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WTD, Episode 1.1: Eau d’Hadrien by Annick Goutal

 
Eau d’Hadrien – created in 1981, notes include Sicilian lemon, citron, grapefruit, green mandarin, cypress, aldehyde notes, ylang-ylang and cypress). When I was a child, my friends and I liked chasing and catching butterflies. Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae) was one of the most common butterflies where I lived. No matter how careful you would try to touch those delicate wings some pigment would always end up on your fingers. And from this particular butterfly my fingers always smelled lemony. Eau d’Hadrien scent reminds me of those carefree summer days, bruised knees and weightless wings flapping in my domed palms.
Photo : Bresson Thomas

Robin at NST had an update posted to her earlier review for Eau d’Hadrien referring to the alleged reformulation of the perfume in 2009. I compared two samples – a new one from the store and an older one that I got many years ago. I cannot smell the difference. If there was a reformulation indeed it must be the best one I encountered so far*.

In summer I might occasionally reach for the small bottle of Eau d’Hadrien EdT, which I got as a part of some other purchase, but I do not see it as a full bottle in my collection in future.

Sillage: light (3 out of 5); tenacity: good (4 hours).

(as always, feel free to share a link to your blog if you’ve written on the topic before)

* Update: Thanks to Robin I found an interview with Isabelle Doyen (at Grain de Musc) where she says: 

“But we haven’t touched L’Eau d’Hadrien! All we did, and that may have confused some people, was to increase the concentration a bit to satisfy those who thought it was too fleeting. We didn’t want to touch the formula, so we just increased the concentration by one or two per cent. But that was at least four years ago!”

See all episodes:

Weeklong Test Drives, Season 1: Annick Goutal
WTD, Episode 1.2: Grand Amor by Annick Goutal
WTD, Episode 1.3: Le Mimosa by Annick Goutal
WTD, Episode 1.4: Heure Exquise by Annick Goutal
WTD, Episode 1.5: Neroli by Annick Goutal
WTD, Episode 1.6: Petite Cherie by Annick Goutal
WTD, Episode 1.7: Songes by Annick Goutal

8 thoughts on “WTD, Episode 1.1: Eau d’Hadrien by Annick Goutal”

  1. I’ve heard a lot about Eau d’Hadrien but can’t really remember smelling it. But if it’s reminiscent of childhood days, I want to try it as soon as possible. :)

    Btw, I see you’re on a roll regarding draws. :) Enjoy!

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    • Perfumes/scents are strange creatures: they remind different people different things, events, people.
      Unless citrus scents are “your thing”, this perfume, in my opinion, is not to die for. It’s worth sampling (and using it if you like it) but I wouldn’t recommend spending money on a sample.

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  2. I know several people who really love Eau d’Hadrien, but it didn’t really do anything for me the last time I tested it. My fiance just brought me home a few samples though, so I may try it again soon.

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  3. Pingback: Eighties called… I missed it. « Undina's Looking Glass

  4. this was the first AG I tested and fell in love with many years ago…but I haven’t smelled it in a very long time..wonder if I would still like it? I know you can buy it heavily discounted online now….in fact, with the repackaging I am anticipating that the entire line of the old fluted bottles will eventually be marked down.

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  5. Pingback: In The Search For The Perfect Mandarin – Undina's Looking Glass

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