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.
Every year since 1999, the house of Guerlain has offered its scented waters in the beautiful Aqua Allegoria collection. The purpose of this fragrance collection is to bring together, in the form of fragrances, rare raw materials sourced from nature and from all four corners of the world. In 2007, the great perfumer Marie Salamagne composed for Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic, with its radiant, sparkling scents from Asia.
Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic, or the travels of Marie Salamagne
Under the guidance of Jean-Paul Guerlain, the house of Guerlain launched in 1999 a collection of extraordinary waters, largely designed from the riches of nature. The idea was to create compositions with sober formulas in order to highlight two rare and unprecedented raw materials in each bottle. To do this, the descendant of the great Guerlain dynasty surrounded himself with the greatest noses that French perfumery has to offer: Mathilde Laurent, Karine Dubreuil, Maurice Roucel, Sonia Constant and Marie Salamagne.
As for Marie Salamagne, she was chosen to compose first the fabulous Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic, then, given its success, collaborated with Jean-Paul Guerlain on Aqua Allegoria Angélique Lilas, Aqua Allegoria Figue Iris, and finally Aqua Allegoria Laurier Réglisse.
Indeed, the perfumer's very first collaboration for the house of Guerlain proved to be particularly successful, as Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic was praised for its exceptional freshness with perfect longevity, a rare thing for a citrus fragrance, and an eau fraîche at that.
A pulpy, intense mandarin fragrance for Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic
If the talented nose drew the attention of the master Guerlain with Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic, nothing was left to chance. On the contrary, this lovely 2007 water managed to highlight a mandarin already overused in perfumery by offering it as a treat from the far ends of the earth, set in a case of vegetal freshness and tender aromatic basil.
Although for the first time these two fine ingredients came from different countries, China for the mandarin and India for the basil, Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic in no way betrays the spirit of the collection by offering these marvels from the far ends of the earth. Moreover, to our great delight, these pulpy citrus notes combine with the exotic freshness of a green tea note to deliver a sparkling opening. However, the creator did not forget to bring out the splendor of floral notes so well suited to Guerlain fragrances, thanks to peony, chamomile, and the very sun-kissed orange blossom.
The woody depths, always sensual of course, of amber woods, sandalwood and amber echo the famous Guerlinade accords, while bringing new sophistication to this decidedly lovely bottle from the Aqua Allegoria collection.
Mandarine Basilic is a sparkling and cheerful Eau de Toilette, a singular duo full of light and lightness. Guerlain on Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic.