Description
Cartier Carat represents a fragrant interpretation of diamonds. Cartier in-house perfumer Mathilde Laurent wanted to make a perfume that would shine equally lively and intense as diamonds do. Carat is described as a flower full of life, an explosion of pleasure and freshness with molecules of joy loaded with crystalline energy.
To accomplish this, the perfume maker decided to imitate an optical phoneme that is characteristic of diamonds: diffraction of color. So she chose seven different fresh flowers that, when combined, formed a new, abstract flower.
The composition represents the colors of rainbow in the form of flowers; violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red are captured with the notes of violet, lily, hyacinth, ylang-ylang, narcissus, honeysuckle and tulips.
Carat de Cartier is available in Eau de Parfum concentration in bottles of 30, 50 and 100 ml.
Carat was launched in 2018.
doppeaffear – :
Cartier fragrances escaped my notice for a long time, probably because I don’t live near high end stores. But a sample of Baiser Vole made me crazy about the creations of the brilliant Mathilde.
My sample of Carat struck me as genteel, pure floral innocence, and a big end note of ART GUM ERASER. And this is not a bad thing because I love those Pla-Doh-y notes that I cannot really figure out the origins of.
Please tell me if I am crazy. I totally get childhood art classes with a new wonderful eraser with that great putty sort of smell. I could never stop sniffing them. My spouse could not pick it up at all when I demanded his opinion, but maybe I am insane.
Many sprays later, I can barely smell it. So I would not spring for a bottle. Is there such a thing as a strong tulip scent?
etv058speagoessenda – :
I tried it yesterday and was excited when I saw the girl promoting it with the tester in her hands. I had her spray my wrist and blotter. I am not happy to say that I am dissapointed. I was expecting a bright fresh scent and I could barely smell this one. The scent is there but very faint and is more like a soft floral than fresh. It is nice though, very safe for sure.
linkas_ – :
I always have a thing for cartier perfumes for the beautiful bottles… they are not fancy, but timelessly classy, elegant. However I tested a couple of them and they all have an old lady feel… maybe my nose doesn’t agree with the woody notes. This newly launch perfumes makes me go to the cartier boutique to have a try.
Unlike duty free or department store, the cartier boutique services is always excellent. I m trying the carat perfume n they make me feel I m trying a carat of diamond ☺️
My judgement maybe affected by the whole environment but I do like this perfume at first sniff. My husband likes it too. It’s a boutique of flowers, wit a hint of sweetness. The right amount of sweetness against the sea of syrup perfumes in recent years. It doesn’t have the old lady feel issue like other cartier perfume. This one is like a young woman in pastel color maxi dress holding a bouquet, romantic n fairy like.
It reminds me of a less fruity n more floral jo malone blue bell. I do agree with other reviewers that it belongs to spring. I still but it right away. Can’t stand missing this beautiful bottle n beautiful scent.
halkegulaJelpdh – :
A ‘thumbs up’ fragrance as long as you don’t give it your full attention.
I’ve liked this all evening while running errands, but now that I’m resting on the couch a more disjointed story is emerging. The feeling I get in my body is wetness, cold and caution. As if I’m walking barefoot on sloped granite while rain pours down. I fear I’ll lose my footing, and that fear comes from not having anything real to sink into. This fragrance is too much “test tube” and not enough “natural”. I’m curious to read more reviews from folks.
spyshik – :
Beautiful bottle. If your into fresh clean florals this is for you. A clean abstract musky floral.I still couldnt help think fancy dish washing soap because of all the laundry musk base and abstract florals….
azot133 – :
SherryBerry: Are you thinking of Vivid by Liz Claiborne? Oh, my goodness, I was obsessed with that scent when I was younger! I never could wear it though because even though it was a fresh, clean, radiant type of fragrance (like Carat), the freesia in it smelled too screechy to my nose. Carat falls in the same fresh, clean, natural, green category, but without the dreaded freesia and I can see myself wearing this when I need to just smell shower-fresh, simple and dewy.
annenaichok – :
For me, it is a gem, a little masterpiece of grace and elegance, a refined scent based on hyacinth and lily.
Awesome as regards both dosage of notes and intimate (as well as sublime) projection.
Magnifique.
Demon2010 – :
Honeysuckle and hyacinth with green fresh notes carry this composition to me into an “almost” green apple territory. I appreciate Cartier fragrances for being a little different to the sea of patchouli/vanilla/grapefruit perfumes around at the moment but I wouldn’t personally wear this one. I prefer Baiser Vole’s gentle lilies. Carat is snappy and bright, monosyllabic. Could see this being a favourite for someone who is very sporty, tennis whites spring to mind.
toitnerne – :
I have an interesting story about this one. I was in Nordstrom yesterday, and finally got to sample Cartier Carat. Well, immediately I knew it reminded me of something I had smelled before, but knew inside that it was a perfume from a while ago. The sales associate sprayed it on my inner arm for me. After a minute or so, I mentioned to the sales associate that it reminded of a lighter version of Liz Claiborne from the 80’s. The sales associate didn’t seem too happy about my revelation. She chimed in that maybe they did smell alike, but the Cartier was of much higher quality. Interesting, huh? Anyway, I did enjoy Carat. I do really like it, because it is very different from current day perfume offerings. What I did notice, is that it had a bit of a retro smell, which is really up my alley.
dentawin – :
I tested Carat and bought a bottle without hesitation!
You have to love floral perfumes to appreciate Carat. I applaud Cartier for going against main stream perfume trends. Carat is not gourmand, has no sweetness or patchouli and is not a ‘girly’ perfume.
I do think Cartier didn’t get the timing right to launch Carat, it’s more suitable for spring imo.
It is a very fresh and airy perfume that makes me feel like I’m in a florists shop!
Sillage is moderate and it lasts a good six hours on my skin but I could still smell it on my t-shirt after 24 hours.
Amunkshawna – :
The opening of Cartier Carat is surprisingly powerful, with a pungent green sappy aroma reminiscent of hyacinth, but not as quite realistically vegetal and somehow shimmering with a metallic sheen of aldehyde, and even mixed with a hit of that cyanide astringency of bitter almond, like an alien plant gilded in silver metal oozing neon green poison.
Carat takes on a more innocent persona with time, when the initial futuristic green aldehyde aspect dissipates to reveal a pristine, dewy, clean abstract musky floral. I’m unable to identify any specific flower in the note list, but the whole effect reminds me mostly of freesia, adorned with tiny sparkles of mineral and aquatic nuances.
The fragrance then remains more or less the same afterwards, only turning more musky and abstract with time until the end. The sillage of Carat is relatively soft, while the longevity is around 8 hours on me.
Although I’m unable to envision all the rainbow colours implied in press release, Carat indeed evokes sparkling diamonds quite well, from the clean, bright, crystalline musky floral to the mineral/metallic accents. The confident, vigorous green aldehydic opening also leaves a strong impression before the perfume falls back to a more familiar, versatile, modern clean musky floral. If you enjoy this type of fragrance in general but would like something with a stronger personality, Carat is worth considering in my opinion.
Undenegoota – :
I like it very much. It reminded me strongly of Elizabeth Arden 5th Avenue though. Therefore it’s less unique than I hoped it would be. After So Pretty de Cartier I am still waiting to find the same uniqueness…
masti – :
I think people who enjoy Chanel 5, or Idylle, or perhaps Carnal Flower, will enjoy this one.
It’s a fresh, bright and dewy, yet abstract floral bouquet. Do note though, that if you’re not very keen on aldehydes you might find this perfume difficult.
I think even if you’re not keen on aldehydes it’s one of those very easy-to-wear elegant florals – by which I mean, even if it troubles your nose up close, it’s still going exude a classy, fresh sillage that will be pleasing to most people.
Sadly Carat does nothing for me, though I do absolutely love Baiser Vole. I think that Baiser Vole is slightly more unusual, it’s softer though equally distinct. I tend to seek perfumes that ‘meld’ with me, or my skin, and Carat doesn’t seem to do that – it’s probably not meant to since diamonds are more sparkly than melty!
The flower I notice most in Carat is hyacinth, if you’re a bit iffy about hyacinth and aldehydes then I wouldn’t recommend a blind buy.
This is a lovely perfume for those who enjoy fresh, aldehydic florals – Mathilde Laurent has definitely created a winning, sparkling floral in Carat.
maiptomo – :
I am jealous of everyone who got to experience Carat as a beauty. Wasn’t the case for me, after driving almost 30 miles to the nearest Neiman Marcus store to test it. And i had some time with it, since sales reps are much more patient than the ones we find at Macys or Dillards.
First off, i am a Cartier Junkie. if you look thru my wardrobe you will see that i own many Cartier fragrances.
Carat, however, has failed to mesmerize me.
The bottle is much prettier in the pictures, than in real life, but it didn’t bother me. Juice,well, it left much to be desired. In the ocean of mainstream concoctions we have been having lately, i can’t say that Carat is really so much different than many perfumes being currently offered.
I found it pretty tame,usual and very very short lasting. By the time i left the store, it was barely there, hanging for dear life.And where it did start as a pretty floral (and almost wowed me), 2 minutes later i got something not very different than all the new perfumes hitting the market-sugar infused potion,low on projection and even lower on longevity.
At this point i refuse to give up. Could have easily been me and my chemistry that day, so i will buy a sample and test it over a course of few days.I still have hope!
byako007 – :
@ravjan
Narcissus is the name of the genus of plants that daffodil belongs to. A daffodil or jonquil note will always be listed as narcissus.
Rantteeta – :
The first five minutes it smells a little strange almost like white wine. But after that it is beautiful and flowery clean. Makes me think of flowers on trees like linden and hawthorn. Actually, I also find it extremely similar to the good old Clarins “super hydratant” body lotion. Classy and natural with good lasting power.
GUF1991 – :
The press dossier from Cartier does not quote lily in the list of ingredients but it does list iris. Also it talks about daffodil rather than narcissus. Love this crystalline abstract flower to bits!
asusgepower – :
A refined and aristocratic fragrance in a bottle which matches it perfectly. It is very romantic, has a spring aura, can be compared with a thin light flowery veil fluttering in the wind.
Liss – :
14. September 2018
Stunning!gorgeous!beautiful!!!
The bottle is amazing and it represents the scent very truly. At first there is a blast of lily and violet but later i smell a more dominant tulip note. Heliotrope is here as well in a very gentle way presented. Its all just so beautifuly blended together im just speechless. Only con for me is a lower sillage than i would want to. Now in seotember its probably not the right time for this fragrance but this would be amazing for spring. Cant wait to get my hands on this beauty. Im getting more and more love for Mathilde Laurent compositions. They are all so perfectly blended. This carat is like a sheer silky veil.
Yes from me!
Release the voting already!!!!
condor – :
Simply gorgeous! They nailed the “prismatic” effect here, it smells effervescent, crystalline and boyant. this is kinda what I had hoped Beyond Paradise smelled like, but didnt. No sugared fluff, no berry or candy gimmicks, just quality and creativity. Bravo.
Lehougguesk – :
This shares the same concept as the new Joy by Dior but in the case of Carat the concept is beautifully done by Mathilde Laurent.
While Joy by Dior smells like an irritating fruity-floral body spray, Carat is a fresh, powdery and beautiful floral composition. Just an hyperrealistic recreation of a spring bouquet. This is how you create a wide-appealing and commercial fragrance, but never boring or banal.
Bravo Cartier!!!
sineencox – :
A very fresh luminous fruity airy scent. Something to feel really good. And young! love at first sniff for me.
DukeMike – :
Blind buy, just because I like to explore Cartier fragrances, 30 ml bottle from Cartier website US.
It’s an airy, delightful, joyful and pleasant floral, for me without any seasonal restrictions.
.
Easy to wear with moderate sillage and longevity. It isn’t a love but a definite like. The notes ( 7 florals) are blended expertly by Mathilde Laurent to create a bright feminine fragrance.
Edit: I’ve been wearing this lovely for 3 days in a row and it’s a huge love for me now. It’s an uplifting fragrance and makes me very happy.
Stasiol – :
I got a sample of Carat from Cartier today. This is lovely.
I like this a lot. I will be getting this in full size.
When I can. I have several Cartier perfumes in my collection.
I like them all. I am usually not disappointed in Cartier
perfumes ever.
ystys – :
This is very airy and not overwhelming at all!!! I LOVE this so much. It’s so feminine and not cloying. It smells so lovely
mrkredo – :
Great name and beautiful bottle. I am very excited for this launch. I love when perfume houses make brand new perfumes and not just flankers. Cartier makes beautiful perfumes and I know this one will be a must have for me:)
rerotheocky – :
This is a very bright fresh floral parfum got handed a couple of samples the other day at the Mall…they didn’t have the bottle.. but very nice job Cartier
faza-1 – :
I love all floral notes very much!