Eau d’Hadrien by Goutal

First things first, I must clarify that by ‘sweetness’ I do not mean gourmand, vanilla, or tonka; I am referring to the difference between the acidity of a lemon and the sweetness of an orange. In this perfume, I sense a juicy lemon ‘sweetened’ with other sweeter citrus notes, such as tangerine or orange. Although it evolves little and is quite linear, very clean white floral notes stand out; at first, I thought they were neroli, but it is certainly the combination of soapy aldehydes with ylang-ylang. I do not detect the herbal or cypress notes; perhaps it lacks a bit of maceration and oxygenation to fully deliver. Its virtue lies more in olfactory quality than creativity; without seeming too similar, it recalls the original Acqua di Parma Colonia, that classic ‘simple’ yet ‘special’ and addictive scent that others lack. Olfactorily, it is as if a good handful of citrus had been added to Diptyque’s Eau du Papier. It is a very fine cologne; the quality is noticeable even to the uninitiated nose. It is very versatile for both sexes and any age. Ideal for warm climates and informal or semi-formal situations. Regarding the award from the early 2000s, I believe it did not deserve it as much as other award-winners like Prada’s Infusion d’Iris, which brought a new aroma to the market alongside quality and beauty. It is a quality cologne that dresses you, more for enjoyment than for discovery.

Eau d’Hadrien is a scent that speaks for itself through a citrus, sweet, and woody sensation, with a very pleasant texture that is initially more luminous but does not lose charm in its evolution. It recalls other perfumes in the genre such as Acqua Viva or Cedro di Diamante, but this one is not bad at all. It is ideal for hot weather and quite unisex use. Its construction, evolution, longevity, and quality deserve a try. It only faults in not being entirely original, at least for me. Note: 7.5/10.

A lemon with a base note of cypress, ylang-ylang, and aldehydes. Good longevity but little sillage. Nothing to do with the powerful and artisanal Acqua Viva by Profumum Roma; this one, for me, is the best for stifling heat, but Hadrien has a touch of elegance and mystery.

Very much like Escale à Portofino… that was the perfume that came to mind when I first applied it, the one I never liked and gave to my mother. I probably will do the same with this. I imagined it differently and it was a blind buy.

@Walk on by Mira, the EDP did not convince me as much (I have had it for some time and speak from memory). It lost the spark and citrus freshness of the EDT, although it lasted longer. I do not detect the leek, although I have not used the EDP in a long time. Here Goutal sells it in any ECI, very expensive, a pity to spend so much on smelling like a decent lemon cologne. That said, there are very expensive disasters like Mancera Lemon Line. Returning to Goutal, sometimes you find it in discounters for less than half price. That said, Hadrien has not been seen there for a long time. Greetings.

Eau d’Hadrien is citrus, woody, green, and super fresh. The opening is a bomb of citrus with aldehydes, lemon, lime, and a herb similar to citronella or lemon balm. I like it very much because the citrus sounds almost natural. Over time, the lime and herb remain, but cypress appears, giving it a woody and bitter touch. Ideal for the day due to the freshness, perfect for spring and summer. The projection starts strong but drops quickly to close to the skin, although it lasts more than six hours. It is not to be bought blindly due to the price, but if you like citrus, try it at least.

I think the trick of this Annick Goutal is that it smells like a lemon that doesn’t scent like insect repellent or supermarket cologne, but rather a natural lemon blended with a very light cypress. I’ve tried thousands of citrus scents, even high-quality ones like Profumum Roma’s Aqua Viva, and apart from a few specific cases like Atelier Cologne, nothing smells as balanced in its lemon style as this Eau d’Hadrien. Sometimes it’s hard to make a lemon that doesn’t sting; a clear example is Balmain Pour Homme (the square bottle), which smells like cleaning product. If you don’t like lemons, don’t even try it, because it’s just a lemon and nothing more. On the plus side, it lasts on the skin for many hours in a sharp, distinct way, more so than supposedly complex fragrances. I’d love the YSL M7 Absolu, with which I was recently disappointed. There are noses for all tastes, just as some people smell 1 Million Privé the same as Abre Narguile. I wouldn’t pay the official price, although it can be found discounted in many places.

A deserved award? Considering the date and the house, it deserves recognition, but it’s not a work of art. Personally, it smells like citronella insect repellent, almost identical to Autan. It’s an excellent citrus for those seeking something classy and versatile. The big problem is the weak trail; after the first half-hour, it becomes skin-scented, lasting about 6/7 hours. Would I recommend buying it? If you like lemons and citrus, yes, but for the price, there are many supermarket options that perform just as well or better.

At first, it seemed simple and absurd that it had won an award, but after using it, I understood much better. There’s not much more to add: it’s citrus in the truest sense, exquisite though it may seem uncomplicated. The cypress note adds what’s necessary to be different and pleasant. Drake sent me a decant of this and Cedrat Enivrant; although they seem like sisters because they’re almost totally citrus, each one is unique and extraordinary. It’s like being in a damp citrus garden with wet grass. Very refreshing, different from supermarket colognes in terms of quality and realism. I find it addictive and hard to get tired of; it projects well for the first two hours. Afterwards, there’s a short but pleasant trail. Simplicity? Yes. Quality and originality? A lot!

The opening is a sweet lemon or juicy lime; then you feel fresh mandarin juice like an effervescent effluvium that melts into the refreshing cider, the citrus note that prevails most and best on my skin. Afterwards, the floral accent emerges, deepened and well-fixed by subtle aldehydes that soften the fragrance and evoke emotion and happiness. Currently, it is my favourite for putting on before bed. It also works brilliantly for sunny mornings that aren’t as hot as today. Due to the soft scent it leaves when dry, when the aldehydes and floral note are perceived, I feel it is more suitable for women (on male skin, that aspect doesn’t look as good). It lasts about five hours, more or less, with moderate to faint sillage, but with body heat, it offers a constant effluvium of citrus, among which the cider gives me pleasant freshness. In short, a fragrance for personal enjoyment, which I associate with leisure and relaxation moments. Note: To avoid confusion, I clarify that the lime is always perceived (I don’t ignore it, hehe), it’s like a constant sound in the structure of the EdH. But on my skin, for my nose, the cider is my favourite instrument and the one that stands out most. Using a musical metaphor, it’s like hearing a cheerful clarinet over a background of violins and strings (e.g., Mozart’s K581)… which instrument is more beautiful or important? From my point of view, they all are. The lime and others are there and are perceived, but they capture my attention more and the soloist arias of the instruments I identified earlier sit better with me.

The opening is a sweet lemon or lime, then fresh tangerine juice like an effervescent effluvium that blends into the refreshing apple note, which prevails the most. Then the floral accent emerges, deepened and fixed by subtle aldehydes that soften and produce emotion in me. Currently, it’s my favourite for sleeping, good too for sunny mornings. Due to the soft dry-down scent, with aldehydes and floral notes, I feel it’s more suitable for women (it doesn’t shine as much on male skin). Duration around 5 hours, trail moderate to faint, but with the heat, it offers a constant effluvium. A fragrance for personal enjoyment, leisure, and relaxation. Note: I clarify that the lime is always perceived, like a constant sound in the structure. For my nose, the apple is the favourite instrument, like a cheerful clarinet over violins. All instruments are beautiful, but the solo arias suit my mood better.

I love this perfume for summer! It’s very citrusy, reminding me a lot of my favourite SMN Aqua di Sicilia, just that it’s less sweet.

Love at first sniff! I’m almost certain that if any expert were to compile a Top 10 of aromatic citrus fragrances, this gem of perfumery would be included.