El Born

Big like, not a love yet, but it's growing on me. My skin amplifies the honey and benzoin, and the heliotrope a distant third; the rest of the notes play a good supporting role. I think I get a bit nose blind, but, from time to time I get this amazing wafts from El Born, really nice. Not overpowering, with about 6-7 h longevity. Good year round. 👍👍👍

This does not play nice with my skin chemistry. It smells like if you dropped a cheap bottle of drugstore perfume in a 2nd hand book store based out of a converted office building. Unpleasant.

Unisex, easygoing, far from cloying, office-safe. It is my first full wear after trying, and it is not a full love, but I am really liking it because it is not girly and it is super cozy to wear. I paid a good price in a discounter and it was IMO a really good blind buy.

To me, this is a beautiful brown sugar vanilla. Quite gourmand to my nose BUT the performance is a joke. I'm someone who only expects 3-4 hrs, but this is gone in 20 minutes, much like every other Carner Barcelona fragrance.

Moving away from our extensive residency with the house of Dior, we head to the vibrant city of Barcelona to explore El Born. This review marks my introduction to the house of Carner Barcelona, a brand known for capturing the Mediterranean spirit and the specific atmosphere of their home city through scent. This 2014 release serves as a tribute to the historic and artistic quarter of the same name, aiming to capture the essence of its winding cobblestone streets and the fusion of old world charm with modern energy. While our recent reviews have explored minimalist colognes and literal campfires, El Born presents a much more complex and resinous landscape. Looking at the note breakdown, it appears to aim to utilize a dense arrangement of Honey, Madagascar Vanilla, and Benzoin to create a rich gourmand heart, balanced by the bright citrus of Calabrian Bergamot and the unique herbal touch of Angelica. It promises an experience that is deeply warm, balsamic, and sweet, leaning into a more Mediterranean style of luxury. Let us see if this intricate blend can maintain its balance amidst such a heavy note list or if the sweetness becomes overwhelming. Opening: The opening is sweet, ambery, and powdery. The primary notes I get are vanilla, benzoin, honey, and heliotrope, with the vanilla and benzoin leading the composition. The vanilla is the first note that greets my nose with a very familiar and creamy sweetness, reminding me of the aroma of high quality vanilla bean. Just underneath the vanilla is the benzoin, providing a balsamic warmth and giving the opening a deeper sweetness beyond what vanilla alone provides. The honey works as a supporting note, layering in more sweetness that feels distinctly heavier and stickier than the other accords but without becoming overbearing. Lastly, the heliotrope works from the background, providing a gentle and powdery floral accord with some almond like undertones. I also get just the slightest hint of a citrusy tartness on the backend of the opening from what I assume is the Calabrian bergamot and Sicilian lemon, as well as some greenery mixed in from the Angelica. The result is a lush and inviting introduction that feels rich without immediately becoming cloying. Dry Down: The dry down is still sweet, ambery, and powdery, maintaining much of the character established in the initial spray. The primary notes I get are still vanilla, benzoin, honey, and heliotrope, with the vanilla and benzoin still leading the composition. In fact, the only discernible difference in the dry down is that the tartness from the bergamot and lemon have faded away, as have the green qualities of the Angelica. Other than that, the fragrance is essentially an extension of the opening, making this a fairly linear experience. This consistency ensures that the cozy and balsamic warmth from the opening remains the core identity throughout the entire wear, providing a reliable and stable scent profile that does not take any unexpected or challenging turns. Performance: The initial projection within the first hour is strong, reaching out at least six feet and creating a significant presence. The sillage is equally powerful, leaving a dense and heavy scent trail that lingers in the air. After about four hours, the projection draws in only slightly to about five or six feet, and the scent trail becomes a bit lighter while remaining easily noticeable. After about seven to eight hours, the performance considerably softens to within arms length. Likewise, the scent trail becomes only faintly noticeable to those in your immediate vicinity. The fragrance becomes a skin scent around that same time, demonstrating a respectable but more standard longevity compared to some of the other vanilla powerhouses I have explored. When to Wear: El Born is a fall and winter fragrance that is suitable for both daytime and evening wear. It is a sweet and ambery vanilla fragrance at its core, making it a great pick for the evening, but it is not overtly gourmand and never becomes oppressively heavy, meaning it can be worn during the day as well. It works perfectly for special occasions like date nights due to its warm and inviting nature, yet it possesses a versatility that allows it to be dressed up formally or dressed down for casual use. However, I still would not pick it for office wear, as its sweet and dense honeyed profile might be too much for a professional environment. It is a fragrance that excels in intimate or festive settings where its soothing warmth can truly be appreciated. Blind Buy: As always, sampling is always the best option to see how the resins develop on your skin. However, if you find yourself drawn to vanilla centered fragrances, El Born is a relatively safe blind buy. It sticks very close to a safe and mass appealing vanilla and amber DNA similar to Guerlain's Spiritueuse Double Vanille. Although it features other notes like honey, heliotrope, and angelica that are less common in designer releases, none of them take the fragrance too far away from that core sweet identity. It is an honest and high quality fragrance that delivers exactly what its note profile suggests without any sharp or polarizing surprises. Final Verdict: From the very beginning, El Born possessed an aura of gentle and soothing warmth. It is cozy and inviting, focusing on a refined blend of vanilla and benzoin without ever becoming overbearing or cloying. It is a fragrance designed specifically for those who want to project a sense of warm vanilla but without being too loud or smelling like a literal vanilla cupcake. In many ways, it feels like a gentler and more understated version of the Spiritueuse Double Vanille style, prioritizing elegance over raw power. Unfortunately, the vanilla fragrance genre is massive, and El Born does get a little lost in that vast sea of competition. While it is an expertly crafted and high quality scent, it stays so close to a safe and familiar path that it fails to establish a truly unique or defiant identity. It is an understated and soft choice, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but it does not really do anything innovative to make itself stand out from the crowd. I think El Born is a great vanilla fragrance for those who want something soft, unassuming, and reliable. However, because I personally prefer powerhouse fragrances that offer a bit more complexity and an aggressive edge, I will be passing on a full bottle purchase. It remains a beautiful introduction to the house, even if it does not quite hit the volume I look for in a permanent staple. Scent: 9/10 Longevity: 7/10 Sillage: 8/10 Versatility: Average Compliment Factor: High Gender: Unisex Value: Overpriced

wonderful, dark honey, which mingles with a slightly bitter medicinal note - something like the Chinese Medicine "Niu Huang Jie Du Pian". something unknowable. stay a while, stranger.

The reason this jewel doesnt smell so deep and balsamic in the dry down anymore is the IFRA banning of peru balsam. This amazing material is causing allergic reactions on some people. They replaced that I think with tolu balsam and ambroxan, or ambrofix. Very unfortuned.

This leans heavily into gourmand territory—more than I personally prefer. It’s not a bad perfume at all; in fact, it’s a well-blended composition and one of the few vanillas I can tolerate. But it reminds me a lot of the sugary icing on a cake or that fine white powdered sugar dusting you find on pastries. There’s nothing wrong with that—it’s just not my style. Completely unisex, though it does tip slightly toward the feminine side thanks to its sweet–boozy–cake–vanilla character. Performance is solid—good longevity and projection, nothing extraordinary but far from disappointing. It’s versatile enough for both day and night wear in colder seasons. I like Carner as a brand—Drakon is one of my top five fragrances, and I enjoy many others in their lineup. This one, however, simply didn’t click with me.

I saw angelica and got excited, but this just smells like nail polish remover on me. Sadly, not for me.

As the guy below says, "Boring". One note - nothing new, nothing original. It's that warm, boozy, treacly... you know the drill. If you want a warm cozy fall/winter scent, get something interesting from Roja Dove.

Booorrinnggg. This literally smells like Youth Dew lol. It’s one of those warm spicy vintage. Not my thing at all.

My first scent from this house, and i got to say i am beyond impressed. The opening combo of honey, citrus and angelica backed by a bouquet of resins comes out with high end liquor quality, followed by slightly gourmand qualities mixed with green-woody-rootlike tone thanks to the flowers, fig, vanilla and again the angelica from the opening. The base notes are not as multifaceted, but again high quality and masterfully blended - sweet balsamic woody resinous honeyed vanillic and musky. Got a 50ml bottle from a small local discounter for around 60 euro, have to say beyond excellent for such a quality niche scent. The projection and sillage are not bombastic - have to say that despite the darker profile, this is more of a smooth, soft and sensual scent - which for me increases the versatility and puts it from strictly winter cold to a fall/early spring scent. Longevity - about the same - give it few hours and its close to the skin. Will definitely check other scents from the house if i spot a good deal on them - it might not be as high as Francesca Bianchi or Amouage quality, but the price is also significantly lower.

This is really as good as everyone says. It is what I hoping Mystic Sugar would be but there is something that I don’t like about that perfume. This in the other had is pure deliciousness. Yes there is a slight cough medicine pungency at the opening but even that is yummy and sweet. This is such a great and accessible amber with none of the sour resin smell that reminds me of old varnish. It is smooth as velvet, or brandy custard if you like taste references. Yum.

I came back to rewrite my review on this fragrance. First I only tried it on paper and it smelled like a perfume for an old men. Very elegant, but very masculine and mature. But today I gave it a chance on my skin and oh boy.. this turns really feminine, soft and sweet on me! A honeyed vanilla with a touch of amber. Almost a it boozy. Nothing sharp, nothing overwhelming. This is actually super nice! Considering a FB, but only after I have acquired my other CB favorites.

Incredible. I've tried so many amber vanillas, this one still stands above the rest. Just something vivid, special. Very heavy on the balsams. So heavy that at first it smells like a Chinese medicine apothecary. Terrible longevity on skin, eternal longevity on clothes. This is a clothes sprayer only. Balsalmic honey-angelica-fig with an amazing amber-vanilla base. Amazing dry down and scent bubble. Pretty sure old batches are much better.

Smells incredible, I just wish it had lasting power

First impression: The honey and fig combine to give me tobacco. Boozy more on paper than skin. Interesting and a bit masculine leaning.

Writing another review for El Born, it grew on me A LOT. This is the best amber I have tried so far. It's an underrated gem and a perfect fall scent. It gives 90s in the best possible way and it's a current obsession.

Carner Barcelona El Born is my favorite Boozy-Vanilla for fall-winter occasion, especially fall. It starts with a heavy balsamic-woody scent although there is a subtle hint of green fig. The inital scent is very warm and impressive due to the balance between dry woody and liquoric sweet. It dries down to be a gourmand-ish vanilla, but in the back there is still the feeling of that warm, dry and balsamic sandalwood. It project much weaker at this time but I think that is not a problem. I still love how this scent projects silently on my skin 2 hours later. Depsite the weak projection, El Born lasts for more than 8 hours on my skin. Truly a masterpiece of Vanilla.

In all my years as a perfume enthusiast, I have not found a niche brand like Carner. It is overpriced retail and offers so little in return, often placing it in the lowest possible value tier. Through pure luck or some cosmic justice, honey, fig, benzoin, and Peru balsam were the notes that pushed me to give them one last chance and, as often as before, prove myself wrong when judging a brand too quickly. TOP NOTES The initial opening is lively and refreshing, featuring lemon and bergamot at the forefront. However, this bright sensation fades quickly as the more affluent, intricate notes emerge. The skillful incorporation of angelica distinguishes this fragrance from the standard citrus openings in so many other creations. This herbal element introduces an unexpected richness, preventing the citrus from becoming overly bright or typical. HEART NOTES As the fragrance moves into its heart, citruses fade entirely and give their place to honey, licorice, and bouquet of jasmine and heliotrope, which never overwhelm. I love how the heliotrope’s almond-like quality adds a subtle gourmand touch while the jasmine provides just enough floral brightness to keep the composition from becoming too heavy or sweet. BASE NOTES I love how this one settles down to this cozy combination of benzoin, vanilla, and Peru balsam. It is a joy to behold. The combination of vanilla, benzoin, and Peru balsam creates a rich, resinous foundation that reminds me of distant lands. What impresses me most is how the Australian sandalwood interacts with these resinous notes, which is detectable at its far dry down. OVERALL After spending considerable time with El Born, I’ve come to appreciate it more as a fragrance, even though its cute story doesn’t necessarily reflect in its notes. Funnily enough, this was the brand’s last chance for me before I diss them completely, and thankfully, we have a winner here. You owe yourself to check out this Huclier’s creation. Fantastic for spring and fall. Read the full review at scentgrail (.) com

#872 in my "Tour de Fragrance" This is a very nice amber-vanilla, sweet and figgy. Not like anything I'm familiar with. Unisex, mild, pleasant, arm's length projection. Another good scent from Carner and better performance than some others they do.

It smells like an expensive hotel lobby, I find it resembles Vintage Radio by Lattafa but more refined and balanced.

First impression: This is definitely a deep honey perfume, let’s see how I feel about this on skin. Edit 1: I think there’s something toasted that I’m getting on my body chemistry. I’m also something masculine on the dry down. Edit 2: This smells like rum raisin ice cream oooo. Edit 3: I can’t stop sniffing this one, between Tardes and this I really want to now discover the other samples of this.

Really gorgeous dark fig scent. I've heard a few people say it reminds them of pancakes, and although that wasn't my initial impression I do get it. Less like pancakes you make at home and more like excessively decadent $30 pancakes at an upmarket brunch spot. I really get the vibe carner Barcelona was going for with the bookshops and wine bars; there's something about this that smells almost dusty, like being in a cozy semi confined space. I really love her, she's my every day go to in the colder months.

I like this! The opening and mid seem the most interesting to me (at least on paper strip).

Discovered this line at a small fragrance store and fell in love! This was marketed as a gourmand but it's not overly in your face sweet. I read somewhere that someone described it as the most delicious pancake ever and I feel like that's pretty spot on. Sweet but incredibly sophisticated. You definitely won't smell like candy. This isn't a beast mode perfume but it doesn't perform well and lasts 8+ hours on the skin.

What an unusual association of the Mediterranean summer - vanilla, honey and sweetness. For me, summer in the Mediterranean will always carry notes of tamarisk, olives, oranges, oleander and bougainvillea... Aside from my personal associations, El Born is a pleasant, warm fragrance that reveals its forte - ambra, vanilla and honey - from the very beginning. How much it is possible to feel the other notes probably depends on how sophisticated your nose is. In my case, I would choose it for colder days (although there is nothing offensive in its sweetness), for days when I need a mood lifter or a scented blanket on-the-go. A very unproblematic fragrance, with uniform notes and silky smoothness in all stages of development. I'm not sure I'd invest in the whole bottle, but maybe I'll change my mind after a few more applications. I really love ambra, but here first and the KO punch is vanilla and deep, honey sweetness. I'll give it another go.

A realistic and beautiful vanilla. It’s a creme brulee/pancake kind of smell that’s perfectly blended, sits close to the skin like a hug. It starts off with a coffee note which is not listed. It vanishes soon, leaving only a milky caramelised vanilla. Not nauseating at all. Just perfect. This is what I would have wanted Bianco Latte to be.

delightful scent, the first time I've ever liked vanilla

I let it dry down on the blotter and after a few hours, I got a whiff of something quite animalic and urine-like, probably from the vanilla/jasmine/honey mix. If you’ve had the chance to walk around El Born in Barcelona, you’ll know how spot on this faint urine smell is like.