Goutal Paris Grand Amour Review (Isabelle Doyen) 1996 + 40th Anniversary Draw

 

Goutal Paris Grand Amour review

Goutal Paris Grand Amour apped by Michelyn©

 

Younger than springtime are you
Softer than starlight are you
Warmer than winds of June
Are the gentle lips you gave me 
“Younger than Springtime,” South Pacific

Grand Amour Goutal Paris

The Lovers by Pierre Auguste Renoir 1875©wiki commons

 For 18 years, he brought her every week fragrant white lilies, their blooms aslant as if weighted by their scent. It was always spring. Honeysuckle and jasmine twined about the bower, blowing kisses through the open window, hyacinth shook her glossy locks in the glimmering sun, and all the garden seemed to embrace. Goutal Paris Grand Amour, created by perfumer Isabelle Doyen under the creative direction of Annick Goutal, is a love letter written in fragrance, the heady, giddy profusion of spring flowers. Instead of fashioning a simple lily soliflore, Doyen opted for an exposition of romance with poignant, elegant April and May flowers that suggest different elements of passion and devotion. With its heady, vernal bouquet of white florals, Grand Amour juxtaposes heart-fluttering young love with the steady, quiet beat of tenderness.

 

Best Annick Goutal Perfumes from the 1990s

Alphonse Mucha Princess Hyancinth 1911

Around a central note hyacinth the other flowers peek and flirt, Grand Amour traverses similar ground that great floral hymn to the heart, Guerlain Chamade, both in spirit and composition. But where Chamade roots its spring blossoms in greenery and casts a sophisticated glitter of aldehydes over the spray, Grand Amour surrenders to amber, vanilla and myrrh that give it a dreamy, amatory quality. As it develops, Grand Amour’s flowers seem to bloom on the skin, spreading wide their lush petals, yet stopping just short of overwhelming prettiness.

Hyacinth is queen of Goutal Paris Grand Amour, dancing with a different partner in a varying tempo at each stage. In the first spray, she is the essence of early spring with her piercing, peacock loveliness. An apposite smell of rain drifts around the hyacinth, and a waft of indefinable sweet spice, not unlike mace but not as pungent as nutmeg, filters up as the first hint of lily come through. The ingenue trill of honeysuckle, with its elven green undertones, flits and trips around these two lush flowers. In these early moments, Grand Amour feels like a sister to Petite Cherie, an e.e.cummings spring, when the world is puddle-wonderful and everything is impossibly young, dancing to flutes and piccolos.

Lilies by Michelyn (May 2021)©

The heart of Goutal Paris Grand Amour is what I think of as its signature. Still dominated by hyacinth, now leading a swaying waltz, the lily becomes lusher and more stemmy and adds roundness to the fragrance. But thanks to a central blend of rose and jasmine and the powdery delicacy of mimosa, the fragrance also becomes more refined and romantic. It is at this point the perfume most resembles Chamade, if only for a few moments.

Annick Goutal Grand Amour review

photo by Lauryn©

But Grand Amour moves in its own direction, past glowing rose dotted with musk to the sandy, dark woodiness of myrrh. Myrrh is an interesting choice at this later stage, as it adds a sedate, tonal contrast with the luxuriant florals. I don’t detect much vanilla in here, which I worried would lead the perfume towards dessert-like sweetness, but it usefully adds a soft-focus quality to the dry-down as it mingles with the amber and musk. Goutal Paris Grand Amour has a melodic, sweeping quality that reminds me of Schumann piano concerto. It is a genuinely lovely, timeless fragrance that will pull at your heartstrings with that same, welcome tug as finding a bouquet on your doorstep in spring.

Notes: lily, honeysuckle, hyacinth, broom, jasmine, Turkish rose, Indian mimosa, heather, vanilla, amber, musk, myrrh.

Disclaimer: Bottle of Goutal Paris Grand Amour generously provided by Europerfumes the U.S. distributors for Goutal Paris. My opinions, as always, are my own.

Lauryn Beer, Senior Editor

Art Direction by Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief

Goutal Parisl Grand Amour

Goutal Paris Grand Amour bottle, photo courtesy of the brand

Thanks to the generosity of Europerfumes for one registered reader in the U.S. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what strikes you about Goutal Paris Grand Amour based on Lauryn’s review and whether you have a favourite Goutal Paris fragrance. Draw closes September 3, 2021

For more background on the brand, please read Michelyn’s interview with Camille Goutal from 2010, Hernando Courtright’s 2016 Behind the Bottle with Camille Goutal, and  Olya Bar’s 2021 review of Tenue de Soiree

Follow us on Instagram: @cafleurebon @elldebee @goutalparis @official_europerfumes

Available September 1, 2021, the 40th Anniversary of the brand at New London Pharmacy, ZGO Perfumery, LuckyScent, Beverly Hills Perfumery, Twisted Lily, stockists throughout the USA and The Goutal Paris US Site here

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28 comments

  • What a beautiful review, I adore Goutal fragrances and this was one sensorial journey, I never met a hyacinth fragrance I didnt like as of yet and very curious to smell this one. One of my favorites as of lately is Tenue De Soiree and Rose Pompon!

  • DulciusExAsperis says:

    Very interested in Lauryn’s description of the myrrh drydown. I’ve always loved Petite Cherie and the opportunity to try a sister to that fragrance would be so appreciated! I’m in the USA.

  • What a fantastic review. Hyacinth is such a great scent and finding a good one isn’t easy.
    My first Annick Goutal oops
    Goutal Paris was songes. I own ce soir ou Jamais which is my favorite Rose of all time.
    Hard to believe 40 years. Is Camille Goutal still with the company? What about Isabel Doyen?
    Marvelous art as well

  • Wonderful review. 40 Year Anniversary for Goutal Paris that’s great. The notes for Grand Amour have me wanting to smell this fragrance. Hyacinth ,rose, honeysuckle all sound good. Thank you for this Chance. USA

  • mossandflowers says:

    The description of this one as a dreamy floral definitely caught my eye. I like Chamade, but I think I would live this one more. It’s one of the few Goutals I’ve never worn

  • Thank you Lauryn for in-depth review. Very descriptive to my senses. Definitely a timeless floral fragrance my wife would fall in love with. USA

  • I love seeing reviews of Goutal perfumes — I think they don’t get as much attention in the States as they deserve. My absolute favorite is Sables. Sometimes I layer it over a tiny dab of Zoologist Bee, and the combination is divine.

  • joshuabrian says:

    I love that the scent is soft and sweet. It sounds rather comforting and sometimes that’s all you want. Thanks for the draw. From Indianapolis.

  • White florals are sometimes scary for me. Lauryn’s review leads me to believe that this is one of those wonderful blends that would work for me. That the vanilla only adds a dreamy quality is great as well. And, of course, everything about Spring is true true true! I do not have aa favorite from Goutal Paris. I have only tried a couple, which were great. I am in the US.

  • Very nice review by Lauryn. I love the musical “motifs” in her review! I love hyacinth but have criminally few fragrances that feature it. Would love to get my hands on this one. I do not have a favorite from this line, but sounds great! Cheers from NC, USA.

  • Lauryn, thank you so much for highlighting an Annick Goutal fragrance – this house has made some exceptional pieces, and often flys under the radar. I never owned Grand Amour – at the time I sampled it two decades ago, I was too shy for it’s opulent grandeur. Now, however, I would love to revisit it, as your description excellently shows it for the big floral beauty that I might now better match my person. I have always loved Eau de Ciel for it’s elevating and ethereal quality, and currently find Un Matin D’Orage a most exceptional fragrance during this humid, stormy season. Thank you for this generous draw!

  • kalexander1710 says:

    This sounds heavenly. I’m a sucker for jasmine whenever I hear it and also for vanilla and amber. I haven’t tried many fragrances with hyacinth so this would be a good one to try. I haven’t tried any fragrances from Goutal Paris

  • Goutal Paris Grand Amour seems to be a lovely, heady, romantic perfume, from Lauryn’s description. Hyacinth, lily, rose, jasmine, honeysuckle, mimosa, on top of Amber, musk, vanilla and myrrh sound lovely. Haven’t tried anything by Goutal Paris, so no favorites, yet. Thanks for the review and draw. From USA.

  • Lovely review and reminded me of Annick Goutal scents! I used to wear Eau d’Hadrien quite frequently and always received compliments. Grand Amour sounds like a romantic fragrance with its focus on what I think of as spring flowers; hyacinth, lily, honeysuckle and mimosa. The myrrh dry down sounds divine. I’m in MD, USA.

  • Lauryn! How wonderful! Puddle-wonderful spring! Yes, that is what comes to mind with a bouquet of beautiful flowers! ❤️️ Thank you for a gorgeous note breakdown! The images you’ve paired with the review are particularly apt and striking. ❤️️ Brava! I’ve wanted to purchase a bottle of Goutal for some time, yet I have trouble figuring out which fragrance to select. Grand Amour sounds so lovely, perhaps this will be the one! I really enjoy the look of their neoclassical bottles. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity! USA

  • Teresaluvsfrags says:

    The idea of flowers blooming on your skin is beautiful to imagine. I would love the opportunity to try out this floral lovely as I’ve not tried anything from this house thus far.
    Thank you!

  • What a gorgeous review to go with a gorgeous scent. Eau de Hadrian was my first Goutal, probably nearly 30 years ago, followed by Eau de Ciel. Grand Amour was too much for my nascent perfumista nose, but as fall approaches, I long for the pungent, singular scent of hyacinth. What a generous draw! I live in the USA.

  • MarkMarkMark678 says:

    What strikes me most about the fragrance is the amount of florals, which you imagine would go in one direction, but than the inclusion of rich and warm notes like Amber and vanilla, sounds mesmerizing.

    Unfortunately I’ve never tried anything from this house.

    Thank the only other fragrance I own with a strong hyacinth note would have to be Accento by Xerjoff, both my wife and I love that one, so we’d be excited to try something new.

  • Lovely review Laryn! What strikes me about the fragrance based on the review is how the central note of Hyacinth is described as the queen of the ball, dancing with and romanced by a veritable profusion of other flowers, all representing different aspects of passion and love. I love that the complexity of Grand Amour mirrors the complexity of love, as opposed to a simple soliflore that could be considered by some to be more “pure.” Love is rarely pure, and a Grand love even less so.

    My absolute favorite Goutal Paris fragrance has to be Rose Absolue, a beloved dark, thorny rose. I live in the US.

  • Thank you Lauryn for the detailed review of what sounds like a fantastic fragrance. That description of the hyacinth note in the heart got my attention. I still like Eau d’Hadrien which so far is my only experience from the house. Thank you Europerfumes for the generous draw. I’m in USA

  • Love the review Lauryn, learning a little more about fragrance with your opinion!! Big fan of the fragrance line!! Mon Parfum Chéri is by far my favorite, it works with my skin! Thanks for opportunity & introducing us to Goutal Paris Grand Amour
    USA

  • Bacuzzi Babs says:

    Thank you Lauryn for the fantastic review. Wonderful article! Interesting parfum notes I nead to try it! I adore Goutal fragrances and this was one sensorial journey. I’ve heard so much about this fragrance, definitely need to try.
    I am from Iowa, USA

  • This sounds like a lovely fragrance. I really like the blend of beautiful florals with an earthy, warm drydown. My favorite Goutal scent is Petite Cherie.

    I live in the US.

  • wallygator88 says:

    Thanks for the great review Lauryn,

    There are so many interesting things about this fragrance. I love the comparison to Guerlain Chamade (a fragrance that I’ve heard a lot about) and also how the review explains that Grand Amour takes it’s own direction away from the florals to the myrrh.

    I love nothing better than a love letter scented with the fragrance of of my partner, bringing back so many memories.

    I have not had the opportunity to smell anything from this house.

    Cheers from WI, USA

  • This sounds like a really lovely bouquet but what really caught my interest was the myrrh in the base! I only have one from Goutal: Eau d’Hadrien, which is a lovely fresh lemon. I live in the USA. Thanks for the giveaway!

  • This sounds like a classic and timeless floral. Lily, jasmine, hyacinth, rose… a great floral start! I’m excited to test this one, hopefully soon. I don’t have a current Goutal favorite. In Louisiana USA.