AldehydesOpens with
JasmineHeart
IrisDries down to
Jacques GuerlainThe nose · 40 fragrances · also made Shalimar Parfum (1925)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Guerlain · Sold as feminine
Liu
The crisp morning in a Parisian atelier, where the sun filters through large windows and the air is infused with the scent of fresh flowers and warm vanilla.
Full bottle: Premium tier, typically $100–250. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
LiuPremium · $100–250
52%Similar accords, often for lessCoeur Joie · Nina RicciMid-range tier, $40–100 · shares 5 of its 6 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
The story behind the bottle.
Launched in 1929 by Guerlain and crafted by Jacques Guerlain, Liu is a pioneering fragrance that epitomizes the Art Deco era. It opens with aldehydic notes that create a bright, fresh aura, before transitioning into a heart of neroli, jasmine, and rose. The base layers of iris, vanilla, and woody notes provide warmth and depth, grounding the composition in a lasting elegance. Liu's blend of synthetic and natural materials was innovative for its time, setting new standards for floral perfumes.
Apply Liu to pulse points for a subtle yet lasting effect. The aldehydic top notes are bright but fade quickly, so it’s best used during the day when you want a touch of freshness and elegance. The base notes develop slowly over time, providing a gentle warmth that lasts throughout the afternoon.
Fig. 01 — Liu, 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.
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Jacques Guerlain
The poet of the golden ageJacques Guerlain is one of the greatest perfumers who ever lived — the man who gave the world Shalimar, Mitsouko, L'Heure Bleue, and Vol de Nuit. As the third-generation perfumer of the House of Guerlain, he elevated the family craft into high art.
“Perfumery? It is a matter of patience.”
Jacques Guerlain · As recalled by Marcel Billot, Parfumerie, Cosmétique, Savons, 1964
Designer Guerlain
More from the house · founded 1828 · France
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Chosen from what wearers say it smells like, what its fans also love, and its notes
Love it, not the $100–250 price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalLiuGuerlain · Premium · $100–250Nina Ricci · 1946Coeur JoieShares 5 of its 6 notes$40–100★ 4.51 (76)
With Ex Nihilo The Hedonist Musc
Adds fresh spicy, citrus and aromatic; shares bergamot.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
A community favourite: loved by 50%, disliked or hated by 8%.