Guerlain Partners Palate For A Refined Signature Scent Experience

Guerlain and Palate converge for an afternoon where scent, flavour, and florals unfold in dialogue. An immersive encounter where fragrance leads and the senses are drawn into step.

We tend to credit taste, sometimes even sight, but it’s smell that shapes our judgement when it comes to food. It reaches us before the plate does—often before we’re aware of it—and determines whether something registers as appetising, layered, or worth our attention. By the time we take a bite, the decision has, in many ways, already been made.

Guerlain understands this better than most. In collaboration with Palate and hosted by YM Tengku Shaheera Abdullah and YM Tengku Zai, the maison created an immersive afternoon for over 20 ladies that married tasting and smelling—part high tea, part olfactory exploration, and entirely indulgent.

Fragrance and flavour aren’t so different. Both are built on layers—florals, spices, fruits—notes we recognise as easily on the plate as in a bottle. The likes of fig, cherry, and vanilla are familiar and comforting, regardless of their form.

Divided into three stations, the experience centred on a buffet line of Guerlain’s most iconic scents from the L’Art & La Matière range: Pêche Mirage, Néroli Plein Sud, Santal Pao Rosa, Tobacco Honey, Cherry Oud, and Angélique Noire—each composition an opportunity for discovery. At the centre sat two limited edition Exceptional Creations, their presence marking the room’s focal point and, for many, the most closely examined works on display.

High up on level 75 of Merdeka 118, the private room of Park Lounge was filled with friends, family, and new connections in the making, the atmosphere easy and unforced despite a guest list that included members of royalty and high society. Conversations flowed between light bites and perfume blends, with our guests moving intuitively through scents that seemed to align with mood, style, and, at times, something more personal.

Of course, it wasn’t only about fragrance. Our trio of beauty stations introduced Guerlain’s skincare offerings too. The day featured the ultra-luxurious Orchidée Impériale Black range, alongside hand massages that allowed guests to experience the serums and creams first-hand—an added layer to the entire ritual beyond scent alone.

And because this is Palate, food was never an afterthought. Elegant bites like Avocado Cones, Arctic Shrimp Salad, and Apple & Celery Toast made their rounds, while the Coconut Date Sensation and Yuzu Blossom Spritz brought a measured brightness to the room. Taken together, it all sat in the same register—considered, restrained, and attentive to the smallest detail—much like the fragrances themselves.

Photography: QUE

Words: TENGKU ZAI, PATRICK LOH

Guerlain