Impact Pour Un Homme

L'Impact de Pour Un Homme hit the market as a bit of an eccentricity both at the time of it's original release in the 1930's, and in 2005. In 70 years Pour Un Homme had become a best selling Eau de Toilette fairly synonymous with the idea of French men of a certain "genre," and in 2005 an unexpected recreation was confidentially re-issued by Caron House Perfumer Richard Fraysse, daringly labeled "L'Impact," and in extract form. Of all the Parfumeurs of the world, the famously auguste Caron could do this with intent, and purpose: It is said that Pour Un Homme, originally called "Les Plus Belles Lavandes," was the first extract perfume aimed specifically at a male clientèle, making abstraction of Guerlain's Mouchoir de Monsieur which pre-dates it by 30 years. In all fairness, it is true that, for the longest time, Mouchoir de Monsieur was not simply available to buy at Guerlain, and I do remember those years: The vendeuses would let you smell it, but you couldn't buy it on the spot. It was a bit as though you had to "apply" for it, like a job. It was only made for Kings of Spain and Actors. Pour Un Homme/Les Plus Belles Lavandes, on the other hand, was from the get go full throttle available, advertised in the best journals, and quickly became a sensation among the upper échalons of society. So many famous French men have worn this as a signature that it would be a senseless and tiresome exercise to list them, though that long list does include the likes of Serge Gainsbourg, several French Presidents, and Hommes de Lettres, among countless others. I'm not here to name drop. Caron, it should be remembered, was a more prestigious house than Guerlain. It was more expensive, more rarefied; while Guerlain always had a touch of Provincial quaintness. Caron, to this day, will never be having something as common as that. So much has been said, so many legends: The French would whisper that Guerlain was for roués and easy women, Actresses and Dancers. Caron was for Sovereigns and Grandes Dames. Guerlain was organic. Caron was kaleidoscopic. It's all true, really, when you examine the histories of both houses, Guerlain may be older, but they were chemists, and they did, in fact, joyfully cater to the demi-monde. Caron, on the contrary, was never anything but a wildly luxurious, famously exclusive gilded salon where only the very nec plus ultra of patrons were allowed and invited to browse. Now back to L'Impact: The discussion at hand. Richard Fraysse made at first only a dozen of these bottles, and sold them in the Paris Boutique in Avenue Montaigne to known repeat clients, as it was said by marketing executives that such a thing could never be marketed. When the Parisian Dandy Brigade raved, waving their mouchoirs and flinching their long side parted coiffures, a few bottles were sent to America, at Bergdorf-Goodman, where those exquisitely clad New York Swells all immediately fell into an Hermès briefcase dropping swoon. Then, all over they appeared, here and there...Russia, South America, The Middle East, always in small quantities. The idea was to recreate "Les Plus Belles Lavandes/Pour Un Homme" as it had been, and was no more, sparing no expense: Pushing concentrations to the brinks of legality. Years later, when Caron had changed hands and Monsieur Fraysse was diligently attempting to please a more modern, perhaps younger customer, a similar experiment was done in 2014 for the "Millésime 2014" limited edition, but as a more easily worn and understood eau de toilette. Later still, right before Caron almost disappeared, an Eau de Parfum version, simply called "Parfum," was launched, in a fetching ombré glass bottle. Obviously, all of these being Caron, a house that has never suffered mediocrity, not a single one isn't delightful. Oui, mais....Ah, but...ah, but "L'Impact," it's different. To be blunt, you should know, if you are not absolutely wild about Pour Un Homme, you will not be wild about "L'Impact." However, if you ever had a fondness for this Fitzgeraldian old sport, "L'Impact" will return the favor. Of all the versions, it has a coumarin and tonka bean content that defies logic, it's so thick with lavender absolute and resins that it's oily. Be warned. Those who say "Pour Un Homme" smells like "play dough" will smell nothing else but that, whatever it is, in "L'Impact." On the other end of the spectrum, those enlightened souls who love and are devoted wearers of Pour Un Homme will faint in ecstasy upon first application, for us, "L'Impact" is nothing short of bliss. It is one of those things that will have eyes rolling up into heads, toes curling, like an orgasm. It is a serious, serious indulgence into the realms of decadence the likes of which only Caron could provide: For once, it's not about a 9000 Euro Baccarat flacon, it's about three ounces of green juice that will set your heart and soul on fire with amour. Almost all basenotes, and perfectly linear, "L'Impact" starts off shockingly resiny and gluey, then just keeps getting darker, darker, darker. What's more, it lasts and lasts...A beautiful thing such as this will probably never be allowed to be made, ever again. L'Impacte makes no concessions to modern tastes, salability, commercialism, popularity, being understood by the masses, or being anything at all other than what it is. A sentiment echoed by new Perfumer Jean Jacques creation "Aimez-Moi Comme Je Suis." Here we have the last gasp of the ever intrepid house of Caron being unflinchingly Caron, but not just in name. Get it if you can. It you already have it, use it when it's cold. Savor it and cherish it, because it is history in a bottle, and not just any history. It's true. A gloriously dark and abstruse gesture it is to show up in a cloud of "L'Impact," but just as some things work for some, and other things work for others, we who will wear this are out there, sometimes in places you'd never expect to find us, and we will wear it without shame. Go right ahead, now: You can all whisper amongst yourselves that we smell like play dough: We don't care. Wherever we go, we are in it for the impact.

I am very impressed with this - and feel that it does have more 'weight' than the original in current formulation...it is really fantastic! If you like Pour Un Homme, you will enjoy this. It takes a discerning nose to understand the subtle differences. I got a bottle knowing it would be very similar to the regular bottling of Pour Un Homme, but I have to agree that the base notes in this are a bit heavier and richer. It is still in balance and wears wonderfully. Someone mentioned more wearable in cold weather - as it does feel 'warmer'. That doesn't make it better, but slightly unique when compared to the standard formulation and it's really a matter of nuances - and how one applies the scent is still relevant. Of all the bottlings of Caron Pour Un Homme, to me the Vintage EdT (standard) bottling is the best. There is more richness in the lavender (you can identify the herbal and floral aspects rather separately - the soliflore is very revealing), and I get an amber note in there as well. The musk is more prominent than the vanilla-laden current formulation - but there is perfect harmony & impeccable balance. A timeless scent. To me, these are all slightly different 'interpretations' or concentrations of an eternal masterpiece. Not a necessity, but a desire. Impact Pour Un Homme is excellent, in and of itself...wonderful. Cheers.

Caron Impact Pour Un Homme is an intense fragrance to say the least. But, the real beauty of this scent is its' simplicity and how it takes the original Pour Un Homme and takes the vanilla note and dials it to eleven and adds a real beautiful note of amber to give this fragrance a slight tweak or a new life. And instead of a fresh from the barbershop vibe of the original we are treated to an almost boozy vanilla lavender evening scent. I wore this on a cold rainy day under a scarf and it performed like a champ and I was treated to these gorgeous wafts of vanilla and lavender as my body heat warmed the scent on my neck. I guess considering the price and the similarity to the original, I still find Impact to be a bit sharper, richer and dare I say a bit more classy. While the original is the office scent, this is the stepping out fragrance and is definitely meant for dressing up. Impact is for the 30 and up crowd and definitely could be worn by either gender. Give Impact a few sprays when you need to add the proverbial finishing touch to a dress shirt camel coat combo and you want to cover all your sartorial angles and make that key impression.

This is the Pour un Homme we know and love with the edge taken off - a suitable "night time" version. The signature lavender in the opening has traded a tiny bit of its brightness for a smoother, sexier profile. A touch of bergamot mellows and tempers the lavender, which lasts quite a bit longer in the parfum than it does in the eau de toilette. In the drydown, the woodiness is more subdued than the original while a smooth, sexy amber sneaks up on you. The base is a warm ambered vanilla musk bomb with touches of wood and spice. The base is the biggest difference. The quality is superb here, both in craftsmanship and in materials, and the whole thing comes off a bit more like Jicky than the original - and that's a good thing. Impact manages to present the fragrance from terrific new angles while still remaining ridiculously faithful to the original. Pour un Homme is one of my very most cherished fragrances, and I'm absolutely in love with this version. I can say with confidence that this is an improvement on the original - something I've never said about any flanker of any kind before. Perfect.

Pour Un Homme is, in fact, the intense version of Impact. When Pour Un Homme takes all the lavender aroma (flower, stem, leaf) supported by an amber now and then sweet, Impact alters the same notes with different intensity. Here, the flower of lavender is embellished, then supported by a soft and discrete dry vanilla. It is more refined, modern and subtile. Longevity and projection are identical to its valorous elder. Pour Un Homme est en fait la version intense d'Impact. Là où Pour Un Homme utilise tous les arômes de la lavande (fleur, tige, feuille) supportés par un ambre parfois sucré, Impact reprend les mêmes notes avec des intensités différentes. Ici, c'est la fleur de lavande qui est magnifiée, supportée par une douce et discrète vanille non sucrée. C'est plus raffiné, moderne et subtile. La longueur et la projection sont identiques à son valeureux aîné.