No, I didn’t need another perfume, but I had some $$$ leftover from my points card that was set to expire at the end of February and the bottle design really drew me in, so I just had to get it. You understand, right?

Of Aqua Allegoria’s five nature-inspired scents, Mandarine Basilic is the clear standout. I didn’t bother with Flora Nymphea, Herba Fresca, or Pamplelune. They were much too strong and unremarkable. The SA kept pushing me to get Jasminora which seemed good at first but I totally smelled like a funeral home after 5 minutes, at least that’s what my brother told me. Mandarine Basilic is a citrus scent and its notes include orange blossom, white peony, green tea, Roman chamomile, Mandarin, Basil, Amber and Sandalwood.

During the first hour of wear Mandarine Basilic has a very clean and citrusy scent. The most prominent notes are definitely orange blossom, white peony, basil and green tea. A warmer and softer scent (Amber, is that you?) is revealed after a couple of hours. Very, very nice! Perfect for the warm summer nights ahead. Definitely worth looking into. This scent is wonderful and is long lasting.

Each bottle of Guerlain’s Aqua Allegoria contains 2.5 oz and retails for $60+ CAD.