Carven Homme (1999)
by Carven

More often than not, if a scent is from the 90s (or early 2000s) and discontinued, chances are it was a gem. Carven Homme is very much a classy woody masculine with some spices. It's not the most original. It takes inspiration from Egoiste and Gucci Envy for Men, but it is unique enough to stand out in such distinguished company, and good enough to hold its own.

The brilliance of Carven Homme is in the incredibly smooth blending. The backbone is formed by a cedar-sandalwood accord, while cinnamon, lavender, vanilla and nutmeg add flesh and nuanced beauty to the composition. The blending is sheer ingenuity. The elments are so finely interwoven that they create a marvellous aura, yet they are masterfully accented so that rather than being blurry the effect is multi-layered.

The craftsmanship is also highlighted by the way Carven Homme wears on skin. It is rich, deep, with adequate sillage initially, but always gentlemanly. It becomes a bit muted after a couple of hours but has excellent longevity and can easily be worn for a day - an excellent 'eau de toilette' by construction. Carven Homme is refined, articulate, intelligent, and yet highly approachable and possessing that comforting sense of everydayness.

4/5

Good not great, it either smells of vanilla or amber... but not both which would be to die for

A hack version of the sour lavender and amber of Pour un Homme de Caron as seen through the distorting lens of Envy for Men. It lacks both complexity and material quality and later it turns stagnant. (It's a traded bottle with no box, who knows where it's been these last nineteen years?)

Get the Caron if you want fine tradition or try to find the Gucci if you're a modernist.

**

Sweet powdered ginger.
Wise guy's carnation '13.
Aromi steers true!

The long forgotten Carven Homme, only known to fragrance enthusiasts. In a word, CH is wonderful. Embodies adjectives like seductive, fresh, complex, and smooth. You can practically wax lyrical all day over it.

The opening is awash in carnation, lavender and ginger. Floral but masculine. Smells a lot like the brilliant Gucci Envy for Men which is a wondrous thing as Envy is also discontinued but goes for hundreds of dollars on Ebay. CH moves into a heart of vetiver, cedar and rosewood. I’m reminded of the exquisite Davidoff Zino and its wonderful rosewood note. There’s also some sweetness from the tonka & vanilla but it’s all so subtle. CH is so well constructed sometimes you just have to sit back and enjoy the good vapors coming off your skin.

CH should’ve been a huge hit and still in production but it was not be. As such, it remains a private joy to the select few.

8.5/10