Hi there Posse! Recently I was sent a sample of Pour Un Homme de Caron Millésime 2014. I used it up in two days. Then coincidentally less than a week later my mate Sonya sent me her perfume sale list and she had a bottle of the original there for a bargain. So I grabbed it.
Pour Un Homme de Caron by Ernest Daltroff 1934
Parfumo gives these featured accords:
Top: Bergamot, Lavender, Rosemary, Lemon
Heart: Rose, Rosewood, Sage, Cedarwood
Base: Amber, Moss, Musk, Tonka bean, Vanilla
I am a bit of a Caron fan, the older stuff anyway. There are Nuit de Noel, Narcisse Noir, Bellodgia, Accord 119, Infini and Parfum Sacre bottles around here. The style generally suits me, grand old French perfumery done classically often with clever twists.
Right from the very first spritz Pour Un Homme de Caron smells like lavender candy. The notes list feels utterly irrelevant to me because everything else in the fragrance seems put there to bolster this sweet lavender and the whole mixing feels seamless and elegant.
I can imagine anyone who likes or loves of the utterly unisex and very calming note of lavender will be in raptures.
Through the heart and base lavender is still the major star but the vanilla/amber warmth adds luster and warmth.
Nothing like some other of my favourite lavenders Reglisse Noir by 1000 Flowers and Hermessence Brin de Réglisse. Here we have a comfortable, wear anywhere, fits any mood fragrance.
What’s even better is that you buy it for a steal at the discounters.
Surrender To Chance has samples starting at $4/2ml
So what is your lavender?
Portia xx
Ann, lavender candy, Portia’s description is spot on. Not ridiculously candy floss sweet though. And a touch of powder. But just a bit, I am not a fan of overly powdered fragrances. It really is good.
I’m so glad I rewound it Marxella,
Seems to wear so perfectly. You’re right, the powder is dialled down but still fluffy.
Portia xx
And that’s why it’s on the way to me. But not the large vat that Mrs. Marzipan is contemplating. She’s an excellent sharer tho. Me? Maybe not so much ?
Yeah, I need to work on my sharing too. I want it ALL for me.
Nothin’ wrong with that ?
Yum — lavender candy! Love this, Portia! This is one of the few lavenders that I can really groove on (Chanel’s Jersey and Creed’s Aberdeen Lavender being the others). I’d nearly forgotten about this, but not now — thanks to you! I’m off to dig up my little bit of it. Thanks, dear!!
Hey there Ann,
Lovely to see you.
Enjoy it to the very last drop.
Portia xx
Mmmm…love Caron! They have a somewhat crazier/bitchier edge than Guerlain (which I also loved, but sometimes ya gotta embrace your inner Marlene). I’m wearing En Avion today!
OH YES! “sometimes ya gotta embrace your inner Marlene” Nailed it.
Portia xx
LOL! I am reading this post/comments and realize I don’t have ANY lavenders! I love the scent in sachets (until I lost the bushes in a Polar Vortex I had 3, from which I harvested the buds for sachets – that’s what is in that little one I sent you). But I never wear it as a perfume!
CPuH sounds pretty divine, though!
xoxoxoA
That sachet is keeping my knickers fragrant Musette!
I reckon you’d rock the Caron. Give it a go.
Portia x
I don’t have many lavenders, although apparently I should cuz I’m loving the Pour Un Homme you sent me. It’s all finished now, but I’ve ordered a replacement. Not the vat sized bohemeth that Mrs. Marzipan will be purchasing, but plenty to keep me happy.
Another one I loved was Tom Ford’s Lavender Palm. Not dissimilar to the Caron in that the overall vibe was soft, zen and easy to wear. Given the price differential between the two, it’s a no-brainer buying a repeat of the Caron.
YAY Marcella,
So glad to have been the one to introduce you and PUHC. At this price it’s a no brainer.
Portia xx
I love the Caron Pour un Homme and am almost through a bottle. Which means I’ll have to get more. Too good to be without.
YAT Pam,
Another fan. WOW! An near empty bottle is definitely worth celebrating with a repurchase.
Portia xx
SL Fourreau Noir with tonka and lavender is a current favourite. Yum!
Hi TaraC,
You know I tried that many years ago but can’t remember. I think it deserves a revisit.
Portia xxx
Yay! Happy to see you mention Caron as I’m also a fan (N’Aimez Que Moi, Parfum Sacre, Bellodgia, Fleur de Rocaille, Narcisse Noir). I’ve not sniffed Pour Un Homme but it sounds wonderful. I don’t wear a lot of lavender fragrance, allow I love smelling the plant. My all-time favorite is vintage Guerlain Lavande. I am cherishing my little samples that I received from a nice lady that collects vintage Guerlain. It is special indeed. Otherwise, I really enjoyed Chanel Boy.
Hey Kathleen,
Caron and CHANEL Boy fans! We are practically scent twins.
I had an Aqua Allegoria Lavande but it got moved on because it was never getting sprayed. Now I’m bummed I didn’t keep it.
Portia xx
We share many perfume loves Portia! I didn’t know Aqua Allegoria line had a Lavande; now I’m curious about it and if it is anything similar to the vintage Lavande. Another fragrance to seek out! I’m bummed you didn’t keep your bottle as well. I “got rid” of many perfumes years ago when I wasn’t obsessed as I am now, and was moving. I have so many regrets about the bottles I parted with and therefore, now, hold on to everything and collect!
Yep, I think that’s a story all of us hoarders have in our past..
Portia xx
Thanks for the review, Portia, since I’m completely unfamiliar with this one. I like Chanel Jersey which also has lavender, vanilla and tonka bean. Chanel Boy is also a lavender scent, but I didn’t like it as much. I need to explore the house of Caron.
Hi there DinaC,
Yeah, Jersey is lovely. Boy has become a staple around here. I’m nearly through a 200ml bottle. TBH I think it was what reminded me of my love for lavender.
The house of Caron needs some sniffing, definitely.
Portia xx
I love Caron Pour Homme and need to just buy a bottle, already, because my decant was used up ages ago. Serge Lutens Encens et Lavande and Gris Clair are favorite lavenders, wearing the latter today as it just suits the rainy, melancholy here.
Hey there Rosaria!
Gris clair, so subtle yet persistent. LOVE IT! Perfect for a blue day.
Portia xx
OMG, my dear Portia you are killing me here! that 25 ounce bottle sits in my shopping cart! Haven’t pulled the trigger quite yet.
You have mentioned two of my favorite lavenders Reglisse Noire and Brin de Reglisse but I also wore Yardley English Lavender to ballet class in the 1970s (I am sure it has been reformulated since then) and I also adore Eden Botanicals lavender absolute.
While not a straightforward lavender you can definitely smell the high quality lavender absolute in St Clair Scents First Cut so that would be another love of mine I need to mention.
Brigitte,
Please just buy the 2.5oz. 25oz is maybe overkill till you know it’s a huge love. AND! I bet the big one is splash, which will never smell the same or get used because you’ll pass it over for ease.
Yep, I love those two and I knew you did too. The others sound MMMMMMM.
Portia xx
have you tried Patricia Choux02?
Immensely sweet musky lavender honey. Like if you made Pour un Homme syrup and mixed in some spikier lavender bits.
Cph is one of my favorites and I think the most versatile and easy to wear! I like the sharper clearer lavender and the softer Tonka sweetness.
It became my favorite to wear to class in college because one Spritz was pretty light and inoffensive yet gave me soft all day scent. It supports Focus, relaxation, and clarity. Can’t think of any setting in which it would be inappropriate, yet it is loads more interesting to me then most “office friendly” clean scents.
Hiya MiM,
Thanks for the tip.
Yeah, you nailed it. Office friendly PLUS!
Portia xx