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.

Fond memories. I've only ever smelled this on paper, so I don't know if the notes truly represent it. I had a completely different impression than a gourmand, but a Gorgeous one. A favorite magazine that whiled away so many happy hours - and made other unhappy hours endurable - held a tester of this. Picked it up once more today and was transported to the birth of many dreams. So although I may or may not love the real thing, which I really Must test, the residue shall always enchant me. It could be worn by all ages, but somehow it's still surprisingly sensual. I'm not as a practice sentimental, but this I would buy just for the memories. Soft, lightly spiced, genteel vanilla. Like all Annick Goutal, Magical.

This is my holy grail blackberry scent. Yes, I realize it is black currant but the stuff smells like blackberry jam to me. Mixed with a touch of cocoa, a little vanilla and a smidge of wonderful. It is delicious and almost addictive. When you first spray it you will be thinking...blackcurrant? Jelly? Um, where? Just give it a few minutes. This isn't some blackberry body spray from the girly store. It has to brew. But once it settles into what it is to become...it borders on perfection. Annick Goutal would not have named a scent after her step-daughter if it was only so-so. She would not risk "why did you name the crappy fragrance after me?" Oh no, she put Charlotte's name on a masterpiece.

(review for EDT) It is impossible to imagine what this perfume smells like just from the notes. I tried, and what I had imagine is nowhere near the real thing! I thought it would be juicy, fresh, sweet. I was wrong-fortunately, it's much, much more interesting than that. It's a soft, dry, round scent; if it was a texture it would be loukoum - powdery yet suave. It's not exactly gourmand, because it's not really sweet; and it's much more than just a floral. Do test it if you have the chance, it's really unique! Anyway, I did test about six other scents in the Annick Goutal boutique, but this was the first one I tested, and the one I left with :) It was Love at first sight!

[Review originally posted on MakeupAlley in 2005}: The friend who introduced this to me said to her gin never smelled so good. Since I have it I have been craving blackcurrant jam...Eau de Charlotte is a sweet and comforting scent IMO, the chocolate, mimosa and black currant combine to produce something that seems truly meant to scent the body--sensuous but somehow innocent and promising, like the first bite and taste of a dessert in a garden or yard under setting sun. A simple pleasure.

Lovely, innocent, clean and powdery. A little too girly for me perhaps, but I can imagine wearing it occasionally when I'm on the right mood. However, once my 2 ml sample runs out, I don't think I'll buy a bottle. Edit. This has gradually grown into a love. I just received my bottle and it's one of my favourites now! So lovely, beautiful, easy to wear, smells natural and the vanilla and cocoa are not too sweet or cloying at all. I think this works beautifully all around the year.

This makes me crave a cream scone and tea. I've had one of the old bottles on my vanity forever (the old Goutal bottles are just so pretty) yet I barely pick it up. Don't know why because it's really, really lovely. Wearing it today reminds me of why I've never gotten rid of it. The closest thing in my wardrobe to it is Mure et Musc (which, to me is softer and less gourmand). Although it's sweet, I don't find it overly so...it's not childish. Definitely a keeper.

Whenever I wear this, I feel like a little girl at the breakfast table and eating black currant jam with a cup of hot cocoa. It is so innocent, yet there's also something very sophisticated about Eau de Charlotte. Is it the glass bottle? Or that it manages to be a gourmand scent without being the typical foody? Whatever it is, I find it very comforting and cozy on a brisk fall/winter day. There is nothing quite like Eau de Charlotte!

I just love the comfort quality of this scent. it never struck me as being too over the top, as one would think while reading the notes, but rather a warm hug of a scent. It gives me the impression of a sweet floral worn, while baking something delicious; you do not smell of what is being baked, but you are combining aromas with what is being baked. A very finely crafted composition and a true classic.

A lovely bitter-sweet perfume. First I got lots of Lily-ofthe-Valley and cassis when it dries down the sweet-soapiness of lily and mimosa and the bitternes of the cacao. During the day I keep smelling the soapiness of the flowers and the cacao and casis are coming back every time just when I start to think that they are gone. Love it, it's beautifull composed

I never thought I would be so hooked to this scent. I was looking for a clean everyday perfume, I couldn't find one to suit me, usually those scents are a bit cold. EdC manages to be clean, refreshing and still warm. It is the cacao I guess and the hint of vanilla in the dry down.Precious preppy Charlotte!

Something about this perfume puts a smile on my face every time. When I smell it, I think of a creamy rich blackberry scone. It's my go-to "brunch" perfume although I'll happily spray it every time I need a mood lift. It's just so...pretty! My favorite Goutal by far.

This is an unique scent. Its not obvious, that's why I love it. It's completely different from the moment you spray it on your skin to five minutes latter. The word for this AG fragrance is "complex". Not everyone will like it...

I've been thinking about this all night. Recently acquired, I knew it reminded me of another perfume, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Molinard de Molinard! The black currant, the LOV, yellow flowers...

This is a wonderful daily wear fragrance that pulls people in and won't become old hat. The vanilla is dry.

[This review is for the EDT version in the older fluted bottle with ribbon and paper tag] I remember coming across Annick Goutal perfumes in Sephora decades ago, and being entranced by the beautiful bottles with their fluted glass and charming vintage paper tags, but they were wildly out of my price range at the time. Since the line was pulled out of Sephora, it's been many years since I've seen it in person. I recently decided I needed a bottle in my collection and decided to blind-buy one of these older bottles. Eau de Charlotte doesn't appeal to me at all based on its notes, as I am unfamiliar with mimosa, am extremely allergic to lilies in real life, and usually dislike vanilla and cocoa gourmand notes. However, the reviews here have been interesting enough that I took a chance on it, and I'm glad I did. Although I hate overly powdery scents, it seems to be the bitter note of talcum powder that I detest, because while this definitely falls in the powdery category, it is a soft, creamy, dry scent that truly feels comforting. When I first sniffed the bottle, I found the scent to be harsh, overly synthetic, and a bit old-fashioned. I figured that the scent wasn't for me, but I'd still have a pretty bottle to display. However, something transformed when I apply it to the skin. It started off reminiscent of Love's Baby Soft, but then the fragrance simultaneously mellows out and blooms, turning into distinct notes of a realistic fresh white lily that is subtle enough to not induce a migraine, dry cacao, and enough greenness to keep the overall effect light rather than cloying. If it were not for these reviews, I would have no idea that this was supposed to have blackcurrant, because the fruit notes are well-integrated to me and not distinct. I get the general impression of honey and light musk from the blackcurrant, but it isn't noticeably jammy, tart, or sweet. To me, it serves as a bridge to connect the lily and cacao notes. Vanilla is extremely subtle but mellows out the cacao to sit closely to the skin. Since I am really unsure what mimosa is supposed to smell like, I can only assume it is primarily responsible for the warm, powdery notes that do not come from lily, as well as the honeyed quality. The fragrance is light and does fade quickly, even to my sensitive nose, which usually can't handle even a light spray without inducing a headache. I can wear a full spray of EDC, though it only lasts a few hours before it fades. The sillage is soft/moderate, as is my preference. When I wear EDC, I feel softly enveloped in a clean, gentle scent that smells very warm and human. I feel that Charlotte's soft, gentle qualities would be easily overshadowed out in the "real world," so I prefer to keep this as a scent to enjoy for myself. This is beautiful to wear relaxing at home, to bed, or just out and about having an easy day. It feels like the fragrance equivalence of having beautiful, luxurious loungewear to enjoy in your own private space.