This December, Annick Goutal will launch a new trio of unisex fragrances under the name Les Orientalistes. Ambre Fétiche, Myrrhe Ardente and Encens Flamboyant focus on the precious ingredients amber, myrrh and frankincense, respectively, and were inspired by 19th century paintings depicting beauty rituals in the harems. Next year, look for a fourth scent to join the collection, this one based on musk.
The Les Orientalistes collection fragrances were developed by perfumer Isabelle Doyen in collaboration with Camille Goutal. Ambre Fétiche, Myrrhe Ardente and Encens Flamboyant will be available separately in 100 ml Eau de Parfum (€120) or in a limited edition coffret of three 50 ml bottles housed in a white leather box (€500). (via cosmeticnews, cosmetiquemag.fr) I'll update with the notes eventually!
Bonus reading: in case you missed it, Marcello's account (on Basenotes) of hanging out with Isabelle Doyen & Camille Goutal.
Update: the notes for the fragrances ~
Ambre Fétiche includes frankincense, labdanum, styrax, iris, benzoin, vanilla.
Myrrhe Ardente features myrrh, benzoin, tonka bean, gaiac wood and beeswax.
Encens Flamboyant has notes of frankincense, black pepper, pink pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, woody balsam fir and mastic. (via cosmoty.de)
Update: see a review of the Annick Goutal Les Orientalistes trio.
I was so happy when I saw there was a coffret of smaller bottles…then I saw the price. Ouch. I predict tons of bottle splits on MUA!
Oh. My. Goodness. You have no idea. Can't think of anything in recent memory that has excited me this much. They sound like just the ticket for cold weather, although I too wish that coffret were reasonably priced! Do you think they intend them to be layered? It seems like it would work.
Yowsah! The price, but they do sound yummy and almost like a return to the more interesting, less floral/citrusy side of Goutal, which is welcome!
They sound REALLY yummy, and rather different from anything they've done so far. And so glad they're using the square bottles, which I like better than the women's.
Aren't those PdEs due out this month? And it's already the middle of the month? Can you tell I'm just a bit eager for these?
I know, I know! Luckyscent doesn't have them yet, checked yesterday. I am on the edge of my seat, quite literally.
Wow! Now this is quite some news… and rather different from what they've done before. I do agree that they're a little on the pricy side, although AG does still use a lot of natural ingredients. But still…
Either way, these must be a delight to try. It looks like they changed the font on the bottles too?
What are saying Robin the Luckyscent will be sellin Annick soon?
No, sorry, we were talking about the new scents from Parfum d'Empire.
It is great news
Good eye — I can hardly make anything out on that picture at all!
I tried all three on paper blotters on my last trip to Paris – they're exquisite. My personal favorite is the Amber fragrance, which feels extremely rich, warm and seductive. They are a pricy trio indeed, but I'm not surprised. Ms. Doyen told me that they made use of very expensive materials for this project.
Perhaps superfluous to mention here, but “Les Orientalistes” are also a reference to the three gifts brought to the infant Jesus by the Wise Men; “Ambre Fétiche” stands for gold.
2007 seems to be the year of the “limited edition/excluisve multi-launches”, and after Chanel and Tom Ford, Goutal is the latest one to join the band. Later this year, Creed will launch their own “coffret of three” for a reported $1000…
Yeah, I despise the round bottle and love the square one. They had better be spectacular or I will be quite cross.
*SIGH*
Don't suppose these will make their way to the discounters/regular line eventually… Maybe samples will be enough.
I'll be cross too, LOL…
M, so glad to hear they are exquisite! Begging you for any description, no matter how slight, of the incense one? Or are you sworn to secrecy?
I don't think these are limited edition (other than the coffret), and so far haven't heard that they will be in more limited/exclusive distribution than the rest of the AG line, so didn't see them that way. Perhaps it will turn out that way though…
Oh my, I hope they will make their way to the discounters, eventually! But come to think of it, not sure Songes ever did
LOL, the official presentation was on Wednesday, so I'm no longer sworn to secrecy. Problem is, I only tried Encens Flamboyant once (on a blotter) and that's more than three months ago. For what it's worth, I recall telling Ms. Doyen that it seemed like an atypical take incense to me, but she wholeheartedly disagreed. So I'm afraid my first impressions were anything but reliable.
Tell you what: I'll wait for the samples to arrive from Paris (hope to get them soon), try Encens Flamboyant properly, and add my thoughts here.
Thanks M! Really looking forward to all of them, but EF is the one most likely to be a winner for me. Need to know if I just need to buy it unsniffed!
Hooray, hooray, hooray!
My fave scent from AG is Sables, and these sound (and look) more along that line than the usual floral/citrusy AGs. I agree this is the most exciting new release news I've read in a long time–and let's hear it for upcoming MUA splits that are sure to follow!
I like the floral/citrusy scents too, but this is very welcome news. Was just realizing how few other releases I'm looking forward to for the rest of 2007…
Yes, please.
Posted twice. It would seem I CAN get excited.
Oh man. Those notes! That price! I have a feeling this is going to have to be a joint effort of a gift for me this year. EEE!
They are SERIOUSLY tempting. I almost don't want to try them, I'd hate to be let down
Has anyone sampled these yet? Have caught onto these released belatedly and would love to know what people think. Has anyone found them as samples at any online stores or Ebay?
I have not, but Kevin has and he will review them soon. You can also find reviews over at Perfume Posse and at Perfume Smellin' Things.
I haven't checked, but I'd imagine you can buy samples at The Perfumed Court.
Thank you! And have now caught up with the reviews on the boards you mention, but still looking forward to reading Kevin's! And yes, the Perfumed Court do have samples – yippee!