Eau du Fier is one of those perfumes that make me wonder if I actually enjoy the way they smell or the fact they're so unusual and unconventional. It's probably a mix of both, since this Annick Goutal creation (by house perfumer Isabelle Doyen) is not the only tarry perfume I like. But there's something to be said for the uniqueness and element of surprise whenever I spray myself with it.
Eau du Fier smells mostly like a cocktail of Lapsang Souchong with a splash of non-sweet orange juice. The opening is extremely smoky, medicinal and would challenge many people's idea of perfume, unless they're familiar with CDG Tar, Tauer's Lonestar Memories or at least Bulgari Black and Tea For Two by L'Artisan. Still the last two have a nice dose of vanilla that makes them go down easily enough, while the Goutal has little to none sweetness. My skin tends to neutralize heavy smoky notes and reduces them to their woody or shrubbery origin. Eau du Fier becomes very much a tea scent with an almost sheer quality. It's a lot less heavy than one would assume after the birch tar assault of the top notes and settles very close to the skin, feeling more exotic than avant-garde.
I enjoy the entire journey and find it very wearable on days I don't have to mix with the general public which might raise an eyebrow at a woman who smells of a burnt substance. It's not a perfume I'd recommend to wear for a romantic date for either men or women, unless the object of your desire is a tea connoisseur who would appreciate the nuances. Still, the bottom line is that Eau du Fier smells good in an off-the-beaten-path way and is worth becoming part of one's perfume journey. If you can find some, that is.
Eau du Fier was released in 2000 and vanished from our shelves around 2005. A few European Annick Goutal boutiques had it until a couple of years ago and while the official Goutal website doesn't even mention its existence, a handful of bottles still make an appearance overseas, which is how I found and purchased mine.
Photo: theteacentre.com.au
Thanks for the post. I love Eau du Fier and am jealous you found a bottle! I'm constantly on the lookout, and just have a decant.
ReplyDeleteHave you noticed that almost everything Annick Goutal on the Aedes site is sold out? What's up with that? I was at Nieman's in Chicago this past weekend and an SA told me Annick Goutal was filing Chapter 13. Is there any truth to this? I was unable to find anything to this effect online. Makes no sense since they are releasing a new scent.
Furriner, here's what I know re: Goutal. The house itself is doing just fine and is, indeed, releasing a new scent. It was the former American distributor who went belly-up, thus the supply in our stores here dried out. That prompted many retailers to get rid of the bottles still in stock, hence their appearance at dirt cheap prices online. However, Goutal (just like MPG, only a lot quicker) found a new distributor. There might be some changes as to who stocks what because of the negotiations for new deals and contracts, but Annick Goutal perfumes are available again at authorized stores such as Henri Bendel.
ReplyDeleteDanger averted :)
Hm, I've never heard about it, but Eau du Fier sounds mouthwateringly nice to me - I'm a big tea lover, smokey oolongs are my favourites. So I'd love to be enveloped in a tea-scent. (Now only to find it - I'm based in Europe).
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