine Basilic cylinder is made of transparent glass. This allows a glimpse of a yellow-colored juice that speaks volumes about the sun-kissed, playful character of this fragrance. Undeniably, Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic shines brightly and gleams from every angle. Resembling molten gold, it draws the eye and instantly commands attention. Only a white label breaks with the omnipresence of the golden hue. It bears the name of this fragrance alongside that of Guerlain.
Like all Guerlain's Aqua Allegoria, Mandarine Basilic exists in only one size, 125 ml.