Annick Goutal • Mandragore • Fragrances

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*TOP REVIEWER* glitteralex on 7/29/2011 4:51:00 AM more reviews by glitteralex

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This review is for the edt from a vial on card.

Mandragore possesses so few ingredients that it almost presents as a linear perfume. Fresh Bergamot dominates the entrance, if only for a short while. Within a minute, the fragrance settles into what it remains for about 4 hours; a sharp, simple, spicy melange of Bergamot, Black Pepper, Mint, Ginger, and (barely noticeable) Star Anise. The Bergamot and Mint are lovely, and manage to stand up well to the potentially overpowering Pepper. This is one of the more exemplary uses of Bergamot I have encountered. It is used throughout the composition to create balance, rather than existing solely in the top notes. The Star Anise is lost in the mix; I can't discern it. However, with so few ingredients, it must have some subtle effect. The Ginger is almost edible, and supports the Pepper in its role. The drydown is woodsy, similar to Sandal or Cedar, but more subtle, as it cannot compete with the Spice and ubiquitous Bergamot. I have never had the opportunity to smell the Mandrake Root, or Mandragore, so cannot comment on its presence or lack thereof. Due to its potent hallucinogenic effects, I can only imagine that it is used in minute amounts as a marketing tool...like cocktails containing Absinthe.

This is almost a gourmand, like gingerbread without the sugar. Mandragore gives the impression of being created predominantly of natural materials, but very carefully, and with some synthetic boosters. I see this on both men and women, but would prefer it on a man. This fragrance lacks roundness- without the addition of a voluptuous base like Tonka, Vanilla, or Amber, it requires the oilier skin of a man to have depth. I find it sits atop my skin, but never melds into it, even on a warm day.

Compare to current Idole by Lubin, which is both creamier and boozier, and has more character.

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dominika99 on 6/16/2011 10:07:00 AM more reviews by dominika99

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

The purple bottle and gold ribbon really called out to my inner-goth, as did the ad copy that said this featured a note from an obscure root thought to have magical powers, and that it was hoped by its creator Camille (Annick's daughter) to bring out “the little child in all adults.”


This starts out with a burst of well-blended soft citrus and bergamot, then fades into a green and herbal scent that is not too sweet but still very womanly, creamy and delicate. It's the sort of fragrance I can admire (if not love) because it manages to be feminine without sacrificing sophistication – it would be perfect for a woman hosting a garden party in a tailored linen suit.


The trouble is that after about an hour or two, it fades away almost completely and leaves a non-descript green dry down that is vaguely reminiscent of Ninfeo Mio.


I cannot fault the Goutal line for unimaginative perfumes (though not all of them are exciting,) but this has such low lasting-power that however lovely it might be, I would have to re-apply every hour to maintain the green notes that it boasts at its heart. Not worth it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* vmalenfant on 3/12/2011 8:28:00 PM more reviews by vmalenfant

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Most of Annick Goutal perfume are unisexe, the only thing that change is the bottle, the male perfume bottle are square, and the femal bottle is rounder. Mandragore is a unisexe perfume but I will say it tend to be more female than male. It is citrusy (top note)-spicey (the anis is really coming out in the middle note). It is more of a spring-summer perfume. It took me a year before I decide to buy this fragance, it is not main stream and that what I like about this. It smell so good and it is unique. I do not regret purchasing this perfume, I will re-purchase, the only thing the lasting power could be better.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Wyrmiax on 2/3/2011 6:48:00 PM more reviews by Wyrmiax

Age: 44-55   Skin: Very Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

A strange but pleasant fragrance, difficult to describe. I didn't get individual notes so much as an allover impression. It seems introverted but cheerful--similar to the impression Shaal Nur gave me. It is dry without being astringent. A spicy/herbal citrus, but not as bright as that description would indicate. It would also make a great room fragrance.

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crdimalla on 1/19/2011 1:06:00 PM more reviews by crdimalla

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I wanted to like this a lot. It appears it's being marketed as a scent imbued with mysticism and witchery. The climate these days is really lending itself to that and despite the slightly cheesy bottle ( the frosted royal purple with gold filligree print/top above), it sounded very promising...and certainly different from my normal perfume wardrobe. Besides, I was wearing some new Ralph Lauren paisley fishnets today so...why not?



The opening smells for me were in the anise/fennel/licorice family. While I would say that it was probably the anise/fennel being emphasized, I could definitely detect the sacharine sweetness that licorice root leaves behind. Those of you who drink licorice root teas like Market Spice will know what I mean when I say it can be really overbearing. Not so in Mandragore, good in that respect. The bergamot is also strong, punched up with something akin to lime and a detectable mint is also present.



Now the mandrake. The entire scent is supposed to be based off this potently magical root. Well, to me, roots are just not very sexy. To my understanding, the combination of vegetal greeness with the above mentioned notes is supposed to conjure up some witchy seductive dark scent of mandrake but...let's be honest...who of us really knows what a mandrake root smells like?! It probably smells like a rutabega (Ew). That being said, the final opus was not so bad.



The real dissapointment of this perfume was not the tacky bottle, nor the questionable vegetal smell, nor the cheapness and overproduction of absinthe-y smells in the last few years. No, it was the hour it took for the heart of the perfume to dissapear altogether and leave behind nothing more than a powedery vegetal citrus whiff (probably my least favorite notes in the entire composition). I feel sorry for you Mandragore, I was too easily swayed by your mystical aesthetic and lush title. Yet your promising complex begginings ended in a Bath and Body Works spritzer. I was practically begging to love you with my fishnets and my black and gold flecked nails (Sally Hansen Sequin Scandal!) ....



I sure hope your Eau de perfume is vastly better but I doubt I'll bother to find out.

XO

(See all my reviews at: swigandtipple.blogspot.com)

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LastNameAvailable on 12/30/2010 11:31:00 PM more reviews by LastNameAvailable

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This is probably one of the most bizarre fragrances I've ever sampled and owned. It's strange and yet captivating; a perfume that stays close to the skin and whispers its secrets. Each time I spritz it on I find myself sneaking sniffs, trying to identify the various notes. On my skin Mandragore opens with soft citrus that slides into a long bergamot note. Somewhere around the middle, a ginger and woody note comes out, overlaid with something kind of sweet (Anise? I think?) While the silage isn't huge, the scent stays with me for about three hours, finally drifting away to a clean green scent. Mandragore would make a lovely and unexpected office or summer perfume. Definitely a scent you won't catch just anyone wearing.

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queenofthenile on 11/9/2010 6:17:00 AM more reviews by queenofthenile

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

All I got from this fragrance was peppermint and anise. This is by no means a bad scent, but Mandragore is a fragrance that will only suit a select number of women (or men). Due to my complete lack of sophistication, I really don't think I could pull of a perfume that smells exactly like herbal tea. I've come across too many fragrances that smell great in the bottle, but would be really odd when sprayed on your skin.

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chrystelica on 11/5/2010 6:23:00 PM more reviews by chrystelica

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Very light, airy scent, like an edt, it's fresh and light like a breath of air, yet slightly herbal, like a watered-down witches' brew. It has a nice rooty quality that smells subtly sweet, an anise well blended with cardamom, and a hint some darker, potion-like substance that is earthy, which I assume is the mandrake. Well done. Not sure if it's my 'cup of tea,' for FB, but well done.

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sunshinebabe82 on 9/2/2010 11:08:00 PM more reviews by sunshinebabe82

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I'm really not sure about this one. Firstly, I got this as a gift. The (older) gentleman who gave this to me said that he chose this fragrance as he thought that it smelt really unique and quite unlike any kind of fragrances he had sniffed before. He found this Mandragore to smell really womanly, and even a bit mysterious - which is what I think the fragrace is aiming for.

To me though, I have never managed to fall in love with this fragrance. I find that it is more suitable for the more mature audience, and I feel the scent strongly resembles that of lavender essential oil. Honestly, that's what I got after spritzing some of my wrist and sniffing it periodically. I believe I caught whiffs of mandarin orange, or something along that line, as well.

I find this to be nothing special, and I wouldn't describe this as refreshing - it smells like a scent of an old woman, and the bottle is so 'old' looking. The scent does nothing to lift my spirits, and I strongly feel that the aim of a fragrance should be to enhance one's mood or evoke certain emotions or memories. This one did absolutely nothing for me. I can't even say that I like this scent at all...

I wish I felt differently because of what the fragrance description promises and the classy branding. I'm sorry, I tried, but I just can't.

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TheEmpress on 6/15/2010 11:50:00 AM more reviews by TheEmpress

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

This is a lovely yet fleeting spicey-citrus. Perfect for the Summer. However, It does not last more than 1hour. I will not be re-purchasing for this reason.

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*TOP REVIEWER* KKAI on 3/18/2010 7:57:00 AM more reviews by KKAI

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Red, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Hazel    

My review is for Mandragore Pourpre.

Bergamot and Anise! It is really sharp in the beginning but it mellows after a few minutes and remains a fresh and spicy citrus fragrance with character. It has a very distinct aroma which would be great for day but it could easily be worn during summer nights too! I have tested the original Mandragore and have found it very similar but the new flanker is slightly more interesting! I am not completely sure if I would purchase a full bottle, as I do not think that this is an "easy", everyday fragrance, but it is certainly worth sampling.

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she_thinks_it on 12/7/2008 1:18:00 AM more reviews by she_thinks_it

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I hate most perfumes, so I bought this out of desperation to find something that wouldn't leave that chemical floral smell on me. I have to say I was pretty pleased. I like gender-neutral fragrances without floral notes. This one went on and I could immediately smell the ginger and bergamot. The bergamot faded and then I got the pepper note, which stayed for most of the day. I think this could be a nice year-round scent, because the spice is neither too warm nor too light. I also noticed that once dry, the scent didn't change; no chemical drydown scent. I really like wearing this and I'm inspired to try other Annick Goutal fragrances.

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marysusan on 11/7/2008 2:07:00 PM more reviews by marysusan

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Unique fragrance. Somewhat sweet, yet soft. Licorice and anise and a little vanilla, yet citrusy all in one. I find I prefer it during cooler months.

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*TOP REVIEWER* tempest322 on 6/26/2008 11:31:00 PM more reviews by tempest322

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

I have grown to really love Mandragore, but, as with most Annick Goutals, it was an acquired taste for me. I first purchased it two summers ago and in fact I find I wear it almost exclusively in summer -- it is a really great scent for hot weather, especially with the minty, effervescent burst I get when it first goes on. As it dries down, it is a strange combination of earthy elements, a twinge of anise, and something else ... the mandrake? To me, there is something oddly "bubbly" or almost "carbonated", somehow, about this fragrance ... it's hard to explain but I enjoy it a lot. The EDT lasting power is not great ... but I love to spritz it again and again in the summer. The funny thing is that its name and packaging make it seem so dark, but it's actually quite lively and refreshing (while a bit odd).

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*TOP REVIEWER* jiicky on 6/15/2008 9:14:00 AM more reviews by jiicky

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Black    

Even though I gave this fragrance a 4 out of 5, I don't think that I would pay full price for a bottle because the lasting power of this scent is in a word: "ephemeral" or in two words: "completely non-existent." The scent lasts about 30-45 minutes on me and after an hour, you can have to put your nose right onto your wrist to catch the vestiges of this fragrances. You will have to re-apply this stuff probably every two hours (no joke). The perfume lasts a bit longer than the EDT-- exactly 2 hours on me. For people who worry about their perfume knocking out all their coworkers and infiltrating every corner of their work place-- this a great perfume for you. Mandragore is very, very subtle-- so subtle that you can barely smell it on yourself.


This is really too bad because the scent is nice citrus scent (more bergamot than neroli) with hints of powder and as one reviewer below said, a touch of licorice (or perhaps anise). Some reviewers said that the fragrance is not that distinctive, I half agree with this sentiment. There is nothing glaringly unique or memorable about this fragrance but the hook of Mandragore is the subtlety of the citrus fragrance. Mandragore is an "elegant" citrus scent as it is somewhat understated and soft and quite well-balanced-- unlike other citrus scents, it is not a zingy sport fragrance or hard-as-nails career woman perfume, or some nightclub spray for tweens. A lot of citrus scents scream at you. Others aren't as well-balanced--I find many too sugary or grassy or too synthetic or just too masculine after-shave-ish. Mandragore is for the woman who enjoys the quieter pleasures in life, who doesn't want a fragrance to announce her presence. The fragrance has a soft effervesence-- sparkly but not in a loud way. Mandragore sits close to the skin and would smell lovely.... If it would only last...


Ladies who can afford gallons of this stuff, I would say to go fill your bathtub with it and jump in. Poor girls like me need to wait for Santa at Christmas time. It is also makes a great fragrance purchase for men who are anti-fragrance or worried about being perceived as sissy. Even Neanderthals will probably wear this fragrance because it is pretty low-key and nobody can smell it off of them unless they are in a crowded elevator.

All that being said, Mandragore came very close to knocking off Svelte from the top of my light citrus scents... but I will wait to purchase until Annick Goutal figures out how to make it last a bit longer.

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*TOP REVIEWER* 52pigtails on 4/2/2008 2:54:00 AM more reviews by 52pigtails

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

This is a nice clean and green citrus with a twisting note of mandragore, which is very rare to find in modern fragrances. Yet, this note alone does not save the fragrance from being, IMHO, very common and similar to other citruses around.
Lovely and comforting, but I wouldn't buy a full bottle of it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* tessture on 3/16/2008 2:29:00 PM more reviews by tessture

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I wish this cost less. It's a very nice, clean scent, crisp and slightly green, but only licorice lovers should apply. It isn't as heavy on the licorice as you might think, but that's a definite note. Gingery, cool, this is a summer scent. Love it. Doesn't last strongly, as other reviewers have noted, but I do get faint whiffs of it as the day goes on. Still, reapply at the four hour mark is definitely necessary and if you like your scents to stay strong and noticeable all day, this one may not be for you. I'm not a citrus fan, but this one I like very much.

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selkins on 2/24/2008 2:37:00 PM more reviews by selkins

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Blond, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Just as another poster below mentions, this scent lasts approximately 20 minutes (at most) on me. I've forced a number of people to smell me after application, to make certain I wasn't crazy. Sure enough, a case of the amazing disappearing perfume. Fun to use this effect to put snotty SAs in their place, though. I do like the scent on paper strips and the second it hits my skin, but immediately it begins to fade...

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*TOP REVIEWER* cavalletta on 2/11/2008 5:24:00 PM more reviews by cavalletta

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Brown    

I will not buy this but I like it. At first it smells a bit of old, bitter oranges to me and then it dries down to a softer and sweeter version of the initial smell although i wouldnt call this soft or sweet. Hard to describe. Not like most citrus perfumes. Like any perfume, you have to smell it to understand. I would not purchase because It doesnt last very long at all especially for the $ it costs...more than my typical perfume. Also, I just dont see myself wearing it...It is rare that I'm in a citrus mood. I do like this though and it is unique. I think it would take a special woman to make this "hers"...

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*TOP REVIEWER* swirlsschmurls on 2/7/2008 6:00:00 AM more reviews by swirlsschmurls

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

2.5 really, if I could. I wanted to love this, especially for the amount that it cost me and the fact that it had the exotically mythical Mandrake Root. :) Unfortunately, I should have given the little spray I tested out at the shop a little more time to settle, because this has zero staying power on me, even when I spray it on covered areas, such as my waist, or pulse points. I liked how fresh and simultaneously complex the scent itself was, while it lasted, and the drydown was quite beautiful, since it loses much of its tang, and settles into a wonderfully refreshing but relaxed scent. It smells like something someone would wear on a relaxed weekend sitting around, reading and sipping tea. If that makes sense. But this lasts all of 20 minutes on me, and then it’s gone. So for the people it lasts on, good for you, but it didn’t work for me. Oh, and strange though it sounds, if you do catch some small hint of the insect spray effect another reviewer mentioned-which I did- you might want to try layering it with The Body Shop’s ‘Velique.’ (I had it lying around at the time, and had nothing to lose anyway.) It sounds odd, especially since the Body Shop’s scent is slightly lower-end, but together, they do smell delicious, since Velique is both fresh but a little musky, so it softens Mandragore a little, and the scent lasts a tad longer.

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