Van Cleef Van Cleef & Arpels for women

it's a scent of warm sand on the beach :)
quite long lasting and...reminds me of Dune
probably Dune is just more floral and this one is more amberry

This is like a Bal a Versailles or Ciara for the 90's. Fruity, herbal, floral, woodsy, resins, vanilla musk and amber.

I just purchased a bottle, it is now in the rectangular packaging like the current range, with Van Cleef written in the original font. It is exclusive to the Vendôme boutique. The sales person had no idea it existed until checking stock.

Van Cleef is sold again, in the rectangle bottle of « Collection Les Classiques » together with Tsar and Pour Homme.
I saw the bottle yesterday at 22 Place Vendôme Paris boutique but didn’t try it as I already had my arms covered with scents I sampled there.

Wowsers! The longevity and projection are excellent on this one. I sprayed 3 sprays in the morning before I started my day. 7 hours later my son comes back from school and says he could smell my perfume all the way down the hallway of our building (I had popped outside and back just before that). Van Cleef has enveloped me in its glow all day...I can't get enough of this golden herbal honey of a perfume.

I have a full bottle of 50ml of this, boxed, just tested. If you are interested in buying or trading, hit me with a message.

This is not my cup of tea - it reminds me of D&G red but upon testing it doesn’t agree with my skin.

This perfume smells like laundry detergent to me. That’s not a bad smell, but it’s just ok. Not really what I expected from the notes listed.

Finally, i picked up bottle of Van Cleef after thinking about it for years. I never was able to sample this in a retail counter. Van Cleef & Arples was never really part of the American fragrance landscape, unfortunately. To a true fan, this house will always be a hidden gem.

This big beauty defines the mid 90s in the best way possible. It is a dramatic floral with style that was trendy and seductive. It opens with green galbanum and marigold that is like a walk in a summer park in the sunshine. However, the heart notes are very reminiscent of RL Safari. This is not a bad thing. Green, sweet florals sit well in this sultry composition. There is plenty of oakmoss and vetiver involved lending Van Cleef a classic floral character.

Oh my, what a lovely vintage. Galbanum is a hard note for me to tolerate. In this creation, the green bitterness is smoothed by the marigold and rose. The sandalwood and vanilla are beautiful and soothing. Reminds me of vintage Annick Goutal Heure Exquise. Very natural and well blended.

This is a really pretty bittersweet perfume. I struggle w/ galbanum as a note but here it is done w/ a deft hand. I love marigolds and tagetes in perfume and here marigolds give that unique creamy yellow/green smell that I love. I find this leaning feminine, but I would actually like to smell a man wear this. I think the geranium gives a bit of a masculine touch to this fragrance. Softly green, softly aromatic, creamy, softly spicy, slightly bitter, slightly fruity, slightly sweet, yellow, white and pink floral perfume. I wish this had been out back in the 70's when I was in grade school. It would have been a welcome change to the sharply green aldehydes I had to smell on teachers back then. I think the added fruity notes soften green and aromatic fragrances like this and make them more pleasant to be around and to wear. This is going on my want shelf, just went to a love. This is good juice.

Edit: 7/25/22 how sad that this has been discontinued. I really want a bottle of this but I probably won't get it. Van Cleef is really beautiful and very different than what I usually go for or own. So damn disappointing!

We've been having unseasonable cool weather in the north-east US, so I've been wearing a lot of perfumes I normally reserve for cooler weather. Wearing this all day today and I still love this bittersweet fragrance just as much as the first time I wore it. I had to go to the library after work, and the machine screwed up as I was trying to take out a book, so the librarian had to come over to clear it out. Standing next to me she turned and said, "My, you smell beautiful! What perfume are you wearing?"
By this time, it was after 5pm and I had it on from 7:30 in the morning, after only using my usual number of sprays. Yet despite that little amount, and how long it was on, I could still smell it clearly around me and so could she. (I can still smell it right now btw.) That great performance was for the later edp version made by Parfums International, which did a terrific job as it smells and performs no differently to me from the vintage.
Even though I already left a review for this, I have to sing its praises once more and also express how sad I am that this has been discontinued. That is such a great loss for the perfume world because this is such an unusually, beautiful perfume. Other perfumes may have similar notes, but this is head and shoulders above the rest. There's only one Van Cleef and I am devastated that it will no longer be easily available. Fortunately, I have a backup bottle because I knew from the first time I smelled it that this was one fragrance I never want to be without. Now I am going to be extra careful and treasure every drop.

I recently got my hands on vintage mini perfume. I fell into trance.
Suddenly It's 1994 and I am drinking champagne out of thin glasses in sparkly dress, somewhere between tacky and beautiful..but I dont care. Background is filled with Henry Mancini music and tall dark stranger is on the balcony..waiting for me.
This is some other time and place, this literally takes you back and encourage the thought that things were different back then. They were.. So were the fragrances. No doubt about it.
This is poetry, these are memories , like collective memories...

I just recently discovered this and now I'm so sad that I'm late to the party and it's discontinued. This is a gorgeous, refined, rich, opulent and vintage inspired floriental. As a lover of another classic, Ralph Lauren's Safari, this is very much in the same genre. It's like a sweeter, fruitier, creamier and slightly more powdery version of Safari. It's very well blended in the classic "perfume" style, in that no one note overpowers the others, but if you pay attention, you can definitely pick out some of its individual notes. I detect the marigold and galbanum in the opening, the sweetness from the raspberry comes through and the tonka lends a slight powderiness to the composition. Everything is beautifully rounded and velvety, with no harsh edges. A very sophisticated scent, that would leave a memorable, elegant trail for anyone who wears it.

As one of my all time favourites , I’m so sad it’s discontinued.
However the good news is I have found something
strikingly similar ( as others have as it’s been ticked in the reminds me of section)
Please try M. Micallef floral 11 .
Before you notice it’s more expensive, you can buy it much cheaper by buying the 100 ml bottle of it being labelled as “ recharge/ refill 11” for very little money on eBay, £15-£30 ( brown box with red writing ) Not sure why it’s called refill as it has an atomiser on its on bottle so you don’t need to have purchased anything else prior ! But it’s soooo good and it has monster silage and longevity, I can smell it on my coat one week later and to me is almost identical to VC.
Hope this helps someone!

Smells like old money...opulent and luxurious. A masterpiece.

This perfume is amazing, but it seems as though it has been discontinued. Any suggestions where I can find it will be much appreciated. Alternatively, which other perfumes are similar?

very aromatic i find it kind of green quite woody and spicy i really like this scent. One of the only ones i found so woody warm and perfect for winter that still smells feminine

This is delight.... Very velvety, yummy, heart touching hug from a closely beloved person, who you cant see everyday feels like this.... You have to say mmmmmmmm, when you smell and feel this. I cant describe the scent with words... I dont get the ingredients standing out, they are really well blended but it is a scent that you will feel - I mean with your senses and feelings, not nose.

I like this because it's well blended. I am reviewing the vintage version of this and on my clothes it is an obvious floriental and I am enjoying the spices and the hint of vanilla mixed w the flowers I can't really tell what flowers are here. On my skin this turns powdery - soft and s bit spicy with just a hint of floral and vanilla.

It's interesting how different it smells on my skin and I prefer it on my clothes because it develops more and projects more.

This is an easy to wear warm vintage scent that develops quite well as the time goes by.

This puts me in the mind of Dolce Gabbana red cap..not as fluffy warm towel-ish but in the same vein I feel.

This has become my signature! The aromatics mixed with the florals then the super warm but fresh dry down is so captivating to me! There’s nothing els like it. Safari does smell very similar but it’s not at all sweet and has a cigarette smoke tinge. This is so special to me.

In the 1990s I got Van Cleef from my father - who travelled a lot and was an avid perfume purchaser. I did not like it at first, I was into breezy male scents instead. After a few years I gave it a second chance, and what do you know: Daddy is always right. About perfume. Ha ha.

Van Cleef became my on-and-off signature for quite a few years. (Those were the days when I still had 2-3 perfumes instead of an army.)

How to describe it? It is like a thermonuclear bomb. You spray it and it is EVERYWHERE. Van Cleef is sweet from the tonka beans and the vanilla and bitter from the galbanum.

I still love it for its quality and complexity. Seriously, this is superior to many niche scents. However I do not use it often anymore, because it does not smell (yes, I dare to say it) modern.

Galbanum is not much used in newer perfumes, and I guess I got out of habit of smelling it and have starting to be slightly shocked by it. It is a pity somehow.

A hidden gem from my collection. I have the pure perfume of Van Cleef and it's so plush with fragrant notes. I have only worn the perfume version and I love the way it warms and rounds out on my skin.

Although the ingredients are not the same as D&G pour femme of 1992, it shares a few similar notes and for me it gives me the same *feel* or impression as that original D&G does.
Again, that is my experience of how I feel when I wear this.
It is almost a "balm" effect more than a perfume.

This perfume could easily fit into an old Hollywood glam setting but I'm wearing it for my work at home yoga pants and tee and pretending I'm in satin charmeuse. LOL!

I agree that if you like perfumes like Rumba (I do) and rich full bodied perfumes with a classic attitude, you may like this one.

I tried this for the first time today, courtesy of a decant from a friend and fellow Fragrantician. One spray to my left wrist - "What IS this?", I thought. I am not familiar with marigold as a note. Reading some of the reviews, I found out it is actually calendula, which I am familiar with, and yes, that is what I smelled for sure. I sense a slight bitter green note - far from over powering, but present up front for a moment, which I now attribute to the galbanum. This settled quite quickly on my skin, and from that point on, it settled into a velvety, intoxicating raspberry vanilla. There is something balsamic lurking at the base, and I am sort of surprised not to see anything in the note pyramid suggestive of any resins, not even amber or benzoin, which is so frequently used in these types of fragrances. I suppose I can attribute that to the sandalwood. Other than the calendula, the only flower I could detect was orange flower, and even that was barely discernable. Now that I see that rose is a note, it makes sense to me. I can't detect it, but it just seems to go with the composition.

I immediately began searching for it on Ebay, and I now own an 80% full bottle of EDT. I am not certain if my decant was EDT or EDP, but the reviews seem to indicate that there is little difference. The price was very good, and if I feel the need to own the EDP at a later date, I have no need to feel any guilt over doing so. This is really a Magnificent scent, one that was never on my radar, but captured my heart immediately!

In the first few minutes I find the bergamot almost green and loud, and the geranium almost screechy, but it somehow doesn’t quite teeter off the edge into overbearing. Rich calendula (the loveliest sort of marigold, in my view) is present from the get-go, and my nose has to do a double-take (sometimes a triple-take) while it all settles. The first time I sprayed it I thought, what the hell? But that seems like a very long time ago.

Soon a buttery golden burnished scent comes through like a glow. The scent then gets softer, warmer, spicier over hours, and it’s all the more delightful for being solid and consistent.

I get the earlier reviewer’s reference to a bonfire … but this would be the glowing embers of fragranced woods sprinkled with spices – embers which happen to warm and illuminate the magic of the darkness, without the real-world sequelae of burnt things, ash and smoke.

If this is a statement perfume, then it’s a lovely statement to oneself, that it’s a glorious thing to be a human being and to have the opportunity to surround yourself with this very splendid scent. I can understand how it gives some wearers confidence. I don’t believe you need to be properly groomed to wear it though. This could transform your comfy old dressing gown into a regal robe of plush gold velvet, so you can be right royal there on the couch if you want to. Star Wars PJs, velour track suit, motorbike leathers, birthday suit – no outer wear could be unsuitable for a beautiful fragrance that you are really wearing in your heart.

I find this rather sweet and fruity for a chypre but that is an observation not a criticism. It's good to have variations within a genre especially if it's your favourite. I'm really picking out the raspberry and marigold and galbanum the most out of all. I don't find VC overwhelming I give myself a few generous sprays to get it just right and wear it pretty much anywhere I please. It's so classy.

Here is another very generous decant from Ana here on Fragrantica (thank you Ana!), the eponymous "Van Cleef" for Women.

The color of the fragrance, a deep amber, is perfect for the actual scent. Rich, slightly fruity (a tad like the first whiff of cough syrup, and that is not a bad thing! but that is what it reminds me of when I first spray it). A slight bitterness from the marigold and geranium, creamininess from the tonka and vanilla and anchored by the depth of the sandalwood. I do not smell any distinct florals here, more of the resins, bitter-syrup of the the raspberry note. It gets richer and slightly powdery (which I love!) as it dries down. Lasts a loooong time in my hair and I can smell it the next morning from the day before in my hair.

I never smelled it when it first came out so I do not know how the recent formula compares to the original. If you like the original Boucheron for Women and the original Bijan for Women, you will most likely like Van Cleef as well!

I found myself a small bottle of pure Parfum. I had EdT and EdP and now Parfum - and if you find pure Parfum in a 5 ml bottle, buy it. The 3 variations are lot alike each other, but Parfum is the most wellblended of them, round, warm, sexy, superwomanish. Not superstrong around you but when next person stands close to you it gets magic, and on my dry skin it sits for +12 hours or more.

This is a fragrance that makes me want to be ladylike. Wearing it today, I feel both open and welcoming but also chic and confident. Definitely a good choice for meetings and drinks after work and on into the evening as it works for all these scenarios, and lasts long enough as well. Thanks to the reviewers who convinced me that this was a good one. I can see myself finishing this bottle which is no mean feat with the collection I have. Loving myself in this!

So confusing!!
I bind bought it depending on the great reviews!!, and when I tried it, I find the beginning so sharp, and I thought its not the type of fragrances that I’m fond of!!!, but when it dried down, it became so luxurious and classy!!
It’s the type of fragrances that are really memorable and give you a powerful feeling whenever you where it, potent might be the right word, it’s indeed vintage, but it’s the type of vintage that I’m happy to where, I like to mix it with other fragrances, so it adds a depth to whatever I use with it!!
A water of Gold!

Finally got my hands on this gem. Very luxurious and elegant; the marigold, galbanum, and tonka are the stars of the show, with the vanilla and geranium serving as the stage.

It reminds me so much of 'Must de Cartier', it's definitely the galbanum and tonka notes. Whereas 'Must' is more powdery/amber/woody, 'Van Cleef' is more floral and decidedly more glamorous. She's the older, exceptionally well-traveled, classically glam sister of Must, who's more of a nighttime, clubbing aficionado younger sister with a flair for luxurious 70s leather.

Definite purchase, it wears very well in day and night, and it never gets cloying. Highly recommend.

Heavenly bliss in a bottle. It is so luscious, luxurious, and comforting. Just wearing it makes me feel like a million bucks. I get tons of compliments when wearing it too. I love it!

Update 4/8/19 - Just wanted to add that so many reviewers mention vanilla, which is a listed note. But for me it turns to a raspberry caramel. Simply delish!

This is a beautiful feminine fragrance!! If Boucheron Boucheron and Ciara had a baby, it would smell like this. I Love it!!!

CK's Obsession (original) without the depth, crossed with RL's Safari (original) without the dryness. Add in a touch of powder.

If you're familiar with and fond of both of those, Van Cleef should be a cake walk, and you'll absolutely recognize the other two in here.

Tastefully executed, mature - not for teeny boppers. Potent, so don't get spray happy. Loves cooler weather, but I can also see this in warmer times, if your indoors with climate control.

Honestly the kind of scent that you need proper grooming to wear - no chipped polish and no slouching. It's not prim and haughty - you just need confidence and a sense of self.

Can work with flannel and pearls, or in a board room. I'm going to enjoy this.

If you love the other two, this should be a safe purchase, but you may wish to sample it first.

Unique bottle and topper is appreciated.

A unique and beautiful classic perfume. The finest quality with great sillage and longevity. It has so many notes that it is hard to grasp any one of them but the fusion of them all works brilliantly. It is interesting how it develops as the day wears on. It shows up most more modern frags for the cheap, linear, chemical concoctions that they are. This one is quite green for me but with a sweetness that is comforting and joyous.

Exceeded my expectations by a mile. Classic, timeless, elegant - I can see this will get a lot of use. Projects boldly without being brash, dominant vanilla without the sugar hit.
A little polarising based on the diverse reviews here, so not a safe blind buy for some, although it worked out well for me.

Look at those notes, so unique a perfume...

I blind bought Van Cleef after reading the reviews. To me, it's all about marigold, it's fuzzy stem, geranium and tonka, with a little hay.

I see this as nondescript vintage. The fragrance doesn't strike me as particularly 90s (which is when it was launched); Nor does it strike me as 40s and 50s (which is what the bottle's esthetic SCREAMS to me).

I find this a warm fragrance; it begs to be worn in autumn, with gloves and hat, and hopefully with a pencil skirt below the knee.

It's a lovely addition to any collection where classics are appreciated. Inexpensive: yes, cheap: NEVER. I would not repurchase it, as I have other fragrances in my collection that I prefer, which fill the space of either full bodied floral, or autumnal fragrances (Opium Vapeurs de Parfum and Shalimar come to mind, among others). But, boy am I glad to have a glass bottle, of what I envision as 50s french glamour, grazing my collection!

Whom ever said: "it's all about the juice and not the packaging"?!

Not an expert in perfumes and their notes, so I cannot describe Van Cleef's character. However, I can say that this is a gorgeous fragrance. Reminds me of chai tea, spicy and warm. It is strong at the beginning but after awhile it transforms itself into a very comforting elegant presence. It is addictive! It reminds me of Kenzo Jungle l'elephant (which I also love). It last a long time. I got this perfume two weeks ago and just tried yesterday (I'm wearing today). I'm so fascinated by it!

This is an absolutely beautiful fragrance. I love rich spicy perfumes and this one does not disappoint. If you like Fendi, Kenzo Jungle, Coco Chanel, Boucheron,Alfred Sung Encore, you will love this one. What makes it unique from the ones I listed is the galbanum, which I love .... it's not as spicy as the ones I listed, but I think someone described it as 'creamy'. This was a blind buy. I love the galbanum in Safari and when I saw the fragrance notes, I had to buy it. It's completely different from Safari, but very classy.

I just got this beauty. I first got this citrus welcoming that transformed into a a powdery warm. I love it

Heavy, damp and cool. Mossy green, like Harris Tweed; herbal and a little sweet, like heather honey. I want to put on my suede-elbowed jacket and go beating pheasants out of a bush. The glamorous bottle makes you think you'll be wearing a ballgown but it's more like a well-made woollen suit.

I've heard of people saying certain fragrances smell like money. This is one of them.

Van Cleef is a robust, thick and strong fragrance. It most definitely carries a vintage vibe so if you are a fan of the 90's this one would be for you. I am commenting on the modern version. I assume, like all this has been reformulated but I think I could say they did good in maintaining that 90's smell. This to me is something you would wear out with a black dress and heels. I think this is not a daytime fragrance probably better suited for the evening wear. I feel it's too strong for casual daytime wear.

It is gorgeous, bold, classy.

Love this website. Bought it after reading the reviews. Absolutely gorgeous. No regrets whatsoever. Warm and sweet.

EDP Review.

One spray on a tissue test, and I get raspberry marigold. A golden syrup fruity floral-powder. And I instantly thought of Ciara too.

Then I did two sprays on a tissue and BAM-- there is that galbanium I was looking for... but it's HUGE And isn't meshing well. It kinda "stings". But that dies down after 5-20 minutes.

And then the next day my tissue is a golden soapy-ness kinda like old school plain orange DIAL soap.

I think I like First and Oriens better when it comes to Van Cleef scents. But this is interesting (and still kinda generic/meh) and while I seem to be complaining-- it's not unpleasant. It's quite pleasing.

Another beautiful galbanum fragrance. I´ve just tried a sample and I am ready to buy the bottle. One of those timeless scents in a classic way. As I often wear skirts, dresses and high heels I can imagine wearing it daily to work. I don´t think it is just for evenings. The perfume that gives you confidence.

Holy moly! This is MAGNIFICENT!! I have the latest formulation and this stuff is absolutely gorgeous. On me it's spicy, warm and powdery and the sillage and longevity are outstanding. Wow! This is a power house. I am so glad I have it. This is not for the meek and mild! Van Cleef is a statement "I am woman, hear me roar!"
As a side note, I have both Valentino Vendetta and Coty L'origan and they pale in Van Cleef's shadow.

It's like shalimar and Ciara.

This stuff is a great fragrance! Can't believe I haven't tried it until now. It's a powerhouse so go easy not too much. It has staying power! All day and into the night especially on fabric. Makes me think of Ciara but this one is so much better, more refined, sweet, floral, powder, soft woods. Reminds me somewhat of laundry in the dryer, I happen to love that scent. It is yummy and comforting, lovely. Worth a try, glad I did!

Is it wrong to want to eat your own arm when wearing such a delicious fragrance?

Van Cleef has been in my repertoire for over 20 years and it is still as viable and relevant today...it's that good. It takes on a completely different personality in all seasons and never disappoints because it is a veritable chameleon. This perfume is a masterpiece and love might not be a strong enough word to describe my emotions toward it.

Sweet, Sultry, Spicy and Sumptuous.

I was pondering what to say about Van Cleef when I remembered something I read in a book.

" Power doesn't have to show off. Power is confident, self-assuring, self-starting and self-stopping, self-warming and self-justifying. When you have it, you know it." (Ralph Ellison)

And that is exactly how I feel about this perfume.

I love this! Balsamic, herbally and touch powdery. Warm and comforting. I think I might have found my new signature fragrance. I dont think I would wear it in the heat though. Its not too perfumey and I think I agree with it being described as timeless. Good longevity and sillage.

BOOM!. a blind buy. LOVE AT FIRST WHIFF. I immediately went online and bought a second bottle - that's how much i ADORE this frag. it speaks of wealth, elegance, warmth, class- everything desirous that I dont have. But I can smell like this- wow. that first day I thought "this is it. I never need to try any other perfume. this is my lifelong scent". Now.... a week later.... I still feel the same. I am waiting to receive the second bottle to see if this juice is consistently gorgeous.
Note: I also wear Must, by Cartier; and IMO Van Cleef is Must on steroids. very similar opening, but VC lasts longer and has greater sillage than Must.
CORRECTION: this is nothing like Must de Cartier. I wore it last night to bed, and ummm.. no. i was grossly mistaken. both are rich indolent frags but different, very unique and different scents.

a spicy floriental similar to Ciara, Rumba and others but lighter, sweeter, powderier; not heavy handed; delicate and sexy

A great perfume for a vintage collector. So glad someone mentioned it on Fragrantica. It has thick, buttery aldehydes that give it that "perfumey" smell. It makes me think of dinners in expensive restaurants and theater evenings or wearing to a more formal workplace. It's not at all linear, and has a number of changes: its top notes are green and crisp like a chypre. Next notes that come in are the intense, fat aldehydes. It then turns into a lighter floral with a sweet raspberry note that begins to develop and that becomes almost the base note for the perfume. I have the '90's version of this put out by the Sanofi corporation. Really stunning and elegant.

Best opens up in cold weather, balsamic, oriental and opulent, old fashion and lasting. Mature age fragrance, very recommended.

This is a great smelling fruity floral vanillic sandalwood fragrance. The galbanum is my favorite ingredient in chypres and I always look for it even when the frag is not a chypre. This has a raspberry and galbanum pairing slightly reminiscent of the way Magie Noire opens. But it's no Magie Noire and certainly no Dior Poison. This is a sweet and delicate scent of namely flowers and vanilla. The marigold is standing out which is unusual even when there is rose, geranium and jasmine all which I can always detect right away. This is a sweet floral with vanilla spreading it for a long time and giving it an aromatic touch due to the sandalwood. I love the way the bottle looks. Very luxurious and golden. This is a perfume I keep reaching for more than Van Cleef and Arpel's FIRST which is also nice but more of a formal and glamorous aldehydic floral to wear only on certain nights especially to fancy events. This one is more casual and more relaxed, at times powdery at times spicy and strong. It smells best in the fall. Very nice perfume.

This was gifted to me by a Fragrantican some time ago and it meant a lot to me because it meant a lot to her, however, I recently got this out of my collection and have started wearing it again and it still means a great deal to me now.
The notes are difficult, hard to wear and complicated, but this is such a beautiful fragrance that I find I am drawn to its timeless charm again and again.
Galbanum, marigold, ceder are just a few notes that can act defiantly, but not in this creation. I get a smoky, woody vibe in this, almost like a bonfire which has a few burning embers remaining. The fragrance is the most calming and restful scent that I own and I find that I am immediately comforted by its strong and reliable aroma which seems to surround me. If I could put a season to this perfume, it would be the end days of Autumn and the beginning of winter.
Please do not think that this perfume is shy or retiring, it is a far cry from that, on the contrary, this is a perfume with a soul, a strong character which cannot be ignored.
Despite the fact that I have now turned my attention to some stunning niche perfumes, I am compelled to wear this perfume again and again and I crave it on a daily basis.
Beautiful and classic, I put it in the same category as Shalimar as this to me is a timeless piece of top class perfumery.

I blind bought it some time ago based on your reviews here. When I first put it on I was so disappointed! One unfamiliar note (marigold?) was sitting on the top all the time and I was finding it really cloying and annoying. I gave it a break and the second time I tried it after a while it did not seem so repulsing.

The blending is quite smooth: bergamot and flowers on sweet balsamic base, well balanced. The scent is mature, quite elegant and expensive smelling (at a very modest price!). I don't find it developing much. Longevity is good and great on clothes (several days!). Projection is a killer so 1 spray is really really enough! This fragrance is very strong and dense, it's easy to overdo it and then it will become suffocating!

UPD. Van Cleef is not a bad fragrance, however for me it is not a comforting scent but still rather disturbing so I have decided to let it go.

Van Cleef is a syrupy sweet Oriental floral. Sparkling notes of raspberry and neroli comprise the opening notes, followed by carnation, rose, and sweet plum. The base notes are an intoxicating sugar bomb of tonka bean, vanilla bean, musk and Indian sandalwood. The epitome of a '90's powerhouse perfume-- ideal for winter nights. Like a sumptuous cashmere blanket, Van Cleef envelopes you in warmth and comfort. Sillage is moderate and longevity is 4+ hours.

New addiction to my collection.
Classy opulent oriental floral. In style of Coco, Boucheron or Jill 4. Very pleasant, starts with little sweetness, dries to balsamic. I have a modern version, recommended for mature ladies, not young kids. Longevity is good too.

This is the closest I have come in my 7 year search to replace Valentino Vendetta! Thankyou, thankyou to the wise people below who lead me to this by their comparisons to Clandestine (which I have never owned, nor smelled as it is so long gone) but is highly rated as a comparable scent. Initial blast starts out as a thick honeyed face powder, something comparable to Estee Private collection and a spiced rum but this soon flattens out. This contains raspberry instead of plum and these two share 10 similar notes but I am convinced there are others that they share (namely honey, ylang ylang and carnation and maybe perhaps narcissus) that haven't been listed here. This is one of those scents that in essence appears to be horribly dated, a clash of notes not so favourable to the modern nose compiled into a horribly dated bottle. However despite this it is a timeless, soft floral yet sexy powdery naturally sweet dream of a scent which seems to float on my skin creating a cloud of musky incensey goodness overlayed with sultry yet never too sweet honey tinged with fresh green notes which give it crispness. Marigold gives it a natural warm peppery note which I love (one of my fave notes in a scent) perfumes like this seem to bloom on my skin and feel warm and like a big hug, never overwhelming, sinus inducing or giving me a headache but always there, comforting never to spicy nor too sweet, cloying or offensive to anyone and just meant to work with my skintype. I am never not in the mood for a scent like this. For reference my bottle is from what I can tell vintage refillable/rechargeable bottle quite similar to those produced by the likes of Guerlain - a goldtone lamp looking cylindrical holder with a plain refillable 90ml spray held inside. I picked this up still sealed and for a song. Couldn't be happier I have found another signature scent. I will be buying some more as it is still around on the internet and reasonably priced!

I had no options for sampling this and it's very inexpensive right now by the bottle, so I purchased this blind. I love First, and am impressed by it's quality.
I also appreciate resinous oriental fragrances, as well as floral orientals of various kinds.
This one is quite fruity on me. Not just at the top, but all along. The mix of marigold (which does not smell to me like an actual marigold smells, which is usually somewhat peppery) and raspberry smells like sweet orange on me.
Blend that with the prevalent vanillas here, and I smell like a (slightly plasticky) creamsicle.
This lasts 5-6 hours on me and is noticeable from a talking distance, according to the family. I have a really hard time with plasticky results. I'm also truly picky about fruit notes. I often like raspberry, but this one isn't working on me.
There isn't much of a resinous base showing up, just tonka (and fruit).
Review is for the current EDP

EDIT: I see now, not sure how I've missed it with all of the "notes" searching I do on here, but Fragrantica has a floral note for English Marigold (Calendula) which is the flower in this, and a herbal note for the Marigolds I grow and which smell peppery to me. Note to self, Calendula does not smell like your typical Marigold.

After searching in different shops for a tester I finally found one and got a chance to try it. I loved it, strong resinous and tonka with just a hint of flowers. I decided I needed a new scent for fall so I ordered it online.
I received my parcel yesterday, tested it today only to discover that this one is a much softer version than the tester.

The resinous part is milder and also the tonka base is softer. Both the tester and the one I bought are edp. It is still a very nice perfume but I had hoped for it to be stronger with more sillage. I can only asume once more a perfume is victim of a reformulation!

Longevity: 2 hours + 2 hours skinscent, dry down tonka/vanilla, no trace of the resinous notes after 4 hours but on my t-shirt it lasts for days.
Sillage: moderate to poor THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE EDP

EDIT: I am convinced now it has something to do with my skin chemistry. My husband who will wear any of my perfumes that are mainly resinous, vanilla based or with tonka has been wearing this perfume for 3 days now. He is obsessed with it, it lasts all day long. He's convinced it is unisex because it is not a dominantly floral scent. It also smells a lot sweeter on him. This shows how one perfume can smell completely different on another person!

When I first sprayed this on my wrist I thought, oh no I am not sure if I like this one. I waited a while and sprayed again, this time with a little more force. I do love this more with each passing moment. The marigold is very noticeable IMHO and that took a little getting use to. Once it had softened a bit I started to love it. A very classic perfume and one that as an older lady I can appreciate.
It is very hot here today and I am putting this away for autumn and winter.I think it will be perfect for cooler/cold weather. Longevity is great lasting about 14 hours on my skin. Sillage is very good as well. A very beautiful perfume and one I am sure that I will use again and again. A successful blind buy for me.

This gem stays on skin for 27 hours and still counting. I don't mind at alllll because the smell is VERY PLEASANT!! I am glad i bought it..

Van Cleef has become one of the favorite brands of perfumery after the impossibly tender romance with Murmure. White lily perfume has attracted a lot of compliments, and became my signature favorite with no explanations and reasons, as it usually happens with love ...I was considering a Van Cleef perfume for a while. The year of production is a special year to me. I thought it has the same base and sophistication as Murmure, and although it is not cheap, one day I held my breath and purchased a 50 ml EDT online, trusting my intuition and Fragranticas reviews.

Needless to say , this scent is amazingly special. Quite different from the cold gourmet Murmure, Van Cleef is equally refined in its special way. A scent from another century, another country, a parallel reality in which you can enter only in the middle ages' museums, universities and castles, or the streets of an ancient town, far away from the mass production and shallowness of today.

The quality of this scent is unusual. Even EDT shows its quality components and silage. Deep, sweet swhiffs of the scent, far from the fruit aromas of the present. Tart raspberries with seeds and leaves melt on the lips right in the woods. This is not a raspberry jam, this is raspberry which grows in the real thickets of cedar forest, with a tart oily scents of herbs and, for refinement, flowers somewhere far, far away. Finally raspberries are brought home, a bouquet of white flowers on the table, Lady Grey tea , calendula oil on mosquito bites, vanilla cookies ... and then exotic Persian Galbanum plant and tonka beans, which I never had a privilege to smell, add to the mystery ...

I can compare Van Cleef with Lancome Cuir de Lancome. It has the same exciting identity, although different notes.

Love this fragrance! For me it's a pretty harsh unforgiving floriental opening which is strong with resinous goodness, nose burningly so.
Have no doubt Van Cleef is a no holds barred fragrance but as it settles the tonka bean, vanilla and creamy sandalwood tone it all down to a lovely elegant scent.
I enjoy the strength and quality of this juice I picked it out as being something my girlfriend would enjoy due to her love of YSL Opium, not that they're similar but put me in mind of each other. This is for women who like their perfume in a more traditional and less contemporary sense. Van Cleef is warm, inviting and lasts for an age and I was right my girl loves it!

Beautiful floral burst of top notes ~ rich yet lightweight, effervescent, wonderfully radiant bouquet. Orange blossom, neroli, vanilla and sandalwood seem to be most dominant. Galbanum takes over gradually, creating a bittersweet accord which may trace its lineage back to Jean Patou's Que Sais-je. Not a daytime fragrance perhaps; more appropriate for afternoon/evening, or indeed any formal occasion. I am referring to the current Eau de Parfum, which I find easier to wear than the original. I remember trying to like it when it was first inrtoduced but somehow, I could only appreciate it very highly, never really feel at home with it. This new version is subtly and very tastefully altered, still, recognizably the same scent. Last but not least ~ the heavy glass bottle is a stunning Serge Mansau design. Absolutely gorgeous.

I ordered this fragrance with a great expectation about the brand and curiosity because I didn't know it. What a wonderful surprise! I find it a very pleasant fragrance underrated and very elegant and equilibrated. It's floral but not screaming, sweet but for the touch of galbanum, it's not nauseating. Personally I recently discovered the marigold as a floral note I love. The mix results absolutely unique and very very elegant. I always liked floral fragrances but in the last years I'm a bit tired of flowers. But this one's so delicious and particular that I'm in love and it became one of my favorite perfume. I usually wear it during the day. Give it a try.

I am really surprised no one mentioned some similarities in between this frag and the Clandestine by Guy Laroche- to my nose they are sisters. Rich perfume with a strong and distinctive character at the beginning and then it settles down with a soft flowery bouquet with a hint of galbanum and vanilla/raspberry lovely notes.

So!
It arrived an hour ago. Blind rendezvous...
Was holding bottle in my arms, warming up. Amazing deep honey color of juice.
sprayed ligtly on my wet hair.
First impression "WHAT WAS THAT"....I mean..unreal. Something so strong, powerful, its like Vagner's music and Modern Art Exhibition. You feel so small and humble in it, as it takes you over completely, wins you and you just sit and wait what NEXT
Next - warmth entering the room. Grass, honey, musk on me. A bit of geranium. But the thing ..is it's keep changing with every twist of my body, with every step.
I expected something different i must admit, not that complicated. But its a masterpiece.
One of those smells that will keep surprising you day by day. You can be retro-classic-lady, can be french chik student, can be woman whos man invited her to opera, but you will never be trivial , boring, un-noticable wearing this aroma.
Smell of the Victory, girls.
keep waiting for surprises...

I am often too lazy to write reviews, but just opened my parcel with Van Cleef inside...and had to try it. And had to yell about this glory!
WOWSERS!!! On me, this perfume is...rich, warm, alluring, a little spicy and absolutely ADDICTIVE. Already ordering my next bottle, because although this is not a replacement of my lifelong love and lust, Fendi, it is AMAZING.

Totally gorgeous. Totally feminine, but with just the hint of non linear floral that makes it a winner for me. Makes me feel edible :)

PS...I get the comparison with Lou Lou, but there is something metallic that jars on me in Lou Lou. But none of that here...just spicy, luscious warmth. IN LOVE!!!

UPDATE: Ok...now 10 hours after spraying myself liberally with this balm. Overnight...no problem! Still getting warm, enjoy me, peek a boo sniffs of this. Amazing longevity!! Oh...and the Lou Lou likeness was short lived on my skin.

I have just got a perfume concentration of the 90's for a few Euros , lucky me ! as this fragrance is one of the most gorgeous florientals I ever smelled .
Rich and deep , warm and sweet ( but not cloying at all ) in a very classy and sultry way .
Sweeter and richer than other orientals I love such as Cristobal Balenciaga and Grain de Soleil Fragonard but not as overwhelming as Cartier Must .
Galbanum is not strong , I do not perceive bitterness in the opening . I like its geranium note among the flowers !

Edit : I also bought the old version Edt and I perceive galbanum much stronger here . Very unique fragrance !

Super SEXY,BALMY,CLASSY! Sure makes a STATEMENT! A MUST!,,

EDP: balmy resinous smoke shell. If you dab a tiny bit on your heel, it will knock out anything you have, anyplace on your body.
Amazingly soothing marigold (i love the DM´ s marigold vaseline) galbanum and geranium, as the smoky/bitter part, is there to make the sweetness of tonka bearable, plus authentic fresh wild raspberry.
Rich, warm, natural, powerful, beautiful.
I never got so many compliments!

Bottle no 2. I have been looking a long time and now I found Van Cleef EdP again. Soooo happy! Nostalgic, classic and modern at the same time. Not sugarsweet, but halfway-sweet flowernotes. The Marigold is dominant in topnote with other wellmixed flowers and basnote give tons of Vanilla and Tonka- gorgeous! Van Cleef belong to the division of heavy scents as Poeme, Beautiful, Knowing, Classique and Amarige, but Van Cleef is classy in its own way. Totally love it!! 1 spritz makes you smell fantabolous all day/night. If you spray to much this will be a overwhelming roomkiller in a not-nice-way. strawberrynet.com sells it and I found this bottle at vivamondo.se Worth every penny and a real Keeper! You have to be a Vanilla/Tonka-fan to love Van Cleef EdP.
But - there is a difference between the early Van Cleef and this bottle - this bottle shows more flowernotes and the first bottle is heavy, heavy Vanilla. I guess Van Cleef & Arpels made an re-formulation in this one.

I had LouLou Cacharel and I have Van Cleef by Van Cleef & Arples - in basenote Van Cleef and LouLou are a bit alike, someone wrote here - they are not - in basenote they both have this rich, warm and sensual Vanilla - Both are gorgeous in two different ways. LouLou is vanilla/smokey sweet. Van Cleef is Vanilla/Tonka-balmy sweet and a bit more mature.

Flaska nr 2. jag har letat länge och nu äntligen hittat den igen. Sååå glad! Nostalgisk, klassisk och modern samtidigt. Inte sockersöt men med halvsöta blomnoter där Ringblomman är dominant i toppnoten, välmixade med andra blomnoter. Basnoten ger mängder av Vanilj och Tonka - ljuvlig! Van Cleef spelar i samma division som Poeme, Beautiful, Knowing, Classique och Amarige men Van Cleef är ändå speciell. Bara älskar den!! 1 sprejning gör att du doftar fantastiskt hela dagen/natten. Om du sprejar för mycket så blir denna en överjävlig rumsdödare, så kraftig är den. Strawberrynet.com och vivamondo.se säljer denna fortfarande. Dyr - men värd varje öre. Du måste vara Vanilj/Tonka-galen för att falla pladask för Van Cleef EdP.
Det finns en skillnad mellan tidiga Van Cleef och denna flaskan, denna visar mer blomnoter - medans första flaskan är otroligt mycket Vanilj - rakt igenom doftpyramiden. Båda lika härliga men gissar att den blivit omformulerad på vägen.

Jag har haft LouLou Cacharel och Jag har Van Cleef från Van Cleef & Arples och någon skriver att de är lika. Mja - De delar den rika Vaniljtonen. De öppnar helt olika i toppnoten/mellannoten men basen med den rika, varma sensuella vaniljen är underbar. Där LouLou är Vanilj/rökelse-söt och Van Cleef är Vanilj/Tonka-mjuk/varm och mer vuxen. Olika men ändå värda att sätta i sammanhang här.

Now this is what I call a quality perfume! This is such a warm and balmy fragrance! Perfect for fall/winter. There is a certain sweetness to it, but I can not tell the notes apart. It must be the musk, tonka and vanilla. When I first smelled it I thought it was more suitable for the age 40-50+, but the more I use it, the more I like it. I'm 34 btw ;)
This is not a fragrance I reach for daily, it's kinda exquisite to me. Very nice and classy, it has decent sillage and I can smell it on me all day, which to me is a BIG plus! I love scents that are noticeable as well to myself as to others without hitting anyone in the face. This is one of them! Gorgeous!

Classy, warm oriental floral, a bit abstract, but very nice and well composed. Vanilla and tonka are dominent, but marigold and galbanum keep the balance and prevent it from being sweet and boring. Orange blosson and neroli play also an important role in the composition and create a creamy comfort sillare, which is great. Very long lasting and sensual as it dries down. I think, that altough is not a Wow! unique scent, it is very worth having it if you love oriental florals. A shy, hidden, perhaps underrated gem.

Like many others, I bought this blind, I actually got it in a lot though. I was so happy to see it there because I adore "First". Like zosoroxy, I thought, mature = great! Hmmmm.... I think sometimes people mistake fusty with mature. The word that kept coming to mind was "dated", but as soon as I put it on, it reminded me of something. The mind is an interesting machine indeed. I put it on, and was not agreeably impressed. But, it brought back a memory of a scent. As in, smelled JUST LIKE something I used to wear. I knew it would come to me, so I didn't worry it. Things like scents just kind of turn on the machine and make it upload info that has been in zipped in storage for decades. Sure enough by late morning...ding ding ding... LOU LOU by Cacherel! At least in my mind's olfactory system, this is a dead ringer for Lou Lou. And now I know for sure that I don't need a bottle of that. I always, KIND OF liked Lou Lou and kind of didn't. I wore it quite a bit for a while and might have even had a second bottle. But it was never love, it was more like trying to make it work with the wrong guy.

Anyway, I'm glad I stayed my hand and applied lightly. Usually when people say it lasts weeks on them, I'm lucky to get through lunch with a waft of sillage. This is a monster alright. If you love it and wore it every day, a big bottle could still last the rest of your life.

I'm glad I got a partial bottle and it was almost free. I'm happy to resurrect my memory of Lou Lou and the like/dislike thing we had going. This is probably a classier version actually. I will gladly try more Van Cleef, but I am only going to use this one to trip down memory lane. It is funny though to me that this is considered so mature, because Lou Lou was so "young" when it came out. At least that was the impression I had. But I guess the Charleston was young and new once too, 23 skidoo and all that!

Van Cleef & Arpels Van Cleef: This is a Vanilla Floriental: V-A-N-I-L-L-A. (Double dose of Tonka bean/vanilla).

Unfortunately, I don't care for Vanillic-based frag's. I love, & own, & frequently wear, Van Cleef & Arpels First, so-

Having such smashing success w/ VC&A's First, and also recalling how lovely Miss Arpels is, I sought out to try additional frag's from this house... I read numerous reviews before blind-buy... Liked that it's described as a "mature" scent- Which to me, = "classic" (meaning NOT teenage trendy/sweet fruity floral).

Apparently, I failed to pay close enough attn to the reviews (?)- This is a VANILLA base (!), albeit *beautifully* constructed/supported by rich, complex, woodsy, spicy florals, reminiscent of Ungaro's Diva, (which I do love, own, wear). The supporting cast of Van Cleef is spicy/woodsy, RICH, gorgeous, and does carry/compliment (the Vanilla) through the duration of wear. Sillage, projection, & longevity are excellent.

BUT- I just don't like primary Vanilla frag's :( (Although over time, I've acquired a taste for the classic ambre dry down- w/ a trace of vanilla)... I still (always!) dislike (to wear) primary Vanillac 'fumes.

Simple: THIS IS A VANILLA BASE fragrance!!! If you enjoy Vanilla as the central theme of your personal 'fume, this is a GREAT one- holds it's own alongside Guerlain's world-worshipped-loved-classic Shalimar! (gasp! Yes! This is THAT good!)... Although I can't tolerate Shalimar, either, for the same reason (overpowering Vanilla)- Certainly, don't let MY personal preferences, speak to your love of Vanilla! If you like Shalimar, this too, is a rich, complex, quality, lush, Vanilla floriental, well worth trying, and buying, and wearing, and loving!

The EdP concentration is mighty powerful, and is an incredible bang for your buck- Not just for staying power & projection, but for the goregous, well balanced, complex creation that it is :) Unlike many other Vanilla frag's, this one really does have a sufficiently strong supporting cast of woodsy, spiced florientals, which hold their own in combination w/ the central Vanilla theme :) Proof positive that incredibly rich, well-blended fine fragrances, need not break the bank. This smells like wealth & priviledge & class & is just gorgeous! Spritz into your hair/scalp, &/or on clothing, it will linger for days!

Finally- Thank you for reading my essay :)

I was initially disappointed upon the arrival of my bottle of Van Cleef & Arpels VAN CLEEF, which I had purchased scent unsniffed from an online discount emporium. As is my custom, I first sprayed some of the perfume on the inside of the top of the box. Turns out that this composition does not show its best side on paper!

Later, when I tested VAN CLEEF on skin, I found that the top notes were a tiny bit sour--as though they had turned--and were reminiscent of my Ted Lapidus BALENCIAGA (reformulated) or perhaps my Ungaro DIVA edt (the edp is much better). Fortunately, the sourness quickly subsides and after a couple of minutes VAN CLEEF is a really gorgeous and compelling perfume! I should say, however, that in order to appreciate this creation, one must like marigold/tagetes, as it is very dominant--at least to my nose.

I am not sure whether the slightly sour shortlived opening is an indication that my bottle is old--I bought it from a discounter, so in theory it could be nearly 20 years old! Another possible explanation is skin chemistry, which might also help to explain why some people dislike while others love this composition. It could be that VAN CLEEF is one of those fickle perfumes which does not express itself consistently from one wearer to the next and one time to the next.

In any case, when this perfume dries down on my skin, it is a consistently beautiful and very sophisticated floriental. It has an old-school feeling but lacks some of the stereotypical notes which tend to elicit cries of "old lady perfume!" from younger wearers. Although galbanum is present, it is not very sharp or marked to my nose. I actually love galbanum, but it tends to impart to perfumes a "pour une femme d'un certain âge" kind of feeling.

I like VAN CLEEF a lot and am happy to have made this purchase. The bottle in which this rich-smelling perfume is housed is also elegant and unique.

This perfume really smells of quality. I like it very much, it's an utterly unusual scent.
Very classy, enchanting, ladylike but not sensual, quite retro, but not oldfashioned. To me, it's a classic perfume.
It's clearly not sweet like perfumes that are in fashion now. I can smell vanilla and marigold clearly, balbanum too but not at all tonka bean.
It's a really lovely perfume for a mature woman, over 25 y.old. Also...be careful! It can be harsh!

Van Cleef was a blind buy and after giving myself a few sprays and time to form an opinion, I've decided that for me, it's a pleasant but not wildly desirable fragrance. The reviews below swayed me to buy it, and I'm non-plussed.

Although it's not listed in the notes, I get an initial blast of lavender, but it quickly dissipates. It's not one of those sweet, over the top, girly girl perfumes that are so prevalent these days - it would appeal to a more mature woman.

I had 'First' too and wasn't knocked out by that either - perhaps Van Cleef & Arpels are not my thing. I guess variety is the spice of life - that's why we all have such varying tastes in fragrances. To all of you who love Van Cleef - enjoy!.

Amazing! Whips, enchants! First associations - luxury in the highest form, which does not tolerate any compromise! Warm and radiant. Expensive, exquisite and varied, measured, marked elegant and fine. At the same time - brooking objections. Upper class. Striking from the from beginning to end.Amazing durability. And still beautiful.Up peculiar feeling of euphoria. Categorized in disgrace. In the best sense. Convincingly turned into an my absolute favorites. / EDP /

Rich, sultry classic. Orangey-cinnamon marigolds, vanilla topped with sandalwood. It has a thick, fuzzy warmth, and seems to be surrounded by soft cedar. If I were asked which of my favorite perfumes (and this is top 10 forever for me) smelled the most expensive, Van Cleef, Boucheron, Private Collection and Coco come to mind instantly. Of the four, this one is the most wearable to me.

Very posh, yet approachable and comfortable.Smells like somebody took their time and did it right. Lasts VERY well. Not many wear it, which I love. Don't wear it so it stays special hahaha!

This to me, is the definition of an oriental perfume, to its fullest extent. Magic.

I loooooooooove this perfume. My father offered this perfume to my mother years ago, but she could never wear it, because she finded it very strong and unpleasant. I have always loved this wonderful fragrance, but I can't find it on portuguese shelves...I hope i will find it soon, and buy it for my own pleasure.
Wonderful lasting power...asskicking!!!!!!

I am a fragrance junkie, but somehow, I always keep on returning to this Van Cleef.
When I need an ego boost I tend to wear my Van Cleef. My friends say I smell like a rich sophisticated woman when I wear this. No wonder most of them splashed out and bought a bottle too.

After I browsed through the topics on sillage monsters and saw Van Cleef consistently mentioned, I chased down a bottle of it right away.
This classic did not disappoint me a bit.
Bold, beautiful and sophisticated .....and yes, loud, but in the best possible way!
It has the same metallic note as in First and a lovely drydown of honey and raspberry.
Reminds me the most of Cappuci and Filly in character, but of course it has its own unique personality.
Sillage and longevity are outstanding.

I bought Van Cleef 'First' and when this ran out thought I would try Van Cleef to see if it was as good. It was even better, more sophisticated but not harsh and it lasts all day. I haven't ever detected it being worn by anyone else so thats nice if you like to be different. Fifteen years later having tried many perfumes I always return to this one, its become my 'signature' fragrance and my husband still compliments me whenever I'm wearing it (whereas my other perfumes I don't think he notices!) I would admit though its not a young womans fragrance ;)

Beautiful, just beautiful. Smells very glamourous to me, a real evening out fragrance(although I'll wear it whenever the mood takes me). A rich vanilla floriental with just enough musk to tickle the nose. Sharp and sweet on first application which settles down to a warm honey and vanilla. The EDP will last and last and last and has unbeatable sillage. This is a power fragrance and I love it. Shrinking violets look elsewhere.

Trayed EdP on Wednesday and even if I´m not the right type of woman to wear oriental, I felt in LOVE with it. That really doesn´t happen very often! I sprayed it in the hair a lot. In the hair it stays two days, on my skin only about 2 hours. You are so right Action, you said the truth about fragrances, what I would say too.

I´m a big lover of fruity-florals and can smell orange blossoms in it and vanilla too. Since Thursday the same week it stands on my LOVE shelve. I can smell a nice distance in it, what I prefer in my bussines.

It´s all time wear fragrance for every occasion, except you are going with you dog in the park.

I had it early 90s and liked it, but never thought of what did it smell like. Now I miss it although never wanted to buy it once again. There is a lot of other perfumes I like and a lot more will be issued. But for those who never tried it before I would recommend it as a warm, sweet though not annoying, elegant and comfortable...very nice!

I wore this in the early 90's, and LOVED it. Very grown up, rich, lasting and soft. Absolutely radiates warmth.
Never ever have I smelled anyone else wearing it, which is great!

Nostalgic, although I don't know what it reminds me of......definitely for a lady, and not a girl.

Has 80's staying power...awesome.

Give it 15 years passionata20!

After reading these reviews i decided to try this fragrance yesterday. It is absolutly not my taste! It could be very nice for me if it would have less geranium and orange in it. Those notes are the killers! Especially geranium. I have tried edt and i presume it is a new edition of this, so this might be a reason, beacuse the new edt First also smells different than old version of EDP. Sadly i don´t understand all the buzz about this fragrance, might try it on my skin once again, but i doubt that it will help.

Please do not remove this comment, since others might find it useful. Not every rewiev should be positive, so people like me wanted to make a blind buy might find it very informative. Thanks.

UPDATE: (may 2017)
After my first review for modern version that was still available in stores at that time i have purchased a 50ml boxed vintage version from 90's and i had the same problem that with modern one. Too much vanilla and geranium in the mix makes sour balsamic vanilla unwearable to me. It just dont work for me since the scent wants to be at several places at one time and i cannot smell any harmony on my skin. No matter what weather or season, we are just not meant to be together. Luckily it has found a new owner since then recently, who is very happy with scent. Not every fragrance is meant to be worn by me. :-)

Wonderful, soft deep and warm scent. I will wear it both daytime and evening. This fragrance goes into my skin and stays close to me. Staying power is over 9 hours - fantastic!
No sharp och edgy notes at all. I think this one is better for "grownup" women, it will be a little bit heavy on a young girl, in my opinion.
Basenote gives a lot of warm vanilla - gourgeous!!!

En helt otrolig doft! Jag älskar Oriental Vanilla och det är denna. En kraftig parfym som man får använda försiktigt. Inga skarpa eller tunga doftnoter men otroligt varm och mjuk och superkvinnlig. Detta är en doft för den vuxna, lite världsvana kvinnan som inte är rädd för att märkas - på ett positivt sätt. Basnoten är underbar - med massor av vanilj.

I really have to spend more time with the perfumes I have already, instead of always looking for new ones. I have this for quite a while now and yesterday, together with Diva, I tried it out again. WHAT A FRAGRANCE!!!! Sooo warm, sooo refined, luxurious, creamy oriental, womenly, ladylike!!
Straight A!!

Arpels has some very gorgeous perfumes!!! I love this one and First love!!

Only one drop will stay on your wrist for the rest of your life: amazing.

Inspired by good rewies I've tried it several times, but was not convinced to purchase it. It smells nice, but that's all I can say. The opening is really much interesting and intriguing that the start notes but It is obviously not enough to break my heart. I can detect raspberry and some kind of flowers there. Maybe will give it one more chance and update.

This is a masterpiece of the 90's.

Notes difficult to handle such as raspberry,marigold and geranium, are invisible in this master-of-disguise composition.
A warm blend that ignites a tingling sensation.
The sillage is just incredible. We 're talking about a 48 hours scented trace on your skin.

At the beginning is very heavy, it smells like pharmaceuticals. After a couple of hours this fragrance ist very sophisticated, a wonderful mix of flowers and fruits.

It is very classy and chic - but also all-business like.There is something in it that warns to keep the distance!A cold, chemical note that can be both alluring and putting off.If not for this, I`d wear it whenever I want to feel confident, cool and icy.

all of the van cleef perfumes are old fashioned,but you might find them chic and classic too.

Yes, classic scent with flowers in old manner, my husband found it too soapy ;o) only for evening wear.

Nice and classy. Timeless
:)