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Sables Goutal 1985

7.7 / 10 281 Ratings

A popular perfume by Goutal for men, released in 1985. The scent is spicy-woody. The longevity is above-average. It is being marketed by Amore Pacific / 아모레퍼시픽.
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Main accords

Spicy

Woody

Earthy

Resinous

Oriental

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Bergamot

Mandarin orange

Heart Notes

Madagascan pepper Jasmine

Jasmine

Oakmoss

Base Notes

Corsican immortelle Amber

Amber

Indian sandalwood Vanilla

Vanilla

Perfumer

Annick Goutal

Ratings

Scent

7.7281 Ratings

Longevity

8.5214 Ratings

Sillage

7.1199 Ratings

Bottle

7.4191 Ratings

Value for money

7.347 Ratings

Submitted by Chemist, last update on 07/15/2025.

Interesting Facts

Together with her husband, the cellist Alain Meunier, Annick Goutal should have spent several holidays on Corsica. It's said that she used her memories of them when she created "Sables".
The central theme of the perfume is supposed to be the shrub landscape. The maquis (or Corsican maquis) is a scrubland biome which is found in the Mediterranean region, considered typical of Corsica. It was born of over-used forests, which were broken by deforestation, logging and grazing as an ecosystem, creating the three to five meter high scrubland. The Macchia is often very rich in herbs and has its own beauty as a landscape, although one can still observe the traces of degradation significantly.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

L'Eau des Immortels

Immortelle Corse

1740

Eau Noire

Fleur Cachée

Fougère Bengale

Reviews

33 in-depth fragrance descriptions

07/14/2012

jtd
484 Reviews

jtd

Top Review 6

Anoplopoma fimbria?

Sables follows a classical drydown arc: top, heart, basenotes. The real trick though is that is that it takes you from one genre to another over this progression.

Starting with immortelle dissolved in amber, Sables gives you either a strictly sweet maple syrup candy, or a sweet and savory curry with fenugreek and raisins. It’s up to your nose. I get the latter. Either way I find it principally gourmand.

Where Sables winds up, though is in the sandlewood/amber range. While the spice-like immortelle fades in the heartnotes, by drydown, there is a light, peppery sharpness that gives the amber drydown a mineral/dry inflections not miles from that of Ambre Sultan’s scent of hot stone. Sables is the only fragrance I can think of off the top of my head that isn’t categorized so much as a hybrid (eg. floriental, leather chypre…) but as a fragrance that starts in one genre (gourmand) and ends firmly in another (amber/oriental.)

A gorgeously constructed fragrance, appropriate across the multiple (and I believe there really are many) genders, but would be a smart statement of devil-may-care appreciation of prettiness on an assured straight man.

06/03/2024

7Scent 7Longevity 7Sillage

VTrancoso
34 Reviews

VTrancoso

Very helpful Review 5

Different versions

I am an unconditional fan of the aroma of “Immortelles”. Not because the Greeks used it to crown images and statues of Apollo since the plant symbolized love. But first for the beautiful and unforgettable olfactory memories that I associate with it.
When in the late afternoons in summer I returned from the beach along the dunes of the Alentejo coast, in front of the pessegueiro island (Porto Covo - Portugal), I was blessed by a warm breeze that carried the comforting smell, at the same time spicy and relaxing, of “Immortelles” with small golden yellow flowers.

As a result, I have been a fan since the first hour of “Sables” by Annick Goutal, released in 1985. Probably the first fragrance in history in which everlasting flowers took center stage.
The great reference among fragrances centered on “immortelles” or “everlasting flowers” that was conceived as a declaration of love from Annick to her husband (Alain Meunier) trying to reproduce the sublime atmosphere of the days spent in Corsica during the summer. I still have a bottle of the 2nd reformulation.

Without a doubt the original Sables from 1985, with a very interesting refreshing black tea note (which disappeared in later versions) is much better than the 3 subsequent versions. Super dry, curry-like, a little bit creamy and sweet. Overpowering. A masterpiece and perhaps the brand's best fragrance ever.
Rating 10.

The 2nd version is powerful and masculine and also very good but more “earthy”, drier, hot and wild. Like the previous version, it has fantastic projection and sillage. A true Simum of the desert.
Rating: 9.

The latest version (I think it's the 4th reformulation) is lighter and with a slightly citrusy opening. More wearable, less intense and without the masculine splendor of the first 2 editions. However, the current Sables remains interesting and has a recognizable personality.
Rating: 7

Comparing the notes between the 1st and the last one better understands the reasons for the differences.

Notes from the 1st edition (1985):
Top notes: Immortelle and Cinnamon
Middle notes: Black pepper and Black tea
Base notes: Sandalwood and Amber.

Notes from the last and current edition:
To notes: Bergamot, Mandarine
Middle notes: Jasmine, Black pepper, Oakmoss
Base notes: Immortelle Sauvage, Santal d'Inde, Ambre

01/07/2021

10Scent 9Longevity 9Sillage

HugoMontez
81 Reviews

HugoMontez

Helpful Review 8

With love, forever.

There are some fragrances that create so much with so little. Super straight forward, they want to replicate some moment/place or just the smell of something.

Goutal is a great classic brand that newer noses don't care and/or don't even know about it. And I don't blame them because today's standards are different from 20 years ago. Youtubers are the main sources for new hyped fragrances and the whole market are centered on fresh and sweet versatile scents and the niche houses are no longer niche brands but just high end designers clones, with higher price tags. Fortunately, there are still some classic niche brands that does things right.

This classic '85 release is a proof that we still can enjoy some different and quality fragrances with a good price and stand out while smelling appealing at the same time.

Created to his husband, Goutal wanted to replicate the smell of sand in Corsica beaches. And to do that, she choose to use immortelle. A big flower, with yellow tones and a strong smell (like burned curry). Very common in dunes and dry sandy places.

Sables has, right at the opening, a strong immortelle presence. Super dry, curry-like, a little bit creamy and sweet. There's also something sticky and sweet in the opening, that will evolve into a more dry, creamy and relaxed sweetness in he drydown. The main player here is, of course, the immortelle but I also can detect some dry and sweet cinnamon and a creamy sandalwood. That's it. Super straight forward composition. But it's so beautiful, powerful and majestic that it works perfectly.

A true piece of art, but still, very wearable and comforting like a warm coat. Winter is the best time to wear it due to his great performance and presence. Although I also can wear it in spring, on a walk on the coast side. 2 sprays will fill a room and will last all day (10h+)

All in all, a beautiful and magic fragrance that is a must-have and deserves more attention. Hopefully, will be available forever for us to enjoy, like the immortelle itself.

5/5

04/25/2012

8Scent 7.5Longevity 7.5Sillage

Missk
1357 Reviews

Missk

Very helpful Review 3

Syrupy and distinctive

It's no secret that I adore Annick Goutal, however I must admit, despite my eagerness, I wondered whether or not her male fragrances would captivate me in the same way.

Fortunately, Sables is outstanding, incredibly desirable on a man and something I wouldn't mind wearing myself.

It's a little sharp at first. Sables begins with a strong burst of pepper, woods and smoke. Although masculine, I thought it was a little too much, somewhere along the lines of the ruggedly masculine yet rich and bold Yatagan by Caron.

Thankfully Sables settles into a divine, sensual blend of woods, spice, caramel and burnt golden syrup. It's almost a gourmand for men with its distinctive deliciousness.

I love how the burnt sugar accord doesn't make this fragrance feminine or too sweet. It's perfectly balanced and very sexy, something that I would never tire of smelling.

The longevity and sillage are rather impressive, with this fragrance clinging to the skin for almost a whole 12 hours or more. I highly recommend.

10/19/2022

10Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

Loulou31
90 Reviews

Loulou31

Helpful Review 3

Un été indien en corse

Ce parfum me rappelle mes séjours en corse, île que j aime d amour et où je rêve de vivre.
Le maquis corse n a aucun égal à mon nez.
L immortelle seche presque piquante,poussiéreuse mais si élégante, un sac de cuir, vous êtes en ballade dans le maquis,il fait chaud,les végétaux ici sont rois.et ils exultent sous ce soleil incandescent,la nature dans ce qu elle a de sauvage,presque impériale.
Un soupçon de cannelle soutenu par la vanille.vous voilà tout en haut des calanques.
La mer s étalé au loin.le soleil se couche, le sable est encore chaud.
Votre ballade se termine par ce coucher de soleil incroyable.
C est magique.
Parfum pour initiés,il ne plaît pas a tout le monde,il faut comprendre sa poésie pour l apprécier.
C est un amour absolu pour moi

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