Prompt For Women

Prompt opens on a soft, sweet citrus - red apple, mandarin and bergamot glazed with a touch of honey - echoing the gentle, sunny start of L'Instant de Guerlain. The heart turns creamy and floral as ylang-ylang and magnolia take the lead, lifted by iris and jasmine, the elegant, slightly powdery bouquet that gives the original its ladylike polish. It dries down to honeyed amber, vanilla, benzoin and musk - warm, soft and comforting. L'Instant is famously difficult to dupe because Guerlain's compositions carry a refinement that budget houses rarely capture, and this version is no exception: it reads simpler and a touch flatter through the heart, smoothing over the original's nuance, and while pleasant it sits closer to the skin and fades sooner than the well-performing original. Best in spring and the cooler months, it suits the office, daily wear and dressier evenings - a likeable, recognisable budget impression of L'Instant rather than a perfect twin.