Patchouli Ardent

It is there that Guerlain perfumers have drawn the majority of their raw materials, giving rise to fragrances that are now celebrated worldwide. To pay tribute to this distant land steeped in exoticism, Guerlain therefore decided to create the Absolus d'Orient collection. Year after year, this array of fragrances keeps growing. As proof, in 2019, Guerlain developed three different Absolus d'Orient: Bois Mystérieux, Encens Mythique and Cuir Intense. Naturally, in 2020, the story continues. This time, the house's newcomer is named Patchouli Ardent.

The Absolus d'Orient collection

Before anything else, let us begin by introducing the Absolus d'Orient collection. This array of perfumes pays tribute, as its name indicates, to the eastern part of the planet. Thus, Guerlain always selects one or two ingredients from these distant lands, to showcase them in fairly streamlined but very subtle formulas. The Absolus d'Orient are also all the result of a long maceration, which preserves the full purity and finesse of their raw materials. Here, Patchouli Ardent showcases one of the most precious and most sought-after woods among perfumers: patchouli. Often placed in the base notes of fragrances, it serves here as the common thread running through the entire formula.

When Patchouli Ardent becomes a brighter wood

Ordinarily, patchouli is a woody raw material, rather dark and mysterious. Widely used in masculine perfumes, it becomes here more vibrant and luminous. Thus, Patchouli Ardent turns into a unisex juice, suited equally to men and women. But then, how does Guerlain manage to make its woody breath shine? In reality, Patchouli Ardent also contains rose, more feminine and delicate, as well as a majestic leather and musk accord. The sensuality of this perfume is undeniable. Patchouli Ardent offers a unique sensory journey at the heart of the Orient. This fragrance, synonymous with exoticism, exudes an extreme nobility and refinement. Like all the Absolus d'Orient, Patchouli Ardent is the work of perfumer Thierry Wasser, Guerlain's exclusive nose.

The Patchouli Ardent bottle, a dive into Guerlain's history

Patchouli Ardent comes in a bottle that is not unfamiliar to us. In fact, all the Absolus d'Orient share the same bottle. Only their color and the arabesques on their labels differ from one edition to another. Here, Guerlain chooses a universal, shimmering midnight blue. Against this backdrop, a few gold elements stand out. The arabesques on its label give it a Moorish style, typically oriental. A luminous, sparkling bead crowns the whole, while a small blue ribbon is also tied around its neck. The cylindrical shape of this bottle, as well as its dome, are in turn a nod to one of Guerlain's most famous bottles: the legendary Flacon aux Abeilles.