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

I told my bf to leave the bedroom because the third man he sprayed on earlier that day was distracting me and I couldn't sleep. I had x rated dreams.

Women can wear this too which is nice but I think it does better on a man, especially if he is next to you. It is fun to wear as a woman though, it made me feel very much in control, naughty and very seductive. It begged for high heels, lipstick a loose tie and some nice styllish pants. If you are wondering what about the top..exactly.

I have been trying to write a review of The Third Man on and off for six weeks. No matter what I write it doesn’t seem complete enough to represent my appreciation of this fragrance.

The Third Man is a beautiful fragrance. It is both the height of urbane sophistication and an encapsulation of the physical pleasure of being alive. In the top, middle, and base there is a living, breathing balance between elegance and earthiness. For every soft, round, and voluptuous ingredient there is a corresponding intense and/or earthy ingredient to facilitate balance and action within the fragrance. The Third Man grows and changes throughout the day, and there is always some new accord to experience.

Every man with an interest in fragrance should experience The Third Man.

Classy and distinguished, yet suggestive and almost rugged. There’s lavender, spice and vanilla, but also an undertone of something funky and dirty that makes it captivating. From two feet away it says, “I am a gentleman.” From two inches away it says, with a wink and a low voice, “I am most certainly not a gentleman.” The warm, floral cousin of Eau Savage. Wear with a tuxedo and one eyebrow salaciously raised.

Caron is such a wonderful house. They have given me some of my favorite scents. I don't know if I agree with Luca Turin's comment about Troisième being too just too pretty, but I do like it a lot. It's a type of fougère but the lavender is treated very lightly. There is a soft herbaceous accord on the top which transforms itself into a floral sweetness which then moves into an unexpected woody base which leaves its undeniable mark and then dries down yet again into a soft ambery vanilla. How many colognes is this? Maybe they should have called it the Fourth Man. Life's too short to wear anything but the best, so I'm glad I have Number 3 in my wardrobe!

This is one of my favorite summer colognes. The opening is a little strong and in your face, but the dry down is the fabulous. It has a very good longevity and sillage. I don't think The 3rd man was named after the movie, or inspired by it.
It was named Le 3me Homme because it is the third fragrance of Caron for men,
as odysseusm pointed out.

Nice enough fragrance, although with the anise not my absolute favorite.

Jude_C: Your comment re: Tommy I just don't quite get. Do you mean Hilfiger, Bahama? While I don't buy those if someone does I could care less. I enjoy some of Klein as well. Aren't we all adults and don't we all have the right to choose our own fragrances as do you? Just curious.

A nice jasmine fougère with hints of spice. I loved it at first but then, after a while, my love started to fade. The vanilla-amber-moss-tonka in the base began to cloy. Still, it's an interesting and well-made fragrance, and I'm giving it a thumbs-up in the hope that the magic will one day return, perhaps when the weather gets colder or I'm in the right frame of mind. Maybe we need to go to therapy to sort out our differences and give this relationship a second chance.

Amazing. A woody floral with an incense-like note. Powerful and delightful. This has got to be a classic. I'm a casual dressed kind of guy but I love getting the chance to dress up to go out. Just smelling this conjures up imagines of pin-striped suits with Italian ties (or what have you).

P.S. RE: jude_c's review, Hey jude_c, I'm a Calvin Klein fan and I love this stuff!

I was so damned disappointed with this one...it almost broke my heart LOL.

Most reviews and advice from people who had tested it in person lead me to believe that this would be smooth, soft, creamy, warm and sweet...gentlemanly and refined - dignified in an 80s way, but not an 80s way...I had set myelf up for all this!

This was just, and I say this with great emphasis, "BLEH"...

The smell is acceptble, but the blend is too pervasively compromised by Geranium, Oakmoss, Aniseed and Cedar...it smells, "dry", "dusty", "run-of-the-mill 70s/80s"...blended with yet another pervasively disappointing note: SPICED GREEN APPLES... that have sat on the kitchen bench all day...

It could be a LOT better if these notes were toned down, significantly!

I am over my disappointment now, and have since taken to using it to scent my bedroom carpet before vacuuming, and spritzing over my matress before laying down fresh linen.

The old old old lady t my work loves the smell of this. This actually has nothing to do with age - but she happens to smell like spiced green apples and Tabu...

"Beau_mode_arome" is totally right - it's trying to accomplish too much.

Le 3ème Homme is the ‘third fragrance’ of Caron for men, and is situated between the pretty, powdery Pour un Homme and the hyper-masculine Yatagan. The opening is dry and aromatic, with hits of lavender, herbs, anise. There are good woody spices in the middle, clove and coriander. Clove gives this an old-school, confident barbershop vibe; and as it grows it puts this next door to Rive Gauche pour Homme. I think this OK but I’m not enthusiastic about it.

A fougère with some chypré overtones. At times I think this is understated; at others, simply well-mannered. Definitely not loud. The only thing it reeks of is elegance. The fruit is there to enrich the other notes, but it's the aromatic nature of Le 3ème Homme that dominates. Lavender, rosemary and clary sage are the main players in that aspect of it. Clary sage in particular is the soft muscatel note which gives this its distinct character. Very good for daytime and casual wear, but also very much suited to the office.

The film was better.
Ah! the 80's And what did that decade produce, old man? The cuckoo clock--no wait, that's from the film . . .

Ok 80's powerhouse scents like Santos de Cartier (original formula), Francesco Smalto , Pascal Morabito Or Black, Versace l'Homme, Esencia Loewe-- and stinkers like Quorum.

Chypre, Fougere, Animalistic! The Drakkar Noir decade. Bring the outdoors home The Hills are Alive---and it's very frightening.
Will Fern and Oakmoss take over The World?
This one is light for its time, not bad at all but nothing to write home about, old man. Though I suppose by today's bland standards some would consider it quite bold. Good drydown.

Probably the only ‘80s scent that I’ve seriously considered adding to my wardrobe.

The sweet floral-woody composition has aged far better than most of the men’s releases from the same decade. I find its sweetness quite alluring and never cloying, with the floral notes providing an almost berry-like presence in the drydown. Unfortunately, I haven’t really tested it enough to determine its longevity but its sillage is reasonably moderate. This is an extremely well-blended scent and more than deserves its classic status.

However, a part of me fears that I would easily get bored of this. Therefore, with the smallest bottle being 125ml, I’m still on the fence about purchasing it. However, I’m still giving it a thumbs up because it’s such a wonderful and unique ‘80s release.

The first time I wore this I was very turned off by the initial bomb of lavender. All i could smell was lavender, very sour, harsh, and I didn't think the 3rd man and I were going to get along. This dissipated after a few minutes, however, and I was treated to a wonderfully floral bouquet. Later that day, I took a moment to smell myself and I literally was blown away. This fragrance is easily 2 different colognes in one. It went from being very floral to being wonderfully woodsy and spicy on my skin. Simply amazing.

I must say, I agree with Ruggles on this one. Of the three Caron's I was sampling ( Yatagan, Pour un Homme and this one) 3rd man immediately appealed to me. However the second time I wore it, it also bored me, while the other two Carons grew on me gradually.

I also think that 3rd Man is trying to do too much, and in the end, it is neither here nor there and as a result, lacks character for me. If someone asked me what the main accord was for Yatagan or Pour un Homme, I could describe the scent, more or less, but the 3rd Man leaves no lasting impression on me and thus I can't even recollect what it smells like. And for this reason I give it a thumbs down.

This is not the bottle, the new one is better. This is quite simply the finest scent that I have ever come across. It is so deep and interesting it is almost funny. Very smokey and intense scent that lasts forever. It is a "light" scent, but not fresh, and so so sexy. It is my favorite all-time, L'anarchiste is number two and Antaeus is number 3. The third man is a mysterious masterpiece that is the favorite of this this cologne lover and I have had well over 100. Caron makes the most mysterious scents and this is the best. Buy now and test it yourself. Not for Tommy or Calvin fans - this stuff downright fascinating.

I was convinced that I had found my holy grail scent when I first tried 3rd Man. But, within a month, it bored me. I'd pick up the bottle stare it it for a few seconds and put it back down and pick something offering more of a thrill. As the cliche goes, "too many cooks spoil the pot". Yes, in the end, there's really nothing/everything to focus on in this potion, it's sweet, it's floral, it's woody, it's well done, it's high quality. Zzzz..........

It's not surprising the views of this fragrance are so disparate. I was never a big fan of it, because I found it rather too conventional in an 80s kind of way. Even now, I prefer what I would dare call the more audaciously direct and more radically minimalist approach of Bois du Portugal, that precision laser of a perfume. But when I recently wore 3rd Man and systematically studied its development I had to conclude that, while working within a conventional frame, the execution is indeed masterful and the quality impeccable, as has been sufficiently and expertly described in preceding reviews. So it really depends on what you expect from this fragrance. Come winter I shall be wearing it more frequently when desiring to feel comfortable and refined, rather than wishing to intimidate.

Only Caron could combine jasmine, rose & carnation in a men's fragrance with such supreme success! Previous reviews by foetidus, robyogi, zztopp and vibert say it all...a true classic!

Simply outstanding. I normally don't do vanilla, but this is so so well done. Although I admire Yatagan, this is easily more wearable. Very gentlemanly, powerful & warm.. soothing but strong at the same time. when the sample runs out & I have the cash I may have to purchase this one.

I have a huge problem with Caron’s men’s fragrances. My problem? I tried Yatagan first. How any fragrance house could adequately follow Yatagan’s magnificent savagery is hard to imagine. The outrageous animalism of Lutens and Sheldrake’s Muscs Kublai Khan? The ethereal beauty of Dominique Ropion’s Carnal Flower? The briny austerity of Creed’s Erolfa? The barbaric opulence of Montale’s Black Aoud? Caron’s answer was The Third Man.

The Third Man opens with a potent, but fairly standard lavender and bergamot accord, underscored by just a hint of woods and smoky leather. The middle notes include a very sharp cedar, some lush vanilla or tonka, and a hefty dose of carnation or clove on top of the persistent lavender. I sense some rose at the heart, too, accented by a deep fennel seed or anise note. The drydown is mostly moss and woods, with lingering anise and a distinct vanilla/musk counterpoint. The result is an outstanding fragrance, but very heavy and opaque, in the manner of Creed’s Santal Imperial and Bois du Portugal.

Temperamentally, The Third Man is the exact opposite of the wild Yatagan: rich, and cultured, but also utterly conventional. Me? I’ll take Yatagan.

First impression: Just received the bottle from Ebay, and sprayed some on a piece of paper.
The scent is not as sharp as Yatagan, that I bought in the same batch and also somewhat more powdery, but yet quite likeable and distinctive. I detect in this phase a pleasant top note of lavender also a mid range of rosemary and fern, all on a quite distinctive back drop of primarily vanilla, but also amber and tonka. Other ingredients in the pyramid are not distinguishable to me at this point. At this stage my closest earlier encounter of a reminiscent fragrance would be Must Pour Homme by Cartier, but yet quite different.
Second impression: sprayed some on the back of my hand. Different to Yatagan, this scent does not bring me a lot further and does not strike as many accords. It is by all means quite nice, but not extravagant in a manner that I would like.
Third and final impression: This does not bring me to places in my mind and hence blocks me from contemplating it further. As my first impression, I find it to be slightly similar to one of Cartier’s scents, which have never been any particular favourite, and I don’t believe this one will either. By all means a nice fragrance, but next to Yatagan it is a pale beauty!

I've got three words for you....
MAST--ER--PIECE !

I must admit that I have never tried or owned this one. But if it is as good and interesting as the film - which I saw a few days ago. It must be a masterpiece. I appologice for doing this but I would like to add to my review of Georges Sand. And for some reason I cant do a second review of it. I would just like to say that I think that scent would suit Dr Hannibal Lector to a perfection. It is just up his alley. That scent is supposed to be for a provocateur. I guess you could describe him like that.
benb

Bought this blind. It started off with a surprising sharp and soapy opening, a little brash, quite like that of Lalique Homme, which quickly segued into...oh geez,

SO...MUCH...POWDER!!!!...MUST...BE....STRONG!!!...can't imagine this could be the rose talking--never smelled a rose this powdery!

And then you meet a smooth, spicy aromatic oriental, the gentleman's cologne. The rose fern and carnation create a green and sharp spiciness, and it's sweet, but not syrupy...a more wooded sweetness. As it mellows further into the drydown, it becomes mossy, with an undertone of musk.

Try this on for a formal event or want to be taken seriously in a business meeting! There's a quiet power and presence about it.

I usually don't post reviews of fragrances, but in the case of this one, I had to. I just bought this blind and received it only an hour ago. Upon first spray I knew this was special. I've never smelled lavander done like this. Le 3me is sweet but not too sweet, woody but not too woody, the florals are expertly done as is the fragrance overall. There is a comfortable mellowness about this one....Love it.

This just simply has to be a thumbs up for me. I'd started my experience with The Third Man on a bit of a wrong footing. The initial, and long-lasting blast of Lavendar was a tad offputting.

After allowing it to settle however, what a fanstastic scent. The drydown is heavenly and I just love smelling myself as I take off my shirt in the evening after work.

Highly recommended. For knowledgeable noses only!

another really and fascinating scent-a perfect composition where all notes match very well together:it starts a bit spicy and it becomes woody and a bit herbal and then maybe a touch floral-at the beginning you have the feeling not to know where it will end-quite exciting but after a time you can´t stop smelling this superbe fragrance-elegant and discret and never going on your nerves!very well done!

It starts out dry and woody, slowly starts to add some herbal notes and eventually blossoms into a floral scent. Certainly the most dramatic evolution of a fragrance I've scene. Every phase of the evolution is enjoyable in its own way and it holds together well as a whole. Certainly one of the better fragrances I’ve run across.

Caron fragrances for men are usually unique, unusual and excellent, so its no surprise that the 3rd man continues that tradition. 3rd man exhibits one of the most fluent transitions from top, middle and basenotes that I have witnessed. A sharp lavender note dominates the top notes, with the anise bringing about a slight spiciness to the proceedings. A few minutes later, the floral middle notes make an appearance - I find that this phase doesnt last long. The sweet, slightly earthy (must be the oakmoss) base finishes off the presentation but the interesting thing is that you can still smell a bit of lavender in there. Infact, as the fragrance goes from top to basenotes, the lavender slightly diminishes in presence from one level to another - and by the time the basenotes come into play, it stays in the background like a "third man" or helper.

It may not be as amazing as some of the other reviews make it out to be, but with great longevity, sillage and composition, its a darn good fragrance and a worthy addition to anyones collection.

Wow, how can one follow Foetidus' excellent review? One cannot. I'll just add a comment or two to it. 3eme starts off with lots of lavender, and is slightly sweet. As it dries it mellows considerably, to a warm, soft, yet masculine scent. While it's soft and, in a way, subtle, it also projects a lot and stays with you all day. So the softness here is the smell, not the power. I found it works fantastically in warmer weather as well, despite smelling "thick" to me. The heat brings out some notes that in cold weather seem to be drowned out by the vanilla. Definitely an aura type scent, it just wraps you up in warmth and smooth sillage. You can't hide when you wear this one.

One of my favorite movies—I should have taken it as an omen and blind-purchased this one before I purchased Yatagan, Pour Un Homme, and La Anarchiste. Le 3me Homme is so much better than those others.
The opening sparkles with aromatics led by a softened lavender and supported by bergamot and sweet fruit notes. This is a brilliant accord and immediately it reminded me of a tamed down DK Men. (I had forgotten that Milamber mentioned the similarities in his excellent review of DK Men, but I remembered his comment as soon as I smelled the opening notes of 3me Homme.) I find this accord captivating and, for a while, I had hoped that this would be a linear fragrance so that it would keep on pumping out those invigorating aromatics. But it doesn’t. Maybe even fragrances have to grow up.
The middle tones present a little different story: The mid notes carry the same motif as the opening, but the florals join with the more mature and mellowed aromatics and create a softer, rounder, less frantic picture. In spite of the understated drama of the opening, this is also a mellow fragrance. By the mid notes it is breathing an ease wrapped up in a translucent and exciting tension.
The final scenes of this fragrance are apt and fitting. A very muted aromatic / sweet ambiance is maintained while significant woodnotes—cedar, fir, vetiver, and patchouli—are added. For sweetness there are the discreet tonka and vanilla taking second and third place to an excellent amber. As in most men’s fragrances of the era, there is an identifiable musk note, too. The cedar and fir not only add woodnotes, but also continue the wonderful aromatic precedence. The base notes last for hours and hours.
Le 3me Homme is a near flawless fragrance in its design and its output. It carries with it an energy and an ease that are unique and precious for those willing to experience its message. What a treasure!

It was some time since I'd been around such a changeling! My valet was simply besides himself, "Sir! Have you REALLY changed your cologne three times today already? It isn't even past noon." I was quite amused myself, never having quite appreciated Caron's Third Man in this way before.

Sir Yvan and I seem to have very similar reactions to this fragrance, for I was bowled over by the sweet, fruity topnotes. Had I really been sleeping all the previous times I wore this? Not two hours later, most of the fruitiness leaves, replaced by an evolving powdery phase with a touch of spice and florals. After several hours this phase then changes to a woodsy, incensy, musky drydown, always staying distinguished and fairly discrete. I agree that this could double for office wear very easily, but it could also work in all manner of situations. Funny thing, but the packaging for my clear bottle reads "Le 3e Homme de Caron." Whatever, go out and try this fascinating scent!

Wicozani

For me - it is the best Caron masculine scent. The masterpiece. Office, Christmas, dating, club, cinema, bar - everywhere. Mild spices and warm sillage. It was my only scent for half a year (well, others 200 frags were forgotten for that period of time).
I`m looking for the video The 3-rd man by Orson Welles - just to see what was the inspiration of this gem? Thumbs up!

My go to scent for the office. It projects an aura of confidence and power and it lasts all day. The lavender dominates at first and I suspect that puts alot of people off when they smell it, but after an hour or the intensity is reduced and it blends in nicely to the spicy dry down. This is a deep fragrance, not a light aquatic for the feint of heart

To sum it up in two words: NOT GOOD. I sent this bottle back, along with the bottle of Yatagan, also not a good choice. This is also a cheap-smelling fragrance. It smells like a cheap imitation or poor attempt at copying Pour Monsieur by Chanel. There is a similarity in the initial impression, but Pour Monsieur by Chanel is much more complex and intense. This is really a cheap-smelling fragrance, something you would find in a five-and-dime in the discount aisle. Don't waste your money, go buy Pour Monsieur by Chanel instead.

For some reason, Number 3 makes me think of adult fun. Spicy with a heavy dose of vanilla, the patchouli and amber in the basenotes endow it with a slightly dirty, sensual note that make it perfect for a night on the town. (It also holds its own in smokey enviroments.) Yet applied with a light hand, it works well in an office environment during the cooler months. Perhaps Caron's most versatile and easiest to wear of all its men's fragrances.

Maybe my sample was bad or something but I can't relate to all the glowing reviews on this juice. To me it's a competent, spice and woods mix with sharp lavender and herbs. Very eigthties mood to it. The bottle has been replaced and the juice is now presented in the same clean looking transparent bottle as it's siblings PuH and Yatagan.

A complex mix of spices and florals, whose disingenous drydowm belies the complex treat to come as the base of woods develop. Two hours later, you know this is a superb fragrance.
It evokes the elegant businessman, stock-quotes under his arm, but the dark suit and white shirt are bespoke, from Paris, and the tie from Sulka or Hermes...

I've got that jewel-like bottle. There's still a remaining halo of the fragance that takes me back to the 80's.

When you wear Caron 3rd Man, you are putting out a statement. You are a confident man, comfortable in the most stressful situations, not bothered by the dominant fashion style of the day, a man of tradition. The fragrance itself is caramel smooth. A brilliant take on the 80s' super accord. It is extremely aromatic. This one was designed with sillage in mind. When you leave the room, people will definitely know you've been there a few seconds ago.

I wear 3rd Man on the skin. I like it close. It goes on my chest, under a shirt. Trust me, the effect is fabulous. This allows the scent to mix with your natural chemistry and pumps out through the pores of the fabric. The effect is one of sexy indulgence and warmth. It should have a place in any gentleman's wardrobe. (Even a gentleman gets horny once in a while.) So who IS the 3rd Man? I'm no Luca Turin, but i believe, there is your physical being, your spiritual being and the scent which becomes an extension of yourself. The aura personified!!!