BergamotOpens with
Iris FlowerHeart
VanillaDries down to
Thierry WasserThe nose · 253 fragrances · also made L’Homme Idéal Eau de Parfum (2016)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Guerlain · Sold as feminine
L'Initial Eau de Parfum
A cozy library where powdery florals and warm vanilla intertwine with earthy notes, creating a comforting cocoon of scent.
Full bottle: Premium tier, typically $100–250. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
L'Initial Eau de ParfumPremium · $100–250
57%Similar accords, often for lessParis Nº92 Champs Elysees · ZaraBudget tier, under $40 · all 5 of its listed notes are in this one8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
HeartThe Soul
BaseFoundation
The story behind the bottle.
Launched in 2021, L'Initial Eau de Parfum by Guerlain is a floral fragrance that exemplifies the brand's commitment to luxury and tradition. Perfumer Thierry Wasser crafts this composition with a balance of fresh citrus top notes like bergamot and orange, which give way to an intricate heart of jasmine, iris flower, and Turkish rose. The base notes of vanilla, caramel, tonka bean, patchouli, and white musk create a warm, enveloping embrace that lingers on the skin.
This fragrance blooms best when applied directly to pulse points. The citrus top notes are bright but fleeting, so the rich base notes will carry you through the day and into the evening.
Fig. 01 — L'Initial Eau de Parfum, Guerlain
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
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Thierry Wasser
The guardian of GuerlainThierry Wasser is the in-house perfumer at Guerlain — a title that makes him the custodian of one of perfumery's most storied legacies.
“I am not going to betray five generations of the family.”
Thierry Wasser · Wallpaper*, December 2008
The L'Initial line
2 fragrances, compared side by side
Designer Guerlain
More from the house · founded 1828 · France
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Acqua di ParmaVaniglia Eau de ParfumEDP · ★ 4.07Similar 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 originalL'Initial Eau de ParfumGuerlain · Premium · $100–250Zara · 2012Paris Nº92 Champs ElyseesAll 5 of its listed notes are in this oneunder $40★ 4.16 (166)55%Match
Ard Al ZaafaranAroosat Al EmaratShares 6 of its 12 notesunder $40★ 3.95 (38)47%Match
Ajmal · 2025Aurum ElixirShares 5 of its 8 notesunder $40★ 4.40 (20)
With Guerlain Habit Rouge Légère
Adds leather, warm spicy and white floral; shares bergamot and orange and 3 more notes.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Well loved by wearers: loved by 57%, disliked or hated by 7%.