Star rating: 5 stars–outstanding/potential classic, 4 stars–very good, 3 stars–adequate, 2 stars–disappointing, 1 star–poor.
Green like unripe mirabelle plums, tart like lemon meringue and sheer like a silk scarf, Annick Goutal Le Chèvrefeuille is one of those fragrances that makes me smile contentedly. It is the essence of everything serene and lighthearted, a fragrance that satisfies yearnings for those first mild days of spring. On the other hand, its lightness and the lack of sharpness associated with citrus makes it ideal for the warm days of summer. Among Annick Goutal single flower compositions (Néroli, Des Lys, Le Jasmin, Le Muguet and La Violette), which were created by perfumer Isabelle Doyen and Camille Goutal in 2002, Le Chèvrefeuille is undoubtedly my favorite, both for its effervescent personality and impressionistic rendition of honeysuckle. …
The deliciously lemony note of petitgrain (bitter orange tree leaves) accents the white floral accord of Le Chèvrefeuille. The green and sparkling impression slowly gains a warmer, sweeter quality. Yet, that refreshing feeling like a sip of lemonade never vanishes completely. Above all, Le Chèvrefeuille conjures a vision of burying one’s face into a mass of white petals, and that is a reason enough to like it.
Le Chèvrefeuille is not a particularly complex fragrance. There are no dramatic interplays and unexpected twists. Still, the more I sample blends based on the idea of a single flower, the more I appreciate the ability of this perfume to evoke the scent of honeysuckle. It does so without triteness or anything tired and predictable. It is perhaps not as realistic a honeysuckle note as in Marc Jacobs Blush or Michael Kors Island Hawaii, but then again Le Chèvrefeuille feels like a real blooming flower, rather than a glossy photograph thereof.
Le Chèvrefeuille is an understated fragrance, with decent tenacity, although I would recommend liberal application. Le Chèvrefeuille features notes of petitgrain, honeysuckle, lemon, jasmine, and narcissus. Although launched as a limited edition in 2002, Le Chèvrefeuille was subsequently reissued.
Photo of honeysuckle by Scoobymoo, from Pollen Nation blog.
25 Comments
Barbara: It is a pleasant surprise to see a review of Le Chevrefeuille here. I bought a bottle just the other day. It is a perfect spring perfume. What do you think of Le Jasmin? March 29, 2007 at 12:07pm
violetnoir: This one smells so good layered with Vanille Exquise. But I must say that my favorite of the group is Des Lys, especially on a hot summer day. And the lasting power is very good, too.
Hugs! March 29, 2007 at 12:14pm
Madelyn E: Dear Victoria,
So appropro that you reviewed this one. It is gorgeous – a honeysuckle fragrance that shouts Springtime.
I first noticed this AG on my friend Lea . during a visit to Montreal last Spring. It was light , but had enough depth to give it more interest.
I almost bought it ! My favorite AG is Passion (eau de Parfum).
However, when I spritzed this scent – I thought it was intoxicating.
Who knows what may happen at this weekend’s Sniffa .. March 29, 2007 at 12:30pm
Tigs: Oh, this one makes me so, so sad. It is exactly the sort of thing I would wear normally, and is probably my favourite AG on application, but the lasting power is really quite dreadful on me. As in: I cannot smell it as I exit the store 15 minutes later. Do they make an EdP? I only have experience with the EdT AGs. Still, I love the opening moments… March 29, 2007 at 11:28am
BoisdeJasmin: E, it lasts for a few hours on me, but I also apply about 4 large sprays all over. Try more liberal application. I used to complain until I started being less stingy with it. March 29, 2007 at 11:37am
Tigs: Madelyn: Passion’s my other favourite, too. V, thanks for the tip. I will have to order some online, as the AGs are very expensive here and so I am too cheap to spray with abandon. March 29, 2007 at 12:52pm
BoisdeJasmin: Barbara, Le Jasmin is beautiful too. An effervescent, gingery jasmine. March 29, 2007 at 12:58pm
Linda: Dear Victoria,
How lovely! Even before I started being a fragrance fanatic (that is, before I discovered your beautiful reviews) I have loved Annick Goutal. I have five – Songes, Grand Amour, L’Heure Exquise, Gardenia Passion and Eau d’Hadrien. The dear little bottles look charmingly old fashioned all in a line. This is going to be my next purchase: and I’ll wear it during April evenings.
Warmest wishes, March 29, 2007 at 5:03pm
Elle: *Love* this one. And am in such a mood for honeysuckle these days. While I anxiously watch the vine in my garden start to grow, this is a perfect transition scent. I really do feel that this has been an underappreciated line and I’ve got some recently for incredible prices online. March 29, 2007 at 5:15pm
Ina: I’m in a Goutal stage right now, and I really hoped Le Chevrefeuille will be a pass but not any more! You got me, once again. 😉 March 29, 2007 at 1:20pm
Marina: Like Ina, I am suddenly nuts about Goutal :-), especially the soliflores. I can’t express hwo much I adore Le Jasmin. Le Chevrefeuille is wonderful too, as are all of them really. March 29, 2007 at 1:28pm
BoisdeJasmin: R, I have not tried it, but now I will. Sounds very interesting. March 29, 2007 at 1:44pm
BoisdeJasmin: Madelyn, I cannot agree more. I also wear it often in the winter in order to remind myself of spring. March 29, 2007 at 1:47pm
BoisdeJasmin: E, I have seen it on Ebay for a very reasonable price. I do not recall the seller, although I’ve purchased previously from andyfrog and was very pleased with the transaction. March 29, 2007 at 1:49pm
BoisdeJasmin: Ina, the more I wear other florals, the more I appreciate the simplicity and delicacy of these. March 29, 2007 at 1:50pm
BoisdeJasmin: Marina, Le Jasmin is another favourite. The only one I was not crazy about turned out to be Neroli. I enjoy the rest very much. March 29, 2007 at 1:51pm
BoisdeJasmin: Linda, thank you! There are quite a few Annick Goutal fragrances that I like. There is a certain intimate quality to these blends. Gardenia Passion was the first AG fragrance I purchased, although I do not wear it anymore. Now, Songes is definitely my favourite. March 29, 2007 at 5:11pm
BoisdeJasmin: Elle, I agree. Whenever I searched for a true honeysuckle fragrance, I either found blends that smells not at all like the flower (Calypso’s) or very stylized (Blush). AG’s is my favourite one for its ability to capture the essence of the blooming vine. March 29, 2007 at 5:21pm
Emily: It sounds wonderful, as do so many of your reviews, especially since I’m feeling the need to coax a reluctant spring into, well, springing. Unfortunately, I’ve been living far from any significant perfume retailer for much of the past year and my stock is running low. Do anyone have experience purchasing perfume online, from Perfume Emporium or the like? Have you been satisfied with the quality of the purchase? I’ve always heard that the perfumes one can buy from online sources or discounters are old stock or have “turned” and don’t have as pleasing or true a scent. Is this really the case? Can anyone recommend a reliable vender? April 1, 2007 at 4:21pm
Misssuccess1: Great review ))).
I love this fragrance for being so TIffany.
And yet I would not buy it ’cause its herbal base is somewhat disturbing to me… April 2, 2007 at 9:54pm
Tara: I have bought AG from Perfumebay.com with great success, their stock has always been fresh. April 3, 2007 at 1:00pm
angeldiva: Hello!
This post is years old, but my love for my first Annick Goutal Le Chevrefeuille is brand new!! I read about this scent, here on BdG. It’s so “Lady Of The Manor” smelling ! lol Now, I can smell some of the notes: honeysuckle, jasmine and lemon. I now know enough to look for the note:PETITGRAIN. If this is what is making this scent to enlightening and ultra femme -I’ll take more please!
I bought a sample at Luckyscents- so cannot take a bath in this yet. I imagine having a bottle and the scent raining down on my skin, hair and clothing. Then perhaps it would have a sillage longer than 15 minutes.
But, for those times when your leaving your house in a nice gown , and you HAVE to have scent on this is perfect. Because I am learning here that there are public places ( one lady mentioned the opera- how sad) where people do not like to smell perfume in the air. 🙁
Sooooo, let’s say I’m going to the theater, or Church, or out on a movie date. Then, this AG would be perfecto! I’m also impressed that such a modern smelling scent emerges from one of the older classically styled AG bottles. Nice Surprise!
P. October 29, 2014 at 2:19pm
Victoria: I agree, it’s such a versatile and pretty fragrance, and I can’t think of an occasion when it wouldn’t work. One of my favorites from AG! October 30, 2014 at 1:44pm
angeldiva: Oui! Oui! October 31, 2014 at 11:00pm
angeldiva: Amazing! No sooner did I write this than I received an invitation to a black tie gala! The perfume was perfect-even my date liked it. He is not usually impressed with women’s perfumes- only men’s…
Imagineering!!!
P. November 7, 2014 at 7:16pm