Sandra‘s Closet

As you know, I am a huge fan of niche fragrances and haute perfumery. But there is one Maison that has always impressed me with its “commercial” launches and that is GUERLAIN. Founded in 1828, the French perfume, cosmetics and skincare house is among the oldest in the world. Perfumes by Guerlain are often said to be characterized by a common olfactory accord known as the “Guerlinade“. Let me introduce you to the newest creation:

Thierry Wasser at work

This spring, Guerlain, that was acquired in 1994 by the LVMH group, has launched a new fragrance for a strong, free and sensual woman, MON GUERLAIN, orchestrated by Guerlain Master Perfumer Thierry Wasser. The new women’s fragrance is embodied by Angelina Jolie, an icon of modern, multi-faceted femininity.

Angelina Jolie, the face of Mon Guerlain

Why her? “We create perfumes for the women we admire” said Jacques Guerlain, creator of mythical fragrances such as Shalimar, L’Heure Bleue and Mitsouko. Thierry Wasser, Guerlain’s Master Perfumer, drew his inspiration from Angelina Jolie to create a fragrance expressing the idea of the “notes of a woman”: the choices, emotions and dreams that embody modern femininity.

The partnership between Angelina and Guerlain was agreed in Cambodia in December 2015, where she was directing her film First They Killed My Father. It has its roots, however, in Angelina’s childhood memory of her own mother’s love of a Guerlain powder. Angelina Jolie is a filmmaker, Special Envoy of the UN Refugee Agency and co-founder of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative. She has donated her entire salary from the Guerlain campaign to charity.

At the heart of the fragrance composition is Tahitensis vanilla – also present in Jicky, Shalimar and Habit Rouge – joined by Carla lavender, Sambac jasmine and sandalwood. Melding fresh and sensual feminine and masculine notes, this audacious accord gives Mon Guerlain its power and modernity.

Mon Guerlain – Carla Lavender

The bottle for the new fragrance revisits the celebrated quadrilobe bottle, inspired by an alchemist’s flacon, designed by Gabriel Guerlain and crafted by Baccarat in 1908. One century later, it is beautifully enhanced by a luxurious glass weight and a golden adornment.

The Mon Guerlain fragrance collection features:
Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum spray 30ml, 50ml and 100ml
Mon Guerlain Eau de Parfum bottle 1 l

 Mon Guerlain Perfumed Body Lotion 200ml and Mon Guerlain Perfumed Shower Gel 200ml.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Guerlain

Guerlain‘s inspiration behind their beautiful Holiday 2011 makeup look “Belle de Nuit” is truly worth reading it and might leave you intrigued. Enjoy!

“During the 1920’s and 1930’s, pioneers in aviation accomplished unimaginable feats and these brave pilots became instant, worldwide heroes. It was during this revolutionary period, in 1933, that Jacques Guerlain composed the legendary perfume Vol de Nuit, meaning “Night Flight,” as a tribute to the most famous women aviators of his time. Named for the second book written by his close friend Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Guerlain’s creation was a bold oriental fragrance that served as ode to all fearless women. Comprised of woody, vanilla and powdery iris notes, Vol de Nuit was for the woman who laughs in the face of fear, for whom nothing is impossible.

For Guerlain’s Holiday 2011 make-up collection Belle de Nuit, Creative Director Oliver Échaudemaison takes his inspiration from this legendary fragrance. Evoking the changing shades of the night sky, he created daring tones that are both dark and dramatic with mesmerizing iridescent accents. With lacquered and blue-green details, the products are encased within boxes that reveal the blue and black zebra motif found on the original Vol de Nuit box design. Belle de Nuit is a sophisticated and enchanting limited edition collection that is as fleeting as nightfall.”

Let’s take a closer look at those very luxurious limited-edition pieces:

Vol de Nuit Poudre Iridescente Parfumée – Face & Body – CHF 111.-

The star product is a combination of a luminous powder and a fragrance that wraps the skin with a veil of iridescent shimmer while being deliciously fragranced by the notes of Vol de Nuit. The universal pale pink shade is accentuated with blue-green and silvery hues to leave the face, body and hair sparkling. The bottle reinterprets that of the original Vol de Nuit, which was revolutionary at the time by being the first to combine glass and metal.

Météorites Perles de Nuit Poudre Lumière – Eclat Pur – CHF 74.-

The cult favorite is back and reinvented this holiday season. Although the formula remains untouched, Météorites Perles de Nuit leaves the face glowing and radiant with a new tailor-made harmony. Five perfectly smooth pearls correct, illuminate and even out the skin. It is composed of pink pearls to capture light, white to illuminate the complexion, gold to reflect light, orange to boost radiance and silver to add shimmer without whitening the skin.

Parure de Nuit – Poudre Pressée & Blush – CHF 97.-

Parure de Nuit is a face powder and blush in one and uses pale pink, white, deep pink and blue green to harmonise skin tone. It comes with a super-soft brush so you can softly sweep across all the shades for face illumination. So pretty!

Ecrin 4 Couleurs N° 10 Les Ombres de Nuit – CHF 80.-

Guerlain has developed a new color harmony made especially for night owls that creates smoky, seductive and spellbinding eyes. An iridescent texture of green, blue and grey pearlescent particles release luminous color with an extremely metallic finish and is combined with an extra-matte black shadow for a precise, intense liner effect.

Rouge Automatique – Le Rouge Hydratant Longue Tenue – CHF 54.-

The thirties icon Rouge Automatique is back and is more modern and attractive than ever. The Art Déco inspired case opens and closes at the flick of a hand revealing two new shades for holiday. Seductive, yet innocent, in Rouge Automatique, Guerlain has created a second-skin texture allowing for long-lasting wear.

Two limited edition shades:
169 Flirt d’un Jour: A soft and luminous pink, evocative of passionate kisses.
170 Nuit d’Amour: A surprising black red that reveals an intense plum color on the lips (above).

Opening a Guerlain product feels like opening a present, so have fun indulging yourself in pure luxury. The collection is available now.

My beauty must-have: Vol de Nuit Poudre Iridescente Parfumée that will add the perfect sparkle to every festive outfit.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Guerlain