No perfume families are as vast as the fruity-floral and gourmand families. It seems that you can get any dessert in perfume form, from crème brûlée to cupcakes. There are also many fragrances that smell like clones of each other, which is why after you smell one too many variations of Angel, you start giving up on the whole lot. On the other hand, if you want lighthearted and fun, then nothing can beat a well-crafted gourmand blend. From time to time, I canvas perfume store shelves for such contenders, and my latest search turned up Cacharel’s Anais Anais Premier Délice.
Premier Délice is one of several variations on the classical green floral Anais Anais, but it’s the first major departure from the original. Instead of accenting the floral notes, perfumers Olivier Cresp and Dora Baghriche took a different route. They’ve laced it with chocolate! If you’re familiar with the original, you’re probably skeptical right now, but if you like gourmand and fruity notes you’ll like Premier Délice. It is moderately sweet on the contemporary gourmand spectrum, and it has some interesting elements.
Besides sweet orange and bergamot, the fruit that gives Premier Délice its main accent is pear. It’s bright and tart, and in combination with the green leafy notes, you get a crunchy, juicy impression. The dessert elements of Premier Délice–the chocolate and praline-like woods–become obvious shortly thereafter, and the powdery, nutty cocoa lingers on the skin.
The surprising aspect of Premier Délice is that beneath its frilly, bubbly sweetness, it hides the smooth floral heart of the original Anais Anais. You’ll have to smell closely to see the cool lily of the valley and hyacinth peaking out underneath the chocolate coated cedarwood, but this accord lightens up the perfume and gives it a sophisticated twist. As a result, the sillage (scented trail) of Premier Délice is a comfortable, not at all cloying, blend of sweet and floral notes, with a zesty, green nuance. This blend of watery floral and chocolate notes makes it reminiscent of Maurice Roucel’s excellent Missoni.
Usually, lighthearted perfumes like this are described as good for teens, and Cacharel certainly emphasizes the point with its marketing campaign. While Premier Délice would make a great choice for a young girl, I simply enjoy Premier Délice for its charming character. Who says that all the fun should be left to the teens? Last but not least, it’s affordably priced.
Cacharel Anais Anais Premier Délice includes notes of bergamot, galbanum, hyacinth, peony, cocoa, cedarwood. Available in 30ml (29€) and 50ml (38€) Eau de Toilette.
For other interesting dessert-inspired perfumes, please see the 3 and 4 star rated reviews in the Gourmand category.
45 Comments
Michaela: Sounds very nice! Thank you for the review. Now I feel I ‘have to’ sample this one. For all the fun and for the charming character. December 5, 2014 at 7:29am
Victoria: It’s a fun gourmand topped with a chocolate pear! December 5, 2014 at 8:21am
Blinky: That girl on the right appears to be missing the majority of her dress/top whatever it is. Is that a photoshop thing? Even if it were a bra, its cut way too short to be – ah – functional. Well, I guess it goes with the flower child vibe of the ad. The bottle design seems dated somewhat now, but I do find it quite charming in an antique way. December 5, 2014 at 7:40am
Victoria: It looks like she’s wearing a beige slip. But either way, they had quite a go with the Photoshop adjustment tools on this ad. It looks almost surreal. December 5, 2014 at 8:22am
Sandra: I like the original Anais Anais, also Noa and Amour Amour. Cacharel makes some affordable perfumes and I find them to be easier to find at airports and in Europe, but not so much here in the US-well, not in NYC (which you should be able to find anything easily 😉 )
I think I will pass on this one. The chocolate note turns me off.
I do like chocolate, but prefer it hot in my cup with a dollop of whipped cream & a sprinkle of chili pepper.
I hope you have a good Friday and I good weekend ahead. I am curled up with my two rescue cats, drinking Marriage Freres tea (Christmas Pudding tea) and wearing some Jubilation 25 (not for teens 😉 )on this gray morning. December 5, 2014 at 8:52am
Victoria: Cacharel is one of the most affordable and well-made brands around here, but I know that their distribution in the US is less wide. Which is too bad. This perfume, for instance, stands head and shoulders above many other trendy gourmands.
Sounds like you’re enjoying a great Friday! 🙂 December 5, 2014 at 9:24am
spe: That ad – is that really a blonde hair, red hair and brunette trio with varying degrees of sophistication? So literal. The flirtatious one, the earthy one, the sophisticate. Hilarious! Anyway, I purchased Rose Amazone yesterday for my fruity floral fix. It was a nice surprise to see it here in town! Thank you for the review – and for the laugh! December 5, 2014 at 8:57am
Victoria: I didn’t even pay attention to the ad first (I’ve just learned to tune these things out), but the more I look at it, the funnier it looks.
I haven’t tried Rose Amazone. How does it compare to the original Hermes’s Amazone? December 5, 2014 at 9:28am
spe: It is current Amazone EDT with a side by side spray of Eau de Pamplemousse Rose, if my memory serves. Quite delightful, but I like the peculiar bitter green of Amazone in all of its forms. Please let me know if you’d like a decant. Those who don’t care for Amazone are unlikely to enjoy this rendition! December 5, 2014 at 2:15pm
Victoria: Thank you so much! If I don’t find it around here, I will definitely take you up on your generous offer. I like the original Amazone, and I love roses, so I’m curious to see how they are combined. December 6, 2014 at 8:12am
George: I have too many problems with the word “delice”. December 5, 2014 at 9:31am
Victoria: The name is unoriginal and kind of awkward, but the perfume is good. December 5, 2014 at 9:38am
Natalia: As a longstanding devotee of the original, I have to try this one for sure. I like wearing gourmand perfumes every now and then, so it might be just the right one for me.
P.S. I also didn’t pay any attention to the ad until I read the comments here)) Well, as for the girl on the right, my take is that she is wearing a dress. But it is a very light one, a “skin-colored” one, so if you look at a certain angle, you may not even notice it. December 5, 2014 at 10:37am
Victoria: It’s fascinating that the floral heart of the original remains, and the combination of fresh hyacinth and chocolate is unexpectedly good.
I agree. It’s kind of weird. December 5, 2014 at 11:36am
Debby: This sounds divine to me! I was loyal to Angel for years, and then it just started smelling wrong on me, very odd. Even my husband noticed that it was jarring whereas it had been a perfect fit for my skin. Very upsetting, and I’ve been looking for an alternative for a long time, so this sounds very much worth a shot! December 5, 2014 at 11:27am
Victoria: If you like Angel and would like something in the same vein, then you have plenty of choices. For instance, Lolita Lempicka, Prada Eau de Parfum or even Chanel Coco Mademoiselle. They are all very good gourmands. Premier Delice is much more floral than all of those fragrances, by contrast. December 5, 2014 at 11:40am
Debby: Thanks Victoria! I already have Lolita Lempicka, strangely I got that out of storage last week. I have had the Prada, very lovely but not quite ‘me’. Must try the Chanel. Currently wearing JPG Classique which is hitting my current desire for warm sweet and cosy 🙂 December 5, 2014 at 11:59am
Victoria: JPG Classique is like a warm cashmere wrap. I definitely see what you mean about it being cozy. December 6, 2014 at 8:05am
Kat: As a teen I desperately wanted to love Anais Anais because I loved the bottle and the ads so much. I see the ads still go for that slight touch of David Hamilton and the design of the bottle hasn’t changed either. But the scent never worked for me, too floral, too sweet – judging from this review that hasn’t changed either. And on a side-note: I haven’t bought any perfume for over a decade but yesterday I got a bottle of Caudalie’s Parfume Divine and I’m very happy. I also feel tempted to layer this with the original Feminité de Bois. But after such a long break from perfume I’ll take it step by step. December 5, 2014 at 11:41am
Victoria: This perfume is definitely too sweet then.
Your layering combination sounds intriguing and I’d love to hear how it turns out! December 6, 2014 at 8:04am
Karen: Another wonderful review! I’ve missed out completely on any of the Cacharel’s. Maybe it shows the effect of marketing when a brand never grabbed me. And too funny reading the comments on the ad! I’d have to agree that as much as a nude colored slip for the young woman on the right might be the intention, I think I’m with Blinky.
Rainy day and I’ve got on an antique-store find, vintage Lanvin Crescendo extrait! Box and bottle were unopened – perfect for wearing as I read They Were Counted! Happy Friday to all. December 5, 2014 at 12:54pm
spe: What is Crescendo like? Great name! December 5, 2014 at 3:01pm
Cornelia Blimber: Oh my God! I have left some precious drops of Eau de Lanvin Crescendo in a ”golden” bottle. I could commit murder for a bottle of Extrait Crescendo. Lucky you!!
It’s a very rich, opulent perfume, spicy and flowery. One of my very favourites. December 5, 2014 at 3:41pm
Cornelia Blimber: And happy Friday to you too from jealous Cornelia. December 5, 2014 at 3:42pm
Karen: It is such a beautiful fragrance. Glad I took a chance, something I would not have done prior to becoming a BdJ devotee! I saw a few bottles on ebay – some crazy expensive. If I ever chance on another bottle, I will let you know right away! December 6, 2014 at 10:08am
Cornelia Blimber: Thank you for this generous thought!
Enjoy your Crescendo and your book. December 6, 2014 at 11:22am
Victoria: Cacharel is one of those quirky French brands that somehow don’t seem to grab the US market much.
And wow, lucky you! Enjoy your gorgeous find and your weekend. December 6, 2014 at 8:10am
Karen: My world has gotten so much bigger thanks to you! Never would have heard of so many books, recipes and never mind how much I’ve learned about perfumes! December 6, 2014 at 10:11am
Victoria: Thank you so much! I feel the same way about all of our interactions here. I learn so much, and my book pile is towering thanks to all of you. 🙂 December 7, 2014 at 12:53pm
LP: Can anyone say what the current version of Anais Anais is like compared with the vintage version? December 5, 2014 at 8:04pm
Aurora: The current version is still recognizable , still good imo but it is now called Anais Anais L’Original, this is the one you should seek out. December 6, 2014 at 6:09am
Victoria: I smelled it after a long hiatus last year, and I was impressed with who well it was preserved. December 6, 2014 at 8:16am
Victoria: Agree with Aurora. The original and L’Original are very close. Of course, there are many changes here and there, but when I wear the perfume, I still recognize it. It used to be a signature perfume of my aunt, so I have strong memories of it. December 6, 2014 at 8:14am
Aurora: It sounds like great fun this Premier Delice, Cacharel does well by its perfumes, it keeps them in good nick and the flankers are often interesting although it’s impossible to keep up with the flankers of Amor Amor, they are so many! December 6, 2014 at 6:15am
Victoria: Oh, yes, those endless flankers to Amor Amor are confusing. Especially since many of them are totally different perfumes from the original. But I like this take on Anais Anais. It’s such a happy, smiling perfume. December 6, 2014 at 8:17am
Figuier: Thanks for this – you’re a great source for sorting through the Cacharel scents (Amor Amor being one I’ve slowly come to appreciate very much).
Also, I do like the smell of pear (MDCI La Belle Helene really appealed to me, except for the price) and loved the original Missoni for its kooky charm. The original Anais was also very pretty, though a tad soapy for my liking. So this sounds perfect. I’ll definitely try it out when I’m next in Boots. December 6, 2014 at 11:40am
Victoria: I also liked La Belle Helene, and if it were not so expensive, it would be on my list. (Ok, I also really really dislike those bottles!)
Would be curious to hear your thoughts on Premier Delice. December 7, 2014 at 12:55pm
Solanace: 100% curious, since I love Anais Anais and gourmands in general. And I’m crazy about the girls’ makeup work in the ad! December 6, 2014 at 1:37pm
Victoria: It’s a fun idea. I would never imagine Anais Anais working in a gourmand context. December 7, 2014 at 12:55pm
solanace: Sounds impossible, but I trust you. 🙂 December 7, 2014 at 1:12pm
Victoria: 🙂 December 8, 2014 at 8:09am
Amer: Your review is so positive so why only 3 stars? I am not familiar with this or the original. Note to myself, I should visit the feminine oriented shelves more freely. I like the concept behind the photo but somehow the details ruin it for me. The model in the middle seems like she’d rather be somewhere else. Same goes for the bottle, would be easy on the eyes if it wasn’t for that awful label. Really a deterrent when u see it in a department store next to more luxurious looking offers. December 10, 2014 at 8:41am
Victoria: 3 stars is positive, just maybe missing some bit of originality or distinctiveness. This perfume is very good, but it won’t stand out among other great gourmands like Angel or Lolita Lempicka.
I do agree on the ad and the bottle. I understand that they tried to preserve some elements of the original design, but things have moved on since then, and this kind of packaging looks to me more like a supermarket air freshener than a fine fragrance. The white ceramic bottle of the original, though, is still charming. December 10, 2014 at 8:49am
Amer: I think we had that discussion about cacharel when u reviews Noa. This brand seems to suffer from horrible product placement. While their perfumes are decent and they keep several of their classics in production, their branding needs a facelift. Nowadays, when I see their packaging it almost always seems like it could contain deodorants. December 11, 2014 at 3:22am
Victoria: I recall it now. It’s kind of a delicate balance between keeping the quirky element and updating the look. But at least, the perfumes themselves are very good. December 11, 2014 at 9:55am