Carven Pour Homme

While out shopping and doing the lunch thing with a gal pal over the weekend, we ducked into a Saks and did a little sniffing. It just so happens that my gal pal ran into a old friend who was a vendor representation for the organization that owns and/or distributes Hanae Mori, Carven and a few other lines of fragrances. Needless to say, we were give a buttload of a samples, creams and gels so I've been able to sample Carven Pour Homme several times this past week. Surprisingly, I purchased my first Carven fragrances just recently; ordered two bottles of Carven Homme since they are discontinued and being sold dirt-cheap on Amazon. It didn't rise to the level of a Boucheron Jaipur Homme, but I found it to be a very nice cinnamon fragrance. But I digress... Upon the first spray I said aloud, "I've smelled something similar to this one before." My first thought was a combination of Hanae Mori Him (makes sense with the parent company owns both Carven and HM) blended with Bvlgari Man in Black. However, it was a chaotic mall scene and we had dinner and a show to catch so I put it out-of-my-thoughts. Further testing I get a very nice woody-spicy Hanae Mori HiM/Bvlgari Man in Black opening, followed a short while later (minutes) by prominent notes of violet leaf, sandalwood and ambergris with perhaps just a whisper of a suede from the heart through the drydown. Okay, you guessed it...I sense a strong Green Irish Tween familiarity--minus lemon verbena--during two-thirds of the life of this fragrance. By no means am I saying this fragrance is a clone of GIT or any of the aforementioned scents since it is also unique with its own set of characteristics and nuances. However, many of you will get that "This smells like..." or "I've smelled this before..." moment regardless of how brief or how fleeting. Carven Pour Homme is a Spring/Fall scent that is perfect for the office or while dressed semi-formal to formal. Moreover, it lasts 7-8 hours on my skin and projects slightly above average. It's quite nice and I would have purchase a bottle if I didn't already have the previously mentioned fragrances thereby making it somewhat redundant in my fragrance closet.

Such a beautiful fragrance and becoming a favorite of mine !!! This opens up with a very green,crisp,slightly herbal and sweet soapy smell that stays pretty linear but once this dries down it loses some of that sweetness and it becomes more soapy and fresh. Once this dries down it honestly smells like a beautiful mix of Dove (white bar) and Irish Spring if they were a more refined smell. This smell is very easy going,relaxing while also very professional !! (Perfect for work) Performance-this lasts 8-12 hours but after the first hour it has low projection again making this nice for work ! It does leave a nice scent trail and you will get nice whiffs throughout the day but it’s not a monster projector by any means ! Overall rating -8.5 out of 10 !! Beautiful smell with decent performance,good price and it does get some comparisons to GIT but I honestly think this smells like a WAY more refined and better blended Tres Nuit by Armagh

Carven knows what a man should smell like; elegant, masculine and seductive. Out of all the 'Pour Homme'-s out there, this one is my ultimate choice. Carven likes to keep its ingredients simple, but high quality; typically French. Francis Kurkdjian is very meticulous with his ingredients and I'm a big fan of his creations. He's the nose behind all my cherished Jean Paul Gaultier fragrances and also for Carven. 'Carven Pour Homme' opens with a mixture of citrus and spice, it projects very heavy and lasts quite a while before settling into a darker, woodier middle. Sage, violet and cedar are the dominant notes while nutmeg perfectly touches the edges. All that is left after the day's end is a smoky vetiver drydown. It has some similarity to Hugo Boss Bottled Night, but it has a more luxurious and spicier taste. It will always be in my top 5 and will be my pick whenever I'm not sure what to wear.

I remember the L'Eau Intense edition of this fragrance getting all the hype a few years ago while this one was largely ignored. I prefer this. Violet leaf and woody/aromatic notes combine for a great daily wear kind of scent that is fresh while retaining some depth and complexity. I suppose it has a "green" scent profile, but there is enough warmth and spiciness underneath to make it much more nuanced than that. That being said, it comes across as somewhat simple and straightforward, which makes it easy to wear and completely non-offensive. The sillage/projection is perfect work/office fragrance. Carven Homme is in the same utility category for me as Z Zegna, Issey Sport, Lanvin Homme, Ferragamo Acqua Essenziale Colonia, etc: masculine, fresh, semi-sporty, trending toward "generic" all-rounder but having enough personality to satisfy.

This fragrance would be the equivalent of the French word "soigne." Well-mannered, and dressed elegantly. Suave in an affable and nonchalant way. True that this is a more genteel version of Grey Flannel, but I do like it. This also reminds me of Green Irish Tweed from Creed, although I think that one has more Calone and oceanic notes. Opens with the freshness of grapefruit and the minty tinge of violet leaf balanced by some spiciness from nutmeg and sage. Cedar anchors it in a base of sandalwood and the earthiness of vetiver. The violet leaf accord is dominant. You smell it from the start and does not really disappear. Ideal for men that can carry off a dapper or refined look. Very Continental. I cannot really see how someone brusque can pull this off. Smells wonderful! Recommended!

I'm a major nitpicker when it comes to comparisons so take this for what it's worth, but I don't think this fragrance is very similar to Green Irish Tweed. It reminds me of a slightly more masculine take on Mancera's Aoud Violet, with a sharp green note in the beginning and a more woody and herbal drydown (none of the "powdery" vibe of GIT). Violet leaf is a huge player here and being one of my favorite notes, I take to the opening immediately - it's just so natural-smelling and uplifting, truly like a sunny morning in the early days of spring. Definitely suitable for a gentleman but I don't see why a younger guy can't wear this either. It smells of quality and class, and I much prefer it to Carven's L'Eau Intense flanker.

I really don't understand the hate for this wonderfully unique & lovely fresh scent. The opening reminds me of YSL L'homme Libre which i love as well, maybe slightly more green & flowery from the violet leaf but both equally addictive & a far cry from the likes of the more popular new classics such as PR1M, Sauvage, EdC, Eros, Invictus & Aventus. A couple of sprays from this gem rejuvenates & invigorates my day especially during the spring & summer months. Great for a warm night out, after gym/workout or after shower before bedtime. Just simply an all around versatile classy scent. May pass as a unisex frag. Try before you buy though. Moderate longevity about 5-8 hours max. Enjoy!

My wife worked for Neiman Marcus warehouse, and got the aftershave lotion in a Christmas basket a few years ago. When I first smelled it I was put off.She loved it! I was used to typical mass appealing cologne. A few years later and more aware of fragrance art I got a small 1oz bottle on a selling app. People say it is a linear scent, and that might be true but this is my signature scent. Carven Pour Homme is for the Distinguished Gentlemen. Office friendly and dressed up. I do get asked what I’m wearing frequently. Never smelled Green Irish Tweed, but I have heard it is similar.

This is a Wonderful Scent, Fresh , Refined, Floral and Unique. You can't go wrong with it ! I bought it blind-buy after watching on YouTube and reading the positive comments. There are no similarities between this one and Fahrenheit, Calvin Klein Man. Carven has a unique Violet Leaf note that It smells very pleasant. It opens up with fresh spicy, ozonic and floral notes in the background then dry down is floral woody. I really enjoy it and I'm so happy that I have it in my collection, Longevity is good. Highly Recommended. Two Thumbs Up. Bravo Carven ! Rating : 8.5 / 10

Violet, violet, violet all the way! Very likable smell at first sniff! Fits my idea for a great office scent. Elegant violet all the way, with some slight freshness from the woods, but really - it's all about linear unchanging, ever-present violet. After spending a bit more time with this, I find it a bit too linear and maybe a bit too similar to those violet air fresheners. Likable scent, but I don't think that it will impress you or the others around you in any extraordinary way. 5/10

I've never known this perfume before, just happened to bump in in Douglas, so I tested it. Wow! Really really nice! I like it very much :) For me it's creamy, velvety, cosy herbal spicy. Kinda serious but comforting. The model doesn't fit the fragrance at all, it doesn't suit young guys, it's for more mature audience. However, I'm surprised about the low rating of this perfume, so many people seem to dislike it while I find it very good indeed. The bottle looks lame that's true.

I actually quite like this fragrance, I find it to be good day or night, but definitely fits the setting of a late night out. Unlike many, I do not smell the violet leaf at all. I mostly smell sandalwood, cedar, and citrus, but not specifically grapefruit. I also find that the longevity is quite good. I would recommend this to men under 25 that are looking for a fresh fragrance that isn't too strong.

Carven Pour Homme is just beautiful from beginning to end. It's sophisticated and chic. A modern masterpiece blended to perfection.

If you want to smell like a white bar of soap, than you have to get this one. It's nice but not of Wow factor. 6.5/10

Others have commented on the similarity to Green Irish Tweed - not an analog but it is similar and the resemblance is striking, especially at the start, so it must be more than coincidental. If imitation is the highest form of flattery this is at the very least a variation on a theme, if not a Kurkdjian tribute to GIT. More than just the violet leaf - for the first hour they could almost be twins. On second thought, maybe half-siblings GIT was always my least favourite Creed. Used to wear it at work and always kept a couple of 120ml bottles in my desk (one to wear, and another as a last-minute gift) - one of the perks of working for an investment bank in the golden years before the GFC was luxury goods at ridiculous prices - had a cupboard full of designer baubles and rare and expensive fragrances that in hindsight (and poverty) I regret giving away. Carven Pour Homme opens with citrus (apparently grapefruit) and violet leaf, which herald a rich blend of woods and vetiver with a vaguely aromatic, herbaceous aspect that, to me, suggests "green". Longevity isn't as good as I originally thought - maybe it was a false memory but I'm sure the first time I wore this (in the olden days before the pandemic) it lasted forever, but wearing it today, longevity is less than optimal (like many other Kurkdjian creations) and it becomes a barely-detectable skin scent within three hours. It is of course entirely possible that this stuff has monster longevity but I've become suddenly anosmic to it. As I'm in a plague-ridden district, I'm writing this from the solitude of my hermitage as an exercise to preserve what little remains of my sanity during this never ending lockdown, so it's only me and my parrots however I will update if necessary. This is a quality, versatile fragrance unlikely to offend anyone. They won't even detect it unless you jump on them minutes after applying it. Wouldn't recommend a blind buy unless you're a superfan of Green Irish Tweed in search of something similar. The similarity with GIT even extends to the performance as Carven Pour Homme exhibits very Creed-like longevity and silage.

A strange enigma for me this one. It's somehow very classic and also blazing a new trail. I can't quite work it out? The opening is citrus and an aloof violet accord leading you into a herbal heart which apparently is sage?...something I'm quite familiar with and I can't say it's immediately evident just what it is. Herbal is about the best description I can give. The base and main theme of this scent is a creamy sandalwood and clean vetiver with a spicy hint of nutmeg. It's such a well blended concoction that is the best I can do to pick out the notes aided by having the notes in front of me. The flacon is superb and very striking what with the reintroduction of the vetiver in the same style bottle, I really liked that. So all in all not a bad scent, just not for me, I can imagine wearing this would get on my nerves slightly. You might think that is a bold statement considering my review is largely positive. However, this is purely based on a first impression of the aroma, I'm going to have to revisit it but I just have a hunch, anymore than an hour with this scent and I'd be sick of it.

I was surprised to see that people think this smells like Green Irish Tweed. But it's true! Imagine Green Irish Tweed that's less rich, vibrant, and earthy, then add a smooth touch, and there you have it. So, is this an exact clone of GIT? Not at all. But does it have a similar scent? Definitely. It's a nice scent--more office friendly in my opinion than GIT as it's not as sharp (although I love the sharpness of GIT). More versatile as well in terms of all-season appropriateness. Less projection than GIT--not nearly as strong a scent. Overall, a nice quality smelling scent. Projection isn't too strong. I've got to use a couple of sprays on each side of my body to get decent projection. One just doesn't do it. All in all, a very pleasant scent that reminds me of GIT but is more smooth and less sharp. I like this this one.

Highly recommended if you're heavily into the clean, sharp aroma of a dominant violet leaf (if you're not then stay well away!). Classy with decent sillage and good longevity (6 or more hours on my skin). This would clearly make an excellent year-round office/businessman's fragrance with a crisp white or blue shirt and elegantly cut suit. The dry down is woody and softer, and could impress on a date. The flacon is a cool understated piece of urban design, although it's currently somewhat overpriced in the UK at around £50 for 50 ml and £70 for 100 ml. Nevertheless, overall I like CpH a lot...if not quite love it.

It's already said a lot about notes. Would like to add just it's very muscling, uplifting, for any occasion, very wearable during spring and summer.., like most of Creed creations (GIT, Taborome, etc.) I'd like to share my experience with this phragrance as regard to longevity - it becomes more long lasting when 1/5 or so of a bottle has already used; probably, same effect as with wine- it should breath for a while to be fully developed. BTW, I admited that effect with many niche perfumes, perhaps it's because of natural ingredients... just be patient)

To update my previous review, despite using the after shave balm and the edt together, I report that longevity is disappointing - 3 hours at most before fading into oblivion. It's a shame as I really like the smell which is tailor-made for early spring. Thank goodness I bought my bottle as a 50 ml gift set with the balm for £30. Any more expensive and I would feel like I'd been ripped off.