Collage: Jemeria Davison; Source images: Courtesy of brands Save Story Save this story Save Story Save this story With nearly 200 years of beauty history behind them, the best Guerlain products are practically shorthand for very fancy French beauty . Founded in Paris in 1828, Guerlain began with perfume and eventually branched out into makeup and skin care, becoming one of the few beauty brands that have endured for generations while continuing to evolve with the times.
Case in point: Météorites, the pastel powder pearls that became a Guerlain signature in the ’80s and now come in a pressed powder format, and Rouge G, the refillable lipstick housed in a redesigned case that could easily pass for jewelry. Fragrance is still a huge part of Guerlain’s DNA, with historic scents like L’Heure Bleue finding new life through modern reinterpretations. Ahead, we’ve gathered the Guerlain icons—plus a few newer favorites—that prove nearly two centuries later, the brand still knows how to make beauty look, feel, and smell a little more special.
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Allure social director Kassidy Silva applying the Guerlain L'Heure Bleue Eau de Parfum
Why we love it: Guerlain isn’t simply pulling its 1912 classic out of the archives for the new L’Heure Bleue Eau de Parfum. This contemporary interpretation takes the original’s iris-and-vanilla pairing in a fresher, lighter direction, inspired by the fleeting “blue hour” when daylight fades but night hasn’t quite arrived. It starts off cool, clean, and airy, with hints of juicy pear and citrusy neroli, before becoming softer and more floral . At its heart is a custom-developed iris tincture—an aromatic extract made by soaking dried, powdered iris rhizomes, or the plant’s underground stems, in alcohol, almost like steeping tea. This gentler alternative to heat-based distillation gradually draws out the iris’s fresh, green, and subtly woody qualities, rather than emphasizing only the powderiness typically associated with the flower. As the fragrance settles on skin, vanilla, musk, and ambroxan add cozy warmth without making it overly sweet.
Tester feedback from social director Kassidy Silva
"This airy iris scent has become a staple in my fragrance rotation since I first tested it back in May. The majority of my collection is made up of gourmand fragrances, so I was taken by surprise in the lab when I got my first sniff of L'Heure Bleue and was immediately attached. Typically, I find iris fragrances to be too powdery for my tastes, but the ozonic accord brings a distinct lightness that really opens up the scent. Plus, when I get whiffs of the jasmine, vanilla, and pear, as I wear it throughout the day, I can't help but stop and sniff. During the day, I get an easy eight hours of wear time, but it lasts even longer when I spritz it on my clothes or pillows. I even gave my notebook a few spritzes four months ago, and the scent has barely faded from the pages!" —Kassidy Silva, social director
Key notes: airy ozonic accord, pear, neroli, iris tincture, iris butter, jasmine, vanilla, ambroxan, musks Sizes: 1 fl. oz, 1.7 fl. oz., 3.4 fl. Oz. Do a Double Take: Abeille Royale Double R Renew & Repair Advanced Serum Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Guerlain
Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying the Abeille Royale Double R Renew & Repair Advanced Serum
Why we love it: Guerlain’s Abeille Royale Double R Renew & Repair Advanced Serum tackles multiple…