Hi there Posse Peeps! Grand Amour by Annick Goutal is one of my all time favourites and turning 21 this year. Sadly it tends to sit a bit neglected lately. I did not bring it out of the cupboard once in our Southern Hemisphere spring or summer this year and have belatedly grabbed it out for winter. It is working very nicely for me but I am much more used to spritzing lavishly in the heat and going about my day. I was thinking how it’s a great sunshine memory fragrance but also that it would be bang on perfect for any of you reading right now in the north.
Grand Amour by Annick Goutal, Francis Camail for Annick Goutal 1996
Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Honeysuckle, Hyacinth, Lily, Turkish rose
Heart: Broom, Indian mimosa, Jasmine, Leather
Base: Amber, Musk, Myrrh, Vanilla
All this got me thinking because there are three ways to fragrantly heat beat. Go OTT heady floral, dry spicy desert mix or find a cooling blast of florists fridge. On different days I’m inspired to go any of these ways. Seeing that we are here with Grand Amour let’s talk floral!
Honeysuckle is tart on me, smells like it has a whiff of lemon in it. Add that to the cool dewy roses and rest of the bouquet and you have a floral extravaganza, fresh from the florist.
PDI
The heart is less cool and prim, suddenly we are aflame, our cold heart is melting into a heady mimosa/jasmine cocktail. Under that is the darkness of leather/birch, hinting at fleshy, carnal mysteries.
Later, the fragrance warms through with resins and the exercise warmed skin of the musks. It sweetens, deepens and becomes comfortable, relaxed, sated. A whiff of incense gives the whole adventure a religious, holy taint. As if this Grand Amour has been blessed fated and by the gods.
Further reading: Perfume Shrine and EauMG
FragranceNet has $75/100ml after coupon
Surrender To Chance has samples from $3/ml
How do you deal with the heat? Floral, spicy or icy?
Portia xx
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I ADORE Grand Amour, and most of the “classic” AG scents. Thanks for the reminder!
Hey there March,
Great to see you. I can see you wearing this beauty. I bet it smells beautiful on you.
Portia x
Howdy, dear!! Such a beauty this is! Hard to believe it’s 21 years old — how can that be? Thanks for the fragrant reminder!
We were only children when this beauty came out Ann, wink wink.
Portia xx
I usually reach for floral+citrus in the heat, so Grand Amour was a surprise for me. I thought I had ordered a sample of Quel Amour! and was truly pleased by my mistake. The florals dance around the myrrh in a wonderful way, very refreshing on a warm evening. I must search out my little sample vial to see if it has held on long enough for a dab or three tonight. Thanks, Portia!
Lucky mistake Tiffanie,
I hope you found it.
Portia xx
My goodness, it’s old enough to vote!
I love this line and am glad to read it’s getting so e love from you.
Hey Tom!
Yes, quite the geriatric of the worlds perfume stage. It’s amazing that Annick Goutal has stayed so good through its transformations and ownerships. Maybe having Camille there all the way has kept it better than it could have been.
Portia xx
Yes to all of the above. I’ve learned to love Songes in the heat but I also love Escale a Portofino. Straw Hat, an old Faberge scent, is probably my summer favorite these days. I think I have a sample of Grand Amour but can’t remember what it smells like. Will have to remedy that!
Hey Tiara,
I have Escale a Portofino too. Isn’t it a perfect spritz and go scent for summer?
Portia xx
I also tend to go citrus — Pamplelune in the fridge — or greeny florals like Dilettante. But some days I just go for full-on skank and wear Fleurs d’Oranger or Salome or Bandit.
BANDIT in the heat! Heavenly choice HeidiC,
Portia xx
Citruses, like AdP or L’Occitane are my go-to scents in the heat.
Yeah, citrus is a good heat beater Otamom,
Do you like it minty or herbal at all?
Portia xx
I tend toward citrus in the summer. Mandragore, O de Lancome, etc. – the last couple of days it’s been Fleur de Corail. I own and love Grand Amour and reach for it in the spring, but it’s a bit much for me once the heat hits.
Hey MMKinpa,
I don’t know Fleur de Corail. Going to look it up now. thanks,
Portia x
I have AG Mandragore in the fridge.
Hi AnnieA,
I wore Mandragore Pourpe today! It’s beautiful, sweeter version.
Portia xx
Usually floral or citrus but I also love what the heat does to my ambers and ouds. It’s the mood not the weather that decides it for me. What am I in the mood for today? What does my spirit need?
Totally Gina,
Do you have amouage Ubar by any chance? Love it in the heat.
Portia xx
In summer, I usually go icy. My normal stand bys are Chanel no 19 or ISM. Sometimes I like Kyoto or Zagorsk during the summer. But this doesn’t mean I won’t I won’t wear my heavy hitters like Obsession.
Hey Eldarwen22,
A chypre is a very comfortable heat beater. I love No 19 in the warm too.
Portia xx