Secret Intention
Built for collectors and enthusiasts of early 2000s French perfumery, Secret Intention offers an understated blend of airy florals and comforting spices. Rather than following heavy, opulent vintage profiles, this fragrance leans toward a polite, refreshing daytime presence. The dry tea accord and zesty bergamot create a crisp, composed mood suitable for spring mornings, quiet weekends, or relaxed workdays. The delicate jasmine and soothing sandalwood dry-down appeal to anyone who appreciates subtle elegance over loud modern gourmands. Because it is discontinued and difficult to find on the secondary market, it primarily attracts vintage Guerlain collectors seeking a rare, gentle floral fragrance.
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Performance Metrics
357 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Wearer votes reflect mixed longevity, with 11 people recording long lasting results between 7 and 12 hours, while 12 voters report weak or very weak wear under 2 hours. Projection leans gentle, with 14 moderate and 12 intimate votes, creating an arm's length or skin-level scent bubble.
Notes Pyramid
Search these notesChoose where each note belongs.
Secret Intention centers around crisp green tea, bergamot, and lemon layered over an aromatic dusting of cardamom and coriander. The heart reveals clean peony, white jasmine, and neroli petals, which eventually rest on a soft base of sandalwood, tonka bean, and soothing vanilla.
Main Accords
10 MAPPEDThe scent transitions smoothly from its dominant fresh, citrus, and aromatic accords into a heart of floral and white floral brightness. Over time, warm spicy cardamom settles alongside soft green undertones, finishing with dry woody sandalwood and a powdery touch of sweet vanilla.
Community Data
427 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in spring and summer. The vote picture leans most toward daytime.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Invigorating blend of green tea, bergamot, and lemon in the opening.
Aromatic coriander and cardamom provide a distinctive herbal twist.
Gentle, non-cloying floral heart featuring clean peony and jasmine.
Comforting base of creamy sandalwood, vanilla, and tonka bean.
Inoffensive, polite sillage well suited for office and work environments.
Strong daytime appeal, backed by 45 day-wear community votes.
Ideal for mild spring and warm summer weather.
Unique collectible bottle design with heavy glass and historical appeal.
A soothing, calm scent profile that avoids loud modern sweetness.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Longevity votes are polarized, with 12 wearers reporting under two hours.
Intimate to moderate projection means it stays very close to the skin.
Discontinued status makes bottles rare and expensive on resale markets.
Some reviewers find the composition ordinary compared to classic Guerlain releases.
Initial peony note can smell overly sharp or flowery to sensitive noses.
Lacks the heavy depth or projection needed for cold winter nights.
Poor value for money at inflated secondary auction prices.
Polarizing community sentiment with 39 dislike votes recorded.
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Guerlain Secret Intention Editorial Review: Scent, Nuance, and Wear”
The initial spray of Secret Intention by Guerlain greets you with a brisk, invigorating blend of green tea and sharp citrus. Bergamot and lemon produce a bright, refreshing splash, but the real intrigue comes from the spice rack. Coriander and cardamom lend an aromatic, herbal punch that prevents the opening from becoming standard cologne water. Some wearers find the initial floral burst quite strong, yet the dry herbal notes quickly anchor the top layer.
As the initial citrus sizzle settles, the fragrance eases into a delicate floral heart. Peony brings a crisp, slightly rosy edge, while jasmine and neroli contribute a soft white floral warmth. This heart avoids syrup or heavy sweetness, remaining clean and dry. In the late dry-down, the composition warms on the skin with smooth sandalwood, sweet vanilla, and almond-tinged tonka bean. These base notes create a quiet, powdery comfort rather than a thick oriental finish.
Across the hours, the dominant accords shift from sharp and aromatic to pillowy and woody. The fresh, citrus elements lead strongly for the first hour before stepping aside for aromatic green nuances. The floral heart carries the scent through midday with a polite, airy character. Eventually, the powdery, warm spicy, and woody accords form a gentle personal bubble that stays pleasant without ever shouting.
Performance votes show a significant divide among wearers. Out of 33 votes, 11 rate the longevity as long lasting (7 to 12 hours), while 12 report weak to very weak duration under 2 hours, and 7 report moderate persistence. Sillage is similarly balanced between intimate and moderate, with 26 total votes across those two bands. This modest projection makes it a natural fit for warm spring mornings, quiet office spaces, and relaxed casual gatherings where heavy scents would overwhelm.
This perfume suits enthusiasts of early 2000s perfumery and collectors who appreciate understated, aromatic tea fragrances. Fans of fresh coriander, citrus, and clean peony will find plenty to enjoy here. Conversely, anyone seeking a powerhouse vintage with dark resins or heavy animalics should skip it. Those looking for modern sugary gourmands will also find this scent too dry, herbal, and restrained.
Secret Intention by Guerlain remains an intriguing footnote in the house catalogue. It offers a charming, calming wear, but high aftermarket prices and polarising reviews mean it is strictly a sample-first proposition for dedicated collectors.
FAQs
What does Secret Intention smell like?+
Secret Intention smells like an aromatic cup of tea accented with fresh citrus, clean florals, and soft woods. The opening features lemon, bergamot, dry tea leaves, coriander, and cardamom. It develops into a heart of peony, jasmine, and neroli before settling onto a gentle base of sandalwood, tonka bean, and sweet vanilla.
How long does Secret Intention last?+
Community longevity votes for Secret Intention are split, with wearers reporting between 2 and 10 hours. Specifically, 11 voters rate it as long lasting (7 to 12 hours), while 12 report weak or very weak wear under 2 hours, and 7 note moderate endurance. Light tea florals often require reapplication on drier skin.
Does Secret Intention have strong projection?+
No, Secret Intention offers mostly intimate to moderate sillage that stays polite and close to the skin. Community votes include 14 ratings for moderate projection and 12 for intimate reach, with 16 voters reporting stronger sillage. Most wearers find it forms a soft scent veil rather than a room-filling cloud.
Is Secret Intention for men or women?+
Secret Intention is marketed toward women, though community voters view it as unisex or feminine-leaning. Out of recorded gender votes, 5 wearers consider it unisex, 3 vote more female, and 3 vote strictly female. The dry tea, coriander, and citrus notes make it easy for anyone who enjoys fresh aromatic fragrances to wear.
What seasons are best for wearing Secret Intention?+
Spring and summer are the best seasons to wear Secret Intention. The community data shows 40 votes for spring and 31 for summer, compared to 22 for fall and just 10 for winter. Its fresh citrus, green tea, and floral peony profile performs best in mild to warm weather.
When should you wear Secret Intention?+
Secret Intention is best suited for daytime casual wear and office environments. Day wear dominates the votes with 45 selections compared to 14 for night. Its fresh, clean floral and aromatic spices remain courteous and non-offensive, making it an excellent companion for workdays, weekend walks, and casual brunches.
Is Secret Intention discontinued?+
Yes, Secret Intention is a discontinued release from 2001 that is now rare. Reviewers frequently mention that finding a bottle today is difficult and often costs significant money on secondary resale marketplaces. Because it is no longer produced, collectors search vintage auctions and secondhand platforms to find remaining bottles.
What does the dry-down of Secret Intention smell like?+
The dry-down of Secret Intention smells like warm sandalwood and sweet vanilla touched with powdery tonka bean. After the bright lemon, tea, and peony notes recede, the base settles into a comforting, slightly powdery skin scent that retains a hint of aromatic cardamom warmth.
Is Secret Intention worth buying as a blind buy?+
Secret Intention is not recommended as a blind buy due to high aftermarket prices and mixed ratings. With an average rating of 3.54 out of 5 and 39 community dislike votes, it divides opinions. Shoppers should track down a small sample or decant before committing to an expensive vintage bottle.
What perfumes are similar to Secret Intention?+
While exact matches are scarce, Secret Intention shares a fresh, aromatic tea profile with scents like Elizabeth Arden Green Tea. Those who appreciate the citrus-tea accord will recognize similar crispness, though Secret Intention incorporates a richer base of cardamom, peony, tonka bean, and sandalwood that feels more traditional.
Rankings
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Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCOREWhile direct clones are absent in community records, wearers who enjoy the aromatic tea and citrus opening may look to classic fresh green tea fragrances like Elizabeth Arden Green Tea or Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca, which share a similarly crisp, herbal daytime freshness without the inflated collector price.
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