Infini (1912)
by Caron

A fragrance aimed at a feminine market can't possibly be this smoky- Oh...it's French. I see.
Fascinating stuff. Can't seem to decide, try as I might, whether I love it or hate it. Too dark, dirty and smoky for women. Too white and green floral to suit most men. This scent is untrustworthy. If this smells good on you I want to meet you, for you are a peculiar character.
I list this as 'Neutral' but officially I am 'Undeclared.' Infini has no ties, no friends, no remorse, and no real flaws to speak of. It is a character in a novel: the character people whisper about.

31st March, 2011.

Hyacinth. Smoke. Oakmoss. I am sampling an uncertain vintage, but likely fairly current. I find it contradictory. It smells "young" (white flowers), yet has a classique/ perfumey structure. It is beautiful (complex smokey), yet somewhat cold. Will try in colder weather. ( I upgraded my evaluation from a neutral to a positive. Its holds together beautifully in Winter.)

30th July, 2010. (Last Edited: 14th January, 2011.)

Infini is one of very few perfums I would describe as perfect: according to Caron, it took 15 years of intensive research to develop, and I can see why. For me it is the essence of late 60s/early 70s French perfume. It has aged well and makes a refreshing change to many insigificantly forgettable newer perfumes. All the notes of Infini are very subtle, with none overpowering the others.
When I put Infini on, I immediately get a smokey note, which reminds of Dior Dior; after 30 seconds this combines with very subtle jasmine and hyacinth. Heavier woody and possibly tonka bean notes are there too, but not in an obvious way. Caron describe this perfume as having a "chord" of notes; for me this is true: the floral and wood notes can somehow be smelled as separate layers, all at the same time. After half an hour the smokey note fades, and iris and subtle rose joins the jasmine and hyacinth. Aproximately two hours later, a green note joins the chord. The fragrance lasts and last and is still strong on me 8 hours later.

A very strong concentration of Infini has been available, called "L'Infini"; I have never tried it, but would love to. For me, Infini is underrated, andold fashioned in the best sense of the word, but far from outdated.

28th February, 2010.

I have recently gotten to know the Carons, and Infini is my favorite one.

I suspect the bottle I picked up is from the eighties, so it isn't the current formulation.

It starts out in true Caron form, with a lot of delicious, melt-in-your-mouth, heaviness, and dries down very quickly to an incredible and perfectly-balanced, faintly metallic, tangy wonder. With outstanding sillage.

It's one of the more "familiar" vintage fragrances I have recently added to my repertoire, and the associations from my past are of very chic French women with that air of immaculate taste.

It delivers.

26th January, 2009.

I managed to get a vintage bottle of the parfum. I'm slowly trying to experience more of the Caron's since, so far, I've only experienced Parfum Sacre. Infini is a scent that I just can't figure out. First out of the bottle it is definitely an aldehydic floral, but as it settles down, I really can't distinguish any notes with the exception of what I think is vetiver that starts to emerge. The scent goes away very fast on me (within an hour) almost without a trace. It's not bad, but it doesn't move me enough to make me think I'll want to reach for it again other than to sniff it from time to time. Some scents grow on me (see Parfum Sacre update below), but Infini doesn't have enough of what I like in the first place for that to be a possibility. Oh, well, I still have this odd, infinity-shaped bottle to add to my bottle collection and I didn't pay much for it.

Parfum Sacre Update: A friend gave me a full bottle of the EDP as a present and I've learned to ignore the pepper note that turned me off at first, since that note seems to wear away very fast on me. What's left after that is a scent that developes into something absolutely heavenly and lasts for many hours. I'm now glad that I didn't let the pepper note make me give up on it.

23rd September, 2008.

This is an old fashioned perfume that lacks any modern touch that would make it wearable for me. It´s nicely done and the oakmoss is lovely but too present and too green to make it wearable for me. It is uncompromising. It also reminds me a lot of my grandmother.

4th September, 2008.