Les Colognes Néroli is not to be confused with Néroli eau de toilette, also by Annick Goutal. Les Colognes Néroli was created by Isabelle Doyen when the house reworked Néroli eau de toilette into a cologne version that was launched in 2013.

It opens with a note of lemon tree petitgrain. It’s floral and green, with a nose-tingling freshness. Lemon tree petitgrain blends beautifully with aromatic neroli, highlighting its citrusy, sweet floralcy. The neroli is paired with fresh, voluptuous orange blossom to create a gorgeous, lush tumble of white flowers on my skin. This is the smell of a perfect summer’s day! At times, bitterness peeps through the flowers, keeping the fragrance ‘real.’ Heliotrope adds a gentle vanilla sweetness and a powderiness, while white musk, clean and smooth, anchors it all at the base.

The drydown is refined, romantic and just lovely. Truth is, it doesn’t evolve much – it’s a cologne. It’s pretty straightforward and uncomplicated, but it’s not without depth.

One of the things I love about this fragrance is how real it smells. The Goutal website says it evokes “the happy memory of orange blossom illuminating the Mediterranean countryside.” And you know what? It does.

Notes: l petitgrain, neroli, orange blossom absolut, heliotrope white musk.