120 years of daring
This is a Maison of exceptional, French-made fragrances born out of alchemical alliances, pairings, explorations and breakthroughs. We talk about 120 years of daring. We talk about 120 years of avant-garde that established CARON as a trailblazer. These olfactory works reveal the singularity of the aesthetes who wear them. A manifesto of their personality.
Maison CARON: A story of daring
Founded in 1904 by Perfumer-Founder Ernest Daltroff and the visionary Félicie Wanpouille, CARON is a French Maison of High Perfumery. The meeting of these two minds gave rise to iconic fragrances. In 1919 came Tabac Blond. In 1934 came Pour Un Homme de CARON, the first men’s fragrance.
Since 1904, CARON has pushed the boundaries of High Perfumery with its singular, free, revolutionary spirit. Full of character, Maison CARON has encapsulated a sense of daring throughout the ages. Today, its strong heritage melds with an artistic sensibility reinterpreted.
Pioneering minds
CARON has continually shaped perfume history.
From its creation in 1904, the founding duo positioned the Maison at the forefront of the art. CARON entered uncharted territories of scent, orchestrated encounters between contrasting worlds, flooded the world with charm.
Its visionary feats have since become world-renowned icons: the first perfume for men, Pour Un Homme de CARON; the first leather creation in perfumery, Tabac Blond; the first Maison of High Perfumery to present the refillable fountain format; and the first stackable perfume bottle.
Its sole guiding principle is to stay ahead of the times in order to capture their essence more fully.
Between past and present
By transcribing the CARON heritage into its contemporary creations, the Maison is able to guide and direct the senses. This spirit of continuity touches both minds and lives as the scents of the past converse with the latest creations.
The original essence of Pour Un Homme de CARON—the first fragrance for men, which paved the way for a new approach to perfumery—has been reinterpreted for 2024 with Pour Un Homme Parfum. Narcisse Noir and Lady Caron, meanwhile, grapple with scandal and sensibility. Tabac Blond and Tabac Exquis set a tone of transgression and emancipation. Pois de Senteur and Belle de Niassa speak of flowers whose essence remains illusory, imaginary. Fleurs de Rocaille and Musc Oli tap into synthesis to stay ahead of current tastes.
Indeed, CARON lets past and present visit and influence each other in equal measure.
A pop-up address full of artistry
The pop-up revisits the architecture of the ground floor of the CARON boutique at 23 rue François 1er, Paris. This transformed retail space is an alliance of heritage and modernity with its cut-stone walls that echo the façades of Parisian edifices.
A majestic, reinterpreted fountain reigns at its center, cunningly referencing the Maison’s trademark perfume fountains from the 1980s. The pop-up’s shelves display bottles of original fragrances that sit side by side with a few historical fragments.
This newly designed pop-up presents five major creations, each as recognisable and iconic as the last. Visitors are invited to discover, contemplate and, of course, enjoy these scents to their heart’s content. Past flirts with present in creations such as Pour Un Homme de CARON, Narcisse Noir, Tabac Blond, Pois de Senteur and Fleurs de Rocaille.
An encounter as inspiring as it is creative
At the dinner celebrating the 90th anniversary of Pour Un Homme de CARON, conversations flowed and visions converged. It was in this context that CARON’s Artistic Director, Olivia de Rothschild, met the designer, architect and founder of CROSBY STUDIOS, Harry Nuriev.
Olivia’s daring spirit became acquainted with Harry’s transformative mindset. The two shared a fervent desire to cast a light on the Maison’s heritage and reinterpret the conventional, in-store High Perfumery experience. Their sights were set on a new generation of scent enthusiasts.
