Hi there Perfume Posse. First I need to say how utterly gutted I am by them removing Annick’s name from the Goutal line. What bastards! She created the brand, died and now her daughter and Pacific Amore have dishonoured her memory by taking her from the title, further more this kind of corporate culture makes me sick. I do like the new bottles though and am interested to try their Bois d’Hadrien, come try it with me.
Bois d’Hadrien by Camille Goutal for Annick Goutal 2017
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Fir, ivy, woody notes, spicy notes, lime, cypress, pine
Bois d’Hadrien opens with a crystalline citrus woven through the greenest aspects of ivy and conifers. Imagine wet are crossing the mountains in winter with Hadrien and his elephants. Snow, trees, ice forming on beard and eyelashes and the feeling that your the only people left on earth. That’s what I’m smelling here. (SH*T! Quite rightly it has been pointed out that Hannibal is elephants. Hadrien is the wall, yeah?)
The whole fragrance has the personality of a very dry martini before it’s garnished. The brisk alcohol and juniper berries icy cold and slightly watered from the ice. Bois d’Hadrien opens a bit like this.
Quite a departure from the citrus rich, cologne style, friendly and inviting Eau d’Hadrien. Nor is it the cool, sharp citrus moving into oriental of Les Nuits d’hadrian. Here you will find the cooling whip of fresh pine winds like the snowfields of Poland and Switzerland. A perfect foil to the oppressive heat of Summer but also a lovely accompaniment to the cool frosts of Winter.
Dry down is cool, fresh woods sparkling with snow and a hint of cooking spices. Even the longevity is good, a very nice surprise from the Goutal camp. They are best known for their fleeting beauties.
Have you spent any time with the newest Goutals? What do you think of the name change?
Portia xxx
I was not aware of the elimination of the name. I am annoyed at the d/c (Folavril, eau de Camille) and reform (Eau de Ciel) of my old favorites and I prefer the older bottles.
Re Guerlain, a better comparison might been that it doesn’t need to be called Jacques Guerlain for people to know he created Mitsouko, Shalimar, L’Heure Bleue etc and honour that?
I don’t think the name change dishonours Annick or takes anything away from her. It’s Guerlain and Creed, not Pierre-Francois-Pascal Guerlain. I do get ratty when it’s assumed that men won’t buy anything (eg a book) by a woman – maybe something of that there?
Loving the vision of elephants strolling round Hadrian’s Wall! Have a sample of this that I must try.
This was supposed to be for ScentSpirit
I can’t say anything about “judgemental” as I too have my moments with that. What immediately occurred to me was that with all the reformulations – some I heard are awful – and some perfumes discontinued and now the bottles changed from feminine to industrial, Annick has already been essentially erased. Would she even want her name on this line? Changing the name may be a sign of respect by a daughter for her mother. As an aside, the one I love from the line is Songes and that is Camille’s.
Yes, that could be true as well. And you’re right – even my saying it’s “judgemental” is itself a judgement on my part. It just felt a bit harsh and unkind, and out of character for Portia.
I like the new bottles, but don’t get the name change. I have and love Songes and Mandragore, and keep meaning to try Mon Parfum Cherie par Camille, which sounds weirdly wonderful. Your description of this new one is intriguing, but I think I’d rather drink the martini than wear it!
HA! Indeed. drinking the martini is also a fabulous way top get a similar vibe.
Love it HCZERWIEC.
Portia x
I’m afraid I find your comment re the name change as a little judgemental. We don’t know her daughter’s thought process and it must be difficult for her to read such a comment. Maybe she felt she needed to take responsibility for the company herself, maybe she felt that this would give her and her company a new beginning? To make such a judgement without knowing the complete back story might be doing her a disservice.
Hi Scentspirit,
You’re right. It is judgemental, an opinion and my own. I’m sure there are a million good reasons for taking Annick’s name from the brand but I can’t think of one. It feels mean and dishonourable to me. Not meaning any hurt or disrespect.
Portia x
I’m always intrigued by fir or pine notes, though sometimes they can go in the direction of household cleaning agents. I liked the old AG (or G) feminine bottles – I don’t own any, but they were so distinctive. This bottle looks like it sorta matches the old feminine bottles, which is nice.
Hey Nemo,
It does have a deco modern update feel as a transition from the old bottles but there was something gorgeously old world and slightly botanical about those seed pod-isa bottles that drew my eye every time, especially the extra colours.
Portia xx
That cap does tend to pull your eye away from the pretty bottle. Only own Songes but keep some of the other scents on my ‘to sample’ list.
Hi JenniferS,
If you only own one Goutal then I reckon Songes is the perfect pick, it works so well in all weathers.
Portia x
I have a few of the older scents, Heure Exquise and Ambre Fétiche being two of my faves. I like the new bottle design. I think it’s lousy that they removed Annick’s name from the line.
Heure Exquise and Ambre Fétiche are beautiful Tatiana,
The bottle design is pretty and I think it will work in modern bathrooms and on bureaus
I hope its works for them.
Portia x
I love Eau d’Hadrien – it works when nothing else seems right. This is definitely worth a try, but I’d like to see Annick’s name back on the line. It makes no sense to me to take it off.
Hi there Maggiecat,
We all seem in accord except the owners of Goutal.
Portia xx
Nope, nope, nopety nope (at least as far as the bottle and name change are concerned). I love tradition, and these kinds of changes always feel to me like selling out. Of course anyway I will be trying the new scent, Eau and Les Nuits are old loves for me.
Yeah, glad it feels a bit yuck to others too Verbnenaluvvr.
Portia xx
okay – I have to say it, again: reading your post is like sitting on your terrace, sipping coffee with you, as you parse this out (which is how my mind works, as well, as you know!) I LOVE this post! and the comment thread made me LOL!
All that being said, I get all sides of the name change, from your understandable outrage to the corporate marketing-think behind it – but that is for another time.
For now, just know that I love the living SH!T out of you and I will be trying this new Hadrien (He of the Wall) asap – I love the original – it was my first ‘niche’ citrus – and this sounds just as delightful.
xoxoxo
WHY don’t we live closer so we could do just that Musette?
I bet you smell beautiful in the original and I love you too.
Portia xx
I have not tried the new ones. I like the old ones. I like the bottles that didn’t look like everyone else’s. Goutal is synonymous with the best florals around. I do like 1001 Ouds and Ambre Sauvage.
Hey Gina,
Yeah, this bottles were so pretty. I have a collection of about 6 of them I think, mainly florals. Also i have some square bottles too.
Portia xx
I actually bought a 30ml bottle of this when in Paris this month. It does have decent longevity but definitely wears softly – some citrus up front and then soft woods. The feminine version of the bottle is pretty except the cap somehow seems wrong. Did they think dropping “Annick” made the name more elegant or “niche”? Just weird.
YAY! SNAP MMKinPA.
Yeah, it’s super weird, I’ll never get corporate rapaciousness.
Portia xx
Sounds lovely, and the longevity is a definite plus.
I thought Hannibal had the elephants.
HA! My bad rprichpot.
Sorry, got my wires crossed, damnit!
Portia xx
It’s pretty chilly by Hadrian’s Wall though–it was the northernmost border of the Roman Empire. And way back, there were Mammoths in Britain–even much further south than the wall. So, yeah, elephants and walls and cold combined. Kind of 😉