Timeless Intense

Timeless Intense opens with the spicy crackle of star anise over bright citruses and resinous elemi, mirroring the energetic introduction of L'Instant de Guerlain Eau Extreme. A heart of smoky tea, soft jasmine and neroli bridges into the part that matters: a rich, potent cocoa note draped over earthy patchouli, with sandalwood, Virginia cedar and a touch of hibiscus seed grounding the drydown. This is the smoky, gourmand-woody signature that made the Guerlain a cult masterpiece. Against the original, the Perfume Parlour version reads flatter and a shade sweeter, the creamy Mysore-sandalwood depth and the anise-cocoa interplay less three-dimensional and the longevity well short of the original's twelve-hour marathon. Still, for a budget scent it lasts respectably and projects with presence. A sophisticated autumn-and-winter choice for evenings, dates and formal wear, it brings a now-hard-to-find Guerlain idea back within reach.