This just showed up at luckyscent and of course I had to give it a sniff.
Oud is one of those ingredients that for a while it seemed practically everyone from Avon to Xerjoff has given a shot at. I thought Caron’s take on it would be interesting, to say the least.
Interesting it was. I just don’t know that I really like it. It starts out with a dainty little peep of something slightly camphorous then segues into rose. The rose is thoroughgoing- adding in saffron, a touch of oud, musk and amber.
I should like it. It’s very plush, very refined, and very French. I think I like my oud a little more rough around the edges: “oud-ier” as it were. This is more of a ball-gown sort of oud; a rather self-effacing one at that. I want to say it’s a Grace Kelly sort of scent, but I bet she’d have worn something more like Bal à Versailles. It seems like something the Second Mrs deWinter would wear because it’s slightly daring or the first would have as camouflage of her true, feral nature. The lasting power is pretty good and it seems to have a nice sillage. I would like to smell it on someone, but don’t think I am personally rocking it.
While I have to respect the achievement, there are just about 6 other Carons that I would personally wear before this one. Wearing it for hours I have to admit that it’s really lovely and in the end I do like it. However like that ball gown, it just needs someone who isn’t me. I’d love to read my scent twin’s opinion..
$250 for 50ML, at Luckyscent, where I asked for my sample
I don’ know this fragrance, and at that price I’m not likely too! But I’m very struck by the idea of what the second Mrs de Winter would wear. I had always imagined her in something like Apres l’Ondee, but perhaps for THAT dreadful party at Manderly she might have been tempted to try something more daring. I shudder to think what her predecessor would have worn. Full-on tuberose I suspect.
I haven’t quite made up my mind of if I like oud or not. So far, I’m only in love with Chanel’s Sycomore.
Is that price a typo? I always thought of Caron as reasonable…
Yeah, I was thinking, “This might be worth a try as a nice every day scent” – until I saw that price!
I like my ouds fairly oud-y, as well, but the addition of saffron (one of my very favorite notes) makes this more interesting.
It is, but like you I like a little more punch in the oud department
Tom –
I love the ‘idea’ of Caron but have never really attached myself to the House. I’m more demimondaine, apparently, than duchess 😉
And… you were kidding about the Avon, right? right? 8-|
xo >-)
I drew that name out of a hat.
Actually, I’ve smelled some Avons recently that were pretty nice, and the skincare is much better than a lot of department store brands I’ve been told.
Oh, I don’t doubt it (says the girl who loves her Olay)…but the idea of Avon jumping on the oud bandwagon is just a bit daunting!
But I love the visual….Avon Oh So Oud? 😕
xo >-)
They just might do it! I was looking for a particular hand cream of theirs recently and was given a few of the newer catalogues: they often list their scents’ main notes and use descriptors such as chypre, floral, oriental, fougere, watery, ambery, etc. The most recent catalogue I saw actually had a scent strip instead of just the usual scratch and sniff, and for their new scent they offered a carded 0.5 ml sample (which I never saw a few years ago).
Clearly, perfumistas have been having an influence! Perhaps they’ll give you a royalty for the name. :)
As much as I usually love your reviews I’m wishing I hadn’t read this one until I had tried this for myself. It sounds AMAZING! It sounds like something I would gladly give a limb for actually. But now I’m going to try it with, “Well Tom didn’t love it…” lingering in my mind!
I didn’t like it on me. It just didn’t fit. It felt like drag, almost. Like that ball gown.
Maybe the movie is different than the book, but wasn’t it the first “Mrs. Dewinter” who was the feral one?
(Actually, on re-viewing, poor Rebecca was merely a closeted lady trying to make the best of her life in a semi-arranged marriage for convenience to a rigid snobby and naive husband).
Anon-
Rebecca is one of the scariest characters in modern literature. She and her devoted nurse, Danny (Mrs Danvers) …..:o
From an early age Rebecca knows who she is and what her power is (in the novel there is a flashback to Rebecca as a child, on a street with Mrs D, reveling in the power her extraordinary beauty has over men). She doesn’t have a closeted bone in her body. Maxim was besotted, with her and with Manderley – there was no arrangement, save what Rebecca arranged. I quite admire her, even as I wonder if I could’ve survived a friendship.
Tom got it right – The second Mrs Dewinter might’ve worn this, thinking it could give her a bit of cachet. The first wouldn’t have given a damn about camouflaging anything ! 8-x I like her – a LOT!
xo >-)
She’s only use camouflage where necessary, like acting demure and interested in what the old windbags at one of her parties said. Then off to London to cat around.
I’m a little jealous…
When I read the book as a teen I thought the same thing- that she was a closeted lesbian who married Max because of the prestige and social power it gave her.
Now re-reading it I just think she was a sociopath.
me, too. An entitled, narcissistic sociopath.
And I, too, am a little jealous…:-? …just a leeeetle..
xo >-)
Hi, Tom! Yes, inquiring minds want to know: What are those other Carons you’d rather wear? I’m eagerly awaiting my sample of the 119. This one, however, does sound nice, as I like less oud-ier ouds. Will have to sample.
I’d love to know what you think of it.
So, what are those other Carons that you’d rather wear? My favourite is Parfum Sacre, and I’m a little intimidated by the others.
Farnesiana, Tabac Blond, Nuit de Noel, Poivre, 3emme Homme, Yatagan..