Ninfeo mio, an unhoped-for garden…Press release from Annick Goutal
At the time, Camille Goutal and Isabelle Doyen were working on a formula inspired by the legendary garden of the Hesperides, an enchanting landscape of bitter orange and lemon trees, cypresses and fig trees drawing their sustenance from a crisp green, fertile soil and a glinting stream. Each absolute, each essence in this formula added another brush stroke to their burgeoning masterpiece, to the garden they fantasized about and spoke of as if they knew every single square inch. A few months ago, they learned of the existence of a garden mirroring their description in every way, and immediately departed for the gardens of Ninfa, near Rome. They found a safeguarded Eden, in which medieval ruins crownedin emerald green and all of the plants that had fired the imagination of the two perfumers can still be found. Through the garden flows the Ninfeo river in which is reflected the forest bark, the leaves of branches, ripe citrus fruit and luscious figs. In the shade of a pine tree, without warning, they were overwhelmed by a shared emotion: their perfume was right there, in the air, intense around them, the perfume they had been perfecting for months. And its name came to them quite naturally:Ninfeo mio.
A tangle of woody and citrus scents Lively and vivacious, Ninfeo mio opens with a breathtaking vapor of Italian lemon and citron. The bitter orange tree then unveils its leaves (essence of petitgrain), and its fruits (essence of bitter orange). Gradually, the scene begins to unfurl. Galbanum extract and lentisque absolute deliver a sassy verdure full of life. A faintly aromatic undertone places the scene in a landscaped garden, in which conifers thrive alongside lavender, and then the warmth and milky softness of the fig leaf rises up, as if brought by a cool breeze to the nose. The tempo slows down, and gently comes to rest on the skin. The woody accord of the lemon tree, just as milky as the fig, then knits a reassuring blanket, capturing the freshness of the citrus fruit in a downy cocoon.
On that occasion, bottles will adorn themselves with a frosted blue‑green color enriched with a touch of gray. This shade is evocative of the green of the leaves in the gardens of Ninfa reflected in the Ninfeo river. 50 ml or 100 ml Eau de Toilette, Ribbed Bottle 100 ml Eau de Toilette, Square Bottle
Annick Goutal Ninfeo mio
New Fragrance Review
The Gardens
That I See In My Dreams...
By Beth Gehring
How do I love the house of Annick Goutal, just let me count the ways!
I first made my acquaintance with their fragrance Hadrien when traveling through Neiman Marcus in Chicago many years ago. It was one of those devastatingly hot Michigan Ave days where the pavement was literally sizzling underfoot and I was looking for something light and refreshing to spritz. A wonderful sales associate named Kent began to inquire as to what I was looking for. He smiled when I said that I was after something little sweet and a lot citrusy and it was at that point that my love affair with Goutal began.
I’ll never forget that moment and my husband still laughs when he tells the story. What a pushover I can be for a little bit of good attention! Kent led me over to the Annick Goutal Counter and grabbed the bottle of Hadrien splash (sadly, no longer available) spritzed some on my wrist and with a flourish worthy of any studied Southern man, he dipped low and with a soft deep breath blew gently where he’d sprayed.
That was it…..My husband laughed so hard that he was almost in tears and of course I walked out with what was to be the beginning of a mighty addiction!...
From that moment on I was never without Hadrien and because at the time Annick Goutal was still selling their fabulous fragrances to small independent specialty stores like mine I didn’t have to be! I became a dealer and I fell headfirst under the spell of Gardenia Passion and Noel at Christmas time and Petite Cherie when it was introduced the following spring. I have continued feeding my Goutal obsession throughout the years falling in love over and over again with the likes of Le Muguet and Mandragore and most recently the spicy, woody elixir that is Mandragore Pourpre.
I love everything about Annick Goutal perfumes. Their beautiful bottles that shimmer with subtlety only begin to give a hint of the fragrant secrets contained within. I love the contrast between the feminine bottle which are lightly shaded, gently ribbed and usually tied with a lovely bow and the square masculine bottles that reek of an old Bourbon Street apothecary in their dense dark hues. However, as beautiful as they all are none of them have given me the same illicit thrill that I experienced upon that very first encounter with Hadrien. Well, at least not until I opened the sample that I was gifted with of their latest fragrance, a delightful smelling beauty known as Ninfeo Mio. Created in their imaginations yet discovered in real time in the beautiful and protected medieval gardens of Ninfa, perfumers Camille Goutal and Isabelle Doyen have created a fragrance that is authentic, ethereal and utterly luscious .
Ninfeo Mio is a vey green scent and its very nature is cool and refreshing. Resplendent with citron and petit grain , It opens brightly and teases with just a touch of lavender but very quickly the fig emerges and turns Ninfeo Mio into an experience that’s incredibly sexy. I’m not sure why, but as the sun warmed my skin I noticed that the perfume became even more luscious as if it had needed the warmth of the day to fully ripen. I became possessed by a sudden reckless desire to grab my husband and immediately fly to Rome so that we could lay naked together in that garden and experience the ancient breezes and memories of that place. I love a fragrance that can bewitch me and I never want be without it. The new bottles are shaded in the loveliest jewel tone of aquatic frosty blue green. I am looking for Botticelli’s Venus to rise up from the waters holding them, they are that evocative to me and as beautiful as the fragrance contained within them is, Ninfeo Mio also carries with it an almost Bacchanalian template that provides just a delightful touch of inner madness. I think that Ninfeo Mio is truly suited for both sexes so enjoy it on the next sun drenched day, grab your lover and a picnic and see if you don’t feel just a little bit inspired too…..
Images courtesy of Annick Goutal
About Beth Schreibman Gehring
Sniffapalooza Magazine welcomes professional writer Beth Gehring as a new featured contributor. Passionate about life, colorful and inspiring, Beth
Schreibman Gehring has been helping others create lives that they love for over 20 years. Years of experience as a visual stylist blended with an
extensive background in public relations and an emphasis on personal and corporate branding allowed her to work in and eventually become the President of one of the most prestigious Jewelry, Gift and Tableware businesses in Northeast Ohio.
Along the way she discovered that many were drawn to her for her ability to live everyday with beauty, creating each moment as a magical new gift, a never-ending circle of celebrations, feasts and fun. It is her belief that in designing powerful and beautiful rituals for our lives and beautiful environments to live in, we create magical experiences for ourselves and our families.
A life filled with personal revelry and celebration supplies all of the magic necessary to create anything that we can dream of! An experienced personal shopper, life stylist and bridal registry consultant, she has the taste and expertise to help you choose gifts for yourself and others that that you will love giving and delight in receiving!
Beth has been privileged to have many of her articles published nationally, and has enjoyed giving many interviews over the years, most notably to Martha Stewart Living, Gifts and Decorative Accessories, Town and Country, The Cleveland Times and Tableware Today. A gifted cook and creative hostess, Beth has also had the distinct honor and pleasure of designing the table settings for several TV series, including "Julia Child cooks at home with Friends", "Julia Child cooks with Jacque Pepin" and the " Todd English and Olives restaurant" cooking show. She has also created the table setting designs for the books of the same name. Beth is also delighted to be a featured writer on Perfume Smelling Things www.perfumesmellinthings.com
