Guerlain | The Scented Hound

Every once in a while there is a fragrance that for some reason calls to me like some siren song begging me to check it out. Mitsouko by Guerlain is one of those scents. I am certainly not the target market for this fragrance but that’s not going to stop me. Maybe it’s the bottle, it seems very old-fashioned and stylish, but whatever reason here it goes…

WHAT I SMELL: Mitsouko goes on herbal and medicinal, it’s very strong and rounded. It then moves into a warmer phase that is hard to describe, still herbal, a little sour and eucalyptus like with hints of Jasmine and Peach. Mitsouko’s drydown sits in this light and powdery spiced peachy understated chypre stage that is soft and subtle. I have to admit, this is really a hard fragrance to describe. The blended notes are masterfully composed into a scent that is very unusual and distinct.

From the Guerlain website:

Fruity chypre Mysterious, Balanced, Velvety. A masterpiece of balance and originality, Mitsouko marries a fruity note of peach with jasmine flowers and May rose. The mysterious dry-down of the fragrance blends spicy notes with those of underbrush and vetiver.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: When I first put this on, for some reason it reminded me of my dentist office growing up. Maybe someone there wore this or something similar or maybe it is that medicinal edge that first comes out. But at the time, the dentist office was already an older building from the 1930s so it had this kind of deco feel about it. Mitsouko also had that feeling of being from a bygone era. My hubby said it smelled like an old lady. I don’t know if I agree, but it definitely is a scent for the more mature.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE MITSOUKO: exotic, unique, full-bodied

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT MITSOUKO: Bois de Jasmin, I Smell Therefore I Am, Scentsate

BOTTOM LINE: I will revisit this scent again. I can’t say that I love it, but I do believe that Mitsouko has stood the test of time for almost 100 years for a very good reason. It’s not for everybody, but I know that if I wore this on the right day, it would be perfect.

Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Chypre Fruity
Classification: Feminine
Expense: Varied, in EdT and EdP (review based on the EdP version)

This is one of those colognes that sits on my shelf but I rarely put it on. It’s not that I don’t like it. It’s just one of those scents that I don’t find particularly memorable and it doesn’t compel me to want to wear it. In other words, it’s one of those scents that my partner says I will eventually give to him as a hand me down (it is true, that does happen quite a bit). When you read the description of this cologne it states that this is a woody scent. I would say that it’s more of a fresh scent, very clean and light and a bit sweet. The official description says that it has flamboyant virility and discreet femininity. I like that description. The scent is considered a masculine scent, but it does have a very soft finish. In all, I believe that this is a safe bet if you want to wear cologne without causing a stir, no one will find this scent offensive or objectionable.

From the Guerlain site:

Luminous woody. Fresh, warm, sensual. This paradoxical perfume skates between fire and ice, flamboyant virility and discreet femininity. The luminous freshness of citrus crystals and star anise contrast with the sensual warmth of patchouli, hibiscus seeds and cocoa to offer, through this luminous woody fragrance, a moment after which everything will be different.

Bone Rating: 3 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: light, fresh, woody
Classification: Masculine
Expense: Moderate, in Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum