• About
  • Login to comment
    • Bluesky
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Now Smell This

a blog about perfume

Menu ▼
  • Perfume Reviews
  • New Perfumes
  • Archives
Browsing by tag: van cleef arpels

Van Cleef & Arpels Bois d’Iris ~ fragrance review

Posted by Robin on 22 September 2009 118 Comments

driftwood

So yes, I’m jaded, but I don’t think I have a closed mind: if these are wonderful, I’ll be thrilled.

That’s me, commenting on the post that announced the then-upcoming Collection Extraordinaire from Van Cleef & Arpels. That article elicited a number of skeptical comments, including my own, about the glut of multi-scent luxury perfume launches — many of which turn out to be less interesting than the prices and the fancy packaging would suggest — and then a discussion about whether some of us were perhaps a bit too jaded.

I might be too jaded, who knows? It doesn’t seem to me to be an important issue: I say what I like in the comments, but I go right on smelling and looking for beauty regardless. And whatever my original suspicions, I did keep an open mind when I smelled the Collection Extraordinaire, and yes, I’m thrilled. This is a lovely collection. All six are worth smelling, and one, Bois d’Iris, captured my heart thoroughly enough that I laid out the $185 (!!) for it on the spot, thereby blowing my third quarter damage tally, which up until then had been a very gratifying zero.

Bois d’Iris is one of two unisex fragrances in the collection, the other being Cologne Noire.1 It’s a must try for iris fiends…

Read the rest of this article »

Van Cleef & Arpels Collection Extraordinaire ~ new perfumes

Posted by Robin on 26 May 2009 53 Comments

Van Cleef & Arpels

Van Cleef & Arpels plans to launch Collection Extraordinaire in September. It will be the brand’s first foray into high-end niche perfume, and will debut at around the same time as Cartier’s upcoming collection, Les Heures du Parfum.

The Collection Extraordinaire fragrances, meant to pay homage to nature, are Gardénia Pétale, Orchidée Vanille, Lys Carmin, Muguet Blanc, Bois d’Iris and Cologne Noire…

Read the rest of this article »

Quick perfume news ~ Van Cleef & Arpels, Givenchy, Chanel

Posted by Robin on 14 April 2009 19 Comments

Van Cleef & Arpels Feerie Eau de ToiletteVan Cleef & Arpels will launch a new Eau de Toilette version of Féerie in May (shown at right; via cosmoty.de)

Actress Uma Thurman will front a new perfume for women from Givenchy later this year. (via Women’s Wear Daily)

The new Chanel No. 5 ad campaign, starring French actress Audrey Tautou…

Read the rest of this article »

Van Cleef & Arpels Feerie ~ perfume review

Posted by Robin on 19 September 2008 32 Comments

Van Cleef & Arpels Feerie fragrance advert

Féerie, by Van Cleef & Arpels features an unusual bottle design: the cap is metal (or metal-like?) and features a fairy sitting on a twig (it was inspired by their Midsummer Night’s Dream jewelry collection). From what I’ve read so far, it’s probably shaping up to be one of those love-it-or-hate-it bottles, but my own initial reaction was ambivalent. After seeing it in person, however, I’m firmly in the hate-it camp. The blue glass bottle is pretty, but the “sculpture” on top just isn’t as luxe as its price*, and it’s all a bit twee for my taste — my taste, apparently, runs more towards plastic doll heads. Besides that, even the sales associate acknowledged that eventually, you’re gonna poke your eye out with that thing.

The scent, advertised as a woody floral violet by perfumer Antoine Maisondieu, started out difficult on paper: a screechingly-pitched blast of sweet berry over creamy-powdery violet (the notes: violet, red berries, mandarin, rose, jasmine, iris and vetiver). It gets nicer (and drier) soon enough, but it’s markedly better on skin, where the top notes fade from cloying to merely sweet much faster, and the earthy base helps to balance it out…

Read the rest of this article »

Van Cleef & Arpels Feerie, John Galliano ~ new fragrances

Posted by Robin on 10 July 2008 35 Comments

Van Cleef & Arpels Feerie perfumeVan Cleef & Arpels will launch Féerie, a new fragrance for women, this coming August.

The scent will be a woody floral with violet developed by perfumer Antoine Maisondieu.

Féerie is aimed at the luxury market and will be priced higher than other fragrances in the Van Cleef & Arpels line…

Read the rest of this article »

« Newer articles
Older articles »

Advertisement

Search

Recent reviews

Atelier Cologne Love Osmanthus
Moschino Toy Boy
Arquiste Misfit
Diptyque Eau Capitale
Zoologist Bee
Parfum d’Empire Immortelle Corse
Comme des Garcons Series 10 Clash
Frédéric Malle Rose & Cuir
L’Artisan Parfumeur Le Chant de Camargue
Yves Saint Laurent Grain de Poudre
Régime des Fleurs Chloë Sevigny Little Flower
Chanel 1957
Gallivant Los Angeles
Amouage Portrayal Woman

Blogroll

Bois de Jasmin
Grain de Musc
Perfume Posse
The Non-Blonde
More blogs...

Perfumista lists

100 fragrances every perfumista should try
And 25 more fragrances every perfumista should smell
50 masculine fragrances every perfumista should try
26 vintage fragrances every perfumista should try
25 rose fragrances every perfumista should try
11 Cheap Perfumes Beauty Outsiders Love

Favorite posts

The Great Perfume Reduction Plan
Why I Love Old School Chypres
New to perfume and want to learn more?
How to make fragrance last through the day
Fragrance concentrations: sorting it all out
On reformulations, or why your favorite perfume doesn’t smell like it used to
How to get fragrance samples
Perfume for Life: How Long Will Your Fragrance Collection Last?

Upcoming

List of upcoming Friday projects

6 January ~ damage poll

31 January ~ winter reading poll

Back to Top

Home
Archives
About Now Smell This :: Privacy Policy
Perfume Reviews
New Perfumes
General Perfume Articles
The Monday Mail

Glossary of Perfume Terms
Perfume FAQ
Perfume Books

Noses ~ Perfumers A-E :: F-K :: L-S :: T-Z

Perfume Houses A-B :: C :: D-E :: F-G
H-J :: K-L :: M :: N-O :: P :: Q-R :: S
T :: U-Z

Copyright © 2005-2026 Now Smell This. All rights reserved.