Annick Goutal

Annick Goutal was a woman of many talents and passions. Born in France in 1946, she showed an early talent for music and became an expert pianist, winning numerous awards and performing in prestigious venues. However, her love for music eventually waned and she pursued a career in modeling. It was during a modeling job in Grasse, the heart of the French perfume industry, that she discovered her true calling: perfumery. She met the perfumer Henri Sorsana and impressed him with her determination and good sense of smell. He offered her a training position, and Annick spent seven years in Grasse learning the art of perfumery under his tutelage. She memorized fragrances, learned which ingredients pair with each perfume, and developed her creativity under his watchful gaze. In 1977, Annick Goutal finished her training and opened her first boutique in the center of Paris, selling only three perfumes: Folavril, Passion and Eau d'Hadrien. While Folavril did not succeed and Passion had only moderate success, Eau d'Hadrien became her most famous perfume, evoking memories of the emperor Adriano and being loved by celebrities. In 1980, Annick Goutal Parfums was founded, and Annick oversaw the hiring and distribution process as the company expanded nationally and internationally. She was committed to keeping her fragrances exclusive and individual, and only a few companies were allowed to distribute them. Annick Goutal boutiques are located in 43 countries worldwide, offering her unique fragrances to a global audience. Sadly, Annick Goutal developed breast cancer in the mid-1990s and died in 1999 at the age of 53. She left behind a legacy of 25 fragrances and compositions, a strong work ethic, and a daughter, Camille Goutal, who continues her mother’s work as a businesswoman and perfumer. Along with perfumer Isabelle Doyen, Camille Goutal continues creating new fragrances for the Annick Goutal brand, honoring her mother’s passion for the art of perfumery.