Guerlain Meteorites Le Parfum Isn’t Quite Like the Original Juice

Guerlain Meteorites Le Parfum ($79) is a new fragrance inspired by the brand’s most beloved face powder, those multi-colored delicately violet scented pearls that brighten and highlight our faces.

I think most makeup users would agree that when they close their eyes and think of what makeup smells like the first thing that pops into their head is the smell of powdery violets. Somehow, someway, Guerlain managed to create the iconic and universally known scent of makeup. In 2000, they decided they’d bring the scent of their powder to an actual real life perfume and thus Meteorites Perfume was born. Now, nearly twenty years later collector’s and new fans can enjoy this truly unique fragrance again.

Or will they?

There are so many makeup and beauty products in my life I wish I had a perfume of. The spicy scent of Physicians Formula Argan Wear Ultra-Nourishing Argan Oil Blush, the aquatic, soothing scent of Etude House’s gel moisturizer, the tooth-achingly sweet scent of my favorite lipgloss, the list of makeup and skincare I’d love to make into a fragrance is endless.

Some brands have actually managed to recreate this experience for us. For example, just recently Physicians Formula created a Butter Paradise fragrance which is inspired by their Butter Blush and Highlighters and as for those of us who want to smell like lipstick Replica Lipstick On and Frederic Malle Lipstick Rose captured the essence perfectly. And let’s not forget that awesome time Kenzo Perfumed Beneficial Waters Relaxing Lotus Shh launched! Oh blessed be it smelled exactly like Kenzo Belle de Jour Moisturizer!

It might sound weird to some people but as a makeup addict I’m sure you can relate to wanting to smell just like your favorite lipstick, face powder, or moisturizer. Am I right?

As for Guerlain, well, they have made many, many fragrances over the years. Many of which are complex, unique, and beautiful scents but interestingly enough their “signature” scent has always been that of soft, delicate powdery violets. It’s not only a scent after all these years but more of an experience for the users of their makeup. And most importantly a tradition.

So, needless to say, the relaunch of Guerlain Meteorites Le Parfum is very, very exciting. I know it was for me. I heard about the relaunch many months ago but it was very slow hitting counters and still proves a little elusive. I got mine from a boutique in Vegas but even when I went to Paris a few weeks ago I was unable to find it in stores. I’m happy to report it’s starting to trickle down the line now so I imagine within the next week it’ll start popping up on counters. Neiman Marcus had stock but it sold out within 24 hours. I’d check with your local store by calling the Guerlain counter and seeing if they have it available.

The scent arrive in a circular bottle much like the Terracotta Fragrance. It has a vintage kaleidoscope label which is identical to the one found on the Meteorites powder. The box it arrives feels and looks like the Meteorites powder as well! All the nods to it being inspired by those beloved pearls are here. The juice inside the bottle is a beautiful pink shade. But that beloved inspiration does end with the packaging.

With great sadness, I must report that Guerlain Meteorites Le Parfum captures the essence of Meteorites pearls but not their spirit. Don’t go cracking open your fragrance vault and misting yourself madly with your beloved stash of 2000 Meteorites to celebrate the relaunch just yet. You might want to stash that bottle or bottles you own away again because this is a new fragrance and not a relaunch of the original juice.

Where as the original captured the true spirit of Meteorites and duplicated the exact powdery violet notes this new version is a bit lighter and fresher. I think upon dry down there’s some small inkling of powder and violet there but to me this smells like a lighter Marc Jacobs Daisy. This opens up with a healthy dose of apple combined with fresh green notes. I read a review prior to my own that said they smelled pear and I do get that a little bit on the opening but almost immediately after it becomes very much an apple note or even an apple blossom note as there’s something floral in that initial spray. It sets quickly and although apple remains the violet starts to come out to play and this is in fact where it might somewhat remind you of Meteorites. But apple prevents it from being anything else since that note is fresher, cleaner, and slightly fruity. According to Guerlain it also contains a white musk and wood note at the base but I fail to smell anything in that regard. My nose merely captures the apple and the violet. There’s some sweetness here but for the most part it remains fresh and floral with very light notes that wear close to the skin. You’ll want to be quite heavy handed with application since the silage is light and the wear quite weak at about two hours before fading.

If you need a visual I’d say this smells like a Spring day, laying in the grass under a blossoming apple tree. There’s a slight breeze in the air blowing the grass and you can smell the fresh green grass combined with the softness of the wildflowers growing nearby.

All in all, I don’t regret the purchase but I’m also quite ok with being vocal about how much this disappointed me. There are so many long gone fragrances that I have wished would return and Meteorites was definitely high on that list. But sadly, this isn’t anything like the original and presents a new, fresher take on that scent.

None the less, there is always a great chance when a fragrance is brought back that it won’t smell like the original so you always have to leave room for that disappointment factor.

Oh well!

I’m eagerly looking forward to your thoughts on this if you already own it.

Where to buy

Guerlain Meteorites Le Parfum launched on bergdorfgoodman.com and neimanmarcus.com and now at nordstrom.com.