Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic Guerlain for women

I fell in love with this scent purely because it smells so authentic madarine and basil. It’s very fresh almost to the point that if you spray this early in the morning still tired and numb you instantly feel more refreshed and awake.
Perfect for a sunny spring/summer day!

Completely agree with the main accords description - this is citrusy and fresh spicy!

I love this one, it smells refreshing, expensive and luxurious. Beachy but not in a sea salt kind of way. Very unisex, it has masculine and feminine elements to it.

Would be great for any spring/summer day, and has been an everyday scent for me at times. Makes me feel so fresh and I just want to smell myself all day lol.

Rating: 🙂🍊
Do I like it: Meh
Who it is: a cute person on vacation
Smells I get: basil, orange, powder
Meyer's Briggs type: ENFP

I usually hate citruses, but this is beautiful.
Powdered orange juice. Bit of basil in the opening. Well blended, pretty. Smells like expensive soap. Very pleasant, doesn't give me much of a headache, unlike most acidic freshies. Very fizzy. Fanta bottled. Nice.

I received a sample size from Sephora, and as soon as I sprayed it, it was bursting with sun and bright colors à la "I Love Love" by Moschino or DG "Light Blue". But it immediately became way too one-dimensionally ORANGE for me, as if I had just bathed in Cutie juice! And as soon as I was completely overwhelmed with the strong citrus scent, it completely disappeared! No longevity whatsoever. So disappointing!

I bought a refill bottle of this on a duty-free, discount whim in Rome. Message me if you would like it. I have decanted half of it into a glass sprayer bottle; the other half is in the original refill container. I can sell it all depending on your preference.

yum.... opens for me with basil and citrus, like a refreshing spring salad. like a lot of guerlain, it can become a little old-fashioned. a bit heavy. u have to really breathe in to get the basil. broad sillage and decent longevity, could understand if this caused headaches for others... im a sucker for citrus and it is quite fresh... it is kind of giving fancy bathroom the more it dries....

Opens with a purely fresh vivid whiff of orange, then creep in notes of green tea. At this point, it smells like the lobby or powder room of a luxury hotel. After ~3 hours, there's not too much of a scent left, but what remains is almost aquatic--maybe something about the mix of orange citrus mixed with basil and sandalwood. Quite nice, but I personally wouldn't buy a bottle (I received a sample). 6.5/10.

A fresh, summer morning in a Mediterranean orchard filled with ripening fruits. The buzzing of mandarins and the scent of basil greeting the sun from afar. Everything is fresh in the crystalline morning air, fleeting, enveloping, joyful, and uplifting to the spirit.

This is delightful!

I decided to buy without first testing it because I love all kinds of oranges. But I was worried about basil. It is definitely there but in the background, keeping it fresh. It makes the orange gently aromatic and keeping the sweetness of the citrus in check.

It’s very nice.

Smells like an expensive air freshener you'd find in the bathroom of an overpriced restaurant. I love it, just not on my skin.

Strong citrus and mandarin orange scent. Like someone said, it's the smell of your hands after peeling an orange but just a tad more sweet. I just love it. So clean and delightful.

I wear this as a guy and dude this thing is beautiful it’s citrusy basil and I swear I detect a ton of grapefruit right off the top

I love this scent, but really, really dislike its lack of longevity. It’s simple. Orange and basil. A bit of a nice spicy and sweet combo. May as well walk around with the bottle though, the scent does not last long. Bottle is a cool 8/10. The bee aesthetic is nice.

Everything in this line makes me think of drug store natural marketed products-- Burt's Bees adjacent scent.

It is a nice enough perfume. It smells fresh and does not have a bitter note to it as I have found some citrusy fragrances to have. However, the fragrance is nothing unique. As someone else has pointed out in their review, it smells how your hands smell after peeling an orange. It also does not last too long on me.

you know how after you peel an orange your hands smell like oranges for a while? yeah that’s exactly what this perfume smells like. oranges.

I love the freshness of it and the way the citrus is combined with the bitterness of the basil, perfect for a signature summer scent but the longevity is very very bad, it usually lasts me about 1h on the skin and maybe 2 on clothes depending on the fabric. If anyone has recommendations to similar scents that last longer I would appreciate it.

It is a sweeter, more feminine version of Chanel Paris-Deauville.

The basil note in this perfume is subtle and short-lasting. It smells like straight orange/mandarine, with a sour note in there I do not like. If you like orange/citrus scents, you will like this one. Otherwise, pass, this is not a safe blind-buy.

Smells like straight up OJ, nothing complex. I would never pay the full price for a bottle, since citruses are not my cup of tea. Could be a nice option if you want to smell exactly like a glass of orange juice.

Honestly to me in the drydown this is quite similar to the bergamot scent from this collection. As with that one, this smells like cleaning products to me. It's a little more sweet and less harsh but it still smells like chemicals in my opinion. The opening is a photorealistic citrus fruit scent, but the drydown just doesn't do it for me.

This is so nice! Fresh, juicy, herbal and a bit sweet. It smells expensive and uplifting. Very natural and pleasant. Makes you feel clean and classy. Totally unisex and even though it is very citrusy, it works fine on cold days. It was a positive surprise to me. Thumbs up!

Got this as a sample and I really, really like this. Fresh and clean smelling, without being lemon-y or screechy. I was surprised how prominent the basil is in this. Very tea-like, herbaceous orange fragrance. Whenever I wanna achieve that “clean girl” smell, I put on some plain lotion, spray this perfume and use the ouai scalp serum in my hair, as it has a pretty similar scent profile to this. Soooo juicy and yummy, potentially full bottle worthy for the summertime.

Pretty in a “farmhouse kitchen soap” kinda way. Clean, fresh, and a little zesty from the basil, but it also pulls a little more masculine on my skin. The Acqua Allegoria line lives in the same space Jo Malone scents do in my mind: pretty, evocative, ephemeral (as in not long lasting), and so often feeling much more like something I would like in a shampoo or a hand lotion. Even if it had more longevity this just isn’t a “me” scent in spite of the fact that it does smell very good. I’m just not on that “clean girl” wavelength. I’m more of a maximalist; being clean is nice but getting dirty (and experiencing more of what the world has to offer) is a lot more fulfilling.

I received a sample from Sephora and I love it! Mandarin Basilic is a fresh and citrusy fragrance, great for summer. It's just perfect because of its simplicity, it's so classy. I mostly smell mandarine and orange blossom. What stops me from buying the full size bottle is its longevity and the fact that it's an EDT, unfortunately it doesn't last on me.

Smells like sweet orange gum.

Very fresh, totally inoffensive, citrusy and green fragrance that doesn't smell like a cleaning product. I really like it, but it does not last very long.

Mandarin Basilic is a cult classic and for a good reason. A real fresh mandarin with green notes, light and happy, ethereal but not boring and bland!

It was my first experience with fresh, citrusy, green, aromatic scents back in the day.

I personally find this scent really natural smelling, fresh and energising. Cooling and breezy. It is one of those uplifting scents I like to put this on first thing in the morning or anytime of the day when I feel I need an energy boost. And it works!

The opening is a very juicy, sweet orange, mandarine/clementines, with orange blossom mix. Then the green tea, basil, ivy, chamomile and peonies come in giving Mandarin Basilic a soothing, comforting side. At this stage it’s a gorgeous combination of delicate florals and aromatics.

I can’t really say I get the sandalwood and the amber per se, I perceive the base notes mostly as something that offers the citrusy and floral notes warmth and softness.

Perfect for summertime or hot weather wear since it’s such a light scent, lasts for 4 hours with heavy spraying but stays close to the skin.

Also, I find Mandarin Basilic completely unisex and appropriate to be worn at any age. It’s perfect for a young person who’s new to fragrance and wants something easy and uncomplicated to wear but also fits to more experienced fragrance lovers for a casual wear when you need a break from heavy, challenging scents.

Found a good deal and got myself a second 125 ml bottle!

Realistic smell of mandarine & basil
And it's very uplifting scent:)

I consider this to be the best perfume I own. It always makes my day better.

It’s a lovely clementine tea scent, however I don’t find it photo realistic like some commenters. Fades in 20 or so minutes into a luxe shampoo scent, a little uninspired to be honest. Dry down has a decent longevity for a freshie. I prefer tangerine boy from phleur for a juicier orange/fresh perfume. I think it would make a nice present for my mom or auntie.

Upon initial spray, this literally smells like biting into a tangerine! Super juicy yet fresh and not too sweet! I used my entire sample today, but it's pretty much a skin scent on me with very little projection. Not sure if it's because of the small atomizer/sample etc. I really enjoy it though, and could see it being perfect in the warmer seasons! Just wish it had sliiiightly more strength. (actually now that I'm looking, it's an EDT so that makes sense that it's a bit weaker) I think this could be great for layering if you catch it for a good price!

Most of the Allegorias are just too weedy and watery to make much of an impression on me - living in a climate cool enough that their natural-sunshine aura for bright summer days just can't cut through the gloom, all too often. They're even weaker and more sheer-transparent than the Hermessence range, so usually Hermes edges Guerlain for me if there's a rare blazing-hot day and I want something airy. Yet - Mandarin Basilic's the exception that proves the rule: a simply lovely, witty, fresh-botanical breath of nature that just can't be denied. A very slightly more-femme take on my beloved Hermes Eau d'Orange Vert - and good enough on its own terms to be tempting. Maybe even mouthwatering.

Zingy, poppy citrus with enough bite and sharpness to be interesting, though still with some natural sweetness, herbal notes prickling with peppery energy and twining plant life. Gorgeously true to life (no detergent-adjacent trauma here for me), sly and witty, but no sarcasm or spite to it. Easy and invigorating company for a holiday in the sun - clean, fresh and preppy enough to be wearable for work too.

Despite many disappointments with other Allegorias - time and again I love their first bursts, lose hold of them in under half an hour and am left feeling deflated and disappointed when they're gone all too soon - this one holds its own. If I'd never come across even greener and more defined bitter-orange-herbals ( the Hermes and above all Parfum d'Empire's mighty mighty Azemour) then I probably WOULD be willing to carry AA Mandarin Basilic everywhere and spritz incessantly. It's that lovely. But oh, Guerlain... its lack of commitment to staying alive for long enough, means that in my own personal citrus championship - it is pipped to the post by the competition. Great stuff - but still I'll pass.

I’ve been wearing Mandarine Basilic on and off since 2007, first in a few samples and later I bought a bottle. I think its value in my perfume wardrobe lies in its simplicity. Perfect for a hot and humid day when something else would be cloying - a mix of herbal green and orange notes - the open is mostly juicy orange/tangerine, then the rind comes in with a green note from the ivy and then the basil weaving in and out.

Makes a great summer palate cleanser between more demanding scents, or just when you need something on the more “invigorating” side.

I just adore Mandarin Basilic for spring/summer and those scorching hot days. I appreciate that it sticks around for hours on my skin despite being considered a lighter scent. This is truly a gorgeous cocktail of notes.

What a nice blend, no tricky notes included. Usually this type of Summer citrus fragrances are paired with some harshness in the base - but luckily that's not the case here. What a relief! This is a mandarine-leafy cocktail. I imagine a girl swinging in a hammock in a bushy garden, wearing a flower garland on her head. This is how it smells!

Delicious! A sweet citrus cocktail reminiscent of the mojito, thanks to the aromatic basil.

It has a moderate sillage and, with a generous application, it lasts for 7-8 hours on my skin, very respectable for this type of fragrance.

I like it a lot and it has left me wanting to try its Forte version and also the similar EDT that 4711 has, Blood Orange and Basil. I might get one of them.

Smell 7.5/10
Duration 7.5/10
Sillage 7/10
Quality/price 6.5/10
Versatility 7/10
Packaging 9.5/10
Would I buy again? I did not buy it

If 4711 Blood Orange and Atelier Cologne Clementine Cali had a baby this would be its charming offspring. A strong citrus with a tad of minty fresh softened by its white florals and tea. It's an EDT so not long lasting but uber affordable and potentially a great topper to springify a heavier fall fragrance.

I will admit that I was not ready to give this fragrance a chance, but a colleague said this is her favourite summer scent so I said why not.
How glad I am to have tried it.
The opening is not great actually. But when it dries down to clementine, basil and orange blossom heaven... Wow. This is truly aromatic, fresh and lovely, just lovely.

On paper, and even on some other people, I can appreciate it, so was pretty sad to try it on myself. All I get on my own skin is a sharp cleaning product. Nothing pleasant about it on my skin, just bitter sharpness that's very unenjoyable and far from the fresh citrus-herb-combo I was hoping to get.

I am not the biggest fan of citrus fragrances and would be the last to buy them, but I like this one quite a bit, I guess the saveris the basil. It dries down quickly and goes into smooth and light citrus-peony-chamomile-orange blossom mixture. Definitely that Mediterranean summer scent.

Got the 10ml but I wouldn’t buy the full bottle.

Citrus scents tend to disappear quickly from my skin, so I oversprayed it there and sprayed more into the air to settle on my hair and clothes. It's undetectable everywhere but my wrist now. Lovely if you stick your nose almost against it and inhale deeply. The drydown, against my expectations, smells like an orange creamsicle. That's what happens with almost any citrusy fragrance that also contains vanilla. This one doesn't, or if it does, it isn't prominent. But my skins seems to turn some white floral scents into a powdery or creamy note that gives the impression of vanilla. It's not a bad effect, but the result is that most relatively simple compositions end up smelling the same on me.

Very sour and aromatic. Reminds me of a citrus car freshener.
Great for summer because of the cooling effect of herbs and citruses.

Most of the Guerlain fragrances in my collection are proper perfumes in the classic style, and with the exception of Après L'Ondée, they are better suited to autumn and winter rather than spring or summer. I suppose this is the whole point of the Aqua Allegoria collection: Guerlain quality perfumes that are lightweight and well suited to hot weather. Mandarine Basilic (2007) is not one of the original Aqua Allegorias (I think the only two left are Herba Fresca and Pamlelune) but this seems to sell well enough that they've not only kept it in the lineup, but they now have a Forte version.

This Aqua Allegoria is quite nice, an herbal, casual, relaxed fragrance in the cologne style (though it's actually an EDT). It's quite similar to the Jo Malone cologne Lime Basil & Mandarin, which for me is one of the all time great summer fragrances for both men and women. While they contain many similar notes and have a similar relaxed vibe, Mandarine Basilic lacks Lime Basil & Mandarin's richness, which to my mind gives LBM it's very luxurious, luxe, moneyed feel. However, since it's more toned-down this actually makes Mandarine Basilic more office friendly. It goes great with chinos, button down shirts, and loafers (no socks) but lacks the "I would wear this with a white linen shirt while sailing n my yacht" vibe of the Jo Malone counterpart.

Nice and juicy citrus opening, slightly similar to 4711's Blood Orange & Basil. Unfortunately that only lasts about 15 minutes, then it dries down to a very generic feminine scent..

I wasn't sure if the mandarin would read as zesty or more sweet. To me, it is sweet and smells like orange flavoured hard-boiled sweets. Not the cheap artificial tasting ones, where the sugar dissolves unevenly and cuts your tongue. It's more like the high-quality, ambery glossy orange hard boiled sweets that are almost viscous as they dissolve and leave a natural, sweet orange taste in your mouth.

I've been searching for a smell of the spring/summer not very sweet and I find Allegoria collection. On my skin the scent of mandarine is not that strong, the basil seems to be the star. In the drydown I'm feeling a bit of honey blended with some white flower, but I didn't see the honey listed between main acords. It's a beautiful scent, uplifting and great for spring and for office, too bad it's only EDT.

The clarity of mandarine is amazing and very convincing. With the top notes is about pure, joyful and fresh energy.
No sign of dark, it is optimistic and spring.

Lately, the tea note comes in front and the scent becomes more green, herbal. I don't sense much flowers or sweet tones, but still it is soft, just with depth.
If you like bright, nature-like citruses, this is a great option.

Sillage strong, good longevity. Personally I found it unisex.

It’s just like peeling then biting into a juicy tangerine while standing in a blooming tangerine tree orchard. Refreshing!

Natural smelling juicy summer freshie. Very realistic, bright and uplifting yet simple scent.

This one was love at first sniff. It starts out very bright, almost sparkling, juicy mandarin that almost comes across as pink grapefruit. I tried this one after finding that I was anosmic to Light Blue Intense, which broke my heart because the opening note was to DIE for! Unfortunatley, I couldn't smell it at all after about 20 minutes. For the Mandarin Basilic, depending on how much you put on (I use 2 sprays per wrist) that mandarin note will LAST compared to the lemony opening note in Light Blue Intense. It will begin to fade after an hour or two on me, but it's still truly THERE hours later. As it dies down, the peony begins to come through, combining with the mandarin until, much later, only a trace remains. Not a good blind buy. If you don't find it lasts with 1 spray/wrist, try 2 per. It made the difference between almost turning it down to falling in love with it for me!

A very nice crisp and invigorating orange smell. It’s really refreshing and reminds me a lot of Acqua Di Parma’s Arancia Di Capri but with a touch more green to it. I’ve always heard Sebastian (ThePerfumeGuy on YouTube) compare this a little to Afternoon Swim by LV and I see the resemblance a bit. It’s missing the sparkle that Afternoon Swim has from the ginger. Overall this is a very happy fragrance and as a citrus lover it’s right up my taste. 9/10

Instant burst of authentic citrus, fresh, pure, tangy. So good! The brightest, most deliciously juicy juice. The intensity of the initial burst mellows in the dry down, but every juicy element remains. Peony slips in, expressing her florality w/ sweet modesty. She is welcomed, embraced enthusiastically by citrus. They dance the dance of Spring. Sadly, the curtain comes down too soon on this lovely performance; w/in the hour, it’s only a memory.

Guerlain’s Mandarine Basilic is the inspiration for: Cool Citrus Basil from Bath and Bodyworks. Mandarine Basilic is fuller deeper richer fragrance. Its a fragrance you wear for yourself. Some peeps say it smells like household cleaning products but I’m a housewife and clean all day. Can I get the names of the cleaning products so I use them. Thank you :)

Just smelled this perfume at the Saks and the initial thought - this smells really nice, like mandarins, oranges, some green tea notes, very fresh, citrusy and light, summery. After few minutes the mandarin scent starts fading, and I can smell basil, peony and sandalwood. Disappointing because I want that mandarin there all the time but it’s gone. After 15 min it was just floral Basil scent that was barely there and I did not like it anymore. It did not last longer than 2 hours on my skin.

Nice, smells like you just ate a bunch of mandarines and you have the juice smell in your hands and in the air. Somehow basic, which makes it overpriced to me.

Very sharp and pretty. Tried it on at the airport after a long flight and it was a nice pick me up. I like Aqua Allegoria Nerolia Bianca better because it is a little less sharp, and has a little more dimension.

I have mixed emotions about this one. On one hand it is like household cleanser, a bit chemical... I guess it is about how fresh it smells. On the other hand it is a very cute mandarin (or other close relatives to this fruit), even like orangesickle. Those two impressions are changing one another througout the wear. Which is not very long, but not bad either for such citrus scent.
It sits close to the skin. And it makes you feel cute and fresh, like you just showered, even if in reality it's been a while since you stepped out the shower.
Overall it is a fresh, cute and happy tangerine scent, that feels also like a household cleanser (personality, not a fan of this aspect). Under impressed with longevity /projection. Escentric Molecules has a great alternative - Molecule 01 + Mandarin.

Tried at a store.

Smells good at the start. Very juicy and fresh mandarine-orange opening. After that I like it less personally though. It turns more green, from the basil I assume, and becomes slightly lemon-ish as a result of the combination. Smells a lot like that lemon dish detergent smell every company uses.

If the opening stayed for longer maybe I'd like it more, but since it doesn't then it's kinda meh. Especially for that price. Forte is much better.

mmmh this really does smell like oranges and mandarines! yummy but basic in my opinion

I appreciate the fresh-spiciness of this one and the strong orange peel scent. Very realistic and I enjoy the aromatic/green quality! I don't really agree with the comparisons to Atelier's Clementine California, which is my ride-or-die. This one is less sweet, it's in it's own lane. I like this one but don't love it like I do CC. It's definitely something to wear on a nice spring and summer day. I'll have to see if it grows on me some more, which tends to happen as I discover more 'layers' to the scent of certain perfumes.

After the super fresh opening, this is just hugo boss orange for women in a more expensive bottle

This is clean, fresh, beautiful juicy orange and herbal loveliness all bottled up. I love that it's photorealistic and there isn't any "perfumey-ness" to it. It's straightforward, light and crisp. I can appreciate that! Fb worthy to me.

I have to say the hype around this was huge, but it was a disappointment. It isn't refreshing or original, its flat and boring. Sorry

This perfume = orange mist. I don't really see the complexity in this one-dimensional note, but I guess that's the whole point of this perfume. I don't smell the basil too much. Overall, a very easy-going perfume with mild longevity. Would wear for a brunch or for daily use during the summer. Longevity is so-so at about 3 hours.

My god I love this. I'm not even a citrusy-herbaly type but I still LOVE this fragrance. It's the most "perfumey" perfume that I own and it just smells so classy, like sunshine and the products at a hotel that I absolutely cannot ever afford. It just makes me want to smell myself, which is great because I don't think anyone else can for more than an hour. The longevity is just the worst. And longevity is not even something I usually pay a lot of attention to. It's just that bad. The scent is so nice that I will endure it for now, but I wonder if the Intense version has better lasting power. If so, take my money.

I bought in 2009. The last time I bought in 2019, it had changed noticeably. My original bottle was bright and just sweet enough and fresh. Always got lots of compliments. The latest bottle is not as sweet, not nearly as vibrant and unique. Unless I just got a bad batch or something, I'm surprised no one has mentioned this.
I am saving what little I have left of the 2009 bottle for some special occasion.

I tried this along with Bergamote Calabria. I was stunned at how realistic the orange zest is here. Like if you peeled and perfectly ripe orange and put the rind to your nose. It starts getting more aromatic with the basil and a smooth base. Need to test it further but so far I'm really impressed with this one.

It has a very photorealistic mandarin orange and a little bit of rindiness. Very impressive. When it starts to dry down I get a slight smarties candy type of sweetness. At the bottom it’s still a fresh women’s eau de cologne type of thing. Not bad. Compliment getter. Impressive top note.

Upon application you are greeted by a blast of fresh and natural smelling citrus notes here. The opening of this feels like being in a citrus garden, picking a mandarin from the tree and peeling it. After this hyper-real natural opening, it settles to a light and refreshing citrus scent. As the name suggest, it is dominated by citrus note from mandarin and aromatic herb of basil. I guess green tea has a prominent supportive role as well.

Overall the dry down is very pleasant, it's lasting power is moderate, and the silage is intimate. It is unisex but is more on the feminine side. I consider this suitable for daywear and for the warmer months.

Wow, super realistic freshly peeled mandarins with a dash of chopped basil. Almost too realistic, but I really like it and will probably get a full bottle.

Update: hmm maybe better as a room freshener spray

A bit uplifting during winter. I wear it more as aromatherapy. Fresh mandarins with green leaves.

Freshly squeezed mandarin with an ever so slight underlying green tea, ivy, basil base. Super delicious, refreshing, uplifting. Its so good, I literally have to say it outloud everytime I put it on.

I wanted to love this SO badly. I absolutely love orange notes and when I sprayed the tester, it smelled like everything you love from the fruit aisle. Very summery, bright, and sharp. But the rumors of the terrible longevity are all true! Despite my spraying it down my collar, my number-one spot to make perfumes last all day, this was sadly all gone within an HOUR. Already the notes were fading within twenty minutes, and they had utterly disappeared by the time I got back from a walk. I'm not asking for Hypnotic Poison's literally-all-day overtime, but for a house as storied and impressive as Guerlain, these are embarrassing results. This would be a go-to summer perfume if it lasted longer, but until then I'm so, so glad I didn't pay full price for this.

this smells exactly how i imagine those ultra juicy oranges that went viral on tiktok smell (if u know u know). sweet and natural, basically summer in a bottle, and because i associate oranges with christmas i can wear and appreciate this even during the colder months as well. all in all, a very comforting scent for me. linear and simple, very short-lived (lasts maybe an hour?) but beautifully done nonetheless. i can’t imagine anyone being offended by this fragrance.

My current favourite 😍 I bought it in winter last year as I loved the citrusy sweet smell that made the sad gloomy January happy again. It smells beautiful and I used it all through the spring summer and autumn.. I look forward to carry on using it until I run out which is when I’ll get a new bottle 🥰 it’s fresh but has a sweetness to it and it lasts a long time. It doesn’t give you headache if you accidentally spray too much like some other perfumes do, it never made feel sick .. I sprayed my clothes with it when I went to work, I put my jumper on a shelf and then talked to a colleague nearby couple of hours later. I thought it’s them that smelled really nice only to realise it was my jumper haha - the smell is a bit different on clothes than on skin as with most perfumes… anyways, it lasts all day on my skin as well but I’ve read it doesn’t for some others. I think they stopped producing this perfume so I’ll have to stick up on it as I LOVE it ❤️ Sunshine in a bottle ☀️

3/10, sharp smell and bad performance. Do not buy if you do not enjoy synthetic smelling citruses with generic green accords!

I am sorry but in no world does this smell like authentic citruses/fruits. This is unfortunately one of the most synthetic smelling and sharp openings I have ever smelled. Not only is there a synthetic citrus that is sharp, but the tea note gives an unpleasant green accord to this fragrance. The packaging is pretty nice and I like the concept but this is a miss in my books and people around me have agreed.

Beautiful! You have to want to smell like realistic orange, mandarin and citrus. It is fresh and orangey. Natural. It is similular to Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Arancia di Capri. Capri is sharper, colder and good inn warm weather, but has a mouthwatering warmer caramel Vanilla drydown. I now have the new AQUA ALLEGORIA MANDARIN-BASILIC FORTE, but I cant find it here on Fragnatica site. Forte is also very good but warmer and with vanilla in the downdry.

The opening of this perfume is sunshine in a bottle. It reminds me of orange juice cut with fizzy sparkling water and a healthy garnish of cool basil, enjoyed in a botanical garden. It’s a young, fresh scent that energizes you on a hot balmy day. I have to admit the opening is a bit overwhelming but the dry down is a nice subdued spicy wood.

I personally enjoy the scent I would prefer it more as a room spray or cleaning product than daily perfume.

This is beautiful, but please @Fragrantica add Mandarine basilic forte already!!

Fresh and citrusy. Everything one could expect from the ingredients listed and it has a certain sweetness. It lasts all of 30 minutes but it’s still every good. It’s another one of my post shower fragrances.

Just gorgeous. Smells natural and expensive as you would expect from Guerlain.

Longevity for me was less than an hour and probably half that. It's like Hermes Eau D'Orange Verte (not smell, application) . Too good not to own but a bottle will go very quickly as you'll need to carry a top up atomiser and reapply. It's just a little too expensive for the time you get, but worth it for me.

Doubtful others will notice it but I keep wanting to smell my arm for those incredible first 10 mins and sometimes that is what matters.

I will be buying a 200ml refill which is better value at about £80

Very pretty but truth be told its a dupe of Moschino Cheap and Chic I Love Love. Higher quality ingredients, less synthetic smelling, but the overall impression is the same.
Its fresh juicy sweet mandarine scent . I had hoped the herbal component would make it a bit more interesting but it is very subtle and not worthing even mentioning.
Longevity is what you'd expect from this line and overspraying is the way to go. An easy reach and mainstream crowd pleaser

So far my favorite scent for hot days. Best citrus scent in my opinion. Not scratchy, not too cool, but juicy and very uplifting. The basil note is nice.

Simple orange fresh. No complexity. Good if you like orange.

@Fragrantica – you should add to your database Mandarine Basilic Forte which is the intense version of this. It came out about a month ago and is now available at Sephora (at least here in Italy). How do they compare? The original is lighter and fresher, AAMB Forte is warmer and more radiant. They are both summer fragrances but enlighten different aspects of the same fruit/herbal combo – on the one hand its refreshing juiciness on the other its sweet voluptuousness.

OMG I LOVE IT! Delicious realistic fresh juicy Mandarin Orange, so good if you like fresh citrusy scents. This is perfect in the summer and spring, quite addictive!

There's a new EDP "Forte" version of this!

I've just about used up my 75ml bottle of Mandarine Basilic. It is a lovely summer orange fragrance and it is my summer of 2022 go to EDT. I smell the orange and ivy/basil predominately and then the subtle base notes start to emerge. Every once in a while I catch a whiff of the orange blossom and other floral notes. I think I would like it better if I could smell the florals more but MB is in no way a floral perfume. It is pretty much all about the orange citrus. The longevity is okay. I respray mine every few hours since I'm trying to use up my bottle to make room for other perfumes. I do like Mandarine Basilic but I really don't want another bottle because I've decided I don't want to walk around smelling like an orange. Recently my favorite citrus perfumes are Chanel's Paris - Venise, Paris- Deauville and Paris - Riviera. I like the blend between the citrus and the florals better in these.

The following conversation happened between me and my two sisters, one is older than me the other one younger:
'I got this sample at the Guerlain counter today, it says it's for women,'
They both spray it on and crinkle their noses.
'This is for women?! It's too tart and green!'

They both enjoyed the dry down more but neither kept the sample for themselves.
Honestly I see why, the top mandarin note is quite abrasive and tart, extremely realistic, but a bit sour like an unripe mandarin being dented and spraying green droplets in the air, imo in a very nice way, but apparently quite typically masculine in the opening.
It then dries down into a warm, more feminine-leaning musky floral base while still retaining a certain grapefruit-like zing.

Verdict; You must love mandarin as there isn't very much else going on here, and green mandarin that is. As a man I feel like I can wear it, but the distant drydown is a bit too delicate for me, I would oddly pick Pamplelune over this even though it is a bit more powdery in the base.
If you want a much sweeter more feminine-leaning candied Mandarin, check out Hermes Eau de Mandarine Ambrée.

So sad! I’ve been madly searching for an orange based fragrance, and the initial clementine orange scent is delicious. But I bet it’s only there for 20 minutes on me. Even then I have to sniff it directly. It does not float in the air : Which would have been wonderful. During Google searches for an orange based perfume, I see orange used only as a top note. Never the heart. I’m beginning to realize, this must be the nature of citrus in perfume.
I received this tiny sample replica bottle of the larger one (is it ever cute!) as a sample from a Guerlain purchase. So I can’t spray it in the air. But it is reminiscent of Xmas to me. What a gorgeous and expensive room scent it would be!
But I’m going to stay strong to my pledge not to purchase fragrance that have short longevity of a small hour or less. And pass (for now) on this exquisite scent. Even though I’m sad doing so.

EDIT: Well, I fell in love. Didn’t mean to. But, a sucker for mandarin orange, I kept applying a dap from my sample bottle to freshen up my Parfum of the Day. And this lovely potion worked in giving most scents (especially ones with orange top notes) a refresh and new pizzazz. Have ordered the 100 ml bottle and can’t wait to be able to actually spray it.

I don't understand how this one is targeted towards women? I find this fragrance to be completely unisex.

It smells like you just opened a herbs and spices cabinet while pealing some fresh citrusy fruits. A very lovely scent, the guerlain quality is there, just wish it lasted a bit longer.

This retails at 145 euros for 125ml. I think it is way too overly priced for what it is. If you can find it heavily discounted... In the 50 to 60 range? Then go for it.. other than that, just buy acqua colonia mandarine & basil and call it a day. Almost identical with only a fraction of the price.

Great for layering specially for think fragrances, this way you get a rich full fresh sweet sent like the old mis Dior . I layer it with la vie est belle oui and i get a niche warm like miss Dior sent . When I layer it with Mon paris you get a more fresh and fruity version I really love it for layering .

Smells quite nice, doesn't last. Some days I can see the basil scent for what it is: An herby fresh and sunny outline to an orange center. Other days, it makes me laugh and think of pizza. Either way I quite like it since it puts me in a good mood.

I love the scent. Received as a sample from Guerlain and fell in love with it. Immediately purchased. Perfect late summer fragrance. Deep orange with the basil is devine.

i liked this so much that i stole it from my mom to "test it out" for longer (she was mad lmao). a lovely herbaceous fresh citrus- the basil note really gives it a kick but it's so nicely blended with the floral and tea (as most guerlain frags are- well blended and just sink right into the skin!) that it works. makes me feel very mediterranean, definitely a go-to for hot weather. atelier clementine california but more "green spicy" if that makes sense.

Gorgeous mandarin opening with juice, pith, and peel included. Reminds me of Orange Sanguine Atelier Cologne, if I didn't already have that one, I'd be more excited by this. It is lovely though and I'm enjoying these citrus/wood fragrances more and more as my tolerance for florals fades. The sweetness at the start dosen't last and you're left with a very wearable, fresh woody citrus. Perfectly unisex if you're into this style. I am.

Review of official carded spray sample that came free with purchase.

The fresh citrus opening to this fragrance is very realistic. You know that fine, hazy spritz of juice and citrus oils that inevitably ends up on your hands when you first break open the peel of your favorite citrus and dig into the rind? That's what this feels like -- a cool, refreshing mist made from bitter oranges. I almost get grapefruit from this, even though it isn't listed in the notes. It's quite tart, sour, and acidic, which distinguishes it from the more neroli-forward perfumes I already own. I get very little in the way of neroli here, and mostly in the later stages of development, but I don't mind; AAMB is different and refreshing.

The "basilic" part only shows up with more liberal application on me. When I tested this initially, all I noticed was the citrus aspect of the fragrance. Upon applying multiple/additional sprays, however, I was able to notice the distinct aroma of basil leaves. The note enhances the composition, turning it from a simple "fresh" perfume into something with a bit more depth and character. The "green" aspects of the basil really work here.

Longevity, on my skin, is far better than I was expecting; AAMB sticks around for hours, and that doesn't usually happen to me when I explore fragrances in this category. I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I do. Guerlain would be wise to make a travel spray of it -- I could see it selling well, especially in the stifling, hot summer months.

I really love Guerlain's AAMB, as well as AA Bergamato Calabria. I use the former more, and my husband uses the latter more. But we use them both in similar ways, which I'll list at the end.

I bought Guerlain's AAMB early in the start of my fragrance collection. At the time I didn't realize fragrances that are essentially citrus-forward do not last long. Later I learned citrus notes are conventionally used as top notes in more complex fragrances because they're not expected to last through to the dry-down phase.

But here's the thing. I still really love this fragrance, for three reasons. First: I find mandarine and orange citrus is a smell that has no seasonal connotations to me. So I use AAMB throughout the year. Two: AAMB is excellent for overspraying before or after exercise to smell as fresh as possible until you can shower. Three: I love to use AAMB to layer with other fragrances I think would benefit by a green/citrus top note. I have a few fragrances I blind bought that I like much better with AAMB over top.

The final thing I would add is the bottle is over four ounces, so it's no problem to overspray every time you use it. The juice will last a long time for your money.
🦋🧡🦋

Usually i'm not in to citrus scents. But I try to experiment, and try to find some citrusy friends for summer. (my favs at now are citrusy-white floral gourmands, like marly oriana, byredo sundazed, prada candy kiss.) But i want to try some fresher citrus. And i find! alterier cologne bohemian orange blossom, and this one! ( + one fav is the soft powderly sofisticated Tiffany) So i think the previous commenter Jgk2758 has right! if u like alterier cologne citruses probably u will like this one too! :D And If you like sweeter scent, but at summer u want some really fresh citrus scent, this is a perfect choice. It's sweet sicilian mandarin orange, & magical coolish clementin with some basil twist which makes me feel like a basilic lemonade. I almost wanted to drink it. Slightly sweet, fresh round citrus scent with a nice herbal aspect and that watery-airy vibe ( what I really like) and which is usually could be find in the aqua allegoria collection. Coconut fizz is my 1st and this one is my 2nd fav. <3

Mandarine Basilic is quite good at first sniff. Very citrusy, obviously mandarin, and very herbal. Almost astringent. Fans of Atelier Cologne's citrus scents might find a lot to like here. Fans of Jo Malone might too.

I'm a big fan of the Aqua Allegoria line, or at least parts of it; it has given me some of my all time favourite summer scents, so I'm always excited to try a new one, even though I end up feeling lukewarm about of many of the yearly entries. I don't know why it's taken me this long to get around to properly testing Mandarine Basilic - maybe just because it's a permanent part of the collection, and I always prioritized the more fleeting entries...But I'm glad that I finally have, because I can easily see why this one was retained: it's such a likeable, wearable scent! A real fresh mandarin with some green notes to it, light and happy, but not insubstantial or boring. Pretty much perfect for summer, and obviously completely unisex! The basil isn't culinary, it's just green and fresh, leaving the spotlight to the citrus and enhancing it - all of which I like. The only downside is that it doesn't last long, but then again, which airy summer citrus does? I have so many orange scents in my collection already, so I don't think I need a bottle, but a big decant is definitely on my wishlist!

TRES BIEN ON SENT BIEN LES AGRUMES.FERA UN TRES BEAU CADEAU A PORTER PAR FORTES CHALEURS. NE DERANGE PAS. FRAIS ET PLEIN DE MANDARINES. SIMPLE

Smells like a freshy juicy and sweet clementine. I don't pick up basil but there's the slightest green note. Perhaps the leaves of a citrus tree. As it dries down there is a powdery note akin to an orange blossom. Longevity is poor at 2-3 hours but perhaps that is the price to pay for something so natural smelling.

If you like to wear various frags throughout the day then you'll likely love this as it is gone after a few hours with no trace you ever even wore it. Makes it very easy to wear something else without fear of the scents interacting and producing some unpleasant or even revolting.

Cheerful and very, very beautiful. Happiness in a bottle!
One of the loveliest and one of the most nicely balanced.
Unfortunately it has no staying power.

Sweet, sparkling orange soda

Marie Salamagne's Mandarine Basilic was absolutely a love at first sniff. Admittedly, I ADORE citrus and basil. I love how they smell and taste, and are the culinary and olfactory epitome of optimism. To me, Mandarine Basilic is a realistic freshly peeled mandarin orange with fresh cut basil a few feet away. It's such a perfect balance of the two that it marries the best characteristics of both. The gorgeous opening lasts a good hour on me and fades gracefully into its sandalwood, ambery base, which comes across more clean than woody on my skin. I get a good five to six hours of wear, which is not bad for how long the citrus notes stick around. It's perfectly unisex, and the kind of uplifting fragrance that I wear for myself when I need an invigorating energy and mood boost. I found a 125ml tester here in Italy for 60 euros, which I think is more than fair for this bright and sparkling little gem.

It confuses me how this is one of the more popular Aqua Allegoria scents, as to me this is one of my least favourites (this and Limon Verde).

Something about the mixture of citruses and green notes is giving me cleaning product vibes and I don't like it. If I want orangey vibes I'll just go with Orange Soleia.

I have difficult feelings about this. I got a mini as a part of a set of 4 Aqua Allegoria minis a few years ago and now that we're in between seasons (summer is going and autumn is slowly arriving), I decided to start wearing them. The first one was Bergamote Calabria and it was fine.

But when I started wearing Mandarine Basilic I felt pure love. This is mandarin orange with the peel, something woody and herbs. I can't say it's basil honestly (more like fresh cut parsley), I have here with me some fresh basil and they are nothing alike. Between the sandalwood and the herbs there's a lot of soapiness. It's clean, refreshing, definitely unisex.

But here's the thing. It lasts 2 hours at the most, if you are lucky. It's like the best eaux de cologne ever. But for that price? Oh, no! It's become difficult to find, I won't find it on sale in my life.

I'll enjoy my autumn fling while it lasts and then move on to another Aqua Allegoria.

Cheerful, bright, effervescent realistic orange scent grounded by green nuances. I agree with the reviewer below me that it reminds me of a satsuma orange.

I enjoy this during the daytime when I want something light and fresh. Moderate performance true to an EDT and stays close to the skin.

This is a really beautiful, fresh and energizing scent. Very sweet, bright orange citrus. I got one of the minis and like putting it on first thing in the morning when I wake up.

When I smelled it I was immediately reminded of something that I loved when I was younger, I think it is the Satsuma scent from the body shop. I haven't smelled that in years, but I immediately remembered it when I smelled mandarin basilic. I might consider repurchasing that one when I run out of this.

This smells JUST like delicious, fresh peeled orange. I also get a tiny bit of grapefruit.
While this is probably a delicious summer scent it reminds me of christmas with those tangy festive orange notes, so probably good year round!

Reminds me of an orange-flavoured detergent. At the same time it smells like a welcoming home .

I bought a 10 mls bottle and I’m glad I didn’t spend money on a bigger one. I liked the notes but unfortunately I don’t like this perfume. The opening is quite nice, juicy mandarine, but lasts on me only a minute or two. Then all I can smell is metal. To me it is the same smell as Body Shop’s hemp shower oil. I must say that it stayed on my skin for a long time. I could smell it even after washing my skin.

This fragrance is very plain, safe and unremarkable. All I get is mandarin, maybe a hint of amber. No basil at all. In fact, this is the fragrance that made me realise I'm not really into citrusy freshies and I always regret buying them. I like my fragrances to be more hefty, lol.

Performance is not outstanding either. It's ok for going to the gym or running quick errands around the neighbourhood, but honestly... for what it is, I would rather buy a cheaper eau de cologne.

Sprayed this and was in LOVE with the opening for a high-heat summer day!!
Same scent genre as 'Fico di Amalfi's - Acqua di Parma'
Need to test more to understand the dna from top-to-bottom.

Usually I don't care for super fruity fragrances and am more of a woody sweet gourmand lover with a touch of floral but I quite like this! I also own Atelier clementine California so there's that lol. Me and my husband both instantly smelled grapefruit so we were shocked to read there isn't any grapefruit in the notes! None the less this is a lovely scent despite not being my typical scent.

Instant classic, gifted for this Christmas in a coffret.

Mandarine Basilic demonstrates that often the most simple and linear ideas are the most successful. The marriage of just two main ingredient, but quality ones, like for example the well known vanilla-tobacco or rose-oud, can give birth to a masterpiece without having to seek incredible concepts or pout-pourri.

This is the case. Very well balanced, airy, dry, slightly ambered. The only thing gone wrong - as often occurs - are performances. Aside from that, a brilliant idea. Very original in a market where vanilla-sweet perfumes are reigning in the feminine segment; and actually, I can see this on a man, too. Obviously, you have to be a type to pull this off as a man, but I feel this is a sort of ancestral discovering - like an ancient, bucolic view of Italy where young boys and girls could use just natural ingredients to perfume themselves, and would have caught a leave of basil and a peel of mandarin and just scratched on their wrists, because they where poor farmers and earth-workers.

Exceptional.

First spray gives me freshly peeled oranges. It is very citrusy and very green with a hint of spice. As it dries, I'm left with mandarin and wood. I love citrus scents, but this isn't my favorite because sandalwood can be overpowering on me. I wish musk was a base note instead.

Update: It has no staying power and disappeared within 2 hours.

I may reach for this, but it'd be after I've used all of Nest's Seville Orange and Clinique's Hint of Citrus.

For mandarine lovers - quite mono-dimensional. Mandarine, orange and a hint of basil. Very light and almost no sillage. Not bad if you are looking for this type of scent. For me not worth the money.

I cannot believe this is an EDT. I don't know if it's just a skin chemistry thing, but this had shockingly good performance on me. The fresh clementine and orange really come through, and the basil is subtle but gives it a nice fresh-spicy undertone. Smells like a citrus trees in a summer garden. It was pretty linear on me and didn't change much throughout it's wear, but I didn't really mind that. Pretty good sillage for the first few hours--not quite the level of a scent bubble, but definitely not super close to the skin. If you're looking for a summery, citrus scent at a pretty good price point that's going to perform well on you, I think this is a good choice.

I usually think of citrus scents as cologne-like (even if not labeled as such) and therefore fleeting. But I get good longevity out of this one and love the orange/floral/herbal scent. I received a sample of this and purchased a full bottle immediately - since it has been around for a while, there are good deals to be had. And what a gorgeous bottle it is!

I have a type, and Mandarine Basilic, you are it!

A beautiful refreshing orange scent that's perfect for hot days. It reminds me very much of Atelier's Clementine California but sharper. Though I prefer this perfume. On the first spray it's all citrus for me. Like making orange juice from fresh oranges. Walking through an orange grove in Florida. It's that type of fragrance. After about 10 minutes, the green tea, basil and peony come out to play. I could see how some people get a "household cleaner" impression. I can somewhat pick up on this too, but I don't mind it.

Longevity is pretty decent on me. I get 4-5 hours of wear on my skin before it fades away. I'm not sure if I'll purchase a full-size bottle, but I'll happily enjoy the rest of my travel spray. If you like citrus or a good freshie, this one is definitely worth checking out.

Upon receipt of a sample of this fragrance I purchased it immediately.
To me it is a beautiful Autumnal citrus with a barely detectable hint of pretty floral.
While the Allegorias are not about being a powerhouse on projection they exude a gracious wearability and likability.
I bought a 10ml so I can carry it in my bag and spray at my leisure although I feel it is completely full bottle worthy.
✨

Such a wonderful, refreshing citrus scent that has some herbal nuances. Wished it lasted longer, but it's still great.

I bought this one some time ago, mainly because of the bottle.
Then, somehow, I tried it again today.
I was surprised; I rated it ''ok'' earlier on but now I was blown away and quickly rated it ''love''.

I used to dislike orange scents when I was a kid even in food; there is an IFF factory in town and every so often they make orange scent synthetically. It was so overpowering I hated orange scents ever since.

But this one I actually love. It's not too sharp but it lingers for hours. It's actually quite fresh smelling.

I actually bought a 2nd bottle.

This is one of those fragrances that settle into the skin incredibly naturalistically - you smell your skin and it's like you just peeled a perfectly ripe mandarin and rubbed the rind on your wrist. On first spray, it's a more broad, bitter citrus (I think this is where some people in these reviews are getting the cleaning fluid vibe) but it settles very quickly into something a lot subtler. Definitely not a lot of projection after the first hour or so, but it's great if you're like me and prefer something that sits closer to the skin. Longevity is relatively good. The herbal/green notes are there if you pay attention, but exist more to balance out the mandarin which is front and centre. It's unisex in the way that the concept of a mandarin is unisex - up to you to decide whether that's masculine and/or feminine.

Loved the first 5 minutes, hated everything else. The opening is so fresh and fruity, someone compared it to a freshly peeled orange - and I agree. What happens later though...is such a shame. It turns artificial smelling IMO, closer to a toilet cleaner than a perfume. The way the mandarin and basil exist together is unpleasant to my nose...I wish the basil note was more spicy and prominent, instead it just gives the frag a "masculine" kick. It was a scrubber for me, sadly. Lasts around for a good few hours.

Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic is one of the best Aqua Allegoria line. It lasts five and a half hours on me, projects moderately for the first hour and a half before setting down to a skin scent. It opens with clementine, bitter orange, mandarin, basil, a hint of sandalwood and something floral-green. About ten minutes later the green tea comes into play. Around forty minutes in it reminds me of both Atelier Cologne's Clementine California (which is a bit softer than this) and Guerlain's own Aqua Allegoria orange Soleia (which is a bit sharper than this). At this point there's also more basil coming through to join the dominant oranges but it's broadly the same as the opening. There isn't much development in the perfume after this point so, once again, like most of the Aqua Allegorias, you'll know whether the perfume is for you or not pretty quickly.

Like all the Aqua Allegorias, this one is clearly at its best in the warmer weather but it could also work in early autumn as well. It's easy to see why Mandarine Basilic has survived for 14 years in a row in the Aqua Allegoria line when others have been discontinued after two or three years and never returned. It's a fairly simple perfume but it is well thought out and well blended. It has the walking-in-a-garden vibe (whether that's a flower garden, a fruit garden, a herb garden etc) that the best of the line have. It's a perfectly genderless unisex perfume too. A must-try and, if you don't have a good orange scent in your collection then this would be an excellent place to start.

It is humid tropical summer at the south of Florida. 93F outside This cologne is one of the weapons you need to survive the heat along with linen clothes, hats and ice cold beverages. I like it so much that re-apply it often. It feels excellent when I am outside in the heat.

One of the loveliest and most refreshing accords for summer is orange and basil, as several perfume houses have discovered. You truly have your pick of many different perfumes featuring it. This one is quite nice, and one of the most nicely balanced, but it is neither so startlingly crisp as Jo Malone Lime Basil and Mandarin nor as rich and heady as Chanel Paris - Deauville (my very favorite among these--a real delight); and it did not seem to last as long on me as either of the others, nor project as well. But I still recommend this as a true summer eau de cologne, and you can often find it on sale on-line.

Lovely uplifting fresh perfume, a slightly bitter mandarin orange scent with a bit of basil. At first, it does pull a little sharp and cleaning product-y, but the dry down is a lot softer with the sandalwood and orange blossom coming through. I can get a couple of hours of longevity out of this, however, it's pretty much a skin scent once it's dried down.

This is a sublime creation of fresh, happy tangerines and delicate green aromatic basil. There is so much light surrounding beautiful invigorating citrus notes, I smell petitgrain too.. it is mildly sweet, but is is so short lived...
It feels like a beautiful citric veil for a few minutes...then hardly to discern. I still want a full bottle, maybe to use it before bed..or just to reapply during the hot humid days of summer.
This is a beauty that is ethereal and must not be expected to perform like an EDP, this is full bottle worthy without ignoring its delicate character.

Beautiful opening of mandarin and Bergamont. Unfortunately it lasts all of five minutes. The entire fragrance has no longevity or Silage. I returned it because I was so disappointed that I was so weak.

Just got my 10ml bottle to have a better change to try it in different circumstances, and I have to say it is delicious. Fresh crisp green opening that awakens the senses, as the mandarin scents develop through from a crisp one to a more bitter orange on the dry down on my skin, surprisingly delicious. Crisp, fresh, and so good. Perfect on a hot summer day, summer dress, brunch with mimosas with your girlfriends, or at a BBQ. I bet it will perform nicely while outside in the humid heat. If you like citrus green scents, this will be a great one to get. I was not expecting to like this as much as I do!

A gorgeous orange scent!

Sweet, freshly cut mandarin & clementine slices with a light, green, & mildly spicy basil.

Fresh, orange, green, sweet, invigorating, clean, slightly salty.

I really feared the basil would be too much; too sharp, too synthetic, too spicy (2Fast!). It's really not. It adds to the beauty of the scent with a spring-time fresh basil note, that's green & lively spicy.

It does smell like Atelier Cologne Clementine California (CC) but it does not have CC's sharp & smokey opening, which is what ruins CC for me.

This is a great fresh scent, perfectly unisex, great for warm weather & daytime use.

I "Love" it!

Mandarine Basilic is the longest-lasting citrus scent I can remember trying and owning. A mouthwatering combination of bitter citrus rind and juicy mandarin pulp sprinkled with basil leaves is what lingers for the first 2 hours after application. Then, the orange flower with some watery notes takes over for at least 2 more hours, while the fragrance becomes muskier and lighter towards the dry down. A lovely summer scent, with just a bit of an edge, delightful and invigorating. More on the feminine side for me. Generous application is OK.

I guess some were thinking the same as I've been thinking...
This smells almost same with Atelier Cologne's Clementine California, but the less woodier... thus more lighter, fruity(sweet), clear, somewhat 'feminine'.
Anyone who's trying to get/have tried Clementine California but wasn't comfortable of its woodsy notes this scent might be the one for them. If you are, please go ahead and give it a try!

HELL YES, this stuff is good. Picks up on the bitterer, more aromatic aspects of orange - and I love basil scents too. I think this is better than Jo Malone's Lime, Basil and Mandarin: the sandalwood and basil give it a little more depth than "straight up citrus all the way" (and I LOVE LBM so that's saying something!)

Will definitely be looking around for a full-size of this.

Perhaps the most unisex fragrance of the line, together with Herba Fresca.
Don't intellectualize this one too much. Yes, it is faint and fleeting, but just try to indulge in it and spray, spray, spray ! Enjoy its citrus freshness for a few hours and then reapply if need be. Gorgeous.

The Aqua Allegorias are usually impressive: predominantly synthetic fragrances that nevertheless smell remarkably close to living plants. Mandarine Basilic, which seems to have risen up as the most popular AA still in production, is no exception.

As with the other Aqua Allegorias, Mandarine Basilic is fairly linear; not changing much over its 3-hour wear. As the name implies, it smells very much like mandarin oranges and basil leaves, presented in a preternaturally fresh and idealised way. It is at once the perfect mandarin pulp and basil stems suspended in pure water, yet also sweetly mundane given the simplicity of the scent. I must admit that even though I wear this, I do think it leans feminine (which is strange given the listed notes, but I think there are some vaguely feminine-leaning white musks which hold it together). Regardless, I do think this is the best Aqua Allegoria outside of the initial launches (Pamplelune and Herba Fresca) and, like Pamplelune, it presents citrus in a very non-harsh way. MB would make an excellent gift given its purity and non-offensive nature.

Relatively affordable, classy summer scent.

You know when you’re slicing oranges and the scent lingers on your hands for hours after? This is that exact scent in a bottle—a very photorealistic citrus with a green edge. It wears quite close to my skin but lasts a good 6-7 hours.

A fragrance to reach for at the peak of summer wearing an undone bun and a linen shirt.

The best of the Aqua Allegoria line. The bitter orange-basil combination is crisp, clean, sparkly citrusy freshness. Not too sweet and cloying, like Passiflora and Pera Granita. Pamplelune comes a close second. Hope to try the two new ones shortly, Flora Salvaggia and Nettare di Sole. Is this becoming an expensive habit?

Opens up with the most amazingly refreshing, sparkling citrus and herbs combination that simply VANISHES with a half hour. As much as I adore the fragrance, its poor lasting power just does not compensate. Not repurchasing!

Unfortunately my nose insists that this is a cleaning product. A high class, ecologically friendly one, maybe by Method or Ecover, but basically something you use to clean surfaces, not wear.
Good sillage if you like this sort of thing.

Sexy summer holidays in French Southern Sea
Absolutely stunning presentation this smell It fits perfectly into the hot weather.smell like summer holidays Bright, beautiful and clean smell It's perfect for all genders.10/10 love it

I dont think this smells like cleaner at all, but I do feel like this is incomplete.

I do really enjoy the juicy, realistic orange opening, and smell the unique character of mandarin specifically. Different types of orange have different nuances, and mandarin has always been my favorite. It's very uplifting and true to it's name for for first 20 minutes of wear. The basil is also distinct, and it's wonderous initially. On hot summer afternoons I could seen this being a boost of sensory positivity!

As it dries however, it becomes less basil and more generically herbal. There's little magic retained whatsoever as it progresses through it's stages, and it's actually a little bitter. I would've liked a bit more cozy sandalwood (or any, truly, because I don't really smell anything). It lacks a base, and even despite being a fresh fragrance (and I realize this is the major selling point) I believe we could've expected a little more to fall back on once the grand opening dissipates.

Overall, I don't think this is worth the price, it's a top-note-wonder (like a one-hit wonder, insofar that it's only the top notes that are interesting).

I adore Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic – this scent hits all the right notes - refreshing citrus (clementine, Orange Blossom), greens - (green Tea and Ivy) and soft (amber & vanilla). It's well-balanced and manages to be refreshing and soft at the same time. It's moderate sillage is perfect for office or day time wear. It reminds me a little of Annick Goutal’s Eau de Camille, (I have a vintage 1990's bottle). I get about six or seven hours of wear from it.

5.5/10. It is really hard to find good fruity fragrances. Not sure if it is because they are unstable or hard to produce. I really hope Guerlain does not discontinue this one.

This reminds me of Insolence but a mandarine version. It is specifically mandarine and not orange, tangerine or some other citrus. Quite rindy and also pear and ginger aspects. I do not smell basil.

I love the juicy opening of this, which sadly doesn’t last very long. I’m less a fan of the dry down - it’s perfectly fine (and has fair longevity) but feels a little more generically ‘perfumey’ to me at least. I like this and I’ll definitely use what I have of it, but it hasn’t struck me in quite the way I was hoping it might.

This smells like you've been gardening all day and what you smell like after ripping a bunch of weeds out of your garden. Longevity is just awful, I sprayed it on my clothes and after 3-4 hours, it was gone and I oversprayed some 6-8 times and when you're paying Guerlain prices, it's not worth it. This also gives me bathroom cleaner and toilet freshener vibes.

A great fresh, summer fragrance. I have gone though many bottles since its launch.
I love almost all the AA's , but this one is the third one on my fav. Aqua Allegoria list (being the first Gentiana - second is Pamplelune).
Fresh, uplifting, young.
I truly crave and love all hesperides notes, and having this one mandarine, clementine, orange...It's a winner.
The fresh green almost minty note of the basil allow to keep the frag fresh and not turn "candied orange".
Besides that, I can find all olfactory notes that I truly love, like orange blossom, patchouli, green tea and in the end, well measured sandalwood & amber, that ground the fragrance making it less fleeting.
However the longevity is limited, unfortunately.
One of the first offerings in the AA line that still is on the shelves. Hope it doesn't get discontinued as almost all its siblings.

Lovely easy to wear citrus scent.
Its a citrus splash.
Could easilly be a unisex scent 🍋🍊

Ah, Mandarine Basilic - my favorite from the whole Allegoria line. It is a soft citrus, surprisingly natural (think along the lines of Annick Goutal creations), hazy, sunny, carefree little gem. Perfect for warmer days or simply when you just crave sunshine. A classic summer staple, you can't go wrong with it.

I have just treated myself to another bottle of this little gem by Guerlain.
I went through the last bottle rather quickly!
If you want to smell just right - not too much and not too little -
and if you want to smell fresh and delectable then this is your
scent. It is full of juicy mandarins with a green ivy/basil counterpoint.
Zesty, happy and my special talisman.

This perfume brings a certain scenery to my mind when I smell it - a fresh, summer morning in a warm country, walking on a field with orange trees, barefoot, wearing a light white dress...
And it smells exactly like that: natural, green, citrusy, fresh. A really lovely day fragrance, for when you want to feel light and fresh.

Love this! Had a free sample from a recent order (for Herba Fresca), and after realising how delicious it is, simply had to purchase.

Most fragrance openings seem very artificial on my skin (which I don't always mind); this does not. So from the start I was intrigued. On initial application, fresh, natural, realistic citrus. sweet citrus/orange (but my partner claims it smells "just like grapefruit"); deepening during the dry down after about 2 hours, when it becomes more herbal, and an equally realistic basil and green (tea?) note emerges; the citrus is now like neroli.

The remaining sweetness is never cloying nor sugary, but elegant, uplifting. A wonderfully harmonious whole with a delicate complexity. Overall, a sheer veil of shimmering radiance.

There is also something nostalgic about this for me – I can't pinpoint it, but to my nose (and mind) it is "classic" in the best possible way. I would even go so far as to say that for me it is like something I might smell in a dream; or certain childhood concepts of what constitutes a "lovely fragrance".

Sillage-wise, it wafts wonderfully! It is moderate rather than strong, though. Longevity goodish so far, bearing in mind it has only been on for about 4.5 hours in calm and sedate (internet surfing) indoor conditions. Lastly, I would say this is migraine friendly.

[Update: lasted overnight, so a good 12 hours total, on the inside of my elbow with 4 sprays; and I could still enjoy it on waking the next morning!]

A perfume for the after shower, for a lazy sunday or enjoying holidays. Fresh, bright, citrus. Guerlain quality.

I can imagine myself spraying with this when its above 30 degrees Celsius outside and I dont want to wear anything clingy. But the longevity is indeed edt and I am rubish at re-spraying. That is why I find is really pretty and suitable for summer, hot weather but not intending to buy it.
Vibes: summer refreshing cocktail, cooling down
Form: 1ml sample

So I'm a guy and I wear this after taking a shower and staying home for the evening. IT's very fresh. I love it.

This smells very natural! If you have tried fragrances from Atelier cologne, then you'd have an idea of how this one smells. It smells like a realistic sweet citrus with a green background.

The name says it all.

I wanted to like this, but it's too artificial.

OMG, I love this. Yes, mandarin, yes, basil. This is supposed to be a best seller in the Aqua Allegoria range. It's not a simple fragrance. It still smells expensive. It reminds me of Spain in Summer. The smell of orange trees or the fruit markets. I enjoy smelling this after dry down. Some part of me wants to call it, 'flat` then. Maybe, flat but not stale. It also, reminds me of something I've smelled onboard international business class flights. I think this would be lovely sprayed on my linen. Uplifting. I often go to choose this one on a fresh Spring day.

I find this Aqua Allegoria versatile. If you only get one (especially as a gift), then it should probably be this one. It can also, be used for layering over older masterpieces to impart a light citrus opening without destroying the heart of the other perfume. Today, I've used it with Guerlain's Chamade. (Don't layer right over each other, spray on different parts of the body.)

From the first spray, feeling citrus is so fresh and lively. But after less than an hour, the combination of spicy notes and citruses become overwhelming. This period is the main decision to like or hate!. Then 3-4 hours become greener or toilet refresher (for somebody feeling) but when dried down base notes become a perfect skin's scent like soft musky/salty or a natural puberty smell

After 1 hour, mandarine disappears, the smell gets greener and remains fresh.

Aptly named. Opening is a blast of fresh sweet oranges and the basil comes across as orange leaves to me. It adds a bit of bitterness as a counterbalance. It projects for maybe an hour before becoming a skin scent. As it dries down the sweet vibrant oranges fades as does the basil. It becomes more of a powdery orange blossom scent. Longevity is around 4hrs though if you bury your nose into clothing you can catch faint whiffs 6hrs later.

Nice clean scent but longevity and performance are only adequate. But realistically it performs the same as others in this category.

This is the first Aqua Allegoria fragrance that I've tried. Mandarine Basilic is definitely all about oranges! Sweet and juicy oranges along with bitter pithy ones. I get a hint of basil and tea too. Nice and refreshing, but not something I would rush out to buy.

Nice scent but a poor value for the weak presence and dismal longevity . This exact statement could be made about countless other scents . What is the point of spending money to purchase a “ perfume “ that has almost no presence ?

Very light and pretty. Some citruses can call to mind summer sweat for me (such as Atelier Cologne’s Orange Sanguine), but this is a clean realistic orange.

I was shocked at how much it smells real to life, exactly like eating a fresh orange under the tree you picked it from.

Beautiful but poor longevity for the price.

I love the scent of freshly peeled clementines and mandarines. Gives me the feeling of summer, beach, vacation. Fun, fresh, sweet, sparkling - all at the same time.

Not so bad but I can't help myself I smell some mix of sweat and citrus deodorant on my skin and this is not what I want from my fragrance. So maybe it depends on your skin chemistry and it is better to try it before purchase.

this is too much citrusy, a..in the face citrus, the dry down is more natural citrusy tree smelling.

I love this perfume, it's my go to spring and summer fragrance when I need a little mood boost and just want to smell fresh and delicious without being too sweet or heavy. The juicy mandarin is just on point, so fresh and sparkling. I don't really get any of the other notes but that's fine by me. My only disappointment with this fragrance is that it's so fleeting, it's gone in a flash. I'm on to my second bottle though as I just can't be without it, so I just keep an eye out for any sales or discounts to be had.

I have always wanted to smell like a clementine, and it was realized with Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic. Freshly peeled clementine with a blast of basil opening, quickly turns a little sweeter and closer to the skin. Could have been perfect with a better lasting power (only lasts on me for about 1-2 hours) and a little of that jestiness in the peel's oil.

Summer stunner. Refreshing, clean. Citrus often indicates clean, but this is actually soapy. Smells as if you just washed up with soap. Pleasant, refreshing, citrusy, beautiful summer choice.

Years ago I used to wear Clinique Happy for Men. At that point, it was different from any other cologne I had been wearing due to the "happy" orange note which gave the scent a fizzy lift and really did its job by making me feel happy. As I got older and matured, my taste in cologne changed and I no longer wanted to wear Clinique Happy. When I smelled it, I felt like I had outgrown it. It smelled too generic, too typical and not special enough. I still wanted a good orange fragrance, but one that was elevated, more mature and unexpected.
I had tried Bond No. 9 Little Italy and even though I liked it, I felt like it was too synthetic to be "the" orange scent I was looking for.
With Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic, I had prepared myself not to like it. I have tried so many scents marketed solely toward women and in the end, I gave them all away because they were too "perfumey" on me. I thought that that's where this one would be headed as well. I am pleasantly surprised at how wrong my preconceived notion was. This is the orange scent that I have been longing for, for so long. The orange is authentic, mature and airy. The basil grounds the orange, giving it depth and keeping it from becoming too cloying and sweet. This scent should be considered unisex as I see any man who enjoys the uplifting scent of orange, being able to pull it off well. Not masculine and not feminine, but rather somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. The perfect orange scent for my collection!

To me, this smells like lazy summer afternoon breeze. Somewhere in Mediteraneen. Family reunions, smiling children doing mischief, drinking lemonade, eating fruit or ice cream, idle gossip and just being happy to be there.
We all have moments suspended in time when everything is just perfect as is. The moments worth living for.
This one is one of mine.

Blindbuy and love it ❤❤❤

This is my current main love. This one is sunshine in a bottle. This does not last more than 2-3 hours on me, but I find I don't mind at all. It gives me an excuse to go back to my vanity and revisit my little collection. My nose is not trained enough to pick out anything more than the Mandarin and the basil. I have friends that swear that it smells like everything from lemon tea to pine trees. Without fail though, the impression is always positive. This scent bounced around you like an excited border collie wanting to go play, and you can't help but smile.

Juicy and refreshing, very natural smelling mandarin. The basil comes out after a little bit and in my skin becomes stronger over time. The basil complements the mandarin really well and stops it from being too sweet, gives a slightly bitter herbal twist. I really love this and is my favourite in hot weather.

I detect no basil nor greenness in this whatsoever and it makes me so sad because I'm really into the bouncy clementine scent. Its strength is it does a strongly citrus scent without being shrill or bathroom cleaner-y. I just wish it had some more depth.

It makes me think of eating those jell-o cups with mandarin slices suspended inside.

Delicious clementine and basil scent. So fresh and uplifting.

This is such a beautiful scent and works so well on my skin. It starts with a bracing citrus burst but then dries down, on me, to something warm and creamy... like clementine icecream eaten by the sea. Longevity is not fantastic, about middle of the road, but I think it's worth it.

Probably in my personal Top 10 of fragrances. Gorgeous.

Mandarine Basilic is probably the best in the Aqua Allegoria line. Nice citrus notes blend with basil and bitter orange to create a Mediterranean orange grove on the French Riviera. The orange and basil complement each other in ways you would never have thought possibly. It's like a spicy citrus cocktail with hints of bitter orange, green tea, basil, and sandalwood. Lovely and sophisticated, yet simple and earthy. An elegant elixir to add to your perfume collection.

Basil and orange are definitely the strongest notes! It's happy, green, light enough and still chique. Guerlain always creates this fancy edge, which is well balanced in this case. It's nice but not too heavy. I would say this is a unisex scent!

6/10

Unlike many other Aqua Allegoria scents, this one is very rich on ingredients, even though the only notes I really smell are citruses (be it mandarine, bitter orange or clementine) and some herbs (be it basil, ivy or chamomile). Quite basic, but at the same time refreshingly beautiful and perfectly suitable for hot summer days.
It is indeed very wearable for the vast range of people, however not that long-lasting (wear time is perhaps 2-3hrs at best).

The almost predominant clementine* makes this fragrance awesome.
Or rather simply perfect as the only night-time beauty accessory.
* I think I also smell its peel which is perhaps the ivy..
I was honestly intrigued by chamomile in pyramid, hence my blind buying choice. Although this note is not in the least present to my nose I don't even regret a little, I can't find a fault with this Aqua Allegoria.

You can criticize a perfume as much as you want.
But mocking the people who use the perfume is so childish.
I don’t mind if someone hates my fav perfume. But people need to stop writing “smells like —- type of people would use” is just offensive and ignorant. You can dislike anything but why feel like you must insult everyone who uses it ?

If you love this perfume, just wear it. You don’t deserve any insults from anyone.

I personally loved this perfume on a friend and got one for myself.
Always put me in a good mode. Longevity 3~5 hours

Absolutely beautiful. It is one of my favorite summer scents. It starts out as a strong orange citrus with a little hint of orange blossom. Once it dries down on my skin I get a lovely blend of sandalwood, orange blossom, and the tiniest hint of basil and green tea and the slightest hint of that sweet orange juice. on my skin it is very complex. Longevity is about 5 hours and it projects about 2-3 feet around me until about the 4th hour when it becomes closest to the skin.

I normally support all reviews, both positive and negative. I agree that negative reviews should be allowed, and I generally don't downvote them...if they're respectful. What I do downvote: reviews that don't explain why they don't like a fragrance, reviews that deride others for liking or not liking the fragrance, reviews that are bigoted or sexist, reviews that insist that only a certain gender can wear a fragrance (I see a lot of "this is only for men and don't tell me otherwise!" reviews), and finally, reviews that come across as ageist ( "this is an old lady perfume!" " this is for immature little girls!").

I downvoted Jezebel's review because it was the last category, with some of the second. You can say a fragrance has no staying power. You can say it's too sweet, or plastic-y. You can even say it's way overpriced; god knows that's how I see Flowerbomb. But if you start saying that this is just a cheap body spray for preteens, that implies to me that you think anyone who enjoys and owns this fragrance is stupid with their money and has the sophistication of a ten year old girl. Thus the downvote.

Personally, I enjoy very light and fleeting fragrances in very hot weather. My part of the world regularly gets summer temperatures up to 115 F, well into the 40s C. It's nice to have a light but (I think) well-made citrus fragrance available at those times. And citrus, strangely, lasts long on me. So everyone is different. Doesn't make them unsophisticated because they spent good money on a fragrance that lasted less than an hour on someone whose skin eats citrus notes and lives in a cooler climate.

Sweet mandarins, bitter oranges, basil and chamomile like "taken out of nature". The whole is refreshing, slightly sweet, delicate and expressive at the same time. Wonderful perfume for the summer.
I feel them on the skin for about 4 - 5 hours (like most summer compositions).

I agree with Jezebelle . People who do not write flattering reviews for perfumes they do not like should not be censored. This should be a site educate consumers and not a place to be cheerleaders for products that are not impressive or that perform poorly after the consumer pays hard earned money for the perfume in the pretty bottle that disappears in an hour like water .

If a member states his views respectfully , he is likely doing a real service to those who are looking for quality fragrances .

Mmmmm can I drink this please! This is clementine juice at its best. So fresh and pure, still waiting for the basil note to come out, but regardless it's a stunning freshie for the spring and summer.

Juicy, fresh, delicious orange juice with mint and basil. This mandarine basilic is a bit denser than I expected but is still fresh and rich. This will be great in the hot summer months. Light florals take a back seat to the mandarin and basil. Longevity is decent. Surprising for an EDT. Very refreshing and juicy. I will have to look at some more of these Allegorias.

This is so lovely! I am currently pregnant and along with all the other unpleasantness I knew to expect came something I did not- an intolerance for my beloved perfumes! I have actually been depressed about this because my scent stash has functioned as aromatherapy for when I’m stressed or unwell- both of which I’ve been in spades these past few months without my source of relief! Thankfully I’ve discovered that at least what I have smelled from the AA line is lovely and fresh and somehow doesn’t bother me. I have felt a bit snooty in the past about easy to please scents like these, but I stand humbled and corrected! Now excuse me while I go spray with abandon a perfume that doesn’t make me want to run...er... waddle a mile away :)

Wonderful citric aromatic scent, it sets delicately appealing on my skin and is indeed uplifting. I love to wear it in every season of the year.

60% basilic + 40% mandarin orange. It smells like something from the past. Back in 2000'ies there was orange-colored soap (Fa? or Palmolive?) called Brazilian Mandarin?

Quite an unconventional scent. Not that there would be some particular development but as I use Aqua Allegoria s in summer and reapply constantly, this is not an obstacle. Fresh without lemony notes, basilic in a women's fragrance is very interesting. If applied on fabrics, it stayed somehow otherwise the lasting power was not impressive. Worth to try in summer, if aquatics are too weak and feeble and sweet scents generic and sticky.

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Emotions: cool-down, genuine.

This is happy sunshine on a bottle. I just got 125 ml of this juice now in December to boost my gloomy winter spirit.
Fresh, zesty, citrucy, green and with a sweet twist.
Can not wait to test it out on a hot humid summer day.

I do not think this smells like 4711 Blood orange & Basil. I used to have a bottle of that one. Sure there is a resemblance and 4711 is good but Guerlain is simply on a different quality level. Guerlain is much more multifaceted.

I have been using this for office. 8-10 light sprays on arms and chest area. Also on top of a thin merino wool sweater. ( i got some 25 pcs of those, my winter uniform LOL )

Keeps me feel fresh without being to overwhelming.