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trckr62 – :
I am used to be wow-ed by Guerlain. When someone ask me to suggest/recommend a fragrance house i always reply Guerlain. And while their scents marketed for women are the ones that usually stand out, there are a number of greats in the masculine line as well.
From my experience a Guerlain misstep is such a rare syntagma (i would call it an oxymoron) that its mere existence wows.
I find 68 a bit boring. Fig, iris and cocoa dominate the scent on my skin, it’s all pleasant and flowery nuances soften the experience, but overall i don’t get the Guerlain trademark of statement perfumery, of olfactive exuberance, of emotions most vivid distilled into scent.
One more (double) oxymoron to finish my thoughts – This is a casual Guerlain I like.
***(**)
Enascackaky – :
Cologne du 68
Where to begin? At first it was a like, at best. Now that I’ve used almost half of my bottle in less than a few months, it’s the strongest love I have ever felt (save Coromandel & Cinéma). It is of my belief that the best thing a man can do is smell good, and this goes beyond that.
Oddly, I feel this is void or the Guerlainade that can either instantly win you over or make you want to set yourself on fire to avoid that particular scent. Anyway you look at it, this is true elegance and I have finally come to recognize that. Its shameful that it’s taken me this long to do so.
There is definitely light citruses (bergamot, lemon, lime and mandarin to me) but the main players here are iris and lily of the valley to me. For there to be supposedly 68 different aromatics, it comes across as fairly simplistic. That isn’t to say it as a bad thing. Sometimes we don’t want a N°5 and would prefer a 4711. This is a crossover between the two in regards to complexity.
Iris is one of my absolute favourite notes in fragrance and it actually SINGS in this. Various citrus blossoms and herbs make this very easy to blend with any other Guerlain release that has a strong Guerlainade presence.
While this is called a ‘cologne’, I suspect it to be more of an eau de toilette. However, I understand that ‘cologne’ doesnt necessarily imply eau de cologne strength.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, this is the perfect scent for any time and anyone. Even if they don’t know it yet 😉 ♡
Absolute 10/10
StorMov – :
Guerlain Eau de Cologne du 68
In the opening, the citruses are sparkling; a mix of bergamot, mandarin, orange and a hint of lemon. Delightful. Very quickly does the fragrance morph on the skin. Iris makes an appearance and there, a powdery citrusy floral medley begins. The petitgrain, rosemary and sage maintain a verdant airy atmosphere. It really makes the scent emanating off your skin feel green, and growing,and evermore alive. The Guerlinade is perfect in Eau de Cologne du 68. It’s a light, powdery vanilla that has a fluffy texture to the nose, hugging you softly. Linden blossom, orange blossom, frangipani, jasmine, rose, and ylang ylang are the feat of florals that will charm you throughout. The florals are subtly sweet and are reminiscent of the yellow pollen that bees collect in springtime. Overall the fragrance grows on the skin beautifully, always changing with wafts of sunny florals, citrus and vanilla.
I write this review as a testament to my recent and remarkable discovery with Eau de Cologne du 68. Only yesterday afternoon was I surprised just how sweet and honeyed the white florals and citrus smells in the summer heat. The citruses no longer felt bracing and bitter as I found in the wintertime. The vanillary Guerlinade really blooms in the heat as it completely accentuates the rest of the cast. Bravo! This is an underrated Guerlain that also happens to be discontinued. It is of my highest recommendation to experience Eau de Cologne du 68 while you can!
bazhmin2012 – :
I just got this yesterday, being a Guerlain addict. And it’s nice! It’s def what everyone says…. it’s not masculine or feminine.
It’s crisp, herbal (green/spicy a bit) citrus, fresh/clean, but yet powdery/dry. It def reminded of a few Shalimar flankers like Souffle and Eau de Shal– a dusty citrus powder. (maybe even Initial EDT)
Good fresh lasting power– not a powerhouse by any means, but better than a cologne/average EDT…. it seems to just create a soft aura around you, and seems to respond to movement/heat. It’s def a nice lil fresh scent for days where “screaming perfume” isn’t appropriate. And you can spray heavy like I did. 😉
But…. I’m a Shalimar/Vol de Nuit girl…. I want people to SMELL MY MAGNIFICENCE! Haha. I’m glad to have this tho!
It does seem “plain” for having so many notes, but I also think this would react differently on everyone because of that. I also think many Guerlains are amazing when layered. Maybe adding this to a Shal flanker will increase the longevity of the flankers that bore me.
aimetti29 – :
Very light skin sent but absolutely lovely. Citrus in the top with some vanilla that is more amber in mood, powdery, light florals. Nothing too sweet but still candied like a cotton candy cloud. Very etherial. The herbs are in there but this is not herbal or balsamic. Smooth and soft.
RoyalX3 – :
Dear _christine_ your review nailed it completely. I have nothing further to say that you haven’t said. Unfortunately Guerlain was unable to market this gem in a proper way.
IzotVanjukov – :
This is a brilliant fragrance that Guerlain had no idea how to market. Cologne du 68 is a fragrance that manages to be office-appropriate but not boring.
It’s unisex in a unique way. Many unisex fragrances smell sort of boring – midway between masculine and feminine and unable to deliver on either. This is both incredibly feminine on women and deliciously masculine on men. It’s voodoo, this fragrance.
It’s also fully Guerlainade. It’s Sophie Labbe only fragrance for Guerlain and she nailed it.
WarkenesiaTer – :
I am so glad I got the last bottle of this lesser known perfume at my local Guerlain counter…It is now sadly discontinued….a very unusual and intoxicating blend of just about every floral note you can think of…it works just as well in colder weather as it does in summer…..this has Guerlain quality oozing from every drop……if you can still find it people…get it….you wont be disappointed!
My rating 8/10
diablero787878 – :
I blind bought this and it is my first try at a fragrance that has a lot of florals, and I have to say I’m very happy with it. Having not really worn anything else that smells as non-masculine as this does the first wearing was slightly hindered with a little self doubt because the opening is the most feminine smelling part to me however after that it’s amazing. And given time I love the opening now as well. Its citrus then powdery flowers, makes me feel happy whenever I wear it, perfect for warm spring days not the hottest summer days though, I don’t think it has the strength for that. So happy with this, not happy that I found it once it became discontinued. If you’re a guy looking for a good first floral fragrance like I was I highly recommend this one while you can still get it.
ник – :
Lately I’ve been feeling a little jaded, perfume wise. It’s hot and humid in NZ at the moment, my usual vanilla and floral orientals aren’t rocking my world at the moment and I’ve become a little uninspired, to say the least. So at the suggestion of a friend, i am giving citrus fragrances more of a chance over summer, to see whether that reignites my fire.
This is gorgeous. Lightly citric, softly powdery and ever so delicately floral, this is a rest for my poor ravaged senses right now. I agree it has edt strength and I wish I hadn’t just used the whole sample in one go! All of the notes are so deftly blended, the citrus and powder come to the fore on my skin but I am getting gentle wafts of rosemary and honey, which isn’t listed. Damn it, might be another “want” list contender.
Natatka – :
First fragrance from this house that disappointed me. Way too feminine for me. Not much to write home about.
5/10
djin2009 – :
I first got this and tried it in the middle of winter. When I test-sprayed it, I immediately liked it a lot, but felt that I would prefer to wear it during warmer weather, so I put it away in my closet.
Now, I am trying it again during spring and I absolutely love it. It has a lemony feel without being in the least tart or citric. Its like wearing a soft lemon/butter yellow gauze scarf around you. Gorgeous. Its also definitely complex without being obviously so – I can’t really pick out a lot of individual notes but its got a herbal facet to it, as well as being slightly powdery and comforting. My nose does not pick up much by way of florals – except perhaps the iris which gives it the slightly powdery feel.
Its supposed to have 68 notes and I have to say they have been masterfully blended to produce a harmonious end result that pleases the senses. It does not take you on twists and turns as it evolves but I do not need that from all of my perfumes anyway, especially a cologne.
And while it is characterized as a cologne, it does not belong to the annoying breed of light scents that vanish very fast from your skin either. I find it lingers very nicely on my skin with soft to moderate sillage.
DimiDi – :
Here you are the official 68 elements of this dusty sweet eccentric cologne written on the label of my bottle. Enjoy.
(No linden blossoms as fragrantica says)
1 Bergamote
2 green mandarine
3 lemon
4 clementine
5 cedrat
6 orange sanguigne
7 limette
8 grapefruit leaves
9 basil
10 fenouil
11 star anis
12 lavande
13 laurier
14 cypres
15 elemi
16 thyme
17 myrthe
18 petit grain bigarade
19 Petit grain mandarinier
20 petit grain citronnier
21 Poire
22 Violet leaf
23 feuille de lierre
24 gentiane
25 sève
26 cassis
27 freesia
28 muguet
29 feuille de noisette
30 cyclamen
31 cardamome
32 coriandre
33 poivre noir
34 baie rose
35 muscade
36 gingembre
37 jasmin
38 frangipanier
39 magnolia
40 orange blossoms
41 pivoine
42 rose
43 oeillet
44 ylang
45 lychee
46 figue
47 mure
48 immortelle
49 lentisque
50 opoponax
51 ambre
52 benjoin
53 vanille
54 ciste
55 heliotrope
56 iris
57 tonka
58 sauge
59 musc
60 patchoulì
61 agarwood
62 cedre
63 santal
64 vetiver
65 musc vegetal
66 praline
67 myrrhe
68 lychen
oler63 – :
I just got it today, and is totally out of the ordinary, I would say exclusively for collectors willing to pay the price for it knowing it comes from one of the most prestiged French houses: “Guerlain”.
I will keep adding about the experience, so far just one spray to get familiar with it… 8 hrs and still smelling..
Lena.brytkova – :
I must have the wrong skin for this. Almost all I get is vanilla. It almost smells like cocoa butter on me.
naigmaSem – :
Although this is labeled as a cologne, with a few spritzes it becomes strong. I wore a few spritzes to gym class thinking it would be light and airy but not this time, the scent literally filled the room. The sage note took on a life of it’s own in there! Gym class is held in a medium sized room, it’s both men and women, and I could smell myself in every breath I took. Not really a bad thing, but not the thing I was trying to accomplish in class. It was a little embarrassing.
What I like to do with Cologne 68 is, when I change the bed sheets I’ll spritz the bare mattress and the new sheet when I make the bed. I do this more than I wear 68 and now, after the gym incident I will probably wear it less than before.
19850803 – :
Smell like the heads of children.
It is also a bit pastel, wax pencils, like Choc de Cardin.
I like and I don’t.
One of those perfumes you really have to be in the mood to wear it. For my taste I mean.
It is surely refined, quite joyfull and original, sandy, dusty, dried petals, dried peel, with some nostalgic sides.
vovin – :
Here comes some meaningful Guerlain!
It has EdT strenght and it smells so damn good on both women and men. It is a little bit of everything but well blended, so the final result is a very aromatic, warm yet zesty EdT very Guerlain (even if modern) with good base notes. Very wearable for casual but classy outfit and free spirit personalities, it can be also very elegant as a daytime not intoxicating perfume.
It lasts a good 5 hours with moderate sillage. No need to overspray.
Drkogot – :
I once had this scent and jwaks and Brettyboy are totally spot on with their reviews about too many notes really amounting to nothing. To me it was the perfect example of how a perfume house can go wrong when it tries too hard to be all things to everybody.
Zumso – :
It’s like a trip through my Guerlain collection. It’s smells like you sprayed Homme, Instant Homme, Heritage, habit Rouge, Shalimar, L’heure Bleue on one spot. it’s a formidable mix and changes all day. Compliments to this one
jookms – :
Guerlain 68 Cologne
I love to cook. I am known for my chicken sausage gumbo, so much so, that people request it for every birthday, potluck, or family gathering I attend. Since a lot of my friends and family are from New Orleans, it’s a tough crowd to please, and also quite an honor that people say mine is the best they’ve ever tasted. They say you can always tell what people really think if they come back for seconds.
In New Orleans, gumbo is one of those wonderful dishes that’s served in the top 5-star white glove service restaurants all the way down to the family style roadside diners; it’s both comfort food and haute cuisine depending on how you make it. It looks deceptively simple to make because it’s one of those everything-and-the kitchen-sink recipes, but not everyone gets it right because the secret is in HOW it’s made, not what’s in it, plus that extra somethin’-somethin’ magic juju that each cook adds to make it his or her signature dish. The way the ingredients are combined is what makes the difference between a good or bad gumbo, and that, unfortunately, is something you will never find in a cookbook.
When I heard about this Guerlain 68 Cologne with 68 ingredients, I knew I had to try this perfume gumbo. I’ve tried other gumbos before and have not returned for seconds, but this Guerlain is 5-star white glove service AND roadside diner AND second helpings! This perfume is elegant and casual, masculine and feminine. The citrus and light florals makes it familiar, the petitgrain gives it some juju, and the santal anchors it – infact, eachtime I wear it, I get a little different flavor. I love this. I will be wearing this again and again and again. Thank you, Guerlain.
bas-andrejj – :
I was wrong in assuming that Eau de Cologne du 68 would be yet another bland, citrus based cologne. With exactly 68 notes in this composition it is far from boring, and its complexity is apparent.
It’s the perfect mix of fresh citrus and powdery florals. Iris and orange blossom appear to be the most dominant floral notes, further complimented by a vast array of crisp citrus notes including, lime, orange, mandarin orange and bergamot.
Eau de Cologne du 68 is of course classified as unisex. I am very pleased with how this fragrance wears on my skin, but I would have to admit that it smells somewhat feminine on me. I would like to smell this on a man just to see how the soft floral notes fare on him.
This eau de cologne wears more like an eau de toilette, so you shouldn’t have too many issues regarding sillage or longevity. It’s also reasonably priced for a Guerlain exclusive, which is always good to know.
I would more than likely wear Eau de Cologne du 68 during Spring or Summer. It’s a great go-to scent when you can’t think of anything else to wear. Eau de Cologne du 68 is surprisingly distinctive, and is a fragrance of excellent quality. I highly recommend.
omonya – :
One of my first bonafide encounters with Guerlainade aside from testing modern day Shalimar at Macy’s. That very naughty animalic, vanillic, slightly powdery and dirty scent forming the base of so many famous Guerlain scents that is always worth mentioning yet rarely is it put into words. I like it. And it’s a welcome departure from the incredibly clean and neat ‘Americanized’ contemporary designer fragrances that clutter department stores shelves and displays. Yet, I find it much more fitting in Shalamir than Cologne 68 which takes you in many, sometimes every, direction all at the same time. Citrus, florals, spice, woods, musk…and I’m bound to go over my character limit for this review. I’ll sum up with, more ingredients is not better in cologne 68 and I would appreciate a scent with more focus and direction.
Yuretz – :
A nice classic scent. Very clean, and neutral. Great for any occasion. It’s not loud at all. I can definitely see this for spring weather. The citrus, the aroma, and the floral in this make it a light perfume to wear. Non offensive. Well blended. One of my favorites from the Guerlain house. Try it.
winni puh – :
A very nice, balanced mix of flowers, citrus, powder and green things. It’s claimed to be unisex, and so it is.
When a scent this good veers this close to being feminine it stays acceptably masculine but magically becomes elegant. It is very dressy and nice – like emerging from an unusually classy barbershop.
Well done, Guerlain!
saharok100 – :
A modest beauty, but a beauty it is.
A very characteristic product of Guerlain, still I think it is more interesting to me than any other Guerlain before.
Being an eau de cologne it is not strong and I regret that, but the scent itself is a wonder and a gem.
Soft and fresh this EdC presents itself, with a unique combination of flowers and quite some fruit. No sharpness from citruses, iris or frangipani: a sweet temperance is achieved by linden blossom, jasmin and vanilla. Towards the drydown a subtle herbal concoction of sage and rosemary accompanies this sweetheart home.
I, for one, am very impressed.
purgen9943 – :
Absolutely ‘Guerlain’ style EDT (despite the cologne name it’s EDT concentration and lasts a good while).
A bizarre concept, featuring 68 ingredients, many of which are not listed here, including all of the base notes! The notes listed above are deceptive, for although they certainly exist (particularly the Mandarin element), they are not indicative of the development of the scent.
It feels warm, smooth and balsamic, not ‘crisp’ as so many colognes. The base contains a typical soft Guerlain combination of Iris, Vanilla, Benzoin, Tonka and Sandalwood which alongside other warm and spicy elements, puts me in mind of the classics ‘Vol de Nuit’ and ‘L’Heure Blueu’. Indeed others have mentioned it’s feeling of the now mythical ‘Guerlinade’ which agree with.
Do I like it? I ‘sort of like it’ at first and then ‘absolutely adore it’ a few hours into it’s journey. The sweetness of the mandarin initially finds me sniffing with a little disappointment, however, the development is truly beautiful as the balsams, woods and spices begin to glimmer through, turning it’s initial perkiness into an altogether deeper more sensual experience.
Ultimately, I guess that for a woman in long term love with Caron’s Eau de Reglisse, everything is going to be second best!
vesabserb – :
Incredibly smooth, powdery citrus and iris with an herbal infusion. As 68 develops, lime and green florals become more apparent but never assault the smoothness of this composition, reminding me a lot of a lemon meringue or key lime pie with a warm earthy crust and thick, high quality natural vanilla bean extract, not the loose, synthetic type.
Then it hits me… Jovan Musk for Men. Wait! Impossible, Guerlain couldn’t have made a juice parallel to the cheap, iconic men’s grocery store fragrance. Try as I might, I just can’t shake the association out of my olfactory memory.
Purely delightful and sensual, masculine and clean. A quality fragrance indeed. Although I can’t wear it without my mind wandering to Jovan Musk.
rar12 – :
Sexy, comforting and delicious.
oebavaria – :
Follow-up review.
There may be 68 or so notes in Cologne du 68, supposedly, but I’ve learned to stop searching for every single note in a fragrance and just recognize what I truly do smell.
Forget the fragrance labelled “Guerlinade”, Cologne du 68 IS the Guerlinade. That classic animalic, herbal-vanilla base featured in so many Guerlain classics (Shalimar, Jicky, L’Heure Bleue, Habit Rouge) is the star here. Although, there’s no animalism. Just a smooth herbal vanilla/tonka accord. The herbal character comes from the Bouquet de Provence, several herbs such as sage and thyme with some light citrus and orange blossom sprinkled on top. It wears light but lasts a long time, and sort of straddles the line between 19th century dandy and 21st century gourmand. Also, Cologne du 68 contains a wonderful lily/carnation accord that pairs with the vanilla SO well – almost like smelling the stems of the flowers themselves. In total, I’d say Cologne du 68 lasts a good 6 hours on my (fragrance-devouring) skin.
There’s always a highly trusted brand for something. I trust Apple for music players. I trust Celestial Seasonings for my tea. And I leave the vanillas up to Guerlain. Not only is this one of my favorite fragrances, but I think it’s the best vanilla fragrance out there. Try Cologne du 68 if you haven’t already.
schiffter – :
This is simply a luxurious and classy unisex cologne!
Just like its luxuriously classy perfume house!
Love it!
bobrio – :
It is very Guerlain. It reminds me of many Guerlain perfumes, – mainly L’Instant (both for men and for women). For me iris and vanilla notes are the most intensive, and it also makes cologne du 68 similar to Dior Homme. Perfect for everyday use, suitable for men and women. It needs cool weather do develop right. The longevity is reasonable for cologne concentration, it stays quite close to the skin, but a small spray after 4-5 hours after the first one will revive the aroma.
Drako3 – :
Elegant and classy.
nadiyha – :
There is a LOT going on in Cologne du 68. It’s like a spicy-anisic-woody-vanilla-floral-citrus kinda concoction, that dries down within a few hours to a pleasant, rich vanilla and amber base. I really don’t care what’s in it anymore, because it just smells plain good and lasts a decent amount of time. It’s mainly a tonka-vanilla fragrance, but very light and not overly sweet at all. Also totally unisex, beyond gender.
Good stuff. I’ll have to try it again sometime.
wilopfort – :
I am looking for a cologne so tried this: it is NOTHING like a cologne. It is not fresh, not green and not citrusy. However, the smell is not unpleasant but it reminds me of wood polish, the kind of old fashioned wax used to polish antique furniture… So in a way, I am getting the “luxury” from this smell, but not the cologne!
gerus1971 – :
I usually don’t like when there are so many ingredients… results can be bad. But this one isn’t. It’s a nice fragrance, with a masculine note in the opening but then it becomes unisex. The smell is quite sweet, fruity-green, even woody although I can’t see wood added. Not my beloved fragrance, but a nice one.
mks134JeomiWogkig – :
tested it today…hmmm…very “les nouveau riches”
ngppuiszbh – :
God this is a classic example of pretenious and snobby perfumary. I imagine there are a lot of perfume snobs (you know who you are)who wear this but dont actually like and wear it just for its exclusivity.
I purchased this when i was on my initial perfume adventure as i was intrigued by the list of notes. Its like the olfactory version of those restaurants where its all very classy and the list of things in your dinner run into paragraphs yet know one seems to be enjoying themselves. This has 68 different notes but unfortunately no heart or indeed soul.
cAcroftRof – :
very powdery and quite strong but a sweet smell all the same.maybe it was the cold i was having but i did have a slight headache wearing this all day.dont intend making it a favourite anytime soon.once in a while,yes and that’s it.it does stay on the skin all the day I must admit
Fanerkorano – :
At first I get spice, floral, and powder then the sweetness (honey and amber) smooths the blend beautifully. It progresses to a soft light sweet floral then it rests with the amber honey and a touch of powder.
I don’t get woods, I don’t get herbs/green, it ends out being almost gourmand on me! It’s quite lovely but it ends out too sweet on me.
нася – :
Simply the most beautiful soft oriental fragrance I’ve found. I’ve read it is perfect for any occasion and I’d have to agree, this could be worn in any situation and you wouldn’t offend only make people want to give you a hug! Definitely unisex, on DH it is more spices and woods, on me more citrus, floral & powdery woods. Good sillage and long lasting, what’s not to love about this gem?
niragag63 – :
This cologne is designed to wear on its own, NOT like Jason declares… .
For any decent information, please contact Maison Guerlain!
add503 – :
i dont think its citrus its oriental also beatiful
aeyvetara – :
As It Dries Down On My Skin, It Smells Like Dior Homme Which Is A Plus Because Thats My Favorite. It Contains 68 Notes, Hence The Name 🙂
nik4744 – :
Cologne du 68 is a very pleasant outdoorsy kind of scent. It makes you feel relaxed, calm and peaceful. Perfect for everyday use.
faozzpkzjoy – :
It’s a warm, very rich and quite particular fragrance, completely different from ‘usual commercials’.
Sado4ok – :
It is a unisex, maybe rather masculine, but pretty enough for women. It smells very nice, I cannot recognise notes, just remember some citrus in the beginning and a feeling that it is a very well-balanced fragrance.