Caron • Montaigne Parfum • Fragrances

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*TOP REVIEWER* ellizam on 3/1/2012 6:53:00 AM more reviews by ellizam

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Farnesia meets Parfum Sacre, with a touch of Nocturnes. This is a Caron, but almost has the feel of a Chanel - too many natural notes, identifiable blocks, for a Chanel, but close.


There's the mimosa and doughy quality of Farnesia. But it is pulled back, much lighter. There's also a strong spine of spice, probably the amber mixed with the coriander. The resemblence to Parfum Sacre is close enough that one part of my nose/brain wants to smell this as PS while the other reminds me that there's no mace or cedar. Over all is an aldehydey cloud of classic, the clear feel of a Nice French Perfume that lifts this right out of gourmand category and into Chanel-iness. The orange, on my skin, is subtle, more subtle than in Nocturnes. It mostly mediates the sweetness of mimosa. I'm not getting narcissus per se, but there is a white floral quality.


This is beautiful, from gorgeous bottle to lovely gold juice to the classic yet mimosa/spice cloud of sillage. I have the EDP, and a sample of the parfum (lovely, more mimosa, less spice, way less aldehyde). I'm curious about the edt - my guess would be lots more aldehyde and orange, and a more pronounced resemblence to Nocturnes.

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themeanreds on 11/6/2011 1:21:00 AM more reviews by themeanreds

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

The perfume I have could not be more different that what is described in these glowing reviews and on Basenotes, where most people also liked it; it makes me wonder if I got a fake or a bad batch. I smell a little of the orange but mostly I'm just clobbered with a fecal-floral pollen scent. I usually let a scent develop but this was just so bad that I washed it off after an hour.

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*TOP REVIEWER* zeynepd on 8/6/2011 7:35:00 AM more reviews by zeynepd

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Red   Eyes: Hazel    

Caron's Montaigne is one of my long-lasting love affairs. It was a blind buy some years ago. My first sniff transported me to the beaches of my childhood when sun-tan oils had an orangey smell instead of coconut. It is such a pleasant smell and I still don't know how something with such simple connotations can be so graceful at the same time. After a friendly opening Montaigne reveals its depth and its French characteristics which gives it an unique ability to match every occasion in my life. It's also a fantastic fragrance for all seasons. It truly shines on a musky base in the summer and has a slightly melancholy, shadowy aspect in the winter. I feel both very sexy and comfortable when I wear Montaigne. It also attracts a lot of compliments and leaves a lovely trail.

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wristsniffer on 8/26/2010 4:27:00 AM more reviews by wristsniffer

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This reminds me of Bitter orange drizzle cake. The sponge made with good quality butter, eggs and vanilla, dense and yummy. Then flavoured with a syrup of bitter Seville oranges, which prevents it from becoming sickly. Quite addictive and delicious.

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lilly1972 on 2/15/2010 8:32:00 AM more reviews by lilly1972

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Perfume is so personal but I have found that if you wear something, and time and time again, people compliment you on the fragrance..it is a pretty good match. Anytime I wear this I usually get at least one 'what are you wearing'....

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*TOP REVIEWER* Mac789 on 12/29/2009 12:34:00 AM more reviews by Mac789

Age: 44-55   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Montaigne is classic haute-French parfumerie with a capital "C." Step back in time to an era where perfume smelled, well, perfumey, top-loaded with sizzling aldehydes and a bullet bra of white florals.



Was that era the Big Eighties? Caron launched Montaigne in 1986, which was the tail end of an era of overblown, ambery Orientals. Montaigne was out of step even then; it smells of the 1950s thanks to the crisp formality of the aldehydes. Like a crinoline, they stiffen and give body to the composition and seem old-fashioned today, but only in reference to what presently lines the shelves of Sephora.



Speaking of the shelves of Sephora, one notes the detergent citrus of Light Blue. Montaigne has citrus (orange) and plenty of it, so much so that it nearly borders being a solvent. It's fabulous stuff, slightly industrial and lasting through to drydown in its piquancy. Although comparisons have been drawn to Alpona, it is Acaciosa that the opening of Montaigne calls to mind. Acaciosa cooks pineapple over jasmine and the same jasmine appears in Montaigne, this time with the orange. Thanks to the native bitterness and fresh verisimilitude of the orange rind, the effect of fruit over jasmine is not so sweet or thick. Caron's jasmine always strikes me as gourmand and lacking in indoles; it has a powdered-sugar quality that borders on being too rich. In Montaigne, the orange cuts this sugariness markedly.



Significant mimosa calls to mind the doughiness of Farnesiana. Montaigne in its heart is part flower, part creative bakery. You get the sense of a gateau strewn with edible flower and orange rind---the effect might have been blowsy and probably would have been in less capable hands.



Frequently, the drydown of a fragrance does not dry down so much as let down, as a fragrance peters out to an uninspired base. Montaigne's base positively sings. Here is a wondrous amber/musk base that weaves the persistent orange note throughout; it is, to my mind, the ultimate achievement, for the orange note is what differentiates Montaigne from powdery (cosmetic) Carons.



Recommended, for various reasons, to those who like: First, Jardins de Bagatelle, and, surprisingly enough, de Nicolai Cococabana.

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*TOP REVIEWER* essija on 11/6/2008 3:24:00 PM more reviews by essija

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Red   Eyes: Blue    

Beautiful is what comes to mind. I get spices at first then a lot of jasmine with some rose. I like it, I think my mom would love this. Reminds me of something she would wear.. and she usually wears Red and Ciara...
Classic women only.. upping this b/c its so devine, Love it for fall and winter. So cozy and romantic sexy spicy....

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*TOP REVIEWER* chattykathy on 6/30/2008 4:51:00 AM more reviews by chattykathy

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I am speaking of the original formulation here, not the recent reformulation. This is a beautiful womanly perfume and I just love it. It makes me feel so grown up and mysterious. It's citrusy (bitter orange) with a hint of floral (jasmine) and some sandalwood and vanilla to round it out. It's definitely a "big" perfume in the style of the 80's when it was created but it's not suffocating or cloying at all. It has a lush, smokiness that makes it unique and even hauntingly beautiful. This would definitely be a signature scent as it is in a class of it's own. It is not an everyday scent for me but I do reach for it when I want to feel extra special and sophisticated, especailly on cold winter evenings. It's a confidence booster for sure. The tiniest amount lasts forever and the EDT concentration is nearly identical to the pure parfum. What a wonderful perfume. I am very sad that the original scent has been discontinued. The newer formulation is not heresy but it's not the same.

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*TOP REVIEWER* tessture on 6/14/2008 4:56:00 PM more reviews by tessture

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Funny, this one works on me. I get a aldehydic, delicious powdery bitter orange that smells French, formal and expensive. Many many Caron's don't work on me, so maybe since this one does, it doesn't work on others who can wear the bulk of Caron's artistry. I love this, but I had to take a lippy off because my husband can't stand it. It's either the bitter, slightly medicinal edge under the powdery elegance that he hates or it's the heavy French feeling it gives off. He's not a fan of the French styles.

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JaleR on 5/23/2008 3:31:00 PM more reviews by JaleR

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Dull fragrance. Re-formulation has harmed it. I supposwe I will have to stop buying Caron parfums soon, because most of them are only a shadow of their old selves. Very deplorable.
This Montaigne thing is so boring, I have no proper words to describe it. Save your money and by a huge bottle of Mitsouko instead.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Metraria on 4/27/2008 12:26:00 AM more reviews by Metraria

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Oily, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This review is of the Eau de Toilet, in the current formulation.


It's a sweet, light floral that comes off as rather distant and disinterested. The base notes are quite long lived, and strongly resemble the milky cinnamon of Kenzo Amour.


This fragrance seems to fall into the same category as Hermes Caleche: a perfectly poised, sophisticated, delicate floral that's nevertheless light and airy. It's the olfactory equivalent of a pretty, floaty, perfectly tailored skirt. Frankly, I think it's a little too subdued for someone my age. This is, after all, the time when I should be wearing fragrances, makeup, and clothing that I won't be able to get away with in years to come. I'd rather wear something that comes off as less distant and little more naive. It would be effortlessly classy on someone a bit older, however.

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*TOP REVIEWER* 8ball on 12/20/2007 12:06:00 AM more reviews by 8ball

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This is currently one of the Caron urn fragrances, and re-issued in EDP at Saks. Why would they have discontinued it? It smells amazing! I think it's for the sophisticated perfume wearer who isn't a kid anymore and is looking for a serious potion. It is a floral aldehyde to me, with a citrusy opening drying down to that sweet, pungent heaven that Carons typically have. I found it at one, and only one, on line etailer and took a chance. I may have to go and buy out their stock. Unlike other Carons at on line retailers, it is not dirt cheap. The bottle isn't the knobby Caron bottle. It's a little rectangular thing that is nothing special.

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*TOP REVIEWER* MellyHelly on 11/15/2007 5:59:00 PM more reviews by MellyHelly

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I'll be stick in the mud here, because this scent is awful on my skin!
I'm not even sure I'm talking about the same perfume due to the great reviews it gets while I can't stand it on myself.
It must be a chemistry thing.
It smells harsh, very woody and perfumey and it has a very strong Vaporum stink!
After 4 hours on my skin I got a light vanillic swif and that was the only good thing.
4 hours later. Definetely too long to wait!

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*TOP REVIEWER* veruska on 10/13/2007 1:10:00 PM more reviews by veruska

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

Caron has everything that's good about 80's perfumes.It's full bodied, not shy and the kind of sexiness that would very much remind us of the young Kathleen Turner in Body Heat or Theressa Russel in Black Window.For that reason alone i find it hard to wear that beyond my boudoir.It's just a very hard part to follow because of my looks my attitude and of course simply cause i live in my 00's life.Anyway the opening notes are just magnificent.The powerful bitter orange accompanied by a fresh mildly herby thing that lead us to the middle phase witch for me,although it has been said that it has a lot of floral notes it strangely smells like a very animalic mimosa and the clean but with an edge sandalwood,all are meticously crafted.The perfect ode to the femme fatale of the 80's.

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*TOP REVIEWER* potionsandlotions on 8/29/2006 4:11:00 AM more reviews by potionsandlotions

Age: Unknown   Skin: Combination   Hair: Other   Eyes: Brown    

I got a great deal on this, one of those deals you can't let get passed you. I got it unsniffed. While I waited for it to ship I read the reiews. I was convinced I was going to have to swap this one. I think I expected this to be a girly flowerly and fruity frangrance--that's not always a good thing, not for me anyway. I was not very afraid of the jasmin note in it, but I was so worried about that "citrus" -orange- note! SURPRISE! This is smoky, sexy and all woman. This is a very classy, refined, mature scent that can be worn by the younger who twist their noses at the thought of "an 80s" fragrance, but also by those who love the more perfumy big scents. This is a middle ground in between those, and it is very well blended. The orange note here is more of a sun-dried orange peel note on me. A dry note, not a juicy citrusy note. The jasmin is not heady, and the smokyness is very much present, similar to the smokyness in Parfum Sacre, but not as strong and less churchy/incensy -- more refined. This is beautiful, sexy, and very grown up. This is a creamy jasmine, a soft vanilla, not very spicy, but smokey-- and has a tad of sun dried orange peel in it. Dry and smoky, but feminine--no such thing as unisexy woody/incensy note here, this is all femme. It needs a scarf or a wrap, nice big sun glasses, hair pulled back giving you a sleek look, and big earrings. You'll need high heels with this one. This is for the laaaaaaaaaaaaydieeeeeeeeees.

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Lenotchka on 12/11/2005 4:05:00 PM more reviews by Lenotchka

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

They were out of the Montaigne parfum at Caron in NYC this holiday season and I heard quite a few laments in the store. To me this is one of the more wearable Carons, yet still dark, unique and well-blended. I adore the black currant/bitter orange notes in this- they are not sweet at all and luckily the jasmine top note was not too apparent to me. Montaigne exemplifies 80's perfume at it's best- overtly elegant, definitely not subtle, absolutely demanding of something chic to go with it. It's a scent that makes people want to get closer to you and inhale deeply (and wonder where you found a perfume that is so elegant). I am very much looking forward to purchasing this one in the future.

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*TOP REVIEWER* BasiaS on 9/9/2005 7:35:00 PM more reviews by BasiaS

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Classic fragrance, rather perfumey but never, ever unpleasant. If I wore fur, this is the perfume I'd choose to go with it. I smell jasmine mostly, with some citrus peeking through, a dash of spices and a voluptous vanilla note. The fragrance becomes increasingly woodier, drier and spicier, and ends up with the sweet fragrance of blackberries. I love this dark and enigmatic scent, but could only wear it on very special occasions.

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*TOP REVIEWER* dreamstorm on 8/30/2005 5:26:00 AM more reviews by dreamstorm

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Montaigne is an utterly glorious, indulgent fragrance. Rnornan is right on the money when she compares this to Micallef's Hiver -- they are very similar, except that Montaigne is far less sharp and perfumey: its a little more rounded, with a distinct vanillaic and fruit aspect to the composition. White citrus mingles with jasmine, blackcurrant, mandarin orange/orange rum and sandalwood to create a scent both pretty and undeniably sophisticated and classy. Mostly those latter descriptors are paired with aldehyde-heavy, cold, aloof florals like Chanel No. 5 or Guerlains, but Montaigne also has an uncanny warmth to it that makes it snuggleworthy and comforting. Hauntingly beautiful.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Maller on 7/19/2005 10:01:00 PM more reviews by Maller

Age: Unknown   Skin: Other   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Montaigne is yet another extremely well named fragrance. I know it was named this as the original Caron boutique was on Ave. Montaigne, but Ave. Montaigne also happens to be packed w/ couture boutiques....a mecca for serious shoppers. This is a spicy, fruity floral that radiates an aura of being extremely worldly and chic. And it's tremendously tenacious - no matter how long your shopping marathon is, Montaigne will valiantly hang in there through the bitter end. It was released in the 80s and it reflects that era rather well - a decade of happily carefree consumption. It also seems to demand heels, perfect makeup and a superb manicure. Frankly, that's what keeps me from buying this scent. My nails. I'm hell on manicures...as beautiful a fragrance as it is, my nails just are not up to the challenge Montaigne presents.

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goodlaw on 7/18/2005 10:30:00 AM more reviews by goodlaw

Age: 44-55   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Montaigne is probably my favorite of all the Caron parfums....a new addiction for me because of the depth, quality and longevity of these scents on my skin. This is no flirty, girly scent, but a womanly, voluptuous one. Agree with cavewoman that the top notes -- the jasmine, in particular -- seem to float away into nothingness quickly on me, and then I'm left with this glorious oriental with a slight vanillic quality. Absolutely gorgeous and must be tried. I swear by this stuff!

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