Annick Goutal • Eau De Charlotte • Fragrances

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*TOP REVIEWER* Gother on 9/30/2012 4:55:00 AM more reviews by Gother

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Violet    

It's a damp and melancholic February morning in a French village and a charming elegant woman in her peach trench and light blue loafers opens the door of her pretty patisserie and sets a cream and pink pot of lily and mimosa flowers, the early messengers of the timidly approaching spring, on the bar counter.
Very soon the festive smells of cookies baking in the back kitchen peacefully invade the shop and make it alive with notes of vanilla and cocoa, while she diligently proceeds to fill her soft pastries with berry jam and chocolate and cream.
All her clients adore her and the joyful moments of guilty pleasure that her sweet treats deliver, another way to transform an ordinary day into a glory day, which is the real art in life, and the brief moment of happiness dilates all through the day and comes back at tides to seduce again and again.

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Merrie1 on 3/30/2012 1:30:00 PM more reviews by Merrie1

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

I don't smell the jam or the cocoa. I smell straight up baby powder. It's not really unpleasant just not what I expected. Reminds me of my memory of smelling Hanae Mori butterfly years ago which was straight up wet baby powder with a tinge of something sweet.

I bought this unsniffed and I was hoping to get the cocoa and jam scent since that sounded so lovely. I really enjoy petite cherie so I was expecting something... different. That said, I will keep it because it's a cozy powdery scent. One that I think I could probably layer with a Jo Malone or something. I do get where some people say they get roses.. the powdered rose with a tinge of sweet something flitting around is fairly accurate though not a straight up rose (like JM Rose for example).

Edit: Weeks later. Yech. Pure straight up baby powder with some sort of sweet scent. I can't stand wearing it. Dissapointed.

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robinmosesnailart on 10/29/2010 2:05:00 AM more reviews by robinmosesnailart

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

to me, the most romantic of the goutal line that i have smelled......she leaves you wanting to keep spraying her alllll the time. i go on charlotte binges. i cannot say one particular thing about her except she seems to have everything i love about goutal in her all at once but in a very subtle way and with the powdery note that enchants me about goutal being KEY........i can spray any scent and overlap it with charlotte and make them all more feminine. she is the light breeze and lace of what makes goutal so special and i can only dream that as i collect each one i find another as special as she is. my love for charlotte is for forever.

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*TOP REVIEWER* shamuball on 5/2/2010 7:29:00 PM more reviews by shamuball

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

i agree w/the baby powder comment- the first thing i thought of was wet wipes! no fruity/green notes at all.

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A88A on 4/15/2010 10:41:00 AM more reviews by A88A

Age: 25-29   Skin: Very Oily, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I really don't get the green or blackcurrent notes up top. My first initial impression is some sort of baby product. Not baby powder, exactly, but baby skin maybe? Apricot and baby powder? Johnson and Johnson baby lotion? If you're into babies and the way they smell, then great. I am at once too old and too young to be smelling like babies, so- not for me. It does dry down nicely, and I do get a faint cocoa finish, but it's kind of like sitting all the way through a mediocre movie. (About a bunch of babies)

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MoBo on 12/9/2009 12:10:00 AM more reviews by MoBo

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I really like this perfume. It's one of my favourites at the moment. Last summer I was really into Saffron James Nani, but now that it's winter I need something less light and in bloom. Eau de Charlotte has been in my sample collection for quite some time. I purchased a sample mostly for sentimental reasons - I liked the fact that Annick Goutal made it for her daughter Charlotte. That's a nice gesture. I think I didn't really connect with the fragrance when it first arrived (in the spring) in the way that I do now that there's snow. Like others have said here, however, Eau de Charlotte opens green. Then it dries down gourmand and becomes somewhat powdery and clean smelling. I like all of this, although I'm not usually into gourmand scents. Overall, though, this is an amazing scent - it makes me feel sweet and feminine and clean. I don't need to apply much - just a bit, or I'll get overwhelmed. I'll buy a full bottle once I get the money.

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mymiddlenameisjane on 7/25/2009 11:12:00 AM more reviews by mymiddlenameisjane

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

This is a really unusual perfume, but it is my favorite, and I have tried many, many perfumes!


Eau de Charlotte starts out with a very green, shocking, herbaceous note. If the scent remained like this, I would not wear it. But this note disappears almost completely after just ten minutes or so, and is replaced by berry jam and soft powdery florals. The dry down is faint florals and cocoa powder.


The dry down arrives quickly and stays for a long time, and it is such a soft, sweet, sophisticated skin scent that feels very suited to my personal style. It feels like a natural complement to cashmere, soft neutral tones, subtle makeup, and fair skin. It is young and fresh but luxurious at the same time.

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AnnaSa on 7/13/2009 5:31:00 AM more reviews by AnnaSa

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I've tried the EdT, and I think it's a good scent, but not interesting enough to buy a full bottle. The opening is my favourite part; green with a touch of sweet berries. When it fades I mostly get gourmand notes: almonds, berries, some vanilla and jam. It's too sweet for me, but if you are into gourmands this is a good choice. Lasting power is average but there is not much sillage.

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*TOP REVIEWER* 52pigtails on 12/10/2008 2:59:00 AM more reviews by 52pigtails

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

The first time I smelled Eau de Charlotte in a small, lovely perfume shop in Italy, I fell in love with what I perceived as a "shampoo-esque thrill": yes, the fragrance reminded me of cheerful kids just getting out of their bath and laughing while thir mom wipes them dry.
Cheerfulness is what strikes me most in this fragrance: berries are infused in sweet cocoa like little Christmas threats, white flowers lend a sweet (but never cloying) base like a soft warm blanket.
The fragrance is not exactly the sum of its parts, it's something way better, complete. If you're 35 or older, like I, you may be told this is a fragrance for young girls. Of course you're not going to listen to this crap. You'll smell good in it at any age!
The lasting power is about 4 hours, not bad for being an EdT.

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gleaf on 12/4/2008 3:02:00 PM more reviews by gleaf

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This is not what I thought it would be, but I still really love it. I don't get as much of the berries/cocoa, and get more of the floral/mimosa, especially at first. The sweetness is in the drydown. I love how it is both fresh, floral and sweet and doesn't smell like everything else out there. It really sparkles. I also love that it's subtle, as I hate to shout "perfume!" when I enter a room. I got a sample first and this will be my first full-size purchase in a verrrrry long time.

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Beauty0Marked on 11/21/2008 7:17:00 AM more reviews by Beauty0Marked

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I like to try and sample my fragrances before I splash out the cash for them and that is what I did with this. When I sampled this I thought, 'Wow, lush'. I'm a fan of the occasional fruity fragrance and so, having used up my sample, I was convinced I needed a bottle of this. So the bottle arrived and I was well pleased. I sprayed and yep it still had the same 'mmmm' effect on me. As the day wore on I couldn't help feeling a little nauseous but this sometimes happens so I didn't blame the perfume. However, the more I used this the more I was starting to realise that my love affair with this was over. I concluded that it was too sweet and also has that very 'off' dusty/powdery smell that so many Goutals seem to have. I hate to waste a perfume so I try to persevere with this but mostly it just makes me feel sick. Sometimes I will go to smell this and I think it's 'off' but it's not, especally since I've not had it long but I have heard that Goutals do turn quite quickly in some cases.
So, for me, this is has been an unpredictable little number. I gave it two because it did win me over at first. It retails from about £54.50 in the UK. The bottle is pretty but I didn't like the gold pouch but appreciate the idea. Highly unlikely that I'll be reprchasing. I suggest that some fragrances might need a longer sapling time before you commit to buying a bottle.
Notes: blackcurrant, almonds, vanilla and lily of the valley.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Caramellane on 10/5/2008 12:11:00 PM more reviews by Caramellane

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

The notes listed sounded so nice, cocoa, mimosa and blackcurrant bud. I'm confused why this fragrance vaguely reminds of a slightly more floral bar of Irish Spring soap. There is a real green, crisp quality to this one. I have a pretty nuetral opinion of the fragrance. However, I have been wearing this at night after I take a bath. There is something clean and soothing about Eau De Charlotte.

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darkhoney on 9/4/2008 7:41:00 PM more reviews by darkhoney

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I LOVE this fragrance. I have wanted for so long to find a sophisticated, light, wearable, complex fragrance and this is it. The berry is not overly sweet and combines beautifully with the mimosa and lily of the valley into a soft, powdery scent. It is much like Chanel#15 but with berries and chocolate. Very springy yet oriental. I must have a bottle for Spring and Summer...and whenever I want to be reminded of being a berry faced child running though my grandmother's backyard in my white nightgown.

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*TOP REVIEWER* callmecordelia on 8/11/2008 2:17:00 AM more reviews by callmecordelia

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

This is a very soft scent. It's sweet, but it stays close to the skin, so I don't find it overbearing. I agree that it smells like cocoa powder -- or a mix of cocoa powder and powdered sugar, with a little jam. It dries down to, well, fresh diaper bag is not such a bad description. A baby-like scent, very soft. This isn't something I would normally want, but I love the AG bottles, and something about the scent is very comforting.

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*TOP REVIEWER* proximitythe53rd on 8/7/2008 10:20:00 AM more reviews by proximitythe53rd

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I was very surprised by this fragrance, from the list of notes and descriptions I've read, I wouldn't have figured it was one I would like, but I received a decant of this with a purchase I made. When I eventually got around to trying it, I was very surprised by how much I liked it, and I've been enjoying wearing it frequently this summer.



Eau de Charlotte is fruity in a juicy, sort of more drinkable than edible sort of way. The fruity sweetness is mixed with some light florals and a sweet (but not cloying) base. It behaves nicely on hot days, not becoming too strong, but rather taking on a sort of lightly powdery dryness. It has a light, youthfully clean/sweet/fresh sort of smell which is uplifting, with a sort of innocent mood.
The cocoa/chocolate/whatever it is note melds into the buried powderiness of the base, making me think more of powdered hot chocolate mix than of actual chocolate itself. As someone who usually doesn't like any sort of chocolate note, I found the subtlety and wear-ability of this one to be a pleasant surprise.

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*TOP REVIEWER* WinterWheat on 6/19/2008 7:03:00 PM more reviews by WinterWheat

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

What an interesting scent. I received the EDP from escentual.co.uk today, and immediately doused myself. The opening was offputtingly sharp, like blackberry stems bleeding acidic green tomato-leaf juice: everything I ordinarily dislike about "red fruits" as a note/accord in perfumes. Sharp as a pin. Fortunately that faded within 10 minutes, leaving a pleasantly soft baby-lotion scent with a regrettable soapiness. The soapiness too faded after about 1/2 hour, leaving a very agreeable final drydown of milky berries and cocoa powder. If you've ever tried Fresh's Milk line of soaps and lotions -- in particular the Milk - Chocolate scent -- you'll recognize a cousin in Eau de Charlotte. Great for summer, when you want something soft and comforting but still clean.

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Nimue76 on 5/17/2008 10:58:00 AM more reviews by Nimue76

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I had expected a more gourmand fragrance, but it seems my nose cannot detect any cocoa nor vanilla in it! It is a very pretty flowery and herbaceous fragrance, elegant and not overwhelming at all. The dryout reminds me of baby powder, sweet and clean.

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*TOP REVIEWER* tempest322 on 3/25/2008 5:51:00 PM more reviews by tempest322

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

I wasn't crazy about Eau de Charlotte at first, but I have developed a deep, quiet fondness for it lately. What I love about it is that, to me, it smells different than any other perfume I have -- it is in no way generic or common. It goes on with a very tart note of blackberry currant (an homage to Goutal's daughter Charlotte, for whom she created the fragrance), which is at the same time slightly syrupy, but only for a flash. As it dries down it becomes very soft, with a barely detectable note of chocolate and light florals. I like this very much and consider it neither gourmand, fruity, or floral, but its own hybrid creation. It is not heavy and I think it's suitable for any season (except possibly the very hottest days of summer). This is a comfort scent for me, but it is very elegant as well.

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Busyblue on 2/19/2008 10:32:00 AM more reviews by Busyblue

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

I love this. It's sweet, but not terribly so. Very light and the combination of notes is simply lovely. This can be worn year round, though I tend to wear it in the spring & summer. It's a unique scent, too, so you won't be smelling like everyone else while wearing this.

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SunnyBono on 12/21/2007 1:11:00 AM more reviews by SunnyBono

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Love the berry and cocoa notes. It does remind me of a getting inside after a chilly day, but the sweetness makes me think of summer nights with cherry ice cream and first love.

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