Parfum Sacre

I have the EDP from "the white box"? Don't know that formulation. I also have the EDT splash with the cream-colored cap. When I tested PS EDT via Surrender To Chance, as part of five Caron fragrances I wanted to try, I just wanted to eat it, sleep in it, make love to it. That's how much I instantly desired it. I wished I didn't have to go to work so I could spend the day with Parfum Sacre. It feels warm physically--must be the pepper--warm on my skin. Funny I don't smell a bit of rose, and I love rose: whether it be bright pink and plastickly or morbidly scarlet, like petals on a casket. So poor me. I hardly smell flowers at all, but maybe their notes are overtaken by the stronger resins and spices. What I do smell right away is that pungent balminess, an almost antiseptic note...must be the myrrh. It makes me think of the exorbitantly costly perfumed nard in the alabaster jar that Mary broke so she could annoint the feet of Jesus with it, knowing he was to die. "The poor you will always have with you, you will not always have me," he reminded Judas (who acted like it was a waste because it could have been sold for money to give to the poor, but he just wanted to steal some of the proceeds for himself). The poor perfumes we will always have with us: We will not always have Caron, or Rochas, or Guerlain, whether by reformulation or just attrition of discontinued stock. I'm sorry to compare Parfum Sacre to the unguents and ointments used in ancient burial. I guess that's not very perfumey of me. But Parfum Sacre is in its own league--keeping in mind I only have 50 perfumes, and haven't explored niche yet, so I hardly know everything that's out there. On me it gracefully transitions from that opening ointmenty smell (which don't get me wrong, I actually crave it) to a deep, soft vanilla, spice and musk, the scent equivalent of a lover's husky whisper. I'm dry-skinned, but it lasts and lasts (EDP) as a skin scent. Four hours later in the car, and I realized it was myself that smelled so warm and inviting. What more could I want from a perfume? It makes me think of the sacredness of God incarnate, and the preciousness of human love. Maybe all you'll get out of it is, "Oh, nice vanilla drydown, not too sweet." And that's OK, too.

Thanks for your review Gigi The Fashionista - you moved ME to tears! Since I'm already here... I own a miniature bottle of vintage (early 90s) Parfum Sacre, that I purchased blind. It was my introduction to the house of Caron, and they quickly became one of my "most tested" houses. Now they are one of the houses I can't live without. This should indicate the level of greatness I believe Sacre achieves. Sacre is a grounded perfume, gentle for how deep it is. Like many Caron scents, it's unassuming - its power surprises me. The power of Sacre is not in its longevity or sillage, but in its ability to create a feeling of positivity and peace within. It's extremely evocative and can affect my mood for the better. I had the interesting experience of wearing it to a birthday party in early winter, where it seemed like the bday girl was off her meds and the atmosphere became more strained the more alcohol was consumed. There were plenty of times I wanted to either a) tell her off, or b) leave early. And yet these moments of strain and aggravation felt so fleeting, I couldn't commit to their negativity, when I felt so comforted by a warm cloud of all that has been so right in the world since time immemorial. When I wear Sacre, I feel beyond time. Whether or not the perfume itself is a "timeless classic" is up to you, but I know that I *feel* timeless when I wear it, like I'm in touch with a part of collective consciousness that is so strong it will carry us through anything like the tides, the seasons, and dreams. Here's what is not in this perfume: No powder, no sugar, no big flowers, no leather, no oakmoss. Like Gigi The Fashionista says in her great review, Sacre is different (even different from perfumes that claim to be "different") and more people should want to wear perfumes that are different. She says it's "meaningful", and I agree. I suspect it was composed very carefully but also in a breath of inspiration. I like to think that the nose, Jean-Pierre Bethouart, decided before mixing exactly what notes were going to be in this perfume. He maybe wrote in his notebook, "I'm going to create a scent with these notes: Cloves, frankincense, rose, etc...... This. And nothing more." All the power to him.

My encounter with Sacre, and with Caron, dates back quite a long time. In my early twenties—or perhaps I was still in my teens—I became obsessed with the idea of experiencing this sacred fragrance. I saved up my money and bought a 30ml curved bottle along with Narcisse Noir. But at the time, it felt too classical, too strong—something far beyond my reach. Still, I wanted to use it somehow, so I would spray it into the bathtub and soak in a perfume bath. Looking back, it was a rather luxurious indulgence, but in the rising steam filled with spices, I was able to dream myself into an ancient Middle Eastern spa. Sadly, the bottle I left in the bathroom was mistaken for trash by my father and thrown away. Since then, I had been yearning for that scent ever since. By some stroke of luck, I recently acquired a near-mint Eau de Parfum bottle from 1991 on a flea market site—something from a much older era than the one I owned in the past. With memories from those days in my heart, I sprayed it on—and honestly, I was a little let down. The scent I once found overpowering now felt soft, mellow. Perhaps it was because I only ever inhaled the top notes from the warmth of the bathwater. The scent of my memory was merely the top— pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, and myrrh— a symphony of spices and incense. My scent of memory. But then came the middle, unfamiliar to me—vanilla and florals, perhaps mimosa, emerged strongly. Maybe it’s aging, but the vanilla-like sweetness and powderiness stood out more than I remembered. The dry-down was a soft blend of vanilla, powder, and incense— a scent that carried both transparency and richness, like layers of golden gauze. Now that I’ve actually experienced real Middle Eastern fragrances, I feel that this might not be Middle Eastern at all, but rather how non-Middle Eastern people imagine the Middle East— or perhaps, it’s the scent of a Christian church, not a hammam at all. As a perfume, it differs from the spicy Sacre in my memory, but it is nonetheless a warm, soft, sacred, and beautiful fragrance.

Soft. Sensual. Enveloping. Warm. Comfortable. Spicy. These are just a few adjectives that come to mind when trying to describe Parfume Sacre...and they barely do it justice. Caron is one of my favorite perfume houses, and they rarely disappoint. PS has quickly moved to the top of my Caron "favorites" list. There is just something about the way Caron does spices that is incomparable in my mind. Caron spice notes always manage to give you a bit of a jolt, waking your senses...and then, right as your nose begins to tingle, the fragrance softens and lulls you... PS features notes of cinnamon, cardamom, mace, black pepper, and clove. The spices here are so subtle and so beautifully blended that they never become heavy or overwhelming. The floral heart is soft, feminine, lush. And the base notes...well, they're perfect: smoky, sacred myrrh, a few drops of warm vanilla, and soft, sensual musk. I could swear there is sandalwood in there, as well (though it is not listed as a note). There is a powdered creaminess that calls to mind a more subtle version of Guerlain Samsara. The overall composition is equal parts spicy, floral, musky, sweet, and smokey. Caron is the absolute master of making complex scents seem easy and uncomplicated. This fragrance feels timeless, historical...even transcendent. I can imagine Cleopatra wearing and loving PS (she had quite good taste in perfume, after all) as easily as I can imagine today's modern woman enjoying it. Parfum Sacre is perfect for cozy evenings and romantic dates. It feels too special to be a daytime scent. It's best to save it for something...sacred.

The reviews here inspired me to blind buy this (the new version, EDP with the violet colored label). I am so glad that I did! This is a fascinating, beautiful perfume. I have to say that if at first you aren't sure about this one, please give it a chance. I recently wore it for the fourth time, and that is when the magic hit me. I am so glad that I didn't give up on this. Everyone has done an excellent job in describing it, and I can't really add more except that if it doesn't really "click" for you at first wear it a few more times, and it will grab you. I also applied it less heavily than I had previously (2 sprays, one on the throat/chest area and then a misting walk-through) and it wasn't so over powering and in-the-face, that way. Much more pleasant. I finally got the rose/myrrh/amber/incense/pepper and I am thrilled. It lasts all day and is softly present (if you stand near me you'll smell it, but you don't have to get right next to me) but doesn't overpower. I have received compliments on it. So far I've worn it in cool and cold weather, and now I'm looking forward to trying it in the warmer seasons.