Bellodgia

I’d like to contribute a more detailed review at some point in time; however, for now, I’ll just say that my vintage EDT is pretty darn fabulous. It’s in one of those old canister sprayers that have some kind of propellant in them, so I’m guessing that the perfume is being preserved by some kind of inert gas to keep it fresh. Maybe it was also carefully preserved—or accidentally forgotten. However it happened, it has held up well and aged gracefully. Whatever the case, the Bellodgia I have leaps out of the sprayer into a virtual flower shop that leaves me holding an armful of carnations with a mossy undertone that steadily emerges until the signature Caron drydown settles in, with just a pinpoint touch of LOTV (which occasionally just slightly peeks through this otherwise sophisticated, worldly composition—adding just a touch of something girlish and playful, but also hints at vintage cosmetics like cold cream and shaving cream), along with a carpet of dusty moss, and a slightly ambery powder that exactly balances and supports the spicy carnation heart. It is quite dry for a classic feminine floral of its era, and I think men who love vintage carnations should definitely give this a whirl. One question for anyone reading this who knows their way around vintage Caron: do you get leather from your Bellodgia? Mine has something, especially in the opening, that reminds me of some of the raunchy old leathers, sort of like Miss Dior. I don’t smell birch tar, but I do get a scent that reminds me of a lover’s skin from the night before, or maybe even something like the smell of band-aids (I know, I’m making this sound so very sexy *eye roll*), a scent that also reminds me of old leather trunks or maybe book covers or vintage leather clothing. Perhaps it’s part of the carnation materials. The opening of Bellodgia is unconventional anyway, since it circumvents the usual burst of citrussy freshness—so I guess anything is possible. Whatever that note is, it’s quite prominent in the opening, and then it integrates with the rest of the perfume, so there’s always an earthy note along with the dusty, spicy middle and end stages. It makes the opening Does anyone else get this in their Bellodgia? Inquiring minds want to know.

I've always been interested in Caron’s fragrances, because this house has a lot’s of big perfume hits back in the 10’s or 20’s. Despite my desire to buy blind some Caron’s great fragrances, I have been ignoring them for a long time duet to the almost depressed and Overly Exaggerated comments about Caron’s reformulation. Like: ‘’Caron ruin fragrance legends with reformulation’’ ‘’Now Caron’s fragrances smell horrible’’ ‘’ I have such lovely memories of it and the new formulation defintely doesn't have nothing of the original’’ Thanks God! I Don't Take this So Serious and decided to purchase some decants. and guess what?.. I make an order of almost 20 good fragrances, 5 of them were from Caron, and let me tell you, that this 5 beauties, smell far better than the others fifteen, and also so much better than a lot of fragrances out there. I Don't try to say ‘’Things Don't Change’’, I know that they change, everybody change and Guerlain and Chanel change too, but they are still pretty. And finally I don’t work for Caron, Caron don’t even exist in my country. I only jugde what I smelled. Bellodgia Edp Review: What a lovely and unique fragrance! To me this starts with a fabulous sweet carnation bouquet, and then change to a powdery and incensy carnation. It's really complex and delicious. If you smell closely, you can notice may be certain similarities between this scent and Parfum Sacre, but Sacre makes more emphasis on Rose and Spices. Give it a try! It's a must-sniff for sure. Lasting power is good.

(I have the EDT with the purple label, so a more recent formulation, I believe.) I fell in love with Bellodgia years ago through a decanted sample which I rationed obsessively, many times only sniffing the vial as I didn't have the heart to use it up in fear of never getting another. I always seem to fall for the discontinued ones. So I couldn't believe my luck when out of the blue I bumped into a bottle for sale, and I snapped it up like I was trying to break a land-speed record. The scent...ahh. Bellodgia has a balm-like quality that always reminds me of the scent of a very upscale body cream. It's a clean fragrance, but not a laundry scent. It's comforting, and absolutely elegant at the same time. You wouldn't think that could work, but it does. You don't need much more than a spray or two to scent the air around you every time you move, and people *will* notice. It's a little bit of a surprise for anyone bumping into this fragrance in the wild, it's definitely unexpected. It is gently sweet, but not a gourmand of any description. It's not a modern, deconstructed floral, but I don't find it old fashioned either. It's too classy for that kind of nonsense. Spring, to my mind, is the perfect time to wear this. (P.S. The longevity seems not great, so take that into account. Well, it is an EDT. Also, even if it's on the Similar Perfumes bar, Fragonard's Billet Doux is not similar to Bellodgia to me. I like the Fragonard, another carnation fragrance, but you won't get the same scent from it.)

Bellodgia is a comforting embrace of a fragrance during uncertain times. The Parfum de Toilette I have in my possession, dating from no later than the mid 80s, opens with a bloom of violet talc, green rose, a lurking ground cover of lily of valley, but most of all, its centerpiece: the carnation. What a fabled floral accord, at once seeming clove or even nutmeg like, but then again, ethereal and floral-verdant, with soft chalk undertones. When I put my nose close to my skin, I recall leaning in to smell Dianthus barbatus, also known as Sweet William, at the botanical garden in the spring time. That same prickly yet soft sensation, much like the frilled margins of the flowers. There is that signature Daltroff dry down as well: a plangent vanilla and sandalwood, propped by these rotund musks, emulsifying and thickening, rendering all into a softer focus in the late stages. To appreciate Bellodgia you must: disassociate yourself from gender and scent preconceptions, notions of what is modern and what is dated, have an appreciation for cottage garden and florist shop florals and all that is powdery and Victorian. Fans of Guerlain Apres L'Ondee, Oriza L. Legrand, Grossmith, take note. It's a top three carnation for me, along with Lorenzo Villoresi Garofano and SMN Garofano.

Carnations have been in bloom at my parents for a while now and I've had bunches in vases perfuming my bedroom. I had almost forgotten how much I love their smell. So a few weeks back I took a risk making another "blind-buy" by bidding on a bottle of vintage Bellodgia. The reviews here convinced me I'd probably like it. Well today it arrived and I must exclaim "WOW". This is strong, heady stuff. But wonderful! The fragrance is delightful - the carnation a true delight. My bottle is meant to be used but it could only have been a few times as it looks full. The box has flowers on it and the bottle is rectangular with a large, chunky gold lid that has irregular lines ingrained. I don't know when this version was in production, perhaps the 1960's - 70's? The insert has a picture of a girl that looks to be of that era. Sometimes I cheer for eBay but sometimes I pull my hair out. Today I am cheering. What a treat Bellodgia is. I've never seen it here in Adelaide/Australia. Very little Caron at all. These reviews can be an incredible guide, so thankyou for your comments everyone. I am thinking of following Sherapop's idea of layering with vanilla also. Try it if you like carnations, you may be amazed.