Annick Goutal Songes Has Me Dreaming of Jasmine

Annick Goutal Songes is a deeply sexy and lush jasmine perfume. For over-the-top, stiletto heels & red lipstick sexy, Annick Goutal Passion is really the queen, but Songes is the queen of sultry summer perfumes that are bursting with white florals and hot skin. I'd say sweaty skin, but that's not quite poetic enough for an Annick Goutal perfume. I prefer the more floral eau de toilette to the more vanillic eau de parfum. Songes is like a steamy hot summer day, the kind that makes you want to move slowly, and perhaps not at all. The word that comes to mind is "languid". 

...the sweet life, indeed

Songes starts out by coming on to you in the most shameless way. She is not hiding her ripe & succulent jasmine, ylang and frangipani, but instead sheds everything and just lies back on a bed overflowing with intoxicating white flowers. Slowly the warm cushy scent of gentle vanilla wafts up from the lush bed of flowers, adding a sweet and edible aspect that makes you want to bury your nose in this scent. Songes was allegedly inspired by a walk through an exotic garden on the island of Mauritius at night fall. As the air cools, the heat from the gardens rise and the tantalizing scent of tropical flowers surround you like a spell. You will need to find a slowly swaying hammock in a cool shady forrest, and lie down, while you float away on a jasmine-y cloud of flowers.

Night blooming jasmine; cestrum nocturnum

What makes Annick Goutal Songes sexy is that it comes on strong then pulls back a little. The heady and seductive scent that draws you in slowly subsides and becomes part of your skin, meaning if anyone wants to smell it, they will have to get close. And because the air is sweltering, getting closer will only make things, well, hotter. Best place to wear it? As Chanel would say, wear perfume where you want to be kissed.

That Violet Perfume Is So Purple-y

I love violet perfumes. The "love at first sight" flower...fitting. They are soft, simple and innocent. Why innocent? Hm, I'm not sure. Somehow I associate violet with babies or grandmothers, or candy, and all of those things are pretty darn sweet & innocent. They is an airy and fresh feel to violet perfumes that to my thinking makes them perfect for spring, as well as the intense heat of summer. Years ago I got a simple violet eau de toilette on summer holidays at the beach in St Jean de Luz in France, so perhaps that wonderful scent memory of hot sunny days sipping white wine while listening to the waves crash will forever cement the perfect summer day with the scent of violets for me. I just feel clean and fresh when I wear violet. 

Annick Goutal La Violette: It smells like sweet violet candies- soft and soapy, and stays close to the skin. The violet is somehow a "cool" flower so violet scents tend to be cooling and perfect for warm weather. They have a simple old fashioned feel to them and there is a rainy fresh garden feel that I just love.  I get decent longevity from almost all perfumes so while some complain that this does not last on them, on me it lasts a few hours. It is a simple soliflore but somehow so perfect and light. 

L'Artisan Parfumeur Verte Violette: This one is a bright purple violet. It's sparkling and vivid, like a handful of violettes covered in dew. The "Verte" in this (French for green) refers the green notes, which are supposed to be the leaves and stems. The neat thing about violet leaf is it is often used in men's fragrances, and it adds a unisex twist to the violet, which can often be very feminine smelling.  As well, L'Artisan added a touch of iris to this mix, which adds an earthy richness. Both sexes could easily wear this one and they would smell amazing. Love it. One of my favourite L'Artisans.

Guerlain Les Meteorites: Brace yourself for the sad panda- this gorgeous little gem is discontinued. Sorry. I don't usually like to write about products that are nearly impossible to find but I just can't talk about violets without mentioning this. Named after Guerlain's famous cosmetic powder of the same name, Les Meteorites is the scent of those gorgeous little powder balls we love so much. The neat thing about this violet scent is the warmth behind the flower. The yummy sweet Guerlinade makes up the base for the violet. Please read Monsieur Guerlain's perfect description of Guerlinade. He says it better than I ever could. Violet is a cool and fresh flower so adding the sweet sultry Guerlain magic recipe makes it a slightly sexy violet. Only Guerlain...

Top 5 Items In My Purse - Video Post!

I decided to share my post with you via video this week! I talk about what I'm loving in my make up bag right now, my perfume of the day, and an item I love right now that is soon to be reviewed. Enjoy and thanks for watching!!

In case you are wondering about the stunning painting behind me, it is a huge piece by my dear friend Heidi Conrod. If you aren't familiar with her work, I suggest you check her out. Every single one of her pieces is deeply personal and evokes a feeling of love and warmth. More are incredible caustic works of oil and beeswax and have so much depth you feel like you could reach into one.

Here is a bigger shot of the painting....

For more info on the products I discuss in this video, here are the links:

Jane Iredale Pure Pressed Base Mineral Foundation SPF 20

LipFusion Sweet

Nivea Classic Cream

Goody Double Wear Elastics

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Bel Ami

American Apparel Leather Goods

Annick Goutal Matin d'Orage eau de toilette

Random Beautiful Thoughts

Bridge over St Lawrence River on Canada-US border...to heaven?

Music: I seem to listening to a lot of soundtrack music theses days, which is kind of cool as that usually means discovering old gems. Maybe I'm watching movies late at night with terrific music I can't always ID, but no fear. I have Shazam. I have fallen in love with my Shazam App on my phone for two reasons. First, the obvious one, is that it names the song I happen to be listening to but can't figure out what it is or who is singing it. Secondly, it keeps a running list of the songs I have tagged. This is most helpful as when I am on iTunes shopping for music I ALWAYS forget "that song" I meant to find. However, my number one Summer of 2011 Soundtrack has been the Galaxie Satellite 70s channel. I could listen to this channel day and night and have yet to not like a song I've heard there. Cheesy and classic, from rock to disco, I love it all. But I think the smooth jazzy 70s R&B is my absolute fave. It was a toss up between The O'Jays, The Spinners and The Chi-Lites but Marvin Gaye snuck up and won....here, have a G&T and lets groove by the pool....

Book: Well so much for my noble James Joyce summer intentions. This summer has been all about The Game of Thrones for me. I read the first one, then watched the HBO series based on the first book, and I am now officially hooked. Medieval, fantasy, thriller, and horror all wrapped up in 4 (soon to be 5) delicious books, each one at least 1000 pages. Well written, beautifully woven stories with fantastic characters that drew me in and make it hard to put down. Not only that, but I am reading it on my Kobo app on my lovely little powerhouse, my Blackberry Playbook. I ADORE my Playbook, it is the perfect little tablet. It fits in my purse, lets me go all over the interwebs, listen to music etc but the book reading is one of my fave options. It is back lit and the font size means I can read without my readers. In the dark, even! Yay! The portability is super cool as it fits nicely in my hand and my purse which my iPad does not do. It holds a charge forever. I don't think the Game of Thrones books would fit in my purse, which is bulging with so many other Important Things. And paper. Anyways, this is the summer of Game of Thrones and if you haven't picked it up, you should. 

Yes. That is Sean Bean.

See how awesome? Love my Blackberry Playbook!

Food: This has been the summer of BBQ. All kinds of yumminess has hit the grill, but I have to say my daughter Emilie made the winner this year. She takes fresh sweet corn on the cob, removes the husks, and puts it right on the grill to cook. It doesn't take long, really just a few minutes with the cobs being turned. While it cooks, she makes this killer homemade spicy sauce with mayonnaise, fresh lime juice, sriracha sauce (oh yeah...) and some chilli powder She slathers the grilled corn with this, then grates fresh parmesan on top. Best BBQ veggie ever. I don't have the exact amounts for the ingredients but a quick Google search would probably turn up a variation. As for sweets, the Lindt Fleur de Sel dark chocolate bars have turned me into a chocolate glutton. Seriously, I cannot believe how delicious the sea salt and chocolate combination is. You simply must try it yourself. And if you are feeling really wild, try the Passion Sea Salt & Caramel. Oh man. Chocolate heaven. Who knew dark chocolate could be so very very bad?

Fashion: One of my favourite looks this summer has been my baggy shorts with platform sandals. I've been loving my ivory Wilfred Tropez shorts from Aritzia and these cute cork wedges from Aldo. I've had some foot issues (surgery end of September will end my woes thank god) so I have had to keep the heels pretty reasonable. Which if you know me, is hard. Boo hoo. Anyways...these shorts, these shoes and a nice flowy silk top makes for a sharp yet easygoing elegant summer look. Key aka Very Important: Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse on the legs and a lovely pedicure that includes pretty soft skin on the feet. This, ladies, is a deal breaker.

Skincare du Jour: Sunscreen! I've spent a good deal of time this summer cruisin' in a convertible and wow, one can COOK if one isn't careful. So, lots of sunscreen on my body and face has been key. Keeping in convenient makes me more likely to apply. I LOVE my Ombrelle stick- it is in my purse at all times and goes on my face especially forehead and nose, as my sunglasses are huge and cover a lot of my face. And for my arms, shoulders and legs, Kiss My Face makes an spf 30 spray oil sunscreen that I adore. I discovered it first at The Standard Hotel Miami and could not believe something that smelled and felt so nice could protect me from the sun. I use on my hair when I'm by a pool or at the beach. It smells like honey, but only slightly. Amazing stuff. Hard to find in Canada but I stock up in Whole Foods when I'm in the States.

Make Up: Urban Decay Cannonball Waterproof Mascara (read about my love for this here) and MAC Blot (which I've also raved about) powder have helped me through some hot and melty days! Love them both and can't imagine hot summer days without them. Cannonball goes on soft and slick and lasts all day without flaking or smudging. And MAC Blot, if you haven't used it, is miraculous. Deposits almost NO colour, yet makes any shiny or oily spots disappear and lasts hours. Could. Not. Be. Without.

Perfume: Lately is has been super hot, as summer should be! When the heat and humidity are so oppressive though, a light hand is called for perfume wise. Annick Goutal La Violette has got me through. It smells like sweet violet candies- soft and soapy, and stays close to the skin. The violet is somehow a "cool" flower so violet scents tend to be cooling and perfect for warm weather. They have a simple old fashioned feel to them and there is a rainy fresh garden feel that I just love.  I get decent longevity from almost all perfumes so while some complain that this does not last on them, on me it lasts a few hours. It is a simple soliflore but somehow so perfect and light.  The "love at first sight" flower...fitting.

Random Beautiful Thoughts

Music ~ As a long time fan of the musical weirdness that was Roxy Music and is Bryan Ferry I was keen to hear Olympia. His latest release features some pretty cool dudes including Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, just to name a few. But it is the spooky & ethereal Brian Eno rejoining that adds that Roxy magic, especially evident on Tender is The Night. I feel like this song is…humid and dense, if that makes sense…

Speaking of a little weirdness (I mean this in the best way) how about a little Jonsi (from Sigur Ros) and the oh so pretty Go, Do

Go sing, too loud

Make your voice break- sing it out

Go scream, do shout

Make an earthquake

.....so pretty, right?

Book ~ Just finished Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom and I loved it. I still love him for his famous Oprah dissing ( I am not a believer in The Church of Oprah) and for the weird Franzenfreude that arose as a result of his great reviews. Sour grapes much? Anyways…his books make me want to have a pencil nearby when I’m reading so I can underline phrases that blow my mind. Sometimes I read them out loud… a few times. Anyone who grew up in the 70s/80s and who had even a modicum of family dysfunction needs to read Jonathan Franzen. The Corrections spoke to my generation and moved me in unexpected ways. Freedom reminded me of how politics were so important to my parents and how they shaped my beliefs. It also reinforced (in my humble opinion) how important it is to take responsibility for your parenting and for your children. There is a weird over-protective/let-kids-make-the-important-choices dichotomy going on these days. Parents who cry “poor me” and act like martyrs while not letting their kids walk anywhere on their own or take responsibility for their bad behavior. It’s like a reversal of what parenting should be….”in my humble opinion”… Freedom is not just about parenting by any chance…but that is one of the things I took away from it.

Food ~ Well, post holidays I am happy to purge my system of chocolate and celebratory dinners with a normal eating routine. It doesn’t take long to feel energized and healthy again when pounds of chocolate, butter and champagne are eliminated (ok…reduced…) from the diet. During these cold days, curries are among my favourite dishes and my Lalah's Curry Powder and Patak's curry paste get a real workout. One of my favourite vegetarian dishes is Spicy Rice and Lentils. It doesn't use curry but has lots of warmth and yumminess and was always a favourite with my daughter and her friends, even when they were young. Hey, it doesn't have to be gross chicken fingers and frozen fries! 

Fashion ~ Ah, let us thank the fashion gods for the big circle scarf, shall we? I have a big thick wooly black one from Urban Outfitters that I have been living in during our cold snap. It’s a scarf, a hat, and a neck warmer. A win for me! Also, Canadian chain Aritzia has a line called TNA that makes super cozy parkas that are lined with a faux fur. Mine is blue grey military style and with the hood up & my circle scarf wrapped around my neck you can colour me cozy. What I want- did anyone else notice Natalie Portman’s character in Black Swan was constantly wearing what looked like cashemere sweatpants and hoodies? All in pale greys, blushes and cream colours! Cozy stuff for lounging around the house are pretty much my favourite items and these look like the ultimate. I can pretend to be a ballerina ;)

this is how I imagine my make up :)

Cosmetic du Jour ~ For some reason I am embracing black eyeliner on my upper and lower waterlines. It looks sexy and smoky, yet subtle and Lancome Le Stylo Waterproof pencil in Black stays put. Loving me some Bobbi Brown right now. Her award winning Long Wear Cream Shadow in Cement is my daily go-to neutral eye shadow these days, and her Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks in the pretty and cheery Pale Pink is giving me a blush. Dust it all over with some Illuminating Bronzing Powder in the pale golden bronze colour of Aruba and I look like I am happily surviving winter with a healthy glow.

Perfume du Moment ~  I have been craving warmth and the smells that come when the earth is alive, ie flowers, grass, trees and the way everything smells when the sun shines on it. You know, when it's. Not. Winter. A little spritz of Annick Goutal Songes or Comptoir Sud Pacifique Aloha Tiare gives me a "warm sultry tropical night walking under fragrant flowers" in a bottle and just make me happy. I think it makes people around me happy too, as when I wear either of these I am constantly hearing “Mmmm what are you wearing, you smell so good”. Works for me! A few sprays of Jo Malone Vintage Gardenia at bedtime guarantees sweet dreams. This white floral blend has soft and gentle notes of cardamom that adds a warming element, perfect for a cold and blustery night

The Understated Beauty of L'Artisan Parfumeur Vanilia

L’Artisan Parfumeur is the second niche line I fell for, when I sniffed their gorgeous fruity musk scent, Mure et Musc Extreme in 1998 while shopping in New York. There was something so transparent and “different” about the line,  and the scents seemed so odd compared to the standard commercial releases. The added novelty of shopping at Barney’s and just being in New York City no doubt shaped my impression of the line, and for that, I am grateful. I have beautiful associations with a beautiful perfume line.

I was already a full fledged perfume junkie and had an overflowing dresser full of bottles from almost all the mainstream lines. At the time I worked for an agent promoting new releases of many lines of perfumes from our humble Canadian Alfred Sung to all the Italian houses (D&G, Versace, Bulgari, Ungaro, etc) as well as Byblos, La Perla and some other more obscure but still mostly mainstream lines. I had OD’d on the 90s powerhouse scents like Mugler Angel, Chanel Allure & Christian Dior Dolce Vita after working in environments where they were being launched, meaning sprayed everywhere. All. The. Time. Mercilessly. To this day I can spot either one of those a mile away as they do not change on anyone’s skin (sorry to any fans, but they don’t) and maintain a screeching linear tone that makes me want to cut my nose off.

My first niche line was Annick Goutal. I had fallen for Annick Goutal probably in 1994 when my local Holt Renfrew (the smallest in Canada) had the line there for a very brief period. Serendipity I’d say, as they carry only the most popular lines due to limited space. Their popular and fresh Eau d'Hadrien (lemon, grapefruit, ylang ylang) became my daytime scent and the sultry Passion (tuberose, ylang, patchouli, vanilla etc) was my nighttime go-to. What I loved most about Annick Goutal was no one I knew had even heard of it. DING DING this was the clincher and soon having a unique perfume that no one else might be wearing became a Very Important Thing.

Back to L’Artisan Parfumeur. Dismissed by many hardcore perfumistas as too bland and mainstream (although a few of their recent releases have been interesting…) I still love this line. They were the first house to do a fig scent and their Premier Figuier is still one of the best creamy fig scents- it was my eldest daughter Emilie’s signature perfume for years. Which is why, as much as I love its green, creamy, powdery and slightly coconut-y scent I can never wear it as it just smells like her. Don’t you hate it when that happens? Funny how we can associate a scent with that person and it becomes impossible to mold it into anything or anyone else.

Vanilia is an older scent from the house having been released in 1978. Perhaps it smells a bit like the 70s where high quality ingredients were tossed into perfumes pell-mell, like a soup.  The notes given (or that I have compiled online) are simple- ylang ylang, vanilla bean, amber and sandalwood. There is a fruity note that perhaps comes from the ylang ylang with the vanilla making it almost foody- but it is never too sweet or cloying. It dries down with the amber & sandalwood adding an almost smoky resinous scent, that sits and warms on the skin never becoming cloying or saccharine. The smoke is barely hinted at before it goes and for that I am grateful as I am not a fan of smoky notes. Its more of a soft barely sweet incense. Vanilia is a bit of a shape shifter, one minute being a soft vanilla scent then becoming an amber-y floral. Some have complained that Vanilia is too soft and too ethereal and have wished for an Extreme or more intense version. I think that would take away from the whole point of this scent and I love it just the way it is.

Truly one of the oddest vanilla scents I was never quite sure if I liked it. I am not a fan of sugary sweet scents and, if you are looking for straight up vanilla scent, you may be disappointed by Vanilia. If you want to smell like cookie dough or cake, this is not the vanilla for you. This is a grown up vanilla with the smooth relaxed vibe I associate with the 70s. Think soft flowing hair, maybe Indian cotton dresses and long skirts and even YSL Safari jackets. Maybe some George Benson playing in the background while you mix drinks and get the fondue ready. The beautiful yet carefree style of Talitha Getty comes to mind and Vanilia to me smells like effortless bohemian luxury. Luxury is key because there is nothing hippie or head shop about this perfume. Vanilia is for the beautiful people, to wear when you are going skiing in Klosters, or dinner in Biarritz after surfing all day. It isn’t loud and doesn’t try to hard. Like you are wearing just a touch of make up, with your hair down and sporting a carefree attitude, in Vanilia you are enveloped in a soft cashmere wrap that is so fine it’s almost ethereal- you can barely feel it on your skin. 

News on the internet says Vanilia is discontinued but several retailers I know of have plenty of stock.  The manager at the L’Artisan Parfumeur boutique at Ogilvy in Montreal told me it was not discontinued, and, have it on their price list catalogue they so kindly send me from time to time. Yet, I have decided to get a back up bottle…just in case…

L'Artisan Parfumeur is available in Canada at boutiques, and they have a freestanding boutique within Ogilvy Department Store in Montreal.