SAMPLE .. Caron, Or et Noir, 'Gold and Black', DECANTED SAMPLE from Flacon, Parfum Extrait, 1949, Paris, France ..

In 1904, thanks to the genius of Ernest Daltroff, Caron established itself in the world of High Perfumery, opening its doors at 10 rue de la Paix, Paris. Ernest’s love for his colleague Félicie, was a constant and significant influence in his creations.

Daltroff purchased the perfumery from Anne-Marie Caron and kept the original name. At the same time, he met Félicie Wanpouille, who became his partner and an important contributor to the rise of the house. While Daltroff created fragrances, Wanpouille designed bottles and served as an artistic director.

Caron is the second-oldest Parisian perfume house still active today, and one of the last great houses devoted entirely to fragrances. Caron’s fragrances respond to, and capture the spirit of their times—from WWI to modern women, their scents reflect both personal emotions and historical moments. The company has been able to adapt to changes in society while staying true to its own tradition. Even Caron’s modern perfumes continue to be both unique and timeless.

From the beginning, Parfums Caron was the house dedicated solely to fragrance, unlike houses like Chanel or Christian Dior that were first and foremost fashion houses. While the perfume houses produced more fragrances than fashion houses, by the 1920s women started to look at perfume the same way they regarded new fashion styles. However, as the couture fragrances became more and more popular, they provided a stable point in the ever changing world fashion, therefore the pace of perfume production began to decline. Subsequently, however, Caron has burst back into the front runners of a very elite and niche market perfume business.

Launched in 1949, Or et Noir ... Black and Gold .. is a beautiful, opulent perfume, concocted with a sensual base of rose sprinkled with geranium, lilac, carnation, and deepened with oak moss. The nose behind this fragrance is Michel Morsetti, who created it in homage to Ernest Daltroff and the tradition of Parfums Caron. Ernest Daltroff was fascinated with roses and incorporated rose absolutes in nearly all compositions he has created for Caron.

"A fragrance that served as an inspiration for Parfum Sacré, Or et Noir is a dark rose on a rich base of spices and woods. The opening notes are of honeyed red rose blended with the astringent bite of geranium and bergamot. The sandalwood and black pepper provide a wonderful foil for the rich rose accord. Unlike most rose fragrances that start out bright and crisp and then proceed to warm up on the skin, Or et Noir reveals its sensual facets instantaneously. The darkness of Caron accord is like a breath of cool air that renders the sweet and spicy composition light and airy. I always think of Or et Noir as a rose before sundown, petals closing slowly to hide the unabashedly sultry opening.

One of the Urn Parfums, Or et Noir is available at the Caron boutiques as eau de parfum. Its notes include Bulgarian rose, centifolia rose and geranium, Anatolian rose, lilac and carnation, oakmoss and woody amber. The bottle was designed by Félicie Bergaud.

Top notes are Neroli, Orange Blossom, and Bergamot
Heart notes are Bulgarian Rose, Rose Centifolia, Anatolian Rose, Geranium, Lilac, and Carnation
Base notes are Oak Moss, Sandalwood, Black Pepper, and Amber

Presented in a bottle designed by Félicie Vanpouille, originally used in 1910 for the perfume La Rose Precieuse, and manufactured by Cristallerie de Pantin.

Offered here is an opportunity to try a sample of this beautiful Or et Noir from a vintage bottle. One of my favourite perfumes in the world .. roses, roses, roses!!!