Our take
What does Canoë smell like?
Jean Carles, then working for Roure, created Canoë in Paris in 1935 for Dana. It reached the United States the following year, which is why 1936 is the date you usually see. The opening is textbook fougère: lavender, bergamot and petitgrain, clean and slightly bitter. Geranium and clove follow. They give the heart the spicy smell of an old-school barber, with dry cedar in the background. The base is softer than you expect. Oakmoss meets powdery vanilla and heliotrope, then a musk that recalls shaving soap. Patchouli stays in the shadows. Dana still sells Canoë, but the formula has been reorchestrated and the brand's current pyramid is shorter than the original. Recent bottles smell lighter than old ones as a result.
When to wear it
A daytime scent for spring or autumn, at work or on a Sunday. Be generous with four sprays, as it doesn't project much.
It belongs to the Fougère, Aromatic family. Canoë is one of 1 creations by Dana in our encyclopedia.
