Carmen de Tommasso, born in 1909, established Carven in 1945 as a remarkable fashion and fragrance brand. The flagship store, strategically located near Champs Elysées in Paris, France, served as the hub for de Tommasso’s creative vision. With a keen focus on fragrances, accessories, and fashion, Carven quickly gained recognition for its exquisite couture tailored for petite women. Each design exuded elegance, drawing inspiration from travel and artistic influences, adorned with delicate lace and intricate embroidery to embrace the femininity of the wearer.

As the 1960s unfolded, Carven expanded its offerings to include men’s wear and a jewelry collection. The brand swiftly garnered a loyal following, with its designs finding particular favor among Japanese women renowned for their petite stature. Recognizing their specific needs, Carmen de Tommasso’s creations beautifully complemented the shorter and slender frames of Japanese women, solidifying Carven’s popularity in Japan.

Carven made its debut in the fragrance world in 1946, with the enchanting scent Ma Griffe. This timeless green chypre fragrance, with its floral undertones, has remained a beloved favorite for over six decades. Crafted around a composition featuring aldehydes, gardenia, green notes, asafoetida, clary sage, citruses, orris, orange blossom, orris root, jasmine, ylang-ylang, lily-of-the-valley, rose, labdanum, sandalwood, cinnamon, musk, benzoin, oakmoss, vetiver, and styrax, Ma Griffe embodies an enduring allure.

The subsequent year marked the introduction of Carven’s second women’s fragrance, Robe d’un Soir. Reminiscent of classic floral-aldehyde compositions, this fragrance captivates with a blend of aldehydes, bergamot, mandarin, neroli, peach, carnation, jasmine, lily, orris root, may rose, ylang-ylang, amber, benzoin, cedar, sandalwood, vanilla, and vetiver.

In 1957, Carven ventured into the realm of men’s fragrances with Vetiver for Men. This original woody-chypre blend features lavender, mandarin orange, clary sage, petit grain, lemon, carnation, sandalwood, orris root, jasmine, vetiver, cedar, bergamot, amber, musk, oakmoss, and myrrh, becoming an instant favorite among discerning men.

Carven delighted women once again in 1966 with the launch of Eau Vive, a floral-green fragrance that earned praise and adoration. Originally released in the 1960s and then relaunched in the 1990s, this reformulated scent takes inspiration from a harmonious blend of bergamot, mandarin, juniper berries, coriander, lavender, orange, lily of the valley, mimosa, apple, vetiver, rosewood, green leaves, rhubarb, vanilla, and musk.

A decade later, Carven introduced two captivating fragrances. Monsieur Carven, a floral chypre for men, made its debut in 1978, while its counterpart, Madame de Carven, followed in the succeeding year. Although both editions have been discontinued, they still hold a special place in the hearts of vintage perfume enthusiasts.

In 1982, Carven collaborated with perfumers from Robertet to create Guirlandes, a lady’s fragrance characterized by prominent white floral notes and accords of aldehydes, sandalwood, and clove, showcasing the brand’s constant strive for innovation.

Another notable addition to Carven’s fragrance line was the launch of Intrigue in 1986. This powerful floral chypre perfume instantly captivated customers, becoming a must-have for fragrance connoisseurs.

Over the years, Carven continued to expand its olfactory offerings, amassing a collection of 44 perfumes in its fragrance base. With a rich heritage dating back to 1946 and the latest creation in 2022, Carven remains an esteemed perfumery. Collaborating with esteemed perfumers such as Jérôme di Marino, Francis Kurkdjian, Patricia Choux, Yuri Gutsatz, Robertet, Jean Guichard, Raymond Chaillan, Edouard Hache, Juliette Karagueuzoglou, Caroline Dumur, Aurelien Guichard, Marine Ipert, Violaine Collas, Veronique Nyberg, and Jean Carles, Carven continually pushes the boundaries of scent craftsmanship.