Nuit et Confidences

I generally adore most fragrances from Annick Goutal. This one, Nuit et Confidences, is a beautifully done vanilla that straddles a very fine line of being appreciated by their existing client base who prefer more naturalistic scents as well as being profitable with a younger crowd who love their vanillas and sweets. Nuit et Confidences starts off very non-gourmand with a powdery vanilla and citrus opening. At first I was reminded of Atelier Vanille Insensees and Creed Sublime Vanilla. It's very pretty, soft and pleasant at the beginning. It could easily be something you enjoy wearing but also something that's office friendly. After about an hour or so, it dries down to a much sweeter vanilla with woods that almost makes me think of some sort of taffy candy over a floral-orchid type vanilla. It's a little bit like Van Cleef & Arpels Orchidee Vanille (which I also have and love). It definitely leans more gourmand once it dries down but not fully and still has a floral and woody vibe. In case you have Vanille Exquise, also from Annick Goutal, I will share that it is not especially similar with that one except maybe at the very start. Vanille Exquise is less sweet and has that angelica note that remains in place throughout. This one doesn't have angelica although the vanilla note used is quite similar. I have both Vanille Exquise and Nuit et Confidences and wear them both. I love Annick Goutal. I love vanilla when it isn't overly-sweet. The bottle is adorable. This is a must have fragrance for me. It has good longevity but doesn't project much. I'd describe it as a strong skin scent if that makes sense. If I spray it on my clothes I think it projects more. It's really well done. EDIT: just needed to add that this has almost no resemblance to Guerlain SDV. It’s of similar high quality, but SDV is so dense & boozy. It’s not boozy at all. Nuit et C is more cloud-like, not heavy sweet.

I love vanilla, but it is actually surprising how few vanilla fragrances I actually like, let alone love. This is IT for me, and if I ever find another vanilla perfume I love as much as this one, I'd be very surprised. What I love about it isn't that it's particularly unique - it actually doesn't have any surprising notes to it IMO - but it perfectly balances different elements I like. It's slightly boozy, smoky, sweet but relatively less so than an average vanilla, and softly woody towards the end. It's is like a warm soft cloud, but at the same time it's also like a mildly sweetened vanilla custard - comforting things. I found a lot of other less sweet woody vanillas boring, like Eau Duelle, Un Bois Vanille and Vanille Insensee (I particularly dislike the last one for its citrus note, which smells like a cheap artificial lime dessert to me). This one has zero harsh edges while still being interesting enough - the black pepper/incense opening is a little ashy and it took me a while to get used to it, but I've grown to love it too. I'm very sad that I live in such a warm climate (whoever said seasonal fragrances are a marketing ploy has never lived through 34°C 99% humidity weather) because I can only tolerate anything warm smelling for three months of the year. Also, bonus for the gorgeous bottle!!

I began wearing this gem in 2021 when I bought it blind based on the amazing reviews. It really is superb. The sharp pepper note does not last long on me at all. A few minutes after applying it, all that is left is a creamy, alluring scent with the musk giving that sexy edge. I am on my third bottle and I love that it is not easy to get, meaning there's no way you will smell like everyone else. Oddly enough, I do not care for this in the bottle, meaning when I sniff the bottle there is something sharp and off putting to me. All I can think of is that the pepper/ incense combo really stand out while it is sitting still and not on my skin. Now, I will add that it is VERY sexy and sensual. Two of my exes both commented on this one and both of them loved to lean and sniff my neck when I was wearing it. If you like Angel, this may work for you as I like to call this Angel's tame cousin. This also conjures up thoughts of LouLou and the discontinued masterpiece, Lolita Lempicka L, which I adored. Very well done fragrance from a top notch perfume house. It would be hard to go wrong with this one. Love it!

I am so in love with Nuit et Confidences. I call it my Earl Grey Rooibos perfume. The bergamot and slight bitterness give it an Earl Grey tea vibe, while the creamy smooth vanilla reminds me of rooibos tea. The pepper and very subtle incense makes it more interesting than an ordinary vanilla--and it is a vanilla, for sure. I *love* the pepper. Fortunately, I don't get a lot of whatever white florals are supposed to be in this. It's not challenging, but I don't want it to be. It's the sort of fragrance that when I spray it on my wrist I feel slightly feral, like I want to start gnawing on my arm. But like... because it's so delicious and comforting that I want to possess it inside me. I have romantic feelings for this perfume.

I’m trying to get better at identifying notes, so resisted looking here until I had time to form an opinion. I completely agree that Nuit et Confidences has a dominant vanilla, the same vanilla Guerlain uses in many of their perfumes. But instead of Spirituese Double Vanille, I picked up Angelica and thought it was more similar to Guerlain’s Angélique Noir, another one of my favorites. No doubt I also love this Annick Goutal. It may not be the most unique perfume, but it has good performance, on par with Angélique Noir. I can’t pick out the incense, it’s just a slightly gourmand vanilla floral. It’s wonderful.