Nuit Etoilee by Goutal

Fresh anise upon leaving, just like in Egyptian bazaars. Lasts intensely for two hours before softening into herbs and a bitterness that makes it unique among green scents. I love it.

Natural daytime essences, nothing nocturnal. Spicy, resinous citrus with a sweet tonka touch. Mint hides behind the resins. Moderate performance but worth it. Ideal for the day with casual wear. Unisex and youthful. Pity the price, but the house does it well. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL.

I read reviews for Nuit Etoilée and the name sounded magical, like the air before dawn in my city by the Paraná River. I expected that scent, but it wasn’t that. I found another starry night in another city. Squeezing the valve, I knew it would stay with me. I’d never smelled anything like this. Annick Goutal captured the emotion of a landscape: a village with trees, grass, and a wood-fired oven. I imagine sitting on a cold stone with a grove before me. A cozy night with gentle breezes. Fresh opening, dry mint without spice and something like toasted orange peel. At 20 minutes, the woods arrive: fir with a dirty earthy tone and incredible smokiness. Pine is green and sparkling, but fir dominates. Then it cleans up, leaving a sweet herbal note that reminds me of my childhood stuffed animals and my kitten sleeping. Goutal’s naturalness connects with memories. Good projection, fair performance. Lasts on clothes for half a day. Winter in the south is a pleasure. I already have a second bottle.

I love fragrances that evoke moments, sensations, or places because they have more soul than those that just smell good. With Nuit Etoilee, I feel that powerful nocturnal freshness, like a breeze: citrus and mint with fir and pine woods that give it a balsamic, nocturnal character. As it dries down, although it doesn’t last long, it leaves a sweet woody note with angelica that brings peace. I feel that quiet, fresh wooded landscape under starlight, with muted blue and green colors surrounded by calm. If it weren’t for the moderate longevity and weak sillage, it would be sensational; the composition is excellent. Rating: 7.5.

From the start, in warm weather, the mint is noticeable, with less pine and very little orange and fir. When entering a refrigerated area, as if the notes were inverted, the woody pine and fir stand out more, with less mint. I don’t know why they say it’s niche; on my skin, it had moderate sillage and average longevity of 6 to 7 hours, with the last two hours barely on the skin, typical of common perfumes, not niche. Maybe it’s niche because of natural ingredients; yes, the pine smells very natural, like a Christmas tree. A good option for those who like it is ASPEN, very similar, but with greener woody notes and without pine. Also, ASPEN costs a fraction and has good sillage and longevity. Suitable for any age, daytime use in temperate climates, neither too cold nor too hot.

I tried this fragrance, but since I smelled so many today, I got a bit of a whiff of it. Even though I have the tester card, my nose is saturated, so maybe the scent on the card will fade over time. I’ll try it again. The only thing I know is that I fell in love with it the moment I smelled it and I was reminded of Bond’s Eau de New York for some reason… I’ll investigate that when I try it again. What really impacted me is that the orange and mint blend smells almost exactly like mandarin.

Nuit Etoilee smells super fresh. It kicks off strong, acidic, and refreshing with orange and mint, then settles down and turns greenish. At the end, the tonka bean is barely noticeable. The projection is moderate and the longevity is a bit short. I liked it, but I think it would suit a man better.