Orange BlossomOpens with
LilyHeart
MuskDries down to
Alberto MorillasThe nose · 479 fragrances · also made Valentino Uomo Intense 2021 (2021)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Carolina Herrera · Sold as feminine
212
The crisp morning light reflecting off skyscrapers as you step out for a day in the city, feeling polished and ready.
Full bottle: Premium tier, typically $100–250. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
212Premium · $100–250
60%Similar accords, often for lessVera Wang · Vera WangMid-range tier, $40–100 · shares 6 of its 10 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
BaseFoundation
The story behind the bottle.
Launched in 1997 by Carolina Herrera, 212 is a fragrance that encapsulates the essence of New York City. Its name references Manhattan's original telephone area code, and it was introduced with a two-bottle set (one for home, one for travel) tied to this city-centric concept. The composition opens with bright citrus notes like bergamot and mandarin orange, leading into a heart rich in white floral accords such as orange blossom, jasmine, and lily-of-the-valley. This is anchored by musky and powdery base notes, evoking the sophisticated and enduring quality of New York's skyline.
This fragrance blooms best when applied to pulse points, allowing the citrus top notes to give way to its floral heart over time. The musk base develops slowly, so it's ideal for daytime wear when you want a scent that evolves naturally throughout your day.
Fig. 01 — 212, Carolina Herrera
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
A decant costs a fraction of a bottle and tells you how it lasts on your skin.
Live prices aren't shown yet. Each link opens that seller's own search; we may earn a commission.
Not sure it's you?
Five questions, about a minute, no account. You get a shortlist that fits how you actually wear fragrance.
Alberto Morillas
The invisible architectAlberto Morillas is one of the most prolific and celebrated perfumers of the modern era. Born in Seville and trained in Geneva at Firmenich, he possesses an extraordinary gift for constructing fragrances that feel simultaneously complex and effortless.
“Technique is important, but it's the perfumer's soul that makes the difference.”
Alberto Morillas · Mizensir journal ('Nose-to-nose with founder Alberto Morillas'), July 2025
The 212 line
84 fragrances, compared side by side
Designer Carolina Herrera
More from the house · founded 1980 · Venezuela
You Might Also Like
Chosen from what wearers say it smells like, what its fans also love, and its notes
Love it, not the $100–250 price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The original212Carolina Herrera · Premium · $100–250Vera Wang · 2002Vera WangShares 6 of its 10 notes$40–100★ 3.80 (1,504)80%Match
Le Chameau · 2025Melissa Wildflower KissShares 6 of its 17 notesunder $40★ 4.50 (2)54%Match
ALREHAB PERFUMES · 20151975Shares 6 of its 9 notesunder $40★ 4.24 (17)71%Match
Le Chameau · 2025Whispers Of New YorkShares 6 of its 19 notesunder $40
With Ajmal My Wonder
Adds amber, vanilla and sweet; shares orange blossom and sandalwood.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Well loved by wearers: loved by 34%, disliked or hated by 14%.