Philtre d’Amour is unusual for a contemporary Guerlain: it smells like it belongs in their earlier catalogue, alongside Shalimar, L’Heure Bleue, Jicky, and Mitsouko, yet is just a little more than a decade old. Considering it alongside the L’Art et la Matière collection, it stands out in stark contrast. When I recently met with a fellow perfumista (Hello Alyssa!), I described Philtre as the smell of “coming home” to Perfume with a capital “P”.
I love the way Philtre bursts into a fizzy tete-a-tete on my skin when it hits it: it tingles the nose like a fresh can of ginger-ale before settling in to the floral heart, and those citrus notes last an astonishingly long time before the second and third act appear; but when they do, it gets even better— the vibe is cool and dry, a little austere, yet easy to wear. It’s a modern chypre, and I think, unusually, it does honor to the chypre tradition.
No small feat.
beauty on the outside 
I think your sample comes from me.
Your review reminded me why I sent it to you in the first place – I thought you’d appreciate it. So glad you do. 🙂
More than a sample, a generous decant! One put to very good use…
You were right, as always, because I appreciate it very much 🙂
Thanks for posting this. I can’t wait to try!
I hope that you will like it 🙂
Where does one get this or is it no longer available?
Hi SmellyGirl!
I think that Birgit bought it through the Place Vendome Haute Parfumerie in Germany, though I am not sure about US distribution…
I’ve just put on a little of my sample in honour of your lovely review and I’m surprised how zesty the opening is – fizzy is right! Looking forward to acts 2 and 3. I love me a modern chypre.
It’s so true that is very different from the gourmand-y exclusives. I like that it smells like a classic Guerlain. Many thanks for the review, dee.
Ooohh! I’m so glad that you love the opening, isn’t it just lovely? I find this a real stunner, and find myself compulsively spraying it throughout the day when I wear it… I think I’d use up a bottle right quick, if one landed in my closet! 🙂
Don’t you just love the classic Guerlain’s???
You said the magic C word- now I must try this..:)
Do! 😉
Love it ♥
More fatal than the oddly named Chypre Fatal, Philtre d’Amour also features some of the most exquisite citrus notes ever.
Exquisite, and long lasting too, for citrus notes, don’t you think?
🙂