French Kiss, the Guerlain fragrance released in 2008 and initially composed by Christine Nagel and Sylvaine Delacourte, the Les Elixirs Charnels collection by Guerlain surprises as much by its gourmand modernity as by its evocatively named fragrances.
Lychee, exotic and fruity, and raspberry, tangy and sweet, occupy the top. Both play on fruit, but lychee leans toward the exotic while raspberry asserts its tartness.
Rose, warm and honeyed, and violet, powdery and green, share the heart. The honeyed warmth of one contrasts with the powdery greenness of the other.
Vanilla, spicy and warm, heliotrope, vanillic and balsamic, and white musks, coppery and animalic, make up the base. Heliotrope echoes the vanilla in its own right, while the white musks lean toward the coppery side.