This September, Guerlain will launch L'Instant Magic, a woody floral musk fragrance developed by perfumer Randa Hammami. The notes for the new scent include bergamot, rose, freesia, musk, sandalwood, cedar and almond notes.
Guerlain L'Instant Magic will be available in 30, 50 and 80 ml Eau de Parfum, and in matching body products. The bottle is similar to that for the original L'Instant, but with the base and top tinted black. (via parfumessence, cosmeticnews)
Other recent launches from Guerlain: Aqua Allegoria Angelique Lilas & Mandarine Basilic, Vetiver Extreme, Garden Sensuel & Oud Sensuel.
Update: Guerlain L'Instant Magic is entirely unrelated to the original L'Instant fragrance, according to Guerlain's Sylvaine Delacourte:
“…except for the freshness permeating the composition,” explained Delacourte.
“The first is an oriental floral, whereas L’Instant Magic expresses its sensuousness through white musks and wood notes.” She adds: “I’ve even nicknamed it Muscinade, a reference to Guerlinade. [...] Both are bold with their heavy use of certain raw materials ie. very fine natural ingredients that give them a signature and fragrant trail that can be identified immediately.” (via moodiereport)
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Freesia AND Almond. Could it be any more like something I wouldn't be able to stomach?
Actually yes, it could. If it had some litchi and pink pepper.
It isn't sounding appealing to me either, M, but we'll see — if it manages to be less sweet than the original, it might work. Actually, can't remember the notes for the original and have to go look them up…
*laughs* M, I did not recall you hating freesias! I adore them, but petulantly, I think I will dismiss this one… I don't like the original L'Instant and the addition of a flanker…ugh..
The previous L'Instant flanker — the citrus one — actually sounded nice to me, but I've never seen it anywhere in the US. This one isn't quite so appealing — could be even sweeter than the original.
I didn't even know there *was* another flanker… I certainly have not seen it here in Europe. (in the countries I've visited at least…)
One each for men & women: L'Instant de Guerlain Fleur de Mandarine and L'Instant de Guerlain Pour Homme Cristaux d'Agrumes. I've heard they're nice, but as I said, haven't laid eyes on them
The summer Limited Edtions Fleur de Mandarine and Cristaux D'Agrumes are only available in Eastern Canada. (Don't know about distribution elsewhere) D'Un Ete was a good one. It was well-priced and had grapefruit in the top-note. The reason the original was perceived as sweet was because of the honey of citrus (mandarine orange) top-note. The heart is magnolia and an updated version of Guerlinade. The drydown is vetiver, sandalwood and benzoin. I, too, can't stand freesia and almond but the almond wood and blossom didn't do any harm to Champs-Elysees. Flankers seem to drive customers nuts. They want each new creation to have an original name and a new bottle but the cost nowadays for a new launch is prohibitive. At least L'Instant Magic isn't another fruity floral. I look forward to smelling both it and the new Iighter Insolence line this summer.
Good, will keep looking for it if it was a good one, thanks!
Another L'Instant incarnation! Jezuz…
Just as bad as all those Opium YSL incarnations.
I don't understand how the YSL Opium flankers make any money — I literally never see them on an YSL counter outside of NY. Wonder if they're better distributed in the rest of the world? And same goes for Guerlain, short of Bergdorf Goodman, it isn't easy to find the L'Instant flankers in the US. Maybe this one will actually appear at the local mall…
Robin, thank you for the update! It is an entirely different fragrance and if Guerlain had designed another bottle and name instead of the 'cheaper idea' of same name plus same bottle, I would have had a different expectation. Now there is a lot explaning to do after the lauching of L'Instant Magic…
It is so expensive to launch an entirely new fragrance these days…they just recycle the same names over & over!
This sounds a bit like “Champs-Elysees”, with Freesia standing in for Mimosa.
My first job was in a floral shop. I remember how intense freesia was in the arrangements–we always knew when a shipment came in because it would permeate the entire space…freesia and also lily. Two strong ladies.
I wonder if the sandlewood and almond notes in this will resemble Profumum's “Antico Caruso” ; creamy smoothness.
There also three Dior Addicts (stupid name) and the first I thought one was quite good, the second one terrible and the third one Dior Addict2, how confusing, could have been a big hit if with a better name and bottle. My daughter and I believe that it could have been a strong competition for Nina by Nina Ricci. It is indeed very expensive to come with a new bottle as well as a new name, but it could be worth it and we all love the bottles too..
NLB, I have a sample waiting to be tried. I love freesia, but not always in perfume, I find…
I am not a big Addict fan, myself, and did not love the flankers. But I think “could be worth it” is a different matter to the perfume companies than to the consumers. From their standpoint, having a ready-made audience of existing fans is a huge money-saver when launching a new scent.
Eek, it looks like I'm the only one who liked the original L'Instant. But this one sounds… eh. I think “unnecessary” is the word I'm looking for.
You know, I've been meaning to revisit the original. I found it too sweet, but haven't smelled it in a few years. The Magic I didn't much care for.
I'm late to this party, but I read past blogs! I'm not familiar with the originals, this is the first Guerlain I think I've smelled. . . but I love it! I can totally see the Muscinade–because it's so light, almost like a musky lemonade. I think a guy could wear this too–it's gender neutral. I may have to get a bottle of this.
Glad you found a favorite!
I realize that I’m super duper late to this party, but I just had to comment.
Originally this didn’t sound appealing to me either, but in one of the too-infrequent instances of an SA being really helpful, the actually very passionate and knowledgable SA at my Guerlain counter insisted I try Instant Magic.
I’m so glad I did! It’s really gorgeous, something I think you’ve referred to elsewhere as “wood pudding;” if it reminded me of anything it’d probably be Kenzo Amour. I didn’t think it was suuuuper gourmand, though; the almond is just lovely.
That sounds wonderful, actually! I can’t remember if I tried it or not, I’ll have to see if I can find a tester.