Pour Un Homme de Caron

This has that diapery powdery lavender-vanilla combination I hate, though there is also some sharper, more essential-oily lavender that I do like. Very short-lived on the skin. For a lavender-centric fragrance, I would much rather wear Lush Sleepy.

Another masterpiece, in its simplicity compared to newer complex fragrances, this proudly screams “Less is more” in a good way. I am biased by History and my love for Lavender but the complementary Vanilla makes this rather intriguing.

Simple lavender and sage fragrance that feels vintage but leaves your skin too fast.

Pour Un Homme De Caron was created for Caron by Ernest Daltroff in 1934 so it’s certainly not going to be learning new tricks from me anytime soon! This beautiful fragrance is all about a happy marriage between lavender and vanilla (there are other supporting notes but they largely flitter about sweetly without adding a lot to the main narrative). Pure elegance in a bottle. It doesn’t sport great heft or longevity but I can think of few other scents that might pair so well with a crisp white shirt and a negroni on a balmy Summer evening on the terrace of the Palazzo Gritti in Venice. I love it.

I got mugged for wearing this fragrance. Besides that it's average.

Beautiful, light and fresh lavender. Just got it. It’s actually weak in performance yet, but as for others edt I have, it will take some air in the bottle and few weeks to let it mature. So far I love it.

The performance was ATROCIOUS initially and ñasted maybe 2 hours TOPS on my skin with with very soft projection and while I LOOVE this classic, relaxing, masculin scent, It was barely lasting me till lunch agaun, with barely noticable sillage and so it wasnt even worth wearing as my SOTD. Well now, months later Its finally Maturated to where its lasting around 5 toihours on skin, with good projection the first hour and then having more of that vanillic, Lavender cñose to the skin, but noticable sillage. So yeah! Make a decen⁶ót dent in your bottle and then while storing Caron Pour un Homme carefully to where it gets minimal exposure to light and heat and then youll also see how much better this fragrance can be from when you first open it and spray it out!

I truly love this scent but after 30+ sprays over the course of 3 hours, there's zero sign I ever applied it. So disappointing. I guess I'll try the parfum or something a bit stronger.

An elegant journey through time. For anyone who truly loves lavender, this fragrance is the ultimate old-time classic. It strikes a masterful balance between fresh lavender and warm vanilla, a signature style that represents the very heart of European perfumery. It possesses a refined, sophisticated character best suited for mature individuals, carrying a nostalgic quality that brings back wonderful memories. The cozy warmth of the drydown makes it absolutely perfect for outdoor wear in cold weather.

As I get older and learn more about perfumery, I find myself increasingly interested in scents with a bit of historical significance. Pour Un Homme De Caron, which dates from 1934, is one that I picked up back in August on a blind buy recommendation from someone I trust and there was this flash of recognition when I got my nose on it. Do you ever get that? When you try a fragrance and realise it isn't the first time you and the fragrance have crossed paths, in this life or ones that have gone before? For those who do not know, PUHDC is a lavender fragrance. Arguably, it is THE lavender reference in men's perfumery. You have a citrus top to this with the lavender there right on the first, but as the citrus dies off it changes on your skin in this gorgeous way. I've come to realise that I enjoy lavender, but I also enjoy fragrances that arent linear and that move and twist on the skin. PUHDC is a wonderful example. This is the sort of fragrance that makes me feel a bit sorry for the Aventus bros, the Sauvage lads, etc. You don’t know about this and it is to your detriment. PUHDC is such a well presented, refined scent. As the citrus dies off the heart notes roll out of the shadows and do a different dance with the tiny pink flowers. There are several accords in the heart here but they are are there to push the lavender into more prominence front and centre rather than dominate themselves. The effect is quite spellbinding. Under the spotlight on stage the lavender goes almost minty, or rather the minty textures and tinges in the lavender come to the fore with the pepper, spices and especially the clary sage which adds this herbaceous robustness to it. The third act in this Parisian show is the way the lavender shimmers and shifts again as the vanilla and tonka bean take this sweeter and richer. It never goes truly powdery but starts to glance longingly in that direction. I don't get much amber in the base but it is there to stop the base woods from going bitter and unbecoming. From the citrus to the spice to the sweetness this is a masterclass in old school French style perfumery. I mean that in the way things are blended to change the character of an accord, not change the accord. It is assured, charismatic and impossibly refined in that idealistic, Panglossian way that French perfumery does so well. It is very much a product of its time. Sillage is unrelentingly polite and "beast mode" performance didnt exist when this was created. It is just so damnably classy. The (absolutely superb) Sport flanker of this original is a fresher more overtly minty (and possibly more contemporary) take and I own that one, as well as both the Nuit and Soir flankers as well. The Parfum will be joining the collection as soon as I find it for a sensible price. I adore Caron as a house and I can see more of their gorgeous fragrances in my future as clearly as I can see PUHDC in my past. Perhaps I wore this in a past life? I can absolutely imagine myself in a previous iteration, a Naval commander at the Admiralty in London in the late 30s having had a long career at sea on destroyers and then battlecruisers after that, including on the Barham at Jutland, with the characteristic beard, intense eyes, laconic and expressive manner and a love of London in the springtime. I walk with purpose and never rush, not even for the Tube. At home in my bathroom every morning I'd choose between Town & Country by Clive Christian (given to me by a friend who works at their concession in Liberty in London), a dusty but well-loved bottle of 34 Old Broad Street by Atkinson's, and a bottle of PDHDC which I picked up on a visit to the French Naval Attache in Paris in 1935. I also have a bottle of Acqua di Parma Colonia which was given to me by a foppish but immaculate Italian Baron at the Spithead Naval Review in 1932 on board HMS Warspite, but that one is for weekends and "runs ashore" only. Careful never to overspray or wear on ship visits, the scent sits close to the skin and should never be ostentatious. It mixes with the smell of Imperial Leather soap, the Brylcreem in my hair, my clove beard oil and the smell of pipe tobacco on my fingers. These are gentlemen's fragrances for gentlemen. And so snapping back to 2026 I find myself my modern day equivalent. A laconic, bearded shipping guy who is now shore-based, who people look to for leadership and decisions in an uncertain and warlike geopolitical situation. I’m a seaman yes, but one for whom refinement is important. But the smells are the same. There is a lot to be said for that isn't there? Three Word Summary - THE Lavender Masterclass Scent - 9/10 Drydown - 9/10 Sillage - 7/10 Bottle/packaging - 8/10 Performance - 7/10 40/50

The GOAT. *The* reference lavender for men. Timeless in its execution. To say this smells 'dated' in any way simply emphasizes a sophomoric perspective on fragrance. (I am a bit of a lavender fanatic). I own three vintages of this classic. All different, all spectacular. Edit to add: If you find this one too subtle, try the Parfum. It is exquisite.

Smells like your dad washing your mouth out with soap after you said a swear word. I'll unpack this one in therapy next week.

I’m so used to vintage fragrances being potent beasts that the subtlety of this surprised me. This is subtle - too subtle! I wish it was turned up just a couple of notches. But nonetheless, it’s a lovely scent. Calming lavender and an underlying sweetness. The amber notes come through beautifully. A very peaceful, comforting fragrance. Definitely unisex! I’m surprised to see the ranking on here leans so heavily masculine.

it feels like you've slept with a very old man and his scent is still on you.

I like how Caron Pour un Homme de Caron smells, but man is it subtle! A little TOO Subtle for my tastes. Even once its Maturated for a couple months this just dries down within an hour or so and is basically a very faint skin scent by then. Whats the point if I can't even smell it unless I dig my nose where Id sprayed it, let alone anyone else smelling it on me? Id actually purchased Molinard's Lavande which is quite potent, then I purchased a bottle of Caron Pour Un Homme for around $30 more than Lavande. If Id known that Lavande was basically a "Beastmode" version of Caron Pour Un Homme id have saved my $70. I recommend Molinard's Lavande over this all day EVERY DAY! It smells almost identical and is much, MUCH stronger and longer-lasting 100%! Only difference is the added note of Patchouli in the base which is a quite subtle Patchouli, especially for a Molinard fragrance and is barely even noticable over the Vanilla note. These truley do smell almost identical. both start of with that Herbacous striking Lavender note, then dry-down to a rounder, softer-Vanillic "Candied Lavender." Just get Molinard's Lavande y'all! That is unless you preffer your fragrances to be more intimate which admittedly do have their uses in certain situations.

Yells "LAVENDER!!" right in your face. Just an awesome classic

Exceptional. Lavender is my favorite note, but this can be enjoyed by anyone, it's so versatile, classy, and easygoing all at once!

I have a full 75ml bottle available for sale at a reasonable price. DM me if you are interested.

This gets better everytime I smell it. Pure barbershop fougere sweetness with nice, creamy vanilla.

Intimate masterpiece. Best drydown i have ever experienced.

Lavender bomb in the best way!! Ignore all the hate, it genuinely smells so relaxing. It smells like entering Whole Foods, and the scent of the lavender just smacking you in the face, raw herbal masterpiece. 10 minutes later, it develops into this vanilla extract, not vanilla ice cream scent, and it smells great. This is the perfect relaxing scent and if I could I’d take a bathe in it or buy a candle so my living space always smells like it. P.S, James Dean AND Tom Ford both wore it. The Dean one is a little speculative but his photographer and close friend said he wore it, so I trust it. It’s pretty legendary.

This smells like perfumed talcum powder and stale lavender in a musty nursing home. Not recommended as a blind buy.

I've been wearing this for a decade and tried many times to write about it effectively, but Iriomote's review is pretty much perfect. Thanks! Great work on behalf of a great fragrance.

Vanilla and citrus cream popsicle Its pretty linear and boring though

It's so airy and beautiful. I keep sniffing my hand. Beautiful, natural lavender served in a vanilla bowl, sprinkled with rosemary & powdery heliotrope. Just one sniff and all your problems melt away!

The scent of civility... Caron’s 1934 classic pulls off one of the simplest, and one of the best, magic tricks in perfumery: lavender and vanilla. Square and circle. The opening is a vibrant lavender breeze, with herbal and slightly camphorous undertones from the rosemary. In some batches, the first few minutes can be a bit metallic, but that smoothes out very quickly. It rapidly becomes the equivalent of a crisp white towel, fresh from the laundry. A glint of citrus from the bergamot and lemon keeps it bright, but nothing shouts or even raises its voice. Everything is smooth and rounded, but quite substantial. The vanilla is like true baker's vanilla, sweet but creamy and poised. The scent is warm and toasty, like a shortcrust pastry or a custard, with just enough savoriness to keep it from going into milkshake territory. That balance of crisp, fresh lavender and soft, enveloping vanilla is really the heart of the whole fragrance, and carries through the entire olfactory experience. Mid-wear, there are some interesting florals, including an excellent note of heliotrope with its Jordan almond accord. Clary sage, cedar, rosewood, and coriander round the edges and give it some woody depth. The drydown is a featherbed of musk, tonka, and soft moss. The amber note is cashmere-soft and intimate. Those same opening notes, aromatic and herbal lavender with calm and comfortable vanilla, stick with it all the way through the drydown. Performance is very respectable. Expect around six hours of wear with a moderate, courteous projection. Perfect for offices, trains, dinner tables, and yes, bedtime (take that however you like). This is not a fragrance that kicks down the door. It knocks...and it brings flowers. Despite having some fairly heavy-looking notes, it's not going to overwhelm people around you. One or two extra sprays can create a halo, but even then it reads as good manners rather than excessive projection. Pour un Homme is the gentleman’s handshake made airborne. Firm, warm, and timeless. Rather than being a statement fragrance, this could easily be a signature scent. If you want to smell effortlessly put together without announcing an agenda, this is how you do it.

Nose Note #662 A lot of lavender and vanilla with a typical woody/ambery undertone. It's not a fresh scent. I refuse to believe that this is what it used to smell like back in 1934, because this smells rather modern, like a late 80s scent at the very least. I get some musk too, but it's soft. Doesn't smell pure, but neither has it anything animalic about it. Overall it's not a soft fragrance, it's mildly macho and it's mildly sweet. And it doesn't smell very complex. It doesn't have a typical lavender note, it's rather unique. And it's not a Le Male sweet lavender. Can't say if it reminds me of anything. It does smell somewhat familiar though. 8.3/10, very nice and actually quite easy to wear. Not challenging

Has anyone ever written a song about your favorite fragrance? No? Well case closed. One of the greatest fragrances of all time.

shit straight up sucks man!

Sometimes simple is best. It’s versatile, classy, and inoffensive, with a perfect balance of fresh cleanliness and warmth. As it dries down all the little subtleties come and and go, and it’s far more interesting than it first seems. One of the best of all time.