Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for the eBay mouse.  The mouse saw that a good deal was found, he had to make a purchase especially one so sound.  A few days later a package appeared and the mouse found that his purchase was not to be feared.  The mouse was so happy with this new scent, that there was no doubt in his mind that his money was well spent.

WHAT I SMELL:  Nuit de Noel opens with a surge of dry oak moss with hints of florals rising out of the from the mossy base.  It doesn’t take long before a spicy presence makes itself known.  But I hate to use the word “spicy” because I think you instantly think of something heavy and dominating.  But it’s not the case here as it’s just this a layer of warmth, which is like putting on a fur-lined glove on a cold winters day.  I wish I could say that I could distinguish the florals in the fragrance, but they are blended so wonderfully that nothing sticks out.  After some time, the oak moss dissipates and you’re left with this wonderfully creamy floral haze of a fragrance.  Nuit de Noel is pretty, feminine and from another era.  I love it.

From the Caron website:

In 1922, after the trauma of the First World War, Europe is seized by a frenzy of celebration and exotic escapism.  As a testament ot the crazy years, CARON launches NUIT DE NOEL.

NUIT DE NOEL, whose name along is evocative of a magical, fairytale evening, this day continues to spawn a series of iconic limited editions.  Pure design theatrically inspired by the roaring twenties, an opaque black glass bottle, encircled with an “urchin” style gold band conjures up all the mystery of a bewitching Christmas Night.

Notes from Fragrantica:

Top notes are ylang-ylang, tincture of rose and jasmine; middle notes are sandalwood and oak moss; base notes are musk and amber.

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: I can’t say that Nuit de Noel reminds me of Christmas.  I’m not sure what it reminds me of except that is feels classic and timeless.  But now that I have this as part of my collection, I’m going to make it my new tradition for wearing during the holiday season and specifically on Christmas Eve from this year forward.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE NUIT DE NOEL:  proper, classic, beautiful

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT NUIT DE NOEL: Perfume Shrine, Bois de Jasmin, The Fragrant Man

BOTTOM LINE:  This is one of those successful blind buys so I can’t speak for the EdT version of the fragrance, but have heard mixed things about it.  I could see where if this was thinned out, that it might not be the same deep and haunting floral as the parfum extrait is.  I could easily see my mother wearing this as she was getting ready for a party circa 1965.  To me, that makes this a warm fuzzy of a fragrance.  I think the mouse did an excellent job of finding this rather perfect holiday fragrance!

• Bone Rating: 4.5 out of 5 possible bones
• Scent: Oriental Floral
• Classification:  Feminine
• Expense:  $230 for 28ml Parfum Extrait (current formula)