Eau De Charlotte

The first time I tested this, was pre-shower, at the end of a hot September day, that had been full of outdoor activities. I applied, sniffed, and hastily blew it off as "better than bad." Just baby powder, I thought, and the nostalgic scent of a baby doll I adored as a child in the 80's. (anyone remember "Real Baby"? It was weighted to feel like an actual newborn, and smelled powdery-sweet? ). It also reminded me a lot of Jo Malone's Elderflower and Gooseberry. I scrubbed it off in my shower without a second thought. Cut to today, where thankfully, I gave this perfume the consideration it deserves. It's a chilly morning. I feel questionable-like I'm coming down with a cold, and I'm fresh from the shower, craving something clean and light, yet comforting. I decided this might fit the bill, so I generously dab-dab-dabbed.... How did Annick Goutal do this?? The suggestion of juicy berry/floral sweetness greets you with a smile, yet is restrained by the powdery, yet un-talc-like quality of the cacao/vanilla/mimosa. I've never tried a perfume with cacao, and was always curious about how it would fit into this blend, which includes lily of the valley! It's so pretty. I was apprehensive about smelling of cocoa/chocolate, but I shouldn't have worried. Cacao adds a dry, yet creamy quality. Perfect with the juicy black currant, and surprisingly complimentary of the sweet hint of LOTV. I don't detect the vanilla too much-more just a hint of mimosa-sugar, if that makes sense. I hate to sound cliche, or like I'm trying to recreate the very description of the perfume, but having a cloud of this around me this morning, as I sipped tea, and ate a biscuit with honey, was just perfect. Maybe my nose has grown a little tired of my bright-white, crispy-clean, soapy florals and citruses that I wear every day, because of the heat, and it welcomes this change to a more subdued, comfy, yet still clean scent. A cool fall morning, vs a grimy late-summer, hot evening makes all the difference in the world as to how I perceive this perfume. I feel confident though, having given it a proper test, that I could enjoy it at any time now. Annick Goutal had such a gift. Others have mentioned the fact that you can actually "smell" the love for Charlotte that AG poured into this enchanting creation. It's so true. It tugs at my heart strings. This is a special perfume.

Here's to my review of the only Annick Goutal perfume I have ever sprayed! *raises glass* Cheers, Perfumites! I've been intrigued by this brand for a while. The bottles are ever-elegant, the clear or pale yellow fluid also suggests an ethereal scent inside, and the sheer unavailability of the bottles where I am. Literally, I have *never* seen a bottle of this in any store. So, I ordered a sample from online. So, let's take a sniff... Don't let your judgement rest entirely on the first 10 seconds of this spray because - for that first 10 seconds - you will smell of hay and green grass. Very recently cut green grass! Like you've rolled around in a meadow after a tractor (I officially do not recommend doing that). It's quite jarring and extremely sharp. Then that green LOTV starts to come through, and that elegant floral lift is beautiful. The mimosa begins to project and definitely gives this perfume a "yellow" lift. It's slightly heady, soft-smile, gentle sunshine. I don't know what that means, but it's the truth. My favourite part is the dry-down! Oh, Lord-and-Mother above! The cacao and vanilla is *gorgeous*. It adds this depth of dry, yet sweet cocoa powder warmth. Allow yourself to be gently swept into a slightly sweet, cocoa, floraly, powdery warm cuddle. Truthfully, this dry-down is exquisite. Yes, it's old-fashioned in its composition and delivery, but I honestly feel younger and older women can wear this. It gives off more of a personality rather than an age. This is for a kind-hearted, elegant soul who appreciates refinement and poise. Sadly, the projection and longevity is fairly abysmal. I have to bring my hand up to my nose frequently to remind myself of the scent. In saying that, I have yet to spray it on clothes, so perhaps it will fair better there. Oh! This would be amazing as a scent that lingers on your scarf! If it weren't for the poor longevity and sillage... and price-point; I'd be delighted to buy a full bottle. They don't make them like this anymore. *** Kitty rating: 7.5/10.

To me, this is most romantic of the Goutal line ...she leaves you wanting to keep spraying her all the time. I go on Charlotte binges. She seems to have everything I love about Goutal in her, but in a very subtle way and with the powdery note that enchants me about Goutal. She is the light breeze and lace of what makes Goutal so special. She sparkles. My love for Charlotte is forever! In Eau de Charlotte edp, which I prefer, the lily of the valley is given a complex application. Rather than being a study of a child’s gustatory pleasures, she is an impish scent that hides her floral heart beneath the opening notes and which does not display those famous nursery notes as gourmand. She opens green and sharp with blackcurrant bud. Blackcurrant jam is not present and the bud is, unripe and a bit sappy. It lends fruitiness but not an overt sweetness. The sweetness that emerges under the blackcurrant is a vanilla of the type used in a baby product, meaning that the vanilla is not gourmand but is functional—it is the vanilla of a lotion and not that of a cookie. At first, so remote is the lily of the valley in Eau de Charlotte that one must look for it as if hunting through winter for that first sign of spring. Once it settles in, however, it has a lovely feminine quality, backed by a supple white musk. Wait an hour and the idea that she has gourmand notes will disappear. Drydown is a soft white vanilla musk and traces of the mimosa bud and a dusting of cocoa. Charlotte is not my signature. But, I have recently rediscovered her again after 25 years. She comforts me, I feel feminine, beautiful and unique when I wear her. I receive compliments galore. I am completely enchanted by this masterpiece.

As a long-time fan of Jo Malone colognes, I was led to the Annick Goutal line by my efforts to replace Verbenas of Provence, a lovely romantic lemon verbena fragrance discontinued by Jo Malone. Heartbroken, I finally discovered Eau D'Hadrien and was ecstatic to find such a wonderful replacement. I began exploring the Goutal line, and have fallen in love with it. I recently purchased Eau De Charlotte, and , to my surprise, I reach for it constantly. When I first tried a test spray, my initial reaction was "Johnson's baby lotion!!!"" It's a powdery, soft, comforting scent that really wasn't what I expected. I usually like sophisticated floral or fresh crisp citrus scents. I wasn't sure Charlotte was a keeper. I wore it that first day (EDT) and was surprised by the warm, creamy cocoa and vanilla scent that developed as the day wore on. And it has longevity, which also surprised me; I could smell the soft, delicious scent on my skin as I got ready for bed that evening. ( I'm usually happy to get 5-6 hours from most Goutal fragrances). I don't know what it is about this fragrance, but I absolutely love it. This is a fragrance for ME, rather than to create an impression on those around me; it makes me feel happy and relaxed. It's such a clean, powdery soft scent, it just seems like the perfect perfume to wear when you step out of the shower and want to smell wonderful. I now understand why so many women are addicted to this fragrance; I am now definitely one of them. Lovely, soft and delicious. Thank you, Annick Goutal!

Very difficult to review Charlotte. It is one of my most favourite among Annick Goutal house, I find it extremely well blended and complicated, but for many people it is hard to notice how complex it is. I suppose, brain drags the main piece for each person and verdict is "powdery" or "girly" or "clean". To me, despite been smooth and complete, it is full of contradictions, hence became my signature scent. It is sweet and chocolaty, yet it is tart from blackcurrant buds, it is soft and feminine, yet it is stubbornly sharply mimosa-green at the beginning, it is innocent, yet it is sexy, they are not of heavy touch, those chocolate and blackcurrant and vanilla, they are like emerging from the veil of past years, taking you into childhood, that we all tend to romanticize and idealize. It is bitter sweet fragrance, like a nostalgia itself, dusted by blossom of mimosa in a spring garden. Can't believe it was launched in 1982, so much ahead of it's time. I gone through so many scents and fragrances during my life, but Charlotte is one I loved from the very first sniff, as it has got something special, unusual, hard to catch, hard to call it this or that. It is Charlotte, like a life itself, with its twists and faults and angles. When sometimes you look at someone's imperfect, but perfectly charismatic face and realize that beauty hides exactly here, not where all is predictable and polished. Big big love to Charlotte from me.