Des Lys

I love this fragrance! It is floral yet fresh and light. It smells like a combination of Lilies and Narcissus on a fresh, moist spring day surrounded by green moisture covered leaves and blooming flowers. I am sad to say it is no longer made and by some stroke of luck I won it on eBay. I use it for special occasions and when my mood needs a pick-me-up. It works every time. The scent is not long lasting or overly strong. It is perfect for this fragrance as it would not be the same if it was stronger or longer lasting. If you have the opportunity to smell this wonderful fragrance, please do as it will give you an experience unlike any other fragrance!

@Jennifer - your enthusiasm made me smile. I love it when people enjoy a fragrance like you do. Thanks for sharing :-) Personally, I get a mental picture of Norma Desmond in my favourite Billy Wilder movie 'Sunset Blvd' (she's the almost cloying, almost delirious lily/narcissus) escorted by her gigolo William Holden (he's the bitter ivy/cassis). Thus I get the opposite of you - I experience the intoxocating flowers drawing us in and pulling us down until we get all entangled in the ivy like greedy flies in a honeyed web and end up drowned in a swimming pool (excuse the mixed metaphors!) I think the so-called feminine notes of the flowers are powerful and sinister whereas the so-called masculine notes of ivy/cassis are 'would-be sophisticated' but actually rather innocent or naïf. I find this seemingly simple cologne (just three notes) quite intriguing and sexy maybe even dangerous - it's much more 'film noir' for me than your innocent Springtime associations. I suspect I am probably old enough to be your dad so maybe that explains our different reactions? I can't add anything to your review of the flowery notes. I think this is a very life-like ivy, especially the smell of the cut stem and the running sap (the ivy grows so fast in my garden I am always pruning it so I am very familiar with this smell). I cannot say much about the cassis except that it is very green and astringent - nice! I think this astringency makes the cologne attractive to those who like so-called masculine notes and it makes it a cologne that can be worn by men or women. It is a skin scent but it lasts well. There's no evolution, it remains much the same throughout, but the 'story' is so interesting it is never boring.

Fragrance Review For De Lys By Annick Goutal Notes Lily Ivy Cassis Allow the spring to enfold you, your nose, your senses and your home if you spray this in the air as a freshner. This is a beautiful absolutely gorgeous lily scent. Quite realistic to actual white lily flowers. The scent lasts a long time. Around the lily a green aromatic ivy is detectable and a fruity scent of cassis or grapefruit. However it's not at all a fruity perfume. It's floral and green, aromatic. It reminds me of spring so I can only bring it out in the spring time. Des Lys is one of those occasion perfumes where you have to know where to wear it when to smell it. For me it smells perfect during the day time and in spring and summer. My townhouse smells of this right now. I think it's really beautiful. I've experienced many Annick Goutal fragrances and they're all winners so I would recommend them to anyone who is getting into them. Des Lys is a great intro to Annick Goutal.

I am the type of person who has 20 or more scents at any given time, a good scent is like heaven to me. Many come and go, some I just get tired of. I have had this scent for 15 years and it remains in my top one or two favorites to this day. It’s light, airy, and so delicate. Just so beautiful and unique. It would be a perfect wedding day scent for any bride and I am sad that it has been discontinued.