It has been a few years since The Advice Sisters have reviewed anything from CARON Paris but recently I attended an event at Phyto Universe in Manhattan (yes, it really is a world of Phyto products including Borujois, Phytomer, Lierac, and Caron, plus salon services. While there, I learned about some of the new products in these chic, covet-able hair, skin, makeup and fragrance lines.
The Advice Sisters will be reviewing some of the newest products from Bourjois, Lierac and Phytomer in the next What Works beauty, cosmetics & fashion review column, but one product that stood out for me was from the famous CARON line of fragrances. At Phyto Universe, there is an entire boutique devoted to these French scents including elegant urns with golden spigots from which you can refill special flacons with your favorite Caron scents. In this beautiful place, I felt as spoiled as Marie Antoinette (but with my head still firmly in place)!
One way to pamper yourself with a special fragrance is to get it in a “collectible” form, such as Caron Parfum Sacre Eau de Parfum $85.00 50ml EDP Spray and $115.00 100ml EDP Spray in in a classic wrapping made modern: Parfum Sacre (launched 1991) is presented here in a slim atomizer wrapped in a royal purple “Galuchat” skin, topped in gold and accented with a small, gold name tag. Galuchat means “sharkskin or stingray skin.” It was named after Louis XV’s master leather artisan, Jean-Claude Galuchat, who introduced this exotic material to France during the 18th Century. Although Caron actually did use this genuine skin years ago, today’s version is embossed cowhide. Parfum Sacre is classified as a spicy oriental, but while it has that exotic, “incense-y” vibe, it is actually quite soft. Unusual about this scent is that it has notes from all of the fragrance categories mixed into one beautiful melange of flowers and spices. One sniff and you know it’s special and sophisticated and obviously French (they have just been doing it better than anyone else for a gazillion years)! The feminine blend of flowers and spices starts with spicy pepper and cinnamon plus exotic corriander, with a heart of clove, rose, jasmine and orange, and a drydown that is perfect for special occasion dressing…festive and sensual, but still subtle, consisting of mimosa myrrh, musk, ambrette and vanilla. The mixture might sound strident or heavy, but it’s soft as cotton–the kind of scent you give someone’s nostrils as a gift–but only if they are close enough to you to really appreciate it!
The new, Galuchet wrapping (see photo) is available in several different and beautiful Caron scents, some of which The Advice Sisters have reviewed in the past:
Nuit de Noel
Fleurs de Rocaille
Bellodgia
Muguet de Bonheur
Narcisse Noir
Infini
Nocturnes (created in 1922 -a rich floriental for the holidays and every day)
Aimez Moi
Lady Caro
Pafum Sacre
For more information visit Phyto Universe in Manhattan (truly a relaxing experience) at Phyto 715 Lexington ave on 58th Street or online: http://www.phytouniverse.com/ or just for Caron, visit: http://www.parfumscaron.com/