Carolina Herrera by Carolina Herrera

Whenever I smell this perfume, I get the feeling that it's Acqua di Gio's dark, seductive, evil twin. I don't know if that makes sense to anyone else, but to me there's something VERY characteristic that both fragrances share (and that I find extremely addictive), even though they're really different. It's probably the white floral touch, especially the lovely, lovely jasmine. I love wearing Acqua di Gio for college in the morning and then Carolina Herrera when I go out at night that same day. While the first one is fresh, lovely and casual, this one really does make a statement. It's sexy, classic, unbelievably floral and intense. It's the kind of perfume my grandma loves, and by that I only mean that it IS very 1920's. There's a lot you could say about it, but I don't think you could say that it's a bad perfume. Like every other scent that could be labelled "old lady-ish", you either find it addictive or way too strong, you either pull it off or you don't, and it either suits the occasion perfectly or it's a bad choice all in all. But it's not a bad scent. I can understand that some people find it too classic or retro, but sometimes that is the desired effect! The floral intensity reminds me of curled hair and pretty earrings. I like to wear Carolina Herrera the same way that I like to occasionally wear a vintage dress that used to belong to my grandmother when she was much younger: to evoke a classic, stylish sensuality and femininity. I'm sure that "actual" and standard fragances are a lot lighter and a lot easier to pull off, but they also don't surprise you like this one does. This perfume doesn't go unnoticed. I find it's only wearable on certain occasions. I wouldn't wear it for work or college, for instance, and I wouldn't wear it either if my attire shouts "Hey there, I'm a semi-hobo!" (which is the case for me most mornings lol). Wear it if you're looking to strike others as classy, glamourous, sexy-but-not-cheap, beautiful and mature, like you just stepped out of a black-and-white movie. Not appropiate if you are after the girl-next-door look.

Carolina Herrera is mostly a wonderfully deep and rich jasmine. Not green, fresh, screechy. It’s the deeply sweet and carnal variety, more like night blooming jasmine. The tuberose, present and strong lends its buttery fullness to the jasmine, while the other floral notes simply enhance and balance the formula. The base notes are rich and ambery, slightly dark, and the civet casts a slightly powdery/talcum veil that at once lends more carnality to the whole, and on the other hand creates a dreamscape. The vintage original formula is obviously stronger, richer, fuller; every note is amplified and feels decadent, while the base is darker, mossier, and far more animalic. It feels Beverly Hills, Rodeo drive shopping, New York businesswoman all at once. But at the same time, I picture a southern belle. Unlike other florals of the era, Carolina Herrera has a certain innocence, down to earth laid back attitude. She can be the perfect hostess, dress up for dinner, and unwind in her porch sipping spiked iced tea. Like a true 80’s fragrance it exudes class, sillage and power. It never smells artificial, but always mesmerizing and grand. The current formula is still quite good; it has a present sillage and longevity, the smell leans more towards a fresh green jasmine with a bigger dollop of tuberose to counterbalance, and the base is more woody. The cons? It’s lost it’s animalic beauty, the flowers smell more artificial (cellophane wrapped bouquet straight from the florists fridge) and the mossy feel is gone. The new one is similar to Gucci Bloom, albeit nicer. While it’s obviously different, it still smells like Carolina Herrera. If you can find vintage, go for it. Both edt and edp pack more than current edp. Review based on late 80’s edp bottles.

CH is truly the Grande Dame of perfumes if there ever was one. As soon as I smelled it, it smelled like old Southern money. I could imagine this on some Southern socialite throwing a party at her mansion in Coral Gables (near Miami). A poolside party at night, in the summer heat. There would be garlands of white flowers floating on the pool's surface, with candles burning in the middle of them. Nobody would be swimming because they are all way too rich and wouldn't want to ruin their makeup, hair extensions, and evening gowns by Versace or Narciso Rodriguez. The main drink on the menu is a frozen peach bellini. Tuberose and apricot smell so exotic and fresh; and sparkly and boozy like an exclusive cuvée. Then the civet creeps in and makes me very uneasy, as the perfume takes on an extremely animalic turn for the worst, only to be redeemed by a soft and ladylike blend of peach and honeysuckle. Yes, this has mega-rich Southern Belle written all over it! While it's a beautiful perfume, it's not really "me." Even for a Leo, Queen of the Jungle, it's too ostentatious, and that is something I've never said about a single perfume in my whole life, not even with big, bold florals like Boucheron, Gio Armani Parfum, Chanel No.22, Calèche, Red Door. But if I try to wear this perfume, all I think to myself is "Seriously, who do you think you are?" P.S. This is what I thought Fracas would smell like, minus the peach scent. I agree with other reviewers who think this smells better than Fracas.

As a tuberose lover, I’m not sure how this escaped my attention. Tuberose, grapey jasmine and PANTIES! Not that that’s a bad thing. In fact, it’s an instant love. This is a complete sex-bomb. I must have a slightly older bottle as several people have mentioned a dearth of civet in recent batches. That is not the case with my bottle. This is a bold, old school 80’s/90’s tuberose. It’s big, unapologetic but not as cacophonous as many of its tuberose contemporaries. To my collection at least, this is unique. The closest things I own are vintages of Amarige and Boucheron. Compared to CH, Amarige smells soapy clean and is sharper and more linear. Boucheron (released the same year as CH) bears at least a passing resemblance after its incensed opening. CH seems more focused and sweeter, more floral-forward, less complicated by a kitchen sink list of ingredients. Don’t get me wrong, I love all three, but CH has a wonderful clarity. After an hour, the florals recede a bit and civet comes roaring to the forefront. It’s still lovely at this phase, but I miss the over-ripe floral explosion of the opening. A minor quibble as I find this stunningly beautiful throughout. Longevity is outstanding...still clearly detectable after 20 hours!!! If you dislike tuberose, don’t even try this. If you are in the habit of describing perfumes in terms of specious age-catagories, then this is not for your. If this is what old-ladies and grandmas smell like, count me in!

The first fragrance from Carolina Herrera, and I love it. I loved it then. I love it now. It has been reformulated and is slightly different, but the sense memory is still there when I smell the scent. This fragrance mixes so very well with my skin. When wearing it, it doesn't feel like a layer of scent sitting on top of me, it is me, in all my unabashed glory. I found this scent while walking through the mall during college. It was love at first spritz. The reformulation made me angry and I refused to purchase any for several years, but I missed my CH. I broke down and bought a newer bottle. While it is no longer my signature scent (reformulation), I will always have a bottle in my collection. It was my first "real" fragrance. It is powerful and luscious, dreamy and sensual. It envelopes and embraces you while energizing your soul from within. It is something to wear when you want to feel and be glorious, voluptuous, sumptuous. This is not for the faint of heart. You don't wear this fragrance. You live it. ..... Sweet notes abound. I've been told this fragrance smells much more provocative when smelled right on the skin, when someone is close, than it does from a distance. The animalic/green notes seem to stay in the background, more distant. They are more pronounced when your nose is next to the skin. Lasts forever and leaves noses swooning in its wake, so exercise judgement when spritzing. Very gorgeous. Very sexy.

Please bear with me on this one... this fragrance had an odd effect on my imagination. Found it at a GREAT price at a well known discount retailer. When I got out to the parking lot I gave it a medium spritz. Luckily on my left arm! Then hopped on into the truck and WHOOAAA...was this ever potent. Proceeded to drive home with my arm out the window, but the fragrance kept getting stronger!! Thats when I caught myself visualizing this HUGE mastodon behind my pickup, head down, shoving me up the highway. His name was TUBEROSE. Of course I started to chuckle about that, even more so when I wondered what THAT would look like to the cars behind me. Then the fragrance started to change a bit. I could tell that even with my arm out the window! But it didn't calm down any. No. Another mastodon appeared...and his name was JASMINE. By this time I was laughing out loud as he shouldered up next to TUBEROSE and they both proceeded to push my old truck along. Of course, the view from the rear kept popping into my mind. So be warned, the tuberose and jasmine notes in this parfum have balls... no doubt about it! On the plus side, this fragrance is obviously quality ingredients. And, on my skin, after the first two and a half hours (!) it (finally) starts to dry down to a LOVELY scent!!!!! And no more mastodons. Thank God!

Carolina Herrera, I have realized that more than 10 years ago I use this classic from CH. And I haven't reviewed it yet, a perfume that is 35 years old since its launch and is still a favorite for many women. This fragrance is a great white Floral (orange blossom, Tuberose, jasmine, Ylang-ylang, narcissus, hyacinth, Honeysuckle and lily of the valley) intensely intoxicating! It opens strong, green, bright and floral. With small fruity and fresh touches. This opulent fragrance screams Eighties Classic in a very elegant way! The animalic notes of civet are very present here, and are majestically combined with amber chords, giving the background all the sustenance to this Floral bomb. Thus standing out a very green and floral smell of tuberose, honeysuckle and daffodils together with animalic, musky, mossy and amber notes on a green, woody and dusty vetiver. Leaving a slightly powdery and warm smell when drying, very sophisticated. The substantivity on my skin reaches 12 hours and more! With great diffusion and sillage. And because of how strong and intense this beautiful perfume is, I find it ideal for Autumn-winter. I also find this perfume for a woman with class, with character, it is a perfume that marks presence. It is an ultra feminine and very opulent perfume.

Review of the EDT: Elegance and sophistication that needs no revision This is a sophisticated white floral fragrance that is jasmine forward in the opening. After a few minutes, a bubble-gum tuberose takes centre stage but the dry down is dominated by white flowers, musk and a bit of oakmoss. This fragrance is womanly elegance in all its floral magic. It needs a certain vibe to be worn. My friend who is generally unimpressed by vintage scents, was very impressed by this one. It is the fragrance of a confident woman who has her professional life and family life in a healthy, good place. We called this the entrepreneurial woman scent... It just had that vibe. Not steel magnolia, but not working girl either. I didn't experience this as a unisex scent. Update: I purchased the EDP of this fragrance in the autumn and I think it'll be best worn in warmer temperatures. There is something wholly feminine about the white floral development of this little wonder. It performs softly yet clings and wafts. Elegance is never loud. I find it the full bodied trio expression of tuberose, jasmine and ylang ylang in this formulation to be truly spectacular, with subtle differences from the EDT.

Just received this from a friend who said it was too "flowery",....and I'm glad I got it!! A thick, heady, grounded, and intoxicating perfume, that best be worn in cooler weather or else it seems to turn too sweet and cloying in warmer weather, like today. Comforting and warm floral. Not sugar sweet but "marshmallow-y" sweet....iow, just sweet enough. Tuberose lovers will absolutely love this one, however, it doesn't have that 'pinch' of civet that occasionally accompanies tuberose, even though it is listed, I don't detect it. It is not a mature perfume in the sense that it reminds me of play perfume. I don't think there's any alcohol in it at all, and smells that it was made in a water base, but that's not a bad thing, it smells goooood. I found adding a little lemon essential oil with it as it seems to thin out the "thick bouquet". It reminds me of a super refined Giorgio. It's a keeper. I can't wait for Autumn as I may just love this instead of liking it.

I recently rediscovered this one via a mini on Ebay. It is joyful, sophisticated, and very floral. This is a very rounded fragrance with the exception of a sharp metallic tangy edge that persists the entire wear. I LOVE how it lingers in the back of the palate and is faintly reminiscent of gasoline! I am guessing that it is the "syntheticy" peach note which reminds me greatly of that same "tang" present in two of my other favs: Gucci Rush and Maybe Baby! This fragrance is otherwise a loud white floral with a more balanced tuberose then Fracas (which I can't stand). Long lasting and extremely potent! Very sexy and VERY sophisticated. I can imagine it on a designer jean and stiletto heel clad Latina out for a day of shopping. This perfume would be worn by a woman who commands respect in the most effortless and graceful manner. Someone with means and confidence (and probably bright lipstick), a true lady! This gem is in my top 5!

Carolina Herrera remains one of the most distinctive expressions of bold femininity in my collection. A rich white-floral fragrance built around tuberose and jasmine, it was once famous for its animalic edge and formidable presence. Comparing a vintage bottle with a newer formulation reveals how the fragrance has been softened. The older version is darker, heavier, and more animalic, with oily tuberose dominating the profile. While the modern interpretation introduces a softer citrus opening and smoother floral heart. The signature bouquet remains unmistakably Herrera, but with a lighter, more contemporary touch. The reformulation hasn't diminished the fragrance's character, it has simply changed its expression. It still feels confident, elegant, and unapologetically feminine. A crown of white flowers, worn with assurance rather than defiance.

I must have written a review already about how I remember it from 1989, summer holidays in Carilo (Argentina, south coast of Buenos Aires). Such a happy time with my parents still young, careless evenings walking between the sand and the woods. I managed to find an original bottle (30 ml on ebay for 50 euro). Best memory flashbacks ever! I adore this perfume tuberose. I'm using also Moramanga by Coquillete and I love white & yellow flowers, so I'm never overwhelmed by the loudness of a 90s fragrance. I'll keep on the hunt for another bottle. Also, if you like tuberose, this is a safe blind buy for you. There's plenty of "office safe" scents, so don't criticize a good fragrance for "not being what it's not". This is not office safe and it shouldn't be. It is exactly the kind of flower-volume a confident woman deserves.

Very strong and pretty floral (at first) with great lasting power particularly on fabric...on skin it truly depends on chemistry as it really didn't last great on me but did last well on my partner in crime (well perfume testing). Notes of honeysuckle, tuberose, ylang-ylang, bergamot, hit me hard while green notes and the civet took over the dance before the night was through. I'm not overly fond of civet so I retired my bottle. Not everyone's taste but very interesting and could be very lovely on the right lady. Angelina Jolie's signature for years, maybe that speaks for the scent? Strong, noticeable, obviously very pretty, and ultimately nauseating in overexposure. Best in small amounts, a Spring scent. Very affordable. Too " animalistic rolled around in flowers" for me...but I'm willing to try again!

I have the edp of this and think it is a wonderful fragrance. One of the reviewers said it smells just like Juicy Fruit gum on first spray before it settles down, and oh wow, I thought the same thing too. Then the floral notes start coming through and they are so beautiful. Such sweet creamy florals. I really love the tuberose which has a little bit of fruitiness to it, but this is a floral bonanza. It's chock full of flowers from start to finish and I smell all of them. Some more than others at times. If you are a floral lover, this is sure to please. Update - I am loving this perfume more and more. The other day I used it and got the scent of hyacinths so strongly that it made me think of the pots sold during Easter with their powerful fresh scent luring you in to buy them. So pretty!

Wow ! I really did not know what I was missing with this one :-( It's such a shame that I have ignored Carolina-Herrera's fragrances for years !! I unwrapped a blind buy bottle from an Ebay seller tonight and at 1st I got a whiff of what I thought was seriously gone off aldehydes. But I said no, this can't be right as I could smell the fragrance emanating from this bottle and it was beautiful. So I used 1 sharp spray to my wrists and boy is this stuff good !! At 1st I thought it was sweet, but ok. Now 3-4 hours later, I get the apricot , the woody, Honeysuckle and it's all so beautifully blended. It is a very feminine fragrance, in the realms of White Linen, Beautiful and such like florals of the 80s and I like it for the days when I need something to pick me up. Beautiful..x

Bought Carolina Herrera when it launched in 1988. I had no luck with perfumes as they all gave me migraines ( ALL but Paloma Picasso) or else they dissapear in the first 15 minutes. It was love at first smell!!! it was so different to Paloma and I feel complete... Every one who knew me gifted me a bottle in every ocassion, I had several bottles, but I needed a change, so I got Carolina, but it was not the same... Now I have fallen in love with Vince Camuto Amore... I alternate between Vince and Carolina and ocassionally with Paloma and have gotten to my happy place!!! No wait, I have 3 corners but need to find my 4th one... Still looking!!

Absolute love for this one. I get nothing animalic about it at all. It’s a super realistic tuberose-centric white floral. I get nothing “vintage” out of it aside from the fact that it can actually perform and hasn’t been designed to disappear so quickly the wearer will need to rush to buy another bottle. I get nothing “mature” out of it either aside from the fact young girls who haven’t developed any taste yet seem to overwhelmingly flock like sheep to any boring basic vanilla gourmand. This a classic timeless tuberose. Reminiscent of Amarige to me the most. I will cherish this bottle, I wish modern CH frags performed this well!

Carolina Herrera is a ultra feminine flower extravaganza! The tuberose is not pungent like in other florals. It is soft and lush. In my opinion, the honeysuckle and Narcissus should be ranked a little higher than the civet. This is one of the most pleasant examples of civet used in a floral that I personally have ever smelled. Anyway, despite the fact Carolina Herrera was introduced in the 80's, it is a classic and still relevant in the 2010's. I love it! Happy Perfuming! ♥ PS I am highly sensitive to strong florals. I get horrible headaches. This one is headache free so I feel like I would be comfortable wearing it in a crowd.

Picked up the latest formula at TJ Maxx the other day on the clearance rack and I must say it is still very good though it is missing the civet as another reviewer pointed out. I realize now that the Juicy Fruit bubblegum at the beginning, which was very light in the vintage formula, is the tuberose and much stronger here. This is more tuberose centric than the vintage version. I think they must have added more of that accord to try to balance out what was taken away with reformulations. A good move on this company’s part since tuberose heavy fragrances are becoming a trend again and enjoying a renaissance in popularity.

Among the hottest floral perfumes! I come to the conclusion, that any time when perfume contains civet, it smells somehow sexy. The final scent still depends of other ingredients -could be fantastic and could be almost cloying sometimes. I can see people describing this kind of scents like 'an old lady'tipe perfumes. I don't think so! Carolina Herrera for women is fantastic, just right mix of civet and sweet flowers. I really like it, smells wonderful on me. You can't go wrong whith that, but be careful when apply, could be quickly too much, as it is strong and long lasting! I prefer stronger perfumes, so I'm happy.