Hello Happy Huffers,
Yes, I have spoken about Annick Goutal (1948-99) before. We have done days of the Annick Goutal Bio, Frag#1, Frag#2, Frag #3, Mandragore Pourpe, Songes, Grand Amour and Duel. You can tell how much I love the whole Annick Goutal aesthetic, it has been a constant house that I love. The fragrances are beautiful, smooth and totally wearable and even the slightly quirky or more arty of the line are still easily worn in most situations.
Rose Splendide by Annick Goutal 2010
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords in one line:
Musk, Centifolia rose, magnolia, pear (Basenotes add vanilla)
A fruity rose, sparkling and shimmering, a gorgeously decadent, full blown, home grown with love bloom that takes flight from your skin the instant you first spritz and initially you can smell the cutting of the plant to bring the bloom inside, or maybe it’s the body of the rose bush as you brush it to smell the bloom. There is a fresh, dew-ish, watery hint of a vase awaiting your plunder. The initial fireworks are great fun and never fail to delight me. Once they calm Rose Splendide stays pretty linear throughout its 4-6 hour journey on my skin with the notes taking different centre stage times but really the whole character of this magnificent rose flower stays in the forefront. Warming slightly as it fades to dry down I am ready for a respritz by the 4 hour mark to relive the opening again.
Rose Splendide and Jo Malone Red Rose are my two photo realistic roses that I go to. Very different in scent they are quite similar in feel and freshness, both feel like early morning all day and both remind me of times in the garden with my Mum when I was a kid and watching the roses grow from sticks to blooms through spring, it was always a magical thing to me.
Photo Stolen WikiCommons
Further reading: Sniffapalooza Magazine and The Scent Critic
Fragrance Shop has $55/100ml EdT before coupon
Surrender To Chance starts at $4/ml
What is your go-to rose? Is it photo realistic like Rose Splendide or amongst a cornucopia like Mohur by Neela Vermeire or maybe hidden in the depths like Shalimar(another two of my faves)?
Portia xx
Australian Perfume Junkies 
Oooh, rose, yes please!
I love Rose Splendide and my fingers have hovered over the ‘buy now’ button a couple of times. It’s so fleeting on me.
I lemminged Rose Jam by Lush and am wearing it now, but it’s not a rose bush.
Mohur yum but too expensive.
Where to next?
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So many choices! Rose has been ubiquitous lately. What about JHaG Midnight Oud, Se Majesty La Rose by Lutens, Oud Ispahan by DIOR, Taif Roses by Montale, Voleur de Roses by L’Artisan, Delire de Roses by Caron, Stella by Stella McCartney, Wild roses by Aftelier. The list is ENDLESS.
Portia xx
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I’m rather smitten with La Fille de Berlin at the moment. A rich, syrupy, crimson, velvety rose. ❤
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Great choice. I love lFdB. Nearly drained my decant and probably going FB in Europe in Jan.
Portia xx
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I love AG’s other rose – Rose Absolue, which smells like a beautiful essential oil. And AG’s Eau de Camille,for its rose amidst all the amazing wet greenery!
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Heya Jillie,
I tried Rose Absolue but something was wonky on me. EdCamille though is spectacular.
Portia xx
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I love my Vanille Exquise, but am disappointed in the lasting power…it has rather put me off purchasing any other fragrances from this house, as they are not cheap! I did purchase the discovery set of samples, and liked quite a few, but after ordering a FB of VE, and it not lasting very long on my skin, I decided against further purchases. That rose looks so lovely…
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Yes, there is a lifespan problem with some of the AG line. There are pros and cons to that. Sometimes I like that I can change my fragrance without having to bathe again.
I haven’t tried the VE, how is it different to other vanillas?
Portia xx
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For no particular reason, I have never been a rose fan. Then a fairy sent me Etat Libre d’Orange Rossy de Palma. With the hint of ginger and without the feeling of having a great, flapping rosebush covering your entire body. I am starting to drift to the roses, but they will never be my first love.
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He he he. you will HATE Rose Splendide then Jan Last. That is EXACTLY the feeling.
Portia xx
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I have tried a few rose perfumes, but I’m still looking for a head-over-heels love of a rose. I was surprised to find myself liking Stella very much this summer-I don’t usually wear such pretty perfumes, but it makes me happy! I also tried AG Ce soir ou Jamais, which was a little too fullblown-rose for my tastes, as well as a few from SSS. I am looking forward to trying many more variations on rose, especially spicy/dark ones for winter.
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MMMM The dark ones are gorgeous, there have been some great suggestions already in the comments. Have I mentioned Ballets Rouges by Olympic Orchids?
Portia xx
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MMMM The dark ones are gorgeous Nemo, there have been some great suggestions already in the comments. Have I mentioned Ballets Rouges by Olympic Orchids?
Portia xx
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Hi Portia,
My go-to rose right now is AgarAura’s Al Jazzab. I also have a rather long list of roses I love a lot including Bourbon French “Oriental Rose”, Ellen’s “Ballets Rouge”, Aloes of Ish “Marium”, Phaedon “Rouge Avignon”, Coty “La Rose Jaqueminot”…the list goes on (and on and on). If I want to smell almost exactly like my neighbor’s rose garden I wear persian rose oil in sandalwood.
Regarding Annick Goutal: I have yet to try “Rose Splendide” but I have never been disappointed by anything from this house and since I’m such a rose fan I’m sure I would love this one as well.
Azar xx
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Hey there Azar,
We are rose scent twins. I love so many of them and the Arabian ones are killer, and even some of the Indian oils. MMMMMMM>
Is the Coty an old one?
Portia xx
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I think the Coty that I have is probably a 1980’s reissue, but I love it anyway! I don’t have the very early original.
Azar xx
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Unfortunately, most rose perfumes give me a blinding headache. I really want to find a rose perfume I love but haven’t yet for this reason. I do like Le Labo’s Rose 31, but I think I can tolerate that because it’s offset by all the woody notes. And while I like it, I don’t LOVE it. I recently tried Tauer’s Une Rose de Kandahar. While it’s quite pretty at the opening, it’s also very strong and again gave me a terrible headache. I have not tried the AG roses but love the line so perhaps one of those is a possibility. Thanks for the review!
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Oh NNOOOOOO! Kandice,
That is a bummer. There must be something in the rose oil that eeeeks your head out.
Thank goodness there’s so much else to try.
Portia xx
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Yes, I’m not exactly left wanting, am I 🙂
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OK now I am on a mission…thank you for all these suggestions. Somewhere here there is my perfect rose…surely?
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My fingers are crossed for you JackieB,
If you document your sniffing travels with roses we’d love to publish it.
Portia xx
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Even though I like Annick Goutal somehow I missed Rose Splendide: it has just never came to the stores that carry the line where I live. I’ll get to it one day, I’m sure.
There are many rose scents that I love but today I’m in a mood for Amouage Lyric.
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Gorgeous Undina, I wore the Dia body lotion with MdO Musc today. Nice combo.
Portia xx
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Hi Portia – better late than never. I absolutely love Mohur, and Frederic Malle´s Rose for after a bath. But there´s a new rose coming soon ……….. Epic Bussi xxxxxx
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You know I love all Goutal!! YSL Paris, Nahema, and Andy Tauer for rose w/ backbone, Liz Zorn`s rose `garden` rotates – `A Rose for Beacon` just hit the clearance page :-(, so DO grab some NOW!! Kiehl`s newbie Rose and Patch scent in their Aromatics is NICE too 🙂
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My favorites are FM Une Rose and L’Artisan’s Voleur de Roses, plus Micallef Rose Extreme. But I love so many – JHAG Midnight Oud, Montale Louban, PHI Rose de Kandahar, Rosine Rose d’Amour… a favorite note for sure.
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