Whilst waiting for a flight in London Heathrow Terminal 5 (of all places!), I came across Gucci’s The Alchemist Garden collection of fragrances.
The Alchemist Garden Collection draws inspiration from the ancient art of alchemy, transforming rare and precious ingredients into golden elixirs of scent.
Each niche fragrance is housed in an elegant, vintage-style bottle adorned with Gucci’s signature motifs that certainly caught my eye.
The Alchemist Garden collection offers something unique, from the fruity blackcurrantness of The Heart Of Leo to the oudy depth of The Voice Of The Snake.
- Gucci – The Alchemist Garden Collection
- 1. The Heart Of Leo Eau de Parfum
- 2. A Gloaming Night Eau de Parfum
- 3. Tears From The Moon Eau de Parfum
- 4. A Midnight Stroll Eau de Parfum
- 5. A Floral Verse Eau de Parfum
- 6. A Reason To Love Eau de Parfum
- 7. A Chant for the Nymph Eau de Parfum
- 8. Where My Heart Beats Eau de Parfum
- 9. 1921 Eau de Parfum
- 10. A Song For The Rose Eau de Parfum
- 11. The Voice of The Snake Eau de Parfum
- 12. The Eyes Of The Tiger Eau de Parfum
- Ingrid’s Top Pick
- Conclusion
Gucci – The Alchemist Garden Collection
From clean florals to smouldering warmth, here is my take on the 12 fragrances from Gucci’s The Alchemist Garden collection.
1. The Heart Of Leo Eau de Parfum
Review
The Heart of Leo Eau de Parfum by Gucci is a warm and fruity affair that will add a touch of mystery to your scent wardrobe.
It opens with a burst of juicy blackcurrant, leading into a heart of warm olibanum, and finishes with the rich, resinous depth of myrrh. A very unusual scent… in a good way!
Top Notes:
Blackcurrant
Mid Notes:
Olibanum
Base Notes:
Myrrh
Seasons & Longevity
The Heart Of Leo is ideal for autumn, winter, and early spring; perfect for cosy evenings in by the fire and festive gatherings.
Overall, I found the longevity is pretty good at 5+ hours, with aromas of resin-coated berries lingering well into the evening.
2. A Gloaming Night Eau de Parfum
Review
Created by Alberto Morillas for Gucci, A Gloaming Night Eau de Parfum is a warm, spicy scent that embodies the mysterious allure of twilight.
This fragrance starts with the spicy kick of cinnamon, mellows into the earthy richness of vetiver, and settles with the deep, earthy aroma of patchouli, which I love.
Top Notes:
Cinnamon
Mid Notes:
Vetiver
Base Notes:
Patchouli
Seasons & Longevity
Best suited for dressy autumn and winter evenings, A Gloaming Night exudes sensual warmth that’s hard to ignore.
It performs exceptionally well, with the scent lasting for 6+ hours. Watch out; this one is a beast for the first hour!
3. Tears From The Moon Eau de Parfum
Review
Tears From The Moon Eau de Parfum is an airy, floral fragrance that captures the essence of springtime blossoms. It reminds me of Dior Addict Eau Fraiche.
The fresh, sweet scent of white peony flows into the green, slightly spicy notes of lily of the valley and concludes with the exotic and creamy stephanotis.
Top Notes:
White Peony
Mid Notes:
Lily of the Valley
Base Notes:
Stephanotis (Madagascar Jasmine)
Seasons & Longevity
This is a perfect spring and summer fragrance, ideal for daytime wear; think al fresco lunches, picnics, and garden parties.
As expected from such a fresh scent, after 4+ hours, it was in need of a top-up.
4. A Midnight Stroll Eau de Parfum
Review
More masculine (to my nose), A Midnight Stroll Eau de Parfum is an evocative, smoky fragrance that transports you to a serene, moonlit forest.
The scent opens with a heady incense, transitions to the dark, woody notes of cade wood, and settles into the fresh, slightly spicy aroma of cypress.
Top Notes:
Incense
Mid Notes:
Cade Wood
Base Notes:
Cypress
Seasons & Longevity
One to save for autumn and winter nights, this fragrance envelops you in a mystical aura. Ideal for fancy dinners and hipster bars.
Lasting 7+ hours, it boasts exceptional longevity, staying with you through the darkest hours.
5. A Floral Verse Eau de Parfum
Review
A Floral Verse Eau de Parfum is a seductively musky blend that sings of springtime and blooming gardens.
It begins with the subtle, earthy scent of black tea and moves into the sweet, intoxicating jasmine heart. Dry-down brings exotic aromas of white musk.
Top Notes:
Black Tea
Mid Notes:
Jasmine Sambac
Base Notes:
White Musk
Seasons & Longevity
Ideal for spring, summer and fall, this fragrance is best reserved for daytime walks and garden parties.
Its longevity is 5+ hours with an arms-length scent bubble, maintaining a gentle presence throughout the day.
6. A Reason To Love Eau de Parfum
Review
A Reason To Love Eau de Parfum is a romantic, spicy fragrance that invites you to embrace love and passion.
Opening with the floral elegance of Damascena rose, peony, and a hint of cardamom, it deepens into a rich oud accord and finishes with the warm, balsamic touch of tolu balsam.
Top Notes:
Damascena Rose, Peony, Cardamom
Mid Notes:
Oud Accord
Base Notes:
Tolu Balsam
Seasons & Longevity
I would wear this during autumn and winter, especially on romantic evenings or special occasions. It lasts around 6+ hours.
7. A Chant for the Nymph Eau de Parfum
Review
A Chant for the Nymph Eau de Parfum is an exotic floral fragrance that transports you to a tropical paradise.
It starts with the lush, creamy scent of frangipani, transitions into the sweet, intoxicating notes of tiare flower and ylang-ylang, and concludes with a comforting vanilla base.
Top Notes:
Frangipani
Mid Notes:
Tiare Flower, Ylang Ylang
Base Notes:
Vanilla
Seasons & Longevity
This is a spring and summer fragrance, perfect for sunny days and beach holidays. Lasts 5+ hours.
8. Where My Heart Beats Eau de Parfum
Review
Super fresh, Where My Heart Beats Eau de Parfum is a delicate floral fragrance that captures the essence of a blooming garden.
Delicate aromas of white peony collide with rose, lily of the valley, and violet leaves and finish with a soft white musk base.
Top Notes:
White Peony
Mid Notes:
Rose, Lily of the Valley, Violet Leaves
Base Notes:
White Musk
Seasons & Longevity
Lasting 4+ hours, Where My Heart Beats is a spring and summer delight for daytime wear and casual outings.
9. 1921 Eau de Parfum
Review
1921 Eau de Parfum is a vibrant, citrusy fragrance that celebrates Gucci’s heritage.
The fragrance begins with the bright, zesty notes of limone cedrato fruit, moves into a heart of neroli flower and verbena, and finishes with a grounding oakmoss base.
Top Notes:
Limone Cedrato Fruit
Mid Notes:
Neroli, Verbena
Base Notes:
Oakmoss
Seasons & Longevity
One for spring and summer, this fragrance works well for daytime shopping trips, fancy lunches, and a walk in the park. Lasts 5+ hours.
10. A Song For The Rose Eau de Parfum
Review
A Song For The Rose Eau de Parfum is a timeless, elegant floral fragrance that sings of classic feminine beauty.
It opens with the opulent (and very realistic) scent of Bulgarian rose, transitions into a heart of soft musk, and finishes with delicate hints of woodiness.
Top Notes:
Bulgarian Rose
Mid Notes:
Musk
Base Notes:
Woody Notes
Seasons & Longevity
I would personally wear A Song For The Rose all year round; it should give you 5+ hours of noticeable wear.
11. The Voice of The Snake Eau de Parfum
Review
The Voice of The Snake Eau de Parfum is a mysterious, oriental fragrance that commands attention. It’s very masculine, in my opinion.
It starts with the dark, woody scent of oud, moves into a heart of spicy saffron, and settles with the earthy richness of patchouli.
Top Notes:
Oud
Mid Notes:
Saffron
Base Notes:
Patchouli
Seasons & Longevity
Ideal for autumn and winter, this fragrance is perfect for evening wear and special events.
It has excellent longevity at 7+ hours, with a scent that evolves beautifully over time.
12. The Eyes Of The Tiger Eau de Parfum
Review
The Eyes Of The Tiger Eau de Parfum is a warm, powdery, vanilla fragrance that exudes confidence and allure.
It opens with the amber’s rich, resinous notes, moves into a heart of creamy vanilla (quite powdery to my nose), and finishes with the earthy warmth of labdanum.
Top Notes:
Amber
Mid Notes:
Vanilla
Base Notes:
Labdanum
Seasons & Longevity
Perfect for autumn and winter, this fragrance is ideal for evening wear and intimate gatherings.
Its longevity is around 6+ hours, enveloping you in a warm, inviting scent that projects nicely.
Ingrid’s Top Pick
The Heart Of Leo Eau de Parfum
My top pick is The Heart Of Leo Eau de Parfum because the mix of fresh, juicy blackcurrant with olibanum and resin is seductive and works well for him or her.
Conclusion
Unlike mainstream fragrances, I feel that each Gucci scent in The Alchemist Garden takes the path less travelled by exploring the natural world and human imagination.
Prices vary depending on perfume oil concentration, and I’m a bit confused as to why it’s more expensive in the USA than in the UK.
The Scented Water is £190 / $270 for 150 ml, the Eau de Parfum is £240 / 384 for 100 ml, and the Perfume Oil is £240 / $480 for 20 ml.
From the spicy warmth of A Gloaming Night, the floral delicacy of Tears From The Moon, or the smoky mystery of A Midnight Stroll, there’s a scent here for every moment and mood.
