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.

I do find that the old 'controversy' Guerlain Vs Caron, (Guerlain*= cocotte frags and Caron= lady ones) with Bellodgia should put the matter in a sort of balance or draw. I can't see in it, all this 'ladylikeness'. I've got an oldish (not unfortunately a proper vintage** one, that I had already met once) so that I cannot find it so 'innocent' at all, anyway, times are changed and I like B. very much, all the same. My not blind love can be expressed through some positive points: 1) a huge presence of my beloved note: carnation, so evident during the 3 classical phases; 2) a good persistence (definitely more accentuate in the older versions, but still right) 3) it's lack of 'popoularity' here, where I live. It's not so common among people; 4) I believe this is one among the nicest oriental-flower-chypre not so simple to house -for me. 5) It matches both my skin and my chemistry perfectly! What can you ask more?! As typical of many old scents, it can be used indifferently by 'girls' and 'boys', only the personal alchemy (and taste as well) should dictate the choice. * To be clear my heart beats for Guerlain ; ) **A sort of 'liquid bomb', a true masterpiece in the history of perfumery.

Oh, I have so many memories connected with you, Bellodgia! My mom liked carnations, so I used to take my babysitting money and buy a bottle for her as a Mother's Day, birthday, or Christmas gift. There was only 1 department store that I knew of that sold it, so I'd go up to the counter in the cosmetics department and buy it. I remember her spraying it on in the morning, and the house would smell like it. Fast forward to a few years ago: I remembered liking it too, so I bought a bottle of the EDT for myself on eBay. I remember the bottle looking the same as the ones I bought for her back in the 70s, so it must have been the vintage juice. It wasn't the bottle pictured above. And I loved it although it didn't last long on me. Unfortunately, when I was mostly through the bottle, I developed a rash from it on my throat and arms. I used it up by spraying it on other parts of my body that weren't bothered by it, but I didn't buy another bottle. It's too bad this has been discontinued. It was a wonderful carnation and rose fragrance! I'm going to try L'Air du Temps to get my carnation fix.

The current EDT, Caron Bellodgia starts out with the smell of incense that's very similar to Caron Nuit Noel, but lighter. Then the florals bloom, mixed with cloves, enveloped in soft musk. Quickly thereafter, strong carnations burst into bloom, sweet, soft, spicy, and heady. Suddenly, a beautiful puff of sweet powder emerges, blending all of the notes in this perfume together, and you are enveloped in the most elegant blend of soft spices and florals, encased in creamy clouds of vanilla and sandalwood. At this point, Bellodgia settles down into a gloriously blended opulent powdery skin scent that lasts up to 12 hours. If sprayed in your hair, the scent is especially noticeable, long after it dries down to a skin scent. It's soft and lightly powdery, but thanks to the cloves and spices, it's not too sweet to be a unisex fragrance. Bellodgia smells expensive, intruiging, deep, rich, unique, and can easily be worn in a crowd without offending anyone. Simply beautiful !

Perfumes like this aren ́t made any more. That is something I can ́t really put my finger on when it comes to some of Caron vintage perfume. The way they wrap you up and in and at once gives me a feeling of being charismatic, elegant and oh so chic. Bellodgia is dark, mysterious and I feel like I ́m swimming over deep waters, but still being safe. I ́ve got a small vintage sample and really wish that the new Bellodgia available will have some of the old formulation soul left, anyone know anything about that? It ́s really hard to think of this as a lilly of the valley or jasmine scent, in my opinion it ́s much to golden, warm and sensual for that and I can ́t hardly smell any of those flwoers except for being kind of a nice backdrop. Not as much carnation as in Tabac Blond though. I like Tabac Blond slightly better, but Bellodgia isn ́t far behind. When I ́m in the mood for this kind of vintage scent, both of them wopuld do just fine. Try it and get a nice surprise!

If Caron revived this, without reformulation, they'd make a mint. Edit: They have revived it but it costs 400 Euros. This juice was once in most major department stores in Canada and plenty of women adopted it as their signature. My mom's friend wore it, and I started wearing it at 19. I'd toyed with Ivoire de Balmain, K de Krizia, and Gloria Vanderbilt in college but when I found Bellodgia that was it. Then it was gone. I bought my last off-the-shelf bottle in Calgary in 2001. A few years ago I ordered a bottle online just to smell it again. It's still good, but seems to be fractured. Tonight I put it on and it was pure Peru Balsam. Things change and life goes on. But if Caron reintroduced this, they'd be shocked at how fast its superfans would grab it. Edit: Superfans with oodles of cash.

essendo un'amante del profumo dei garofani, oggi mi sono lanciata nella prova di bellodgia: profumo d'altri tempi (1927) del quale possiedo una boccetta, ahimè, non vintage. non so quindi quanto questa formulazione differisca da quella originale. quel che è certo, però, è che si tratta di una meravigliosa fragranza quasi soliflore di garofano, resa dolcemente speziata dai chiodi di garofano. l'effetto è prorompente e bellissimo, la durata infinita, il sillage notevole. nell'assestamento percepisco anche un che di vanigliato e animale. notevolissimo.

I guess I'm in the minority on the idea of this being a summer perfume. I only use the vintage extrait and spray and I find it idea for cooler weather. Florals don't always mean summer. This is an assertive fragrance and the carnation and clove cut right through the foggy cocoon we often walk around in. True, the dry down is powdery and floral but it's a long trip to Drydown Town with this beauty. Perfect for cold bright Spring days but suitable for all but the hottest weather. It always shouts, "Damnit, pay attention to me, you'll be hooked."

This was also my mom's favorite back in the 70s. I remember taking my babysitting money to the perfume counter and buying it for her for Christmas, birthdays, and/or Mother's Day. I loved it at the time, but it seemed too old for me. Well, a couple of years ago I bought a bottle of the EDT on eBay, and I still love it. But it just doesn't last in this form on my very dry skin - maybe 2 hours. I just got out the bottle and looked at it, and I wonder if it's counterfeit? It doesn't have a label on the bottom, just the front. Huh.

(Note: I'm reviewing the vintage "parfum de toilette". I've heard that tragic things have been done to the reformulation.) This is a lovely carnation whose sharpness is softened by vanilla and musk. Clove opens as it warms and stays with the scent for hours, giving it a milky quality. I will use an odd word to describe it: it's extremely amiable. Sillage: 4-5 ft; I get many compliments Durability: 6-8 hours for this formulation Fabulosity: a drink with your best friend Price to value ratio: high 8/10

Vintage Bellodgia is a rare type of fragrance; it is both warm and spicy and light and airy. This lets it occupy a unique space in a wardrobe, as it can be worn in any weather without becoming cloying. Let it be known that "light and airy" here does not in any way mean lacking in depth; the vanillic/animalic base is sexy and alluring. In many ways, this fragrance is to carnation as Pour Un Homme is to lavender.

I read reviews that it is strong and lasting heavy frangrance, and I get jealous. On my skin the lasting power if about one hour. It begins as a very beautifull floral scent, but then suddenly: soap and sugar. Even my work colleague, who normally comments all new fragrances, couldn ́t recognize any! Is it the reformulation? I bought the EDT, that could be also the reason.

Just looked at my bottle again and I'm still wondering if it's authentic. The top doesn't fit over the spray very well. As in, if you pick up the bottle by the top, it comes off. Fortunately the bottle didn't break. Well, if a copy, it's a good one. It just doesn't last on me. I'm sure I paid less than $20 for it, so...lesson learned.

As a man should I wear this ? Certainly not, would give me the feeling of being a Daughter of the American Revolution going through menopause, if you see what I mean. Nonetheless a fantastic carnation from a bygone era, full of very caron-esque old-school musks. Must have.

I have tried every formulation of this fragrance vintage and new in every strength and it just disappears on me. I love it but it just doesn't last on my skin.

sexy rich deep strong spicy clove and carnation bomb; the best carnation frag out there