Introduced in the late 1980s, Guerlain’s Parfum de Toilette line represented a refined balance between the house’s lighter Eau de Toilette and its more concentrated Parfum Extrait. Created around 1986–1987, this range was offered in some of Guerlain’s most cherished fragrances—Jicky, Liu, L’Heure Bleue, Mitsouko, Nahema, Chamade, and Shalimar—allowing wearers to experience these classics in a new, harmoniously balanced strength.
According to Guerlain, Parfum de Toilette was their own interpretation of what many other perfumers called an Eau de Parfum: a concentration designed to provide more depth and persistence than an Eau de Toilette, yet lighter and more diffusive than the pure Parfum Extrait. Typically containing a higher percentage of aromatic oils—often around 10–15%, compared to an Eau de Toilette’s 5–8% and an Extrait’s 20–30%—this concentration allowed the fragrances to unfold with luxurious smoothness, revealing greater warmth and complexity without becoming heavy.
In wear, the Parfum de Toilette versions of Guerlain’s classics emphasized the heart and base notes, lending each perfume a rounder, more velvety impression. For instance, Shalimar Parfum de Toilette deepened the sensual amber-vanilla accord, L’Heure Bleue became more enveloping in its powdery heliotrope and iris, and Mitsouko gained a richer, spicier mossy resonance. The result was an ideal format for those who wanted longevity and richness without the intensity of the extrait form.
Produced only for a brief period, roughly until 1990, the Parfum de Toilette range was eventually discontinued and replaced by the now-standard Eau de Parfum. Today, these vintage bottles stand as treasured finds for collectors and perfume enthusiasts alike—embodying an era when Guerlain sought to perfect the equilibrium between delicacy and depth.
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