WHAT I SMELL: Infini goes on thick to the skin with a layered sheen, it opens quickly with aldehydes and then warms with a wonderful almost cinnamon like sandalwood. It’s rich and round with jasmine in the foreground, followed closely by a non-waxy tuberose (thankfully). This is big floral that’s slightly animalic, and the kind of perfume that makes me infinitely happy as it’s a woman’s perfume that’s unapologetic in its pomp. After around 10 minutes, the fragrance begins to lighten just slightly and it retreats to become a bit softer, a tad bit soapy with just an ever so slight hint of oakmoss. However, the gorgeous warm florals remain front and center. Infini doesn’t develop much which is fine because it doesn’t have to. It’s beautiful enough as it is.
From Fragrantica:
Infini by Caron was created in 1912 but In 1970, the perfume was reformulated. To echo and reflect the rhythm, futurism and speed of the early 70’s, Caron created a completely, original, revolutionary aroma with a base of tuberose, hyacinth and lily of the valley, all composed with notes of vetyver and sandalwood. Since it was the era of astronauts, the perfume was baptized “Infini” in honor of outer space. Its bottle, an asymmetrical sculpture designed by Serge Mansau, is hollowed out in the middle and is inspired by the mathematical sign for infinity.
A slight variation from Fragrantica, Yesterday’s Perfume posts the notes as:
Top notes: Aldehyde complex, bergamot, peach, neroli, coriander
Heart notes: Rose centifolia, jasmine, lily of the valley, orris, ylang-ylang, carnation
Base notes: Sandalwood, vetiver, ambrein, tonka, musk, civet
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: I’m not getting the outer space connection besides the bottle design because this feels incredibly classic rather than futuristic….so I’ll bypass that analogy. Instead, Infini makes me feel “warm and happy.” And don’t get the wrong impression from the picture, this is about as sophisticated and beautiful floral feminine fragrance that is geared to the mature woman that you can get. But to me, it makes me “warm and happy!”
THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE INFINI: warm, substantial, elegant
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT INFINI: The Black Narcissus, Yesterday’s Perfume, Australian Perfume Junkies
BOTTOM LINE: This is another Caron beauty that I have fallen in love with. Again though, like with the other Caron’s I have tried, the lasting power could be a bit longer. Oh well, that means I’ll just have to use more.
- Bone Rating: 4.5 out of 5 possible bones
- Scent: Floral Aldehyde
- Nose: Gerard Lefortis
- Classification: Feminine
- Expense: Review based on Parfum Extrait. Various prices and vintage concentrations can be found on eBay and through other sources.
February 11, 2014 at 6:25 am
Mmmm, I’ve never had a chance to smell this one but now I really love to! “Warm and happy”, that’s what I need now 😀
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February 11, 2014 at 6:48 am
MMMMM, warm and happy is such a good feeling 🙂
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February 11, 2014 at 7:13 am
Heya Scented Hound,
Thanks for the Link love!
Did you spritz or dab? I find that spritzing gets more on you and gives a longer and fuller wear.
Warm and Happy, what a great way for fragrance to make you feel.
Portia xx
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February 11, 2014 at 8:41 pm
Hi P – I dabbed and I just put some on…I am now warm and happy 🙂
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February 11, 2014 at 8:38 am
It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?
I love vintage Infini parfum on a late spring day: freshly washed body and white shirt. It is incredibly soothing the way its aura surrounds you and in me smells perfectly androgynous.
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February 11, 2014 at 8:43 pm
You’re right..it is rather adrogynous as it’s floral without being floral pretty if that makes any sense.
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February 11, 2014 at 8:59 pm
It makes total sense. I love seeing other people enjoying it as much as I do. Although I wish I hadn’t dropped so many bottles….I only have a bit left now, keep hoping it turns up again at the flea market.
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February 12, 2014 at 8:14 am
I wonder what that means that you keep dropping bottles of this fragrance??!! Do you have that problem with any other perfumes?
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February 12, 2014 at 8:48 am
Yes.
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February 11, 2014 at 10:22 pm
OMG this one is going on my must smell and maybe buy list! It sounds incroyable! Thanks Hound for sniffing this one out for us.
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February 12, 2014 at 8:13 am
Please do Lanier. You can also find some small bottles for a great price on eBay.
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February 12, 2014 at 3:31 am
Ah you’re a lucky man! I made a failed Ebay ‘sniper bid’ on this beauty, you, know, one of those when you miss by a 0.0000th of a second. I have yet to smell it. I wonder if the scent of happiness has anything to do with the utter joy of holding the bottle in your hand, surely this is one of the most splendid bottle designs of the last century?
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February 12, 2014 at 8:14 am
Yikes. Actually, I am one of those eBay snipers 🙂 However, I don’t buy from the UK so it wasn’t me!
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February 12, 2014 at 9:57 am
Wau, warm and happy! I can just imagine the face expression ;-). Purr, purr….I should get my nose into it.
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February 13, 2014 at 1:29 pm
I love it when a fragrance makes me purrrrr!!!
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February 12, 2014 at 7:25 pm
Dearest Hound
So pleased you’ve found your way to Infini, it is truly a splendid scent. Strangely I don’t have issues with longevity with it… a chemistry thing I guess.
Yours ever
The Perfumed Dandy
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February 13, 2014 at 1:33 pm
I typically don’t suck up fragrances, but for some reason the Caron’s which I love, just absorb quickly on me.
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