Here’s a sad story Posse. One we know all too well. I’ve long had this virtually unused 15ml bottle of Gardenia Passion by Annick Goutal. For some reason I got the urge to read gardenias and Patty had it in her Gardenia Best Of post. So I went and scouted it out. Fortunately I know where my Annich Goutal box is and it was right at the front. Yes, I still call it Annick Goutal. The new age, first name stealers give me gas. I will never buy an Yves Saint Laurent garment or an Annick Goutal fragrance without the first name of its founder and inspiration. Fortunately YSL Beauty still bears the Yves. OK rant over.
Don’t go looking for it. Gardenia Passion has gone the way of the dodo. Sadly, there is no sign of it at Goutal Paris. Sometimes it’s nice to reminisce though.
Gardenia Passion by Annick Goutal 1989
Featured accords:
Top: Gardenia, Jasmine
Heart: Tuberose, Orange Blossom
Base: Vanilla
Opening is crazy gardenia, fresh off the bush. That dark bleu cheese creaminess is front and center. Within moments though Gardenia Passion turns totally tuberose. It’s a similar vein, still quite breathy and full of sensual flesh but without the gritty gasp of real gardenia.
The heart is a vanilla white floral, it’s very alluring and lasts for hours in stasis. There are even whispered wafts of citrus weaving throughout. Gardenia Passion is all light, beautiful sunshiny gorgeousness. Hefty but with an ethereal feeling.
I’m surprised at Gardenia Passion’s longevity. My memory of the fragrance was that it had a fabulous opening and then collapsed. The dry down is a very lovely creamy vanilla with still hints of white floral. Even whispers of coconut and ylang style tropical night wear. So very feminine that EVERY man should add it to their armory, a little subversive twist to the ultra masculine.
Didv you ever love, wear or loathe Gardenia Passion?
Portia xx
Goutal Eau d’Hadrien was one of my entries into niche decades ago. But much as I tried (most of the line) Goutal just didn’t sit right on my chemistry. People were so fulsome on the perfumes it made me a bit sad.
Many, many years ago, when I bought my first bottle of Arabie, the SA on the “niche” section at Harvey Nics had a furtle in her sample drawers & came out with a makeup bag FULL of every AG sample available at the time. Those were the days!!
It felt very special as she told me “You will absolutely adore Annick Goutal”, one fragrance freak to another.
She was right, I already wore L’Eau d’Hadrien & fell for a few others including Gardenia Passion, yet never bought her.
I loved it but never bought it. Much to my regret. So many gorgeous AG scents gone by the wayside. But I’m glad we have the ones we do. Now I’m going to put on some Sables.