Mainstream Monday – Sniffing a Popular Perfume
I had heard a few good things about Carven Le Parfum, but with so many new launches and me catching up on old launches, this one slipped through. I didn’t know anything about it other than the bottle is attractive (well, it’s photogenic at least). I stumbled across a sample, sprayed it and said, “This has to be a Kurkdjian”. And it is.
Kurkdjian does wonderful things with rose but I live for what he does with white florals. Le Parfum opens with juicy, sticky lychee in syrup. These juicy, fruity top notes of lychee and peaches progress into heady white flowers. The white florals in this are crisp, slightly green and clean (borderline soapy); yet, they are full-bodied. It dries down to a soapy floral anchored by sweeter woods.
It’s difficult for me to wear this and not think of Elie Saab Le Parfum or Maison Francis Kurkdjian Amyris Femme but this isn’t bad. All of these perfumes share the same perfumer. They share a similar genetic code; yet, they are different. Carven Le Parfum is greener and crisper than the syrupy orange blossom, Elie Saab Le Parfum. Amyris Femme smells more luminous, and frankly, it’s of better quality (and yes, there is a huge price difference between this and Amyris). They’re different but I think of them as sisters.
Notes listed include mandarin blossom, apricot, white hyacinth, sweat pea, jasmine, ylang ylang, sandalwood, osmanthus and Indonesian patchouli. Launched in 2013. PERFUMER – Francis Kurkdjian
Give Carven Le Parfum a try if you like sweet white florals. Or if you like perfumes like Kiehl’s Orange Flower & Lychee ,Elie Saab EDT & EDP, Maison Francis Kurkdjian Amyris Femme and/or Lancôme Ô de L’Orangerie.
Carven comes in a few sizes with prices ranging from $86 to $112 at Nordstrom and Harrods (UK).
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Sleek lychee floral. I like it but I think I’m more attracted to Elie Saab (which I own) and Maison Francis Kurkdjian Amyris Femme (which I want).
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*Sample obtained by me. Product pic from Fragrantica. Mary Astor pic from www.fanpix.net. Post contains affiliate links. Thanks!
I got an adorable mini bottle of this from Sephora (it was one of their free specials when you spend $25). It has grown on me and I have been really enjoying it. I get more apricot than lychee, but maybe that is just how it wears with my chemistry.
I love when they offer little perfumes as GWP 🙂 Now those are the sort of GWPs that get me to buy stuff even when I shouldn’t be buying stuff.
It really does start off like a lychee martini on me but, I don’t doubt the apricot-ness of it either. Years ago, I started to realize that perfumes can do anything once they’re on skin 🙂 You never know until it’s being worn.
Anyway, I do think this is a pretty floral and not bad at all in comparison to other designer florals on the market.