L’Homme Ideal Cool, from Guerlain was released in 2019. The perfumer behind this creation is Thierry Wasser. It has the top notes of Anise, Bergamot, Mint, and Orange, middle notes of Almond, Neroli, and Water, and base notes of Ambroxan, Patchouli, and Vetiver.
Sorry not a fan. My history with the Ideal line was bewilderment at the first one, despite understanding the older Guerlain's it was nodding to. Then elation at the later ones the edp and Parfum (I think they are called?) As they really doubled down on the coumarin/tonka oriental gourmand elements making fragrances that weren't just a sort of modern mess, but rather a clearly recognised vision....in my humble opinion of course. However, there was another flanker in the line which took the acceptable face of Ideal and made it even more 'fresh' and mass appealing in the cologne version...cue alarm bells in my head. To my surprise this one really worked, the bitter, sharp grapefruit top combined with that milky almond base just worked incredibly well, finally I started to 'get' the line and enjoyed the others much more as a result. So after that brief history of my thoughts on Guerlain Ideal comes Ideal Cool and frankly it's a step too far for me. I must say the coolness is certainly evoked in the smell, giving a superbly airy, cool effect. I think people who like this will really like it because it's undoubtedly created with Guerlain's usual carefully consideration. I just don't like the combination of almond, tonka bean and smooth woodiness with aquatic and minty notes. I get the balance, mint kinda works with vetiver and in turn with the rest of the composition you can pick out aspects that chime well in both contexts, neroli for example. I just don't like it personally and I believe this is the replacement for Ideal Cologne which is little sad but I suppose things have to move on. I will have to try it again as nothing about my feeling on this line would surprise me, I might end up reverting my position, stranger things have happened. for now it's a No though.