Classic/Well-Known:
* Chanel (various): This is the most obvious and prolific. Chanel has a *huge* range of perfumes, and many are iconic. Examples include:
* Chanel No. 5: Arguably *the* most famous perfume in the world.
* Chanel Coco: A spicy, oriental fragrance.
* Chanel Coco Mademoiselle: A modern, fresher take on Coco.
* Chanel Cristalle: A fresh, green, and citrusy scent.
* Chanel Chance: A playful, floral fragrance.
* Chanel Chance Eau Fraîche: A lighter, zestier version of Chance.
* Chanel Chance Eau Tendre: A softer, more floral version of Chance.
* Chanel Coromandel (Les Exclusifs de Chanel): A richer, more intense oriental.
* Cacharel (various): Cacharel is another brand with a few popular "C" scents:
* Cacharel Anais Anais: A classic, very floral, romantic scent.
* Cacharel LouLou: A bold, powdery, oriental fragrance (some sources consider it as such).
* Cacharel Amor Amor: Not starting with "C" but could be easily confused.
* Courrèges (various): Another French design house with perfumes
* Courrèges Empreinte
* Cardin (Pierre Cardin) (various): Known for fashion and fragrances.
* Cardin Choc: A classic fragrance.
Other French Perfume Brands/Fragrances (less ubiquitous, but worth noting):
* Caron (various): Caron is a long-standing French perfume house with a rich history.
* Caron Narcisse Noir: A bold, dramatic floral.
* Caron Pour Un Homme: A classic lavender-vanilla men's fragrance.
* Caron Tabac Blond: A smoky, leathery, tobacco-tinged scent.
* Creed (various): Though not strictly *only* French, Creed has a strong French heritage.
* Creed Aventus: Very popular men's fragrance (not starting with C, but included for context).
* Creed Cedre Blanc
* Creed Citrus Bigarrade
* Comptoir Sud Pacifique (various): A niche brand known for its tropical and gourmand scents.
* Christian Dior (various): A lot of Dior fragrances do not start with C, but it is good to note the designer.
Important Considerations:
* Availability: Some of the older or niche fragrances may be harder to find in mainstream stores. You might need to look at online retailers specializing in perfume or vintage/discontinued scents.
* Formulations: Perfume formulations can change over time (reformulated). A vintage version of a fragrance might smell quite different from a newer version.
* Personal Taste: Ultimately, the "best" perfume is subjective. What one person loves, another might dislike. Sampling is always recommended whenever possible.
To help me narrow down the list for you, you could tell me what kind of scents you are interested in (floral, oriental, citrus, woody, etc.). For example, are you looking for a classic, vintage perfume, or a more modern and trendy one?