Intrigue (1986)
by Carven

I bought a small bottle of Intrigue because I generally like Carven scents. Upon first sniff I thought it was just another run-of-the-mill powdery floral, but today I doused myself liberally and was... well, intrigued.

Fragrantica classifies Intrigue as a Chypre Floral, and lists its notes as:

TOP: Bergamot, Amalfi Lemon, Tangerine, Cassis
MIDDLE: Jasmine, Nutmeg, Peach, Lily, Plum
BASE: Vetiver, Oakmoss, Vanilla

Not sure about the peach and plum being very obvious, but there is plenty of citrus in this scent. Lemony notes predominate, and blend beautifully with the flowers, avoiding that sharp 'eau de cologne' effect. The base notes are subdued, lending a subtle, clean powderiness to the mix (bringing to mind Ivoire and Safari).

Intrigue is soft, delicate and very feminine - perfect for warm weather, and probably suitable for an office environment. It is very pleasant to my nose, but perhaps not unique or modern enough for many. Lasting power is a only few hours at most.

12nd December, 2010.

Found an old bottle of Intrigue recently. A beautifully balanced floral of ylang and rose. Effortlessly melds into sandal and musks. Nothing exceptional, extreme or challenging - just a very wearable floral.

30th December, 2009.