Néroli Outrenoir, from Guerlain was released in 2016. The perfumer behind this creation is Delphine Jelk and Thierry Wasser. It has the top notes of Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon, Petitgrain, and Tangerine, middle notes of Earthy Notes, Neroli, Orange Blossom, Smoke, and Tea, and base notes of Ambrette (Musk Mallow), Benzoin, Myrrh, Oakmoss, and Vanilla.
Wow! I hadn't revisited this line in some time and I don't even think this wasn't even released the last time I did? Neroli and I have a strange love/hate thing going on but I'm increasingly a lover of all things neroli and orange blossom. This is ultimately about three vital elements and I don't need any list of notes or ingredients to tell me that Tea, Neroli, and petitgrain feature in this beautiful perfume. A long lasting vaguely metallic, smoky tea note, is what the dry down leaves you with but the opening has that green element I love about authentic and well judged neroli perfumes (I adored Abel's Golden Neroli for this) coupled with the unmistakable, substantive citrus smell of petitgrain. Now I associate this line with having the same vanilla theme running through them and although not overt and perhaps imagined? I detect the rounding effect and smoothness associated with it rather than overt sweetness or anything. This is sublime perfume and really prominent with tea after several hours. I thought it was inspired and a welcome break from the Neroli portofino, soapy type Neroli's this is just in a whole other class of it's own.