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Frapin Caravelle Epicee.

post #1 of 41
10/22/09 at 9:00am
Thread Starter 
What do you think of Frapin Caravelle Epicee? I`ve never tested it, but i`m very curious. Are there eny similarities with Straight to Heaven, Fou d` Absinthe, or eny designer-scents out there? Luckyscent says Caravelle Epicee is their favourite of the line.
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post #2 of 41
10/22/09 at 9:20am
it's a freaking awesome scent! if you like spicy scents, then you cant go wrong with this one. it's remotely similar to CDG Jaisalmer.
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post #3 of 41
10/22/09 at 12:43pm
I love it, it has some similarities to STH.
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post #4 of 41
10/22/09 at 12:53pm
I was a touch disappointed on first wearing, but I think it's because it's not exactly what I expected. I've got enough juice here for 3-4 more wearings, and it certainly has potential to grow on me.
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post #5 of 41
10/22/09 at 1:35pm
Thread Starter 
ok. Do you think it`s better than STH? I like scents like Bois Du Portugal, Fou d`Absithe, Bois1920 Extreme, M7, Equipage etc.. Do you think this will suit my taste?
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post #6 of 41
10/22/09 at 1:41pm
I just tested the line in-store, but was impressed. I can't offer any reference to other scents, it's been too long, but they were far above average quality and more classic in construction than postmodern.
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post #7 of 41
10/22/09 at 1:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oslo-Fjord View Post

ok. Do you think it`s better than STH? I like scents like Bois Du Portugal, Fou d`Absithe, Bois1920 Extreme, M7, Equipage etc.. Do you think this will suit my taste?

You will love it ... Whether it's better will be up to you... My initial impression was that it wasn't it because i thought the world of STH. But nowi think it's just as good.
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post #8 of 41
10/22/09 at 7:55pm
It is my favorite Frapin fragrance, Although I have not tried L'Humaniste (the new one).
It is spcy without being heavy or cloying.
I don't find it similar to STH. I don't remember patchouli being a note in CE, but I am not sure.
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post #9 of 41
10/22/09 at 9:30pm
big fan of this one. highly suggest ordering a sample from LS or requesting one with another purchase.
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post #10 of 41
10/22/09 at 11:16pm
You will find some similarities between some of the By Kilians and Frapin as they are both from Cognac backgrounds and seem to share the taste for fine, rich smelling scents. My favorites from Frapin are 1270 and Caravelle Epicee, and they are both bottle worthy IMO.
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post #11 of 41
10/23/09 at 2:35am
CE is an execellnt fragrance, the combination of booze, spice and wood is perfect for the Fall.
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post #12 of 41
10/23/09 at 5:55am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by zr0e View Post

big fan of this one. highly suggest ordering a sample from LS or requesting one with another purchase.

ok. I have now order samples of Caravelle Epicee, Amouage Epic Man, and Amouage Jubilation xxv for men so i can see which one i like best.
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post #13 of 41
10/23/09 at 6:30am
There a great 'dirty' spice note in CV that I really like - it's totally unique and develops very nicely. I personally don't get a ton of similarity to Straight to Heaven, but I can see some aspects shared.
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post #14 of 41
10/23/09 at 6:45am
I own all the Frapin scents and particularly love this scent.
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post #15 of 41
10/23/09 at 6:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oslo-Fjord View Post

ok. Do you think it`s better than STH? I like scents like Bois Du Portugal, Fou d`Absithe, Bois1920 Extreme, M7, Equipage etc.. Do you think this will suit my taste?

I wish I would have scribbled down some notes now, but I definitely think it falls in line with some of the ones you like. I'll probably throw some on this evening to make sure I'm not way out of line, but I recall it being somewhat "mature" in the way BdP is. Also, perhaps it's just that when I want spicy, cinnamon scents are a little more up my alley (Arancia e Cannella or CdG White). Hopefully I don't come across as panning CE....I really did enjoy it.

Update:
I put some on after work today. I'm getting mostly nutmeg over a sweet, boozy tobacco and wood combination. I think the cumin note is why I ruled it out initially (and after further review), but you may enjoy it.
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post #16 of 41
10/24/09 at 2:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oslo-Fjord View Post

What do you think of Frapin Caravelle Epicee? I`ve never tested it, but i`m very curious. Are there eny similarities with Straight to Heaven? Luckyscent says Caravelle Epicee is their favourite of the line.

I own both and I can tell you they are nothing alike.
StH is a subtle booze,patchouly and musk creation, but more natural smelling.
Caravelle Epicee is very, indian market spicy, lot´s of cardamom.What ruins Caravelle for me, there is some weird synthetic smelling note in it, which I don´t like.
If you like spices, maybe Caravelle is for you but for me Straight To Heaven is the better one.
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post #17 of 41
10/24/09 at 9:30am
I love strong cumin openings and this one definitely has it. I wish I could offer more of an opinion but I've only used my sample once.
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post #18 of 41
10/24/09 at 1:56pm
Looks like I'm going to have to go against the tide here. I don't like it, but that's to be expected I don't like cumin heavy fragrances. I tested it, when it was compared to StH, and I just don't see that much similarities, sure it's got a little bit of booziness but no where near as much as StH.

Edit: Though off topic, my favorite Frapin is the utterly beautiful Frapin 1270. Not sure if it's in line with what you have liked in the past, but I find Frapin fragrances in general of very high quality, so it wouldn't hurt to try it out. L'Humaniste is very nice too.
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post #19 of 41
10/25/09 at 7:34am
I am a big fan of Cartier Declaration Essence. My first reaction upon sampling Frapin CE was that this was a knockoff of the Declaration although upon wearing, there are some subtle differences. Also similar to these is Montale Greyland. All share a cumin note.
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post #20 of 41
10/25/09 at 1:11pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by drpck View Post

I am a big fan of Cartier Declaration Essence. My first reaction upon sampling Frapin CE was that this was a knockoff of the Declaration although upon wearing, there are some subtle differences. Also similar to these is Montale Greyland. All share a cumin note.

I hope it`s different than Declaration, because that one reminds me of old sweat!
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post #21 of 41
10/26/09 at 4:43am
Caravelle Epicee is one of my all-time favorites. It is probably my favorite spice centered cologne.
If you are cumin averse it is definitely not for you but I don't think the cumin level rise to that which is present in Delaration.
also the cumin has a lot of spicy company and so it doesn't tend to stand out as much on my skin.
I don't find it similar to Straight to Heaven.
I will be interested to hear what you think once you try it.
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post #22 of 41
11/2/09 at 12:22pm
Thread Starter 
Today i got my sample of Caravelle Epicee. I had big expectetions, so i must say i`m a bit disappointed. There are some sharpness in the background that reminds me of Cartier Declaration that i don`t like.. I`m not going to buy it.
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post #23 of 41
11/2/09 at 12:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oslo-Fjord View Post

Today i got my sample of Caravelle Epicee. I had big expectetions, so i must say i`m a bit disappointed. There are some sharpness in the background that reminds me of Cartier Declaration that i don`t like.. I`m not going to buy it.

Well, my bottle ought to be here Thursday and I hope that your experience is just an aberration and that I will love it.
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post #24 of 41
11/2/09 at 12:59pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by finsfan View Post

Well, my bottle ought to be here Thursday and I hope that your experience is just an aberration and that I will love it.

A important rule: DON`T BLIND BUY! ever...
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post #25 of 41
11/2/09 at 1:20pm
Some of my fav frags were blind buys :P
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post #26 of 41
11/2/09 at 2:56pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flouris View Post

Some of my fav frags were blind buys :P

Strongly confirm!
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post #27 of 41
11/2/09 at 6:14pm
I love Caravelle Epicee on my skin! I like Noir Epices, too, but it is less wearable for a woman, IMO.

BTW, cumin never smells stinky to me. I love cumin! However, some of the comments make me worry that other people might confuse some of my favorite fragrances with BO!
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post #28 of 41
11/3/09 at 6:43am
Thread Starter 
It must be the cumin i don`t like.. There are something in both Caravelle and Declaration that reminds me of a mix of cardamom and sweat..
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post #29 of 41
11/6/09 at 6:08am
Got my bottle last night and wore it today. I swear, the sample I had must have been mislabeled, as it was sweeter, but when I go read the description of 1270 , I am sure that I did not get a mislabled 1270.

Vibert's review is right on. It is astringent and it must be the star anise (licorise accord or the cognac?) that hits my nose first. Maybe for 20 to 30 minutes, that is what hits me. I have had it on for an hour now and it has mellowed out. It starts to remind me of Piper Nigrum, just not as heavy on the black pepper, but I can see where some creaminess wants to come through.

I usually dismiss a cologne on first sniff. I need to be careful with this one though. Vibert is right, this thing is going to last and it is not a skin scent, but then again, it is not a loud, projecting scent. Whereas Idole is sugary sweet (rum maybe?) this is more like your bourbon sweetness, but even toned down from that. I don't get the nutmeg or rose or patchouli, nor is this super spicy, but there is something comforting about this. At lunch, I usually let a few ladies smell my new scents and I will get them to comment
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post #30 of 41
11/11/09 at 11:44am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by finsfan View Post

Got my bottle last night and wore it today. I swear, the sample I had must have been mislabeled, as it was sweeter, but when I go read the description of 1270 , I am sure that I did not get a mislabled 1270.

Vibert's review is right on. It is astringent and it must be the star anise (licorise accord or the cognac?) that hits my nose first. Maybe for 20 to 30 minutes, that is what hits me. I have had it on for an hour now and it has mellowed out. It starts to remind me of Piper Nigrum, just not as heavy on the black pepper, but I can see where some creaminess wants to come through.

I usually dismiss a cologne on first sniff. I need to be careful with this one though. Vibert is right, this thing is going to last and it is not a skin scent, but then again, it is not a loud, projecting scent. Whereas Idole is sugary sweet (rum maybe?) this is more like your bourbon sweetness, but even toned down from that. I don't get the nutmeg or rose or patchouli, nor is this super spicy, but there is something comforting about this. At lunch, I usually let a few ladies smell my new scents and I will get them to comment

So, have you got eny comments from the ladies?
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post #31 of 41
11/11/09 at 11:49am
Nope, traded it this week to Jenson.
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post #32 of 41
11/11/09 at 12:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by finsfan View Post

Nope, traded it this week to Jenson.

Yup !
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post #33 of 41
11/11/09 at 12:33pm
Well, I ordered a sample of this too based on reviews and on the fact that I like cumin (or at least, the cumin in AMcQ Kingdom...)... I'll report as soon as I test it...
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post #34 of 41
11/11/09 at 1:39pm
Thread Starter 
Strange that nobody has mention the body-odour note that`s lingering in the background..
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post #35 of 41
11/11/09 at 3:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oslo-Fjord View Post

Strange that nobody has mention the body-odour note that`s lingering in the background..

It's probably the cumin that you're sensing. No body odor notes.
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post #36 of 41
11/11/09 at 6:28pm
Yep it's cumin, and I looove cumin notes
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post #37 of 41
11/12/09 at 2:03am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jrd4t View Post

It's probably the cumin that you're sensing. No body odor notes.

Yes, it`s the cumin that ruins this fragrance for me.. Cumin reminds me of sweaty armpits.. The same with Cartier Declaration.
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post #38 of 41
11/12/09 at 7:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oslo-Fjord View Post

Yes, it`s the cumin that ruins this fragrance for me.. Cumin reminds me of sweaty armpits.. The same with Cartier Declaration.

Cumin is a VERY tricky note to pull off. I dislike it as well Oslo, and the only instances in which I can wear it are when the cumin is used for its spicy character rather than it's dirty character. Examples of its useage as a spicy note are in Rose 31 and Angeliques sous la Pluie, otherwise I agree, it smells like BO.
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post #39 of 41
11/12/09 at 7:25am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mtgprox05 View Post

Cumin is a VERY tricky note to pull off. I dislike it as well Oslo, and the only instances in which I can wear it are when the cumin is used for its spicy character rather than it's dirty character. Examples of its useage as a spicy note are in Rose 31 and Angeliques sous la Pluie, otherwise I agree, it smells like BO.

-Luckily to hear i`m not the only one!
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post #40 of 41
11/12/09 at 8:02am
It's hard to account for taste in fragrances! I totally agree with the advice to test it first!

I love Caravelle Epicee as a fragrance. It's in my top ten currently. It is hard for me to imagine anyone not liking this fragrance! Of all the spice fragrances I've tried this is my favorite - along with CdG Original edp - It's a tie between these two. Both are near perfection in the spice category, but in very different ways.

A year ago or so, there was a basenotes group love affair with Noir Epices by Frederic Malle. Another fragrance in this genre of scent. Everyone seemed to love it! I tried it, but it just didn't work for me. Almost an instant repelling scent for me. Had to scrub it off. A bitterness that I couldn't overcome, and I tried a couple of times. Just goes to show how individual taste in fragrances can vary.

By the way Ayala Moriel makes an outstanding spice fragrance blend that doesn't get talked about nearly enough - Epice Sauvage.
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post #41 of 41
11/17/09 at 1:49pm
Thread Starter 
It`s been a while since i smell Caravelle Epicee for the first time, and i must admit.. -I`m actual starting to like it.. I think I`ve been inverted! It`s insane, but my opinion on this one has slowly change after several wearings! So much that i have order a 100ml bottle! I had decided to buy either Straight to heaven or Caravelle Epicee. I pick Caravelle because i think is more complex and original than STH.. I hope the longevity is good on this one!
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