GUERLAIN
XI’AN

2021

PERFUMER
Thierry Wasser

bamboo
blossoms
sandalwood

Exclusively available in the city museum of Xi’an.

A special one to review, as it launched only in the city of Xi’an, China. And I think it has a beautiful presentation. The scent, while perfectly fine, is definitely less special or beautiful to me.

I’d say that the core feeling I get from Xi’an is that off a Santal 33-adjacent product. It has the cucumbery-sandalwood, that Guerlain also used in Santal Pao Rosa in the same year that Xi’an was released.

It’s crunchier, tangier than Santal 33, with a more pronounced floral quality, which has a dewy effect. As it gets sweeter when it dries down, it starts to remind me very much of mimosa fragrances. Not the full-on honeyed sweet mimosa ones, but the ones with more of a dewy green floral side left to them as well.

Overall, this is rather fresh, crisp, and something versatile to wear, especially in mildly warmer weather I think, but not nearly as interesting or unique as I was hoping for. I’m not sure what I was expecting from ‘bamboo’, but it seems to be rather common florals and modern, Santal-33-esque sandalwood. For my taste, the introduced sweetness helps to make it more likeable, but it’s just not the style of sandalwood base that lends itself to a proper Guerlinade-sweet blend.

Average scent, in an above average package.