Insolence Eau de Parfum Guerlain for women

Smells like baby wipes and candy. It is unique though, but I think it is not wearable, at least not on me

An intense powdery violet lipstick. Although I love a lipstick note perfume- this one is too straightforward for me, there’s no nuance to it and it doesn’t change much with the dry down. It’s a bit cloying, and after two hours of wear it became headache inducing for me unfortunately.

You ladies and gentlemen seem to like my reviews :) Thank you. I don't really have the vocabulary to talk about the notes - there are much more sophisticated noses on Fragrantica and I bow to their greater talents. I'm going to write about what the fragrances in my collection have meant to me.

First off, I love Guerlain. Insolence EDP holds a special place in my heart, though. Does anyone else remember Crabtree & Evelyn back in the 90's, when you could browse in stores during your lunch hour? They made a beautiful violet scent. The brick and mortar stores are closed and the scent is long discontinued; but the first time I sniffed Insolence, I was right back in Faneuil Hall at age 25, wearing a puffy full length coat with a copy of "David Copperfield" in my pocket and the complete C&E violet line in my shopping cart. To my nose, Insolence smells like all violets with a little bit of vanilla and spun sugar in the background. What could be wrong with that, right?

I've done the legwork on this one and it definitely soothes the savage beast :). A couple of years ago a friend and I met up for a drink on a snowy day at the beginning of April. We were having a nice time but then a bombastic loudmouth walked in on the phone. You know the type :). We sat there in silence and listened to her berate someone ... either her assistant or maybe the nanny. Anyway, it was bad. My friend rolled her eyes and mouthed, "Can you hear her all right?"

The lady on the phone reached past me to grab a menu and stopped in her tracks. She hung up without saying goodbye (or, you know, "sorry"). "Pardon me, ma'am, what is that scent you are wearing? That beautiful, clean scent?"

Huh? "Me?" I told her what it was.

"OMG, that perfume brings back so many memories! I feel like I am back in my grandma's garden hunting for Easter eggs!" She gave me a bear hug and bought us a drink. She had tears in her eyes.

Never underestimate the power of scent to shift the mood. It can even work on rude people who talk on their phones in public :). Happy springtime, everyone -

Frosted winter berries and violet candy. Playful and mischievous, like a fairy. I like it, but I don't love it, as I find the sweetness to be too syrupy, even on drydown.

Fruity violet bomb. So sweet and innocent it's almost cheeky. Hence the name, I guess. Beast-mode performance, too.

Insolence and I did not get off to a very auspicious start.

I was stuck in an airport waiting for a delayed flight so I could go to a funeral. Being stuck in an airport sucks. Going to a funeral sucks worse. Giving a eulogy at a funeral is extremely difficult. Worrying you’re going to be late to a funeral you’re giving a eulogy at because United’s stupid plane broke down and they had to wait for another one is a whole other kind of craptastic. It was only 9:30 AM so the airport bar wasn’t open yet, but the duty free shop had just opened up.

They had many different perfumes on offer, including tons of different Guerlain perfumes. I was stuck between this one and Terracotta, and ended up purchasing this one. I ended up wearing it to the funeral, and many of my relatives commented on how good it smelled. So I took it home… and then didn’t wear it for about a year because every time I smelled it, it just kind of made me sad because of the circumstances in which I acquired it.

Now, however, I am able to enjoy it. This is a beautiful sugared violet scent that evolves into a sweet berried floral over about 12 hours. Be careful not to overspray because this is a BEAST of a perfume, and becomes chokingly powerful in humidity. We’ve been having an unusually chilly winter in what is normally a hot and humid climate, so I’ve been wearing this a lot lately and really enjoying it.

I just wish Insolence and I had met under better circumstances.

Insolence by Guerlain is worth at least a test or a sample. It's a classic, timeless kind of scent. It's reminiscent of vintage makeup, lipsticks, and powders.
However, the caveat here is it can come off a bit cloying with the intensely sweet red berries. It's actually a syrupy sweet fragrance, especially on initial spray all the way until the dry down.
I also would like to suggest not letting this hinder you from testing it. Guerlain is a magnificent perfume house and Insolence is nothing to scoff at. It's unapologetically strong, powdery, and sweet.
Don't let this wear you, you must wear it. Fragrance can tell when your confidence is lukewarm at best. Lastly, woman, man, non binary folk can all wear this. It's just a lovely scent.

This is an excellent iris scent for classy, subtle perfume devotees.
This Insolence has a sophisticated, powdery aroma similar to Porcelana by Ex Nihilo , I'm not saying is a clone, just if you like one maybe you like the other.
It starts with the freshness of violet. Soon, it transforms into a sophisticated, powdery floral aroma filled with iris delicacy. Finally mellows with musk and Iris.

It's feels very clean and powdery. By de iris could work on spring,but the violet note can work very well in winter. It stands out quite a bit at night, at outdoor summer events, and at work, taking care of the amount used so as not to leave a trail when walking. On the romantic side, it is attractive and feminine.
At the end:
Well-balanced powdery tone.
Fresh, clean, and sophisticated.
Daily use
Signature scent candidate.

Ooh I was reading the reviews and I see someone saying that it smells like 'sugared cranberries in the snow' and it clicked! That's exactly the vibe I get from this perfume! It's syrupy sweet, powdery yet icy. Frozen, sugared cranberries and violets.

Unfortunately after having worn it a few times I realise it's too cloying. It needs very cold weather to be bearable, otherwise it turns into a syrup scent.

Great for ICY cold days! ❄️❄️❄️❄️

Parma violets and fabric softener. Clean, sweet, powdery and uncomplicated. I like it, but I won't be ready to smell like this for another 50 years.

Necesito esta fragancia siempre conmigo! Me acompaña desde hace muchísimos años.... es elegante, limpia, simplemente hermosa! Si te gustan las violetas, no dudes en comprarla. Me ha regalado cantidad de halagos...
Dato importante, su duración es muy muy buena!

First impressions (dabber):
The dry down is definitely dryer sheets. The beginning gives me Grandmom’s Parma violets. It also remind me of lilac for some reason. Oh yeah this does give me the year of 2006 for sure! Huh. Interesting. I definitely smelled this in the department stores for sure! I think some people are saying is smells like nail polish is because the beginning smells like lilac.
Edit:
Yep getting a downy vibe to it. Am I crazy, or like a tide vibe. Hold on maybe it’s ensueno detergent? Yeah All I’m getting is dryer sheet of the smell putting your face in warm clothes. There’s nothing wrong with that smell it’s just that for me I have other perfumes that are clean. This one is like a clean warm nostalgic perfume. While I prefer perfumes that are clean, but cold in a vibe.
Edit 2:
Others are saying this has a cold vibe, but I have to disagree. It is quite aggressive, but it’s sweet. I love cold fragrances like Dior pure poison, Prada L’homme, or clean warm cotton. This perfume is the opposite of that yet it maintains it’s aggressive cleanliness.
Edit 3:
Victorian era makeup powder, or soap.

Summary:
Smells like: warm clean downy, ensueno detergent, or a detergent that has the note of violets. Maybe a fruity warm detergent.
Family of: N/A warm clean family
Silage: strong to moderate

Verdict:
Pass- I can see how people like this, but to me it’s not a love. I’m gonna use the rest of my dabber, and that’s it.

insolence EDP reminds me a little of dryer sheets, it has that clean powdery smell. i do get a fair amount of violet, but mostly at the back of the nose on an exhale; ionones love to play coy like that.

the red berries are prominent in the first moments, and then the iris unfurls and creates that scent of vintage cosmetics, romantic and a little dusty. this scent is quite demure, not really bratty and loud. it definitely carries the guerlain fingerprint i dearly love: that luminous warmth at the heart of the fragrance that i find really hard to describe but that is also present in l'heure bleue and après l'ondée. (side note: i need to get my hands on a pure sample of the guerlinade accord, for research purposes.)

today is rainy, and violets feel apropos. alas, the EDP fades really quickly. 4h - 5h after application it's all gone; even before that it sits very close to the skin.

To me it smells like a straight up intense nail polish but it does last for hours. Not a safe blind buy.

For those who love violets, that is their scent. It is like burying your face in a big bunch of violets - very, very sweet. I still have some in a bee bottle. I am not often in the mood to wear it, as I prefer more blended scents. Looks like it has been discontinued, as I don't recall paying all that much for it a couple of years ago? It is a like for me, but I do not have to have it.

I sprayed it on my wrist at this store and spent a day with this perfume before I bought it. I was looking for a powdery scent. It suited me very well. The next day I went and got it. I wore this perfume today. God, my skin smells powdery and violet. I can't stop myself from smelling it.

Oof.
Way to strong and in your face for me.
So that’s a no for me

Like many reviews, I agree that this is the ultimate feminine fragrance (to me at least) !
It's delightfully playful yet serious, sophisticated yet careless, fruity yet soft and warm, can you tell I adore this perfume yet? :)

This perfume is beautiful and I miss having it in my collection of perfumes! It's a must-have violet scent for violet lovers and it is one that's not to be missed. Text-book perfect and classic for its genre.

I can smell all of the notes listed in this perfume, but the violet dominates the most, followed by the powdery notes. I then get a touch of those red berries, which gives this scent a slightly more candied and sweet violet smell than what you would find in nature. The iris is what I smell the least of.

This reminds me most of Guerlain's Météorite pearls that I love to buy so much and I can imagine being a very glamorous actress from the 1930's putting on this perfume at her vanity table. It's incredibly feminine and beautiful in the classical sense of the word. I honestly don't know who wouldn't love that?!

This has moderate sillage on me and it lasted a fair amount of time. About 5 hours or so on my skin. It's a reasonably cheap perfume (especially for a high end perfume) and you get a lot in the bottle for the price. I'm just sad that Guerlain got rid of the beautiful bee bottle they used to house this perfume in 😥

A perfect 10/10 from me.

insolence opens with a strange accord that i could not initially place. faintly medicinal, deeply familiar, somehow sinister. it hit me very suddenly - robitussin dry cough forte, one of the two primary ingredients of lean. insolence is what happens when somebody tries to imbue purple drank with guerlain's powdery, old-world elegance and melancholia. when sprayed on paper it seems a repugnant, chemical mess, the sly joke of mugler's angel taken too far. on the skin it's a different matter, the cough syrup cherry vanilla accord mixed delicately with the violets and iris of guerlain's 1912 masterpiece l'heure bleue; over the next few hours the two of them play ball, with the intense medicinal note coyly parrying the powder's advances. eventually the iris and violet become one with the syrup - a neon-purple sign blazing into infinity. astonishingly wonderful. if l'heure bleue is a post-breakup visit to a bar, chainsmoking and drinking gin while staring at the wall, insolence is the staggering drunken 4am walk home, listening to lil ugly mane and stopping in by a 7/11 for a slurpee.

This Parma violet delight is how I imagine Cinderella would smell when she went to the ball. It is a powdery yet bright explosion of purple florals with some bubblegum sweetness. It is somehow shrouded in a sense of Disney Princess childhood nostalgia. I’m sure this might be sickly for some but there’s something enchanting about it. This scent is so distinctive it’s almost iconic as far as violet scents go. I’m surprised I love it but I do.

I’m sitting in the airport in Manchester (UK) and I just sprayed Insolence Eau de Parfum on myself at the duty free…. Thank goodness! I am an even tempered woman, but being corralled, checked, X-rayed, questioned and having to go through all of that shoeless has an impact on my mood… never mind that I have the badly uniformed psychotic prison-camp guards from hell (aka the American TSA) waiting for me on the other end.
I can feel it. Annoyance, frustration… resentment.
But then, I spray on Insolence, immediately I am reminded that I am a feminine and beautiful creature. My resentment towards the rude turns to soft pity and acceptance. After all, they’re just doing their job and they’re paid terribly.
First I get the blast of Victorian powder with light violet. It reminds me to stand up straight and keep my chin up. Then playful purple flowers come to the forefront, it is pure, classy femininity. Old fashioned, but back again, unapologetic. It is purple, it is pink, it is cheeky with just a suggestion of naughtiness.
The berries come in after about 10 minutes, sweet and ever so slightly boozy like candy floss (cotton candy) on the breeze.
After about 5 minutes the powder is back on top and I feel sweet and pretty.
We’re boarding now… wish me luck

This is my favorite fragrance. Don’t spray too much. A little bit goes a long way. This is not subtle. The mix of overwhelming florals and powder scream for attention. Fiercely feminine. I love the silage. Most fragrances wear off quickly but not this. It’s modern and different. Wear on vacation or a night out. This is what perfume is supposed to smell like.

This smells like a woman should smell, in my vision. Gracious, strong, fierce, but elegant and feminine at the same time. But not in a delicate flower type of femininity, but in a “I dress and look in a feminine way, but I am fierce and I’ll go to the moon and back for the people and projects I believe in”. Gorgeous creation, it’s one of my favorite fragrances! My husband loves it as well, he rarely complements a perfume, but this one got his attention immediately.

This smells like the color of the bottle.
I imagine this is something Princess Bubblegum from Adventure Time would wear or Melanie Martinez in K-12.

It smells as if faeries from an enchanted forest went out at twilight to gather violets in a near by meadow, which they put into a Quartz mortar and pestle and ground up with sweet tart candy until it turned into a powder that they then used as a cosmetic powder.

I absolutely love the way it smells. It is unique in its own way but it is exactly as the notes are listed. The powdery notes to my nose are one of high end cosmetic and not dusty old person/house and not baby powder ish. It does last a long time and if you too want to smell like a Princess I highly suggest this!💜

I don't like to comment bad things about perfumes I don't have or had, but I smelled this one 2-3 times and even sprayed it on my wrist hoping to like it or to feel different about it the next time. I don't know if it's my nose or what but I just can't like it THE SLIGHTEST.

To me it smells vintage, and like a granny (no offense to grannies). I don't mean it in a bad way but that's all I can get, no matter how many times I try it. It's a powder violet, yes... Kinda, but in an old way... Like a very old perfume or for some very serious mature person.

I don't feel this will suit a young person and I totally recommend you to NOT blind buy it.

I remember my first bottle when this originally came out. It wasn’t a “flying disc” shape, it was a one of a kind hand painted Baccarat bottle at the Guerlain shop in EPCOT. I was visiting for the first time and was hoping to find Apres L’Ondee. They did not have it, but Insolence was recommended as the next best thing. Similar violet notes and powdery “Guerlain-ade”, but I missed the dewy delicateness and anise note of Apres L’Ondee. Insolence is a neon violet, with tart berries and shavings of frosted powdery snow instead of misty raindrops. Both are beautiful. You can practically shower in ALO, but Insolence must be kept to only one or two sprays (knees or wrists). Anything else will overwhelm your world with a purple haze!

So the original vs the bee bottle version: the bee bottle itself I find too fussy and I don't like the frosted glass; the juice looks dulled. The original bottle that some describe as the flying saucer to me was exquisite - like a complex purple flower with the juice sparkling inside the curved glass. To the EDP itself: it smells nearly the same to me as the original but the bee bottle version seems to have a touch more wood and less violet, so still very pretty but probably of more general appeal - i.e. less edgy. Every truly interesting perfume seems to end up being made more 'likeable' and losing what made it great. However, to the crunch: the original with three sprays lasted 12 hours or more on me; the bee bottle, with 8 or 9 sprays, let's be generous, lasts an hour and a half, fading all the time, and then it's gone completely. What's the point?! I really feel that perfume houses, for the sake of transparency, should have to divulge product information when reformulating perfumes, and made to state clearly 'this version is altered from the original or contains different ingredients from the original; wearers might find the notes vary slightly, and the scent may be more or less long-lasting'. Or something similar. It's only fair.

I want this in the bee bottle so much. Anyways, I'm raaaarely complimented on my fragrances cause of my repellent bitch face. Last halloween however, I dressed up as sleeping beauty and sprayed lots of Insolence on the pillow I was carrying, and it really cast a spell on the people I pillow slapped. <3

The first spray is pure Parma Violets but I felt the Iris quickly became more prominent, a little too much for me. It reminded me of the later formula of Prada Infusion D'Iris. I wanted it sweeter ,more of the candied violets and less soapy. Would make a wonderful handwash. A beautiful powdery scent but I wouldn't wear it a lot. If you love straight violets and iris you will enjoy it.

This is straight forward powdery Iris. It’s soft, feminine, and lovely. I don’t think the performance is great, but iris smells so comforting to me that I don’t care as much about the performance the way I would with other fragrances. It’s lovely.

First impressions: Marzipan
Definitely get light sweet parma violets in the opening. Then it becomes very almondy and marzipany, almost too sweet. Then the drydown lightens to sweet powdery violets. Could easily be too much- I'm not quite sure what to make of it. I only sprayed on wrists, I think it could be too cloying on my neck. I like it best at it's quietest so far.

Opening I get more of a powdered candy berry, dried down to a gentle powdery violet which I preferred. My husband liked it though. Nice enough, we’ll see if it grows on me.

If you love the scent of Parma Violets, you’ll love this. Have since learnt myself that while I love that scent, I don’t necessarily want to smell like it myself. Perhaps for bed? Perhaps in 20 years? It’s divine, though.

This is dreamy, hypnotic and absolutely irresistible. This doesn't have just an olfactory dimension.. It moves all the senses. It's somewhat linear and I bow before that perfumer decision. Its a perfect accord that echoes on your skin. Guerlain perfumes are experience of an olfactory art.

I wish I knew what this smelled like without the red berry scent. I like it, but it smells like flowered candy. Too sweet for my taste. I prefer fresher floral scents with a bit of a soapy or powdery note. If scent had a sound, this would be a screeching soprano as it smells on me. Something here I like a lot, but the sweetness does not suit me.

It’s pure innocence. For a young classy girl/woman but old money. So beautiful!

Dreamy, moody, airy, whimsical, delicate, lilac coloured wind...*insert 90’s sparkle sound effects*

This smells so clean and effortless, as someone else said, this most certainly works in colder weather, or on days with gentle gusts of cold wind. Guerlain just knows how to make dreamy fragrances...(aside from the current releases, I mean Oud Nude? lmao please).

I have a bottle from 2017 housed in the bee bottle so I can't speak for the first or current formulations. I will be hoarding these 100ml bottles since the re-release only comes in 75ml.

Definitely signature scent worthy 💜

I love this.

Guerlain quality.

My small bee bottle proudly sits top shelf with my favorite parfums.

Candied violets, so youthful and playful.

Lasts on the skin.

Just Beautiful.

✨

So unique and captivating. A different floral with the violet and iris. I adore this. Probably one of my all time favorites. Lasts forever. The bottle is also very charming. I love the soft texture of the glass. Starts out very floral then powdery, then all the sweet creamy soft vibes on the dry down- candied violets for sure. Truly magical. I will forever have this in my collection.

Looking for 50 or 100ml of EDP
Please message me if you are selling!

Blind buy based on YouTube reviews and a love of Guerlain fragrances. It's pretty, but it's dated to my nose. I don't know if I can get rid of it, but it doesn't feel "natural" to wear it on the daily. It's very powdery and somewhat mature.

This is how I imagine Circe the godess to smell like. Ultra feminine and enchanting powdery violets. I can't get enough!

Vintage style goodness! I'm buying a full bottle asap. Love. Powder was never my fave but this is a clean feminine scent i like violet tho and some say violet is often bombastic but this is so pretty. Not like baby wipes or cheap or dirty smelling at all.

JE L ADORE BIEN QUE JE PREFERE LA VERSION DANS LE FLACON VIOLET. CELUI CI EST MOINS SUCRE. MAIS L ADN D INSOLENCE EST BIEN LA. ON NE S EN LASSE PAS. BIEN POUR TEMPS FRAIS. EXCELLENT SILLAGE ET BONNE TENUE

I own this fragrance in the bee bottle. I have never tried the older formulation of the EDP. This is an ultra feminine fragrance that is a sweet, powdery candied violet. I find it stays pretty linear throughout the wear. When I smell it, I find it a youthful scent, but maybe not a modern youthful scent. I think that's why some people think of it as a fragrance for an older woman while others think of it as a very young woman's perfume. This is how I imagine my grandmother smelling as a young carefree woman. So, a little old fashioned, but very youthful.

I find this lovely to wear on a warm spring day. It is uplifting and cheerful and just makes me smile. The performance is good. With a light to moderate application it lasts about 6 hours with pretty strong projection at first, after an hour or two, the scent bubble doesn't really reach beyond arms length. The performance of Insolence can be boosted by heavier application, but I find I don't like it oversprayed. It loses that lovely airiness that keeps it from becoming cloying and overwhelming. I usually wear 3 or 4 sprays and add one later in the day if I want to prolong the wear.

Now, the name confuses me. Is the name Insolence meant to be contrary? There is nothing insolent about this fragrance. I find this fragrance demure and likeable. There is nothing diffcult or naughty about it.

I also own the EDT in both the bee bottle and UFO bottles. I find the differences among the three are subtle enough that most people will find having more than one version of Insolence (EDP/EDT) redundant. I do notice differences when I smell them side by side. The EDP is smoother and richer, while the EDT is brighter...when comparing bee bottle to bee bottle. I find the EDT projects more than the EDP, but the have similar longevity. The differences between the two EDT version is I smell the resins in the UFO bottle, but I never really notice the resins, even in the drydown of the bee bottle. I don't know if the difference is because the UFO bottle has aged or if the resins really are toned down or even absent in the current formulation. I notice those deeper base notes aren't listed for the new version.

I've been on a very restless iris-violet trialling mission and naturally I came across this one...

This is almost EXACTLY what I am looking for. Now, I just need THIS, which some woods, resin or something basey. I want THIS -- exactly THIS with something stanky in the background. Benzoin, Myrrh, Amber, something like that. It doesn't even need to be complicated. It just needs to counterbalance ALL of the beautiful iris-violet.

The iris is in tune with the violet, both levelled AMAZINGLY well, and with A LOT OF ooomph to them. It's just that this scent feels a bit...unfinished. It's not what I wanted it to be -- I wanted a bit of base to this.
But man, this IS beautiful...

I have the UFO/plates bottle, so this review is for that version.Straight up violet. Close to the skin there is a plastic smell similar to that of a new shower curtain, but in a good way. From a few feet away (I sprayed it on a sweater), it's the smell of new fabric, a fabric store even, or something like the smell when you are ironing clothes. Insolence is a work of art. I don't get much iris, so it's not powdery on me, just violet, linear violet, but beautifully rendered. Such a happy spring smell.

The second paragraph of the review below by "god-infected" went over my head. Insolence has enormous sillage, like AM radio at night. Not veiled! Very salient! I guess as a trad Catholic I am a veiled women in a sense, who knows. What are "Sunday mental health unit flowers"? I don't get that.

What can I say…. Candied violets, in white sugar… sweet sweet sweet, gorgeous, but a little too flat for me. The edition of more felt powder, or some vanilla, would’ve assisted. Otherwise, candied violets. I am a gourmand fanatic, a sugar fanatic, and a violet fanatic, and don’t misunderstand me I love this one. But it’s just too linear for me. It can only be worn in spring, with a white dress, and not daily, because you’ll start to hate it. I adore the review below of god-infected (and that username!) it’s truly what this fragrance conjures. On my beast scent hoarding of a skin it lasts quite alright, about three hours, and has an alright sillage. But I won’t purchase it again. Anyone has recommendations for delicious violets ?

This is the insolence of wearing garters under your knee-length church skirt no-one may see it but those who came close enough can decipher the lines, the insolence of wearing a black lace bra under your white shirt when going to work, the insolence of suggesting that as a woman you desire and your desire is as loveless as a man, the insolence of suggesting sex as a woman without any coquettishness...

I love this, although it is not for my character. It's a veiled perfume for a veiled woman (veiled in the soul, veiled in attire, veiled in love), the scent is veiled under a heavy aroma of Sunday mental health unit flowers.

There's a sweet start to this but the sweetness dies and it doesn't die a natural death, it's murdered by the kiss of a woman whose lips are coloured with vintage lipstick, and all the dead sweetness (the corpse remains) and powdery makeup is veiled with a purple veil.

It’s still available at House of Fraser, in case anyone want to repurchase it.

Having had the 2008 (UFO bottle) version, this version lacks that addictive sweet berry-woody undertone that makes the perfume last and last... An airier, watered down and less confident version of the 2008 version. The bottle though, is gorgeous!

Looks like this isn’t discontinued because it’s on the Guerlain site in a new (classic) bottle.

I find it amusing that insults run completely opposite; either calling it “grandma,” or others calling it too juvenile or “twee.”

Insolence EDP is freaking gorgeous. It’s like sci-fi blueberries in plush violet pillows. Breathtaking. Two small sprays and never more. Unrivaled and unequaled. I’ll have to get the new bottle and see if it’s the same. Otherworldly beautiful.

PS: if you want to butch this up a bit layer with Balmain Jolie Madame OMGGGG

Too much of a good thing. Don't get me wrong: it is a magnificent perfume but it is so heavy on me that I can't wear it.
It can only be described as violets and powder on steroids. If you prefer a more nuanced and fun version, try the EDT. It is equally potent but the berries give it a sweeter and more cosmetic vibe.

As you can tell from my name, I love violets. I so wanted to love this but I don’t. I know violet is a synthetic scent, as it’s practically impossible to extract a scent from the flower. However, when I think of violet fragrances, I think of a delicate, powdery, floral and enchanting scent. Violet, for me, lends a really unique and magical quality to a perfume.

Insolence, however, smells very artificial and powdery. It’s basically the essence of parma violets. This could be what people are thinking of when they say violet smells like grannies!

I’m also not sure what’s insolent about it at all - it comes across very polite and twee! There’s no magic here imo. It’s very linear and simplistic. I get why people say it smells classy but it’s classy in a kind of boring and obvious way. I did find it very long lasting.

Overall, I don’t identify with this scent at all and wouldn’t purchase it.

A true powdery scent from beginning to end. There is much quality to this perfume and it lasts for a long time. I really like it, I have nothing like it in my collection. If this is what a “grandma” (I don’t like that term) smells like, I don’t mind being the youngest grandma at the age of 22. Any person should feel free to wear whatever they want at any age.

It’s very comforting and to me suits a mild and kind woman. Not sexy imo

Violets are my favourite flower. I love the smell of them and their leaves.
This perfume is like a caricature of a violet. It’s ultra sweet and cloying.
If I could buy it here I would much prefer bois de violette by serge lutens for a much fresher take with a woodsy background.
Insolence. The name is apt

One of the most adorable fragrances that I have smelled in the long time 😍 is it attention grabbing sexy fragrance ? NO. Cute, feminine, unique and HYPNOTISING ? YES!!!
This is the second bottle of this magical liquid after the insolence EDT that I have got last month ( I love it so much already 1/3 gone) The EDT is slightly more juicy ( sour sweets like) and a little bit fresher with the wild strawberries up front followed by the violets and iris . EDP is more powdery with parma violets and iris up front and berry notes in the background. Love them equally and both perform very well in terms of silage and longevity.
Insolence has this vintage charm about it but it also smells modern in the same time. For some reason I can’t imagine super sexy woman wearing very high hills and short skirt and sharp make up wearing this fragrance. I see it more on the vintage/ boho style type of women.(which is also sexy yet a bit closer to the nature) ( I might be wrong) My signature scent from now on!!! 🥰

This is an almost indescribable masterpiece. A unique violet overload that somehow manages to be delectable and not cloying. I don't think there is anything out there like this. A perfect signature scent for a violet lover. Purple juice in an elegant bee bottle. I can't stop spraying it. I am totally addicted. And a quirky unusual name to go with it!

I can imagine someone like Stevie Nicks wearing this is the 70's. Insolence EDP is 98% similar to the EDT. The differece is almost undetectable.. There's absolutely no point in owning both unless you want two of the same fragrance. The EDT has a TINY bit more Citrus. Both are beast mode projection and lasting but the EDP lasts a little bit longer than the EDT.

Insolence smells like nitrous oxide (the air that comes out when you finish the whipped cream can) and violets. I absolutely hated this the first time I smelled it BUT that might be because everyone describes it as "sugary sweet" and "fruity" when it's 100% neither of those things. It's strange how it smells both incredibly young and incredibly old. Kind of smells like a vintage laundry detergent. Like a Victorian baby. I would describe Insolence as freezing cold.
Very unique, very strange, VERY strong, but somehow never gets cloying. It has grown on me. I don't hate it anymore. It's a like. But it's weird. But it's a like. I'd rate it highly for it's originality. You will be unique wearing this and no one would forget you.

Good for all seasons but probably best in winter due to it's strength.

My first foray into Insolence was the first release in the rose UFO bottle. I remember being in my late teens and starting my career. This was one of the first department store fragrances I ever bought. Blind buy of course: just for the name, bottle, and juice color. This perfume is a statement perfume: sweet raspberries and syrupy violets with the dry down of a sophisticated candied musk. It lasted for days on clothes and the musk the next morning on skin. I have the newest 2021 bottle and it smells practically the same. My nose can’t take more than one or two sprays (below the waist) or else I sneeze. This will forever be a compliment getter when sprayed in moderation. A gorgeous violet and candied musk and DEFINITELY Guerlain.

Can't find this anywhere in my country, although I would love to have it in my collection. Hopefully, they rerelease it!

I am absolutely obsessed with this one. I blind-bought Eau de toilette and Eau de perfume. I knew the first one from how it smelled on my work colleague and friend. When she wore it first tim and some weeks later I was so provoked how obsessively irritating this scent is ;) But with time I fell completely in love. I have changed my job so now I could try this scent on me. You know how it is; kind of kode: you dont use perfume someone else wears, at least it is like this for me. Anyway I didnt know how this scent will work on my skin but luckily both go well. At first both seemed to be so alike but their are not. EtT is more fruity on me, and EtP reacher and sweeter. But gosh, those adjectives say so little about these two george us scents... They are just so unique in the world of unity and easy expectations. Of course maybe fact that I am over 40 (more than less :D) has something to do with that I dont give a damn and wear what I want ;) - I mean also scent what are challenging, that demand their attention.

I was intrigued by this perfume for a few reasons:
1. The design of the bottle.
2. The fact that that such a strong name was assigned to a sweet flowery and talc-y perfume.
3. The Violet note, because I am a Violetta di Parma by Borsari fan.
The bottle is truly beautiful, no doubt about that. I’m still confused about the name of this perfume that clashes against the sweet notes and the elegant bottle. The violet is definitely there, just not comparable to the Violetta di Parma quality and strength. This is a almost fruity violet and the talc note makes me think about Flower by Kenzo. I feel I will have to get used to this one and find a good time to wear it.

this is my mum's perfume!
It is a very strong perfume, you cant pray more than 2 times without choking!

it is really purple, meaning, the violet with the iris are really strong but after an hour or so the powder comes in, it is not making it more settle, no no stays very strong!

It is a very classy perfume that stays in a room for hours , it's not for me but it is memorable!

This smells like baby powder that stings the nostrils. Its so strong you can taste it. This frag triggers migraines so fast that i refuse to spray it anymore.

I adore this perfume! To me this smells like parma violets in a bottle, I’m in my early twenties and I would definitely describe this as more as a mature scent. It’s one of the longer lasting perfumes that I have as well, one or two sprays of this is enough you really don’t need to spray a lot or you will find it overbearing. More of a winter evening type of scent, I always get compliments when I wear this too!!

I couldn’t agree more with the people recommending this for cold weather. And someone else referred to it as frosty. Yes and yes! I think this would be gorgeous in really cold or snowy weather. Lots of violet & powder. And strong. Tbh, it’s a bit too much for me but on the rare cold day around here I’m pulling this one out.

Feminine and youthful ❤️

This Insolence Perfume has been my signature scent for many, many years. There is no equal to it's unique formula, IMO. I continue to purchase fragrances with violet and powder in the mix, but none come close to the beauty of Guerlain's blend of precious oils. This scent last on myself for such a long time, I end of showering before the fragrance has faded. ;-) I have other Guerlain perfumes that I love too but this is #1 on the list. Chanel has many fragrances in their lineup as well, but I can count the one's I really love on 3 fingers. Coco being #1 for many, many years too. Some fragrances never go out of style. I hope Insolence EDP remains a classic until I am no longer. I have both, EDP, and the EDT. I love the EDP the most. I feel so much a lady, a lady of class and quality when I wear this one.

I bought this off of the reviews on Fragrantica. I chose the EDT over this, but then got really curious about the EDP and also got it for a good deal. So I went for it. They aren't very different. But if you love Insolence I could see having both like I do. This one is more woodsy, I'd lean towards it being sandalwood, maybe even cedar, neither of which are listed of course. I think this is also a touch less sweet and more powdery. This is indeed a fairy's scent. Lots of people mention candied violets, so I guess now I know what those smell like. This is one of my favorite perfumes, and I think I prefer this to the EDT. Almost forgot to say, I love the color of the liquid. My dresser looks cool with the EDT, which is a warm pink, and this on it in the pretty frosted bottle.

I love the name and it fits. It’s over the top
purpleness. The violet is pure candy and the iris settles it down to a powdery granny purse. But here’s the thing- This one is made for layering with green/bitter/ or woody scents. It gives that nostalgic pop to modern fragrances . It’s comforting and sweet in its way.

I always searching for purple perfumes that have powdery and floral scent and after a few search, I found this! This perfume smells exactly just what I imagined a purple perfume would be. The first time I sprayed it, it smells like sour berry candy? Sweet, sour, and powdery. Very feminine and classy, somehow it's like I imagined eating a sour berry candy, but it also reminds me of powdery make up/lipstick too. It also last long for me. I don't know but I love this scent so much that I made it as my signature scent. Some people called it as granny scent but I don't think so. I finally found one of my favorite scent ever.

Completely agree with @jenkuma...sweetarts and laundry detergent.

I love powder and sweet so I assumed I'd at least somewhat like this, but unfortunately it's a total miss. The violet comes off in a way that is harsh and conflicts with an otherwise lightness to the rest of the perfume. Bathroom-esque. There is no baby powder nor sweetness on me at all, maybe a bit of makeup, but in a stale sort of way. I found it a bit headache inducing and it did not want to scrub off; I was left with iris that was borderline soapy. It's strong. Had it come off as old fashioned instead of reminding me of Lord&Taylor I may have found it more tolerable.

It's hard to find because they're redoing the bottles. I picked up a 3.4 bee bottle from a site in Canada (I'm in the U.S.) i hope they're not reformulating it. This is a staple for me. It's pretty straight forward-violet, iris and some fruit. Very pretty, mature scent.

@FrkFors
Not sure where you live, but it's available in the UK
Try allbeauty.com or fragrancedirect.co.uk

If the colour purple had a scent, this would sooo be it! It’s funny, my mom always gets a headache and calls it a grandma perfume (which doesn’t have to be a bad thing, but I doubt she meant it in a positive way based on her expression) whereas I find it powdery but light-hearted, soothing, happy and pretty ”young” in spirit. I think it really works well for all ages though. But it’s funny how noses and perceptions can be so different so all I really can say is that if you wanna smell powdery and purple, this is a great choice for you ☺️

It performs really well in all aspects and is a great layering perfume too! I’ve tested it with shalimar (amazing), chloé nomade (amazing), mugler aura nova (good) and D&G light blue sun (gross…what was I thinking).

So overall a great perfume but I won’t buy it again once I finish the bottle, definitely worth having at least once though.

I remember this smell way back was I was in primary (I should be around 7 years old) a teacher wore this perfume and I liked it. Now as a woman in her early twenties, I saw the notes of this perfume, and hey, I like iris and violet perfumes so why not blind buy it? This. is. the. scent. The anonymous teacher that wore this perfume years ago, I even REMEMBER what were we doing as activities because of this perfume. It smells as described, you do detect some other sweetness, and I initially thought that it was from another type of flower (for some reason I thought that Orange Blossom was added) but it was the 'red berries' as listed. Little side note, I thought that the bottle would be circular but in reality it was more like an oval.

I love violet but I will say this would not be a safe blind buy. I am either anosmic to something in this or it doesn't mix well with my body chemistry, because I don't understand what any of the positive reviews of this are talking about.

To me this smells like sugar water infused with violet. I also totally get the "parma violet" comparison. This is just way too sweet and powdery for me; it strongly reminds me of a baby cologne.

A one of a kind fragrance, I can't find anything like this that isn't off the wall niche. Fruity, powdery, sweet, yet soft and non cloying. Very harmonious and refreshing, definitely a signature scent, not a blind buy, unless you know what you want. I'm obsessed!
EDIT: I've worn this for a few months now, and I think it would be absolutely perfect for a rainy summer day, and as people have said, try layering it, it can be quite magical!

Simple, feminine, potent & hypnotizing. Perfect for a night out. One of my go to fragrances <3

Something about this is really peculiar.

I usually love powder. I love iris and I very much appreciate violets. And with Insolence you get all of this from the very beginning through the end. Still, it might be just that very same qualities that prevent this fragrance from feeling "dated" or "vintage" that make me dislike the whole product. Insolence carries some kind of an contemporary sweetness - according to the pyramid it must be the red berries - that I just cannot enjoy.

It makes this perfume lean heavily into a feminine direction. It makes it be that girl that really wants to be well-liked by everybody but who ends up never being taken seriously. It also makes me give it a rating worse than the quality of the fragrance, its projection, the longevity - all of which are good - deserves.

This is not because Insolence is lacking in character. I actually think Guerlain did a good job creating this kind of personality out of such few (known) notes. But at the same time I find her so sickly crowd-pleasing that I never wish to meet her again.

I love violet in perfumes and for me this one is an approachable version of a violet centered scent. It is very sweet and powdery to my nose, i find that only one spray is enough to smell myself without it being too cloying (i have the EdP version, but i think if i re purchase it again it would be in the Edt version as it is for me a daily spring scent). This can easily be a signature scent if you are not afraid to rock this very sweet kinda old fashion perfume.

I tried this after hearing so much hype around it, but I find it quite odd. Definitely projects well and lasts, but the scent is sweet and syrupy, reminds me of grape candy I think.The drydown is better and a vintage violet note comes out with some powdery notes. However to me it retains that grape-candy vibe which bothers me a bit.Its definitely unique and not modern. Not what I expected for sure, and I would definitely try this before buying.

I have the version in the bee bottle, and am trying to find the older violet bottle.
The opening of this one is raspberry and violet, very sweet but also very sharp. It was so sharp that the first time I tried it I thought I’d need to scrub it off. Within 15 minutes it turns into a much more pleasant powdery violet scent, and in 90 minutes my skin pulls out the Guerlinade base and all I can smell is the tonka-vanilla-iris and a bit of sandalwood.
Not much projection, but the sillage lasts for a couple of hours. I can’t detect it at all after 4 hours, but my skin eats fragrances like nobody’s business so YMMV.
I think it’s a safe purchase if you like sweet powdery scents, Guerlain, and/or violets; it’s not super remarkable, but is lovely and I find myself reaching for it much more often than expected.

I am fairly new to really getting into fragrance and didn’t realize that this was a fresh non anchored fragrance. On my dry skin it needs to be reapplied frequently. I love it and it’s a good fragrance when light fragrances are preferred.
You definitely need to carry a decant if you want it to last, and reapply. It’s like a fairy fragrance and good for the gym or bed or work.
Violets and violet candies, the kind your grandmother had in her purse. What light purple smells like, in my imagination.

I have EdP's in both bottles, honestly you can't really tell a difference unless your willing to stick your nose to your wrist and inhale 20 times between each one, lol. The little drunken, purple violet topped one does have a warmer, creamier dry down due to that Guerlain sandalwood. I love Guerlains sandalwood, so I'm glad to have both. Just like I said in my review of the older bottle; If you love sweet, powdery violets with huge sillage and staying power ~ this should be in your wardrobe. I will say that I'll probably ration that older one, only bc the new one is a llleettllee sharper.

I will agree with Izak, the review below mine, that Samsaras reformulation is bad. I have the old EdT from sometime in the 90's and there's no comparison. Samsara should never smell floral forward, it's a famous sandalwood. It baffles me too bc Guerlain has its own sandalwood farm. That one hurts, but I'll cherish my old one and appreciate the new one as a different/similar Guerlain.

Guerlain Insolence Edp is a sweet fruity-floral masterpiece. A quite difficult genre of fragrance to create in my opinion with SO many mediocre attempts in the market, existing in almost every single product category! Because of that, it is really easy to give it a pass, but this beauty is focused and centered to give justice to red berries and violets. Insolence Edp serves a mission, it doesn't fear to be linear in its complexity and so well supported by iris finishing on vanilla. I love Maurice Roucel's boldness and bravery with which he handles his creations.

i heard this described on youtube to be the scent of fairies scrubbing you clean with a beautiful violet soap. i'd have to agree that that is indeed the case, and is the perfect imagery. the powderiness makes you feel so feminine, youthful and light. and though i do like it and would really enjoy it on someone else, its just not my taste, as i think it needs a little something to ground it - its too light and in the air, hence the fairyness. if youre considering this as a blind buy: keep in mind it is very powdery, and very violet-centric, and thats really the bulk of the experience, with nothing to bring it back to earth.

it's ethereal, magical, fairy like fragrance, potent, frosty, vintage, young, sweet and feminine. I understand why some people don't like it, it does have this detergent smell to it, but like a super expensive one made by fairies. I personally love powdery scent and violet. I spray around the house whenever I want to relax and feel magical and calm or spray it on me before going to bed, it puts me in a beautiful mood.

Amazing scent! Powder violet and not that sweet in my opinion. Long lasting and a must have. You can definitely wear this all year round!

I really shouldnt be reading reviews while trying out a new fragrance because I only get confused and start doubting my sanity. I’ve had a 1 ml sample of the EdT and though it has too much raspberry I find it very pleasant. Heard that the EdP is a bit softer and warmer than the EdT, so now I am a proud owner of a 30 ml EdP and it’s amazing!

I have been searching for a powdery violet that actually is both powdery and has a lot of violet, and this one is the closest I’ve got. Now regarding the cognitive dissonance from reading reviews and smelling my wrist simultaneously: I don’t find it that loud and overwhelming. It is very noticeable, I agree, and I would say as strong as one might expect from a perfume of that quality, but it is in no way cloying or nauseating or gives me headache. To be honest I find it quite fresh. The powder is of the soapy quality that seems so rare in modern perfumery.

Then again, I guess you shouldn’t overspray it. I never wear more than three sprays and with this just one, and it’s definitely enough. It will be my pretty fresh spring/summer scent. Hope I won’t scare people off with it 😳.

I blind bought this perfume. This one is a miss for me. It smells like a mix of SweeTarts and laundry detergent.

This perfume smells like a princess. Very elegant and long lasting

I've learned that many times when I smell iris and/or violet, I interpret it as dated and/or powdery. I've heard some hype about this fragrance and was surprised, because I felt like I could kind of imagine what this fragrance smelled like and didn't think I'd like it much or that it would be that popular.

My first thought when spraying this was just, 'hmm.....' It wasn't a love, it wasn't a dislike. But it's true, it's a lot like how I imagined it would smell, with the 'violet candies' smell. A minute or two after applying, there is some sweetness that comes through in it, perhaps from the red berries.

It has a bit of an elegant, calm, melancholy mood to it, but it does still seem like it veers on the younger side, perhaps helped by the sweetness. It isn't dated really, as I thought it would, and I could even see it as modern. A bit ethereal and whimsical. I remember Lolita Lempicka also had iris and violet in it and was a very whimsical 'purple' fragrance, but it felt a bit young and impish, and had a lot more sweetness and some spice to it. If you enjoyed that, this may be like a grown up and refined version of LL that only concentrates on the purple flower portion. It's clean, put together, ladylike, and classy.

10 minutes later and I'm not sure if it's just my skin, because I sprayed a lot, but I feel like the projection has already gotten lighter on me. The scent also has a bitterness and greeness to it now that makes it seem a bit more like a realistic petal or flower scent. I don't smell the sweetness much anymore really.

20 minutes later and it does start to have a powdery scent to it now, but it actually doesn't smell powdery in the sense of baby powder, but perhaps such as make up. Actually quite a bit like the Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder I have (which apparently is from 1935, so may be legit a similar scent)

30 minutes later and it's definitely still there in the air and projecting, but it's interesting on my skin, it's a bit lighter. The scent has been pretty linear though so far, with maybe just slight tweaks on sweetness, purple greeness, and powderiness here and there, but it seems pretty settled in and blended now.

I'm still not sure how I feel about Insolence. I think I like it, but it's not a love. Mostly I'd say just being due to me not being a huge violet or iris lover. I do feel like this is a good refined scent to have but I'm not sure if it's exactly "me". I do agree with a previous reviewer with saying "I don't actually find it very insolent, but rather demure." as well. I'll see how long this lasts and maybe it'll grow on my more.

1 hour later and I've read that this does have a base of tonka, musk, and sandalwood. I feel like the main scent is still there, but there is a bit more of a coziness and warmth to it now with a touch of tonka and creaminess of sandalwood and white musk added to it. I think it adds some heft to scent as well.

2 hours later and on the skin, this actually smells a bit more tart, yet powdery still, like a SweeTarts, but in the air, it smells pretty clean and fresh, like out of a shower.

4.5 hours later and it's a slightly sweet musky violet scent sitting close to the skin.

8 hours later and it's a light skin scent left, but still detectable with the nose on the skin.

Easy to wear, youthful, feminine, powdery candied voilet/iris scent.

And so I have returned to the ground where I began!

Back when I first began my scent journey, I quickly and expensively accumulated fragrances and Insolence was one of my early conquests.

Back then, I put one spritz on my wrist and immediately dismissed her as a powder-bomb, old lady fragrance and I wanted nothing more to do with her, so I swapped her away post-haste.

After being on this journey for a year or two now, and testing more and more fragrances, I finally made the jump to repurchase this gem and truly give her a fair shake.

As I sit with Insolence on my wrist, I can say in earnest that I get both the power and the florals in equal doses. And after an hour or so of wear, I am struck by the pictures this scent has created for me.

On one hand, this is a young fragrance and certainly paints a picture of a little girl playing in mommy's make up.

But it also gives the comfort of a motherly hug, and it both mature and inviting, despite it's "cold" notes.

I could see a young girl wearing this as equally as I can see a put-together, middle-aged woman meeting friends for coffee. I could also see this being a Lifelong staple, or even a signature scent.

This scent is playful, but at the same time, prim, and at the same time cozy. It is an all-weather, all occassion fragrance that makes me think of princesses, intimacy, organization, and it is the epitome of the color purple.

To do all that with just three notes is masterful perfumery. I'm glad I made the re-purchase!

I had such high hopes for this. I love violet, but I tend toward the leaf rather than flower. Was kind of excited by the reviews mentioning that it smelled like violet candies (LOVE Choward Violets) but this is not that. What it IS (on me, anyway) is an absolute doomcloud of powder. It's not dusty, but it's THICC to the point of being oppressive. I'm typically a heavy sprayer, but only 2 spritzes and I'm gasping for breath. What's left behind that is an extremely artificial scented toy (raw umber says My Little Ponies, and that seems apt). I completely get why some people are smitten by this, but chemistry or otherwise is rendering this putrid on me.

Beautiful, distinctive, powdery. Smells like some candies available in grocery shops all over Brazil. Very young yet very elegant. For chic Girls.

This smells angelic and ethereal and for many of us I know it's triggering lovely sweet soft violet-scented memories of early childhood, which is a very powerful thing. I don't think it's a granny scent, I think it's timeless. And best of all, despite its delicate, gossamer vibe it is an excellent performer. I don't ever want to be without this fragrance. 10/10.

I can't deny it's original bottle was more unique, but who cares when the 'juice' remains the same? At least Guerlain stays loyal to their customers, not like others (I won't mention the houses) that destroy our signature perfumes in the name of reformulations. Anyway, I am wondering why I haven't tested this perfume till now. Insolence EDP smells identically to how lipstics used to smell in the 80's to middle of 90's. Then, it transforms to a caramelized-crunchy iris if we can say, but not sweet at all. I hope Charlestons rosie caramels are known from all of you or been tasted at least once in your life, you'll get my point, in a hug of a beige powder. I can also detect a whisper of red berries (maybe raspberries). A comforting, beautiful, time travel perfume that is as romantic & classic as modern & unique. Excellent sillage without being annoying even to 'sensitive' noses as well as great lasting power. Luxurious from head to toe.

Ps: I asked Guerlain, and got a long, nice reply. In short: The EdP not being discontinued, but relaunched in the reverse heart bottle. 125 ml and up still available in bee bottle.

A nail-varnish aldehydes opening, leading to pure violets, almost like a soliflore, and a soapy-powdery Violetta di Parma candy-roll-esque dry down. Sounds horrible, but this scent is so classy, so addictive, intoxicating - and arrogant - in all the best ways. I love it, like Icona Pop’s «I love it», attitude- and vibewise.

Good quality, extremely potent and classy perfume. It smells expensive and vintage, it's also very thick and powdery. I appreciate it for what it is but Insolence is not for me. I truly was expecting to love it, however the scent itself reminds me of a powder that my grandmother used all the time, so our brief relationship had to end.
PS: I was very sad to give away the stunning bottle.

Shame that it's getting discontinued. I am really disappointed because for me it's the epitome of a powdery sweet violet. It's feminine, playful but elegant and rich. The perfect blend between iris and violet. I hope Guerlain doesn't discontinue it cuz it has so many fans around the world.

Velvet Lush Pillowy Violets.

Sublime.

I’m so happy the bee bottle from 2017 still smells the same to me as the original bottle edp.

Guerlain Insolence eau de parfum is one of the best fragrances of all time. I hate the name but the scent is for a queen. This is violets and berries that stay fresh and powdery (never dusty, plasticky or old school). Thinking I need a back-up just in case. “Newer” fragrances generally aren’t This Good. I made a mistake and bought the EDT in the bee bottle also. Well, same as it was before, thinner, fruitier, less violets and an acetone note. Big mistake. Insolence EDP is the most sublime and billowy violet floral ever. 10/10

I had the original version of Insolence so I decided to try this new one too. This one on my skin is a little bit softer which I prefer (the original used to give me headaches if i sprayed it twice). The iris and violet are well balanced here and with a touch of powdery it creates a classy fragrance. Simply beautiful.

I am really disappointed to see this going. I was late to the party, only having "discovered" it last year - meaning, I only started liking it then. It's a creamy violet candy, in the drydown it's almost like a luxurious body cream, enveloping, cozy, comforting. Gorgeous in cold weather. I'm still thinking of stashing another bottle.

I've owned this fragrance for a while, and honestly I don't think I've worn it once. It has that vintage (kind of grandma) vibe. I bought it because I heard several youtubers raving about it. To me though, its just a violet and powdery scent. Its heavy and very arrogant. Super classy and gives that "upper class" vibe. I do understand why people like this. Its just not for me I guess! The bottle is absolutely stunning though, and the fact that the juice is purple, I love it! Perhaps I will like the scent in my 30s, I don't know. So I will keep this, and we'll see in a couple of years!

Edit: I sold it...

I am very much into powdery florals, and I do enjoy this fragrance. I find it to be super classy, feminine, gentle..All I get is the violet though, with great projection and longevity. Like others have stated, it is by far not a dated smell, in fact I think it is rather a timeless one. I only owned it in the bee bottle and am sorry to hear it might be discontinued ?

OMG! Guerlain is discontinuing Insolence eau de parfum in the bee bottle. It is still on their website, but is marked as "end of collection" which is what happens when they discontinue a fragrance (like it happened with Mon Guerlain EDT).

I was hoping for little more iris but Insolence is heavily violet. I previously has one bordeus violet and this one is exaclty like that one. I was in search of more soft feminine modern powder. This one is lovely if you are a violet fan, I just wanted different kind of powder. Whether its old style or not , depends on your own perception. For me its too much violet and heavy on head. Being expensive not fun to have two exactly same violet perfumes sitting in the closet not getting used.

When in the right mood, I enjoy the scent - it’s straight up Parma violet sweets. (I also enjoy those!) It has nostalgic memories attached to a fragrance that my Mum wore in the 1970’s (no idea what that was called but it smelt identical). In spite of that, it is not what I would consider a ‘dated’ perfume (in the same way I feel other long standing perfumes are) - If anything it was probably ahead of its time! It’s a loud, simple violet powdery powerhouse. Longevity and projection are great.

Dear Vintage Pink ,
if you reread your previous review , take away the rest and focus on
*/Offensive - Mature-ish - It ruined my day/*
you will see that what you meant is exactly the opposite of your second , long review . That's all , nothing personal at all .
I'm glad if your headache has passed now , and have a nice , beautiful day too!

Insolence is ethereal, so pure so soft and almost from a different time. Insolence is all VIOLET...unapologetically so. I have the bee bottle and it’s the perfect spring/summer scent. I think the touch of red berries add a sweetness almost like a berry lip balm.

Do you ever watch a film or read a book and attach a scent to the story/characters? I do that a lot! Insolence brings to mind the aesthetics of Picnic at Hanging Rock as well as Brigitte Bardot’s film And God Created Woman...her character Juliette Hardy in that film, delicate beauty(never fragile) but strong spirit inside!

I love everything about violets...how pretty they look and smell. I always associate their scent with ladylike french 1950s fashion and tousled hair and a lipstick pout like a young B.B. 1956-62.

Insolence has a strong projection and lasts a good 7 hours on me.

The scent is indistinguishable from Parma Violet candy; powdery, sweet and soft.

Dear mauryji,

It is my personal opinion and I am sorry if you found it upsetting. As I stated, it has do to with the chemistry between my skin and the perfume. I don't see how my username can be associated with a scent, I went for the colour aesthetics 🙂. And if this perfume smells like a colour, it's definitely purple. 😁
I will give this another try because I actually like the scent, but maybe with another application. Like spraying the air, walking right through it.
I sprayed it in my room again earlier, with a clear mind, and now it smells like a sexy, powdery boudoir. I like that!

Perfumes are personal and so my review of it. To be honest, the reviews of this site were the ones that made me buy it.
Yes, it IS a clean fragrance. And no, "mature" does not mean grandma/mother. To me it means a woman who is mature in her mind and knows what she wants. And this could be a signature scent. If you love it and it suits you, I am more than happy for you!

In my case, I was looking for a perfume with violet, because I owned Vanilla Violet by Korres in the past and it was very comforting. I am not sure if I don't do well with the iris or the powder, that is something I have to discover with other perfumes.

To sum up: I like the smell of it, it wakes up some lovely memories, but on my skin it ends up sweet and too much. It is not what I expected, but I am willing to give it another try with lighter application.

Have a nice day. 🙂

I’m a “mature woman” but I don’t find any of the fragrances in the Insolence line to be mature. Sometimes I actually feel they are too youthful and playful so I reserve them for days that I want to feel young but put together. I don’t associate violet or iris with my grandmother or mother. I don’t find anything about this scent stuffy or old. To me, it’s a clean, fresh, purple floral as opposed to a clean, fresh, white floral.

dear Vintage Pink,
_ i' m really sorry about your migraine . no day on earth is wasted , God forbid .
but strange , is really strange that you have chosen a name that is well suited to the fragrance you have just deplored ... ( which , clearly stated , is one of the best fragrances ever )
_ i don' t see clearly

This is a very sweet powder fragrance that makes you feel freshly clean and sweet. Even nearing the end of the day, you will feel like you just took a shower and instead of baby powder you put on a fancy shmancy perfumed powder that smells sugar sweet like purple Kool Aid. Very sweet, very powdery, very long lasting and very delightful.

This is my all-time favourite perfume. I've been using since 2011,first worn for my wedding day. I love the violet in this. It is fresh and enticing. I get complimented every time I wear it and so many husbands have bought it as a gift for their wife after they've asked me what it is, and the wife always thanks me and falls in love with it too. I never allow myself to run out of it. Great for day, night, holidays and just about anything.

I just received this today. Upon spraying, my husband told me I smelled like Christmas (not sure what exactly that means lol ) . This smells like a lipstick scent. lipstick, laundry detergent/cleaner, and makeup powder. I am regretting buying the EDP instead of the EDT ( I heard it has more of a fruity aspect to brighten it up a bit). It is kind of sweet but nothing syrupy to my nose. It's dry. If I could change the juice to match the scent... it would be grey. something about this gives me melted crayon vibes. Bottle is absolutely gorgeous. I give it a 6/10. I'll give it a chance and wear it over the next couple of days and update :)

Update : I can’t stand this .

I have had to let this sit with me for a bit to give it a fair review. I am an Opium, Obsession, Tabu, kind of gal- I like some of my Shalimars, Mahoras, and certainly some more niche smells such as Incident Diplomatique and Pavillon Rouge from Jovoy Paris. That is to say: I am certainly not one for super sweet, sugary, fruit fragrances. I like my darker smoke, tobacco, resin, incense-y goodness with some vanilla and amber tossed in to even it out. Hence, this one has me on the fence.

I bought Insolence as a blind-buy; barely sprayed, less than half the price of retail, with an immaculate box. I have been building up my collection of Guerlains and thought hey, this is outside of my wheelhouse and I might as well try it.

She. Is. FRUITY. My first ever spray had me rolling down my car windows as the syrupy-sweet berry smell assaulted my nose (testing this out in an enclosed car may have been a bad idea). I had been hoping for more violet and iris but was absolutely blasted at first. But, after an hour, I found Insolence to settle down into what I imagined is that candied-violet smell everybody talks about in the reviews. Still syrupy but I find it much less cloying and pleasant; it feels like I'm in a cloud of candied violet and I feel like a treat. I think it's a little hard to get over myself and try something new, as I dress in dark clothing and want to give off an aura of mysterious darkness, not this candy bubble-bath violet. I really love the smell when it further settles in another hour or two; the candied violet is still very much present but some of the powdery iris comes in, and it is gorgeous. I do not get any woody or tonka base. This fragrance is pretty linear compared to my experiences with other Guerlains so far and, even though it isn't a favourite, I am quite enjoying the mastery of this sophisticated candy-smelling juice.

The longevity is powerful and I imagine it projects quite a bit, for a while. As a reformulated fragrance, I am impressed by the longevity so many other reformulations have failed at. Spray carefully.

C h r i s t m a s I n A b o t t l e 🎄
The name is so inadequate, should be innocence! I stopped by Guerlain counter one cold winter evening, and the lovely male sale assistant looked at me and said - try this, it would suit you so well. He was so right!! I am a calm, smiling, bubbly female and I AM TOTALLY IN LOVE IN THIS! My first couple of bottles were of the old formulation, and I love the new one too. The difference is almost undetectable, sillage and longevity are the same as before (so long lasting). Powder, Iris and Violet - perfect comforting daytime winter perfume. I start using it in November and always wear it during Christmas.

This smells great as a pillow/linen spray. It’s very comforting for bed time.

mmm a violet candy scent.. For sure it leaves a trail that has people wondering who is wearing an amazing and captivating scent. A compliment getter by women and men. The edp is for colder weather in my opinion, but also it depends in which country you are living in.

This is beautiful!!! Omg it is literally happiness in a bottle. It gave me back the powdery elegant notes that I could never recover since I finished my last bottle of Chloe Love and Love Intense. BUT the reason I had to quit those was because I found better Irises, like No 19 and Prada Eau Absolu, and because of all the imitations Chloe Love had become too generic. But Insolence has mastered the Iris and the Violet. It is also gourmande. I can't wait to combine this with Jo Malone's Blackberry and Bay I have a feeling it will be fantastic.

It took me a long time to buy this cause it´s so expensive where I live... but it was totally worth it. It smells like magic, like magical creatures and pink, and flowers! So powedery and perfect. I am glad I bought the EDP cause I wanted it to be powdery and not too sweet. This is one is more floral indeed. But the sillage is not enormous as I thought it would be, it lasts for a few hours, but it doesn´t project like crazy on my skin.

Blind bought this...not usually into fruity florals but something about this made me think it would be really soft n powdery, something to take a break from the normal spicy Orientals that I love. I don't hate this but I don't love it either. I sprayed 2 sprays n dear God, this thing has MASSIVE sillage n I'm usually a heavy sprayer. OMG. IDK how I'll be able to wear this because it was rather soapy n I despise soapy. I think maybe the EDT would be a better option for me n I never go for an EDT. This would be my 1st time ever choosing an EDT over an EDP (I don't have a clue how the EDT version of this smells, just taking a guess that it'll be lighter n therefore less soapy). I might have to spray once n walk through, it's that much of a scent bomb. I'm reviewing the bee bottle, BTW. So it goes into the "like" department for me. 5/10. 10/10 for sillage n I'm sure longevity too. Could be headache inducing.

I had the first version and I loved it from the start. Gorgeous iris-violet-combo on a rich tonka-woody base. A slight sweetness more floral to me while I don't get the berries at all. It is one of the scents that will always be in my collection. These year I bought a bee bottle as the reviews on it caught my attention. There is a little but recognisable difference: this one isn't that powdery anymore and has less tonka whereby more sandalwood (and I like it even more in this form), I still don't get berries... better so. It isn't so loud but still very obvious and longevity lays by 12 hours on me. Lovely potion!

This smells much the same to me as it did when my daughter used the flower bottle years ago. She now has a bee bottle and to me it smells the same. Of course, I'm not the one wearing it. But I'm assuming, since she wears it so often, that it must smell the same to her or have the same vibe, otherwise she wouldn't be wearing it.

This is a fun scent. Too much perhaps for office wear, calmly festive. This is how I imagine a Victorian lady perfume (of course, very unscientifically, since I have no clue what victorian scents were actually like and probably they were not at all as nice and sweet as this one). I do find it smells too much like violet candy to find it really sexy but it is nice, and it is as I mentioned fun and like a modern girl's dream of victorian times. Gorgeous and different.

Listen

I don’t like powdery or soapy/clean or floral

But

Tell your nose to grow

Keep with it

Try it for a few days at various developmental stages

This is queenly, comforting, beautiful

Just keep trying it and don’t have expectations

I blind bought this and it was such a good thing to not expect anything and be set to appreciate it

You might fall in love like I did

Also blind bought the EDT and YES slightly different but the difference makes all the difference n worth getting it too

This perfume smells classy, royal and elegant - in fact something like what I would imagine a real life princess/ someone from a royal family would wear. It's not very mature, but it's not child like, it's best suited for a youthful yet mature-minded, smart and grown up lady.

The scent is delicious, yet without being gourmand. It smells strongly of candied/sugary violets (although I've never smelt/tasted those in real life, but I could imagine). It smells a bit like bubblegum too, maybe grape flavoured.

This perfume has a 95% resemblance to the pink Edt one, but there is something slightly different, I'm just not sure what it is. It could be the other one smells slightly fresher and more raspberry-like; whereas this one is more grape?

Oh, and they both have this vintage clean, powdery,soap smell. The powdery notes are not like something has been stored in a wardrobe for too long - no, they're more clean like. They definitely don't smell 'old-lady like', although I don't like using this term because many old ladies have really good taste in perfume and smell good as well.

Performance is excellent too.

I still must say this is not a safe blind buy; however, I was lucky enough ;)

I've been chasing a violet candy perfume and I found it! High-quality juice to be sure, and nothing "granny" about it, for heaven's sake. (And what's with the derogatory "old lady" stuff? And all the opinions about which age and what sex can wear what smells? Says who?! Geez Louise. Enjoy what you like! There are no rules!)

Anyway, this new bee bottle edp is the only Insolence I've tried - no older bottle designs or edt's. Very pleased with it!

Truly beauty and the beast 💜💜

Beaty as it is the most elegant, classy, purple fragrance in my collection and in the market .
Beast as it’s power, projection and sillage are enormous ⚡️

Very sweet, floral fruity with lots of French powder and slightly vintage character .
Violets here are delicious, however they smell not like in reality but a bit more futuristic: seems like master wanted to see them a little bit more ideal, more perfect 🌟
And yes, they are!

Guerlain was always one of the most respected fragrance houses, but at the same time it’s reputation was as a producer of naughty, vulgar, too seductive perfumes, which some people were even ashamed to wear.
Well, it was in the past and nowadays everyone is searching exactly for a naughtiness in a bottle.
Today we judge last century formulated perfumes as “vintage“ and “too old”... and 100 years ago this was a poison, captivating hearts 💞
Times are changing, changing minds and preferences but humans nature is always stable - good smelling is a #1 must have.

Good luck and be inspired 💋

Insolence indeed! A petulant powdery purple poltergeist mood she is, feeling contrary and ominously intense and naughty and like a super emocatbrat, knocking stuff over and going into places she shouldn’t and she got stuck in a dryer, and out she comes smelling like a dryer sheet! —Oooooo she’s really mad now. The air becomes syrupy sweet, with purple powdery clouds of iris and violet enveloping.... and there’s no escape, she’s got you now, in a musky woody stormy berrybean embrace.

Baptized and possessed, and a crown of violets in your hair, you are now the one and only Purple Powder Puff Girl! —forever and ever cause Insolence has the impudence to stick around and around and around. Supposedly this bee bottle reformulation is watered down.... well, for being watered down she sure does last awhile and she’s LOUD loud, you know the entire time she’s your purple present of perpetuity.

Edit: Insolence does some strange magic to the masses. Compliments abounding, people will swoon in her presence.

This is the sassiest perfume made from quiet retiring florals violet and iris. It can be a bit much on extremely hot days and will last for hours so be committed to it. You will be noticed!

I love this perfume. It is sweet, powdery, clean IRISy perfection. This scent is definitely associated with older women... but I love it, I wear it to school often. I think that if you can get over that connotation with confidence anyone can enjoy this, but I've never put much stock into "not your grandma's" type fragrances. I think powdery fragrances are coming back into vogue or at least the association is fading. Apparently the older version (in the squat bottle) was more concentrated and thus lasted longer but I've only had this one and it lasts a good 5 hours. I like wearing this just for myself at home while playing CoD or something, it's just so comforting. Overall, I love this but you should try before you buy as it is a very particular scent.

This also reminds me of Marc Jacobs Dot

I don't get the hype for this fragrance it smells like dusty berries or a bag of dill pickle chips to my nose depending on when I smell it, my daughter says it smells like powered grape koolaid

When I first got this, I came to the conclusion that while I love the smell of violets, it’s not necessarily what I want to smell like.

However, as the heat index where I live has reached around the 100-110s, I find myself reaching for this. In my opinion, the powdery violet is clean and light when most other perfumes are too heavy.

If you don’t like powdery scents or think they’re “old lady”, you won’t like this. But, to me, this is a wonderful fresh violet. The berries don’t sweeten the perfume but make it a bit more airy. A nice spring/summer scent if you still want something floral, but you live in high temps.

Its strong. More for autumn/winter. It is like the bottle-purple violet smelling. I can imagine a women's wear in this in her late 30 s... maturing on a deeper level. This is not playful. It is a bit calming in a flowery way, like smelling a field full of flowers.. and standing in the middle of it.

This is yummy delicious. Purple berries in a bottle. :) Insolence EDP has all the Guerlain signatures: heavy use of iris and violet, powdery, with the tartness of berries and just a hint of tonka beans. It is not heavy and complicated, but simple and sweet. Definitely youthful, but can be worn by all ages. Above all, classy. Where Mon Guerlain is ultra-sexy and sophisticated, Insolence is youthful, pretty, feminine, and innocent. An easy 5 stars *****.

I have found my violet! I like white florals, but I LOVE purple florals, and this is it! When I spray this on I get the scent of Saponificio Artigianale Fiorentino VIOLETTA Soap. It's all violets and powder on me. The iris is very subdued.I get zero berries. Good longevity, about 12 hours. After 12 hours it becomes a skin scent, but I can still smell it. Sillage is average, about arms length for half the day.

So, now I have my violets with "Insolence", and my lilacs with "Highland Lilacs". I just need my hyacinth solifloral, and I'll have my trifecta.

This is an absolutely beautiful fragrance. smells exactly how violet candy tastes...you know the ones!

This smells so pretty and is very distinct, quite a unique scent. It is easily my second favorite scent of all time behind mugler alien.

This is like fresh and powdery laundry soap at first spray. It’s definitely an acquired taste but if given time...I’m talking at about hour 5 it turns into the most lovely iris scent with a nice depth of wood. This is a fragrance you truly wear for yourself. If you’re not a fan of violets this probably won’t be your thing.

I had big expectations in this one. I was so curious, just had to buy it blindly.
Sorry, this is not for me. It's super strong and I spray will last forever. It will fill up the room house for several hours.
I was hoping for something a little more delicate and sweet but I find it very sharp and powdery. Also, it does not develop so much as time goes by.

PROS: It's not offensive.

CONS: Too powdery. Two-dimensional. Not much going on. Too grandma for me.


This has WAY TOO much powder for my taste and it has kind of a dollar store that was just mopped with that purple FABULOSO floor cleaner. It smells like a purple sweet wanna be cheap dollar store toilet cleaner. It also smells like cheap POWDER VIOLET CANDY. So yes, it is sweet, but like a boring grape sweet that you find in boring grape candy. I picture a very nice grandma smelling like this.

Listen, it doesn't smell HORRIBLE but it doesn't smell interesting either. To me, if they would have toned down the powder and put another note in there like cashmere+almond to give it a more synthetic and plastic smell, I think I would enjoy this very much as it would but put a modern spin to it.

The EU De Toilette version of this though is my bb girl. Now that ONE is the one I want! Very different.

The mix of red berries with violet and iris in this fragrance creates a powdery fruity floral. If they had not named this Insolence, "Insouciance" would have been a great alternative. There is something about this that captures the charming spirit of casual indifference. In describing the EDT Luca Turin says it "puts to mind the sort of person who, while intrinsically attractive, manages to antagonize everyone by lacking all social graces". Steve McQueen and Courtney Love both come to mind. Turin's description applies to the EDP as well. This perfume is for men and women who are rebellious, effortlessly cool, and a little trashy.

I was an undergraduate when both the EDT and the EDP debuted. I rarely had time to watch television so I never saw the commercial (which seems ridiculous now) but I was an avid reader of fashion magazines at the time and can clearly remember the advertisements. I loved that they chose Hilary Swank as the face of this fragrance, as she seemed to me to be a "serious actress" and I loved the film Million Dollar Baby. But I never liked the original bottle and it looks very dated now. I love the bee bottle, it feels so perfect in your hand when you pick it up. One notable difference between the formula in the bee bottle compared to the original, the sillage is now only moderate rather than enormous.

Oh, how I wish I could smell the vintage version of this! I recently acquired the new bee bottle of Insolence EdP and L'Instant Magic, and both of them seem to have lost some complexity, verve, and seduction. Alas!

That said, I still find them both very pleasant, wearable, and relatively well-performing. Like L'Instant Magic, this is a very clean, creamy, powdery scent. I don't actually find it very insolent, but rather demure. A puff of pure violet powder with a dash of iris and red berries—a simple, linear scent that recalls fine lotion. I don't get the "candied violet" note in this version: there is almost no sweetness here, but instead a delicate greenness.

This is not a going-out perfume, but one for quiet evenings and intimate moments, perhaps for lounging at home after a bath wearing only pyjamas or a satin robe. It's also inoffensive and fresh enough to wear during the day at work. For me, Insolence is an all-season scent. It doesn't smell old, but most of our noses will have become accustomed to the accords here, so it doesn't smell particularly modern or innovative either. More on the feminine side, but a guy could wear this: cleanliness is (or should be) unisex. And more than anything else, that's what this is: a clean perfume.

This perfume has 3 out of the 4 notes that I often dislike, which are musk, iris and powdery scents. I do like violet but it isn't one of my favourite notes.

That being said, this fragrance??? It is like a chalky, powdered sweet violet heavenly scent.

VERY specifically, I get (this is weird, bear with me) if you were to drink a milkshake just made with milk, ice and a little vanilla bean, that has that thick icy milkshake feeling, but you just took a children's Chewable Grape Tylenol before. That is exactly how this smells.

It is sweet and warm, iris-y and powdery, like a lilac purple fuzzy blanket or the weird Tylenol/milkshake combo above. It is truly so comforting and like a hug from a loved one when you're feeling sick.

Longevity is wonderful 10-12 hours, easily on my skin, longer on hair and clothing. Silage is enormous.

Overall - 5.5/10, this brings me back to something in my childhood.

I'm not even going to pretend I don't WORSHIP this *sparkling* gem of a perfume, folks.

This is striking, feminine, powdery, classic, sexy, and bold!
This makes me drool over how juicy and rich it is. It's a violet-blast that later becomes slightly tartly sweet, and I get a thrill every time I think about (and do) apply this. It's so fearless that I figure, "Yep, today is a day of daring!" Love that. <3

I haven't heard any quips about how strong / offensive this is, honestly. Either I terrify people into silent submission, or it's not objectionable.
This has fairly awesome sillage and longevity. Easily 6-8 hours on me. And that's perfect. I love smelling this on my clothes, after the fact.

Picture one of Hitchcock's leading ladies wearing this. Bold, stand-offish, unfairly beautiful and glamorous, and potentially very dangerous.

Violets raining down from Heaven.
Always in my possession.

***

Kitty rating: 10/10!

There is something so charming and nostaglic about this scent. It reminds me of when I was a six year old girl and chose a paint for the walls of my bedroom that was almost identical in color. That little girl is in me, but she is only a small part. I'm stonger and so much more in my power now. Wearing a bit of this juice as well displaying its pretty lavender bottle honors her hopes and dreams. To make a composition that pleases and works for the woman I am today, I layer with frags rich in base notes like sandalwood, amber, and sometimes vanilla.

Grape lip gloss, lingerie drawer, violet makeup powder, pastel purple My Little Ponies. Longevity is 12 hours on me. Heavenly.

it is more watert down, sinds the original bottle, fragrance is still the same, but the sillage is more less but still lovely . i would recommend it to people who like water down fragrances and more wearable in the summer springtime seasons and wel. not only for winter and fall... i would use the original for those seasons.

I love it, this is my third bottle. In my opinion, the quality of this perfume is less since they changed the bottle...less longevity and less sillage. Be aware of that!

I love this just as much as I love the edt. Powdery, feminine, clean, classy and sophisticated. Longevity end silage is amazing and the compliments is many.
I feel so confident wearing this one. Fits everyday all year. A timeless classic. A masterpiece. Glad to have this in my collection.
Loved the old bottle though...

To my nose, this hasn't changed since the change from the older bottle.