Annick Goutal was a concert pianist and fashion model. At the request of friends, she worked with perfumers at Robertet to develop a fragrance for a face cream, and she found her calling. By 1980, she was ready to launch her own fragrance line.

The Annick Goutal company was acquired by the Taittinger Group in the mid 1980s; Taittinger was then acquired by Starwood Capital. In 2011, Starwood sold Annick Goutal to AmorePacific, the Korean company behind the Lolita Lempicka fragrance line.

Annick Goutal passed away in 1999, at the age of 53. Since that time, her daughter Camille has continued to develop new fragrances working in collaboration with perfumer Isabelle Doyen. There are currently some 30-odd fragrances in the line, as well as bath and body products, a skincare line and home fragrances (see review for Petite Cherie candle, Noël home spray).

Older fragrances (some now discontinued) include Folavril (1981), Eau de Camille (1983) & Eau de Charlotte (1982), Eau du Sud (1996) & Eau d'Hadrien (1981), Eau de Monsieur (1981?), Passion (1983), Heure Exquise (1984), Rose Absolue (1984), Sables (1985), Grand Amour (1996), Petite Cherie (1998), Ce Soir ou Jamais (1999), La Violette (2001), Quel Amour! (2002), Le Chevrefeuille (2002), Duel (2003), Des Lys (2003), Le Jasmin (2004), Vanille Exquise (2004), Mandragore (2005), Songes (2005).

Recent releases

Recent releases include Les Orientalistes ~ Ambre Fetiche, Myrrhe Ardente & Encens Flamboyant (2007), Musc Nomade (2008), Un Matin d'Orage (2009), Mandragore Pourpre (2009), Ninfeo Mio (2010), Rose Splendide (2010), Le Mimosa (2011), Mon Parfum Chéri, par Camille (2011), Nuit Étoilée (2012), Les Colognes (2013), Vent de Folie  (2014), L'Ile au Thé (2015), Les Absolus Vanille Charnelle, Ambre Sauvage & 1001 Ouds (2015), Rose Pompon (2016), Tenue de Soirée (2016), Rose Oud (2016), Nuit et Confidences (2017), Bois d'Hadrien (2018), Chat Perché (2018), Étoile d'une Nuit (2019).

Where to buy

Annick Goutal fragrances are carried at selected Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales and Saks stores; they can also be purchased at the brand website (see below). In the UK, they are available online at Escentual.

See also: shopping report for the Annick Goutal boutique on Motcomb St. in London.

Website

Annick Goutal (Netherlands) or Annick Goutal (main website)

More reading

See all articles on Now Smell This tagged Annick Goutal.