Growing up, I naively had the impression that “cologne” was just another word for “perfume”. In a way, I was right. It is a perfume scent, just in lower concentrations. With these lower concentrations of perfume comes a lighter scent that is more suited for use in the day or when it is warm. When temperatures rise, you don’t really want to have anything on you that smells heavy and musky or strong.
Earlier this year, Annick Goutal released a range of colognes in 3 classic Annick Goutal scents – Eau d’Hadrien, Neroli and Vétiver. They are meant to be light interpretations of the classic scents. Something that might sit better here where it’s warm and humid.
I stopped by the Annick Goutal store in Bangsar Shopping Centre a few months ago to take a sniff of them. Other than the very lovely Petite Cherie, I have found most Annick Goutal scents to be a bit heavy even for me. So, I was curious to see if a cologne might be better. In a way it was, and in a way it wasn’t.
Before I tell you about the Annick Goutal Les Colognes collection, I wanted to just tell you to please take my post or anyone else’s post on fragrance with a very generous pinch of salt. Grab a whole handful of salt, if you may, because fragrances are so individual that it is practically impossible to “review”. Also, remember that what smells wonderful to me could smell like pee on you. I say this by way of a preface because I recently fell for the descriptions of Diptyque Eau Duelle online and picked up a bottle only to find it was not what I was expecting.
For now, in the Les Colognes collection are 3 scents. The descriptions are mine and based on my perceptions as I smell them.
- Neroli – The first spritz brought forth the fresh scent of orange blossom initially but as it dried down, I found it getting more flowery. I actually thought the scent was quite strong and lasted quite a while on my skin. It didn’t smell good on me however, so I was not too pleased with the fact that it lasted on my skin for a while.
- Eau d’Hadrien – This opens up with a zesty citrus top note which very quickly settled to a powdery and then floral scent on my skin. Eau d’Hadrien is described as a fresh citrus fragrance and I was expecting to like this, but it turned out that I did not. It’s funny how different a description of a scent can turn out on skin, but this just smelled wrong on me. Didn’t last very long, as is de rigueur with most citrus based perfumes.
I therefore settled for Vétiver for the simple reason, this was the spiciest scent of the 3 and I like my scents spicy. When I spray the Vétiver cologne on me, I find the first hit on the nose quite sharp. If you like something with flowers or something sweet and gourmand, you may not like this one.
The scent of Vétiver is sharp and spicy and then settles down to a warmer note, still retaining the spiciness but rounding out a little on my skin. Of the 3, I found Vétiver has the strongest scent, followed by Neroli and then Eau d’Hadrien.
Unlike the other perfumes I have which have Vétiver as their notes, this one smells very clear and clean. It smells like I’ve stepped out from a shower after using a man’s spicy body wash LOL It has that hint of masculine spiciness, with a tiny hint of flowers underlying it as it goes along. It smells… fresh! But with a decided masculine slant :D
The only drawback therefore is the longevity. This is a cologne as the name implies which makes this the lightest formulation available. The next up is Eau de Toilette and we already know that many EdT don’t quite pass the full day of wear test.
So, Vétiver lasts on me quite comfortably for a little over half a day in the office. A little longer if it’s cool and the air-conditioning is particularly powerful and it’s a rainy day. If it’s a day when I’m outside in the heat and humidity, it goes off after a couple of hours. Quite something to be expected of a cologne, but a little disappointing if you like smelling fresh all day. So, this is one where having a travel atomizer on you will be quite appreciated. I plan to pick one up so I can carry Vétiver around with me for the day.
The bottle comes with a gold cap but a spray pump is included and once you attach it, you can’t use the cap anymore. I thought it was a pity. I’d have liked for the cap to be made such that it could fit over the spray.
Also, notice how the packaging has changed from the classic ribbed design of Annick Goutal fragrances to a very simple, clean design. I don’t know if this is going to reflect a change across the board. Whilst I like the sharp, clean, minimalistic lines of the new bottle, I find they look more generic. I’ve come to associate the ribbed bottles and gold caps with Annick Goutal fragrances so if there is going to be a change, it’ll take some getting used to.
Oh and the Les Colognes come in a very generous 200ml bottle, hence the hefty size you see above, which makes sense because you will likely end up using more due to its lack of longevity. At RM800 however, it is still an ouch to the wallet, as with all niche scents.
Do you have a favourite cologne or do you prefer wearing a EdT or EdP? Have you a favourite Annick Goutal scent I might like?
My experiences with cologne has been a little limited, and in fact only really those by Jo Malone. I do find some stay on longer, and some not as long so much again will depend on the formula and scent, weather and our body chemistry! So complex :P
Paris B
Annick Goutal Les Colognes are available in Neroli, Vétiver and Eau d’Hadrien Price: RM800/200ml Availability: Annick Goutal store at Bangsar Shopping Centre and Pavilion KL, and Counter at Isetan KLCC
Hello Paris! Love your post. Annick Goutal! Lovely. I have La Violette :) I love it! I like Petite Cherie too but I love La Violette a bit more. Heee :D I find most of AG scents do not settle well with me. I look forward to take a sniff of these new colognes when I get the chance. Who knows? One of these might suit me :)
Hi Rin! I’m going to have a sniff at La Violette now, don’t I? :D I love knowing what people like because it sometimes makes it easier to decide. I find AG scents a bit heavy and floral for me. All those flowers! hehe
My favorite AG is Mandragore, which is also my signature perfume, but recently I tried Ninféo Mio and this could become my favorite summer perfume. I tried some other AG perfums, but they’re mostly too flowery for me.
Ooh Lili I have a sample of Mandragore somewhere and I remember I liked that one! It’s quite heavy isn’t it? I too find AG perfumes a bit too flowery so finding one that isn’t so flowery is quite a feat!
I love these new bottles. Look fresh and updated from the usual range. My one and only Annick Goutal is the Eau d’ Hadrien. It’s great for the not so summery days. I find myself reaching for it during months of November to March more often than the rest of the year. It’s very me. So much so i haven’t been exploring the line much. I like Petite Cherie too (reminds me of the once much younger me) and another one which i’ve forgotten the name but it’s a rose interpretation which is not quite like the usual rose scent out there. A more ‘green’ kind of rose scent. I quite enjoy that one too.
Will check out Vetiver. I love the way it usually settles down into a nice, warm, comfortable note on my skin. I have the Jo Malone’s Black Vetyver Cafe… it’s quite masculine and smell ‘powerful’ on days when i need to be more assertive. haha. If i remember right, Chanel has some great vetiver fragrances too.
It took me a while to learn about Vetiver and I only decided I liked it because a few scents I like have Vetiver as a core scent! I’d never heard of it before this <- not a perfume afficionado hehe... Thanks for suggesting the Jo Malone one. I have thus far found Jo Malone a bit too floral for my tastes but I'll take a look at Black Vetyver Cafe. It already sounds powerful haha!
Wa!! I do love a great chucky bottle and that’s so huge! ha!
LOL It is! All 200ml of it and perfumes usually come in 30, 50 or 100 only haha!
I’ve actually never heard of Annick Goutal before!
After reading your post this morning I’ve googled it and found a place that should sell it in Italy. I really want to smell Vetiver, it sounds just like the kind of scent I like.
Aww I’m glad to have introduced you to a new brand, S! Annick Goutal does quite niche scents and like all niche brands, it is very pricey! But if you like Vetiver, I think you’d like this one. It’s very fresh!
Hi hi! The first time I heard of Annick Goutal was when I was at the Longwood Gardens in Philadelphia – I know, weird place to find out about her but one of her perfumes was featured with the greens they planted there; something to do with the use of natural scents in high-end perfumery and bleh-ble-bleh. Good grief, I seriously have to stop watching Hotel Translyvania!
I didn’t have a chance to test out her perfumes until I ventured into Kens Apothecary a few months back. Didn’t quite like them then because I found the scent too strong for my taste and the price tag, O-to-the-M-to-the-Geesh! – the price tag! Nearly pengsan ALTHOUGH … the bottles are very pretty :-)
Haha yes, the prices are quite shocking I’d agree. The first time I came across them, I too had the same reaction. Had to get out of the store before I swooned from the sensory overload and the prices LOL! These niche perfumes are truly one for the collectors and the afficionados but the fragrances are usually very unique, which is why I find them a lot more special than commercial ones. Acquired taste for the nose and for the wallet you might say ;)