Canoé (1936)
by Dana

Speaking of barbershops, my particular olfactory memories of barbershops have to do with 3-in-1 Oil and electric-hairclipper-generated ozone and cheap talcum powder, so the supposed barbershop image of Canoe doesn’t mean a thing to me. Canoe reminds me only of Canoe… I began wearing it in 1968 and it, along with Eau Sauvage, a couple of Avons I purchased from my sister-in-law, a now and then splash of Old Spice after shave, were my fragrances for a decade. Canoe always predominated because I often couldn’t afford Eau Sauvage. Canoe begins with that opening blast that so many fragrances had back then, and many still have. Then the note that stands out the most to me is a soft, light lavender. The opening is a pleasant combination of lavender, lemon and sage – which, along with the geranium and carnation of the middle, are probably the accords that create the impression of barbershops. Today when I smell it, I don’t go all nostalgic, I simply wonder why I don’t wear it more often than I do. Canoe is nothing fantastic, but it has enjoyable, comfortable accords that move nicely from top to bottom of the pyramid, and that are fresh, clear, and natural smelling. Sprayed lightly, I don’t think it smells old fashioned even though it is often seen as a metaphor for past masculine grooming regimes. The geranium and carnation of the middle both smooth out the cedar and patchouli and lend more of a spicy than floral ambiance. The drydown is light, slightly sweet, and powdery with the powder and the oakmoss being the main cause of the accusation of old fashionedness. Canoe is a nice, inexpensive fragrance that delivers good value for those who enjoy the barbershop concept or just a plain, decent, excellently performing, inexpensive fragrance. I still keep a bottle around – not for nostalgia, but for wearing on those occasions when the mood strikes. (Edit of 20 December 2005 review.)

Yes it's old and powdery.
But it's not bad powdery like British Sterling.
It's a sweet lemon scent with some light pleasant powderiness like Pinaud Talc.
Instead of old dead man powder type smell, it's more like that friendly old little WW2 vet at the diner that can't stop smiling.
I hate powdery scents but this one gets a pass.

I loved this when I was younger, it was sweet smelling, not threatening like what are considered the more masculine scents, which I still don't like. They always smell to me like perfume layered over sweaty body odor. I recently bought some for my 18 year old son and he likes it too.

If someone ever asks you, "hey, what's a fougere?" tell him to go out and grab some Canoe. It's a nice, basic, well-constructed classic fougere. Nothing more, nothing less.

God I hate this stuff, it's like the Christmas fruit cake, no one wants it as a gift and it in a lot of cases it gets re-gifted to someone else you know who did not rate time or effort to really shop for.

This stuff is so artificial it actually makes me sick.

This is an an incredible scent which, thanks to even more recent introuctions such as Pi IMO achieves a status that might be called meta-everyday. Why? Though now a budget scent, in its intentions, especially as a cologne that quickly becomes a base of tonka/heliotrope powder, it achieves an admirable linearity. That's right, linear is not a bad thing and maybe a better alternative to one of the many generic aquatics (except for Blue Label and Bulgari Aqua).

Yes, my wife just picked me up a 9.95 set on the way to the check out, not because she's cheap, but after some time this is the kind of scent (with these intentions as well) which we both like very much.

Wearing and loving the classic Canoes proves this journey is indeed somewhat spiritual. Interesting that someone of foetidus' stature began their own journey with the still remarkable Canoe.