Rose de Noël
Caron (1939)

Caron – Voeu de Noel (Rose de Noel) (1939)

This Noel goes by two different names, Voeu (Wish) and Rose, both with the same release date of 1939. It is not clear which came first or when the new name was selected, but no matter. I am therefore leaving this same review under the Basenotes entries of both scents for cross reference.

This is a rich and spicy scent, very reminiscent to my nose of Lanvin's 1934 Rumeur, which contained almost twenty oils, and since there is no tree listing on Basenotes for either of the two incarnations of this Noel, I will be selecting what resonates from Rumeur's similarity.

First and foremost are the carnation and clove notes, supported by dusty, barely sweet nutmeg and spicy cardamom. A very rich Bulgarian rose emerges, slightly softened by what I take to be jasmine and ylang. The base could contain any of the nine Rumeur notes; it's very hard to tell. (For the record, these consisted of patchouli, oak moss, vanilla, sandalwood, vetiver, civet, tobacco, costus and leather.) Rumeur dried down to a thick, boozy, fruity punch of peach and plum, which this Noel does not.

Although this could work well for both men and women, it is more a scent to be savored alone than in society, in one's manor house, before the fireplace, one's spaniel at one's feet and one's good single malt scotch at one's elbow. It is at the same time spicy and comforting. Worthy of being sought out under either name. A Christmas wish come true.