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Atelier Cologne Pacific Lime ~ fragrance review

Posted by Kevin on 28 February 2019 27 Comments

Years ago, when I reviewed the Cire Trudon limited edition candle, Merida Arquiste, I lamented the fact that I couldn't think of a good guava-centric perfume "out there" that could match Merida's fruit note. Now, Atelier Cologne has launched Pacific Lime.* Though (I assume) no guava was harmed in Pacific Lime's manufacture, the fragrance's notes conjure the aroma of a pink guava at perfect ripeness.

Pacific Lime opens with an intense, and refreshing, green pineapple and lime aroma. The segue to ripe guava is quick and this phase lasts a good amount of time. The smell of guava is complex: tangy, nectarous and musky. Peeking out from the guava (and following it) is a coconut-water scent (not exactly candied ... but "rounded"). Pacific Lime continues to develop, this time into fruit-stall territory: think tropics, and the odors of ripe and overripe fruits mixing together — in the bins and in the air. Pacific Lime ends with this vegetal muskiness, followed by light citrus mixing with white musk (thankfully, not stifling white musk à la Guerlain).

Speaking of Guerlain, Pacific Lime could easily fit into the older, pre-Wasser, Aqua Allegoria collection; also, certain phases of Pacific Lime's development reminded me of Hermès' Jardin and Cologne series.

On my skin Pacific Lime lasts about four hours, so I reapplied mid-day (good thing there are easy-to-carry 10 ml and 30 ml options). I'd categorize Pacific Lime as a fun and happy scent; I'll be buying one of the smaller bottles for summer wear.  

Atelier Cologne Pacific Lime Cologne Absolue is available for $26/10 ml, $75/30 ml, $135/100 ml or $195/200 ml plus 30 ml duo.

If you know of other guava-scented perfumes...please share!

* The listed fragrance notes include lime, lemon, coconut, eucalyptus, spearmint, amber, and woods.

Note: top left image of Psidium guajava [altered], by Amanda Almira Newton, 1906, via USDA Pomological Watercolors NAL Digital Collections. 

Possibly of interest

Atelier Cologne Mandarine Fauve ~ new fragrance
Atelier Cologne Eclat de Tubereuse ~ new fragrance
Atelier Cologne Encens Celeste ~ new fragrance

Filed Under: perfume talk
Tagged With: atelier cologne, citrus

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27 Comments

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  1. littlecooling says:
    28 February 2019 at 2:27 pm

    Thanks for the review Kevin 🙂
    I have been looking for a new summer scent (tho we are only in late february) and this sounds fresh and uplifting and not particularly fruit salad like 😉

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    • Kevin says:
      28 February 2019 at 2:49 pm

      Littlec, I’m on the look-out for a new summer cologne, too. Good luck!

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  2. Dorsey says:
    28 February 2019 at 2:33 pm

    Thanks for the review, Kevin! I think Pacifica has a guava scent, but I’ve never tried it. Nothing else really comes to mind, though. Guess I’ll have to check this out and fill that gap! I can give myself a liberal spritz and pretend it’s summer.

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    • Kevin says:
      28 February 2019 at 2:59 pm

      Dorsey, just looked at Pacifica— Hawaiian Ruby Guava (guava, pomelo, coconut). I’ve never sniffed it.

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    • AmyT says:
      1 March 2019 at 1:45 am

      I’m not keen on the Pacifica. I find it somewhat flat and sweet.

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      • Kevin says:
        1 March 2019 at 9:56 am

        AmyT: thanks. The only Pacifica I’ve been loyal to was Malibu Lemon Blossom (maybe that’s been discontinued…figures).

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        • hajusuuri says:
          1 March 2019 at 8:52 pm

          I got mine recently at Marshall’s. I just saw another bottle….

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          • Kevin says:
            1 March 2019 at 11:01 pm

            hajusuuri: thanks…today saw a few bottles at whole foods of all places!

  3. Lucy says:
    28 February 2019 at 2:57 pm

    Calyx isn’t guava-centric but some days that’s all I can smell when I put it on. I once referred to it as a garbage can full of three day old fruit peelings. ?

    Thank you for the review. I look forward to trying it this summer.

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    • Kevin says:
      28 February 2019 at 3:00 pm

      Lucy, I always forget Calyx…must try the current version.

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      • Lucy says:
        28 February 2019 at 4:03 pm

        I haven’t tried the new version either. I bought a Prescriptives bottle right before the company folded. It’s probably a good thing I did – I’m generally not a fan of reformulations.

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        • AmyT says:
          1 March 2019 at 1:46 am

          The Clinique version of Calyx is flatter and less funky. Still great, though.

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          • Kevin says:
            1 March 2019 at 11:03 pm

            Thanks, AmyT…I’ll give it a go.

        • Kevin says:
          1 March 2019 at 11:02 pm

          Lucy: I was worried about buying vintage Calyx since so many people said it changed in the bottle quickly. But you seemed to have good luck?

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  4. LunaGrrrl says:
    28 February 2019 at 3:09 pm

    It’s fabulous! My new favorite Atelier. The lime is sharp and realistic, and sillage and longevity are good as well.

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    • Kevin says:
      28 February 2019 at 3:17 pm

      LunaGrrrl, another fan; I’m betting it will be popular.

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  5. Jalapeno says:
    28 February 2019 at 4:46 pm

    The first Vera Wang “Lovestruck” perfume had a nice guava note to it… enough for me to get a small rollerball of it. Prescriptives’ Calyx definitely had guava in it, but the current Clinique version does not, according to my nose.

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    • Kevin says:
      28 February 2019 at 5:46 pm

      Jalapeno…that’s too bad about Calyx…I should run over to Nordstrom and smell it. …

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  6. nozknoz says:
    28 February 2019 at 9:56 pm

    Have you had a chance to sniff Arielle Shoshana EdP, Kevin? It’s a full frontal passion fruit, made with a unique CO2 extract of passion fruit. The background is inspired by Saffron Troublant, though, so creamy rather than citric. Really delicious!

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    • Kevin says:
      28 February 2019 at 10:05 pm

      Noz: That is on my “to try” list before warm weather.

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  7. mikeperez23 says:
    28 February 2019 at 10:53 pm

    So…it smells like guava but guava isn’t a note? Wow.

    I thought for sure this would be a lime, lime, lime scent. Surprised.

    I like guava. But, I wanted lime. lol

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    • Kevin says:
      28 February 2019 at 10:59 pm

      mikeperez: lime was a minor player on my skin, just noticed it in the opening. Atelier’s perfume names are often confusing and make me expect something that isn’t there. But: sometimes that works out fine. Whatever’s in the bottle ends up smelling like guava in this one.

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  8. Undina says:
    1 March 2019 at 12:24 pm

    Thank you for the review, Kevin. I look forward to trying it.

    I haven’t tried this one for ages, but the original YSL Baby Doll smelled like guava for me (I would even say “like GUAVA”), even though that note isn’t listed for it. I liked it but then, I think, it got reformulated (or I grew out of it).

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    • Kevin says:
      1 March 2019 at 11:00 pm

      Undina: yeah, looks like Baby Doll has gone bye-bye!

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  9. rayleighblue says:
    8 March 2019 at 8:45 pm

    This one is super fun and is happily sitting next to my sample of Pulp for days when I need a little more carefree cheer. Thanks for putting it on my radar Kevin!

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    • Kevin says:
      9 March 2019 at 3:18 pm

      rayleighblue: and thanks for reminding ME of Pulp…every spring I agonize and wonder if I should get a full bottle…it really makes me happy.

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  10. monica404 says:
    26 August 2019 at 10:52 am

    I love this in summer, got a mini and it really conjures a tropical beach in a bottle

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