Carner Barcelona Sweet William Review + Romantic Carnation Draw

Show Boat Poster via wiki

“…But along came Bill, Who's not the type at all,

You'd meet him on the street, And never notice him.

…And I can't explain,It's surely not his brain

That makes me thrill -I love him because he's wonderful,

Because he's just my Bill.” -From “Show Boat” by Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein ll

Sara Carner of Carner Barcelona via @carnerbarcelona Instagram

I have a new love. A new obsession. His name is Bill, and he is indeed wonderful. When he lies against my skin it’s a deeply intense and beautiful thing. Sweet William (I call him Bill), Sara Carner of Carner Barcelona’s tribute to the carnation and languishing romantic young dandies, is a completely unforgettable and extraordinary kind of Bill…..er….perfume!                                                                                                                                 

Detail of Carnation Botanical Print

“During times of gallantry lovelorn bachelors sat to have their portrait painted with a red carnation, a Sweet William, symbolizing their search for true love. Exotic spicy notes of cardamom and white pepper mix together like poetry with rose water, ylang ylang and iris notes, composing a long-lasting richness and essence of nobility. A scent that will charm and infatuate the soul.” -Carner Barcelona.  I’ve loved carnations since I was a child. Many folks might consider them a bit “outré”, but they’re probably remembering those supermarket bouquets in garish colors not appearing in nature.Those carnations are almost always devoid of scent and can’t hold a candle to the blooms fresh out of a florists cooler: a vase of those carnations will fill a house with their alluring sweet-clove sultriness. As a teenager my best friends’ mother always had bars of Blue Carnation soap in her bathrooms; that iconic and sadly discontinued Roger & Gallet fragrance. I have pined for it ever since it disappeared. Carner Barcelona Sweet William fills the void perfectly, and like those swooning men of days gone by clutching a carnation in remembrance of love, Sweet William asks me to rise up from the fainting couch, shake off my blues and rejoin the human race.

Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas and colorized by MC

From the very first spicy spray full of clove-redolent dianthus and galangal, Sweet William and I were fated to be more than friends. This is a perfume that just flat-out makes me happy, but in a lovely and satisfying melancholy way. The dianthus (carnation) is the star here, with a pepper/ cinnamon edge to add verve and galangal supplying pungent bitter & fresh citrus notes. I find a whiff of ylang and the sweet narcotic night blooming tobacco, but Carner Barcelona Sweet William is truly so much more than the sum of its parts, and is blended to perfection. The base is all smooth amber and styrax, and an unsweetened vanilla that warms and comforts, and creates an all-around beautiful perfume that has me sighing with delight.

Notes: White pepper, cardamom, Laotian cinnamon bark, galangal, water Dianthus superbus scentrek (a headspace derived carnation), ylang ylang from Comoros Islands, rose water extract, night blooming tobacco flower, Ambrarome, styrax, Florentine iris, vanilla absolute.

Disclosure: Thanks so much to Europerfumes. The opinions are my own.

–Robert Herrmann, Senior Editor

-Art Direction: Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief

Follow us on Instagram @Cafleurebon @fragrantwanderer @official_europerfumes @carnerbarcelona

Available at @twistedlily @osmeperfumery

Carner Barcelona Sweet William collage by Robert H

Thanks to the generosity of Europerfumes, the USA distributor of Carner Barcelona we have a 100 ml. tester bottle of Carner Barcelona Sweet William for one lucky reader in the USA. The draw is for registered readers only, so be sure to register if you have not done so. To be eligible please let us know what you thought of Robert’s review of Carner Barcelona Sweet William and your favorite Carner Barcelona perfume. Draw closes 2/13/2019           

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like ÇaFleureBon and use our Blog feed…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

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32 comments

  • fazalcheema says:

    The name of Sweet William gives useful clues into the composition. It is lovely and sweet but also has melancholy elements. Oscar Wilde is a good reference, given his astute observations about romance. My favorite Carner is D600. I am in US.

  • spritzi says:

    Dear Robert, what a great read! Very timely for me, too. Each year I concentrate on one note and try to explore and learn as much as possible about it. 2019 is the year of the carnation for me! I am a huge fan of Carner but oddly have not tried Sweet William. Will have to remedy that immediately.
    Not entering the draw, but at the moment my 2 favorites from Carner are Rose & Dragon and Palo Santo.
    Best,
    Marianne

  • RaePerfumeSoul says:

    I find clove lovely in fragrance. Interesting to note that red carnations symbolize search for true love!!

    I have a decant of D600 which is quite nice in the winter cold.

    USA.

  • INYA says:

    I grew carnations and dianthus in my garden, and yes they smell of cloves! I haven’t tried any Carner Barcelona fragrances, but I’m going to try and find a sample set soon. Thanks for the opportunity! USA

  • Gabriel Garcia says:

    Nice review, I have not tried sweet William, and not familiar with Dianthus, it sounds romance from another time, but with a fresh perspective.
    Oacar wilde is still and eternal romantic for sure.
    My favorite carner is el born.
    Las Vegas NV USA

  • Belladonna says:

    I thought I had all the great carnation fragrances – there’s one I missed! Robert’s review is a compelling argument for all the reasons to love carnation and try this scent. I have enjoyed all the Carner Barcelona I have tried – stand outs include Latin Lover and Rose and Dragon. Thanks for such a generous drawing. In the US

  • Diana D says:

    This sounds like a lovely fragrance! I chuckled when I read you were having a love affair with “Bill”. 🙂 I love carnations. I’m not sure I’ve ever smelled a fragrance that used carnation as the dominant note.
    I live in the USA

  • Pato Loco says:

    This was a very good review, and intriguing scent profile. El Born is my current favorite from this house. Thanks for including me in the drawing. USA

  • Monica Beaton says:

    I know they’re not fashionable or exotic but I love carnations – I love their frilly petals and their heady spicy fragrance – I always have. I remember buying white ones, putting them in a vase with a little food colouring, and watching as the colour was drawn into the petals – magic! Lovely post, and Sweet William sounds sublime! I live in Australia

  • gtabasso says:

    I love carnation, too, and laughed at the love affair with Bill. That’s the way it really is! Thank you for this fine giveaway. I hope I “get lucky” with Bill. I’m in USA.

  • Pamela says:

    Thank you Robert for this humorous and passionate review. I always think of carnations as funeral flowers without smell so I was excited to read the clove and iris as well as vanilla. My favorite Carner Barcelona are Tardes and Rima XI. I own bottles of both but missed Carner Barcelona Sweet William totally
    I live in the USA

  • audesko1 says:

    Wonderful article! I would love to try a beautiful carnation fragrance. I have not tried any Carner Barcelona fragrances. This would be my first one. Thank you for the chance. I live in the US.

  • Steve A. says:

    Carnation done right can make a wonderful perfume. I love the accompanying notes in this. I have enjoyed D600 from this house. US

  • VerbenaLuvvr says:

    I grow the bi-color mauve/white sweet williams in my garden but you’re right–they emit no noticeable fragrance. I have not sampled yet from Carner Barcelona, but do have and enjoy wearing CdG Red, another carnation-based scent. I live in the US and thank you for the generous draw.

  • Tami H. says:

    Oooooh. This sounds wonderful! Here’s my favorite part.

    From the very first spicy spray full of clove-redolent dianthus and galangal, Sweet William and I were fated to be more than friends. This is a perfume that just flat-out makes me happy, but in a lovely and satisfying melancholy way. The dianthus (carnation) is the star here, with a pepper/ cinnamon edge to add verve and galangal supplying pungent bitter & fresh citrus notes. I find a whiff of ylang and the sweet narcotic night blooming tobacco, but Carner Barcelona Sweet William is truly so much more than the sum of its parts, and is blended to perfection. The base is all smooth amber and styrax, and an unsweetened vanilla that warms and comforts, and creates an all-around beautiful perfume that has me sighing with delight.

    Thanks for the generous giveaway, I live in the U.S.
    My favorite CB scent is D600

  • LauraC says:

    I used to look down on carnations. But then I smelled Bellodgia and I had to completely reconsider my stance. I don’t think I have smelled any other carnation perfumes although I would love to. The amber and vanilla base of Sweet William make it quite appealing. I hope it also has the spicy notes that I now associate with carnations. I am yet to sample anything from Carner Barcelona. I am in the USA.

  • NiceVULady says:

    I love carnations and dianthus. That spicy clove smell is one of my favorites. Sweet William sounds like something that I will have to try. I haven’t sampled anything from Carner Barcelona, but I would certainly want to try this one. Lovely review. Thanks for this latest in a long line of great reviews and for this fabulous draw. I’m in the USA

  • doveskylark says:

    I love the smell when a florist opens the cooler in a flower shop! It’s definitely how I think of carnations. I also think of Poivre by Caron. I wish we lived in a time where people wore flowers more often.
    I haven’t tried anything from Carner Barcelona. I would like to try Cuirs.
    I live in the USA.

  • patrick_348 says:

    I like so much the way the review made the fragrance sound both old-fashioned and thoroughly contemporary at the same time. I like how the writer incorporated his persona memories into the review. I have never tried a Carner Barcelona fragrance, but I would very much like to. I live in the US, in North Carolina.

  • Christie says:

    Thanks for the review, Robert. I have never tried a Carner Barcelona fragrance but the smell of fresh carnations brings back childhood memories that make me smile. I would love to try this fragrance. In the USA

  • mmkpa says:

    Wonderful review. I love spices and the smell of carnations reminds me of my grandmother. I am in the US.

  • Amy M. says:

    Wonderful review by Robert. Ylang, unsweet Vanilla, Rosewater, and Dianthus along with the Carnation sounds gorgeous. I like how he describes it as a scent that makes him happy, yet in a melancholy way. That’s how Apres L’Ondee makes me feel.

    I have and love Rima XI. I live in the U.S. and thanks for the draw!

  • JenD says:

    The Showboat lines fit the Bill *ahem* for me. I did work as a florist, and fresh carnations used to overwhelm my sense of smell, bordering on headaches. But then I was given a small sample of Sweet William and fell in love in spite of myself. I would adore a full bottle to cherish this Spring! Sweet William is the only Carner Barcelona scent I have had the pleasure of trying so far. I’m in the U.S. Many thanks for the draw!

  • Onyinye says:

    I liked when he described it as…’The base is all smooth amber and styrax, and an unsweetened vanilla that warms and comforts, and creates an all-around beautiful perfume’. I love carnations.
    I’ve never heard about Carner Barcelona perfume so no favorites test.
    I live in USA.

  • Dosva says:

    Thanks for this romantic review!
    Mostly I liked this part: “Sweet William fills the void perfectly, and like those swooning men of days gone by clutching a carnation in remembrance of love..”. Perfect!
    I like carnation, and I am interested in testing this beautiful “melancholy” perfume!
    USA

  • roxhas1cat says:

    I love carnations, probably because they last longer in a vase than other flowers. I liked the line that “sweet William and I were fated to be more than friends”. Can’t go wrong with a fragrance that just makes a person happy! My favorite from this line is Tardes. I haven’t smelled many from this line. I’d love to win this. Thanks for the review Robert! USA

  • Hasib says:

    Interesting fragrance. Opens up with some spice and sweetens up lightly. Mentioned that this fragrance makes him happy. Not much experience with theHouse of Carner Barcelona. Thanks for the giveaway
    U.S

  • Dubaiscents says:

    I am not sure what “night blooming tobacco” smells like but I am intrigued! I love a good spicy carnation scent and this sounds right up my alley. I really love Sandor 70’s from this line as well as Cuirs from the original scents. I live in the US.

  • Ginny M says:

    If it’s swoon-worthy for Robert, it must be a truly amazing fragrance! All the notes sound wonderful, but I love the idea of a spicy carnation that leads one down the garden path to an unsweetened vanilla. What a delight! I live in the USA.

  • Robert H. says:

    Thanks y’all for the marvelous comments! Great to know there are so many other carnation lovers out there. I hope you get to try the perfume, it’s really terrific. Xoxo Robert

  • Caliwas says:

    I love the idea of spicy carnation that sounds amazing. Great review and as alover of carnations I would love to get my nose on this one. I live in CA, USA.

  • Ivan.napoleon says:

    I have not tried carner yet.
    Great mix of notes really appeals.
    Id love to win this
    Miami Florida Thanks