Not-quite fall Monday: Annick Goutal Nuit Etoilee

In travel agent lingo, the “shoulder” season refers to a period between peak and off-peak travel times. And with the not-quite fall, not-quite summer temps we’re having here, it seems apt in the fragrance world, too, as I’m dithering each day on what to wear. The breezy citruses are too light, but yet it’s still too warm and humid to pull out even moderately heavy hitters. So when I stumbled upon a little decant of Annick Goutal’s Nuit Etoilee late one warm afternoon and gave it a spray, my first reaction was “Ah!”

Its gently minty, slightly herbal- sweet citrus opening was refreshing without being too fresh, and it soothed and settled me, easing my restlessness, much as a cup of mint green tea might do.

When the Etoilee’s vegetal opening subsided, the pine and balsam fir moved in to ground the scent even further with a softly resinous, incense-y woodiness that was perfect as evening descended and the temps began to drop. As I sniffed it, it reminded me of something else, and finally, it came to me: another Annick Goutal – Encens Flamboyant. But not quite as intense as that, softer and more veil-like, but still as lovely.

As you might imagine, longevity is not huge on the Etoilee, but I forgive it that, and I’m happy to re-spritz as needed. (Note to self: I need to try the EDP in this, pronto.)

And, of course, who could forget — that divine blue bottle with its lovely green juice. Perhaps one of these days when the cash flow is bigger, it will be mine.

Nuit Etoilee came out in 2012, and although I wore it for awhile and enjoyed it then, as often happens, it somehow got lost in the shuffle and sadly overlooked. But no more!

Notes per Fragrantica: citron, sweet orange, peppermint, Siberian pine, fir resin, angelica seed, tonka and immortelle.

What are your favorite scents for those shoulder seasons, those in-between times when obvious scent choices elude you?