Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Guerlain · Sold as feminine
Insolence
The moment when a late-night indulgence becomes a cherished memory, wrapped in the warmth of powdery violet and amber.
Full bottle: Premium tier, typically $100–250. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
InsolencePremium · $100–250
47%Similar accords, often for lessRed Door Aura · Elizabeth ArdenMid-range tier, $40–100 · shares 6 of its 8 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
TopOpening
HeartThe Soul
BaseFoundation
The story behind the bottle.
Launched in 2006 by Guerlain, Insolence was created by perfumers Maurice Roucel and Sylvaine Delacourte. It is built around an unusually intense powdery duo of violet and iris, which became its signature and helped it develop a devoted cult following distinct from mainstream Guerlain releases. The fragrance opens with the brightness of raspberry and red berries, followed by the floral notes of violet, rose, and orange blossom, before settling into a warm base of tonka bean, resins, musk, and sandalwood. Enthusiasts widely consider it noticeably weakened by later reformulations; the original version was described as richer 'violet candy' compared to the thinner, more diluted current version.
Apply two sprays to your pulse points for an initial burst of fruity and floral notes. The powdery base will develop over time, so allow it to settle into your skin before heading out. This fragrance is best enjoyed close to the skin rather than in a wide sillage, making it perfect for intimate settings or quiet evenings.
Fig. 01 — Insolence, Guerlain
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
A decant costs a fraction of a bottle and tells you how it lasts on your skin.
Live prices aren't shown yet. Each link opens that seller's own search; we may earn a commission.
Not sure it's you?
Five questions, about a minute, no account. You get a shortlist that fits how you actually wear fragrance.
Maurice Roucel
The sensualistMaurice Roucel is a master perfumer at Symrise whose prolific career spans five decades and hundreds of fragrances.
“It is a tool for perfumers only. But we finish on the skin.”
Maurice Roucel · CaFleureBon interview
Co-created with Sylvaine Delacourte
The Insolence line
9 fragrances, compared side by side
Designer Guerlain
More from the house · founded 1828 · France
You Might Also Like
Chosen from what wearers say it smells like, what its fans also love, and its notes
Lolita LempickaLolita Lempicka L'Eau en BlancEDP · ★ 4.07Loved by the same people
GuerlainL'Instant de GuerlainEDT · ★ 4.07Loved by the same people
LancômeLa Vie Est BelleEDP · ★ 3.64Loved by the same people
Jean Paul GaultierScandal Elixir★ 3.62Similar notes and accordsStill deciding?Try the Scent Finder →Love it, not the $100–250 price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalInsolenceGuerlain · Premium · $100–250Elizabeth Arden · 2012Red Door AuraShares 6 of its 8 notes$40–100★ 3.91 (515)47%Match
Versace · 1992Versus DonnaShares 6 of its 19 notes$40–100★ 4.19 (354)
With Missoni Missoni Acqua
Adds citrus, white floral and ozonic; shares bergamot and violet.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Respected, if divisive: loved by 36%, disliked or hated by 27%.