Insolence by Guerlain

This one, along with Ultraviolet, is always my mom’s go-to perfume 🥰. It’s a super kaleidoscopic fragrance because it changes depending on who wears it, the time of day, and the season. In spring, on my mom, it smells fresh and citrusy with a musky touch and a faint hint of raspberry. It’s very feminine and delicate, like a porcelain doll. On me, it’s much stronger because the amber kills me 😅. We skip it in summer since we prefer sweeter scents. Just like it smells on my mom, it reminds me of Chanel Chance Eau Vive, my favorite citrus; but this Guerlain is far more multidimensional. I wish it smelled the same on my skin because it’s incredible: it’s between unreachable futurism and vintage, classic, and safe.

It smells quite vintage, but it’s delicious. It feels super feminine with the violet and raspberry, almost cool. That’s why I like mixing it with a simple vanilla or musk perfume to add some warmth. I see it as perfect for an elegant dinner or a winter evening wedding. It’s not for everyday wear, but you’ll definitely turn heads when you wear it.

It’s as precious as a bride walking down the aisle saying ‘I do’. The violets are the soul of this fragrance, and the iris gives it a daring touch like a spring garden. It doesn’t tire or overwhelm me; it’s subtle but persistent. It lasts a long time, between 6 and 9 hours. For me, it’s a work of art in perfumery.

On my skin, it’s a slightly talcum-scented Sweet Floral Fruity, very feminine and elegant. The violet note isn’t the star; it’s always accompanied by raspberry and bergamot, and as it dries down, you get a touch of wood and musk, but always alongside those raspberries. I don’t perceive the rose at any stage of the perfume. Its performance is good for an EDT; it lasts about 6 hours on skin and a bit longer on clothes. In my opinion, it’s an olfactory delight, a chameleon perfume because on my daughter it smells like violets and more violets with a clean, slightly woody musk.

This is an interesting fragrance: feminine, impertinent, rebellious, with a penetrating and intense opening where the violet notes take control with power, yet they carry supporting floral notes. It’s a fragrance that makes an impression; longevity is about 6 hours, with the first 2 hours having moderate but present projection. At first glance, it’s not a fragrance to buy blindly since it’s not the typical soft, floral, or delicate feminine scent; on the contrary, it’s sophisticated but daring. Maybe ideal for an outfit over 30 for a party or special event. While versatile, it knows how to stand out.

If you wear it, people will definitely ask for your opinion. It smells like violets and red berries, sweet and nostalgic, like a childhood hug. Works great in the cold, but also in summer. It’s feminine, playful, and sexy. I add vanilla on top because sometimes the violet gets too strong. I love it; it’s a shame they discontinued it. I know there’s a similar Insolence, but it’s not the same. Also, the original bottle was gorgeous and elegant, while the new one is boring.

I agree it’s white musk with caramelized violets and sweet raspberry. It’s a fragrance with a lot of personality, ideal for those who like gourmand notes. The touch of orange blossom and iris gives it the luminosity that captivates me in this fruity floral.

My doll perfume, that’s how I feel. Dear caramelized violets, come to me! What a beautiful scent. I got it from a friend who sold it to me, and it’s gorgeous. It brings back childhood memories of opening those sweets and smells like the hair of new dolls. It’s very feminine, but watch out, it’s potent and overwhelming, not meant to go unnoticed. It has excellent longevity and makes you feel super feminine. I love it.

To me, it basically smells like the classic violet candies from before with a slight talc touch. It’s not a bad perfume, but I find it too heavy and cloying.

I remember this Guerlain launch, three years after L’instant, when Maurice Roucel returned with another perfume for the brand trying to match his global fame. The house went all in by inviting Hilary Swank, an award-winning actress who had just won her second Oscar. Coupled with impressive marketing with ads everywhere, the composition promised the return of that intense, resinous, and musky iris from L’instant, with a nod to the past violet style of Apres l’ondee. Expectations were high, and the perfume didn’t fail; it was a commercial success. I think, like L’instant, Insolence was never for the young, but rather to make ladies over 30 delirious, the sector Swank belonged to. And so it was; women between 30 and 40 catapulted this fragrance. Of course, it didn’t become the perfume of the decade, but it didn’t go unnoticed and is still available. In composition: imagine something more ethereal and talc-like like Chanel’s Misia, but Guerlain opted for a well-irisated, cosmetic violet, bordering on cloying, with a strident cocktail of red berries. In the top, bergamot increases the sweet-and-sour play of the raspberry and berries, but that sensation fades away. In the heart, you notice the rose, but the iris and violet claim all the attention. Yes, it was a sillage and longevity bomb. Positively speaking, but in this case, it ended up tiring me. I liked the handling of certain notes, but everything was too amplified. Years later, I tried it again and our chemistry was different; I was very young then and didn’t understand that you don’t always need to spray three or four times with every fragrance. Some, like Insolence, must be used moderately for the perfect result. Now I enjoy it so much; that intense cosmetic violet that I’ve always liked, but applied moderately. I know they changed the bottle several times; my review is of the first launch.

This perfume was born from the berry trend and it worked. To me, it smells like white musk with caramelized violets and a sweet raspberry note. The original bottle was gorgeous, feminine, and elegant; unfortunately, the current one looks generic and cheap, but the fragrance remains good. It’s sensual, very well orchestrated, and ideal for an elegant night. Seductive for romantic women of all ages who want to make an impression. It has class and that air of when perfumery still crafted pieces with personal category. Later came the decline, but it’s a floral with style.

I love its violet scent; it reminds me a lot of the purple version of Issey Miyake’s Pleats Please.

It’s persistent, lots of violet, but it stinks. It smells like fly repellent. What does stand out is the durability on skin and even more on clothes. I won’t buy it again. Scent: 6. On skin: 8 hours. Sillage: 5.

It’s a bomb of sweet, modern, and feminine violets. It’s an EDT with longevity and sillage worthy of an EDP. The opening is juicy, fruity, and sweet, with lots of berries and raspberries; then the violets explode and stay. The dry down is powdery and sweet, like violet candies. The performance is excellent, ideal for crowded parties so you don’t go unnoticed. When you sweat, it activates and projects a lot. I simply love it. P.S.: It’s very potent, don’t recommend buying blindly.

Not a good option for those who suffer from migraines. I was attracted to it and sprayed it on my back in the store; upon smelling it, a terrible migraine attack began. That happens with chlorine, acetone, or perfumes with lots of alcohol, though you can’t smell the alcohol; there’s something in its composition that is very strong and triggering. The sillage wouldn’t go away even after washing my hands and stopping activities until I got home, took a bath, and locked myself in the dark. It is undoubtedly a headache-inducing perfume. Whoever wants to use it should be sure it will give them a lot of presence, especially if used by someone with a strong personality. You’ll never be forgotten.