Question:
There was a thread recently concerning this subject.
My answer, unabashedly and without doubt, was Guerlain, despite its being in the distinct minority in the voting poll.
So, in your face, and my faith in the collective wisdom of B'notes members has been confimed.
No other PERFUME HOUSE (goodbye, Chanel, Hermes, etc.,) has so consistently offered classic fragrances for such a long period of time save Creed, which didn't win, so so what.
By the way, how long has it been since Chanel launched a masterpiece?
Another thought...when people think of Guerlain's classic fragrances, they ignore, or not aware of, the PARFUM versions of Habit Rouge or L'Instant or Heritage, all of which, IMO, are vastly superior to the EDTs.
Add in the fact that HR is the very definition of a men's classic scent, and its winning spot makes even more sense.

Answer:
Originally Posted by Rebelwithoutaclue There was a thread recently concerning this subject.
My answer, unabashedly and without doubt, was Guerlain, despite its being in the distinct minority in the voting poll.
So, in your face, and my faith in the collective wisdom of B'notes members has been confimed.
No other PERFUME HOUSE (goodbye, Chanel, Hermes, etc.,) has so consistently offered classic fragrances for such a long period of time save Creed, which didn't win, so so what. Yes, I agree: I would have gone with Guerlain over Chanel too if I'd voted. I hope they take this as encouragement to maintain the quality.

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Guerlain and Chanel both have amazing women's fragrances. As for men's scents... there are much better houses out there imo. Not to say that Guerlain and Chanel don't each have a couple of gems for men though.

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Guerlain was also a winner in 2000, and as much as I love Guerlain Vetiver, this house has a lot of catching up to do - its been 15+ years since Heritage (the last good mens fragrance which wasnt a derivative spinoff). Vol De Nuit, Shalimar and Mitsouko are almost 100 years old. Guerlains recent output (the Aqua series, Insolence etc) has been pedestrian at best, and with all the recent reformulations of the treasured classics, this house has been really struggling. No wonder they also started offering a "bespoke service" last year.

In todays cut throat environment, you can't rely on your 100 year old backcatalog (well unless its Chanel No.5) which despite being widely regarded classics, may not connect with the new audience - I say Guerlain needs to wake up and smell the notes. Instead of flooding the market with derivative fragrances, Guerlain should take a breather, and pace their new fragrance launches appropriately. Or we can blame it all on the new owners (LVMH).

Answer:
Originally Posted by The_Giraffe Guerlain and Chanel both have amazing women's fragrances. As for men's scents... there are much better houses out there imo. Not to say that Guerlain and Chanel don't each have a couple of gems for men though. Yeah, sorry, you're entitled to your opinion, but the votes are in.
PS-- a "couple?"
Do a Directory search of men's Guerlains and ask yourself how many you really know, or own...INCLUDING the EPD versions, which people rarely are aware of.
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Originally Posted by zztopp Guerlain was also a winner in 2000, and as much as I love Guerlain Vetiver, this house has a lot of catching up to do - its been 15+ years since Heritage (the last good mens fragrance which wasnt a derivative spinoff). Vol De Nuit, Shalimar and Mitsouko are almost 100 years old. Guerlains recent output (the Aqua series, Insolence etc) has been pedestrian at best, and with all the recent reformulations of the treasured classics, this house has been really struggling. No wonder they also started offering a "bespoke service" last year.

In todays cut throat environment, you can't rely on your 100 year old backcatalog (well unless its Chanel No.5) which despite being widely regarded classics, may not connect with the new audience - I say Guerlain needs to wake up and smell the notes. Instead of flooding the market with derivative fragrances, Guerlain should take a breather, and pace their new fragrance launches appropriately. Or we can blame it all on the new owners (LVMH). OK...so how do you explain their win?

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I personally feel that L'Instant is also a great fragrance. It does not seem to get the respect here that I think it deserves. I wonder if it may have played a role in the voting...

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Originally Posted by Rebelwithoutaclue OK...so how do you explain their win? I personally felt Serge Lutens was set to win this year because it was talked about a lot and many of its fragrances were hyped up, but it came in second....hmmmmmm....

Answer:
I have sincere respect for Guerlain, theyve been around a long time and have some timeless classics. In this day and age when the ability to keep generating a new 'latest and greatest' titillation seems to define a companies standing, Guerlain continues to offer many of the classics that people still love (albeit sometimes in modified form due to industry constraints)
Not to say that the continuing development of the industry and artistry shouldnt be one of the hallmarks of a companies vitality, it is, but I also appreciate being able to purchase classic things that I loved 30 years ago, and still love today.
Its a poor offering indeed to have nothing on the shelves but the latest hollow attempts to satiate the current trend.
Dave

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Guerlain, Caron and Chanel should always be tough houses to contend with.
All the ones listed below are excellent (and there are others), several are classics (15 or so at least), and most of them are still around without having been seriously damaged by restoration/reformulation. Obviously the frags would be even better under had Guerlain not been bought buy Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessey.
Coriolan, L'Instant Pour Homme, and Habit Rouge Eau Légère are all extremely high quality recent men's fragrances.
Jicky 1989
Mouchoir de Monsieur 1904
Champs-Elysées 1904
Après L'ondée 1906
L'Heure Bleue 1912
Mitsouko 1919
Shalimar 1926
Djedi 1927
Vol de Nuit 1933
Sous le Vent 1933
Vega 1936
Vetiver 1961
Habit Rouge 1965
Chamade 1969
Eau de Guerlain 1974
Parure 1975
Derby 1985
Nahema 1989
Héritage 1992
Coriolan 1998
Attrape-Couer/Guet-Apens 1999
Mahora 2000
Vetiver Pour Elle 2004
L'Instant Pour Homme 2004
Habit Rouge eau Légère 2005
Rose Barbare 2005
Bois d'Arménie 2006

Answer:
Originally Posted by pluran Guerlain, Caron and Chanel should always be tough houses to contend with.
All the ones listed below are excellent (and there are others), several are classics (15 or so at least), and most of them are still around without having been seriously damaged by restoration/reformulation. Obviously the frags would be even better under had Guerlain not been bought buy Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessey.
Coriolan, L'Instant Pour Homme, and Habit Rouge Eau Légère are all extremely high quality recent men's fragrances.
Jicky 1989
Mouchoir de Monsieur 1904
Champs-Elysées 1904
Après L'ondée 1906
L'Heure Bleue 1912
Mitsouko 1919
Shalimar 1926
Djedi 1927
Vol de Nuit 1933
Sous le Vent 1933
Vega 1936
Vetiver 1961
Habit Rouge 1965
Chamade 1969
Eau de Guerlain 1974
Parure 1975
Derby 1985
Nahema 1989
Héritage 1992
Coriolan 1998
Attrape-Couer/Guet-Apens 1999
Mahora 2000
Vetiver Pour Elle 2004
L'Instant Pour Homme 2004
Habit Rouge eau Légère 2005
Rose Barbare 2005
Bois d'Arménie 2006 What he said. Thanks for that amazing list.
Again, is there even ANY comparison?