Perfume Review: Guerlain No 68
July 12th, 2006
Guerlain No 68 cologne is a new addition to the Guerlain collection and is named after the Champs Elysees store street number. It’s also said to be composed of 68 notes most of which I’ll list below. There’s been some slight confusion amongst perfume aficionados on the subject of whether the scent is a remake of the previous No 68 (created in 2002) or whether it’s a relaunch of Winter Delice. Rest assured, folks. It’s neither. It’s an entirely new composition stylishly enclosed in a 490 ml bottle. If you look closer at the picture, you can see all that writing below number 68. That’s a list of notes. I’m not listing all of them here but enough to get the idea: bergamot, green mandarin, lemon, clementine, orange peel, blood orange, sweet lime, grapefruit, basil, fennel, star anise, lavender, bay leaf, thyme, bigarade, blackcurrant, freesia, lily of the valley, cyclamen, cardamom, coriander, black pepper, pink berry, nutmeg, ginger, jasmine, frangipane, magnolia, orange blossom, peony, rose, carnation, ylang-ylang, lychee, gentian, petitgrain, fig, blackberry, immortelle, opoponax, pistachio, amber, benzoin, vanilla, cistus, heliotrope, iris, tonka beans, sage, musk, patchouli, agarwood, cedar, sandalwood, vetiver, vegetable musk, praline, myrrhe.
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.
Guerlain No 68 is available exclusively at the Guerlain boutique in Paris. Orders can be placed by calling this number: 33 145 62 52 57.
Image source: www.aufeminin.com
Entry Filed under: Perfume Reviews
21 Comments Add your own
1. Judith | July 13th, 2006 at 6:48 am
I am having a very hard time imagining this one or figuring out whether I will like it. Sounds like they should have called it “Kitchen Sink.”
2. Ina | July 13th, 2006 at 7:00 am
Judith, I think it’s fairly safe to say that if you like Cuir Beluga, you’ll very likely like No 68. My guess is you’ll like it.
3. Marina | July 13th, 2006 at 7:42 am
Like Judith, I am somehow unable to imagine what it is like…does it smell similar to something? Well, you said it is similar to Beluga, duh. Well, that’s not a very good sign for me.
I am very, very intrigued. Thank you so much for the lovely review!
4. Ina | July 13th, 2006 at 8:33 am
Marina, yes, it’s similar to Cuir Beluga. That’s about the only perfume comparison I can come up with. Well, maybe also Eau Noire but soft and slightly powdery, minus lavender and cumin.
5. Cait | July 13th, 2006 at 9:38 am
Thanks for the review, Ina! I am dying to try this and all the new Guerlains. Could it be time for another Guerlain package? Peut-etre que OUI.
6. Ina | July 13th, 2006 at 9:49 am
Thanks, Cait! Assurément!
7. Elle | July 13th, 2006 at 9:49 am
Judith is right - kitchen sink! My goodness - could a list possibly be less revealing?? I would have needed to consult my local pyschic to figure it out. Love Cuir Beluga, but am not entirely convinced I need CB Light.
8. Ina | July 13th, 2006 at 10:04 am
Elle, it’s not CB Light. It just has a similar feel to it. I think you’ll like it.
9. Victoria O | July 13th, 2006 at 10:29 am
Ahhh you scooped me! My sample is on the way! It sounds good to me, a fresh, wearable, Summer scent. :O)
10. Ina | July 13th, 2006 at 10:32 am
V., can’t wait to hear your impressions! This one is tough to review.
11. Christina H. | July 13th, 2006 at 11:29 am
Thanks for the wonderful review! Sounds like something I may like.
12. Ina | July 13th, 2006 at 11:39 am
Christina, I think you will!
13. March | July 13th, 2006 at 7:13 pm
*sob* where are the dirty bits? The skank?
Cuir Beluga was much too well mannered for me.
14. Scentbloggers » Rou&hellip | July 16th, 2006 at 7:29 am
[…] Aromascope discovers the latest release from Guerlain, the new No. 68: 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? […]
15. Ina | July 17th, 2006 at 2:24 pm
March, does everything have to have dirty bits? *rolls eyes*
16. Ina | July 17th, 2006 at 2:24 pm
Scentbloggers rock!
17. Victoria | July 17th, 2006 at 3:15 pm
Thank you for the review! At last, we have some clarity in regards to this mess with recycled names.
18. Ina | July 17th, 2006 at 3:19 pm
I know! Very confusing.
19. Marc | July 17th, 2006 at 6:37 pm
Thanks for your blog. I went and tried 68 today because I’m looking for a new fragrance for my wife. My reaction was like Salieri’s line in Amadeus: “Too many notes.” The sales person sensed my disappointment and showed me four other Guerlain fragrances (including Cuir Beluga, which, to my nose, smells nothing like 68). In my opinoin, 68 is more a great concept than a great fragrance–and I think they know it (which would explain why they only sell it in giant bottles). In any case, the experience at Guerlain was wonderful. The sales person took huge, beautiful black fans out from behind each of four fragances and then, one by one, sprayed each fan and fanned me with it–a far cry from the little paper testers at Sephora next door.
20. Ina | July 17th, 2006 at 11:01 pm
Marc, thank you for your comment! I’m yet to go to the Guerlain boutique. The experience sounds amazing!
21. Aromascope » Ensole&hellip | January 10th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
[…] “Sunbathe me” it demands, with the notes of tiare, bergamot, ylang-ylang, coconut, vanilla, white musk, and sunbathe you it does. You find yourself lying in the scorching sun, by the water, with heavy-duty coconut-vanilla sunblock all over you. Everything is right with the world again, except it’s way more sun than you can handle, way more water than you need, and the smell of the sunblock is simply overbearing. This goes on for hours, and there’s no escape. Theoretically, I should have loved Ensoleille Moi but I cannot help but scream, “Tone it down!” as I flee the imaginary beach. After all, the scent is created by Mathilde Laurent, the nose of Guerlain’s magnificent Guet-Apens and crafty Guerlain No 68. Alas, it’s simply too much, and I’d rather save the dollars and go to the tanning booth instead. […]
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