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.
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
Littlec, I’m on the look-out for a new summer cologne, too. Good luck!
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.
Dorsey, just looked at Pacifica— Hawaiian Ruby Guava (guava, pomelo, coconut). I’ve never sniffed it.
I’m not keen on the Pacifica. I find it somewhat flat and sweet.
AmyT: thanks. The only Pacifica I’ve been loyal to was Malibu Lemon Blossom (maybe that’s been discontinued…figures).
I got mine recently at Marshall’s. I just saw another bottle….
hajusuuri: thanks…today saw a few bottles at whole foods of all places!
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.
Lucy, I always forget Calyx…must try the current version.
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.
The Clinique version of Calyx is flatter and less funky. Still great, though.
Thanks, AmyT…I’ll give it a go.
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?
It’s fabulous! My new favorite Atelier. The lime is sharp and realistic, and sillage and longevity are good as well.
LunaGrrrl, another fan; I’m betting it will be popular.
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.
Jalapeno…that’s too bad about Calyx…I should run over to Nordstrom and smell it. …
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!
Noz: That is on my “to try” list before warm weather.
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
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.
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).
Undina: yeah, looks like Baby Doll has gone bye-bye!
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!
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.
I love this in summer, got a mini and it really conjures a tropical beach in a bottle