Caresse

I wanted to write a review for this fragrance since a long time ago, but never had the chance. Now is the time to do so. I am crazy for this perfume. Even though I have and worn a lot of perfumes, honestly, Caresse is one of the only fragrances that is totally compatible with my skin. First of all, I must admit that I had never heard of Fragonard before. My first encounter with them was through my fiancé when he introduced me to this house via the internet while planning a trip to Paris last October. I got really excited knowing we were going to visit Paris and its “Perfume Museum”, owned & managed by Fragonard, and further, visit their boutique. I record that when we entered, my eyes felt directly on Billet Doux and Caresse. Due to its carnation note, Billet Doux wasn’t finally my kind of liking. Therefore I tried Caresse. What a surprise and what a beautiful development on my skin it was! Caresse started with a creamy apricot and peach fruits aroma, and then brought a hint of mandarine and, finally, a touch of beautiful blooming flowers. This must be one of the first times that I can actually smell so clearly all the notes of a perfume! Its lasting power on me stays forever and its smell doesn’t bother anyone around me, as I have heavy spraying hands with this one. In fact, I get a lot more of compliments wearing Caresse than wearing Maitresse by Agent Provocateur, another of my favorites. Unfortunately, I have just a few drops left from Caresse and, even though I have got a lot of other perfumes to wear, I am tempted to finish it, but slowly, very slowly, trying to keep it just a little bit longer as it’s my first Fragonard perfume, bringing me as well so many wonderful memories from our October trip to Paris. Usually with my perfumes, I don’t go for a second or third bottle, but with Caresse, it’s a whole new story. I am now addicted and just... Love it. Simple as that!

I hate it when I read the reviews before I make a purchase and get all excited only to find that my perfume is nothing like all the reviewers say. Such is the case with Caresse. Unlike others, I smell nothing creamy about this perfume, it's a fairly strong white floral. Jasmine is the dominant note. There is definitely sweet peach, but the perfume is not especially fruity. I hoped for something like Annick Goutal's Petite Cherie or maybe John Varvatos for women--a perfume that could rival those two in the richness of orchard fruit. For me, the closest comparison to this is Burberry London Special Edition (with the gold leather wrapped around), another white floral with peach in the background.

The original Caresse by Fragonard has been my favorite parfume for a long time - and still is I bought it years ago at Fragonard in Paris along with some others perfumes. A later visit to Paris, I simply had to have a new bottle. I was so sad when I learned it was no longer available at my last visit to Fragonard a few years back. Since my supply of Caresse is almost gone now, I have been searching for information on the perfume, to find a replacement. Now I find it has been re -released I am so pleased, and so will my husband be when he learns :) The original perfume is lovely, and very feminine. Like flora-55 -I hope the new Caresse is similar or very close to the original

Another very pretty, natural smelling scent from the great perfume house of Fragonard. Ok, they are typically French and never create any ground breaking scents but they are all very wearable. That makes very good commercial sense. The apricot is very evident on the opening and then you pick out the white flowers. It is sweet but a very natural sweet probably care of the orange. Not heavy and sickly. A musk base that hangs into the end. A very feminine scent that is probably best suited to casual wear or date night. I feel like I'm Natalie Wood singing 'I feel Pretty' from Westside story. Moderate longevity and sillage.

Peach? At some point in my past, I must have bumped noses with a (quelle-horreur!!) chemical peach note (Chloë?) which Was Not Nice. So I took the plunge and indulged in Caresse, and so pleasantly surprised/happy. Others have said it: sweet, feminine, rich, such an aristocratic peach ("no shouting, mes enfants; it would be so rude"). The peach that identifies with suede. Anyone noticed that the French for peach (pêche) and sin (péché) are functionally homonyms. I think I may know why.