Perfume Review: Winter Delice by Guerlain
December 20th, 2006
Winter Delice by Guerlain can easily join my Ultimate Winter Perfumes list, even though I’ve only worn it a few times. Being part of the Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria line (featuring refreshing, easy to wear fragrances), it’s dedicated to winter delights which to some might mean engaging in various winter sports, frolicking in the snow, etc. but to me is enjoying the season indoors. Don’t get me wrong: I love being outside and will always go out to experience first snow, for instance. I’ll even do occasional skating and sledding (my main winter activities as a child). When it comes to winter delights, however, it’s all about celebrating New Year’s with good food and presents, and pretty much looking forward to spring as soon as the festivities are over.
Winter Delice seems to combine both worlds – fresh pine trees outside and gingerbread baking in the oven. It’s a very festive scent – it could be easily called Christmas in a bottle. With notes of pine, cistus labdanum, incense, gingerbread, and vanilla, it smells neither of pine forest nor of a lumberjack. It’s rather a potpourri-like fragrance. The pine is softened by spicy vanilla with just a touch of incense producing a warm, snug effect. It’s an olfactory equivalent of quiet and peaceful winter celebration. That said, its atmospheric character might not appeal to many as a personal fragrance. It’s neither complex nor extraordinary but still worth experiencing, especially when “the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful”.
Winter Delice has been discontinued but can still be found on eBay.
Image source: www.cosmeticmall.com
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17 Comments
1. Elle | December 20th, 2006 at 7:31 am
Beautiful description. This really is an incredibly cozy scent and would have made a *brilliant* candle. I’m mystified as to why they d/ced it.
2. March | December 20th, 2006 at 8:21 am
I still haven’t smelled this one. (slinks off in shame, exposed as Guerlain poseur)
3. Marina | December 20th, 2006 at 8:48 am
Winter Delice is for m eis contradiction in terms. I find no delice in cold weather. *grumble grumble* So it’s probably not surprising that I haven’t tried this scent. you make it sound wonderful though.
4. Leopoldo | December 20th, 2006 at 9:17 am
I want to try it too.
5. newproducts | December 20th, 2006 at 10:55 am
Oh, this one sounds sooo good. I need to find one as soon as my no-buy is over (though, truth be told, there are quite a few scents I need to get when my no-buy is over, and it may take me till next winter to try this one)!
6. tmp00 | December 20th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
Ina! Whaaaaah! Don’t describe something so beautifully and then tell me it’s discontinued!
Actually, looking at my bank statement this month, maybe that’s for the best…
7. Judith | December 20th, 2006 at 2:35 pm
Wonderful description of a wonderfully cozy scent! I really enjoy this one in the winter!
8. Ina | December 20th, 2006 at 3:01 pm
Elle, yes, it’d make an awesome candle!
9. Ina | December 20th, 2006 at 3:02 pm
March, I’ve only tried it myself recently. Somehow it always eluded me.
10. Ina | December 20th, 2006 at 3:03 pm
Marina, like I said, winter is only delightful indoors.
11. Ina | December 20th, 2006 at 3:03 pm
Leo, it’s dirt cheap on eBay.
12. Ina | December 20th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
Newproducts, you’re one brave woman to take on a no-buy!
13. Ina | December 20th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
Tom, dirt cheap. Ebay. Nuff said.
14. Ina | December 20th, 2006 at 3:05 pm
Judith, thank you! I’m now enjoying it, too.
15. chaya ruchama | December 20th, 2006 at 5:13 pm
I enjoy this one, more in the sniffing, than in the wearing !
Definitely a seasonal scent.
Very nostalgic.
16. dinazad | December 21st, 2006 at 3:58 am
Love, love, LOVE this. Thanks for the glowing review, Ina! Winter Delice always makes me think of coming home from a long walk in snow and winter sunshine, arms filled with twigs and branches for wreaths (or maybe we’ve cut a Christmas tree?) and being met by a loved one at the door, with the warmth and aromas of Christmas baking and freshly peeled tangerines wafting out of the open door and the promise of cosy, warm slippers, a hot drink, candles, cookies, good company and all the other wonderful indoor winter comforts waiting for me. I never cease to wonder at the way both the cold and the warmth of a perfect winter day are captured in this fragrance! And yes, it would be a stunning candle as well. Why do they always discontinue the good stuff instead of some of the junk…. oh, I’ll just go put on some more WD and stop dripping foam on the keyboard.
17. Jeanne | December 29th, 2007 at 9:32 am
This is just what I’ve been looking for in a seasonal fragrance! I have been dreaming about this for years–Winter Delice, when I finally took the plunge and ordered it. I had been hesitant at first due to many negative comments on POL. Makeupalley, however, has many more positive comments than negative.
Upon first spraying WD, I was pleasantly surprised there was no blast of pine but rather a soft, incensey vanilla with fir and balsam in the base of it. It is soft rather than harsh!
I have several incense fragrances (S. Lutens, L’Artisan, and Como de Corso), and Winter Delice by Guerlain is now my FAVORITE winter scent!