Saturday Evening Post – Christmas 1918 – Illustration by J.C. Leyendecker
It's hard to imagine that there was a time less than 100 years ago when the majority of the U.S. lived in small hamlets and rural areas. Since the country was founded, these smaller and sheltered communities were quiet, unique and comfortable in their containment. The advent of the Industrial Age, railroads and cars starting to open up the country, but it wasn't until World War I, that many of the citizens perceived a day when their young men would travel overseas to fight on battlefields so far away. World War I opened up the world and kick started the growth in the economy and the jazz age era of the 1920s. The country wasn't quite so isolated anymore and the innocence that once existed was tainted by just a bit of real life. The world may have become a bit bigger during those years, but there is one time of the year that always continued to make us want to capture a simpler time reserved for family, friends and a sense of community; Christmas.
Vintage Caron Nuit de Noel Ad
Nuit de Noel (translated Christmas Night) was created by Caron founder Ernest Daltroff in 1922. It is said that Daltroff, who was Jewish, created the fragrance for his partner and beloved Felicie Wanpouille because of her love for Christmas and scented homage to the joy of Christmas peace that came after the great World War. And what a wonderful Christmas present to behold. With notes of ylang-ylang, tincture of rose and jasmine as well as sandalwood and oakmoss, Nuit de Noel is from Christmas past. It opens with a warm and deep, rich creamy floral that feels like it's wrapped up in fur blanket in front of a roaring fire. There's wisp of incense that's tinged with anise. It feels like an exotic and ancient recipe'd cookie just came out of the oven and is cooling in the next room, filling the cozy cabin with delights to come. But there is nothing candied about this quiet Christmas gem, it's a sophisticated, restrained and lightly powdered haunting dream that makes you feel as if everything is right with the world.
"A Flapper Christmas Vogue Illustration 1920s" and Caron Nuit de Noel bottle
To top off this beautiful fragrance, the original perfume was housed in a black opaque Baccarat bottle, with a label inspired by a flapper's headband made of gold and a cap entwined in gold thread. The flacon was presented in a beautifully wrapped green box with a large tassel on the bottom. Like a small, smart hand clutch, the style of the packaging matched the exquisiteness of the fragrance. You can still buy Nuit de Noel in the black bottle with the flapper headband label ( no longer made by Baccarat) and in a signature Caron box. But no worries, the real magic of Christmas lies within the bottle itself.
Christmas Illustration by Leo Fontan For La Vie Parisienne
Wearing Nuit de Noel at Christmastime has become a beloved tradition for me during the holidays. No matter how hectic and crazy the world around me becomes, a few dabs of this eternal beauty can easily transport me back to a simpler time, when friends, family and loved ones once again become the center of the Christmas spirit. Mr. Daltroff's beloved creation has embodied the quiet beauty of Christmas for generations past and many to come.
–Steve Lindquist, Guest Contributor and the Editor of The Scented Hound
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from all of us at ÇaFleureBon
Caron Boutique in New York City: Photos by Michelyn Camen
Thanks to Diane Haska of the Caron NYC Boutique on 715 Lexington Avenue we have a hand poured 5 ml sample of Nuit de Noel for a US reader, to be eligible please leave a comment with how you will spend Christmas and your favorite Caron perfume. Draw closes December 27, 2014
We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume