Caron – Nuit de Noël

The holidays are a time of celebration, but also of remembrance, when we take stock of the year which has just passed and remember those who have made our days so special. As I have mentioned here, the House of Caron (along with the venerable Guerlain) held a special place for many of us Stateside in the early 1900s, as the ultimate in French perfumery. Is it any wonder then that the lovely Nuit de Noël, French for Christmas Eve, would hold a place of high honor during the holidays?

Created in 1922 by Ernest Daltroff for his muse and amante Félicie Wanpouille, who as the story goes loved the intoxicating scent of marron glacés, a traditional delicacy served in Europe around the holidays. For those of you not familiar with this French confection, it consists of fresh winter chestnuts enrobed in a light sugar glaze. If you have never experienced the scent of marron glacés or freshly roasted chestnuts, you must try them. The smell and taste are simply heavenly.

Despite all this talk of confections and sugary chestnuts, Nuit de Noël is not a gourmand fragrance in the modern sense. The fragrance goes on dry and slightly crisp, not unlike a glass of holiday Champagne. Nuit de Noël opens with a subtle floral mix of rose and jasmine with a hint of ylang-ylang, which have a slightly sparkling effect. as the fragrance unfolds, it has a soft, velvety quality which provides the perfect backdrop for the spices to take center stage.

Nuit de Noël is among the more subtle Caron fragrances, which seem to be so blended as to create a mood or overall effect, rather than to convey a battery of notes in the traditional pyramid sense. The drydown is positively delicious, a warm yet subtle base of woods, moss and amber which remain in the background as the light spices continue their dance on center stage.

As is the case with many of our favorite fragrances, Nuit de Noël is slightly different in its modern form but still a lovely fragrance, though the Eau de Toilette is a bit scratchier in the opening than the parfum. The vintage parfum, which comes in a green tasseled box and a gorgeous black baccarat bottle, is worth seeking out. After all, it’s never to early to plan for next holiday’s gifts.

While it may seem like a cliché in today’s disposable consumer age to have a fragrance reserved for the holidays, many women at this time could not afford to wear fragrance on a daily basis, a simple luxury we take for granted today. And though I love wearing Nuit de Noël year-round, with its reference to marrons glacés and Christmas inspiration, it was clearly created with the holidays in mind. What better way to create lasting memories for the next generation than to make the holidays a special time, by creating and honoring your own rituals.

Notes: Ylang-ylang, Rose, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Oakmoss, Musk, Amber.