Our take
What does Néroli Outrenoir smell like?
Guerlain added Néroli Outrenoir to its L'Art & La Matière collection in 2016. Thierry Wasser and Delphine Jelk built it around one idea: neroli paired with smoked tea. The opening is a whole basket of citrus. Bergamot and petitgrain are squeezed with grapefruit and lemon. Mandarin softens the edges. Neroli settles in fast and orange blossom makes it creamy. Then the tea shows up, dry and lightly smoky. Think of a cup of Lapsang left by an open window. The base is the surprise, with oakmoss and myrrh. Benzoin and vanilla warm it while ambrette gives it a steamy texture. Despite the name, nothing here is truly black. Next to Tom Ford's Neroli Portofino, it feels less beachy and more smoky. Our only complaint is how close it sits to the skin for an eau de parfum at this price.
When to wear it
Perfect for late summer, when you want citrus that outlasts a cologne. Spray generously, because it stays close.
It belongs to the Woody, Citrus family. Néroli Outrenoir is one of 89 creations by Guerlain in our encyclopedia.
