El Born Carner Barcelona for women and men

Really gorgeous dark fig scent. I've heard a few people say it reminds them of pancakes, and although that wasn't my initial impression I do get it. Less like pancakes you make at home and more like excessively decadent $30 pancakes at an upmarket brunch spot. I really get the vibe carner Barcelona was going for with the bookshops and wine bars; there's something about this that smells almost dusty, like being in a cozy semi confined space. I really love her, she's my every day go to in the colder months.

I like this! The opening and mid seem the most interesting to me (at least on paper strip).

I’m selling a 100ml bottle for €90, few sprays used for testing only, shipping worldwide from France, pm me if interested

Discovered this line at a small fragrance store and fell in love! This was marketed as a gourmand but it's not overly in your face sweet. I read somewhere that someone described it as the most delicious pancake ever and I feel like that's pretty spot on. Sweet but incredibly sophisticated. You definitely won't smell like candy. This isn't a beast mode perfume but it doesn't perform well and lasts 8+ hours on the skin.

What an unusual association of the Mediterranean summer - vanilla, honey and sweetness. For me, summer in the Mediterranean will always carry notes of tamarisk, olives, oranges, oleander and bougainvillea...

Aside from my personal associations, El Born is a pleasant, warm fragrance that reveals its forte - ambra, vanilla and honey - from the very beginning. How much it is possible to feel the other notes probably depends on how sophisticated your nose is.

In my case, I would choose it for colder days (although there is nothing offensive in its sweetness), for days when I need a mood lifter or a scented blanket on-the-go. A very unproblematic fragrance, with uniform notes and silky smoothness in all stages of development.

I'm not sure I'd invest in the whole bottle, but maybe I'll change my mind after a few more applications. I really love ambra, but here first and the KO punch is vanilla and deep, honey sweetness. I'll give it another go.

A realistic and beautiful vanilla. It’s a creme brulee/pancake kind of smell that’s perfectly blended, sits close to the skin like a hug. It starts off with a coffee note which is not listed. It vanishes soon, leaving only a milky caramelised vanilla. Not nauseating at all. Just perfect. This is what I would have wanted Bianco Latte to be.

delightful scent, the first time I've ever liked vanilla

I love this one. One of my favourite honey scents..

All I can smell is the peru balsam, which unfortunately gives me shaving cream. Not a fan.

One of the best, maybe even the best vanilla fragrances ever. Vanilla is the main player here, but it's done very naturally and has a lot of depth. The longevity is also amazing, I can smell it till the next day on my skin and on cloths it lasts for days with great silage. This fragrance is vanilla done perfectly and I don't find it leaning masculine or feminine, very unisex. Someone in the comments said Naxos meets Ani and that's indeed the case with El Born, but the result is very well blended and unique.

This fragrance beautifully combines the sweetness of vanilla and honey with the zest of Sicilian lemon, creating a warm, inviting aura. The subtle addition of fig and jasmine gives it a unique twist. El Born is ideal for anyone seeking a sweet yet sophisticated scent that’s reminiscent of a Mediterranean summer

El Born is resinous, rich but still not heavy. The sweetness of honey and fig is really well balanced with woody aspects, and the result is a warm ambery scent, which is cozy enough for autumn and winter, not overwhelming and quite enjoyable.

A nicely blended and well-balanced scent. But such is the nature of personal taste, my brain reads this as a plasticky, play-doh smell. I think that i) a honey note is never for me, and ii) while gendering of fragrance is total bullsh*t, this would be much better on a woman. *shrug*

El Born??? More like El Barbershop.
Palo Santo is my fave from this house. Blind-buy gone wrong, unfortunately.

On one of the reviews, someone said it smells like Carmex and I absolutely agree! It smells like a thick layer of Carmex on top of Lune Feline. Not for me.

El Born is a magnificent scent! It’s so rich and sweet, heavy on peru balsam, amber and thick honey with angelica, benzoin and some sandalwood. Very pronounced balsamic and resinous character from the very first seconds. Flawlessly blended with the sweetness comings from honey, fig and vanilla.

The citrusy notes get lost completely in here though I can smell something slightly fresh in the first minutes.
It gets a touch powdery and floral as it gets into dry down but remains as long as it lasts on skin mainly a balsamic amber.

Another perfect fragrance for fall weather. It’s so warm and enveloping and intense that it would perform well in the cooler months! Feels like a warm, comforting hug from a loved one on a autumn, cold, rainy day.

It’s so complex and delicious and addictive that I need to add it to my collection. This is full bottle worthy through and through for me.

Carner Barcelona is such an underrated house, definitely deserves more hype, I love everything that I have tried from them so far!

More feminine leaning unisex, white powdery vanilla and honey accord with angelica tea infusion. It’s not green but it is tangy from the honey. Sillage is medium and longevity is good. Check it out.

El Born is an absolutely delicious, boozy, amber vanilla. Depending on when you're bottle is from, the balsamic notes may it may not be as prominent, with the newer bottles missing that syrupy, woody feature that plays so well with the honey, vanilla, and sandalwood notes.

I personally don't get much licorice that others have commented on from the balsamic, BUT this is a scent that I have trouble picking out in general, so YMMV especially if you have a new bottle that's lighter on the balsam.

It is very much a unisex scent and can be worn by almost anyone imo. An edible boozy balsamic vanilla gourmand that isn't TOO sweet. Probably one of my most complimented frags. Perfect for cooler weather and lasts ~8hours on the skin and up to days on clothes. (Review on 2016 bottle)

Got gifted a sample of this with a purchase.

It starts off beautifully, bit boozy and warm and sweet. I agree that it reminds me a little of dulche de leche. There's a touch of that heliotrope and jasmine that comes out to play, but they are very much in the background for me.

I also do relate a little to the below comment about it being slightly reminiscent of carmex - not in a bad way. And that fades off after a while.

This starts to soften after awhile, turning a little sweeter at the same time but stays fairly linear on my skin.

This smells like mexican chiclosos by the Coronado brand… soft dulce de leche candy. 100%

One of the best vanilla - amber combos! It's not as cozy and dark as the Duelle by Diptyque or vanilla by Le labo. It's also not a soft fresh vanilla like the one in Harvest Mouse by Zoologist. It's not as tooth rotting sweet as the Angels Share by Kilian, and finally it's not as beachy as the Lalibela by Memo. This vanilla - amber stands out. It's bright, but not overly sweet, projects like crazy, is intense and direct, very warm and slightly even spicy. It's a perfect vanilla amber combo. I love it. This is incredibly boozy too but not as boozy as like Side Effect by Initio or Angels Share. This boozy accord is light and more blended. It's also not as cinnamon-heavy. I love El Born, it's an iconic piece, I even owned a full size bottle at some point. Currently I mostly used a decant as it's a fall scent and a decant is enough for me.

As soon as I smelled this it reminded me of
Bärenjäger lol. Bärenjäger and carmex. It has a boozy, medicinal, smoky, and strong honey smell. I also think it’s a lot more masculine than feminine.

Naxos meets Ani

Liquorice bomb. Smells like medicine.

This is great stuff. Brings me back to my grandparents house as a child. They used to have those old school yellow and pink covered black licorice English allsorts squares in a huge gaughty glass bowl sitting on their coffee table. This smells exactly like that! Even gives me vibes of his vanilla pipe tobacco he would smoke. Very good scent that really has great memories for me. 9/10. I don’t know about longevity or projection yet I just got this I will update. But I suspect it won’t be the greatest which is alright the scent profile is worth a 50ml to me regardless.. give it a shot if you like vanilla pipe tobacco or black licorice scents.

Smelled my El Born decant again a year later and I'm mesmerized. What a stunning sweet intoxicating balsamic pleasure! It's deep, cozy and honey sweet with a wonderful natural vanilla and peru balsam. For me it's not cloynin or sticky but intoxicating and deep. The seductive silage is the best quality of this Barcelona frag and I really got a flashback to the old small streets with foodcafé's and wine bars with antique wooden furniture and cinnamon rolls with coffee. The dry down is very balsamic and creamy with a touch of dark wood. I just love this long lasting perfume and I had to order a 100 ml for a very good price. Lovely artistic stuff from one of my favorite cities.
Edit: 1-3-23
After receiving the 100 ml bottle I noticed that this batch is lighter and less balsamic than my one year old decant. And also the opening is fresher and a bit more pleasant. But somehow I think Carner toned down the Peru balsam (unrefined Peru balsam is prohibited by the IFRA regulations), much to my regret. It makes the frag thinner and not as deep and sturdy as my tester. I hope my El Born improves after some maceration in the bottle.

I can really smell the artemisia & angelica here - so aromatic! Balsamic vanilla with aromatic herbs - one of the most beautiful amber vanilla fragrances! It's not your basic vanilla perfume. Unisex!
Not a beast mode, but def sweater weather appropriate!
My Youtube channel: @SanneParf

This is what James Bond grabbing the wrists of a beautiful woman in an exotic casino smells like.

This is truly boozy, sweet and woody in the best of ways but it settles quickly into as I believe what’s the typical Carner signature scent that I am not liking too much, because it has something sharp and anise like. I experienced the same in Palo Santo, which is sad because I really really like the opening. I’m searching further for a nice vanilla…

It’s a very boozy and sweet fragrance, attractive for sure, the only thing is the uber bitter note in here which I thought could be the angelica/tolu mix? A strong scent for sure, little goes a long way. Try it!

Cloying mix of vanilla, tobacco (although not listed) and sweet notes. Nothing like Naxos or Ani, as I read in a review below. I have tested other Carner fragrances and my reaction is similar: I find them annoying. Clearly not a brand for me.

I'm a big fan of amber so there's a bit of bias to my review there, but I literally cannot stop smelling myself when I wear this.
On my skin, I get a lot of honey and amber. I'm not usually a honey fan, but this smells like a warm, treacle-y honey, but in a mature way. There's definitely a bit of a fig note underneath the honey, and an almost old-book smell lurking at the very base of this smell when it sits on my skin.
I can see why the inspiration for this was the streets of Barcelona. Smelling this makes me wish I was sitting in a small, corner-side coffee shop, reading a thick novel, in the orange sun-drenched Barcelona streets, warm but layered up, with the sounds of people talking and laughing all around me. This smell makes me happy. Really happy. Can't wait to buy a full bottle.

Whoa this one is strong for me. Reminds me of Xerjoff Naxos but too heavy on the honey maybe? It's delicious and i do like it. But ultimately, I don't fancy smelling like a Werthers caramel candy. Way too masculine for me as well.

Smells VERY masculine on me. Smokey honey, but also a bitterness comes through...It is a good smell on someone else. Makes me think of a well-dressed fancy grandpa.

Nice one.Very pleasant and realistic pure honey.Very gourmandish and absolutely unisex.

I really wanted to like this. I love masculine perfumes with fig notes. And it's not bad on dry-down. However, at first spray, this stuff smells EXACTLY like A1 sauce to me. Overly peppery and caramelly-sweet. Actually made me gag. Strangely one-dimensional too. Not getting what everyone else is noting

Eating vanilla ice cream with black pepper fig syrup in a garden filled with jasmine and heliotrope. As it dries down, the woods and resins become more pronounced - but the sweetness and slight peppery note lingers. This scent survived an overnight wear - so it's got decent lasting power on my skin. I see this scent becoming a "craver" in my collection.

Opening is licorice bomb, then in about 30 minutes turns very warm and ambery, slightly peppery. The dry down reminds me of Clandestine Clara by Penhaligon's. It's enveloping, rich lady scent with fur coat, however sadly to the point of headache inducing.

This, for me, is spot-on a black licorice jellybean! It could be a good match for Halloween tomorrow.

This is an enthusiastic full bottle buy. This is so "ME" It's resinous, creamy, smokey, dark honeyed, balsamic and so very sensual. It's confident, a bit edgy, and cultured. I'm here for it all. Moderate in longevity and projection, and gorgeous from first spray to dry down. My favorite from Carner.

Carmex anyone? I’m not sure why but on my skin this smells 100% uncannily like a fresh tube of carmex lip balm. Which I love the smell of don’t get me wrong, it’s one of those weird things I could just huff all day. However I don’t really think I need to pay hundreds of dollars for perfumes that smell like that. Angelica usually smells green and earthy on me but in a fresh natural way, I’ve never gotten this medicinal vibe I’m reading about but I guess there’s a first time for anything. It is a bit sweet, I didn’t read the notes before I tried this so I was guessing almond or heliotrope, there’s some kind of lotion vibe to this one too. I suppose there’s honey (perhaps it’s beeswax? This would explain the overwhelming likeness to lip balm I’m getting) but no fig or citrus notes. I’m getting linear Carmex smell guys. I guess it’s a good thing for my wallet. I’ve fell in love with way too many samples lately, it’s actually kinda nice to be able to pass one on. Performance was decent on me, softer silage but average longevity.

10/10

This reminds me a bit of Theodoros Kalotinis Tobacco Maniac. Honey, bit smokey, vanilla, benzoin and sandalwood. Good lasting power, moderate sillage. Not full bottle worthy for me.

I wasn't expecting much from this fragrance, since it is rare that El Born was mentioned in fragrance recommendations, reviews, and so on.

But damn, El Born by Carner Barcelona is an incredibly beautiful fragrance. I think it has a combination of vibes from Naxos by Xerjoff, Ani by Nishane, and some other vanilla/honey fragrances.

What I love about this fragrance is that... it is not trying too hard to be unnecessarily sweet, loud, or harsh. It is just very smooth, smoky, creamy, warm, quite complex, and really pleasant.

I love the combination of the resinous and balsamic aspects of this fragrance, along with the vanilla, honey, florals, and that slight fruitiness.

It is not the strongest/the most potent nor the longest lasting fragrance in my collection (in fact, it is quite far from being the best in the performance aspect), but the smoothness, warmth, and the feeling of comfort when wearing it is the beauty of this fragrance.

It lasts for around 8 to 10 hours on my skin, with a very good projection in the first hour or so. It is not a strong projecting fragrance, but that very strong skin scent (at around the 4 hour mark) lasts for a really long time on me.

El Born is an awesome fragrance. A very successful blind buy for me!

It does smell quite bitter and I agree on the licorique note in the opening which propably comes from Angelica.

One of the best openings of any fragrance I have ever tried - a rich and lively liqueur with roasted nut facets and deep resinous beauty - that dies down to a skin scent within 30 minutes and is gone within a few hours. I have experienced this with multiple Carner fragrances, and I wonder if they intended this due to the warmer climate in Spain? Either way I'll have to pass on this one, which is a crying shame.

key note and dominant in the opening being honey ... fig is too mild ... however its an ok fragrance

Without looking at notes: licorice and mexican hot chocolate (same texture as black phantom by kilian, grainy but smooth and very rich gourmand).

Looking at the notes i get the benzoin very strong in the drydown. It's a very dense, slightly chalky, moderately sweet fragrance. Nice, but imo you need to like gourmand to like this one

As much as I love the vanilla and woods in this fragrance, I can't help but think of a candle. The woods in this fragrance pop unlike anything else from my collection, but they have an herbal, lactic nuance to them as well which doesn't really make it wearable. Adding in the prominent honey note: It's not sexy, masculine, or clean... just nice smelling.

5/10

On my skin, I smell smoky sugary sirup with tobacco and honey/vanilla with a hint of woods. A nice and cosy fragrance. Longevity could be better. Overal an ok fragrance.

I have a “thing” for vanilla fragrances
The idea of combining vanilla with different notes in fragrances is so captivating to me that when I heard this one is different I had to try it
And thank god I did
(it’s honey and vanilla )
first time I ever smelled this combination and they nailed it
First time i sprayed it on my skin I was blown away
Longevity is great projection is great
I would say it’s a masterpiece for me that I really enjoy wearing

A rather pleasant subdued vanilla scent where aroma chemicals are used to reconstruct the natural natural vanilla scent profile with all its multi faceted aspects. This smells somewhat natural as a result of keeping synthetics at bay by musks and lower concentration. This will last a long time but very close to the skin. Great for fall and winter, easy to throw on. The vanilla is not your typical sweet synthetic vanilla but rather close to natural oil by scent profile, so this is safe for office too, not too playful. Probable the best from this house, if you smell this and don't like it, you may skip Carner Barcelona entirely... I like it and keeping it in my collection.

This smells like I dug my nose into my Dad's pouch of Half N Half Pipe tobacco. No for me.. I LOVE L'artisan Noir Exquis & SF Uomo, this doesn't smell like those!

Beautiful Scent, I love it so much. Unfortunately, this on me is a skin scent; which really disappears after about 2 hours. I wish it lasted at least 4 hours, and it projected a little. Will not repurchase due to how bad it performs on me.

I can't decide on this one. My main impression is that it smells like my grandfather's old timey aftershave with added top notes of cherry cola and hints of black licorice. The first time I wore it, I immediately washed it off. But, then I tried it again. And I didn't really like it. But, I also couldn't stop smelling my wrists. And then I wore it again. It might be growing on me.

I've finally figured out that I severely dislike balsam as a fragrance note.
It gives off a dirty smokiness. I don't mind smokiness when it comes from incense or even tobacco on occasion.
The balsam smokiness is almost sour in a stomach-turning kind of way.

This fragrance is all balsam and honey.
I literally get nothing else.
Think of a bowl full of fresh organic honey and some dirty balsam on top.
There you go.

Not for me. But love the Carner line as a whole.

Licorice is not my thing, so when I opened the box to see a note about a licorice/ anise olfactory experience I thought I had ordered this while drunk. The note wasn’t mistaken, but I felt 100% Arrested Development “I’ve made a huge mistake” in Will Arnett/GOB’s voice.

But wait! There’s more to this as the licorice fades. It settles into a fabulous and complex vanilla somewhere in the vicinity of Ani without cardamom. I have and regularly reach for both, as they are distinct.

One of the nicest, most pleasant smelling honey - angelica - sandalwood blends with a tinge of vanilla sweetness, well balanced all in all, however what could've been a masterpiece, is brought down by the performance issues which is unforgivable on my skin. But for the experience of the quality of that opening, it's a must try!

Overall 7/10

Honey without being overly sweet...
Subtle vanilla with a touch of dirtiness...
Feels like there's a touch of licorice or anis.

It is a warm, soft, smooth and cozy scent.
Certainly one of the more pleasant fragrances from Carner.

Even so, I'm not entirely sold on it...
For one, it seems quite subtle. It turns into a skin scent very quickly.
Also, as it dries down it becomes a bit too feminine for me.

In the category of warm vanilla gourmands, I feel like there are better options.
I like it though, and I will wear it a few more times until my sample runs out, and maybe I'll change my mind.

This is beautiful! Honeyed amber with a lil bit spicy. I smelled cloves but there’s not listed in the description, i really enjoyed this. Best to wear this at night or at rainy day. Really love how the vanilla came along with the sweet warm amber . The balsamic is not overpowering so it’s a safe blind buy for sure 😜
Edited : hope this parfum came with a better longevity

Honey and vanilla with earthy and smoky undertones. I get pepper and tobacco but not listed in the official notes. The drydown is resinous and powdery, slightly inky but it doesn't mention oud, maybe it has a bit of some woody notes. It smells expensive and refined. I would love to smell this on a male. Very good projection and longevity.

Honey, tobacco, yet light and airy. Very different from what I anticipated. I was expecting to love this more. I guess we will have to wait and see how it evolves

This is a fantastic fragrance from start to finish. Nice citrus, tobacco, vanilla, benzoin and some honey. Amazing quality as well. Projection and sillage above average on my skin. For this price get a sample and see if it works with your chemistry. Awesome juice... Enjoy!

Whew! The opening of this is like walking into a tobacco shop - you want to be repulsed, but somehow keep finding excuses to stay. It's that sweet, slightly vanilla hue tobacco gets while it's virginal, fresh, and uncut; carefully nurtured in the proper humidity, pampered and loved. That's the smell that makes every cigarette smoker secretly, and quite seriously, think about switching to a pipe. And that is exactly El Born's affect. The opening: Solemn, brooding, contemplative, like an Englishman reading in front of a fire, at the precipice of telling us a gripping tale of perseverance and brawn. It is fantastic! And damn well should be at nearly $200 a bottle. (Insert second whew)! I see there are fig, heliotrope, and sandalwood notes present. But I will tell you, it takes tremendous concentration to pull those chords individually, for it truly stays tobacco all the way through. As we approach the heart, and further, the dry down, dusty notes emerge. I struggle to refer to this as a 'powdery' production, for this is terranean - dusty, like the boots of a saddle-weary cowboy, or the cobweb neglect of an abandoned church. Not much effort was placed on frivolous 'pretty' notes, just masculine contours - strong and dependable. There's just something provocative and niche about this scent. It slams us with the formality of a stuffy gentleman, and leaves us wearing the essence of John Wayne. Who wouldn't want to bid that into reality?! Exquisite masculinity for the men, and patriarch-defying solidity for the women. And quite an interesting addition to fall and winter wear.......until you remember again, the price tag staring down your bank account. Whew!

Me: it's too masculine.
Husband: it's too feminine.
I struggle with El Born. It's too beastly in the opening which I guess turns me off of the beautiful dry down...gave it away.

Sweet and discreet - too much so of both for me - but beautifully detailed. Wish the balsam and spices (all perceptible and wonderfully done) were a bit higher in the mix and the honey more toned down; it's lovely floral-airy honey, not at all goopy, but just still TOO MUCH HONEY thank you. Even though Carner's usual classy light hand here works wonders in not letting the honey even get near urinous or claggy, as it so often can.

Unisex and all-weather, all-occasion appropriate; the angelica lifts it further, making it somehow dry enough not to cloy. Despite all the sweetness it's absolutely not cutesy or cliched; it just keeps murmuring away, reassuring and soft and comfortable all the way through. For good and bad it's a very typical Carner: good being that warm, golden, almost powdery base with great control of the balance, dry spice, tasteful flowers, a sense of being sophisticated, but not so arty it wants to make you suffer; the bad being it's just a teeny tiny bit lacking in boldness, and weak performance ... only lasting about 3-4h on my skin and with the interesting things really only happening within the first hour. Not a lot of evolution either, just a slow fade into mellow pleasantries and then silence falls.

Now there's nothing wrong with that! If classy dry amber/vanilla is for you this might well be signature-scent worthy. For me only, it's (whisper it now...) handsome but a tiny tiny bit boring. (No knocking Carner - I've liked many (i.e. Ambar del Sur, Rima Xi) and really adore others - Cuir and Palo Santo). Sniff around before you commit to this - there may well be other similar options giving you more spectacular results on price or particular notes. But I can see why it's widely loved - and though it's only quietly beautiful, it's definitely intensely likeable.

ETA: I underrated this at first. On a filthy, cold, dark, spirit-lowering winter's day this can make your heart sing and it will last and last, warming your soul from within. Impressively dark and woody undertow also really punches up in low temperatures. An absolute stormer.

I'm not sure about the tiramisu, but I do get a dessert vibe. Definitely a natural honey, not overly sweet. I feel like its creamy and it has a sweet date(dried fruit)vibe. Smells really natural and totally unique in my opinion.

I agree with the tiramisú feeling that many reviewvers comment.i dont know why because coffee is not listed here, but i get like acoffee dessert feeling similar to the one un intense café by montale ir gentle fluidity golf bye Francis kurkdjian. In this case the feeling is more fruity and alcoholic, what close the tiramisú effect.the fig is very noticeable as Well.
The performance is good, It has good longevity but always un a second plane. It is unisex and very versatile

Scent: 8.5
Longevity: 8
Sillage: 6
Q/p: 5
Versatility: 9
Originality: 9
Global: 8.5

Definitely get the Tiramisu that people have mentioned. Very delicious, smokey vanilla caramel with some irish coffee.

A very nice scent but does not rival 3-4 of my existing gourmands, so glad I only got a free sample of this rather than a blind bought bottle.

Performance is pretty good. Dry down is a nice woody vanilla.
Can't complain too much about this one.

High quality resinous vanilla that slightly resembles Turtle car wax. Unique.

Disgustingly sweet like diabetes. Smells like syrup. Could use this on your pancakes. I think the scent trail would be pleasant to smell, but if you got closer to a person wearing it...it would be too much...imo

To my nose the first 10 minutes strongly smells almost exactly like how good Tiramisu tastes. Very much full of decadent dessert throughout. Honey, cocoa, vanilla, a bit of that Baileys Irish Cream vibe. A quite pleasing scent overall but versatility is questionable and to me it's definitely not a daily driver. Recommend.

This is one of the most beautiful fragrances I've smelled. Boozy vanilla that smells like the most delicious dessert you can imagine. The woodier notes come out on the dry down but the vanilla is never extinguished. Not too sweet, just luscious. I'm SO glad I ordered the 100 ml.

Smells the same as Irish coffee with Baileys. I like it a lot. But it leans more masculine to me.

El Born is one of the most unique most incredible fragrances I have ever smelled. The Angelica, honey, fig, heliotrope, with Peru balsam, sandalwood, and Musk turns this fragrance into the most delicious gourmand perfume which reminds me of the most delicious maple syrup scent but yet not overly sweet nor cloying. I have never smelled anything like this before. Truly a master piece!

My 3 P's

- Price 10/10
- Projection 8/10
- Performance 9/10

More vanilla than honey to my nose, but the balsams are what distinguishes this fragrance.
It's a vanilla fragrance erring on the masculine side with a balsamic slant and a benzoin fuzziness. There really isn't much more to say than that I'm afraid.
If you are still on the hunt for a vanilla fragrance this might be one to try. For me it's a bit hazy, a bit amorphous, a bit limp and blurry. Not as crisp and decisive as I'd like it to be.

I like it, but not bottle-worthy.

(dislike/indifferent/like, but not BW/like a lot, potentially BW/love, definitely BW/masterpiece)

The vanilla and honey are the two top notes that come up immediately as soon as the fragrance is applied. Both give the fragrance a gourmand touch, very pleasant. The lemon and bergamot contribute their citrus notes but are soft; the heliotrope adds its vanilla, cherry pie, and almond tones, increasing the gourmand style of this fragrance. The fig mixes well with the honey and vanilla; the jasmine is barely noticeable, the same happens with the musk. Finally, the sandalwood adds some wood, sweet and balsamic notes that blend well with the benzoin. Not described anywhere in the notes, but there is a touch of booziness or liquor in this fragrance. El Born is a delectable fragrance, suited for casual occasions, masculine but it could be unisex. El Born can be summarized as a sweet gourmand balsamic fragrance with soft boozy, floral, citrus/fruity, and woody notes.

Category: Gourmand.
Batch reviewed: 2019
Wow Rating: 8/10. This is a pleasant gourmand, slightly boozy fragrance.
Dislike Rating: 2/10. Other than the gourmand notes, nothing here will be offensive to anyone.
Uniqueness: 4/10. Gourmand fragrances are very common.
Mass Appeal: 7/10. This fragrance will please most people.
Projection: 4/10. Low to moderate, about four feet around the wearer.
Sillage: 4/10. Low to moderate, about four feet behind the wearer.
Application: Four atomizations will suffice.
Longevity: 5/10. Moderate, about five hours.
Seasons: Winter, fall, and for any temperature controlled environment.
Occasions: Casual. Gourmand fragrances are ideal for casual wear.
Versatility: 4/10. The versatility of gourmand fragrances is always low.
Gender: Masculine.
Ages: 30 and above.
Recommendation: A good gourmand fragrance, this is not a must but a nice to have.
Blind-Buy: Yes, but only if you are familiar with gourmand fragrances and the notes included on this one.
Similar: Several good gourmand fragrances exist; some remain purely gourmand whereas others include boozy or tobacco notes. Here some examples. Dua Fragrances Beauteous Delight is the clone of Fève Délicieuse, very similar but with stronger citrus notes and great longevity; Kilian Paris Black Phantom is a gourmand boozy fragrance, excellent quality, and longevity; Paco Rabanne Black XS By Paco Rabanne is a gourmand fragrance that features praline and it feels chocolaty; Tom Ford Noir De Noir is more floral and more chocolaty; finally Christian Dior Feve Delicieuse La Collection Privé is one of the best gourmand fragrances in the market.
Summary: A good gourmand fragrance with some boozy tones, not the best, not bad, a nice to have.

Beautiful smoky honey fragrance that I find works especially well in the office, and during cool-weather days. I agree with other reviews - the sillage is pretty poor, but it lasts for days on your clothes, but I love it so much I had to buy a bottle. Even if I am the only one enjoying it, it's worth owning!

Another one where I don't get what other people do, by a long shot. This one is a fruity, citrusy vanilla thing with a touch of screamy wood, but not too much. It’s okay but it’s not nearly the boozy, rich thing I was led to believe it would be. It is much better in cold weather, though. I tried wearing it at 36 degrees and it’s a powdery, warm vanilla perfume. Much better, but still not a keeper and still not the beauty others are getting.

Long performance and a very nice fragrance. Not like anything els in my collection of fragrance. Absolutely the most unisex fragrance a have for the moment.
I blind bought El born but listen to many fragrance “experts” before. I felt like “I need this in my collection”

Hmm. Don’t now what a think of it. I like the warm smell of Madagascar vanilla and the honey.

My wife hate this fragrance - the powerful vanilla smell reminds my wife of a Spanish doll that our daughter had when she was younger. I also remind that horrible smell of the “vanilla doll” but a think it’s wrong to say that El Born and the doll smells the same- they are both from Spain that’s it. My wife also like fragrance like Boss bottles & Spicebomb from Viktor&Rolf so if you have that in mind a understand that she don’t like El Born.

At first a get a really powerful maybe to powerful vanilla smell after 1h on my skin it’s better still vanilla but warmer and the honey in the fragrance comes in.

I should were this fragrance on a cold winter day or a late night dinner whit friends.

Very unisex fragrance some of my comment a get from this is “is that a fragrance for men?”
some ladies love it and buy it for themselves.

Also a lot of positive comments from some of my female friends they love the smell of El Born.

I like that El Born smell vanilla but not that sweet cheap vanilla it’s more of a warm sexy vanilla whit some power.

I really recommend it. But if you want to smell masculine buy something else.

A syrupy, burnt sugar + the sharpness & pungency of tree balsams and woody notes. As sugary as this is I could easily see plenty of men wearing it because it's woody and balsamic. As it dries the sugary notes quiet down a bit and it feels more balanced.

In a way it's a marriage of overdone perfume notes. Intense, edible sugary notes are very prevalent in fragrances targeted at women; powerful tree resins and balsams have quickly become the most overdone, cliched thing in men's fragrances.

I'm not averse to this, but I don't like it on myself. Develops a harsh "sharpie marker" smell on my skin. I'd like it more on someone else.

A sweet and warm Crème Brûlée with a tinge of fig.

The addition of the heliotrope makes the composition so rich and wonderful!

Beautiful, 8.5/10

I dabbed on my sample and was immediately punched in the face with honeyed green grassiness, somewhat sweet. This stuff is STRONG. It took about 5 minutes to settle in until I can sort of enjoy the scent. The green calmed down and quietly sits behind the honey, which comes out the most for me, along with a sweet vanilla mixed with incense and some lightly toasted tobacco. There’s a mossy vibe, greyish green back in there. Not for me as I find it leans more masculine, but it sure would smell fantastic on my husband!

Got a sample of this today morning and applied. Several hours later I finally figured out what this juice resembles...
mix noir de noir with straight to heaven and Walla......

To me this is to vanilla what Ambre Aurea is to amber. This has a boozy undertone even though there is no note in here but it is not overtly so. Very rich and creamy on the opening and leans slightly feminine but is ok as a unisex.

Update: Projection and Longevity sucks which is real shame as it is great opening but then goes very shy very quickly.
Update 2: Better longevity and projection when worn in evening
Update 3: This has the best opening ten minutes of any of my frags and is to die for in the evening indoors. Does not last but the opening is so good with the burnt sugary honied vanilla.

The hype train strikes again.. This doesn't smell bad at all, but it is extremely underwhelming.

If you like a very sheer and airy, vague interpretation of vanilla with a light boozy fruit twist, this would be for you.

Projection is disappointing, longevity is around 4 hours.

My sample will be enough, if it ever gets finished.

Well, I’m a bit late on the hype train for El Bor’, just purchased a bottle last week from a legit seller...
- first thing I noticed is that the logo on the box and bottles is no longer there...
- the Peru balsam no longer appears on the ingredient list on the back of the box (actually, I smelled raw peru balsam a couple of weeks ago and loved it... one of the main reason for deciding to buy El Born)...
- The juice inside is lighter than what I saw on pictures and YouTube reviews...
hmm that’s 3 red flags so far.... I then decide to test it... not bad. The alcohol is a bit strong on the opening... then... nothing. All i get is a spicy coffee. No clear vanilla. No honey. And the performance ... AWFUL. Barely 10 minutes afterwards I have to stick my nose on my wrist to smell it. No projection whatsoever.
Does anybody else have experience with older (with logo) bottles and newer bottles (without logo)? What about the other Carner releases?

El Born has been high on my test list for a long time, because high quality almost-gourmands are my favourite scents for the colder months, and going by reputation this seemed to be one of the very best. And now that it's finally fall and I finally got my hands on a sample, I'm going to have to join the chorus on this one: it's truly wonderful!

It's such a cosy scent, a delicious true vanilla dripping in honey, but not sugary at all, and with enough other things going on to save it from smelling conspicuously edible. It reminds me of another cold weather favourite in that regard, Annick Goutal's Sables, although they don't smell very much alike: but this one has a similarly warm, spicy, pleasantly dusty and totally unisex quasi-gourmand vibe, more like the warehouse where the ingredients for some lovely baked goods are stored than the resulting pastries. In this case, it's even mainly a woody/resinous scent to my nose, even though the vanilla and honey are very much the main stars of the composition. Then there's a pleasantly medicinal aspect as well, which must be because of the angelica. And to top it all off, projection and longevity are both just right too. I guess I better start looking for a decant, and I wouldn't be surprised if that eventually turned into a full bottle and a true fall and winter staple in my wardrobe...

I could have had bees buzzing around my wrists all day with this. Honey, honey, honey. I don't quite get the full vanilla like some others have mentioned. To me, this is a gourmand, but very sophisticated and grown up. It's not a stick of sweet either, rather a drippy, floral elegance. The citrus just keeps this from being a straightforward honey-musk-powder and elevates it somehow. I don't normally gravitate towards honey, but I find this quite enchanting.

A phenomenal bitter sweet boozy vanilla!!!

I had a sizeable decant of this and now it's almost gone. I clung to it dearly. So now that it's almost done after two years, I'll write a review. I can't say I will never buy this one but since I live in a warm climate, it's not at all practical. Maybe for special occasions.

It opens extra sweet and resinous, honeyed resins to be exact. It lingers in this mode for some time, until the vanilla kicks in. An extreeeemely smooth and buttery vanilla. It adds such a gourmand edge to this fragrance until you start to get the angelica and fig. It starts to gain a somewhat green/woody nature to it ever so subtly. This is how this fragrance goes to me but I'm sure there is a lot more going on than my nose catches on. Somewhat in the same style of Mugler Pure Tonka to me, almost gourmand but not quite. Excellent, classy sweet scent.

Performance is great. Easily 8+ hours of longevity. Projection is pretty killer for the first hour and then starts to become more subdued. It radiates out about the perfect amount for a fragrance like this. Supremely unisex, all ages. I would definitely say only in the cool to cold weather. Could be worn really in any situation as long as the climate is right. Fantastic!

The very first carner i sniffed was El Borne and it was the one i discarded as an "okay" fragrance. So, Palo Santos and D600 became my favorites and those found my hand on their triggers very often. Until i revisited El Borne again.

On initial blast you get an almost citrus like honey note. That honey note is so authentic that you actually feel it dripping down the sprayed area. While the honey note remains in the background after initial dry down, fig joins the party making this blend almost edible. But the note that makes this whole concoction majestic, is Vanilla. Vanilla is unlike any i have smelled in a Gourmand Fragrance, it is buttery smooth and velvety. This mouth watering blend is enveloped by Peru Balsam (not that i know how Peru Balsam smells like but i know how balsamic fragrances does), making this fragrance sophisticated and elegant.

I would rank its performance somewhere between D600 and Palo Santos. While it does hold subtle nature of D600, at the same time it has sweet nuance of Palo Santos as well. Longevity is fairy good, lasting for about 6-7 hours. Projection in first hour is around an arms length but soon becomes close to skin, not skin scent mind you but nevertheless very close to skin. If someone passes by very close to you, they will be able to smell you easily. Occasion wise, this can be a perfect office scent as well as Dinner one. Season wise, apart from scorching heat, this would do great in all weather.

Recommendation: This is totally lovable fragrance, you just can't hate it. If you like to smell good, you can't go wrong with this fragrance.

Definitely another league... super high quality. Niche, but not arrogant. The honey mixed with vanilla is to die for. It exudes class. Love it!

This is strange - not even one negative review.
I ordered a sample a few weeks ago and I've been trying to wear and understand this fragrance since yesterday.
It is an enigma for me: smells of old, cold coffee, tobacco and some spices, left in a cupboard for months. No vanilla, honey or resinous accords. Very dirty and dusty on me.
I thought the fragrance will progress to something different and special, but on my skin - no. It stays linear and dirty-dusty. The smell reminds me of how old and used banknotes smell, after travelling around many different pockets. A smell of tobacco and sweat.
Would not recommend it to anyone.

My first experience with Carner Barcelona , which have caught my attention quite recently. El Born has been a blind purchase. It wasn’t the love on the first smell. Actually, I had a very bad headache yesterday and all I thought after my first try was “Oh no, I am so disappointed. Damned El Born, why can’t I just love you like everyone else?”. But then I woke up in the middle of the night, my pain was gone and I desperately wanted to give it another try. And I am so glad I did that, because the more I sniff, the deeper I’m falling in love with this scent. I am not a big fan of vanilla in fragrances, but this one is so complex, soft and creamy and makes me want to embrace myself. ⠀⠀
This is definitely not a fragrance wearable in the upcoming warm months. Yes, it’s written everywhere, but come on, I am the queen of Arabian oils and balsamic tones are something I am able to wear with grace even in hot summer, but no. El Born is not like this.
Well my dear, you have to wait for our love affair until next winter. Meanwhile, I am looking forward to try all your sisters in Carner Barcelona boutique in Spain this summer.

scent 10/10
longevity 1/10
sillage 1/10

Yummy Yum Yum!
Boozy, Rich, Resinous Vanilla, with a very real, loud and best quality honey note.

It's the Vanilla I was looking for, just didn't know it. Thought I wasn't into Gourmand but.. I keep falling for many of them :)
Always good to expand one's olfactory horizons!

A general note, this is the sixth Spanish perfume I have, 3 Carner and 3 Angel Schlesser and they all share the same Excellent/Natural Quality ingredients at reasonable prices, a quality that isn't necessarily available in much more expensive perfumes.

At first I wasnt huge on this scent but overtime it grew on my tremendously. This scent is definitely a mature take on vanilla that won't let you down. It's like a perfect trifecta of vanilla, smoke, and boozy notes. I think this scent could be worn any where anytime. As long as it's cooler out. This scent is great and is very unique for a vanilla!

A formal gourmand. Stately and creamy vanilla. Wow! It stands out in an ocean of fragrances that contain vanilla. Hard to do in today's fragrance world.

Before looking at the notes for El born I would of said that it was mainly vanilla, licorice and pepper. The vanilla is quite predominate. The projection on my skin could of been better imo but nonetheless it is a very nice scent if you are into vanillas.

A very nice scent, smells classy and natural. I'm sure Carnee uses very high quality ingredients in their perfumes but for me there are 2 characters that are there in most of their offerings, 1- usually their perfumes have great dry downs and weak top notes, 2- They all share a DNA that is always noticable in the drydown. That specific common element in their products is very toxicating for me, I can't smell it for long without feeling an urge to rub it away, it causes me some discomfort, which I found in Rima XI, D 600, Tardes and El born (the only ones I've tried so far).

I've been to El Born, but I can't recall that place having a particular scent; nevertheless, it's a lovely mental image. :)

If you like Arabie by Serge Lutens, but find it a bit overwhelming, El Born might be an option. They don't smell similar per se, but they share a vibe. Arabie is much more spicy and sharp (maybe it's the bay leaf), but the boozy honeyed fruitiness on the opening of El Born feels very familiar. On later stages El Born takes a totally differing path and becomes much more mellow with powdery heliotrope and dusty vanilla; woody and moderately sweet. I don't see it as a straight-up gourmand, because to me it doesn't present anything even remotely edible after the opening. Actually, it's somewhat unique and difficult to describe. Better to try yourself. It's a good one!

Long-lasting, moderate sillage

Having lived in Malaga for some time - this fragrance put me right back to the old wine cellars with barrels of sweet wine stacking up. Gorgeous and quite sweet. Reminds me of rum and raisin or sweet red wine.

Sweet honey floral woody gorgeousness. Slightly boozy with a distinct vanilla scent.. how I imagine vanilla liqueur might smell. There are definitely woody undertones, but they're soft and subtle enough to keep it sweet overall.

I'm not picking up any citrus at all.. but I'm not super great at identifying individual notes, so it's probably just so well-blended that I can't find it. The fig, on the other hand, is well represented. I'm a big fan of fig in perfumes, so this is a plus for me.

Upon dry-down, I'm even getting a hint of tobacco... a sweet, fruity tobacco. Truly lovely!

El Born is most definitely going on my want list. I foresee getting a lot of wear out of it. It's sexy, but understated. It's classy, but not stuffy. I'd wear it on a date. I'd wear it to the office. An interesting & versatile winner!

El Born is seemingly the most currently-discussed fragrance from the Carner Barcelona line-up, and since it's framed in many circles as being vanilla-centric, it's no surprise that it would make the rounds.

I agree that vanilla is main player, if I had to choose one, but for me there's a lot more going in El Born, which has a resinous, spicy, floral, and perhaps even citrus side. I get hints of the benzoin, balsam, and jasmine, and perhaps the musk, but the citrus is totally lost in me in opening, so on my skin it comes subtly.

Longevity is very good but projection is not impressive for the cold-weather-leaning nature of the fragrance. Still, it's certainly good enough as far as performance.

Overall it's lovely and provocative--resinous, spicy, slightly floral/woody. I quite enjoy it, and need to sample it more, but tentatively the only thing about I don't like is the retail pricing ($180 for 100ml, $120 for 50ml on Twisted Lily and other US sources), though I'm told there are much better deals to be found.

El Born is a very promising, interesting spin on an otherwise somewhat redundant vanilla genre.

8 out of 10

I don't know much about this house but I know everything about El Born.
Now if this is the quality the house of @carnerbarcelona puts in their creations, pls give 'em all to me. El Born to my nose can be categorized as a sweet oriental floral fragrance, wallowing in all kinds of quality yummies. It's a benzoin, vanilla, honey laden fragrance with some noticeably boozy qualities. Sincerely, I can say perfection, especially the blending, this one will hit the spot on a warm or cooler day, it will make you and the people around you want more. No shouting in this one, but loud enough to be heard. Wonder in a bottle.

Overall it's a gourmand to my nose.. just as a sweet cake with honey. It also has some feminine qualities like a powdery feeling and edible smell. I think it would be better for a woman but for me it's a unisex gourmand... I could eat this thing!

It has nice longevity and moderate sillage and it's perfectly blended. Quality is here. Main players are honey, vanilla, benzoin, musk mild angelica & peru balsam and creamy soft sandalwood with fig... and maybe traces of licorice.

Scent - honeyed fig & vanilla musk.

Season/Time of Day - I prefer to use this one in the colder months, during the day.

Projection - I didn't get noticed, I didn't get a compliment.

Longevity - I get 8hrs consistently.

This is the best Boozy vanilla in the game! And it's unique. Not your average cupcake icing vanilla or vanilla extract like SDV. 10/10

Blind bought after hearing about this on YouTube. Great decision as this thing is one of the more unique vanilla based scents. Haven't smelled anything like it as it's take is very original.

Classy, elegant, professional, upscale,don't know what else I can say. Spice and vanilla come through extremely well blended and and I can see wearing it through all seasons as it's not super sweet.

Truly impressed by this company and will definitely be checking out there other offerings

Just an amazingly wonderful scent, you must get your nose on this!!!

The top opens creamy and resinous, sweet and indolent. It has that indulgent, deep, syrup-y sweetness of molasses, or cooking sugar. I definitely get that dark boozy raisin quality that has been described in other reviews! The citruses and fig lend a welcome brightness that cuts through all that rich viscosity.
For me, this is completely gourmand, almost treacle-like in 'thickness'. Unfortunately, my skin turns El Born and makes it a sour monster within an hour. The common denominator seems to be the honey. However, what an incredible first hour!

El Born has a blend of vanilla and dry, warm honey. Dry and warm to the point of having a powdery appeal. An excellent sandalwood base makes the honey and vanilla’s properties pop effortlessly. Here we flirt a lot with the idea of going gourmand, like french crepes/pastries with boozy, warm, dark brown raisin sauce over them, while not totally getting there as it is balanced by the key element in this one to me: Peru Balsam. Finally I’ve found a fragrance I love and where this note shines. While it helps the slightly darker and boozy part, it is first and foremost sticky and resinous, also a bit sour like pine sap (Helped by Angelica as well here), which brings some great complexity, uniqueness preventing this scent from being too sweet and joining the endless row of straight gourmand choices we can find on the market.

It's just like a painting in Picasso Museum in the neighborhood of El Born in Barcelona. One that is easy to appreciate right away yet very different and where you find out more about it and its nuances each time you stare at it. I enjoyed Carner Barcelona’s creation right from the first time and I’m loving it even more with each new wearing. In the top 3 of my best discoveries of the past few years.

Great for winter really smooth smoky vanilla. Has longevity too. Its unique also. This has a tobacco vibe to it but the tobacco note is not listed.

Fragrance -El Born Carner Barcelona
Bottle from - 2017

It was a few years ago,when I encountered the note of peru balasm for the first time.It was love at first sniff and the fragrance was Purple Patchouli by Tom Ford.I'm happy to say that El Born has the same effect on me as Purple Patchouli did.
This is a enigmatic,exotic,moderatly sweet,complex and amazing blend of creamy vanilla and resinous peru balsam and benzoin with a nice touch of herbal angelica and citruses and with a wisper of sandalwood.

Longevity - 10/10(10+ hours)
Silage/Projection - 8/10(moderate to heavy projection for the first 2-3 hours)
Weather - best in early spring,autumn and winter.
Age - 24+
Compliments - 8/10
Scent - 9,5/10

Main notes according to me -
peru balsam,benzoin,vanilla,honey,herbal note.

The drydown is a bit woody,musky and resinous and I get some sandalwood,vanilla,peru balsam and musk.

Emotions -exotic dream,sexy,enigmatic,seductive,complex.

Occasion -perfect for nights out and semi-formal events.

You'll get compliments with this one.Try before you buy.

I just started wearing El Born...and while these are my initial impressions, I can't help asking the question: 'why did I not wear this sooner?' This is nice stuff. This is a resinous scent with vanilla and honey and mild spices mixed into it. This is a mildly gourmandish scent and has one of my favourite notes at the base: sandalwood.

This is a very nice scent. Most of the fragrances in my collection are in the 'like' category. This is not a 'like' for me thus far...this is a 'love'. Very appealing and sexy!

Edit: I'm at a clothing store trying on a suit, and the attractive female sales associate helps put on a suit jacket and gets close to me. 'You smell amazing. What is the name of your cologne. I need to write it down'.

Carner Barcelona El Born. Yes, this stuff is great.

CB knocks it out of the park again with this one. I'm shocked to learn there's no tobacco in this one cause out of the gate, that's what I smell.... that and vanilla. Truthfully, there's something very mysterious about this one & I love every bit of it... THIS IS A MASTERPIECE! Longevity is incredible but the projection is a bit weak... MAN I WISHED THIS PROJECTED MORE cause I can't get enough of it. Very VERY NICE.... GET YOUR NOSE ON THIS ONE!

I smell a creamy bergamot with honey, woody notes, benzoin, and musk. Actually this smells like the top of a newborn baby’s head. Got to give this one a longer wear, but that’s my first impression.

I agree with Arabian Knight.
This smells "rum raisin ice-cream" or Rum Cake.
Either way, this is deliciousness incumbent, a must have in any gourmand collectors possession.

I received two unsolicited compliments today on way to work, one at work... and a few heads turn on the train also.
Again this is a simply ravishing fragrance, that anyone one with a sweet tooth will need to have.

There's no rum note in this frag, but you will get a hint of it.
The Benzoin, Vanilla, Honey & Peru Balsam shine throughout this fragrance. Truly truly unique!
Can't speak badly about this jewel.

Update: It's not rum...it's licorice I'm picking up...Little hints of it, when the wind blows.

I used six sprays...both wrist, back & front of my neck, chest, and front of my shirt.

Will I buy this again?...Yes(This time a full bottle).

Does this fragrance enter BEAST MODE, good, just okay or weak sauce at best? Sexy Beast Mode.

What's the strength of this? EDP.

Am I willing to trade this fragrance? No.

Should You Skipped It, Sample It First or Blind Buy It?
Blind Buy Worthy, hands down!(If you're a gourmand lover).
For everyone else, try it via Scentbird or eBay.
But get a promo code, so it isn't full price.

Can you use it as a unisex scent? Yes.

Is it the old, new formulation? New.

What's its availability; in production, limited edition or discontinued? In production.

SKU Number: 8437011481177
Batch Number: 60301 (Production Date: 2016)


Age: 25+ for men & for women 21+
From: ScentBird
Size: 8 ML + 100ML
Scent: 5/5 (This Is Amazing).
Value: 5/5 (Cost $6.19 & $80.00).
Sillage: 5/5 (Six feet).
Longevity: 5/5 (Ten hours plus).
Creativity: 5/5 (Gourmand Bomb & I'm loving it).
Projection: 5/5 (Two & a half hours).
Versatility: 5/5 (Perfect for the mid-fall, early spring and all of winter, and great for any time of the day).
Compliments: 5/5 (Flawless victory).

Until next time, I'll catch you on the flipside.

Nice honey vanilla fragrance with other scents mixed in. Very good one. The sillage isn't enormous so you won't offfend. The whole scent to me seems very soothing and pleasant. Well done!

Oh my god this is gorgeous. I would consider this a perfect fall scent. It's incredibly comforting and the scent soothes my soul. There's nothing offensive about this fragrance at all. Every second of this is just beautiful. Soft, but yet rich and warm. This fragrance is a perfect balsamic blend. It almost smells like licorice and liquor in the opening. Personally I think this is a pretty linear scent, but it doesn't bother me at all. Actually I quite like that it maintains it's quality throughout the entire duration. I would say this fragrance has moderate sillage and great longevity. I could easily smell this after 8 hours. This fragrance is about to knock one of my favorites off the shelf!

This already had a like on it and I do recall getting a sample a good while back and I suspect I've written a review already and just not posted it. (I do that a bit)
Well I was surprised I wasn't keener to let people know my thoughts because Carner Barcelona's El Born is a fantastic and original fragrance. I say original but I can draw some comparisons even with things I've tried and reviewed recently like Aomassai. However El Born has it's own unique things going on. The opening is very reminiscent of my childhood and I can't quite place what it is? something sweet no doubt. This is a gourmand vanilla steeped in lovely honey, heliotrope angelica with a blast of elemi in the opening and a drydown of peru balm it's pretty special stuff. I love the almost boozy liquorice quality in el born opening and settling few minutes and later on that almond smell from the heliotrope.
Yeah it's magic. I'm wishing everything was stronger at the moment so I haven't been commenting in much detail on performance, this isn't massive and due to it's make up a naturally low sitting skin scent.

Damn and Whoa.

El Born is amazing - like knock you off your feet amazing.

It's a perfect mix of honey, vanilla, and balsam. From my first spray, I thought this was simply perfect. When the sandalwood note makes it an appearance, it becomes even better.

I'm not a huge fan of fragrances that are so strongly vanilla, but this one is beautiful. The Carner line is rapidly becoming a favorite and this is one of their best.

i've test it today and let me tell you, this smell like french "crepes" with rhum and vanilla ( angelica and figues effect)in good way. there are no rhum in this but i smell it and last loooooong time . very nice creation , perfect for fall/winter dating and calming situation... Carner is a good choice , all creations are "piece of art"

A very well balanced dark vanilla where Benzoin, Peru, Heliotropin and vanilla combines into a unique vanillic scent. I also note a smoky touch especially during the first fifteen minutes, but some smoke vibes linger in the background for hours. I think this smokiness might be a key player in making El Born so different from otherwise similar fragrances.
In the drydown the smoke undresses to become more woodiness and there is a sweetness more likely to come from honey and angelica than resins and vanilla components. And here, in the drydown, I can imagine the old streets filled with pastelerías, cafeterías and old bookshops which are announced as the intention by the designers.

El Born is simply a winner if you are into vanilla or gourmand fragrances.

Since my fragrance journey began, I've been on the hunt for the perfect vanilla fragrance, since it is definitely amongst my favorite notes when done well. I just received my decant of this two days ago and I can already say that this is easily in my top vanillas of all time. I'm also a gourmand lover so that of course doesn't hurt this frag's rating in my book but either way this is just a beautiful and unique scent. It is a bit powdery but not enough to bother me or make it too femine. Due to olfactory fatigue I rarely rate scents with performance in mind, so with that said I have to give this a 9 or even 9.5 out of 10.

May also want to add that the only other scent I have tried from this house is Palo Santo and I was NOT a fan. Unique sure... but the gaiac wood mixed with that strange milk note made it completely unbearable to me.

A big gourmand perfume designed to take you to the Barcelona’s quarter of El Born filled with small cafeterias and where air is rich with aromas of coffee and freshly baked patisserie. This is where Peru balsam comes handy with its rich vanillic nuance and depth to enhance the gourmand combo of benzoin, heliotrope (the powdery fraction of vanilla) and vanilla.

El born is a lovely and gourmand perfume. It is an evocative scent, it make me think about a winter evening by the fireplace, a cognac or rum on the table and some dessert like creme brule. In the opening it reminds me the scent of cognac, warm and embracing. Benzoin and vanilla are predominant but I can detect also a bit of honey and angelica. I think it is very well composed with the right mix of sweetness, creaminess and liqueur smell. El born is a unixes fragrance even if I think it could be more appreciated by women. Unfortunately on me longevity and sillage are week, I applied it at 20 pm and after a couple of hour it was disappeared and I am very disapointed because I really like it

What a lovely fragrance this is. it reminds me of Autumn. When i smell it i get the image of sitting in a patio of a dessert shop having vanilla ice cream with raisins on an early autumn humid day surrounded by some plants. then it starts raining after a long dry period which leads to that unique smell of the water mixing in with the dust on the plants and the ground.
this is not a vanilla dominated scent by any means.
The performance is moderate
Overall Rating : 8.8 / 10

Based on the notes and some of the reviews I thought I'd be head over heels with this fragrance, but alas. It baffles me that there's no salmiac in this, because that's the most prominent note that I get after the opening. It then develops in a very strong vanilla/medicinal scent with great staying power but low sillage.

El Born is a delicious gourmand fragrance. At first spray I smell the delicious balsamic benzoin mixed with the vanilla. I also detect the honey, citruses, Australian sandalwood and heliotrope. Dries down to a very delicious balsamic fragrance. It is very well composed and a winner for a gourmand lover.

Meat Perfume gourmand but without ever being cloying.

From the beginning and after a brief stint citrus, I feel similar to sweet licorice but with very balsamic produced by the mixture of honey, sandalwood, Balsam of Peru smell and of course vanilla, with a light dusting background because musks but nothing to do with what soapy but rather inclined to the world of cakes and pies.

It feels quite linear and with a good balance and quality between essences, as I said before noting that note of licorice as edible, sweet and whets the appetite like when you go through the door of a bakery.

Rating: 5.5

After testing a decant, I can say It is magnificent. It is absolutely the one which I like to wear it without any hesitate.

I would say that this is not a full fledged but more of a light gourmand. It would be a perfect signature scent if you live in a climate that does not get too hot or too cold. Maybe a city in California? The dry down is a creamy,sweet but not over the top . I think the sandalwood and fig keep the vanilla and benzoin becoming childishly sweet. More of a boozy/sweet to be honest. Longevity is better than expected while sillage is average. This is very likeable and can be loveable to the right man or woman. No drawbacks at all.

My oh my , was this ever similar to my fav dress up in a fancy outfit perfume-Aomassai PG ...I am soo surprized.This might soften and turn a little sweeter and lighter. Like an Aomassai light. This is not a bad thing , cause I looove that perfume !
I will add that having both could do if you love this type of perfume...and then
I would use El born for daytime use and Aomassai for eveningwear.
El born has except beeing so similar to this PG a slight touch of beachy skinscent and an Lutens scent that I right now this moment , can't come up with a name with...
Both excellent !
♥

Really nice stuff here. The vanilla note in the beginning is really nice. Almost like a boozy kind of vibe from it too. just a beautiful scent. Falls perfectly in the middle between masculine and feminine. I can't say for sure if it's better than D600 right now but I can say it's a quality offering and deserves to get noticed.

vanilla, vanilla, vanilla, vanilla... and then the rest, beautiful vanilla fragance. I sprayed it last night, so far it's 2:15 pm (next day) and it is still there light, soft and delicious vanilla.

بازم میگم فوق العاده با کلاس با ماندگاری بسیار بالا

This looked really promising by the notes and reviews,... but unfortunately it's not for me.
I am pretty sure this would be lovely if it wasn't for the strong and overpowering Angelica note with it's herbal aspects. It overshadows all the other wonderful gourmand notes.
I'm not a big herbal fan, that's why it doesn't work for me.
If you feel the same way, you might give a try to 'Tardes Carner - Barcelona' and 'A Lab On Fire - What We Do In Paris Is Secret'.
Both are beautiful, but without the disturbing herbal aspect...

I have fallen in love again - I am turning into some kind of perfume floozy!

El Born is delicious. To me there is a strangeness in that I get both a gourmand scent and a woody scent, from one perfume. I almost feel as though I have layered a light gourmand on top of a woody citrus.

In the opening, for me woody notes dominate and I almost get a woodsmoke vibe initially and for the first hour or so. Its a really nice note though don't get me wrong. As this woodsmoke and woods with a hint of lemon note settles this is where it feels kind of like layered perfume - there is sandalwood, light clean jasmine, and lemon, and there is also something I find harder to identify, an almost chewy caramel gourmand note, which I guess must be the fig, honey, vanilla and benzoin? I am not sure.

Unusually I am actually having a hard time picking out any distinct notes. When I concentrate I can clearly see the lemon, sandalwood and the "chewy caramel", but overall this is blended so well that I just get an overall feel. Kind of a black and white photograph of a city street in summer, looking across an intersection, there is a white square building on the corner, and in the photograph this building alone has been coloured pastel yellow. And I really love this. I have worn my little decant as a sample and then worn it all day today and I have been getting wonderful wafts of scent all day, I still smell fresh even in this heat after 12 hours since applying (with a 1 spray touch up at lunch). This projects well, maybe thats just the heat today, but I have had 2 compliments from people sat 4-6 feet away, and longevity is great.
In all, I can see a FB of this in my life!

I agree with Arabian Knight, I get a boozy vanilla with dried fruit from El Born. Beyond that, i can't pick out the individual notes listed as above. Perhaps they mesh well to form this linear scent, which would appeal to gourmand vanilla lovers. For me, it's a little too sweet and not boozy enough for its price tag. Instead, I would pick L'Erbolario Dolcelisir (more spicy, less concentrated than El Born) at a cheaper price, or Guerlain's Spiritueuse Double Vanille(decadent, smoky, more boozy vanilla) if I were out to splash the cash. However the Holy Grail of the boozy vanillas with a unique character all its own, would be Mona di Orio's Les Nombres d"or Vanille. The sillage for El Born is good and longevity on clothes moderate for me, ranging about 6-8 hours.

"El Born" smells like a soft, luscious dessert. Imagine rum and raisin ice-cream seeping into a recently sanded oak table. The redolent sweetness is warm, creamy and lightly spiced.

The note surprise me, because I wasn't getting honey specifically, or angelica but in retrospect I can see how they probably work to contribute the rum and raisin illusion for me.

Definitely one to try if you like gourmand vanilla scents.

beautiful quarter,full of life,art and bohemy...