Cuir Beluga by Guerlain
June 21st, 2006
Today I’m wearing Cuir Beluga by Guerlain. Cuir Beluga is one of the recent additions created by perfumer Olivier Polge. Marina at Perfume-Smellin’ Things has already done an excellent review here, and, while she and I usually love the same perfumes, Cuir Beluga is an exception. Contrary to her, I happen to adore it. It features the notes of mandarine, aldehydes, immortelle, leather, heliotrope, amber, and vanilla. To my nose, this is not a predominantly leather scent. There’s no sharpness and austerity typically associated with leather. I get more suede softened by vanilla and amber. It also possesses a slightly bitter quality, a combination of immortelle and mandarine, I presume. Immortelle is known for its strong straw-like, fruity smell, with a honey and tea undertone, and I definitely detect a tea note. Cuir Beluga isn’t particularly aldehydic. Overall, it’s simultaneously honey-like soft and straw-like bitter, and I feel inexplicably drawn to it. It’s not by any means a comforting scent. It’s enigmatic and mysterious, with somewhat cold, detached beauty.
Cuir Beluga can be purchased directly from the Guerlain shop in Paris (phone orders – 33 145 62 52 57) or at Bergdorf Goodman in New York (212-872-2734).
Image source: www.osmoz.com
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21 Comments
1. Elle | June 21st, 2006 at 10:25 am
I adore Cuir Beluga, but to my nose it is a sweet, creamy comfort scent that just has almost nothing to do w/ leather. It is in serious need of a new name. Having Cuir there leads to crushing disappointment for anyone who tries it hoping for a new leather HG (which I usually am). At best, and stretching my imagination to its limits, I can conjure up some soft suede, but it’s soft suede that has been sprayed w/ a lovely honeyed vanilla perfume. I get that tea note you do as well.
2. Christina H. | June 21st, 2006 at 10:31 am
Hi Ina!
I also love Cuir Beluga ! I just wished their dang spritzer worked better!
3. Ina | June 21st, 2006 at 10:31 am
I know, the name is a total mystery. I cracked up reading Marina trying to figure out its meaning.
But I agree with you, it’s a total letdown for real leather lovers. I’m surprised you don’t get as much suede, though.
4. Ina | June 21st, 2006 at 10:34 am
Hi, C.! I don’t own a bottle, so I don’t know how the spritzer behaves but I imagine it’s typical of bulb atomizers.
5. Elle | June 21st, 2006 at 11:09 am
I concede, it does have suede, but not as much as VIP Room or Daim Blond to my nose and I’m still just swishing my tail in annoyance over the Cuir. I like my leather *dark*.
6. Ina | June 21st, 2006 at 11:12 am
No, definitely not as much as VIP Room or Daim Blond. Maybe it’s supposed to smell like the skin of a white whale? I’m kidding.
7. Marina | June 21st, 2006 at 12:07 pm
Now, you might laugh at this but, I’ll say it anyway…not taking the leather part into consideration (CB doesn’t have any leather to my nose anyway)…Creed Vanisia smells on my skin like an oomph-ier, more intense version of Cuir Beluga. Go ahead, laugh now.
8. Victoria | June 21st, 2006 at 12:13 pm
I like it, but overall it has a certain heft and creaminess that I do not find appealing.
9. Ina | June 21st, 2006 at 12:14 pm
I don’t even remember if I’ve ever tried Vanisia! I must have but can’t recall. Must find a sample. So, I’m not laughing! I promise!
10. Judith | June 21st, 2006 at 12:52 pm
Elle is right. My disappointment at the lack of leather made it impossible for me to enjoy this scent. I remember it as a pleasant but not remarkable vanilla with some heliotrope. Maybe I should try Creed Vanisia. . .
11. Ina | June 21st, 2006 at 1:31 pm
I’m sorry you didn’t like it, Judith. Maybe you should give it another try.
12. Patty | June 22nd, 2006 at 7:52 am
You know, I just can’t remember this one much? I should retry it, but am thinking cooler weather may be better for that creaminess that it has.
13. Ina | June 22nd, 2006 at 8:10 am
Yes, you should definitely retry it. I find it quite wearable in any weather, actually.
14. Aromascope » Guerla&hellip | July 12th, 2006 at 11:47 pm
[...] Now that I think of it, it’s probably the most politically correct perfume out there today – its mission to not leave anything out is accomplished perfectly. But I can just about imagine your totally understandable reaction – golly, what does this really smell like? Well, what can I say. I’ve conducted several skin tests since I got my sample yesterday, and every time my nose detects a new note or two from the ones listed. The scent is as versatile as its components. The best I could come up with would be something like this: it’s a citrus-herbal-floral-green-woody-oriental. Is that good enough? Probably, not. So let me try this. It’s a slightly powdery, soft woody floral on the herbal base with bitter undertones. My nose detects a distinct immortelle note very similar to the one in Cuir Beluga where’s it’s also combined with mandarine and heliotrope. The floral notes aren’t as apparent – I’m able to detect a few (ylang-ylang, carnation, magnolia) when I smell it up close only. The only herbal notes I find prominent are basil and bay leaf although prominent is a relative concept here – the notes are just so masterfully blended you can hardly tell them apart (yes, I tried to detect all 68 of them – kidding). No 68 has a decent staying power for a cologne, and it’s certainly not cologne-like in nature. It’s rather unusual but appealingly so, and it’s growing on me. The way it manages to blend all the fragrance families into one makes it truly outstanding. [...]
15. Aromascope » Bois D&hellip | September 1st, 2006 at 12:07 am
[...] In line with yesterday’s post on my ultimate fall scents, today’s review is Bois d’Armenie by Guerlain, the newest addition to their L’Art et la Matiere collection (the others being Rose Barbare, Angelique Noire, and Cuir Beluga). I don’t envision it becoming my ultimate fall scent but it’s certainly one I’d reach for frequently in cold weather, mostly for its comforting effect. It was inspired by Papier d’Armenie, burning paper that produces an insence-like scent used as an air-freshener. Before I received my sample of Bois d’Armenie, I ordered the actual paper from Beautyhabit to get acquainted with the nature of its smell. I’m very glad I did, not just for comparison purposes but for sheer curiosity to discover yet another way to scent my apartment. [...]
16. Aromascope » Favori&hellip | October 17th, 2006 at 11:03 pm
[...] Some other excellent powdery perfumes are: Cuir Beluga by Guerlain, Ligea by Carthusia, Talco Delicato by I Profumi di Firenze, Nuit de Noel by Caron, Baby by Norma Kamali, Magnolia Pourpre by Maitre Parfumeur et Gantier. [...]
17. Aromascope » My Fav&hellip | October 20th, 2006 at 12:19 am
[...] Cuir Beluga Angelique Noire Attrape Coeur Metalys Rose Barbare Bois d’Armenie Chamade [...]
18. Aromascope » Parfum&hellip | December 15th, 2006 at 2:57 am
[...] MDCI/Stephanie Bakouche – grapefruit, bergamot, violet leaves, thyme, cardamom, lavender, ginger, cedar, bourbon vanilla, musk. Its dry, herbal-aromatic opening, with a very soft interplay of spices, is reminiscent of Cuir Beluga or Sables by Annick Goutal. My second favorite of the line, the scent is what I’d call different, and the kind that’ll have to grow on you. Thyme, cardamom, and lavender on a vanilla base create an association of some herb-infused honey. Stephanie Bakouche draws inspiration from her travels, so no wonder her scent is so, shall we say, unbiased and peculiar. It can be easily worn by women – perfect for non-conformists like myself. [...]
19. poivrebleu | January 2nd, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Hello Ina,
Well, here just a few words to introduce myself : I’m french, so I hope I’ll be understood. I really love perfumes like you, and discoverd your blog 2 days ago. I’m glad to find someone who speaks about perfume with delicacy!
My Godmother offerd me Cuir Beluga last Chritsmas and I have to say that I really love it! I’ve post a review on my blog : poivrebleu.wordpress.com (but in french), maybe you could read it. I’m really interested in your opinion. I think Cuir Beluga develops most of all a strong luxury sensation, certainly due to amber and vannilla but also owing to the note of “with” leather, a synthetic one, which give to the perfume the consistence of leather, not really the smell.
I hope to see you on my blog!
20. poivrebleu | January 3rd, 2007 at 11:10 am
I mean “white” leather, sorry for the mistake
21. herbal pharmacy | March 9th, 2007 at 9:24 am
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