• About
  • Login to comment
    • Facebook
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Now Smell This

a blog about perfume

Menu ▼
  • Perfume Reviews
  • New Perfumes
  • Perfumers
  • Perfume Houses
  • Shop for perfume
  • Resources

Caron Tabac Blond perfume review

Posted by Angela on 15 February 2007 36 Comments

Caron Tabac Blond, vintage ad

A lot has been made of Luca Turin's statement, as quoted by Chandler Burr in The Emperor of Scent, that Caron Tabac Blond is "dykey and angular and dark and totally unpresentable", and that a man who takes a woman wearing Tabac Blond to meet his mother is set for trouble. For sure, if the mother is looking for a gently floral daughter-in-law with a cashmere sweater set and a subscription to Good Housekeeping, she will be disappointed. But Turin's larger discussion is often overlooked, that Tabac Blond embodies the wit and intelligence of chic. Turin ends his rant about the sorry state of chic these days by saying that a savvy mother will admire the style of her son's Tabac Blond-wearing lover.

Ernest Daltroff created Tabac Blond to complement French women who, after World War I, picked up American women's acceptance of smoking in public. It was released in 1919, the same year as Guerlain Mitsouko. Both Tabac Blond and Mitsouko are icons, but while Mitsouko stands revered and beautiful but not always very approachable, Tabac Blond is as easy to wear as a perfectly-cut trench coat. The first time I smelled Tabac Blond was on a cotton ball, and it seemed harsh and almost diesel-like to me. Once I had it on my skin, though, I knew I’d always have a bottle on hand.

The Caron website lists Tabac Blond as "a great emotional perfume" and goes on to describe it as "mild and powerful, coppery overtones combined with a floral heart note…troubling sensuality of a woman in a dinner jacket. A touch of masculine nonchalance." Although I can imagine a man wearing Tabac Blond well, on me the perfume feels luxuriously womanly. It’s top notes are leather, carnation, and linden, with heart notes of iris, vetiver, ylang ylang, and lime-tree leaf. Its base is cedar, patchouli, vanilla, amber, and musk, although a smoky, spicy vanilla is mostly what lingers on my skin.

Tabac Blond's range isn’t huge. I don't get the piquant top notes that many fragrances provide, but instead tobacco leaf, gently supported by spicy florals, starts right off the bat. Then the scent of raw leather appears for a while, and the effect is that of a buttery leather ashtray full of cigarette butts and snickerdoodles, or maybe a leather-vanilla soufflé in a smoky brasserie, if anything like that were ever cooked up. Imagine lipstick-stained wine glasses on marble-topped tables, a smeared golden haze on the mirror over the bar, and worn, red leather banquettes, and you start to get the idea. Tabac Blond has good staying power, and a dab on each wrist and behind the ears will last all day.

Lauren Stover's The Bombshell Manual of Style says "if you must travel light and Tabac Blond suits you, this is the perfume to grab", and I couldn’t agree more. Chic, like students, artists, and clergymen, can go just about anywhere, and on the right woman Tabac Blond is chic as all get-out. If you talk to strangers, would choose a mutt over a purebred dog, drink brown liquor, and prefer stick shift, Tabac Blond might be your Holy Grail.

I've heard that Tabac Blond can be had in Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum, but I’ve only tried it in parfum, and reports are that it's the best form.

Tabac Blond is one of Caron's urn fragrances. For buying information, see the listing for Caron under Perfume Houses.

Included in...

26 Vintage Fragrances Every Perfumista Should Try

Possibly of interest

Caron Belle de Niassa & Musc Oli ~ new fragrances
Caron Tabac Blanc ~ new fragrance
Caron Rose Croquante ~ new fragrance

Filed Under: perfume talk
Tagged With: caron, ernest daltroff

Advertisement


36 Comments

Leave a comment, or read more about commenting at Now Smell This. Here's our privacy policy, and a handy emoticon chart.

  1. Anonymous says:
    15 February 2007 at 12:03 pm

    I don't think TB is “dykey” or angular; it is sultry and well-rounded, without being overly feminine. …and, as you said, it is chic as all get out. 🙂

    Log in to Reply
  2. Anonymous says:
    15 February 2007 at 12:08 pm

    Hi Angela – spot on review. I heard from the SA at Bergdorf Goodman that this was Caron's best seller there. It's my favorite (love mutts and driving stick shift too), but I would have thought their best seller would be something more approachable like Parfum Sacre or Montagne. Then again, most people who seek out Caron probably aren't looking for approachable.

    Log in to Reply
  3. Anonymous says:
    15 February 2007 at 12:13 pm

    I agree 100%! That's why it's so womanly to me–not girlish or even feminine, but womanly.

    Log in to Reply
  4. Anonymous says:
    15 February 2007 at 12:18 pm

    I would have thought Sacre would have been the winner, too. Or maybe Bellodgia, or even En Avion. Well, I guess there are lots of us out there with good taste (and more of us with mutts–my spotted mutt, Tex, is snoozing in the next room).

    Log in to Reply
  5. Anonymous says:
    15 February 2007 at 12:50 pm

    I love tabac blond, and even though my pooch isn't a mutt, he might as well be, and I've only ever driven a stick shift from the first time I bought my own car.

    It is chic, but very approachable.

    Log in to Reply
  6. Anonymous says:
    15 February 2007 at 12:56 pm

    This is one of my must-tries on my trip; I'm ashamed to say I've never tried it. I'm not usually a leather girl (though I make exceptions for Cuir de Russie) and I am neither sultry nor able to drive standard, but the idea of this one appeals to me. That “coppery overtones” makes me drool. Of course, there is my Caron=spores problem, and En Avion, no matter how I try, smells like wet bandaids and nut mix to me, but I have a good feeling about Tabac Blond (especially since it's been reformulated like Bellodgia.)

    Log in to Reply
  7. Anonymous says:
    15 February 2007 at 1:05 pm

    You're a Tabac Blond natural! (Gotta love a dog who isn't a mutt but aspires to be one.)

    Log in to Reply
  8. Anonymous says:
    15 February 2007 at 1:10 pm

    Wet bandaids and nuts! Holy smokes, Caron has been too cruel to you. On me, the leather in Tabac Blond shows up at the front of the scent for only about half of the scent's duration then steps to the back, but is still there. The ashtray part is even shorter. The rest is vanilla-y and spicy, but it is definitely a Caron. Still, you've got to try it! (Driving stick is fun and definitely worth learning, too, if you have a friend with an old car who doesn't mind a little grating on the clutch.)

    Log in to Reply
  9. Anonymous says:
    15 February 2007 at 3:47 pm

    My first perfume to “awaken my senses”. I bought a tiny bottle at the Caron salon in Melbourne during the 80's. This was a gift for my partner and I'd never smelt anything so chic, so foreign, so mysterious.

    ” would you like to watch the perfume being decanted”. The sales girls statement still lingers in my mind. I will never forget this experience.

    Log in to Reply
  10. Anonymous says:
    15 February 2007 at 3:58 pm

    I love how perfume can be so emblematic of luxury and chic (and here of love for a partner). I've never see an urn fragrance being decanted, but I plan on it some day!

    Log in to Reply
  11. Anonymous says:
    15 February 2007 at 4:09 pm

    Aw, what a coincidence, I'm wearing Tabac Blond parfum today. I lvoe this stuff, though the first five minutes or so are a little dicey while it settles in. After that, it's all good. 🙂
    But then I drink brown liquor and prefer a stick shift.
    Oh, and “a leather-vanilla soufflé in a smoky brasserie”? Priceless. It may take me a few minutes to get the coffee off of the laptop, though.

    Log in to Reply
  12. Anonymous says:
    15 February 2007 at 4:32 pm

    Ah, the vintage was dykier. They made it friendlier.

    Log in to Reply
  13. Anonymous says:
    15 February 2007 at 4:43 pm

    Darn it. I'll add it to my list of “find in vintage”. Why don't they quit messing with the classics? I thought Caron might be a little better about that.

    Log in to Reply
  14. Anonymous says:
    15 February 2007 at 4:45 pm

    Hmm. What would be the scent mimicking coffee and computer? Maybe it hasn't been made yet, but it sure has potential.

    Log in to Reply
  15. Anonymous says:
    15 February 2007 at 5:25 pm

    Haha…honestly, “Armani Code” sort of reminds me of computers and coffee ;). Thanks for the great post!

    Log in to Reply
  16. Anonymous says:
    15 February 2007 at 5:35 pm

    The “code” part of the name sounds appropriately computer-ish!

    Log in to Reply
  17. Anonymous says:
    15 February 2007 at 8:03 pm

    I just received a decant of Tabac Blonde from a seller on another blog. Mirabile dictu! This is the same mysterious scent I have been cherishing (only whiffs are left now) in small perfume bottle from a boutique in Indianapolis. I was there for a teacher conference in the 1980's, and came upon a lovely perfume boutique downtown. The owner decanted two Caron scents for me–this one, and a Christmas scent that must have been Nuit de Noel, but I fuzzily think I remember her declaring that this holiday scent was not the usual and therefore may not have been Nuit. Was there another holiday perfume besides Nuit de Noel? Anyway, thanks to you, I now understand the concept of urn perfumes. I could never figure out what was going on there in that shop. This is exactly what she had, and this was a bona fide high end perfume boutique, and not one of the discount houses one finds in stand alone perfumeries now. I am sure the place must be long gone. I am so thrilled to realize that the mystery scent is Tabac Blonde.

    Log in to Reply
  18. Anonymous says:
    15 February 2007 at 8:15 pm

    I'm so glad you found Tabac Blond, but I have to say that I'm pretty surprised to hear that there was a perfume store with Caron urns in Indianapolis. Some perfume stores, though, have bottles of the urn scents that they sell already decanted (decanted at the Caron mother store and shipped to them, I guess). It's marvelous how scent brings with it a whole raft of memories, even if it's a scent from a long time ago.

    Nocturnes is said to be a modern interpretation of Nuit de Noel, and I wonder if this is the scent you remember? I love Nuit de Noel and wear it from Labor Day to Memorial Day, and all the holidays in between.

    Log in to Reply
  19. Anonymous says:
    16 February 2007 at 12:49 pm

    Thank you for the wonderful review! This is one of my very favorite scents (and Mitsouko is another). You capture it beautifully.

    Log in to Reply
  20. Anonymous says:
    16 February 2007 at 2:44 pm

    Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the review.

    Log in to Reply
  21. Anonymous says:
    16 February 2007 at 4:40 pm

    Brilliant review! Was pondering what my afternoon scent should be today, so the timing of reading this was perfect and am now happily inhaling TB. Sadly, although I love mutts, I don't drive a stick shift (I assure you, you wouldn't want to be on the road w/ me driving one), drink brown liquor (may start) and only occasionally speak to strangers. However, I'm hardly the gently floral type w/ a subscription to Good Housekeeping and my excessively sensible MIL views me as tragically eccentric and inappropriate for her precious son. I think she would label me as a TB type and not in the least mean it in a complimentary fashion. And I would happily accept the label. 🙂

    Log in to Reply
  22. Anonymous says:
    16 February 2007 at 5:32 pm

    I definitely think a Tabac Blond-wearing, mutt-loving eccentric would be a great addition to a family, and if I had a son who brought one home, he'd get the green light from me. But my dream family is the one in the movie “You Can't Take it with You”. (Note to self: must rent that movie for the weekend.)

    Log in to Reply
  23. Anonymous says:
    23 July 2008 at 10:22 pm

    My father bought “Tabac Blond” for my mother when they first met. No confusion there.

    Dykey – since when does a perfume fonder gender preference?

    Is there a p.c. list of what is and an't?

    I can just see these little bottles laughing and lurking.

    I guess Mr. Turin would havve gone mad at Versailles in the day.

    Log in to Reply
  24. Anonymous says:
    24 July 2008 at 12:44 am

    Tabac Blond is pretty terrific, no matter what gender or person of what sexual persuasion wears it, that's for sure.

    Log in to Reply
  25. Anonymous says:
    7 August 2008 at 8:08 am

    I've got the same MIL issue, and Tabac Blond sounds great to me. As Habanita is my current fave, I've got to try this!

    Log in to Reply
  26. Anonymous says:
    7 August 2008 at 5:26 pm

    Yes, do try it and let me know how you like it.

    Log in to Reply
  27. Anonymous says:
    31 December 2008 at 10:52 am

    My mother only wares one perfume and is very difficult to please. I forced her to try this, and she liked it. Big, big break through. This is so classic and wearable. And it lasts for ages on the skin. No need to re-apply during the day, I find. Your descriptions of marble topped tables and leather banquettes remind me of an evening in La Palette in Paris, waring Tabac Blond! Perrrrrfect.

    Log in to Reply
  28. Anonymous says:
    31 December 2008 at 12:55 pm

    I would have thought Tabac Blond would please someone more experienced with perfume, but it sounds like your mother was holding out for the best!

    Funny you should mention La Palette. I was just thinking about that place last night…

    Log in to Reply
  29. Anonymous says:
    31 December 2008 at 8:24 pm

    You're right! The only perfume she wears is Mitsouku! So she has good taste. If you can recommend any others she might like, I'll give them a go.

    You've been to La Palette?! We were there for my cousin's birthday, and dined on bread and cheese and cold red wine. It was perfect. St Germain is very classy, and Tabac Blond was the perfect accompaniment.

    I just got back from a cool New Year's Eve Party in London, where the theme was 1920's Berlin, and I, of course, wore Tabac Blond. It's just about of that era!

    Happy New Year to all Now Smell This Perfumistas!

    Log in to Reply
  30. Anonymous says:
    31 December 2008 at 8:31 pm

    Well, you've already had your New Year, and mine is still six and a half hours away!

    I went to La Palette a few times when I was in grad school and spent a term at L'Ecole Nationale d'Administration. It really does feel like the classic Parisian cafe–cranky waiters and all.

    Log in to Reply
  31. Anonymous says:
    27 February 2009 at 10:31 am

    I now have a sample of Cuir Mauresque by Serge Lutens, and I was wondering what you think of it? I find it quite similar to Tabac Blond, because of the strong leathery, diesel notes – but there is a spicier, warmer edge to the smoky dry down. I really, really like it. I may purchase it when I run-out of TB. Then again – i have TB in EdP as Harrods didn't have the parfum. I should really try TB in pure form before making any rash decisions to not replace it in my boudoir………

    Log in to Reply
  32. Anonymous says:
    27 February 2009 at 9:34 pm

    I really like Cuir Mauresque, too, and I will cry giant tears when my decant runs out. I don't see Cuir Mauresque as a substitute for Tabac Blond, though, because of its smoothness and funky opening. But then again, Tabac Blond these days is reported to be a neutered version of what it once was. Vintage Tabac Blond would be fabulous. Without it, maybe Cuir Mauresque is a better choice….what a tough decision!

    Log in to Reply
  33. Anonymous says:
    13 March 2009 at 6:04 am

    OK – there's only one way for me to proceed. I ordered a sample of TB in Parfum, to try it in all its re-formulated glory! I really do want to compare it to the EdP. I know how different Jicky/L'Heure Bleue are in P/Edp/EdT.

    I hear you re: Cuir Mauresque. Sadly, my sample has dried-up too – it may be worth investing in a larger sampler from Perfumed Court, since I couldn't possibly afford the bell jar right now.

    I recently started seriously investing in sample testing, and I find it's the best way to discover if I LOVE a perfume enough to purchase a full bottle. Since I've been sampling, there's been one or two that I REALLY miss when they run dry. And they are not the ones I expected to! eg: Muscs Koublai Kahn and Cuir Mauresque. But, so far I own Ormonde Woman, Tabac Blond and Incense: Kyoto – so I can see a theme emerging when I add MKK and Cuir Mauresque to that list…….

    Log in to Reply
  34. Anonymous says:
    13 March 2009 at 9:55 am

    Great choices! You're definitely tending toward the sultry and skanky, and there's not a thing wrong with that.

    Log in to Reply
  35. annie110951 says:
    4 February 2021 at 12:17 am

    Okay, I’ll go back to that full bottle of vintage Tabac Blond and try harder to love it. I should love it.

    Log in to Reply
    • Angela says:
      4 February 2021 at 10:11 am

      Love is fickle, but it might be worth a second chance!

      Log in to Reply

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Advertisement

Search

Browse by...

Topic

Perfume talk New fragrances
Shopping Books :: News
Body products Home fragrance
Polls Another subject

Date

August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023

Prior months

Author

Robin Jessica
Angela Kevin
Erin Guest Author

Tag

Celebrity perfumes
Cheap thrills
Collector bottles
Perfumista tip series
Video
The complete tag index

Recent reviews

Atelier Cologne Love Osmanthus
Moschino Toy Boy
Arquiste Misfit
Diptyque Eau Capitale
Zoologist Bee
Parfum d’Empire Immortelle Corse
Comme des Garcons Series 10 Clash
Frédéric Malle Rose & Cuir
L’Artisan Parfumeur Le Chant de Camargue
Yves Saint Laurent Grain de Poudre
Régime des Fleurs Chloë Sevigny Little Flower
Chanel 1957
Gallivant Los Angeles
Amouage Portrayal Woman

Blogroll

Bois de Jasmin
Grain de Musc
Perfume Posse
The Non-Blonde
More blogs...

Perfumista lists

100 fragrances every perfumista should try
And 25 more fragrances every perfumista should smell
50 masculine fragrances every perfumista should try
26 vintage fragrances every perfumista should try
25 rose fragrances every perfumista should try
11 Cheap Perfumes Beauty Outsiders Love

Favorite posts

The Great Perfume Reduction Plan
Why I Love Old School Chypres
New to perfume and want to learn more?
How to make fragrance last through the day
Fragrance concentrations: sorting it all out
On reformulations, or why your favorite perfume doesn’t smell like it used to
How to get fragrance samples
Perfume for Life: How Long Will Your Fragrance Collection Last?

Upcoming

List of upcoming Friday projects

23 September ~ swapmeet

3 October ~ damage poll
7 October ~ fall reading poll
21 October ~ splitmeet

Back to Top

Home
About Now Smell This :: Privacy Policy
Perfume Reviews
New Perfumes
General Perfume Articles
The Monday Mail

Glossary of Perfume Terms
Perfume FAQ
Perfume Links
Perfume Books

Noses ~ Perfumers A-E :: F-K :: L-S :: T-Z

Perfume Houses A-B :: C :: D-E :: F-G
H-J :: K-L :: M :: N-O :: P :: Q-R :: S
T :: U-Z

Copyright © 2005-2023 Now Smell This. All rights reserved.