Launched in 2002 by Annick Goutal, Le Chevrefeuille was inspired by was inspired by Goutal’s daughter Camille’s childhood memories of the honeysuckle that used to bloom outside her bedroom window at the family home in Provence.
I too have honeysuckle-scented memeoreis of Provence which makes Le Chevrefeuille a sentimental favourite, but what makes it FBW was how fresh, green and gorgeous a frag it is.
It opens with the sweet, honeyed smell of honeysuckle tempered with the bitter citrus tang of petitgrain. Petitgrain is extracted from the leaves and twigs of bitter orange and this gives the opening a crisp, fresh green note that makes me think of the honeysuckle vine. The fragrance of honeysuckle is difficult to capture in perfume, and is often paired with other flowers to bolster its floral effect. Narcissus plays that role here. Like honeysuckle, narcissus is an early spring flower and its presence evokes the tender days of spring. As it blooms, the green note passes and jasmine comes forward. Honeysuckle’s fragrance intensifies in the evening so it makes sense that exotic jasmine would show up in the mix creating a heady white floral accord, leading to a drydown where the jasmine is more prominent.
And what a drydown! Le Chèvrefeuille is the essence of spring - fresh, bright and romantic. It’s essentially, a soliflore with no dramatic twists, turns or surprises except for how much you’ll love it.
Notes: Honeysuckle, petitgrain, narcissus, jasmine
Type: EdT
Parfumers: Isabelle Doyen and Camille Goutal
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