WHAT I SMELL: Narcisse Blanc opens with a peppery warm and indolic orange blossom and neroli. It’s thick, waxy and completely intoxicating. Quickly, a petitgrain note emerges to bring the floating blossoms towards the earth with a greenish touch of grass. There’s nothing easy or breezy about this perfume. Instead, it’s beauty is in the realm of the mature. Big and round as more florals come in punctuated with the rose, Narcisse Blanc is less mysterious than it’s counterpart, Narcisse Noir, but to me, much more accessible. However, that’s not to say that it doesn’t hold it’s wearer in some contempt, as there is a bit of haughtiness and aloofness about it without it being cold in nature. As the perfume continues to expand and radiate, the warmth of the base begins to move towards the still waxy blossoms. Vetiver adds just a bit of a brownish grass and a sandalwood brings a little bit of sour. Narcisse Blanc never got the love that Narcisse Noir did. Too bad, because it’s every bit as beautiful.
Top notes are Orange Blossom, Neroli, Orange and Petitgrain; middle notes are Jasmine, tincture of rose and Lime; base notes are iris, Musk, Sandalwood, vetyver and Amber.
The Dowager Queen Lovisa Ulrika of Sweden.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: A dowager. A lady of means who is completely in charge.
THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE NARCISSE BLANC: bold, in-control, substantial
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT NARCISSE BLANC: Now Smell This, EauMG
BOTTOM LINE: Narcisse Blanc is beautiful, no question about it. But it’s not young, nor carefree, but instead is grand floral that means serious business. Caron, which for some reason seems to be largely hidden (at least in the US), has a new reissue of Narcisse Blanc, but I have no idea how it compares to this vintage beauty. I do have the feeling however that it has been reformulated to be a bit lighter and brighter. But as for this vintage version that came from those long gone fabulous urns in the now closed NYC boutique; it’s a grand old perfume that isn’t meant for every day wear, but seems to be made for those special occasions when you want to feel rather royal.
- Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
- Scent: Floral
- Nose: Ernest Daltroff
- Classification: Leans feminine
- Expense: Review based on the vintage parfum extrait version. You can find the latest version of Narcisse Blanc at the Caron website.
WHAT I SMELL: Jazmin Yucatan opens with an aquatic tinged passion flower that’s a bit chewy and which quickly explodes into a rounded aquatic infused jasmine. The perfume is big without being overwhelming and it’s clean and fresh with just a hint of jungle earthiness. You can almost feel the sun-kissed jasmine being tossed by the warm winds pushing northward across the Yucatan Peninsula. As the perfume slowly develops, an earthy vetiver creates a rattan like base for the jasmine to sit upon. In the end, Jazmin Yucatan settles into a cottony fresh linen. Jazmin Yucatan is quite linear, but that’s just fine, because it’s meant to be worn in the heat of the warm Mexican sun where it can lightly radiate its floral beauty.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Jasmine wafting amongst the Mayan temples dotting the landscape of the Yucatan Peninsula.
WHAT I SMELL: Flor de le Virgen opens with a soft sweetened pomelo that is quickly met with a lightly chewy jasmine. From the first spritz, the perfume is bright and full of light and energy. But as soon as the jasmine makes its presence, the citrus notes once again takes over. I’m glad about this as the citrus keeps the perfume on the lighter side. Well, as soon as write that, it seems that the jasmine wants to once again make itself known. But this time the jasmine is softer, more demure and jubilantly pretty with just a brush of pencil shaving olibanum. It’s here that the perfume seems to glide softly as it seems to ride a light breeze in the spring air. After quite some time, the perfume sweetens some more and moves towards the bubblegum with an undercurrent of white musk. In all, Flor de La Virgen is uncomplicated loveliness.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: Flowers on the wind.
The Scented Hound 