Continuing my reviews of vanilla fragrances or those with a vanilla note, today's pick is Annick Goutal Songes. Created by Camille Goutal and perfumer Isabelle Doyen, Songes launched in 2006. It was inspired by a garden walk at nightfall, where Camille noticed the amazing exotic floral scents on the island of Mauritius. The symbolic bottle with the moon stopper definitely speaks of garden walks and voluptuous nights. Camille successfully immortalised the moment with the following notes: frangipani, tiare, jasmine notes, incense, vanilla, copahu balm, pepper, ylang-ylang absolute, vetiver, sandalwood, amber and styrax.Most of the Goutal scents I find to be glorious in the EDP formulation. Therefore, please take that into consideration as I am describing Songes EDP. Upon initial spritz and the following ten minutes or so, I become surrounded by a cloud of white flowers - large, fully bloomed, heady white flowers. The topnotes are indeed exotic, tropical and floral. As the incense, vanilla, sandalwood and amber slowly make their appearance, the scent warms up significantly and adheres to my skin rather than surrounding me like a cloud.
The combination certainly arouses the image of a garden walk at nightfall with white flowers close by, the cool, damp earth below, perhaps a cashmere pashmina on my shoulders and sandals on my feet. Songes is an extremely romantic scent, not for the faint of heart as it is a bit strong, but very pretty and feminine. I reserve it for dressier occasions where I would like to make a statement.For lovers of frangipani and/or tiare scents, Songes should definitely be given a try. It has made my list of favorites from 2006.
Songes is available at aedes and select Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue stores. The 3.4 oz. moon bottle retails for $165, and the 1.7 oz. EDP retails for $95. I also enjoy the body cream and 5 oz. is available for $65.
Image sources: di1shopping.com, static.flickr.com
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4 comments:
A darling perfume friend sent me the moon bottle of Songes for my birthday. Frangipani and ylang-ylang are two of my favorite notes, so I will cherish this gift for a very long time.
In my opinion, Songes was quite possibly the best release of 2006, and it will prove itself to be a classic for many years to come.
Unlike you, dear T, I do not wait to wear a fragrance I love for a special occasion. I wear Songes to work, to the grocery store, wherever. I guess one could call me a perfume hedonist, because if I love a fragrance, I wear it and revel in it.
Hugs!
Hello Violet,
I wholeheartedly agree this will fall among the classic ranks of Chanel No. 5 and Guerlain Shalimar. It is truly beautiful, sophisticated and unique. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a perfume hedonist! I'm sure you get compliments at the grocery store and at work. :-)
Hugs to you!
A lovely review, T.
This indolic beauty is not for me, except for the occasional sniff...
It is a bold beauty, showy, grand, and curvy.
I admire its guts.
I'm afraid I'm the chemistry that makes Mitsouko sing, Shalimar waltz, Tabac Blond smolder.
The French would describe this, on me, as 'etouffant'-suffocating.
NOT a compliment !
Be well, and havea good w/e.
MWAH !
Hello Chaya,
Oooh, I love new words. Indolic and etouffant. The ironies of indole have me laughing (and I'm sure you know what I mean if you google it.) Songes is quite gutsy for certain. The scents that you list are indeed too much for my chemistry. Isn't it amazing how much chemistry contributes to distinctions and favorites in scent?
You be well and have a wonderful weekend as well!
Fragrant hugs to you!
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