Lance Carson
Van Cleef & Arpels is a luxury fragrance brand that was born out of a love story between Dutch craftsman Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels, the daughter of a dealer in precious stones. The brand's perfumes are known for their high-end scent profiles, ranging from sweet and floral to woody and musky. One of the brand's most notable perfumes is First, which was launched in 1976 and was the first 'jewellery house' fragrance. It has been described as a sublime, timeless, and elegant masterpiece with a strong presence of aldehydes and a green, fresh, and spicy scent profile. Another notable scent is Encens Précieux, a woody and spicy fragrance with hints of vanilla and rose. The brand also offers unique blends such as Rose Rouge, a sweet and spicy rose scent, and Reve d'Encens, a vanillic and smoky fragrance. With a range of exquisite fragrances, Van Cleef & Arpels brings a touch of luxury to the world of perfumes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scent | Sweet, floral, woody, musky, vanilla, rose, citrus, fruity, spicy, bitter |
| Price | £145 for 75ml |
| Brand | Van Cleef & Arpels |
| Specific fragrances | Reve d'Encens, Neroli Amara, Moonlight Patchouli, Santal Blanc, Bois Dore, Encens Precieux, First |
| First impressions | Similar to Chanel No. 5, Salvador Dali parfum de toilette, classy, expensive, soapy, bitter, elegant |
| Dry down | Warm, honey, spicy, nice, elegant |
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What You'll Learn
Van Cleef & Arpels' First: a floral aldehydic masterpiece
Van Cleef & Arpels is a love story between Dutch craftsman Alfred Van Cleef and Estelle Arpels, the daughter of a dealer in precious stones. In 1906, they opened their doors to Paris's elite in the Place Vendôme, which is still home to the world's greatest jewellery houses.
In 1976, Van Cleef & Arpels launched its first fragrance, 'First', a floral aldehydic masterpiece. It was the first 'jewellery house' fragrance in the world. As Pierre Arpels commented, "I dreamed of a perfume in the image of our jewels: discreet but precious, fleeting but very present."
First by Van Cleef & Arpels is a green and light scent, perfect for warmer weather. It has a strong and spicy opening, but the dry-down is beautiful and elegant. It is a timeless, exquisite masterpiece that matches the jewellery of Van Cleef & Arpels. The perfume critic Barbara Herman describes it as “the perfume equivalent of those floral arrangements seen in the lobbies of expensive hotels”.
First uses aldehyde accord in the top notes to frame and highlight a green and fresh hyacinth. It has a perfect balance of flowery, warm, aldehydic, and spicy notes. It is a vintage perfume with a classy, soapy, bitter, and pinchy smell.
Van Cleef & Arpels continues to create exquisite fragrances with extra sparkle, working with many of the world's greatest noses, including Nathalie Lorson and Antoine Maisondeau.
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Encens Précieux: woody, spicy, and sophisticated
Encens Précieux is a luxurious, woody, spicy, and sophisticated fragrance by Van Cleef & Arpels. It is a unisex perfume that was launched in 2024. The perfume is inspired by the scorching heat of the desert and is wrapped in mystery. Encens Précieux is a multi-faceted fragrance with a rich and elegant scent. It has a powerful opening with notes of black pepper, softened by pink pepper. The heart of the fragrance is a blend of incense, myrrh, and leather, creating a recognisable and charismatic atmosphere. The base notes are amber, vanilla, and tobacco, which linger on the skin. The vanilla and rose notes in Encens Précieux help to lift the richer notes, creating a beautifully balanced finish.
Encens Précieux is a unique and captivating fragrance that embodies the mysteries of its main ingredient, incense. The perfume is long-lasting and has a strong projection, making it an ideal choice for those who want their scent to be noticed. The combination of spicy, woody, and warm notes makes it a perfect fragrance for cold winter days, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to the wearer's style.
Encens Précieux is an excellent choice for those who appreciate complex and contrasting scents. The interplay between the sharp, airy notes of pepper and the warm, smoky accords of incense, myrrh, and leather creates a multi-dimensional sensory experience. The dry-down of the fragrance is less leather-focused and more gourmand, with a hint of vanilla that adds a velvety touch to the scent trail.
The bottle design of Encens Précieux reflects the elegance and luxury of the Van Cleef & Arpels brand. The perfume is an excellent addition to the brand's collection of high-end fragrances, offering a unique and memorable olfactory journey that captivates the senses. Encens Précieux is a testament to the brand's expertise in creating exquisite fragrances that complement their renowned jewellery collections.
Overall, Encens Précieux by Van Cleef & Arpels is a sophisticated and luxurious fragrance that combines woody and spicy notes with a touch of elegance and mystery. It is a well-balanced and captivating scent that lingers on the skin, making it a perfect choice for those who appreciate sophisticated and complex perfumes. Encens Précieux embodies the richness and contrasts of its ingredients, offering a unique olfactory experience reminiscent of the scorching desert heat.
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Rose Rouge: sweet, spicy, and bitter
Rose Rouge by Van Cleef & Arpels is a sophisticated fragrance that combines sweet, spicy, and bitter notes to create a rich and deep scent. The sweetness in this perfume comes from the juicy blackcurrant, while spicy pink peppercorn and bitter cacao add a sophisticated edge to the fragrance. This unique blend of flavours makes Rose Rouge an ideal everyday perfume for those who enjoy deeper and richer scents.
Rose Rouge is a part of the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection Extraordinaire, which is inspired by the beauty of nature and captures specific flowers in their perfumes. The brand offers a wide range of luxury fragrances that cater to different preferences, including sweet, floral, woody, and musky scents.
One of the brand's newest perfumes is Encens Précieux, a luxurious and sophisticated fragrance with woody and spicy notes. It leaves a lingering scent on the skin and features hints of vanilla and rose, creating a beautifully balanced finish.
Another notable scent from Van Cleef & Arpels is First, a timeless masterpiece that was the first 'jewellery house' fragrance launched in 1976. It is described as having a perfect balance of flowery, warm, aldehydic, and spicy notes, giving it an elegant and expensive-smelling character.
Van Cleef & Arpels was founded by Dutch craftsman Alfred Van Cleef and his brother-in-law Charles Arpels, inspired by Alfred's love for Estelle Arpels, the daughter of a dealer in precious stones. The brand has become synonymous with five themes: nature, couture, Art Deco, and two others beginning with 'Trans'.
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Reve d'Encens: smokey and vanillic
Van Cleef & Arpels' Rêve d'Encens is an oriental woody fragrance for men and women, inspired by the sacred ingredient incense. The perfume is a blend of incense, vanilla, saffron, and rose, with base notes of sandalwood and white musk.
The top notes of saffron create a decadent trail of embracing warmth, while the heart notes of rose add a lingering floral quality. The deep base of musk and sandalwood gives the fragrance a sensual aura. Overall, the scent is described as "smoky and very vanillic" with a bit of a
The perfume has a long-lasting presence, with reviewers noting that it can last a day even after showering. The bottle design is also praised as "a genuine work of art," featuring a gold metal plate and presented in a luxurious black lacquered wood box.
Rêve d'Encens is part of the Van Cleef & Arpels Collection Extraordinaire, a range of luxurious fragrances that mirror the philosophy of the brand's jewellery collections. The house's fragrances bring together rare ingredients in compelling scents, presented in perfectly crafted bottles.
The brand Van Cleef & Arpels is known for its luxury perfumes, offering a wide range of scents to cater to different preferences, including sweet, floral, woody, and musky fragrances.
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Moonlight Patchouli: patchouli, leather, and fruit
Moonlight Patchouli by Van Cleef & Arpels is a woody Chypre fragrance for women and men. It was launched in 2016, with a new version released in 2022. The nose behind the original fragrance is Sonia Constant.
The top notes of this perfume are patchouli leaf, cacao, and woodsy notes. The middle notes are Bulgarian rose and iris flower, with base notes of suede, leather, and fruity notes. The composition opens with aromatic patchouli leaf, with the warmth of cacao and woody undertones. This transitions to a heart of Bulgarian rose and iris floralcy. The base combines leather and suede textures with subtle fruity nuances.
The fragrance is described as having a wonderful blend of notes, with the fruity notes adding a subtle sweetness to the deep red rose and earthy patchouli. The rose and patchouli complement each other, forming a lightly chocolatey and elegantly understated scent. The leather notes are strong, adding depth and darkness to the fragrance.
Moonlight Patchouli is said to be a pure elegance in a bottle, with a rich, dark, and smooth scent. It is long-lasting, with great performance on the skin, and is described as deep, romantic, and mysterious. It is perfect for cool nights, intimate settings, and colder seasons, although with careful sprays, it can be worn year-round.
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Frequently asked questions
First, launched in 1976, is a green, light, and refreshing scent. It has been described as "elegant and beautiful", with a strong, spicy opening that dries down to a warm honey note.
Some of their perfumes include Encens Précieux, Reve d'Encens, Neroli Amara, Moonlight Patchouli, and Rose Rouge.
Encens Précieux is a woody and spicy fragrance with hints of vanilla and rose.
Neroli Amara is a bitter-sweet citrus fragrance.
Rose Rouge is a sweet fragrance with notes of blackcurrant, pink peppercorn, and cacao.
