Caron | The Scented Hound

February 11, 2014
by The Scented Hound 17 Comments

Vintage Review – Caron Infini

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

A napping cat in the sun…very warm and happy.

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.

January 21, 2014
by The Scented Hound 14 Comments

French Cancan by Caron

It’s cold and wintry outside and I just am wishing that I was back in Mexico basking in the sun. Well that may not be possible, but at least I can be inside basking in the glow of a beautiful fragrance. So in my 2 Year Anniversary Post, I mentioned that it seems that 2014 is going to be the “Year of the Woman” and that I have been leaning towards some lovely traditional floral scents. For some reason, the perfume gods were calling me towards a blind buy purchase of Caron’s French Cancan. I’m glad they came calling…

WHAT I SMELL: French Cancan goes on big and rich with an almost honeyed jasmine. It’s deep and warm like a heavy veil that’s made of fine spun silk. After just a short time, the slight powderiness of the fragrance adds a sophisticated gauze to the heady concentration. French Cancan doesn’t morph much and beside the jasmine, the notes are indistinguishable, and some might even say that the jasmine isn’t all that pronounced over the rose and other florals. Finally, towards the end, the warmth settles into the base and there is a bit of spice and dryish oakmoss that peppers up the fragrance to give it a bit of an edge so that’s it not just left as plain and pretty. The only downside to this lovely fragrance is the short life span. My body doesn’t usually eat up fragrances but for some reason this does. I do believe that it may something with Caron fragrances as the same thing happens to me with my beloved Nuit de Noel.

From Luckyscent:

This floral fragrance’s name alone fashioned a traditional image of Paris: Lighthearted and joyful. Created in 1936, this scent is a seducing burst of white flowers.

Notes: Jasmine, lilac, violet, lily of the valley, rose, orange blossom, patchouli, iris, sandalwood, amber and oakmoss

Dottie and Jim are out on the town with Midge and Bob. Dottie is wearing her new perfume, French Cancan. How suburbansophisticated of her!

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: I know that French Cancan should induce images of what it’s named for. To me a fragrance that is titled French Cancan would be over the top and more out of control. This on the other hand reminds me of one of those fragrances that a woman in the 1950s or 1960s would buy because of what the name entails. French Cancan is something a bit bigger, bolder and naughtier for the general housewife, but is still safe enough to wear without causing too much of a ruckus.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE FRENCH CANCAN: pretty, happy, suburbansophisticated

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT FRENCH CANCAN: Bois de Jasmin, The Black Narcissus, Eiderdown Press

BOTTOM LINE: I love it. French Cancan is nothing remarkable or groundbreaking. What it is though is pretty, accessible and just plain fun to wear. Oh, and I love that little perfume bottle oh so much!!!

Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 possible bones
Scent: Floral
Nose: Ernest Daltroff
Classification: Feminine
Expense: $100 for 7.5ml Parfum

December 16, 2013
by The Scented Hound 29 Comments

Nuit de Noel Parfum Extrait by Caron

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!