Travel is an endless source of inspiration for artists of every kind, starting with perfumers. And the house of Guerlain is no exception to prove otherwise. The five generations of perfumers who have led the house have all been drawn to the discovery of distant lands, and more specifically to the East. It is precisely to pay tribute to this that the Absolus d'Orient collection came into being. In 2023, it is enriched with a new juice named Épices Exquises.
Guerlain is one of the oldest French brands. As such, it never misses an opportunity to immerse us once again in its rich history through its new creations. The Absolus d'Orient collection thus takes us into a lavish world and leaves on the skin the imprint of an indelible memory. In 2023, it is enriched with a new fragrant creation named Épices Exquises. Here is our review of this bewitching perfume, as though inspired by the Thousand and One Nights.
Olfastory’s review
Épices Exquises, a nod to Guerlain's heritage
Épices Exquises by Guerlain evokes the eastern part of the globe. Its whiffs are therefore crafted from rare woods and bewitching spices. The goal? To take you on a journey while evoking the past of the house of Guerlain. Indeed, the house's perfumers have always forged an intimate bond with the East. This region of the planet has always fascinated the house of Guerlain, while serving many times as a source of inspiration. In 1925, Jacques Guerlain also founded the oriental olfactory family, by creating the prestigious Shalimar. Épices Exquises by Guerlain is both at once: here and elsewhere, ancestral traditions and modernity, a recent creation inspired by Guerlain's history.
Guerlain renders a tradition typical of the Middle East
But Épices Exquises by Guerlain does not only speak of the house's past. It also evokes an emblematic Middle Eastern tradition. Indeed, custom dictates that visitors be welcomed with white coffee flavored with cardamom. This beverage is offered to them as a gesture of hospitality. Perfumer Thierry Wasser even confides having tasted it several times. He states that this coffee filled his memory with delightfully contrary sensations. It is therefore by drawing on the fresh accents of cardamom blended with a warmer, peppery and sensual base that he crafted this intoxicating perfume. The sense of escapism is total!
The generous woody, spicy breath of Épices Exquises by Guerlain
As one might expect, cardamom coffee is a surprising, contrasted beverage. And it is precisely this whole contradiction that is also found in the perfume Épices Exquises by Guerlain. It relies on a highly refreshing facet, overdosing cardamom, pink pepper and angelica. The result is, at first, a very green sense of freshness. Nevertheless, the whole also rests on a darker, woodier base, releasing whiffs of sandalwood, patchouli and oud wood. Everything is linked by a full-bodied, sensual coffee. Épices Exquises by Guerlain is a delight from afar!
When the Bee Bottle takes on a more oriental look
Naturally, to preserve complete consistency, the Bee Bottle shared across the entire Absolus d'Orient collection is decorated with elements emblematic of the Middle East. Arabesques thus embellish its label. A ribbon is tied at its golden neck. Its burnished hue, meanwhile, evokes the warmth of spices or the ochre tones of desert sand.