Caron launched Miss Rocaille in 2004. It was created by house nose Richard Fraysse and includes notes of mandarin, orange blossom, basil, jasmine, rose, lilac, lily of the valley, hyacinth, violet, water lily, musk and pistachio.
I really love the top notes of Miss Rocaille: a fresh burst of citrus with a bit of muguet and lots of basil. The basil does give it a slightly masculine touch at the start, but it soon settles into a more feminine floral blend over a trace of nutty pistachio. No single floral note stands out, but I can smell lilac, water lily and a light jasmine.
Caron Miss Rocaille smells young, exuberant, and summery. It is a fun rather than serious perfume, and the traditional dark Caron undercurrent is entirely absent. The lasting power is average for an Eau de Toilette (the only form in which it is available).
I like Miss Rocaille, but despite several tries I have not decided if I love it or if it is full-bottle-worthy. I would love to hear some opinions, so please comment! Parfum1 currently has a 50 ml bottle for the very tempting price of $22.95, and it is available at several other online discounters as well.
Note: image via Images de Parfums.
I'd love to know who 'Miss Rocaille' was /is! Especially as there's also a 'Fleurs de Rocaille', which suggests it's a first name. Thanks for the great description – I don't know much about the Carons.
There is a Fleurs de Rocaille AND a Fleur de Rocaille. One is the original, the other was updated in the 80s, I think. I have never smelled either! The older Carons are wonderful but my favorite is still the relatively new Aimez Moi.
I've only sampled it once and I liked it, but I prefer the darker, older Carons myself. Maybe if I'd come to it without expectations, instead of having a strong conception of what a Caron should be like, I would have been able to embrace it!
Interesting — you are right that it doesn't “feel” like a Caron, but then, neither do the other releases I've tried by Fraysse (l'anarchiste & lady caron). Maybe Caron is going in a new direction?
Today – on a terribly cold and windy day – I happen to wear Miss Rocaille. It's like a burst of fresh flowers, mandarine and green in the midst of winter, just wonderful!
Generally I tend to have problems with fresh fruity-floral scents (either they are too harsh or way sweet or too soapy etc.), but this one is nice: uplifting, refreshing, comforting and easy to wear.
Ack — just realized I haven't smelled it in ages! Need to give this one another try, sounds perfect for the grey rainy day we're having
Robin,
I didn't even realize this existed (I came late to the party, sorry:-) but just spritzed my new sample this morning…I had to come to the review because I'm either losing my mind or they are channeling Vent Vert! (at least at first spritz w/ my particular chemistry). I was immediately transported back to my first spritz of VV, back in the 70s (?) and the more I sniff it, the stronger that correlation is to me. Now, my whole chem is off these days so who knows what it would smell like on another…but I'm getting VV!
Hope you're having a great Monday!
Don't remember it as being that close to VV, but has been awhile since I'm smelled it — and I understand many of the Carons have been reformulated so I need to smell them all again
Hope you're having a great day too!
Hi Robin, just popping in to say that I fell in love with Miss Rocaille the year it came out and have loved it ever since. I'm at the end of my third bottle, a record for me. It has many of my very favorite notes and still the overall effect is greater than the sum of its parts. It makes me happy every time I wear it—which, in the spring and summer, is very often! I wish Caron would come up with another new and exquisite scent, but sense I seem not to get tired of this one, maybe that's just as well. Hope you're enjoying this beautiful May.
L, so nice to see you! Was just admiring your garden on your blog the other day. 3 bottles would be a record for me too, I think — how nice to have something you love so well, and at least vaguely reasonably priced too. Our May, so far, has been cold/wet/rainy more than I like, so am looking forward to June
Hope all is well with you!