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Vanille Exquise Goutal 2004

7.4 / 10 241 Ratings

A perfume by Goutal for women, released in 2004. The scent is sweet-gourmand. It is being marketed by Amore Pacific / 아모레퍼시픽.
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Main accords

Sweet

Gourmand

Powdery

Spicy

Woody

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Angelica root

Heart Notes

Almond milk

Base Notes

Gaiac wood

Polynesian vanilla absolute Benzoin

Benzoin

Perfumers

Isabelle Doyen, Camille Goutal

Ratings

Scent

7.4241 Ratings

Longevity

6.7181 Ratings

Sillage

6.2166 Ratings

Bottle

8.0165 Ratings

Value for money

7.035 Ratings

Submitted by Seglein · last update on 08/01/2025.

Source-backed & verified

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

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Sensual Orchid Extrait de Parfum

Reviews

19 in-depth fragrance descriptions

01/15/2013

7Scent 5Longevity 2.5Sillage

Dalmajen
50 Reviews

Dalmajen

Very helpful Review 5

First Niche

This was my first Niche purchase. And, I bought it blind...I was so determined to have THE best vanilla fragrance. I purchased it based mainly on reviews, and this was my first lesson on getting samples first. Not that this perfume was wrong, it was just a shock, in the beginning. My first impression was, vanilla essence...Oh please no! But, that was just my nose getting used to the complete story. Once I applied, and let it settle, it was pure heaven. The almonds are very evident, as well as the dry vanilla. A very pleasant, but rich surrounding mist...but, so sad, as not very long lasting. Just when the whole story comes together...it fades. Stays close to the skin, but oh so briefly. Those who have a smaller perfume budget, would be disappointed, like myself). I have had quite a few of goutal samples, but have been wary purchasing again, as the staying power was just too short, for my liking.

02/20/2012

8Scent 5Longevity 5Sillage

Missk
1357 Reviews

Missk

Very helpful Review 4

Unsweetened vanilla

When it comes to vanilla-based fragrances, I'm used to those overly sweetened, synthetic, foody vanillas. Vanille Exquise is different.

This fragrance smells like true vanilla essence, minus the sugar or the foody qualities. Vanille Exquise is not the edible kind. It is not a gourmand.

Honestly, I was disappointed at first. I wanted lots of sweet vanilla and nutty almond, something that smelt like rich, luxurious vanilla ice-cream. What I got was a rather dry, concentrated and syrupy vanilla, with subtle spices and a powdery drydown.

It took a while for me to appreciate this fragrance, but now that I have embraced it, I am starting to like it even more.

Vanille Exquise is a nice change. This is vanilla for grown-ups, those with a more mature palate that leave all those teen vanillas behind in a blurry haze.

This fragrance is very comforting, and surprisingly lasting. While it may not be a gourmand-lover's dream, for those that like natural, raw vanilla, this fragrance is a must-try.

12/04/2012

10Scent 7.5Longevity 7.5Sillage

Dulcemio
35 Reviews

Dulcemio

Helpful Review 7

angelic and feminine (not foody)

I fell in love instantly with this exquisite, elegant, high-end smelling perfume. Unlike some other reviewers, I enjoy this precisely because it does NOT remind me of vanilla extract in any way, shape or form. To my nose, the musk, wood and floral notes make sure of that, but more importantly, it doesn't seem like the base is even of the extract variety to begin with. (I have a vanilla extract type scent called Laura Mercier Vanille Gourmande, so I know what people are referring to. I swear, you could bake with that stuff! The other notes in that one simply cannot compete with the vanilla extract, they can only complement it.)

To me, Vanille Exquise, though it might be quite linear, is a creative and beautiful combination of vanilla, almond, musk and wood, with a shy floral presence. It makes the air around me seem ethereal, soft and feminine, with a sweetness that cannot be found in a bakery. It's one of the few perfumes I wear that actually affects my mood with it's subtle elegance. And though subtle, it still projects very well into my personal space, which is all I care about, and lasts all day long.

Side note: Sherapop, I've always figured the play-doh note came from almond, since whenever reviewers mention play-doh, it seems more often than not there is almond involved. Apparently I'm down with play-doh in perfume, since I seem to own and love a few of those. :-)

12/02/2012

6Scent 5Longevity 5Sillage

Sherapop
1240 Reviews

Sherapop

Helpful Review 4

Light Woody Playdoh Vanilla

It never ceases to amaze me how many vanilla perfumes there are in existence--and that their number appears to be increasing nearly as fast as that of those boasting oud! I suppose that it should not be that surprising, given the ready availability of the substance, as evidenced by the volume of vanilla extract consumed in kitchens each year. The big surprise to me is that so many people should want to smell like vanilla extract!

Vanilla used to be the signature back-drop to classic Guerlain perfumes, but all bets are off now post-Y2K. Since then, vanilla has stepped forward to claim an entire chunk of the grand olfactory map, and most every niche line-up has their equivalent to a vanilla-solifore. To say nothing of the huge group of sweet celebrity and designer vanilla-patchouli scents!

Annick Goutal VANILLE EXQUISE offers the vanilla note in a less-sweet composition with a bit more wood than usual and a slightly Playdoh-ish quality, although I hasten to add that it is nowhere even close to Dior HYPNOTIC POISON, in part because it is so much thinner, with the viscosity of water. On the house-manufactured card accompanying the sample I found that this eau de toilette is given as 91%, which I believe is verging on cologne territory.

In any case, upon initial application, I was struck by the similarity of the woody quality to that of this house's jasmine perfume, which I did not like very much. Here the same base appears to be present, but it is not so strong as to overwhelm the vanilla. Of course, that would probably be pretty difficult to do, but the point is that vanilla and wood are equal partners in this perfume.

The benzoin must be what accounts for what I perceive as a Playdoh quality. It is light and likeable, and overall this is a pretty nice vanilla perfume, as far as vanilla perfumes go. I am not that keen on such simple vanilla perfumes myself, but I'm sure that those who love to smell like wood-tinged vanilla extract will find lots to like here!

04/12/2016

9Scent

ScentedSalon
96 Reviews

ScentedSalon

Helpful Review 2

Exquisite Is Right

Who knows if this is sugar free or fully gourmand: the point of this vanilla fragrance is to envelope the wearer in a shift of silky milk. The ritual continues with a dusting of almond powder. It is inherently feminine and airy. It smells like Play Doh but in a good way. I adore it.

More reviews

Statements

41 short views on the fragrance

Satago

2 years ago

6.5Scent

2

The powdery vanilla I wanted! The almond is noticeable here and gives a marzipan-like scent that I like

Eggi37

4 years ago

7Scent 6Longevity 5Sillage

21

15

A delicate touch of vanilla powder
Powdery almond
Sweet-spicy hint of vanilla
Musk fluff
Very close to the skin and fades quickly

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Susan

4 years ago

5.5Scent

17

15

Not a noteworthy vanilla scent with - for my nose - a super unpleasant guaiac wood note… burnt rubber comes to mind…

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Heikeso

8 years ago

10Scent 7Longevity 7Sillage

14

4

Dreamy, warm vanilla gourmand with buttery almond flakes and benzoin, not too sweet. A dose of happiness to spray on, so to speak.

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Annouk

3 years ago

8Scent 2.5Longevity

12

1

As a confessed vanilla fan, this is one of the most beautiful vanilla scents I know...simply the finest, noblest, and purest vanilla fluff! Delicious!

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