Infini (1912)
by Caron

Though the one i hold in my hand is an boxed sample of caron i had deep suspects that bottle is filled with something else. I have nothing green or floral from it. Opens with a leathery smoky aura which turns out to be a rich and nice oakmoss. Then rises carnations and jasmin in an old (i mean not with their actual smells but their old way representations) but nice way. It is a bit spicy and sweet probably due to carnations but carnations are not over powered cloying clovers as in many of coevals. For me it has the best parts of mitsouko and le heure bleu (oakmoss jasmin carnations) and lacks the cloying disturbing part of them (neroli and begamot representative old heavy oils). It is one of the still wearable oldies for me.

A shape shifter. Sometimes I get a light, rather old-fashioned green floral fragrance with a couple of off notes – not really impressive. At other times it gets heavily sensual and seductive with its potent musks and jasmine indoles. The different reactions seem to have to do mainly with the ambient temperature: cold brings the off notes, heat brings on the sensuality. In both cases I get strong aldehydic effects and I never smell the roses. Infini is strongly floral but it doesn’t smell at all flowery to me. The particular flowers I smell, act as discreet white florals, which, except for the jasmine, do not seem to be the heady types, rather they are fresh and clean smelling. The jasmine is quite quiet and demure except for the strong indole effect that it regularly distributes. Infini has very good longevity and I really like it when it reacts sensually and indolicly, but I am not impressed when it goes off in the cold. When it’s reacting right, it is quite elegant. Infini is an excellent and interesting fragrance.

It's not often that a fragrance stumps me, but this one does. I would have guessed that the formula was much older than 1972; it smells Old World. I think I smell the vetiver, plus a strange peach note, and lots of carnation. Also, there is a hint of the "green twigs" note similar to Dzonka, but indistinct. Is it too sophisicated for my nose? I can't say that I would choose this one for myself, but I do think it is interesting.

This definitely smells like it was made in 1912! While i usually appreciate vintage chypres and the likes this is too much for me. It's just a muddy jumble of sharp and musty notes, I can't make out anything except maybe some bitterly powdery oakmoss and some piercing aldehydes. The flowers feel plasticky and flat and weirdly dense and I think I can detect some cumin too. In fact, it reminds me a bit of Rochas Femme, which I don't appreciate. And this is the extrait too.

This feels a lot like my other favorite Caron; 'Fleurs Des Rocailles'. The notes are shared although the overall effect of the L'Infini is of FDR combined with champagne. It has a lighter greener aldehyldic treatment. Less amber than FDR. It has a beautiful bouquet, never too sweet or strong.

I managed to get the 1970 parfum. Infini is divine a wonderful green aldehyde. Fresh not overly sweet.