212 Carolina Herrera 1997

Bottle Design Fabien Baron

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7.2 / 10 109 Ratings

A perfume by Carolina Herrera for women, released in 1997. The scent is fresh-floral. It is being marketed by Puig.

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Main accords

Fresh

Floral

Citrus

Woody

Synthetic

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Cactus blossom

Bergamot

Orange blossom

Mandarin orange

Heart Notes

White camellia

Freesia

Gardenia

Lily

Jasmine

Rose

Base Notes

Musk

Sandalwood

Perfumer

Alberto Morillas

Videos

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Ratings

Scent

7.2109 Ratings

Longevity

7.285 Ratings

Sillage

6.278 Ratings

Bottle

6.285 Ratings

Value for money

7.525 Ratings

Submitted by DonVanVliet, last update on 08/18/2024.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

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Pure Turquoise

Statements

Write the first Statement for 212!

Reviews

6 in-depth fragrance descriptions

01/09/2012

5
Sillage 7.5
Longevity 7
Scent

Missk
1263 Reviews

Missk

Very helpful Review 6

212 Ways to Smell Unique

I really like this fragrance. Surprising, because I never expected to.

It's slightly fruity, it's fresh and it's powdery. Three qualities that I usually detest in fragrances, however this scent is bliss for me.

I actually adore the cactus note, strangely enough. I suppose it is to be expected seeing that my mother collects many rare and interesting cacti for her garden. I'm practically surrounded by the scent of cactus whenever I go home, so perhaps this scent sparks sentimental value for me.

Apart from the cactus note, I also sense the mandarin orange and orange blossom notes which are subtle yet divine. The floral notes which make their first appearance after the initial 10 minutes, are quite powdery and strange, not at all what you'd expect. The flowers are somewhat plastic and artificial smelling, however I believe it only adds to this fragrance's appeal.

The sillage is actually quite strong, which surprised me because most scents of this nature are soft and intimate. The lasting power is also fabulous.

I would recommend 212 as a unique Spring/Summer fragrance for women that long to stand out in a crowd.

03/02/2018

7
Bottle 7
Sillage 8
Longevity 8.5
Scent

Fabirss
11 Reviews

Fabirss

Helpful Review 8

The reason why I became a perfume lover

212 was my first international designer fragrance back in the 90s so I thought it would be nice my first review to be about it. I clearly remember the day when I made acquaintance with 212: it was a hot summer day; I was working and entered a drugstore with a friend in order to get her some painkillers. While she was shopping for the medicine I started browsing the store, specifically at the perfume counter. I was immediately attracted to the silver package with the crystal clear liquid in it. The sales attendant offered me to try it, which I did. The rest of the afternoon I spent sniffing my wrist and feeling cooled down in face of the brazing heat. A week later I went back to the drugstore and acquired my first bottle of 212. It became my first signature fragrance and I recall receiving many compliments, both from men and women. One in particular was from a male friend who stated 212 was how I should always smell like. My passion for this fragrance lasted until international designer fragrances became more accessible in my country, due to globalization. And globalization was also one of the reasons I started smelling 212 in many other women around me. I kept it as my main scent for a while, but later became bored both with its linearity and popularity, so we parted ways. Twenty years later, revisiting the fragrances that started my love for the perfume world and not smelling 212 around me so often as in the past, I decided it was time to own a bottle again. When my bottle arrived and I eagerly applied it I immediately recollected why I fell in love with it in the past: a soft, clean, slightly powdery fragrance, with lovely white flowers that, together, compose a soothing aura for me. It still has great longevity and a projection that allows you to smell the fragrance constantly for at least 4 hours. After so many years I can state that my passion grew into love and I'll keep 212 in my collection not only for the sake of fond memories, but also because it smells simple and divine to me.

06/13/2023

Stacia
134 Reviews

Stacia

3

Pleasant surprise.

This one quickly became a favorite. I think it would be a perfect work scent, especially in the springtime. It is so mild and almost skin like. The mixture of Easter lily and camellia with a little cactus juice is an amazing combination. It has similarities to Lulu Guinness with the white lily (but not as loud as LG) and J-Lo Glow with the soapy haze of just-showered feeling. 212 gives me options! Some days I just want to smell clean and pretty. I can't always be a harlot.

02/03/2024

6
Pricing 8
Bottle 5
Sillage 5
Longevity 6
Scent

MrsGuerlain
365 Reviews

MrsGuerlain

2

For summer nights

This is a lovely, musky experience. It starts out really fresh but there is a musk note from start to finish. Through the citric start and via the floral heart it keeps sending out musky whiffs and I actually think this is what keeps it from disappearing very soon, since the rest of the notes are light and volatile. It is great for summer nights.
The bottle is quite interesting. The design is quite unique, looking like an item from a laboratory.
207/365

04/09/2024

7
Pricing 4
Bottle 10
Sillage 9
Longevity 8.5
Scent

Tamarak92
32 Reviews

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Tamarak92

Helpful Review 5

Childhood memories

212 is my mom's signature scent to this day, so it will always have a special place in my heart and especially in my nose. It reminds me of her warm hugs, her love & her feminine softness.

The opening is citrusy and fresh, slightly synthetic. Bergamot and mandarin are very perceptible at the beginning. Then, far in the background, a light sweetness and warmth emerge. White flowers, especially the scent of fresh lilies, come to me. For me, the fragrance is fresh, floral and slightly synthetic. I personally smell absolutely nothing woody.

Sillage is strong with this fragrance! I smell it loud & strong on other people. It smells fresh clean, yet a little playful. Very feminine. I can't really assign an age or even a personality to this fragrance. Somehow it is very adaptable and changeable. Light or even white clothes suit it best in my opinion. A daytime fragrance. A professional fragrance. My mom has already received many compliments on it at work, in the office.

Unfortunately, I think the bottle is terrible. If you decide to take just one bottle with you somewhere, it has no lid and can't really stand upright. The logic behind the bottle design is still a mystery to me today
All in all, however, a very pleasant, fresh and flowery fragrance that will always remind me of my mom's love.

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