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212 Carolina Herrera 1997

7.3 / 10 122 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

Freesia

Gardenia

Lily

Jasmine

Rose

Base Notes

Musk

Sandalwood

Perfumer

Alberto Morillas

Videos

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Ratings

Scent

7.3122 Ratings

Longevity

7.296 Ratings

Sillage

6.488 Ratings

Bottle

6.396 Ratings

Value for money

7.733 Ratings

Submitted by DonVanVliet · last update on 11/22/2025.

Source-backed & verified

Smells similar

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Reviews

11 in-depth fragrance descriptions

01/09/2012

7Scent 7.5Longevity 5Sillage

Missk
1357 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

8.5Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

Fabirss
12 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

6Scent 5Longevity 5Sillage

MrsGuerlain
574 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

11/11/2025

10Scent 10Longevity 10Sillage

Yaishe
8 Reviews

Yaishe

1

Partner for life

The first time I smelled this perfume was on a fellow student of mine. She was incredibly elegant—she stood out among the rest of us twenty-somethings. She wore a Chanel scarf, used a Dior eyeshadow palette, and her clothes always looked amazing on her tall, slim silhouette. Her look was completed by this musky, warm, sweet scent. The sillage was unbelievable; I could smell her perfume throughout the entire six-hour workshop. I NEEDED to know what she was wearing. That’s how I discovered Carolina Herrera 212 NYC. I found it, bought it—this was back in 2009—and 16 years later I’m still in love with it. It has never left my shelf. I always keep a backup bottle tucked away because I can’t let myself run out.

This perfume ticks every box for me. The design is great—two bottles in one. Apparently, it was created for busy New York women: one bottle stays at home, the other goes in your bag to keep up with your hectic city life. It’s affordable, so I don’t hold back when spraying it. Not that you need to; it’s strong and long-lasting. Not quite beast mode, but a solid eight hours. Here’s the thing, though: I can only smell it on myself for about an hour. After that, I go completely nose-blind. But that’s when the compliments start rolling in—hours later.

The opening is this wild burst of fresh florals. It took me a few weeks to warm up to it, and it’s still my least favorite part, but I’ve learned to appreciate it. I can’t pick out any specific flowers—it’s like a huge mixed bouquet right in your face, practically shouting “Happy Birthday!” No roses or lilies, though—those I could never enjoy. The magic happens in the next half hour: the florals settle into a clear, fresh, soapy note. It feels like standing under a cold shower. And that’s the last part I can actually detect. For the next eight hours of my work shift, I smell nothing. But people still ask what perfume I’m wearing—so clearly it’s there, projecting beautifully. And when I grab my coat at the end of the day, I get this warm, sweet, musky, elegant whiff—and I fall in love all over again.

I’m tempted to describe my relationship with this perfume in poetic terms. It’s my lifelong partner: attractive, strong, consistent, reliable, supportive, and low-maintenance. I can be completely myself with it. When I get a little bored and crave something new, I might flirt with other scents. But I always come back—because this is true love, for life. :)

I swear, I’ll have a full-blown anxiety attack if they ever discontinue 212 NYC.

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