Interviews

Interview with Camille Goutal, Artistic Director of Annick Goutal Parfums

06/09/09 18:00:03

By: Michelyn Camen

Annick Goutal Parfums is one of the original independent niche perfumeries, created in the 1980's by the legendary Annick Goutal. In this interview with the Company’s Artistic Consultant Camille Goutal (Ms. Goutal’s daughter), we get an insider’s view of the complex relationships between scent and memory, tradition and innovation and mother and daughters, as well as Camille Goutal’s personal memories of one of the most innovative and influential women of modern fragrance.

Please give our readers a brief overiew of Annick Goutal Parfums

Camille Goutal: Annick Goutal is a Perfumery House, guided by the values of its creator and characterized by its remarkable sophistication and the excellent quality of its raw materials. Annick Goutal’s secret lies in its talent for transforming emotions into fragrances. Each unique creation represents a moment of happiness, a treasured emotion, or a powerful memory connected to a significant event or even a loved one.

What is your first olfactive memory?

Camille Goutal: Growing up with my mother, every moment was tied to scent. Whether it was hours spent playing in the lab experiencing each raw ingredient, or walking the lavender fields. Scent is a part of every memory.

Annick Goutal was the first woman to lead niche perfumery... what is your favorite memory of your mother?

Camille Goutal: I remember having breakfast in bed with my mother on Sunday mornings and cuddling up against her. I loved the smell of coffee and toasted bread in our house, the feeling of calm and happiness.

Did you always wanted to be in the family business?

Camille Goutal: I first wanted to become a photographer but fragrance was also a passion for me at a very young age. I involved myself in the creative process as much as I could.

How has the brand changed over the years, continuing to flourish when there are thousands of new offerings introduced and discontinued every year?

Camille Goutal: People have a passionate love for the brand. Each fragrance has stood the test of time because they speak so clearly to the women and men that covet them. The company has always been a labor of love, and I believe that clients can sense that.

What is your signature fragrance? What was Annick's?

Camille Goutal: If I had to pick one, I would say Songes. It was the first scent that I created. I love white flowers and powdery scents.

My mother was fond of roses, and created Ce Soir ou Jamais in their honor. This perfume was her dream and her quest.

What inspired last year’s "scent-sational" collection… Les Orientalistes?

Camille Goutal: It was mainly the rough material. My inspiration came from materials: the texture of an oriental fabric, the resin ingredients and the color used in the oriental paintings. I was fascinated by the fact that the orientalist painters use their imagination to depict a harem scene as they were not allowed to enter in a harem. They were in the same spirit state than we are when we compose. I was also touched by the sensuality depicted in the oriental paintings and I wanted to create very sensual and warm perfumes.

What role does perfume play in our memories and in our lives. Which fragrance from the Annick Goutal line expresses this best?

Camille Goutal: As you probably know our perfumes are the reflection of our lives, the people we met, and the people we love. We launch a perfume when we have finally succeeded to describe the emotion we have chosen. I find it really interesting when people, wearing my creation, share my feelings! You convey a message. I am so pleased when I see mothers buying Petite Cherie (little darling) for their daughters. It is the same love declaration that my mother did to me when created this perfume.

Please tell the story of Petite Cherie...

Camille Goutal: My mother created this perfume for me when I was 20 to mark the special time in life when a girl becomes a young woman. Petite Cherie or “my little darling,” is a fresh combination of fruity and floral ingredients including peach, musk rose, pear, fresh cut grass and vanilla. The fragrance was created as a symbol of a mother’s love for her child.

Do you have a daughter? If so is she interested in perfumery?

Camille Goutal: I have 2 daughters. They're 6 and 9 and like wearing perfumes. They steal mine in our bathroom as soon as I turn my back... Especially the little one who literally "bathes" herself in Vanille Exquise...

Un Matin d’Orage is your newest fragrance created with the assistance of Perfumer Isabelle Doyen. What was its inspiration?

Camille Goutal: Imagine yourself in a Japanese garden—not a Buddhist Zen-type place, but a real garden with lots of greenery—and smell the plants, leaves and white flowers after a storm as the sun creates a scented mist.

What is next?

Camille Goutal: We are continuing to develop Annick Goutal into a lifestyle brand beyond fragrance; we are expanding our skincare in 2009. Within the next two years we will be introducing an Annick Goutal cosmetics line, extending the brand into Potpourri, household linens and jewelry co-designed by Virginie Monroe are also in the works. We will be busy!

Writer’s Note: I have been wearing Heure Exquise Eau de Parfum since its creation in 1984. With its rich orris and rose heart notes and powdery sandalwood drydown, it is as quintessentially elegant and modern today as it was twenty five years ago.

Author: Michelyn Camen
Michelyn Camen is a New York City based Fragrance Specialist and a Contributor to Fragrantica. In addition, she is the Fragrance Columnist/Diversions for http://www.uptownsocial.net.

Michelyn is the former Senior Contributing Writer for Sniffapalooza Magazine, New in Niche Columnist for Basenotes and Editorial Director/Fragrance Editor for Beauty News NYC & LA

Ms. Camen provides personalized fragrance consultations based on body chemistry, psychology, fashion and lifestyle and is a consultant for luxury perfumers and fragrance companies. She may be contacted @ fifthsensenyc@aol.com

memechose

Thanks!It really was Annick's favorite. i met her before her passing and she was wearing it. That was back in 1990 and she chose one of ehr fragrances for me.....heure exquise parfum.

But I can only get it in Europe, so I have a scent mule (lol) bring me back a bottle once a year.

Sep
25
2009

Scent lover

Loved reading the article and placed an order for Ce Soir ou Jamais :)

Sep
23
2009

CourtrightHer

Bravo Michelyn! Fabulous interview. After reading it I felt compelled to stop into Bloomingdales (unfortunately did not have the time I would have preferred) to sample. My daughter just graduated high school so I thought I'd look into the line for a "off to college" gift. I enjoyed Eau D'Hadrien and Passion Eau de Toilette Spray but after reading your interview I will have to look into Petite Cherie. Thanx!

Jun
20
2009

sweetfumebopper

wow lovely interview, I'm having a little girl soon and I cant wait till the day I can buy her Petite Cherie. These scents do capture beautiful memories.
Thanks

Jun
17
2009

memechose

Dear Gigi

My current favorite LBD is Roja Dove's Unspoken

but if it is a sleeveless lbd with plunging neckline that is another story.

Enjoy your day. what do you like to wear?
memechose

Jun
16
2009

gigimeansgood

I am not sure of the etiquette so I am answering you separately but feel free to weigh in on the question I asked Jeca. What is your favorite LBD fragrance of all time? I never even heard of Myrrh Ardente. I do love Myrrh but limit wearing it because on me it tends to wipe out every thing in the general vicinity.

The Encens Flamboyant you have been talking about also sounds interesting - is it frankincense-y? I have to get to a large store to try these all on!

Jun
15
2009

gigimeansgood

Jeca
Thank you so much for steering me to Les Orientalistes. I am going to try them all. This is so much fun! Thank you for answering my question there is so much fragrance information out there it is hard to keep up with everything new! What is your favorite LBD fragrance of all time or am I crazy for classifying it that way? To me some fragrances just paint pictures of women in white linen having tea! LBD - Not! Do you have an LBD fragrance?
Gail

Jun
15
2009

memechose

yes jeca is so right and great advice. explore all three orientaliste, actually four with musc nomade.. My pic: myrrhe ardente.

Jun
13
2009

jeca

Dear gigimeansgood,

For smoky notes you should try Les Orientalistes, they are all different, my favorite is Encens Flamboyant.

Another interesting one is Mandragore, rooty-earthy ;o)

Jun
12
2009

gigimeansgood

I am not familiar with recent Goutal fragrances but I will try L'Heure Exquise. Truthfully every Goutal fragrance is not for me personally (Eau d' Hadrien) but not a single one hits a bad note. This is a feat when you consider how long they have been in business.

Do they have anything smoky and mysterious?
Thanks
Gigi

Jun
12
2009

memechose

hi Gigi- for me the Little black dress is Heure Exquise perfume.It is perfect every day.

It should be a fragrance that lifts you up, today or ten yars from now and enhances your personal chemistry.

I would think one of the fresh florals like Folavril,Un Matin d'Orage and your Eau de Ciel, could be your LBD. i am leaning to eau de Ciel, so stock up :)

Have you sampled many Annick Goutal fragrances?

Michelyn

Jun
12
2009

Andy Austin

Another excellent interview with a mover and shaker- up close and personal.

My wife wears Songes. My daughter's 13th birthday is in a week , so we are going to buy her Petite Cherie and tell her that it is a reminder of the closeness of our family.

Jun
11
2009

gigimeansgood

To quote Lionel Ritchie Oh What a feeling - I'm dancing on the ceiling - you found the Eau de Ciel for me! I had no idea. This is simply fabulous. Now I can stop nursing the little bit I have in my perfume fridge! But this (and Matin D'Orage) is a white linen, cotton eyelet or guipure lace kind of fragrance! Which Goutal would be a LBD? I would love to hear your opinion!
Gigi

PS Thank you
PPS Thank you Thank you

Jun
10
2009

Spring25

Thank you for this informative and touching interview! I've found that the Goutal's fragrances are some of the similarly sweetest, most romantic and feminine I've tried. These ladies have really carved a uniquely beautiful niche in the fragrance world.

Jun
10
2009

memechose

Gigi-thanks for your kind words. Annick Goutal brings me such happy memories. GOOD NEWS! Eau de Ciel is discontinued by the company, but can still be purchased on etail sites. a quck google ceck and I found it on amazon.com as well as 5 other e-stores

Jun
10
2009

gigimeansgood

I really liked this interview it was informative and so pretty to look at.
I have loved Goutal fragrances for years but I was not aware of the complexities behind their creation. To me summer is not summer without the delicious scents of Un Matin D'Orage and Eau de Ciel which sadly is no longer available.

This was a great interview!

I do have a question though which of the Goutal fragrances would be the perfect Little Black Dress fragrance for summer and also for winter? (I live in little black dresses)
Thanks!
Gigi

Jun
10
2009

danna

Great Interview. I love Annick Goutal fragrances. I recently bought Un Matin D'orage. Great insight into both mother and daughter, very special. I especially enjoyed the story of Petite Cherie. Excellent questions

Jun
10
2009

flittersniffer

Excellent article - with such beautiful illustrations. It is always fascinating to learn more about the inspiration behind a perfumer's work, and I love the idea of scent capturing specific emotions and memories. Indeed I wish I had enjoyed such an evocatively scented childhood... Meanwhile, I shall spritz on Le Chevrefeuille, which is the happy feeling of waking up to sunshine in a bottle!

Jun
10
2009

Kathryn

What a charming, intimate interview! I especially love Camille Goutal's thought that "perfumes are the reflection of our lives, the people we met, and the people we love." It's a wonderful reason for wearing and caring about perfume.

Jun
09
2009

Somerville Metro Man

Nice Interview!

Once again we see bloodlines run true in perfume families. Goutal is not as famous as Guerlain or even Roudnitska but perhaps it should be.

I have enjoyed the recent releases of Encens Flamboyant from Les Orientalistes and Un Matin D'Orage both of which show the evolution of Annick Goutal. I think the Annick Goutal name is in very good hands due to Camille's efforts.

Jun
09
2009