N'Aimez Que Moi (1917)
by Caron

N'Aimez Que Moi was created in 1916, int he midst of World War 1, to bring some hope and the promise of faithfulness to the many couples that had to part ways until the war was over.
You don’t need to know all this to enjoy N’Aimez Que Moi gives a sense of intimacy and comfort. Despite the fact that it is in a sense “an old fashioned” scent, it is so well made and artfully blended that it is timeless. N’Aimez Que Mois opens dark and dense, as most Caron perfumes do. The rose is nearly hidden in thorns and darkness of notes of cedar, moss and what seems to be the crying out loud of the Caron base… Slowly but surely, fresh roses start to bloom and open up with dewy petals but an almost green intensity. There is something very convincing and real about them – they are just about as close to true rose as I’ve ever smelled. But the roses don’t stand out on their own. The companionship of candied violets and powdery orris softens the green edge of the blooming roses, with a softness akin to kissing a very soft, freshly powdered cheek. And once you’ve reached the dry down, animalic tonalities of both jasmine and civet* create a sensuality and a sense of intimacy and closeness that lingers even longer than a kiss.

Top notes: Cedar, Rose
Heart notes: Rose, Violet, Orris
Base notes: Civet, Jasmine, Moss

* The drydown is so utterly similar to Joy that I am wondering if N’Aimez Que Moi wasn’t the inspiration for that perfume. However, N’Aimez Que Moi is so much more delicate and wearable for me, with none of the intense sharpness of aldehyde and lily of the valley that Joy attacks me with for the first couple of hours of wear.

I'm afraid I got nothing but Liddle Kiddles...does anyone else remember those little scented dolls? This is powdery, oversweet and very young. My husband said 'Yuk.' It's not actually offensive, but I definitely don't want to smell like I'm five years old. I detect nothing sophisticated or elegant about this. Makes me sad: It's another historical scent that just smells outdated on my skin. Glad the others here have found it more pleasing.

It has a certain vintage charm, I give you that. Very old-fashioned powdery/soapy violets and roses, neither sweet nor freshly natural. The base is a little ambery and perhaps a hint animalic. It seems to me most classic Carons have this cold/metallic/sharp quality to them. It might be my skin chemistry that makes them exceptionally soapy too, and that's not an association to a certain scented soap, I mean the nose-tickling quality of unscented soap.

The analysis I leave to those more knowledgeable, - but this scent lifts my spirits, makes me feel special, and very importantly, lasts quite well.

I find it can be worn in sophisicated surroundings, or casually, and excellent for every day.

Enjoy - I love it.

After it blooms on the skin, this is a lovely and classic sweetish floral chypre. The violet is creamy but a bit too candied for me--there's this almost too-sweet edge which rounds out the woods and spice and at times overbalances the composition for me. Nevertheless I appreciate this scent in principle and might on other people as well.

N’aimez Que Moi, launched in 1916 and one of the select urn fragrances of Parfums Caron, opens with a little rose, a little violet and with what smells like a lot of citronella. But hang in there. As this perfume (available only in pure extrait form from Caron Boutiques and a select few dept stores and etailers) develops, that magnificent Daltroff accord begins to shine through, and what’s left is a delectable heart of creamy spiciness balanced with a chypre note that is just wonderful; it's worth the wait. The base of cedar, amber, vanilla and sandalwood along with the candied appeal of violet, iris and rose makes N’aimez Que Moi a worthy classic. According to the Caron web site, N’aimez Que Moi (“Love Only Me”) was developed during WWI as a way to boost morale among soldiers and the beloved wives and fiancees they left behind----“A true pledge of faithfulness, young soldiers gave this perfume to their betrothed so that they would renew their vows of love daily until the day when victory came.” Just as Guerlain scents its face powders with the fragrance that became Meteorites, so Caron scents (or did, at any rate) its face powders with N’aimez Que Moi. Delicate and beautiful.