194 community ratings

L'Initial

Name: L'Initial
Brand: Guerlain

Perfumer: Thierry Wasser

2020WomenClassic

8.2/ 10

Community score
194 ratings

See your match

Guerlain L'Initial opens with jasmine, bergamot and orange, then settles into the sweet warmth of vanilla and tonka bean, a floral-citrus scent made for women.

Compare

Skunky's take: Like opening a window: the room feels lighter at once.

How does it perform?

From 172 community ratings, all out of 10.

Longevity

7.7 /10

Holds up through the day and fades gently toward evening.

Sillage

7.2 /10

People close to you notice, nobody gets overwhelmed.

Bottle

8.4 /10

Sits nicely on a shelf.

Value for money

7.5 /10

Most people feel it is worth the price.

Blind buy risk

Low risk

91% of votes are positive and opinions barely differ.

Notes

They open one after another, from the first spray into the evening.

Top notesfirst 15 minutes

Jasmine Bergamot Orange

Heart notesfirst few hours

Iris pallida

Turkish rose absolute

Base noteswhat stays into the evening

Vanilla Tonka bean White musk Patchouli Caramel

Accords

From most dominant to most subtle.

Citrus
Floral
Fruity
Sweet
Spicy
Oriental
Powdery

What does L'Initial smell like?

Its longevity and sillage are rated good. Most voters pick spring and fall, with winter next. Leisure, evening and night out draw similar support. Voters mostly call its character feminine, then classic.

The top is bright with citrus and jasmine. In the heart, Iris pallida and Turkish rose absolute give a soft, powdery floral feel. The base turns sweet with vanilla, tonka bean, caramel and white musk, while patchouli adds a little depth. Chanel Coco Noir (Eau de Parfum) and Coco Mademoiselle (Eau de Parfum) have a close profile.