Caron • French Cancan • Fragrances

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debrsl on 1/4/2013 4:17:00 PM more reviews by debrsl

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

This presents many different scents at different points. It started with a burst of something I didn't like, then morphed into almond, violets, and then powder. Tons of powder. And I'm not getting any of the dark Caron base that I've discovered in so many of them. ETA: The second time I wore it, I didn't have nearly the powder overload, but a focus on almonds. This is a really strange fragrance. It's interesting.

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*TOP REVIEWER* FeySparrow on 12/27/2009 7:14:00 PM more reviews by FeySparrow

Age: Unknown   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Other, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

Everything’s just right with French Cancan, it says, ‘it doesn’t matter where I find myself in life, because I carry perfection with me’. It has all the elements of a classic perfume, from the light lilac and orange blossom to the smolderingly dark jasmine, to the risqué name. It goes through a long drydown, and I find all the stages well-balanced, and considering that some of the Carons are quite dark in feel, it’s high-energy. It’s composed of white flowers, lilac, violet, rose, patchouli, iris, with an oakmoss base.

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*TOP REVIEWER* staci23 on 1/1/2009 4:30:00 PM more reviews by staci23

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

I like the parfum version of this better than the edp. It's an old fashioned scent but in a good way. There is an interesting green note that I like. I cannot wear a lot of caron fragrances as I find they have this "note" that does not agree with my nose. It's a dark slightly offensive scent that I haven't fully embraced, but French CanCan does not have this darkness. It's a fun scent that is absolutely lovely and potent in the parfum form.

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*TOP REVIEWER* MizLiz211 on 4/12/2008 10:06:00 AM more reviews by MizLiz211

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

Visions of Offenbach and Toulouse-Lautrec dance in my head...the kitschy-fun name pulled me in, but the fragrance sealed the deal. Beautiful golden layers of flowers (jasmine is most prominent to my nose) on top of the signature dark Caron base. It makes me think of a buttery, flaky jasmine pastry, flavored with some candied violets. As was the case with several of my favorite perfumes, this didn't quite work on me at first, but I grew to love it. A joy!

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CheriCheri on 7/3/2007 4:44:00 PM more reviews by CheriCheri

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

Not old lady at all (I wish we'd all forget that cliche'), very violet, hint of rose, perhaps so retro it is modern! Deep and inviting, dark purple with some green. Elegant!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Meg2005 on 6/3/2006 9:31:00 AM more reviews by Meg2005

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

The name of it sounds pretty outrageous, evocative of images of the Moulin Rouge, Les Folies Bergères, Alhambra, et al. I would have expected at least a fragrance reminscent of Toulouse-Lautrec, served with a whiff of tobacco, absinthe, and turpentine.
Imagine my surprise when I actually sniffed it. This is Après L'Ondée's demure, long-lost
sister, sweet, refined, powdery, very charming. I have recently had a chance to smell the original Soir de Paris (thank you Freegracer!) as well, and consider this last a third sister of the same family, each complete with a bouquet of violets, wide-brimmed hat, white gloves and parasol. Rather than French CanCan this beauty might more aptly have been named La Valse À Mille Temps; I find it faintly sweet, with a certain fin-de-siècle nostalgic aura to it. A deliciously comforting scent, ideal for summer, when you want nothing less than an impossible combination of elements, a perfume that is lightweight, gossamer and enveloping at the same time. This one, yet another inspired masterpiece by Ernest Daltroff, is all of that, and a great soul besides.

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*TOP REVIEWER* GlamDiva on 3/12/2006 7:36:00 PM more reviews by GlamDiva

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Other, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

French Can-Can is very much like a lighter Jolie Madame. "Powdery dark violet" also describes French Can-Can well, though I get some pepper (or vetiver?) and leather too.

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jaritos on 1/31/2006 1:51:00 PM more reviews by jaritos

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Warm   Hair: Black, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This was lovely on my skin at first. It was beautiful, heady jasmine with something grounded underneath. However, my two criticisms: It turned a little too...overripe, I guess is the word, after two hours or so. Also, this wasn't the right scent for me - maybe in twenty years, but for now, it felt mature.

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CathyEarnshaw on 1/14/2006 1:16:00 PM more reviews by CathyEarnshaw

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

On my skin, Caron French Cancan is very old fashioned, very powdery dark violet.

I get the same meloncholy feel with it as I do with my beloved Guerlain L'heure Bleue, so naturally, I love Cancan too.

Some here might describe it as an "old Lady" scent. I describe it as a classic and very well blended work of art.

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*TOP REVIEWER* BasiaS on 1/12/2006 6:24:00 PM more reviews by BasiaS

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

Initially, I get a heavy jasmine, LOTV and aldehydes out of this, followed by dark, lush violets. This is very old-fashioned and heavy, but in the classic Caron way - meaning it's quite beautiful on some people, very dark and musty on others. For me, the jasmine and LOTV are a bit too heavy in the beginning, overpowering all other notes. It seemed a bit too mature for me. It took a while for it to fade, but when it did, the drydown was quite pretty and sweet. To be honest I'm not sure that I could pull this one off at my age, but hopefully they won't discontinue this and I can revisit Cancan in 20 years or so.

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cjblue on 1/12/2006 11:38:00 AM more reviews by cjblue

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

These days, it is rare that a fragrance really sparks my imagination and captivates me. When I wear French CanCan I can't stop sniffing myself. Notes: jasmine, lilac, violet, lily of the valley, rose, orange blossom, patchouli, iris, sandalwood, amber, oakmoss (thank you to Bois de Jasmin for this information). This one is available only as parfum extrait (at least in the Caron boutique) but it's my absolute next fragrance purchase. It's completely worth it. This is class personified. When my mom sniffed it on me, she said "It smells old-fashioned." It does. But like your favorite grandmother or aunt, the one with impeccable taste who always wore hats.

I do need to clarify that this, on me, is not a light floral. It has that signature dark Caron undertone that so appeals to me. It sounds very light floral, with jasmine, lilac, LOTV, but if you're looking for a light floral, go right past Cancan.

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*TOP REVIEWER* freegracer on 1/5/2006 1:47:00 PM more reviews by freegracer

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

Three little words describe French Cancan: Oh. La. La. What a marvelous, sophisticated blend this is. It's like a dark violet twilight version of En Avion. Stunningly feminine and sensual with its dark accord, French Cancan is a must try for admirers of Daltroff's genius and is definitely lemming material for lovers of dark, warmly sensual violets. I hope French Cancan will never fade into obsolescence. To repeat what Lenotchka below wrote: they don't make 'em like this anymore.

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Lenotchka on 12/11/2005 11:41:00 AM more reviews by Lenotchka

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

I wanted to purchase a fragrance at Caron and in my mind, I wanted a well-composed floral. French Can-can was the obvious candidate. Upon spraying, it went on as a pure floral with notes of lilac, jasmine, rose and violet, the sort of scent that reminded me of Paris, of walking around the city on a slightly windy day, my scent blowing trails in the wind. After about 20 minutes the notes of rose and violet started to shout, became quite strong, in fact my nose started to run. I changed my order and purchased Nuit de Noel as the French Can-Can got too loud, quite raunchy, dark (very dark) and sexual.... not what I was after. Upon presenting my husband with two wrists, one sprayed with the French Can-Can, the other with the Nuit de Noel, he overwhelmingly enthused about the Nuit de Noel. The Fr. CC was way to strong, it filled our car as we headed home from New York. When I did get home, I washed my wrists, lay down for a nap. Several hours later, we went out to dinner and everyone loved my perfume, although I hadn't sprayed any on for about seven hours (and washed my wrists). My DH at one point in the evening sniffed my wrist and mentioned how glad he was I didn't get the other awful perfume. Drat, he was sniffing the French Can-Can. It had dried down to a pefect floral, a golden, even scent where all of the notes just meld into each other. SO elegant, so gorgeous, one of the best scents either one of us had even smelled.... ever. It is back on the must buy list, alas for next year. A classic perfume, they really don't make fragrances like this any more.

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sarabeegee on 8/9/2005 2:02:00 PM more reviews by sarabeegee

Age: 44-55   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

When I first applied this to my skin, I got an overwhelming sweet floral blast. As it dried down, French Can Can smelled more and more like a close relative of YSL's Paris which I wore when it first came out in the 80's. I think that this is a pleasant perfume, but the rose-violet accord is too sweet for my taste these days.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Maller on 6/22/2005 5:56:00 PM more reviews by Maller

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

French Cancan is my newest Caron obsession. I'd read it had violet. The only violet I've ever cared for is SL Bois de Violette, hence, I'd avoided it. Such a mistake. In lighter violet fragrances I often pick up on a celery note (*not* something I'm fond of). Celery is the farthest thing from my mind w/ French Cancan. For one, the first note I pick up on is lilac - sumptuous, rich lilac. Violet and jasmine following close behind and then they all blend together w/ a fascinating dark incensey base. Sensual and dark in that classic Caron way. Not a fragrance that giggles. French Cancan would have a deep, throaty, sexy laugh. It's confidently seductive...not in the least shy, blushing and virginal. French Cancan is something that would be well matched to a Galliano gown or something from Nicholas Ghesquiere's latest collection for Balenciaga. A fragrance for the inner vixen.

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*TOP REVIEWER* hirondelle on 6/6/2005 4:03:00 PM more reviews by hirondelle

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Most interesting, which is why it gets three lippies, and carefully made in the classic manner. It isn't for me, though. It is quite heavy, the base gets louder and more aggressive throughout, and I can't find any violet in there at all. I do smell jasmine and rose, but these are oily, hothouse version of these flowers, not the garden-fresh sprightliness of Muguet or Tubereuse from the same house. Still, there is definitely something about this perfume. I imagine it on a married woman who scurries through 1920s Paris. She clutches her wrap coat about her, cloche hat pulled low on her face, and she wafts this fragrance as she meets her lover at a low-lit nightspot in Montparnasse.

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BubbaJab on 1/1/2005 11:32:00 PM more reviews by BubbaJab

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

One of my Caron favorite scents. Have a nice generous pure parfum sample. Beautiful, fun.

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Brighttyger on 10/7/2004 1:33:00 PM more reviews by Brighttyger

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Combination   Hair: Silver   Eyes: Green    

This is a great favorite. On me it is quite complex and more dark than sweet - not a brooding dark, but a floral blushed musk that goes well with the idea of decadent nights in Belle Epoque Paris. Rich, luscious, but with a playful kick.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Suzy_Queue on 8/21/2004 2:47:00 PM more reviews by Suzy_Queue

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

It took me a couple of tries to appreciate this Caron. To be sure, it does not have quite the complexity or that magical quality of blending with the skin that can be found in the best Carons. However, it IS interesting, very pretty and nicely enough made.

French Cancan is a rich, deep violet perfume: primarily violet and jasmine. The jasmine pushes the violet forward. Though somewhat sweet, it is much less so than most violet perfumes, and not at all cloying. This is much deeper and more long-lasting than, say, Borsari's Violetta di Parma, which is so pretty, but whisper-light on me, and gone as fast I can re-apply.

The name "French Cancan" doesn't fit this perfume at ALL, at least not on me. It SOUNDS like it would be a sparkling, bubbly sort of fragrance. The Caron literature says it is a bouquet of lilac, white flowers, jasmine, and violet. "Lighthearted and joyful". Maybe it's just my chemistry, but I find it to be dark and brooding. In a sexy sort of way. (I admit, I took a nap once while wearing it and it gave me very hauntingly sensual dreams!)


Sometimes when I wear Fr Cancan, the dry-down has tones of make-up. This is not unpleasant, but it is not the effect I am seeking. Seems to depend on the weather!


Caron certainly does great things with violet: Violette Preciouse, Aimez Moi, and Fr Cancan --each one an excellent perfume with violet notes dominating, and each one highlighting violet in a different way. Though Fr Cancan is the least of the three, it is definitely worth experiencing. I find that it just perfect for certain rare moods. Update 12/12/04: Least of the three? No way! It's at the top of the list--it's now my favorite violet, any brand/style. I long to own an actual bottle of it. Every time I wear this scent I fall a bit more in love with it. The scent I find it most comparable to in spirit is SL Bois de Violette. It has taken me a while to realize it, but French Cancan is sublime.

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*TOP REVIEWER* cavewoman on 8/29/2003 9:43:00 AM more reviews by cavewoman

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

If you like YSL's Champagne (now called Yvresse) you will love this Caron. To me there is so much similarity between these two.
Unfortunately, DH does not like either of them, otherwise I'd be buying this lovely fragrance.
Definitely for chypre lovers who like that 'old-fashioned' type of fragrance. I can picture this on Bette Davis in her role as Margo Channing!
Patti

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