Fragrant news: Secret touch
A liquid onctuous parfum gel, following in the footsteps of the very successful Chanel #5 Sensual Elixir or the rather new Velvet Sheer Aromatics Elixir by Clinique, L'instant Secret Touch by Guerlain hopes to cater to a market of women on the go, busy but also refined, who like to use this as a final embelishment before a rendez-vous. L'instant was perfumer's Maurice Roucel's previous effort at Guerlain, before Insolence (the latter sparking even greater controversy than his first foray into the iconic house). Although L'instant created a fracas when it first launched, as it was a break-up with tradition at the venerable house being the first one to lack the characteristic Guerlainade base of other perfumes in the stable, it proved to be a very popular and well liked perfume by many women. Hence their idea to launch a product that would bridge the gap between parfum and eau de parfum.
Guerlain puts it all too poetically, but the idea of applying perfume the old-fashioned way (although in a more sensuous and practical, less likely to spill form) is very alluring all the same.
"For Christmas, Guerlain has created L’Instant de Guerlain Secret Touch: designed to be used as a talisman in a secret ritual, this sensual, bewitching perfume is intensely feminine. As an object of desire, it is difficult to resist the magnificent Secret Touch. Its rounded, delicate bottle glistens like a jewel that kindles desire.
This spiritual talisman conceals a magic ink bottle eager to create a new and bold olfactory script. Drawing invisible letters on the skin, the wand tells an aromatic story to evoke the senses. One stolen kiss from this smooth gel and the skin exhales the sweetness of citrus honey, the freshness of light jasmine and the amber-based note of L’Instant de Guerlain.
Dedicated to all women who want to discover this sensual pleasure, L’Instant de Guerlain Secret Touch is a luxurious potion that will captivate you for more than an instant."
This new formulation is really precious, very feminine and sensual and lends itself to the ritual of applying perfume with the wand on pulse points, a process that seems quite silly when cradling a big sprayer which begs to be sprayed from some distance, like an all-over mist. The texture of non sticky gel is especially inviting for busy lifestyles, as oils tend to stain clothes and take a while to sink in. This one, like Chanel's #5 Sensual Elixir before it (which I can personally attest has a fabulous texture, by the way) does not. Applying it will envelop you in the soft, sweet notes of honeyed citrus notes, jasmine, luminous magnolia and crystalline amber, just like the regular L'instant.
The beautiful little bottle, shaped like an ancient greek alabastron (the ceramoplastic type used for storing perfume oils), supressing a wink to Yves Saint Laurent Babydoll all the while, holds 12ml (a little more than 1/3oz) and will be priced at 69.50 euros or 95 Canadian $; which is a steal compared to the 90.10 euros for 7.7ml (that's a tad less than 1/4oz) of pure parfum.
Available at every Guerlain counter and at Sephora. Also at the Boutique & Institut Guerlain (in Canada: 1350 avenue Greene, Montréal, 514.933.6114 ; and of course in Paris)
If you are one who thinks size does matter after all a great deal, you can indulge yourself in the giant classic napoleonic bee bottles that have included -apart from L'instant- L'instant pour Homme, Shalimar, Mitsouko, L'heure bleue, Chamade, Vetiver, Jicky, Héritage, Jardin des Bagatelles, Eau de Guerlain, Eau du Coq, Eau de Cologne Impériale, Eau de fleurs de cédrat (that's pretty much all the classics of the house, exclusing Parure and Nahéma; bad impending news for both, I guess).
Each retails for a different price. L'instant giant bee bottle retails for 340 euros for half a liter of perfume.
The giant bottles are an alarming trend though, if one goes by the similarly monstrous ones at Dior (J'adore). We'll see how it goes....
Info from Guerlain newsletter , Sephora and Amabilia. Pic from Femmes Québec. seven comments
Is that copper-colored, the decoration?
OOOOH ! What a flask....
So lovely...and in spite of myself, I do like a bit of L'Instant now and then.
I could be tempted...but ought not, as recent purchases will attest [I think I could be embalmed for several lifetimes over,wink, wink].
Thank you, sweet one.
chayaruchama () - 09 12 06
Yes, Chaya, I believe this is copper coloured although I haven't seen it live yet.
L'instant is a nice enough scent, if a little too sweet in EDP. And judging by the Elixir in #5 and Velevet Sheer, the gel-parfum is catching on (which might be a nice trend).
LOL about the embalming!! (a true sign of perfumista)
Be well!
perfumeshrine - 09 12 06
Thank you for the info on L'Instant - which i love very much, I am truly intrigued by the new form (i find Sensual Elixir to be the best for m of No.5 ) and i think this one goes straight forward to be put my Christmas wishlist. ;-)
The bottle looks so gorgeous!
Nina - 12 12 06
Hope you find it to your satisfaction, Nina. L'instant is a likeable perfume, if a little too sweet for me in the EDP. Hopefully this will be more restrained. Report back if you do try it!
perfumeshrine - 12 12 06
nice shape.....
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Nasir () - 29 12 09
Very sweet perfume ! YOu can find it for cheaper on this website : http://www.lhypermarchedeparfum.fr/, I was quite happy when I found it !
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