The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Imagine Guerlain began as a numbered collaboration with Begüm Khan, the Turkish jewelry designer whose work orbits Guerlain's oldest symbol: the bee. For the 2023 Millésime, Khan reimagined the iconic Bee Bottle as a collector's object, 37 hand-set pavé gems arranged around an imperial bee at the center of a radiant golden flower, each piece crafted in her Istanbul atelier. The scent housed within was created to honor the occasion, its composition designed to echo the craftsmanship of the jeweled vessel without competing for attention.
What Wasser does here is remarkable in its economy. Three materials, three structural layers, no complexity for complexity's sake. Orange blossom opens with a clarity that borders on soapy, that specific Guerlain cleanliness that reads as timeless rather than generic. Benzoin then steps in: the resinous warmth, the spice that doesn't shout, the amber that grounds everything. Sandalwood closes the arc, creamy and powdery, the kind of base that stays close to skin for hours. It's a composition that trusts the wearer to find the depth in simplicity.
The evolution
The opening unfurls with a luminous orange blossom that carries its radiant quality through the heart of the composition. As it evolves, benzoin introduces a warm, resinous presence that doesn't displace the floral but rather weaves through it, adding a vein of golden spice to the white blossom. The sandalwood emerges in the drydown, bringing a creamy, intimate warmth that grounds the fragrance. The composition settles into something close and personal, the kind of scent that reveals itself fully only when someone is near enough to truly notice.
Cultural impact
As a limited edition of 4,515 numbered pieces, Imagine Guerlain by Begüm Khan exists at the intersection of fragrance and jewelry, a collector's object as much as a scent. The decorated Bee Bottle, with its 37 hand-set pavé gems and 24-carat gold-plated bronze bee, occupies a rare space where perfume becomes art object. The fragrance offers a three-note meditation, its composition centered on restraint and elegance. It's the kind of scent that appeals to the wearer who already knows what they want, drawing those who appreciate understated luxury and timeless design.
The House
GuerlainGuerlain stands as one of the oldest and most revered perfume houses in the world, founded in Paris in 1828 by Pierre-François-Pascal Guerlain. What began as a boutique on rue de Rivoli quickly became the preferred destination for Parisian society, attracting dandies and elegant women who sought custom-crafted fragrances. The house's influence grew to such heights that Guerlain earned the title of Official Perfumer to Napoleon III after presenting Eau de Cologne Impériale to Empress Eugénie as a wedding gift in 1853. This royal patronage marked the beginning of Guerlain's enduring association with European aristocracy, as the house went on to create fragrances for Queen Victoria and Queen Isabella II of Spain. Today, under the creative direction of Thierry Wasser, the fifth-generation perfumer, Guerlain continues to shape the landscape of fine fragrance with a portfolio spanning over 1,100 olfactory creations. The house remains headquartered at its legendary Champs-Élysées mansion, a historic monument that anchors Guerlain's position at the intersection of heritage and contemporary luxury.
The Creator
Thierry WasserWasser gravitates toward green, crispy notes and the bold florals Guerlain is known for. Bulgarian rose appears repeatedly in his work, and he travels annually to oversee the harvest in Kazanlak.
