I love this fragrance, for the life of me I can’t figure out why , but when I wear it I am transported to Ann Arbor Michigan in the 70’s, in January, at dusk, and it must be sloppy weather. It becomes increasingly creamy, vanillary and delicious as time goes down without ever losing its spicy edge. It is a scent that you spray and cannot stop smelling, going back to your wrist for another intoxicating inhalation.

For whatever reason, French thyme is never listed in the pyramids of these old Guerlains, but it's what bestows the slightly medicinal/aromatic note. The drydown is by far the best part, and lasts quite a while: the powder fades and the carnation, tonka, and aniseed settle into a warm, spicy radiance.Sadly I could only lay my hands on a contemporary bottle with the juice In a startling radioactive shade of yellow, so I expected this incarnation to align more with Sanchez’s updated review on the current formulation of it being a ‘pretty stranger’ who, though in no way resembling the girl I once loved, nonetheless has dementedly waltzed into my life trying to convince me that It is indeed her. Three spays are good enough for ten hours, with a sillage up to six feet and close to three hours of projection.

The initial spray is really nice, I personally love a burst of citrus and citrus flowers in the beginning. Longevity is excellent because this was made in the early 1900’s and it does have the vintage type of smell but NOT in a bad way at all. Add to it the signature Guerlain vanilla, which is not sickly sweet and spices, which take some time to appear from the background. They aren't designed to be immediately appealing, but are designed with conceptual awareness - like a piece of artwork, to captivate, intrigue, be open to interpretation and Guerlain's L'Heure Bleue does this effortlessly. For me and on me this is better in warmer weather not so screechy on me like in the winter, but again the dry down is absolutely beautiful!Brace yourself for that wave of melancholy, for it is bound to catch you off guard for sneaking that cheeky glimpse into the grand evening that once was.

Reading through the other reviews, you'll notice how it reminds different people of different things. As time passes, it becomes more impressionistic, almost phantasmagorical, as if it follows into the night, unabated but mutating into woods, benzoin, and vanilla. I think, in L'HEURE BLEUE, the thyme very cleverly prevents the gourmand-y notes and floral notes from ever seeming too sweet and cloying.

Note: The pros and cons listed on this page have been generated using the artificial intelligence system, which analyzes product reviews submitted by our members. Naturally, we did, and when I smelled her again for the first time in decades after my husband surprised me with a bottle, it all came flooding back. There are perfumes in my collections that are ultra calming, and L'Heure Bleue is such a scent that I reserve for end of the evening.

While we strive to provide accurate and helpful information, we cannot guarantee the complete accuracy or reliability of the AI-generated pros and cons. This is incredibly romantic and cheerful, though very classical and a bit restrained, and despite the name's reference to a specific time of the day at dusk, this really evokes early, bright blue spring mornings with birds singing amongst the flowers. Imagine Chanel No 5 with that luxurious vintage soap smell meets the most lovely beautiful smooth iris with some hints of golden sweetness.

In terms of notes, besides the clear floral powdery notes, and the sweet tonka and anise, I can smell something bitter and camphoraceous and herbal which I don't know where to fit. She had not been around older folks very much and even her grandparents don't wear strong perfumes but, her association is such.