New Chapter
Anne Lee sits with perfumer Camille Goutal in the comfort of the Goutal laboratory and discovers the intricacies of the latest Bois d’Hadrien fragrance.
Three’s a trend: In 2012, Saint Laurent dropped “Yves”; Celine removed the accent aigu from its brand name last September; and now, iconic French fragrance, formerly known as Annick Goutal, has repositioned itself with a new name—Goutal Paris. This has been a long time coming for the 37-year-old cult brand. “I’ve wanted to revamp the brand for the past 10 years. While it has very creative and interesting fragrances, sometimes the design can feel a little ... old-fashioned,” says Camille Goutal, artistic director of the brand and daughter of the late Annick Goutal, at her cosy laboratory in the 17th arrondissement on a cool Friday morning. “To us, it has always been Goutal Paris because that’s what we’ve always called it in our company.” Granted, the Goutal fragrances have always been associated with classically shaped flacons adorned by gold ribbons, charms, and vintage French artwork. But now, housed in a new design of delicate folds and a sleek gold metal cap, with modern illustrations of flora and fauna, the brand’s iconic Eau d’Hadrien is the recipient of a new formula makeover—Bois d’Hadrien. The original best-selling fragrance Eau d’Hadrien now comes in both feminine and unisex scents, and it’s easy to see the link between the former and the latter when compared side by side. While the Eau d’Hadrien’s citrusy notes bring to mind fresh mornings in the Italian countryside, the new version is grounded in a more rounded finish for the evenings.
“I tried to include these woody aspects and the colour,” says Goutal of the new reintepretation, which takes on the qualities of the sun, rolling hills, and rustic lands of Tuscany. “We’ve also added sugary notes to round out the scents.” This new fragrance is a symbol of the house’s legacy, carried on by the new generation, and one that she holds dear to her heart. “I haven’t been there [Tuscany] since my mom passed away. We used to go there every summer and I have all these memories of the ochre lands ...” she trails off. “My mother’s [spirit] continues to live with us. She is everywhere.”
We talk about her plans for Goutal Paris, and she proudly proclaims that the revamped flagship on Rue de Castiglione was also done in tribute to her late mother. Architect Bruno Moinard transformed the store into a warm boudoir-like space. Everywhere I looked, there were elements of Annick’s legacy. An accomplished pianist who traded musical notes for perfume organs, the walls are lined with clear tubes that house perfumes that ran all the way up to the ceiling. It’s clear that her legacy continues to live on, with or without “Annick”. Goutal Paris Bois d’Hadrien EDP is available at J Kens Apothecary stores nationwide. www.kensapothecary.com.my