Terracotta Le Parfum is a limited-edition fragrance created by Guerlain’s in-house perfumer Thierry Wasser in 2014 to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of Guerlain’s Terracotta bronze cosmetics line.  Here he interprets the legendary powder as a fragrance – a sun-soaked invitation to explore faraway lands.

Despite the name, Terracotta Le Parfum, is an  EDT.

It opens with a note of fresh, sparkling bergamot that introduces a note of juicy, milky, subtly sweet coconut linked to a note of heady, creamy tiare flower that evokes the feeling of a tropical beach. The coconut and tiare are a nod to suntan lotions, for sure, but have been elevated to an elegance that makes Terracotta Le Parfum much more than a beach scent. As it blooms, a note of orange blossom comes forward. It’s floral, subtly citrusy, and honey-sweet, extending those notes from the opening to the heart of rich, floral, and exotic ylang-ylang. On me, the ylang-ylang is indolic and animalic, which evokes a note of sweet, narcotic, fleshy jasmine. Meanwhile, the hibiscus flower deepens the floral aspect of the heart notes, adding freshness and warmth to the mix. At the base, musk warms and softens the richness of the heart while a touch of Guerlain’s signature vanilla gives it a soft sweetness.

My favourite moment is when the tiare, orange blossom, ylang-ylang, and jasmine cascade together, creating a sensuous, sultry summer scent that is utterly transporting. Nighttime on a secluded beach, the air feels a little fresh, a little warm, as the night-blooming flowers – tiare, ylang-ylang, jasmine – scent the air with their intoxicating, sensual pull.

Notes: Bergamot, coconut, tiare flower, orange blossom, hibiscus flower, ylang-ylang, jasmine, musk and vanilla.