Our take
What does Nahéma smell like?
Guerlain launched Nahéma in 1979. Jean-Paul Guerlain composed it with Anne-Marie Saget, who was working alongside him at the time. The name comes from a legend about a sultan and his twin daughters. One was gentle, the other fiery, and Nahéma was the fiery one. The perfume is a rose, but a huge one. It was among the first to use damascenones, then brand-new molecules that give rose a jammy, fruity side. Peach and bergamot open it. Then the rose takes over everything, backed by ylang-ylang and jasmine. The base is classic Guerlain. Vanilla, benzoin, Peru balsam and sandalwood all show up. Nahéma did not find its audience at launch, yet the eau de parfum is still sold. Next to Yves Saint Laurent's Paris, another opulent rose from 1983, Nahéma is fruitier and more balsamic. It needs the right skin and the right season.
When to wear it
An evening rose for autumn and winter, best kept for special occasions. One spray is enough, two will fill the room.
It belongs to the Floral, Oriental / Amber family. Nahéma is one of 89 creations by Guerlain in our encyclopedia.
