Annick Goutal Ninfeo Mio

The past two weeks were March; this week is April. Maybe by mid-May it will be May. Afraid I haven’t been at my chirpiest recently. It’s finally starting to get warm and the garden has gotten its grow on, but I really need warmer weather, no rain and no gales (or even shush-shushing winds). Is that too much to ask?

I didn’t like to feeling stuck in this grump. So, I went digging in the box for something bright and summery. Came up with a decant of Ninfeo Mio. Haven’t used this in a while. I’m not big on citrus perfumes, but this just floats my boat and I’m surprised I hadn’t brought it out earlier.

Launched in 2010, Fragrantica calls it a woody aromatic. I guess. Inspired by the Ninfeo gardens in Rome, the notes list includes: cedar, Italian lemon and galbanum, bitter orange, mastic (another name for the tree is Tears of Chios – just had to add that), lavender, fig leaves, with a base of ‘woodsy notes’ (whatever).

The top of this on me (and I think this is why I like it so much) is bitter citrus. Nothing sweet here. Sharp and true. That’s it. Love that bitterness. Galbanum and bitter orange?

As it opens up I get a green-hay accord, which is a bit animalic, as hay can be (though hay isn’t listed as a note – maybe it’s from tobacco, which also isn’t in the list). This is lovely. There’s still something bitter there, but it’s modified by, perhaps, the fig leaves (and that ghost tobacco).

In the end, this is not hugely long-lived on my skin (five hours max), but that’s ok – can always respray. Whatever is in the woods is fine. It’s not that important. The top and middle are what make this fragrance.

In any case wearing this on a grey, rainy, windy, but warmer Saturday helped to lift me out of my feh mood as I took a long walk in the next over village with the dog. Everything is popping there: the lilacs, wisteria, cherry. Combined with horse and sea smell. Just sublime.

It occurred to me that last year at this time we were finally fully settled into the rental house and into our first (and it was serious) lockdown – outings max twice a day; people being very careful and considerate, but still stopping for socially distanced chats. Things are a lot busier now – and the influx of people from upcountry has been quite significant, making what were busy places exponentially busier. Cart-loads (I kid you not) of Grand Designs-type houses are being hoovered up or new builds are starting (reference the lego castle a few posts ago). Funny to think when I moved here over a decade ago it was still semi-rural.

I’ve just had my second covid jab. So, two weeks of being very careful around other people (except my son – can’t do much about that – and he’s not due his first vaccine for at least another couple of months). Then, it’s diving in … getting eyes checked and new glasses; visits to yoga teacher who is masseuse to get shoulders and neck sorted; maybe haircut and even some outlandish colour come June or early July (I cut my hair myself twice in last year – it can wait at least a month before someone competent does something with it). Last time I got hair cut I wore Guerlain. Think this time I might wear Ninfeo.

I’ve cut back the bulbs that were shocked by the builders and didn’t flower this year (ie, only greenery). I’ve scrabbled through the pots where nothing is happening to see if anyone is still there or if the critters have made off with bulbs (mostly yes, they have). I’ve started a load of nasturtium seeds and am seriously thinking about spreading the plants through the lawn. It won’t matter if the dog treads on them and the grass has come back so many different shades of green (from almost yellow to deep and dark) that the idea of a proper lawn just seems preposterous.

Anyway, do you know Ninfeo Mio? What’s your go-to for pulling you out of a grump – whether weather-induced or whatever? Has your weather turned yet?