Narcisse Blanc by Caron c1913

Narcisse Blanc by Caron: launched in 1913.  Created by Ernest Daltroff.

Fragrance Composition:

So what does it smell like? It is classified as floral fragrance for women. Classified as a floral fragrance for women, with a predominant orange note reminiscent of Narcisse Noir but less oriental and more floral, this perfume exudes a unique allure. The orange note lends a vibrant and uplifting character to the fragrance, evoking images of sun-kissed blossoms in a serene garden. Unlike the deeper, more complex oriental scents, this floral composition delicately balances the freshness of citrus with the soft, sensual nuances of floral undertones. It captures the essence of a blossoming bouquet, offering a timeless and elegant olfactory experience that resonates with the wearer's feminine grace and sophistication.

• Top notes: cassie, orange, neroli, orange blossom and petitgrain
• Middle notes: jonquil, tuberose, jasmine, rose and lime
• Base notes: vanilla, styrax, almond, vetiver, musk, sandalwood, amber and iris

Bottles:

Narcisse Blanc was housed in the exact same bottle as Narcisse Noir, except that it has an opaque white glass stopper rather than the black. Also, Narcisse Blanc was put up in the frosted colorless glass bottles which look similar to the original Narcisse bottles but have a leaf decoration molded spreading across the top shoulders of the bottle.. 

Narcisse Blanc was housed in the same boxes as Narcisse Noir, the "plain box" which is a square covered in black paper and the "deluxe box" which is the cylinder covered in black satin with the figural paper on the top of the lid.

Narcisse Blanc was also available in Lotion (hair groom), Powder, and Eau de Toilette.

"Le Narcisse de Caron" was released in 1914 in this bottle designed by Julien Viard. It is reminiscent of the far more common bottle for Le Narcisse Noir but with a clear glass stopper and the addition of frosted flower petals on the bottle itself. The bottle stands 2" tall and is roughly 2 3/4" diameter.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fate of the Fragrance:

Discontinued, date unknown. The last newspaper ad I found for it was in 1936.

 

In 2021, Parfums Caron reformulated and relaunched Narcisse Blanc as part of its La Collection Merveilleuse line. It is available as Eau de Parfum concentration: 30ml Spray, 50ml Spray, 100ml Spray, 100ml Refill.

From Parfums Caron:

"Both tomboy and femme fatale, naughty and demure, the Caron woman has a multifaceted character. With each new fragrance, Caron boldly celebrates femininity in all its forms. It’s no surprise that our perfumers have always had a weak spot for orange blossom, whose scent defies categorisation! Orange blossom is the central note in Narcisse Noir, Caron’s legendary 1911 fragrance, where it expresses a sensuality that borders on indecency. Ever the seductress, the note was more innocent in Narcisse Blanc, a perfume released in 1923 that has now been rewritten by our perfumer Jean Jacques. In this all-new fragrance, it captures a highly modern interpretation of today’s woman, who owns up to her complex personality and rejects the shackles of predetermined archetypes. This fragrance belongs to the woman who has made the decision to remain undecided.

DID YOU KNOW? Prised by perfumers and pastry chefs alike for its inimitable fragrance, orange blossom also has therapeutic virtues! It is known to be calming, soothing, and even slightly sedative, making it the ultimate flower for stress relief. What’s not to like ?

Narcisse Blanc is simply enchanting. Its composition of exceptional ingredients simultaneously reveals various facets of the orange blossom, which are both silky and opulent. An eternal inspiration for CARON, it contains one of the most beautiful ingredients of contemporary perfumery – cashmeran.

Fresh, radiant and delicately herbal, the orange blossom creates a striking contrast with this warm woody note with voluptuous amber accents. Constantly oscillating between two extremes of the olfactory spectrum, together they impart a wonderfully ambiguous character to Narcisse Blanc. On one hand, a dazzling cocktail of bergamot, orange and petitgrain. On the other, cashmeran blends with the narcissus and vanilla absolute. Born of opposites, this harmonious formula exerts its magnetic charm in a hauntingly seductive perfume trail.

This White Narcissus is an equivocal and captivating signature fragrance that is endlessly fascinating!"

• Top notes: Italian bergamot essence, sweet orange essence, Tunisian petitgrain essence, Tunisian neroli essence 
• Middle notes: Tunisian orange blossom absolute, narcissus absolute (Aubrac, France), Essential for Life Turkish rose
• Base notes: Cashmeran, Ambroxan, vanilla, moss