Herbes Troublantes – citrusy and green and the smell of eternal summer

Photo: perfumeniche

One of my favourite summer fragrances was Un Dimanche à la Campagne EDC from Guerlain. Its green, fresh, gentle beauty was perfect for me in spring and summer. And then it was discontinued. We all know how that feels. But then, in 2021, it came back…sort of. In that year, Guerlain released Herbes Troublantes, a reworking of the beloved citrusy cologne in EDP concentration. And once again, the pitchforks and torches were put away, and happiness was restored in the niche.

I like to think of the two fragrances as cousins, not siblings: same inspiration, the French film, ‘A Sunday in the Country’ by Bertrand Tavernier, but each fragrance stands on its own. And, since I seem to be reaching for Herbes Troublantes most days lately, I must admit I don’t miss Un Dimanche à la Campagne at all.

On me, Herbes Troublantes opens with a note of bright, cheery lemon backed by nose-tingling Calabrian bergamot. The bergamot is green, fruity-sweet and has a floral edge that links to a note of orange blossom. Together, they give an airy, serene feeling at the top of the fragrance. And then the ‘troubling herbs’ come onto the scene. Thyme is spicy and aromatic and warms the citrus/floral mix. Mint is green, refreshing, and invigorating, while rosemary is woody and camphorous. Lemon leaves are bright and citrusy and smell like fresh green grass. Together, the herbs make up a cocktail of capital ‘G’ green that nearly highjacks Herbes Troublantes, but instead sparks the green of the bergamot and ignites the orange blossom. Suddenly, the orange blossom seems to bloom, getting headier and sensuous while at the same time revealing its soapy facet that smells summery to my nose. I get a whiff of oud that bolsters the sensuality at the heart and leads to the base that’s all about musk. The musk is powdery, warm and woody and counterbalances the botanical green beautifully.

Herbes Troublantes dries down to an elegant, ethereal veil of summery freshness and gentle sensuality.

The Guerlain website rates Herbes Troublantes as two out of four in intensity, indicating that it’s a skin scent. Still, it’s an EDP, and while there are times when I think it’s disappeared from my wrist, I catch whiffs of it hours, even the day after. It’s like I’ve been stamped with the scent of eternal summer, and I find that irresistible.

Check out Herbes Troublantes in our Shop.