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Andryhha – :
Recently purchased this along with Signature from S.T. Dupont and D&G pour homme made in Italy version by a chance encounter in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately for me, this and the S.T. Dupont fragrance have a strong similarity to Gucci Envy (which I already owned), as per my nose.
Got on the hype train and quick-bought them without giving them a proper wearing, hence missing out on some other vintage perfumes that I could have picked up there.
cloudis – :
WARNING! This idem is pretty much out of stock everywhere. Do not try to purchase this at above suggested sites like Fragrancex.com. I ordered it from them and got it today. They sent me Carven “Pour” Homme, not Carven Homme, It’s completely different. I really wanted this so much! But it’s going to be extremely hard to find. And I don’t trust eBay!
KAA0311 – :
I love love love this scent. Gorgeous!!! Compliments the first time I wore it.
zizu – :
Sad, but true—Carven Homme must be one of the least known, highest-rated men’s fragrances on Fragrantica! Its “perfume rating” (noted above) indicates that it likely sits in the top 5% or better of all men’s fragrances ever rated; while its similarly noted versatility solidly approaches 4-seasons, and can be worn day or evening. And who “dislikes” it? (noted above) Practically no one!
How in the world can a men’s cologne with all of these sought after qualities, composed of so many modern-day “favorite” notes not gain notoriety?? I just don’t get it! I’ve worn and LOVED Carven Homme for years and no fragrance baffles me more in this regard.
So guys, you are missing out on a “hidden gem” of a masculine fragrance if you don’t get this one. And one thing is fairly certain if you do…. you and your amazing scent will be unique, as very few will recognize it!!
Thanks to @theaveragecologneguy, @Guest_ColinMaillard and @ericrico (below) for solid perspectives on this “must have” cologne.
Flin2007 – :
Amazing deep scent! Like possible Gucci Envy Night edit or Gucci Envy Intense. Mysterious, luxurious and attractive. Very gradual opening and vanilla leather in the base with a drop of intoxicating earthy patchouli. Brilliant complex perfume!
5 stars!
Jagan – :
Just blind bought this because of all the overwhelmingly good reviews. Now let me start by saying straight up, this is NOT a timeless classic. Yes it smells good, if you lived in the 90’s. It is musky, woody, and spicy. If you wear this today you will smell like a nice smelling grandpa. That is the first thing my wife said to me when I put this on, “Whoa you smell like a grandpa, is that aftershave or cologne?” And i thiught the same thing.
I am 34 years old and I am too young for this fragrance. IMO a “timeless classic” doesn’t make you smell like a grandpa.
Now, in Carven’s defense, the dry down is much better than the opening, but you have to wait a good hour and a half before the strong pungent sharp opening finally subsides into the more calm, smooth heart notes. And by then it is just a skin scent sooooo, what’s the point?
It is very versatile and could be worn pretty much anywhere, anytime.
Now to be fair, it really didn’t smell bad. In fact, for the most part it smells good. However I can’t help but wonder if the reason it had such good reviews is because it reminds them of Guilty Gucci, which I gave never smelled.
Would I by this again? No, especially for the increased price it is at now days because of being discontinued. Good riddance.
This is too dated for a guy like me (34 years old) but at least it will add some variety to my fragrance arsenal…I guess.
cjkywt777 – :
This is a great smelling old school style scent for a decent price. Its a no nonsense scent right from the start, a deep sandalwood and cinnamon opening which slightly reminds me of Chanel Egoiste is the intro, the script then changes as the lavender joins the party creating a warm spicy floral vibe. Finally there is a sweetness evolving in the composition from the vanilla and amber which sits alongside the warm woods and spice beautifully
Perfect Winter formal scent with great longevity and moderate sillage which suits the scents demeanour. Top quality stuff for the price tag.
If you like your scents with a little old school class give this a try
8/10
adidas8887 – :
I bought this one because of all the love given to it here and on YouTube, but, honestly, don’t get it. After wearing it for a while, I don’t necessarily dislike it, but can’t say that I love it either. Have to agree with those who find it a bit harsh. Then again, I am not a fan of Spicebomb and Black Orchid either – two fragrances I feel have similarities with Carven Homme. If you love those two, you’ll probably love this one.
NeisseHissisp – :
First wear of the fall season and I love it as much as ever. It’s a very classy scent, and versatile enough to wear on most occasions, preferably a fall/winter scent. Ideal for the formal and semi-formal events, office, nights out with the lady, or just an evening at home relaxing. It’s not really a casual scent because it’s a little heavy and best with sport coat and/or nice button down shirt. I’m not good at detecting different notes but I do get vanilla, cinnamon, cedar and definitely sandalwood. It’s a masculine fragrance but not over the top alpha male. Have not met anyone that did not like it. Carven Homme is one of the best values out there smells much more expensive that it costs. It’s discontinued and I considered buying up a back up bottle but decided to just use more sparingly about once per month during the autumn season, which to me, is more enjoyable.
szk189Unlogrere – :
the first hour is alright and vanilla rules pretty much but then sandal wood pops out and saves the day.i do not like vanilla because it reigns over my olfactory senses. it doesnt matter how hard i try to look for cinnamon or nutmeg i just smell vanilla.if it were not for sandal wood i would not like this cologne.something keeps this cologne from seeming to heavy and stuffy,has to be lavender i think.good thing this is a skin scent.i like it cause it smells like a good shaving cream.darn bergamot is gorgeous but is gone within seconds!
Envishess – :
Carven Homme is discontinued and I want to tell you not to buy this and how terrible it is so that I can have what remains for myself. Gucci Envy may be better but not by much. This juice is simply awesome. A wise man would have a couple of bottles of this in reserve.
zyevsanya – :
Late to the party on this one! Carven Homme is worthy of all the hype it receives. This scent starts off strong and could easily put you off. The opening is a jab to the nose of sandalwood cinnamon and nutmeg. The opening lasts a while… a long while. But as this scent unfolds Carven Homme reveals its’ true character. This sweet trio of rosewood, cedar and lavender usher in the mid notes and the effect is gorgeous. The spice harmonizes with the woody notes and create a clear woody spicy progression. The arrival of the vanilla note is one of the best in the business! (SWEET RELIEF!) The vanilla leads a charge of patchouli and tobacco to further solidify the spiciness of this scent. Carven Homme is a journey all the way to its’ dry down and once you arrive at the base you are truly rewarded. There is an earthy, leathery base composed of amber, vetiver and some florals and the effect is very masculine, a bit on the barbershop vibe, but very spicy! I get pretty good longevity on my skin at least 8 hours but, the projection isn’t spectacular (think a few extra sprays and spraying on to clothes).This scent’s value and versatility are bar none! One could wear this to work or for just a day out on the town. Carven Homme is one of those rare gems; a cheapie that performs like a designer. This is one of those you must not sleep on, because this I believe is discontinued. Full bottle worthy!
gopodok – :
Not my cup of tea to be honest. It smells to sharp and dry to my nose. It has a nice nostalgic quality though.
starttrackerplus – :
Impressive! I have sampled this frag off and on for almost year now…Thats it. I love it, i wanted to find an issue, but never there, ….I couldn’t believe the sillage, longevity poor(3-4 hour) BUT the complexity got me thinking about it every time, complicated like Egoiste. That alone is worth digging into…and the price?…i hope you are sitting down looking at your shelf/s right now… under $30 USD. Why are you just sitting there reading about this?.. AS YOU would expect, lasts, 3-4 hours? So close but yet so far! A 7 hour version would simply be the ultimate. thank you my fellow reviewers for your perspectives too, wow.
hentaiflash3d – :
So let’s talk about Carven homme.
First, this juice gets an incredible amount of love from the community, and for good reason. It’s complex, it’s unique and let’s face it – for this price, it’s a steal. Right? Well…I’m not so sure.
I’ll say this – personally, I’m a huge fan of scents from the 90s – D&G PH, Tommy, Boss No.6, Swiss Army, CK One, you know, the standards. But Carven homme is quite honestly in a league of its’ own.
Nevertheless, after much debate, I blind bought this one to see what the fuss was about. And man, let me tell you – from the first spray, I was like, “Ohhhh WOW! That’s HARSH! HOW is there no incense in this???” Talk about being rough around the edges! This LITERALLY smells like my dad’s old-spice-infused leather jacket is on fire. No kidding.
And I don’t know if it’s just me, but there’s this gritty, scraping, grinding, burning quality to it that will surely turn some people’s noses. But hey, I guess to the rugged boys out there (like me), this smells how a man should smell – like stuffing a wooden chest into some old guy’s Buick.
Luckily, that harshness fades in the dry-down and the fragrance becomes more of a barbershop-type sweet, resinous sandalwood incense. At least that’s what I get. None of the websites seem to agree on the notes…
So how do you know if you can pull off Carven homme? Well, is your name Gary, Bruce or Howard? Do you own a salt-and-pepper wool coat or a heavily-worn leather jacket? Are you an outdoorsman? Do you enjoy burning things? Facial hair?
As for me, I paid about $20 for this, and that’s honestly what I think it’s worth. It’s just too harsh. Performance and longevity are also below average. But since there is NOTHING in my collection that does what this does, I’m DEFINITELY keeping it.
Scent – 8/10
Longevity – 5/10
Sillage – 7/10
Overall – 8/10 – thanks to a 10/10 for uniqueness
Update: Man-o-man have I changed my mind about this juice. Don’t be mistaken – it’s still quite harsh up close, but that sandalwood spice has CHARACTER son. Gucci SHOULD be envious. Anyway, the new numbers are more reflective of my current opinion. And what – for $20? – blind buy the HELL out of this sucker. Love that sillage…
Silca – :
This is so smooth and creamy. It is very comfortable to wear and easy to like. It is a mature scent and a bit old-school. Reminds me somewhat of the combination of my dad’s shaving cream and his Old Spice aftershave. Also reminds me a bit of the Chanel Allure that I used to wear when it was newly released, long before I became interested in fragrances. I suppose it makes sense, as Carven Homme and Chanel Allure were contemporaries. Sillage is moderate. Longevity, like everything else about this scent, is truly impressive for anything at this price point.
PRESTIGE – :
I got it just because the reviews comparing it with Gucci Envy that I barely remember how it did smell… since I just sample it a couple times, but this one I am wearing today for the 1st time, and I am not bought by it yet, I don’t think Gucci envy smelled close to it, but if it did it had more presence than this one, and I won’t compare it at all with Mauboussin Homme that one I have and I like much more, I think they are not alike.
тоха73 – :
Not ready to fully review this one yet, but I am liking it thus far as a strongly masculine fragrance. The raw and natural sandalwood sticks out in a way that reminds me of Bentley Intense. It’s a powerhouse, but I haven’t decided whether or not it’s powerful to the point of being obnoxious. The thing I wanted to mention right off the bat is that I think this fragrance is a good candidate for layering, which is not something I’ve explored too much. The strong woods and spices could add an amazing touch to overtly sweet fragrances. I might try putting a small spritz of this on top of Pure Malt.
BOB445566 – :
bought this trying to substitute for Gucci Envy… it doesn’t really smell like GE. It has a similar top but not the great nutmeg middle. Anyway I discovered that I like this frag on its own merit. Smells kind of weird at first, in fact I suggest that you never smell it too close up… BUT from a little distance it has a really nice masculine smell. It smells like an executive scent… not a wow type effect but definitely a reassuring scent. I kind of like smelling it in the bottle more than spraying it on me lol. Still not bad, I will buy another when it runs out. For the price it’s pretty good.
pendulum of life – :
Carven Homme is such an interesting scent. In a strange way, smelling this so far into my fragrance journey was perfect. I get cherry-picked elements of other fragrances galore, that somehow come together to make what is ultimately an absolutely fantastic blend. It’s not just one note some of these fragrances share with Carven Homme either, to my novice nose, what smells so similar are combinations and accords stacked on top of one another, that slowly float into each other.
Right at the top, a ginger-esque note, actually a brilliant combination of juniper and bergamot, highly reminiscent of that from Gucci Envy and M Generation, shines bright.
It’s quickly backed up by Virginia cedar and nutmeg that smells eerily similar to Straight to Heaven.
As those two components begin to settle, doughy, creamy lavender, cinnamon and coriander amplify. I’m surprised to see nary a mention of this similarity, but it smells very close to Tauer’s L’Air du Desert Marocain at this point.
Finally, everything settles into a warm, but certainly not overtly sweet, vanilla and rich sandalwood.
For those not keeping track, take the most interesting elements of Gucci Envy, Straight to Heaven and L’Air du Desert Marocain, blend it with a warm, rich vanilla and sandalwood base, and you have Carven Homme.
kub15 – :
Carven is definitely an underrated house when it comes to frags. Le Vetiver is excellent and even their most recent vetiver is a nice, fresh, albeit short lived juice.
My first impressions with Carven Homme (1999 edition) is a blast of sandalwood and a really medicinal note of patchouli, along with some strong alcohol, which reveals its price, I guess. It gives the initial impression that it will be a very light fragrance BUT… its a light fragrance with decent projection. Carven Homme reminded me of Givenchy’s Organza, obviously without the opulence of Givenchy’s, but it has that same vibe. Truly wonderful. I detect some light cedar here and there, along with a backdrop of vanilla and amber. This is a juice that, much like Ambre des Marveilles, gives you a “scent scarf” to wear around you, as it projection and sillage is light. I never tried Gucci Envy on its heyday, so I really could not tell how close they relate to each other. But for the price, this is an excellent sandalwood option.
Smell great, my friends.
Sharley56 – :
I brought this on eBay for about $18. It smells great but it is a skin scent on me after about 15-20 minutes. A nice masculine scent but little projection means I probably won’t reach for it much…
cokensuek – :
This smells very sweet and very vanilla when first applied. It seems like more of a women’s cologne. Also smelled just like a home fragrance plug-in my wife had. After a few hours the smell was just nondescript strong sweet, like when you walk into the Perfumeria and all the smells are mixed together.
I bought it based on reviews but it didn’t work out for me this time.
Allis – :
The land grows still – each moment that passes quells the ringing in your ears. Today, many giants were felled by the ferocity of your shimmering swing. A fog rolls in and a soft rain falls as if to reward your endless toiling – a speck amongst the towering trees. The rain reawakens the resting giants – the crushed herbs and grass are swept up with the rich woodscent. You inhale deeply – cedar and sandalwood with the slightest hint of lemons and juniper berries greet you zestfully. Your nutmeg and cinnamon like musk mingles playfully with your surroundings – you crack a sly smile knowing that this is the stench of victory! You carefully dismember your prize and revel in the multi-faceted wonders that spill from each split. As the day draws to a close, you decide to lay for a moment – as your head touches the earth, you are enveloped in a pervasive cloud of amber, labdanum and a fiery tobacco…they sing you off to sleep. You belong to the world of dreams now…their richly opulent lullabies weave through your consciousness – their sweet song claims all rational thought as you are lost in their ambered waves. May we all find lasting comfort where we lay our heads.
Day 60 – Swinging
Listening to: Florence + The Machine – Long & Lost
Notes: I was shocked by the quality of this fume given its ridiculously own cost – the recent reviews aren’t leading you on, go buy it before it vanishes forever! The scent itself is a gorgeous powder woodscent – the best of cinnamon and sandalwood (aromachemicals, of course)! The opening is reminiscent of old school fougeres – dated citrus and dry herbs…it lasts only a minute though. The heart warms up the fume considerably with a powdered cinnamon, gently warming nutmeg, and very boozy woods. This is a dandy lumberjack of sorts. The base adds a hefty dose of amber and labdanum with just the slightest hint of woody patchouli and tobacco doused in a white musk. Usually makes an exit right around the 8 hour mark – would love to see what happens on a woman’s skin!
eem757speagoessenda – :
Damn. Really don’t know what else to say.
Do yourself a favor and buy it as long as it’s out there.
odm592Diobtetty – :
I don’t want to even give feedback. It has been discontinued and it is SUPER cheap. Yes, it smells like Gucci Envy, which I had and loved.
Why I get this yesterday, and this is performing better with more spice to it?
Get you a bottle and stop playing. DONE.
9/10
Chin65 – :
I first wore this when I lived in London in 2000. I’ve recently ordered a new bottle and it is the same smell I remember. This also smells similar to Azzaro Visit without the screechy notes or incense. Where this one hits the master stroke is the blending and the addition of vanilla. In the end for me the cinnamon and vanilla make this one much more enjoyable than Visit and put it up there with the best of the late 90’s cheapos. Only issue it is still only lasts a short while and requires heavy over spraying on my skin to get any projection at all. For the price I can over spray until I get my fill. A scent for all seasons but go lightly in the heat.
shalko66 – :
Carven Homme Review:
Right of the bat I’ll tell you that this is currently my favorite fragrance. It’s now discontinued, but it is readily available on several sites for great prices. I highly suggest you track it down before it disappears from the market forever. Now on to the scent…
This fragrance starts of with a gorgeous combination of lavender and juniper berries. While it is very floral, it’s a floral smell that immediately establishes itself as very masculine. It’s a strong opening that leaves you with the impression that this will be a smell that you won’t soon forget. Soon the fragrance softens up a little. This leads into it’s spicy mid which is ruled by a beautiful cinnamon note. Sitting behind this note are beautiful woods and a hint of nutmeg. The fragrance is rounded off with a creamy vanilla note that holds this masterpiece composition together. It’s a very warm, woody, and spicy scent.
A lot of people look at this fragrance as a great alternative to the classic Gucci Envy. They are after all both labeled as woody/spicy fragrances with lavender and vanilla. Envy now goes for ludicrous prices on ebay and it’s quantities are getting more scarce by the day. While I do think the two fragrances have their similarities, they are also quite different in a lot of aspects. In my opinion, this is a much more complex and deeper smelling fragrance. It achieves it’s spiciness with a cinnamon note, while Envy relies heavily on a ginger note. This also lacks the incense note which is so dominant in the dry down of Envy. Both are excellent choices but if I had to choice only one, it would easily be Carven Homme.
Best Age Group- 25+
Best Season(s)- Fall/Spring
Occassions- Casual, Formal, Work, Dates
Projection/Sillage- Moderate
Longevity- 9 Hours
Smell- 10/10
Overall- 10/10
I’ll also make a note that I think the fragrance Floris Santal is actually a closer smell to Envy; therefore it might be a better option for some of you. I would certainly sample it first though if possible.
YouTube Channel: theaveragecologneguy
nikolaperm – :
More often than not, if a scent is from the 90s (or early 2000s) and discontinued, chances are it was a gem.
Carven Homme is very much a classy woody masculine with some spices. It’s not the most original. It takes inspiration from Egoiste and Gucci Envy for Men. However, it is unique enough to stand out in such distinguished company, and good enough to hold its own.
The brilliance of Carven Homme is in the incredibly smooth blending. The backbone is formed by a cedar-sandalwood accord, while cinnamon, lavender, vanilla and nutmeg add flesh and nuanced beauty to the composition. The blending is sheer ingenuity. The elments are so finely interwoven that they create a marvellous aura, yet they are masterfully accented so that rather than being blurry the effect is multi-layered.
The craftsmanship is also highlighted by the way Carven Homme wears on skin. It is rich, deep, with adequate sillage initially, but always gentlemanly. It becomes a bit muted after a couple of hours but has excellent longevity and can easily be worn for a day. All in all, an excellent eau de toilette by construction.
Carven Homme harkens back to the days where men had more limited choices in orientals. But such choices were often refined, articulate, intelligent, immaculately classy, and yet highly approachable, worldly-wise, and still having that comforting sense of everydayness.
That’s exactly what Carven Homme is.
4/5
MoLLIeHHuK – :
great frag for less money buy it if you find it.
rasul – :
I just bought a bottle of this. I believe I got a fake. This smells very powdery . And I mean seriously powdery.
SuperS – :
Much like the previous reviewers have stated, this juice smells nearly identical to the discontinued Gucci Envy which has become a sought after gem within the fragrance community. The fragrance has woody, warm spicy, and fresh spicy accords. Cinnamon, tobacco, and woods come to my nose in the opening. It has a strong and masculine, yet not overpowering presence. This juice easily lasts eight hours on my skin and way longer on clothes. I recommend this as a versatile scent for mature men. It is a throwback to when men’s fragrances were completely masculine and had a gentleman-like quality to them. If you are wanting to get your hands on Gucci Envy but don’t have the chips for It or you are a mature gentleman looking for a signature scent then you should look no further than this under the radar gem.
IzSerg – :
Reminds me of Gucci Envy and Chanel Egoiste.
If this was in a different bottle produced by let’s say D&G with a huge price tag,then this would have been a tremenduos hit amongst 25+ category.
It’s around 15 bucks,so if you love Envy,buy it.
fergeson.dima – :
smells a little outdated and very cinnamon heavy, and very spicy , not bad but over hyped to the extreme here , 30+
Jamshud – :
This is a fragrance that is compared to Gucci envy. I haven’t smelled gucci envy in quite some time, but it does seem to have a similar vibe at least judging from memory. The price of this fragrance is definitely worth the purchase. To me, this is a cleaner and more “barbershopy” version of gucci envy. You get the ginger and spices but it remains creamy and soft because of its base. Think of ginger that is boiled in a cup to create a more warm and smooth type ginger.. Than take that ginger and drop it in a dish of shaving foam and add a dash of cinnamon.
The quality of this juice is great despite the price and ultra cheap packaging. It might have a slight bit of a synthetic quality about it, but its minimal. The scent is just nice.. but I believe it does have a little of a mature vibe to it. Barbershop fragrances tend to lean more towards the mature side in my eyes. The performance is pretty decent as well. Expect at least average longevity and projection. One tip. Try using this right after a hot shower. It really brings out the spices and depth of the fragrance for some reason.
Verefracy – :
A great fragrance, I agree with those who compares this with Musc Ravageur. It’s dry down is very similar/ almost identical to
Méharées by L’Erbolario
zxcrukkSAZm – :
A beautiful blend of woods and spices to create a less spicy, slightly powdery Jaipur Homme-type fragrance that can be found at a great price (currently $12 at amazon). Was a great blind buy for me based on some awesome reviews on this site. Although the nature of the fragrance is soft and comforting, it is not lacking in performance.
zxzx.84 – :
This was a partialy successful blind buy. I dont like the sweet modern designer frags. Carven PH is old school dry spicy frag. Some have mentioned that it reminds them of other frags. When I first sniffed the lavender and citrus accord opening, my first thought was this is like Caron Le 3 man. After the very brief opening it quickly became more cinomony spicy, like Boucherone Jaipur. I am hopping this cinomon dosn’t become cloying, as Jaipur was for me.
Fragrance critic said it is a male Shalimar by Guerlain. Some have said Habit Rouge is like the Shalimar for men. It is the prevalent sandalwood note in both that makes them similar I guess. Habit Rouge dosnt have nearly as much cinomon as this, maybe its a new reformulation, as this has gotten a lot of positive reviews. My review is not thumbs up or down, but just so so.
I was hopefull after the nice opening, but now it has become a cinnamon spice bomb like Boucheron Jaipur. Im sad to say this will not be a keeper. It is a good classic smelling spicy frag, but to spicy and not much woods for me. Better than Jaipur though.
Rating: 6/10
pant.04741 – :
Hello all. Does anyone know when this was reformulated and what a vintage bottle looks like? Also, when was it discontinued? Thanks!
Танюшка – :
A great and under-appreciated woody spicy oriental fragrance that is smooth and very wearable. It has similar DNA to Gucci Envy, but with a more refined and not in your face attitude. I really love how the mildly sweet tobacco effortlessly weaves it’s way through all the beautiful notes making this a classy and refined masculine. A fantastic masculine fragrance with a fantastic price. Do yourself a favor and buy this ASAP, before the world finds out how special this fragrance really is.
perevaryha_dima – :
I want to thank Ericrico for the review on this one. This is a gorgeous fragrance. What I get on the skin is a pretty much the note breakdown above combined :o)
The notes my nose picks up are: Labdandum and Vanilla (a glazed sweetness) that combines with the cinnamon, lavender and patchouli. It is spicy, semi-woody, sweet with a lavender floral accord.
The funny thing is at one point in the duration of the fragrance it reminds me of other fragrances. Sort of Musc Ravageur, sort of Michale Kors, sort of Chanel Allure sort of… you get the point. It is really a complex fragrance that seems simultaneously familiar.
I would rate this 4 out of 5. It really is timeless and I think would appeal to a wide range of men. I think the sweetness gives it a sexy youthfulness while the spicy woody lavender gives it a mature vibe. It is really a fragrance that a young adult son and older father could enjoy equally for different reasons.
This is a really great value frag and the performance is good on both duration and projection.
deuslin – :
Had Guerlain ever released a Shalimar for men, this would have been it.
alexdrazden – :
I am a woman and I love to wear this one! Maybe the reason is that I own a vintage tester (with graduated shoulders, some kind of ridge; I haven’t seen another bottle of Homme like that) and all the harsh, “masculine” notes are long gone…
Anyway, Homme starts on me like a mildest gin-tonic (juniper) is spilled to the old, tobacco smelling leather jacket that has been kept in a closet freshened by a sachet of lavender. All those notes are soft and mingle pleasantly.
Soon lavender and juniper vanish and cinnamon and nutmeg appear giving some spiciness to the concoction – but mind you, everything is still lightweight.
And it only gets better. In one point musk of a high quality joins in. The result is beautiful.
Longevity of this perfume is very good. After 6-7 hours it still can be detected (though it has lighten quite a bit).
The old formula of Homme is definitely unisex. Women who like sensual, soft tobacco and leather notes would love this if they only knew. Homme is a well kept secret of mine! Nobody could ever guess that this seductive, amber-y, warm and inviting scent is actually meant for men. And I don’t care…
vladimir.goobin – :
Great reviews here – I came to know of this discontinued gem a short while ago from fellow reviewers online. I got lucky, found it and got a decent number of bottles. This is simply great juice!
The comparison to Gucci Envy is there, but I find it more different than alike. While some notes are shared, Carven Homme is a true Woody Spicy composition with very nice sandalwood & cedar on the base intermixed with great baking spices – cinnamon, nutmeg and coriander. The amber and labdanum create warmth along with a pinch of pipe tobacco that accentuates the spices – giving it a nice kick. Patchouli offers a nice added earthiness and bit of bite to the smooth wood. The lavender in this enters a bit sharp in the top with the bergamot along with a nice juniper berry note, but smooths out into the heart with the rosewood and then the spices enter. Sensational. This never gets dull!
The slight commonality with Gucci Envy lies in the top & middle notes for me (if I really try to find the connection) – mainly with the spiciness and wood notes in the heart (but they are very different compositions) – however they share cedar, coriander and a touch of vetiver each (ironically, both clean vetivers). Common notes in the top are a nice smooth lavender with rosewood (a great opening note that give you a woody feel from the top) and a light note of ginger. Carven Homme is less bright as Gucci Envy has a rather sharp ginger accord on top (as some find ‘mentholated’ – but if you have ever smelled fresh-cut ginger, you know that is not menthol at work) – that is not at all present here in Carven Homme. The citrus is fresh and well-done, but not overpowering in either.
While Carven Homme turns to a nice warm woody base with amber and tobacco, Gucci Envy for Men goes to the infamous incense and patchouli that hints at amber and a smooth note of vanilla that distinguish it as an Oriental Woody (more of an Oriental Woody/Aromatic to me, if such a thing exists!)
There is a reason that the reviews for this are so good. It is a great quality fragrance, has fantastic warmth on the skin and could be worn either casual or formal (or as an office scent). It radiates nicely from the body and a couple shots to clothing upon application and the first 2-3 hours…but becomes a very smooth wood and spicy skin scent that last for over 6 hours, even in cold weather out