Carat by Cartier

Carat by the famed jewelry designer, Cartier, sort of flew under the radar after its release in 2018. I’ve had a sample of this perfume for a while and really only recently decided to try it out. What does it smell like? Is Carat worth a try? How does this fragrance perform?

What does Cartier Carat Smell Like?

Notes include: hyacinth, tulip, bergamot, violet, mimosa, lily, and more

Click here to try: Carat by Cartier

My Full Wear Review

How Cartier describes Carat: The radiance of a diamond on the skin, the luminous fragrance of a flowering rainbow. 

Cold. Fresh. Green…this is how Carat by Cartier starts off. It’s like a mix of mint, vetiver, and stems. Not that any of these notes are actually in this composition, but that’s the impression that it gives off. 

Carat feels sharp, in its opening moments and icy, is the way I would describe it. You have to understand from the description, that the goal was to create a floral fragrance based on the colors of a rainbow. As such, it all blends together into something which can be difficult to pick apart.

The brightness early on comes from a combo of the pear and the bergamot notes. Again though, neither really stands out as distinct, but if you’ve experienced the scents before you get the impression that they’re in the mix.

At times, I get lots of tulip. Then, mimosa. Then, hyacinth. These are the main floral notes that I can distinguish. The rest of the blend? Super clean with soapy/powdery elements depending on how long it has been on your skin. 

I like the energy in this scent. Easy to wear, somewhat familiar, but has a distinct quality due to how it all comes together. 

The end is more floral, green, and a tad watery. Sort of like a bouquet sitting inside a vase. Hyacinth and some violet is mostly what I pick up in the latter stages.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sharpness and power it displays in the beginning, is pretty misleading. It actually is a lighter moderate perfume. More than a skin scent, but not an absolute powerhouse.

Longevity is pretty good. On first try about 5 hours. Second try, almost 7. Not spectacular, but it has the potential to be a solidly performing scent. I’d say, I would probably get closer to 7 more often than not.

Seasonally, this would be best in warmer weather. Not necessarily the hottest days of summer, but definitely a springtime wear. It is more of a ladies perfume, however, it is pretty unisex. Not really girly, in its overall flower arrangement. 

Casual, daytime, work, semi-formal. Carat really isn’t a nightlife or romantic wear perfume. Versatile, but not for every occasion.

These sorts of greenish floral perfumes, aren’t particularly sexy. But, they can be fun to change things up with, by going for something that is more naturalistically fresh in how it comes across.

Overall Impressions of Cartier Carat

Do I like this scent? I do. It’s a pretty unique experience and a different take on the usual floral perfumes. I really like that opening blast of cold freshness. Also, the way that it is so well blended at times, that it becomes a completely distinct scent.

The performance is pretty good, but not great. The aroma itself is better than average. I did like this Cartier, but I’m not in love with it. This probably isn’t going to appeal to a mass audience, but plenty of people will like it, and it is worth a shot.

The opening is really bright and does live up to that carat name. As it moves along, it’s got a bouquet like feel to it. The watery greenish aroma with bursts of tulips, hyacinth, and the other floral notes.

Crisp, fresh, soapy, and floral. All in a big step by step process. I don’t know if it’s one to pay full price for, but at a discount, Carat could be a nice play…if it sounds like your type of perfume.

Best Men's Colognes

Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.