Number 3 / Le 3me Homme / The Third Man (1985)
by Caron

Well, this bad boy is not allowed to play with the others yet. I had to separate it from my other fragrances, like an evil cousin or something, it sits on my nightstand. Anytime I see this bottle, I start sweating and reminds me the day I got it and put 2 sprays on my neck and 2 on my chest. I hope, anybody reading this, does not get turned off by this fragrance right away, just handle with caution.

As others have mentioned, DO NOT over spray !! I'll go back and give it another shot, meaning 1 spray and make sure, I have somewhere to go :-) The memory is still fresh in my mind and can't go back to it yet. Even though I'm not sure, that I like the Third man yet (should have been named the Omen), it beats any cologne that came out in the past couple years, as they all "smell the same" and nothing will ever come close to this daring lavender explosion or Yatagan, which became one of my favorites after the first spray. So thumps up for being daring !! It will make you humble again.

8th November, 2011.

WHOAH! Hahah. Hey, does anyone remember Tom Selleck in 1980s' Magnum P.I.? Think thick moustache, dimpled chin, broad hairy chest... Well, for some reason Third Man got me thinking about him.

On my skin the carnation and patchouli work a real treat, with indoles adding a distinctly raunchy/funky element to this spicy fougere. But I wouldn't worry too much about this aspect as the sillage is really more about the woods and spice.

Just when I thought this 'dude' hasn't aged all too gracefully into the new millenium, the drydown came to change my mind: warm, earthy with just a slight touch of spice and musk. Not bad, a little dated perhaps, but just not smooth enough for my taste.

31st August, 2011.

A lavender-edged, flowery, spiced wood in the vein of Bois du Portugal. Intially the acrid lavender is stronger than almost any orientals I've tried besides Maharadjah, and this sits on top of ambery incensey wood. The wood is a bit strident, though, reminding me of honey or agave nectar with their insistent, high-pitched sweetness. While I appreciate how the lavender cuts this by a fair amount, it's still too sweet for me. I don't know what other florals are in here, but they're not the jasmine-type that are so clear in BdP; they almost leave an overripe fruit aura. Along with the remaining lavender, they comprise a well-played clean/dirty parity, but the combination burns my nose a bit and feels like ti should be resinous and heady enough to give me a headache. In the end, as much as I like some aspects of this, it starts to grate on me after a few hours. Not exactly my thing, but it's still high quality and carefully composed, so I understand why so many people love it.

30th May, 2011.

Here's a fragrance that makes me question my perceptions. What I am smelling in The Third Man is not what most of the other reviewers are smelling. Strong citrus? I don't get more than a passing whiff at the top. Super sweet? Not from the bottle I used. There is a mild vanilla at the far end of the drydown but it's not cloying at all, and I typically don't enjoy vanilla. For the bulk of the first 5 or 6 hours the sweetness is way, way in the background.

I get floral but I don't find this girly or bee-sirening. The lavender so many are noticing is hiding somewhere, because it isn't on my skin after the first half hour, and until then it's mingling in the crowd.

I get mostly a spicy, smoky and woody fragrance overlaying a floral skeleton. It's closer to a Chanel Pour Monsieur Concentree without the citrus than, say, Caron Pour Un Homme. Or maybe I'm nuts. It's similar enough to other things that I probably won't be buying a full bottle but I don't agree with those who find it cheap and cloying.

7th May, 2011. (Last Edited: 23rd September, 2011.)

A masculine floral of the highest caliber, The Third Man recalls Ungaro II and Tiffany for Men with its various floral qualities similar to the powderiness of Tiffany for Men and the floral/civet elements of Ungaro II. I prefer The Third Man, however, as I find it smoother and more accessible than Tiffany and Ungaro, because it's not as powdery and not as subtly fecal. The Third Man also has a smooth "masculine" note thrown in, giving it a certain warmth. Probably the lavender. This makes it warmer and more approachable than Ungaro II, as well, while Ungaro II seems cold and dissociative (not knocking on Ungaro II lovers; it just ain't for me). Tiffany for Men is good, but I can only wear it once in a while do to it being so powdery.

Granted, The Third Man is not for everyone - it's still a wee bit powdery, but as it dries down it gets better and better. I think every guy with a Basenotes-worthy interest in fragrances should try The Third Man at least once to get an idea of what a quality masculine floral is (along with Ténéré by Paco Rabanne, Tiffany for Men, and Insensé by Givenchy).

Projection and longevity are very good - this is a great fragrance for a formal occasion, and a great fragrance in general! It's unique and smells kinda..... "pink"! Haha.

6th May, 2011. (Last Edited: 7th May, 2011.)

A great alternative to ignorance and rudeness.



Le Troisieme Homme De Caron together with Insensè are among the best masculine floral compositions around. They both emphasize a cultured masculinity and prefer it to the unbuttoned shirts and furry chests virility.



A multi coloured and quite complex fragrance that opens with a classic fresh lavander and bergamot accord to then turn smoky, darker and aromatic with hints of rosemary and fern joined by remakable floral patterns. The drydown it's warmer and sweeter with vanilla and tonka juxtaposed to a remarkable woody presence and animalic-musks. Simply perfect. Le Troisieme Homme has a few peculiar aspects that make of it quite a distinctive fragrance that's so hard to be described as all the elements are skillfully orchestrated in an unique blend. A must try.



Surely not for everybody but if you're not afraid of showing your strenght through intelligence and mannered kindness, this is for you.


25th April, 2011. (Last Edited: 23rd January, 2012.)