Canoé is an eau de toilette composed by Jean Carles for the house of Dana, in Paris, in 1935. Dana now describes it as an aromatic fougère and a true expression of masculinity: bergamot and petitgrain at the top, a heart of lavender, fougère accord and geranium, and a base of patchouli and musk. Brought to America by U.S. soldiers, the fragrance is part of the Smithsonian’s collections.
Sergey Borisov (Fragrantica) compares a 1972 eau de cologne with today’s eau de toilette: two classics of soapy, genderless cleanliness, the modern version greener, the older one softer and more vanillic.
Olfastory’s review
Fragrantica, January 2019
Sergey Borisov compares the Extra-Rich Cologne Canoe Royale, made in France in 1972, with today’s eau de toilette, produced in the United States. Clary sage and geranium seem clearer to him in the modern version, greener and spicier; the older one is softer, fluffier and more vanillic.
In both, he smells simple cleanliness, soap lather and well-groomed skin, with no hint of gender. He likens the modern version to Caron’s Pour un Homme and to Brut, the older one to Patou’s Ma Liberté, and considers both classics.