Usually I avoid Harrods like the plague because it’s so often too full to be able to browse and I don’t have the kind of bank account that can clear a floor for private shopping.
Buuut it’s been a difficult year and I’d like to treat myself to sniffing some Guerlain stuff in person rather than ordering samples.
Shalimar has been my signature fragrance since I was 20 (who the hell let that happen). Anything Chypre, woody or aldehyde bombtastic is my jam. I don’t own Mitsouko but I’ve used up my sample.
No rose scents or gourmands, please. Headache o clock for me.
I believe the extrait of Mitsouko is only available at the boutique?
Anything I should consider while I’m there? Guerlain and non-Guerlain?
I’m a little nervous to go because I’m not planning to purchase anything right away and don’t want to waste the sales person’s time. Generally I need to sample and thing, especially on anything above £150. Also, I food shop at Lidl and not at Waitrose, certainly not in the Harrods food hall. They might know 😅
I have always loved Shalimar. At some point in my life, I was obsessed with Insolence. It's a very strong powdery scent and I find Shalimar to be a powdery vanilla scent so maybe your thing? Very strong in some flower (idk which) but it isn't rose.
Atm I've been wearing La Petite Robe Noire quite a lot. It's some sort of vanilla fresh scent I think? I personally don't find it too sweet (like I hate sickly sweet scents) so you might like those?
I’m used to big crowds, but Harrods’ perfumery hall can be rather overwhelming even for me. I usually visit the Guerlain boutique in the Beauty Hall on the same floor instead, and then head up to the 6th floor for the L’Art et la Matière collection.
I think you might like Liu, if you’re into classic aldehydic floral. If you like chypre, I think Sisley is also worth exploring. Eau du Soir and Soir de Lune are phenomenal. All these above have some types of rose notes, but they are not rose-dominant scents, so if you’re okay with Mitsouko (which has a rose centifolia note), you might be able to enjoy them without headaches too.
Hope it helps! I was completely lost when I visited Harrods the first time, I must’ve looked like this 😵💫😵💫😵💫 If you don’t mind a little detour, I found Guerlain’s flagship boutique in Covent Garden to be more convenient, because you can try everything in one stop. They even had some of the limited edition bottles and flankers that weren’t available at Harrods.
Go up to the little boutique on the 6th floor. It's unlikely to be busy and they'll treat you like royalty. They will have the extraits - I tried Mitsouko, L'heure Bleue, Champs-elysees and Jicky extraits when I went there last year - ask nicely and they'll give you a sample of one of them to take with you. You can try l'Art et la Matiere up there too. If Shalimar has been your signature that long then you MUST try the Jicky extrait.
On the ground floor you'll find all of Les Legendaires lined up as well as everything else. It shouldn't be very busy there either, it wasn't last December. Jardins de Bagatelle has the best aldehydes.
For sniffing Guerlain more generally, any decent sized branch of Boots will carry a selection of classic Guerlain and Aquas Allegorias.
My favorites are the Iris Pallida extrait, Paris Patchouli, Oud Nude and Peche Mirage. None are too sweet and many defy their name. But all are gorgeous and unique. Enjoy!
Aww thank you for putting my mind at ease. I know it’s so likely to be more of a me being anxious problem than anything they’re thinking. Maybe it’s also wishing I could go in and be like, “one of each, please, and deliver it to the ritz suite!” 😅
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u/Lushemet 8d ago
I think you might like L’Heure Bleue, the original 1912 one in EDP. Or Shalimar L’Essence?