Arpège

Such a heartaching beautiful perfume. I will never forget the first time I wore it. It was delivered to me all the way from Palm Beach Gardens by a mutual friend who likes vintage perfumes and got me hooked on them. For me the mystery was what did the liquid look like (color) if the bottle was clear and not black. I love the bottle with the mother and lil daughter holding hands. Arpege is favorably compared to Chanel 5 but I frankly don't see the connection other than the aldehyde floral category. Nothing like No. 5. This starts off instantly sweet with a dash of peach and citrus and a zesty refreshing start especially on the spray version. On the small dab bottle it's almost immediately powdery with a super sweet floral rush. The flower notes that come through for me are something like an orange blossom, ylang ylang, lily or lily of the valley, soft jasmine, pink rose and iris. These flowers give the scent a kind of rainbow effect which is missing in No. 5 which can be colder. Arpege is warm. Colors that this perfume give off to my nose are yellow, pale gold, white, off white, beige, light blue, violet, and lime green. The honeysuckle note is delicious and giving the florals a slight green earthiness and spiciness probably also enhanced with some neroli and green leaves of orange blossom or citruses. But it's not what I would call a modern citrus-floral. It's very grown up and yet innocent and girly in an old school glam way. I can't explain it well on a mere review. It's like a perfume for a young woman back in the early to mid 20th century (1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s) who was young enough not to know all there is about life but grown up enough to wear perfume. She would be like 18 or 19. She has not gone beyond kissing or making out. She wears dresses and only dresses, just hyper feminine with well cared for nails, feet, soft hands, girly long hair, wears make up but not too much. She's classy but not worldly. She's also a very loving, giving, kind young woman with kind eyes, sweet face. There is such a warm and loving aura such an angel vibe I get from this perfume. It has a iris and violet powder vibe like cosmetics and lipstick make up and boudoir vanity table vibe. It's also very prim and proper, sophisticated but not too much. The spray is soapier and bathy like something you wear to bed for comfort. It's as delicate as a silk negligee. It's satiny and womanly but not seductive. It's dressy and feminine but not in the do me sense more like in the respect me sense. The dab on pure parfum is sweeter and more of a long lasting floral powder with a distinct benzoin note and plenty of amber. The dry down is amber and a touch of musk, small dose of vanilla too. Just a perfect well blended floral perfume that is it's own unique and stand alone fragrance. Formal and elegant to wear at formal events. Definitely a day time and spring time scent. I can't stop smelling my wrist and when I spray on the neck it lasts and I get those lovely colors. It's a sweet charming feminine floral fragrance. If you like vintages and especially aldehyde florals or floral amber perfumes and like No. 5, L'Air du Temps, Joy, L'interdit by Givenchy original, Ombre Rose, Cartier La Pantere, Paris by Yves Saint Laurent, this is in that kind of perfume group. Brilliant. I will never tire of wearing it. Merry Christmas.

(Comparison of vintage Arpege extrait of the Lanvin Perfumes era, and Arpege Eau de Lanvin, both prior to 1990) This was going to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in all of my years of perfume collecting and writing. I can sum it up in one sentence if this is an undertaking you wish to do yourself: good luck picking out most of the notes in either one of these. Arpege is a true floral amalgam, the kind that No. 5 only wishes it could be (yes, I know those are fighting words). So, I’m not going to bother with my usual way of going about this, and we’ll look at the forest not the trees. The first thing to note is that the extrait plays around with the fruit and florals a lot more than the eau. The eau pushes the honeysuckle and muguet very far forward, which in tandem with a big clove note gives a honeyed animalic type feeling - also likely thanks to some base materials already playing upwards. Strangely, and rather opposite to what happens with these concentrations, the extrait is brighter than the eau. Richer, sure, obviously, but the eau has dimmer light thanks to more spices and more emphasis on the darker and durable materials in the base. The extrait is compelled to hold on to the brighter fruit and brighter florals for as long as possible, and it does so for a long time before the fruit departs first. The heart of the extrait still keeps the lights on, seeming to focus more on rose, ylang-ylang, and mimosa rather than spices, and keeps the base materials firmly underneath and well covered. It’s no surprise that the eau reaches the base before the extrait, the former going a more convincing chypre direction while the extrait commands a more amberic lean. The eau is classically mossy, and given sparing doses of sandalwood and spices to help it along. The extrait is very sandalwood, vetiver, and spices forward with a touch of leather. Thanks to the slightly green vetiver, the extrait still feels brighter with the eau feeling like a forest walk at dusk. There is a lot more to Arpege than what I have described, but the primary thing to note is the extrait is more amber, the eau is more chypre, the extrait has a sunnier disposition while the eau prefers to play with shadows. Arpege is quite grand and statement making; many will not find it easy to wear, but that’s not because it is loud, ostentatious, or challenging, far from either of those things, it’s because it has one of those profiles or personalities that is so intricate, beautiful, and unique that it will capture the full attention of whatever room it walks into. Whatever the concentration, know that you will get a perfectly seamless composition of exquisite materials that will defy any attempts to break it apart or pigeon-hole it. There you go, folks. That’s the best that I can do, which doesn’t do Arpege justice. It is a perfume to be experienced in its entirety and reveled-in from moment to moment, not a perfume for study or reductive commentary as above - though it certainly tempts study in every perfume nerd that comes across its path. In any and all forms Arpege is a legend, a maverick of modern perfumery, and one of the best ever made.

Forgive me, for this is not really a review as much as a crusade for all perfumes being trash talked for being “dated” and “old-fashioned.” I wear N°5 as my signature. It’s a scent my daughters, aged 10 and 4, love on me. They tell me it’s my “Mamma” smell. And I think no other perfume makes me feel this way. I bought Arpege because I wanted something that smelled similar but not the exact same as my signature. It was a blind buy, but I didn’t hesitate because I knew I would already like it. I agree with everyone who says N°5 and Arpege are in the same family but definitely not the same. I find N°5 to be more powdery than soapy, specially when it dries down, whereas Arpege retains its sparkly soapiness. I definitely get more florals out of Arpege as well. Comparisons to N°5 aside, I think the bottle fits the perfume so well. This belongs on top of a glamorous vanity. The kind that comes with a velvet padded stool. A woman dressed in a satin nightgown sits in front of it and starts putting on her lotion. One delicate spritz of Arpege on each wrist, which she then dabs on the side of her neck - it’s bedtime after all. She doesn’t need a lot. She brushes her hair, and applies face cream. She looks at her laughter lines and smiles - her years might be starting to show but she doesn’t regret any one of them. A little girl runs into the room for a last goodnight hug and the woman holds her tight, kissing her forehead. Having said goodnight, the little girl leaves the room, her hair faintly smelling of her mother. There is something so nostalgic about Arpege it makes me smile each time I smell this. That’s the word - nostalgic. Not dated, not old-fashioned, but romantic. No one around me wore perfume when I was growing up, and yet certain scents are so evocative they tell their own stories. N°5 does it for me, of course. As does First by Van Cleef & Arpels. I think it is the aldehydes? The same aldehydes that people love to demonise these days? Are there any modern releases that paint a picture as vivid as the ones from the 80’s and 90’s? It’s a grey rainy day here, and having taken my shower, I found myself reaching for my Arpege. The minute I sprayed it on me, my ten year old said “Mamma you smell so good!!” And that’s how I know I am playing my part. There’s a whole generation today who still clings on to perfumes that their mothers wore - regardless of whether they are popular now or not. My way of making sure these beautiful masterpieces are not forgotten is by wearing them around my little girls so that this is the scent they associate with their mother when they grow up. My only hope is that when my daughters are adults, sniffing perfumes generated by AI and what not, they find beauty in good ol’ Arpege and the likes. One can dream, right?

[825] I first encountered Arpège during a brief stint working in a local pharmacy as a young teenager. The bottle, a shiny black opaque orb with its vintage-style ridged gold lid appealed to me. My boss dismissed it as "rancid", but this only piqued my curiosity more (particularly as she said the same about Shalimar). When I (furtively) sprayed it, my mom's signature Chanel No. 5 is what came to mind - nothing rancid about it in the slightest. I have a full bottle of the current EDP and a vintage extrait, and it smells just as good to me now as it did when I first tried it on the quiet shop floor. Arpège is similar to No. 5, but is more muted, less radiant and less refined (but in the very best way). Like No. 5, it is a classic aldehydic floral, a scent profile that I adore but feel too young yet to wear day-to-day. It is a bold yet elegant floral bouquet, brightened up top by citrus and Chanel-like aldehydes, becoming wonderfully woody as it progresses. It is slightly animalic in the base in the manner of Van Cleef & Arpels First. Arpège opens with the aforementioned aldehydes, bolstered by tart bergamot. Neroli adds an orange sweetness, paving the way to the floral heart, complemented to perfection by a juicy peach note. It is at its airiest and brightest here. The florals bloom on my skin as it develops. I get sweet, creamy ylang ylang and green-tinged muguet. Muted but waxy lily is in there too. Clean, powdery jasmine adds body. A powdery rose note follows, becoming quite prominent in the later stages. Iris enhances the powder, Chanel-style. The woody notes creep in as it begins to dry down, rich and nutty, grounding and complementing the florals to perfection. A slightly animalic vintage-style muskiness emerges at this stage, adding a nice edge to a classically elegant perfume. A little dry vanilla keeps things sweet as it fades, becoming a musky-amber skin scent. Sillage is moderate and longevity is long-lasting. The parfum is very similar to the EDP, which is what I focused on above. It is more radiant up top, but quickly becomes very soapy, with (curiously) more limited performance than the modern EDP. It is more white floral dominant with lily-of-the-valley a focal point, and is less powdery, even if rose is present too. It is fresher and less musky, but the lovely woodiness is intact. Arpège is a beautiful example of a classic aldehydic floral that holds up marvellously despite inevitable reformulation throughout the years. An affordable gem to boot, this is a great alternative to Chanel No. 5. Feminine-leaning muted glamour for everyday use. French perfumery at its finest. 5/5.

I am reviewing the new reformulation not a vintage bottle. OMG! This is really beautiful! I wish my bottle of # 5 smelled half as good as this I wouldn't have gotten rid of it. This is aldehydes and florals done right. I feel this is a perfume of opposites. At first it is clean and soapy, bright aldehydes, crisp starched white shirt and then it shifts, and you begin to smell a flower garden, ylang, ylang, daffodils, tulips, red roses, jasmine, and pink camellias. Especially pink camellias, red roses and ylang. All are blooming and new then the shift begins again, and the flowers and fruits are a bit too ripe and going off. Images of a graveyard and funerals come to mind. This perfume makes me contemplate the impermanence of life. It begins bright and hopeful but in the middle and the end it becomes wistful, and a bit melancholy. A contrast between strength and tenderness and tenderness wins in the end. Arpege is bright, fresh, floral, soapy, creamy, w/ just a slight touch of powder. Very soft and tender, I know I keep coming back to that word Tender, but Arpege is really like a loving hug from a Mother or Grandmother. (Elena who wrote an article on this perfume knows her stuff and her reviews never steer me wrong) It brings me to tears but they are happy ones. It reminds me of my Grandmother, she would have loved this perfume so much. I wish she was here to smell it w/ me. Bravo Lanvin, Bravo. Edit: Comparing this to Patou's Joy right now and I can see the similarities, but Joy is not a dupe for Arpege. Both are bright aldehydic florals in the beginning and both finish tenderly. Arpege is slightly powdery and slightly spicy from the coriander. Joy is much more indolic jasmine w/ rose where Arpege is rose, ylang, and camellia cream. Both are indolic but Joy is much more indolic than Arpege. I read several biographies on Marilyn Monroe, and it was said in one of them she was a fan of both Joy and Arpege and wore both of them and actually preferred them to #5. Now I don't know if that is true, you have to take some of these biography claims w/ a grain of salt at times but I know I favor them both very, very heavily over #5.

Arpège by Lanvin smells like elegance wrapped in satin. It opens with a luminous aldehydic glow -sparkling, refined, almost champagne-like - and then slowly melts into a velvet heart of rose, geranium, jasmine, and powdery florals. There is something irresistibly sensual about the way it moves: never loud, never obvious, but soft, polished, and deeply alluring. On the skin, Arpège feels creamy, silky, and intimate, like the trace of a beautiful woman who has just left the room. The rose and geranium give it that glamorous floral signature — chic, feminine, and timeless — while the powdery warmth underneath makes it feel almost like skin kissed with expensive face cream, fine powder, and a whisper of golden light. ✨ What makes it truly luxurious is its depth. Beneath the airy floral sheen, there is a darker softness — amber, sandalwood, musk, vanilla, patchouli — creating a smooth, shadowed sensuality that feels mature, magnetic, and utterly refined. It is softly sweet, but never girlish. Elegant, but never cold. Seductive, but in the most sophisticated way. This is not a perfume that begs for attention. It draws people in quietly. It has that old-Hollywood kind of beauty — poised, graceful, mysterious — the sort of fragrance that feels as though it belongs with silk gowns, pearls, candlelight, and slow, deliberate gestures. 🌙 It is timeless femininity with depth, softness, and a hidden fire. To me, Arpège is sexy in the most elegant possible way: not provocative, but mesmerizing. Not trendy, but eternal. It smells like glamour, intimacy, and quiet confidence — the kind of perfume that leaves a deep trail and an even deeper memory. 🥰 Femininity: 10/10 Luxury feel: 10/ 10 Sensuality: 9.5/10 Longevity: 9/10 Deep sillage: 9/10 Timeless sophistication: 10/10

Another bottle joins my growing collection of vintage Arpège. I've read Arpège is one of the more unreliable vintage classics as for surviving intact. I haven't found acrid bottles so far. But... the extrait comes in exquisite bottles yet is somewhat underwhelming in impact and projection. Luckily, there seems to be a lot of the extrait on European auction sites and often for 30-50e, not hundreds. It's the vintage standard Arpège that's the holy grail. How good can it be, and how different might it smell over the decades. Yesterday I opened a never touched boxed bottle of "Eau Arpège" 90%, in a pressurized 60ml bottle with a built in atomizer. I'd estimate it's from the 80s or before. This juice is very masculine with the accent on the base notes, spices and vetiver. Here all this is far earthier than I have experienced so far, and while I recognize it as Arpège, it's a revelation. In this Eau Arpège the flowers are faded, the fruit distant, and the aldehyde is but a whisper. This is the best "new to me" fragrance I have worn so far this year, which is saying a lot because I also just received a vintage Fracas in impeccable form. On the downside, projection is not good, after a heavenly first 15 minutes. And longevity is poor. Alas, I probably won't collect more bottles of vintage Arpège because I suspect it will never be a showy performer. The modern black round bottles for 20 bucks are powerhouses on me. But that is a quite different fragrance to the vintage Arpège. My new acquisition is impressively classy, nose to skin. So if a purring, almost sleeping skin scent is to your liking, I will recommend vintage if you find a good deal. If you want a knockout dynamic chypre, go for a recent fragrance built from the start with 21st Century aromachemicals.

I'll never understand the pretentiousness in some of the reviews on this site, but that's a rant for another time. Anyway, on to Arpège. This is a review of a 70-year-old bottle of the extrait. I don't have any experience with other formulations. People constantly compare this to Chanel No. 5. I get why, but saying they smell the same isn't accurate at all. No. 5 is a cold, sparkling fragrance, whereas Arpège is warm and velvety. The opening aldehydes are certainly there, but they lack the sharp soapiness of Chanel. They are softer, darker, and quickly transform into a creamy heart of peach, honeysuckle, ylang-ylang, and jasmine. You simply can't fake 70-year-old Mysore sandalwood and natural musk. It dries down into a rich, oily, resinous warmth that modern perfumery is legally forbidden from replicating. To a modern nose raised on fruit-chouli and sugary nonsense, it would probably be called "old lady" or "dated." But really it's just dark and sophisticated in its purity. I'm sure it's due to the age, but my bottle doesn't have any projection, even for an extrait. It sits very close to the skin and transforms several times over the span of a couple of hours. In the bottle, it smells like straight bourbon. It's likely the aged top notes, but the moment it touches skin, it turns very floral. The transformation is impressive to me, and I'm not easily impressed. When it finally heats up completely, my husband (whose reaction to most perfumes is just "ok, whatever") said, "Oh, that's really nice! It's like a bouquet." I never said he was a poet, but he's cute, so I keep him around. I don't wear this often, since I usually prefer something that slaps bystanders across the face. I save this for special occasions, and I enjoy it every time I wear it.

When I first started getting into scents around 15 years ago, Arpege was one of the first classics that caught my interest. Reading descriptions of it as a more affordable and a bit forgotten no 5, and then stumbled upon an ad for it in one of my grandmothers old magazines from the 50’s, I set out to try it. However, the 21 year old me probably wasn’t ready for the heavy artillery of aldehydes, because I didn’t like it. At all. Fast forward to today. I found it on discount and it was such a bargain I blind-bought, thinking I might like it more now and if not, it’s still one of the classics. And I’m so happy I did because this is so close to perfection. I have realised what separates really great perfumes from not so great perfumes is that the great ones reveal something new about themselves each time you wear them. The first sprays of Arpege reminded me of the first time I tried it all those years ago and I got a bit disappointed. The aldehydes are so soapy, although pleasant and great examples of aldehydes at their best, the sharp soapiness coming right at you has never been my cup of tea. Second time wearing it now and it tells me so much more. After the aldehydes have settled down there is a creamy, slightly powdery and warm veil of flowers wrapped around me. Lily of the valley, ylang, a rose somewhere - it really is a bouquet, and with each whiff, a new flower can be detected. It’s not freshly picked though, some petals fall off and let through a soft sandalwood reminding me a bit of Samsara. The aldehydes have softened and now create a perfect mezzosoprano to the flowery lead and the sandalwoody alto. If one looks for the perfect tutorial on scents built on accords, Arpege is it. So so beautiful.

I love this scent - 6'3" 200lb man here. I love it, but I don't wear it often - and I don't know why. I'm normally very at home wearing 'feminine'-oriented scents, but this one... maybe just a smidge too much. I'm pretty ashamed about this, in the sense that I find men who go on about femininity while persuing perfumes as a hobby (they often call perfumes 'colognes' to make themselves feel better) a complete bore. But then again, if Sauvage are going to use a model in their advertising (Depp) found to have been a wife-beater in a British court, I guess I shouldn't be so surprised at this low-level toxic masculinity. It does echo some of the aldehydes in the opening of Chanel No. 5, but goes in a very different direction from the first spray. It moves to a really well-blended floral mix, which really is quite jasmine forward, but not "mono-jasmine", and feels a lot more 'contemporary' than Chanel, which wears its history much more to the fore. For example, the Arpège feels much more 'clean' and fresh than the Chanel, perhaps due to a powdery, soapy strand that feels modern. Thinking about it, the approach to florals also doesn't feel "vintage". It lasts and projects well. I put on Youth Dew (see, told you I was at home in the world of feminine frags. I'm so damn' right on.) to chest, wrists, neck, and sprayed one shot of Arpège on the back of my hand, and it's the Arpège I can smell. Above Youth Dew. Which is nuclear. So... this is something of a lost love. I adore it, but can't entirely get along with it. But better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all, and all that. For the price, if you're interested in perky, clean, dynamic florals, you'd be mad not to buy it.

I wore vintage Arpege today. The Mist version. It's called that because of the way it sprays out little puffs of perfume that creates a diaphanous veil of fragrance around you. Sort of like spraying and walking through a fragrance. I really love this version and if you are a fan of Arpege, it is one I highly recommend you pick up before it completely disappears off the market. It gives a light coverage of scent that encompasses you and your clothes, yet it is not overwhelming or too heavy or as if you went hog wild with over spraying. It's actually the opposite and is very delicate. It's so lovely, I was in a cloud of heaven all day. But a funny thing is when I got home from work today and went into my bedroom to change, the smell of civet was heavy in the air. If I didn't know better, I would have thought my cat had an accident. (And no, he didn't.) I don't get any civet in the modern version but it sure is in the vintage one. Fortunately, I did not smell that note off me or get anything animalic aside from a nice inviting warmth. Though I'm not the biggest fan of civet there is no denying how rich and radiant this fragrance wears because of it. So, if you like that note, the vintage version is the way to go. And if you don't, now you know the version to avoid. Final note - To me, Arpege, vintage or otherwise, doesn't smell anything like No.5 except for a few shared notes, but mostly because of the aldehydes and powder. And if those elements are the standard for comparisons to No.5, then we can say the same about a lot of fragrances of the past, since many of them shared those elements too.

The first couple times I tried this I was so overwhelmed and couldn't enjoy it. I guess third time's the charm because now this has revealed itself to me as a lovely fragrance. This opens very strong when first applied but after it's settled it becomes a heavenly aldehydic soapy powdery white floral with a "dirty" edge to it likely from the patchouli and coriander. This also has to have some animalic funk to it. I understand why some compare to this Chanel No5, but also don't. Sure it's an aldehydic white floral from the same era yet they also smell quite different especially in the dry down. I highly recommend taking the time to understand this as it's very much a beast of a fragrance but absolutely beautiful once you understand it's beauty. I brought this in early December and I've been wearing it A LOT recently! The more I wear it the more I understand why everybody compares it to Chanel No5. I also recently tried the EDT version of No5 and now understand even more why they get compared, but now I also understand more how Arpege differs. To me Arpege has a very heavy focus on Jasmine. The opening as well has a stronger bergamot note. It also has that slightly dirty earthy spice touch to it this is completely missing in No5. To me No5 is so extremely well blended that almost no note in particular stands out, except for in the dry downs focusing more on Vanilla for the EDP and Sandalwood for the EDT. I absolutely adore Arpege and it has already become one of my top 5 favourite fragrances of all time.

Why aren't there two listing for this perfume since the 1993 reformulation is different from the 1927 original version? Okay, I purchased a vintage and a bottle that was produced in 2018. I'm not great with notes, but even to my amateur nose, these are two different fragrances to me. The vintage is a powdery incense floral bomb, with civet clearly in the mix. The modern is so heavy on the Ylang I can understand the comparisons to Chanel No. 5. as I thought of that on first spray too. I get no Chanel No.5 connection between the vintage and No.5 beyond the aldehyde opening and the powder. Then this becomes floral and spicy, but I am not getting the incense or powder much as I did in the vintage. It's also much lighter on the aldehydes. While I pick up the peach in both, it does seem to be blended differently in the vintage, whereas it is a heavier spiced peach in the reformulated. The reformulated also is much woodier throughout, and comes across as a woody floral, whereas the vintage is more a floral aldehyde. Maybe there is more vetiver in the reformulated that is adding that woodiness? Both have Oriental elements to them. Deep in the base is where they most resemble each other, sharing the amber, vanilla, sandalwood, and benzoin. I am only picking up the patchouli faintly in both. Other than that, between the top and middle notes, they are two different fragrances to me, so I don't understand why there are not two review pages.

I completely agree that the price point on this fragrance should be *far higher*. It is so complex and multi-faceted, it is a classic that nobody else wears (in my age group anyway-early 20's) so it has been one of my signature scents for ages but now with the recently lowered price point, I fear that everyone will start wearing it! Feh! ;) It doesn't smell like soap at all to me as some others have mentioned. I don't get much of that dreaded soapy fruit salad smell at all from this. I have not before actually picked up on the peach in it..but I guess I can see it now that it is mentioned. But this is not at all a fruity, soapy fragrance. There is sooo much more going on with Arpege. It has *some* similarity to Chanel #5 but with a much warmer, deeper, more complex, and to me, absolutely beautiful, enchanting dry down, with the same terrific lasting power as #5. Arpege doesn't overwhelm but it stays the course and changes almost magically over the course of any given evening. At first spray, most will note the controversial aldehydes (which I happen to love depending on what other notes it is paired with--in this case, neroli, jasmine, ylang ylang and rose stand out for me) and then it evolves. And when you get to it's warm, spicy, mysterious heart and base, the sandalwood, musk and amber are positively pulsing and can actually vary from time to time, depending on your mood or whether it is warm or cold outside (or in).

I feel sad that in his "review" of this masterpiece, Marcke Menke thinks it is clever to display an ugly arrogance that says more about his character than it does about Arpège. I understand that not everyone will love it, even that it might be polarising, but far more knowledgeable perfume experts than he (Roger Dove, Luca Turin, Michael Edwards, Victoria Frolova to name but a few) agree that it belongs in the pantheon of the all-time greats. Well, now I've got that off my chest, it will surprise no-one to learn that I love this very grown-up floral aldehyde: a delightful bouquet of blowsy white flowers captured in that fleeting, exuberant, moment just before they die. There are clear similarities to that other iconic floral aldehyde, Chanel No 5, but for me Arpège is brighter, perhaps more accessible. I love too the creamy, lactonic heart, and the faintly spicy note in the drydown (coriander?). I agree it is NOT at all like the many modern sweet gourmand perfumes that are in fashion right now (how many of them will last for 99 years?); rather it has an intemporal quality which evokes the decade that gave us so many of the "greats": Shalimar, No.5, Joy..... This is one for a confident, assured woman to wear with a little black dress and pearls rather than jeans and a sweatshirt. It's 1920s glamour in a wonderful art deco bottle: often to be found at a very affordable price, too.

OMG! I picked my dogs up from the groomer today and they both smelled like Arpege. I asked the groomer what she used and it was a now discontinued dog cologne by Oyster. She bought a few cases of it right before they stopped making it. I think it is hilarious that this dog cologne smells EXACTLY like Arpege. My little butterball, Precious, wearing a big pink bow, and Petey, with a doggie bone print bandanna, made quite the fashion statement wearing this cologne. Ha, ha, ha.... Though my dogs are Beagles, I can imagine how grand this scent must have been on a perfectly groomed, very elegant, standard poodle. So fitting! All she/he would need is a jeweled collar to complete the look. Oh God, too funny, I'm still laughing my A off over this and thinking about all the dogs in the past, prancing around, smelling like Arpege. How funny! Apparently, some dog colognes of the past mimicked the scents of famous human perfumes. That is certainly true of this one. I guess if you want to freshen your dog up, maybe you can use Arpege. It's certainly cheap enough to do so nowadays. Personally, I think it's a scream!!! Though I know this is not a review, I just thought it was too funny not to pass on to fellow perfumistas who would understand the humor in it and might get a kick out of it too.

Although this perfume contains a stunning explosion of florals, I find the first notes of Arpege give me a strange high - there is more than a hint of "virgin plastic" - about the smell; something to do with the mix of aldehydes and lily of the valley. I call it the "new dolly" accord - the sort of smell I used to get as a child after unwrapping a Barbie or Sindy from their packaging! Don't mistake me, I love an unusual scent (think turps, tarmacadam, motor oil and creosote) and the new dolly accord is actually quite addictive, so that first hit is the best. But on dry down, that smell is reduced to a buzz by the enormous bouquet of flowers that rushes in to drown it out - jasmine, rose, geranium - phew, it's heady and hypnotic. In fact, the dry down is very reminiscent of Clinique's Aromatic Elixir - but without the pulsing migraine that the top notes of that distinct perfume used to induce in me. The two perfumes do, in fact, share many of the same middle and base notes, so it's not surprising. The final settling of this perfume into warm, resonating smokiness is just delightful. I see it pairing beautifully with a cashmere jumper, a large glass of heavy red wine and an evening by a crackling fire - a perfect winter season scent.

Would you gasp if I told you I prefer Lanvin Arpege to Chanel No. 5? Are you clutching your pearls? Well, the truth is out, and I think it has to do with its creamier, woodier heart that follows that radiant flash of aldehydes. Mind you, the bottle I have is from the 90s and cannot consult on more recent opaque bottles, but this particular formulation is impressive. Arpege has an effulgent, coriander-laced jasmine, gleaming white heat, almost phosphorescent, with an antique rose and stealth peachy, lactonic undertone. One could argue that this would be a rather mature selection, particularly for women, but we might want to examine what it means to be "mature" enough to wear a fragrance. Luca Turin, the opinionated old codger, even argues that this would be dowdy on a woman but marvelous on a man. It does feel marvelous to me at least, and it dries further into its base of vetiver and sandalwood, it seduces me even more so. It may be kaleidoscopic, even a bit too convoluted, for noses used to modern perfumery, and it doesn't seem to receive all the hype and attention that such icons as Rochas Femme, Guerlain Mitsouko, and the aforementioned No. 5, but is deserving of a seat at the table of great fragrances for the ages.

She's such a magical perfume. Like an arpeggio in music, where a chord is broken up and each note is played separately in succession, a different note pops up each time I smell it before rejoining the composition harmoniously. She's a vintage beauty and smells nothing like popular fragrances today. She's seriously aldehydic but in a way that vintage girlies typically like. Arpege is not shy but doesn't screech the way No. 5 does. She's definitely related to the Chanel classic. After about an hour, Arpege turns into a powdery floral with just a hint of sweetness. If you are a light sprayer, she will turn into mostly a skin scent at this point. A beautiful one. A couple of sprays on clothing lasts for a couple of days. Just be careful when you wear her in public because some people will really struggle with her due to the heavy aldehydes. If you don't like older fragrances from the 1920s-1980s you will not like her at all. She's fine with that because she still to this day is a favorite to many. Vintage-loving friends, you should consider trying Arpege. I found her on one of the popular, gray market sites for less than $30US. For that price you can probably blind buy safely. She's a 9.5 out of 10 for me. I'm in love.

This was a blind buy as I adore vintage fragrances like Chanel No 5, Je Reviens, etc. Arpege opens with the fatty aldehydes similar to Chanel No 5. Immediately, they feel like static and sparks jumping off of my skin. They’re quickly followed by the bouquet of warm and creamy florals. This perfume (the reformulated current version) is loud and I can see it becoming headache inducing if not worn carefully. The dry down is jasmine, rose, and a creamy sandalwood on my skin. The aldehydes never really dissipate. I can still smell them throughout the day. I can see a slight similarity to Chanel No 5, but only because of the aldehydes. When comparing the two (and I wore No 5 exclusively for over twelve years) Arpege is brighter and warmer. It has a lilac note (maybe the honeysuckle) and the florals are fresh. If I were a bee I would come for anyone wearing this perfume. It’s absolutely different than No 5 in many ways and if I were to have never smelled the two and reached for Arpege first I would’ve left Chanel behind. I can’t believe I’ve never tried this perfume until now. It’s stunning and breathtakingly beautiful! Also quite affordable!

Arpége was my wedding perfume! I was young and didn't know much about perfume at that stage of my life. I was also more budget conscious, so you can imagine how excited I was to find this underrated beauty. My mother told me that my grandmother used to wear Arpége when she was alive, I wanted something with heritage that would stand the test of time. I didn't want it to be Chanel no 5 either, I find it more acrid on me and less romantic, might be the civet.. Anyway close to 100 years later, Arpége although inevitably having gone through reformulation, is alive and well with no sign of being discontinued. I'm wearing it again today, first of all the opening is intense, but the dry down... Oh how I live for the dry down! A little bit soapy, a little bit spicy, cashmere soft, woodsy and creamy without being lactonic. Helps if you like jasmine & geranium, the most prominent floral notes to my nose amidst an otherwise seamless floral bouquet. I like to imagine what life would have been like in 1927 France when this perfume was originally released. Arpége will always have a place on my shelf and in my heart.

Arpège by Lanvin is a masterpiece in the history of world perfumery. A magnificent, romantic tribute of maternal love to the beloved daughter, which comes down to our times with the inevitable reformulations. Arpège is a magical, feminine fragrance, a redundant triumph of aldehydes that amplify the neroli and peaches that emerge very clear in the juste pulvérisé, an enigmatic blend immersed in a luxuriant bouquet of flowers of rare beauty and persistence. A fragrance of superb elegance, timeless, which in some respects duels at the foil with the contemporary Chanel n 5 of 1921, the differences are quite remarkable for the most demanding olfactory, only the aldehydes and the white floral scents vaguely unite them. The olfactory evolution over the hours is surprising, resulting in an amber, mystical and sensual olfactory kaleidoscope with enveloping and creamy reminiscences. The adored Marguerite told her dear mother Jeanne Marie Lanvin: that the fragrance sounded like an arpeggio. Maternal love always triumphs. Masterpiece.

When I recently found incredible, nearly full bottles of Tabac Blond and Ma Griffe in a magic vintage/antiques/curiosities shop, I also found - ditto completely full - a bottle of Arpege Extrait to Lanvin, of as yet unconfirmed vintage. Wearing it today, I am relieved to find that this concoction retains most, if not all, of its original charms although they are, perhaps, a tiny bit faded, more like a still perfect sepia print of a beloved family member than a prism through a technicolor magnifying glass and thus all the better for it. Not so much an aldehyde fragrance this; more of a silken wrap, beautifully shining soft floral. Knowing your own worth; no underestimation, nor pandering to newish. faddish whims but strong and true, believing in what is right - a gem in your midst. If Arpege Extrait were a novel, it would be To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf, with its reminiscences and whispers of Greek Gods and Goddesses - Hera, Persephone, Circe and Athena. Wonderful.

I left a review of this previously but wanted to revisit it as I've fallen deeply in love with it. This is my new favourite perfume of all time, overtaking Chanel N°5. I'm unsure if I'll even repurchase N°5 now. This is so divine and gorgeous. The opening is a crisp blast of aldehydes with undertones of bergamot and neroli. I can also pick out hints of peach. Its so wonderfully icy. The heart of this is a complex white floral beast but I mainly get hints of jasmine and the coriander surprisingly stand out. The dry down of this fragrance is what makes it for me as it's a beautiful balance of amber, patchouli and musk. As much as I will always love N°5 - the vanilla dry down of the EDP or the sandalwood dry down of the EDT is not my preference - I prefer the complex yet balanced dry down of Arpège! I've never found N°5 to have issues with longevity on my skin but that being said Arpège is even stronger and more long lasting. This is an absolute masterpiece!

Editing my review after more wear. It's lovely and floral, I get a lot of violet in the opening, not sure why as it's not a listed note, maybe it's the combo of iris and muguet. Then a lot of lily. Approaching Funereal lily. Then the powder starts to dust you. Smells like a nursery, pleasantly so, but I almost want a dirty diaper in there to make things more interesting. Subsequent wears revealed the woody heart of this to me. Not sure if smelling a lot of chypres in the interim has changed my perception of this. I like it more now. There's a similarity--in notes and mood--to Silences, a favorite. The coriander is prominent-I hadn't noticed it the first few tries. For me, this is a good thing, I love coriander accords. Agree on the "glorious Vetiver drydown" mentioned by member Valerie K. Any vintage lover should own this, the price demands it, at least as a reference point to what would come. Many modern florals share the mitochondrial DNA of this scent.

HOLLY HOLLY HOLLY. what is this? Why no one told me how good this is? Erin Parsons you are a genius! Thank you for making that video. Let me tell you: I've tried so many by that i mean so many perfumes. NONE of the lasted 3 days ON SKIN. Oh my gosh this is sooo pretty, this is angelic. At first spray it smells like baby soaps which i love. It's very juicy peach but no sugar. Then it sits on skin and turns into this beautiful classy jasmine but its not boring, there is a little bit of woodiness and iris touch with ylan ylang. Even though i don't like ylan ylang i love how it was in here. 3rd day and it smells like caramel just like sol de janeiro with a mix of kerastase hair oils. This is magneficent. I can't even imagine how good it would smell if you apply this every day and notes are just blending together. This is art, this fairy dust. And this will be probably the perfume of my life. It's cheap but smells very expensive.

I got this for my daughter for christmas, and got arpege eclat for me. I like this one far more! She gave this a try when she opened it and we both loved it. I quickly ordered it for me and waiting to receive. This is a great scent for the money. Very elegant but not prissy. This is a great scent that you could wear year round i think. I dont see this as a casual setting fragrance, i see it more for when you dress nice and are going out shopping or to work. This is classic but not dated. Fresh but not soapy. If you want a break from super sweet fragrances this is a good choice. Update: my daughter gets compliments on this she told me yesterday👍🏼 Update: yesterday was my first full days wear. I really enjoyed it. It is definitely a sophisticated grown-up scent. Lots of well blended flowers and aromatics. Lasted and projected well. A great value, does not smell cheap, smells french:-)

I have been interested in "vintage" fragrances ever since finding a bottle of Chanel No 5 in a thrift store and being blown away by the long-lasting base notes. I purchased No 5 new and it's not exactly the same, but it lasts. The base notes are there. Recently, I bought an old Arpege (70s) and an Emeraude. The Emeraude reminds me of Breck shampoo but the Arpege was worth the gamble, truly beautiful. Arpege is not too noticable at first, but it transforms into something soapy, but not harsh, just warm. It's the kind of fragrance that makes you smell your arm over and over. And best of all, you CAN snifff again and again because it's still there. So many modern fragrances just melt away after 30 min but not Arpege. At least not the 70s bottle I bought. It lasts. So find a vintage bottle on ebay, or take your chances with a new bottle. I think you'll be happy either way.

Elegance of a kind that belongs to my Grandparents' generation. When some producer gets the bright idea to remake a golden age Hollywood classic, as painstaking as the set and costume design are, the faces of the actors can rarely, if ever, capture the sense of the zeitgeist. This is what Arpege does so beautifully. When I wear it, I feel a little like those modern actors; not quite classy enough, nor refined enough, but we can dream, can't we? Opens up like a society Dame's boudoir, takes a leisurely stroll around the garden - pausing to get so close to the flowers that you can feel the slight waxiness of the petals - then it's back upstairs to apply some powder. But the real masterstroke is the lingering, ever-so-subtle indolic note; just enough to remind you of the mortality, carnality even, of the grand old Lady. I picture Margaret Dumont wearing this.

If you can make it through the first 30 minutes, which is ashes and smoke like an amped up Black Pearls, Arpege transitions to soapy florals. Then the spices show up and the result is beautiful. It becomes a little sweet, which is where I find the mimosa, but not cloying or overly sweet. I’ll bet the original was just amazing. As it is today, despite the initial resemblance I found to Black Pearls (which I love), Arpege is its own unique, rich scent. It has very good longevity, a lot of depth, and it’s a little addictive. Smells expensive and not like anything else I have. We are having a heat wave where I live and Arpege seems to love it. I’m thinking it will be equally beautiful in cold weather. The drydown is a touch powdery. It’s more for special occasions and evening, but I’m all for wearing what you like whenever you want to wear it.

I tried this on expecting something heavy and scary after reading the reviews but this is amazing?! I am flabbergasted by the fact that people find this polarizing, or worse rancid. It may smell like that to people who only wear sugary gourmands or freshies? I don't know.. I am turning 30 soon and I love it! At first you get the sparkles which feel more rounded, ticklish but not sharp at all. Then it's flowery, powdery, warm yet "greenish", with a classy vanilla slowly appearing from the background alongside the smooth woodiness. A cashmere sweater feel describes this well as other reviewers pointed out. Men probably wont like this, since there is no hint of gourmandy sweetness here. Younger girls should probably stay away too. Arpege is a classic, vintage, cozy, deep, elegant fragrance. I can't wait to spray it on my (faux) furs!

I'm quite new to the so called "classic, flowery perfumes" and my "inexperienced" nose can't detect the notes properly yet, but to put it shortly, this fragrance reminds of some luxuriously smelling soap and a nice, neat flowery garden. It's a powerful, aromatic scent with great longevity and sillage. The drydown is a little different and reminds me of a clean body after shower (it's a nice, soft scent, with a slight peachy, even citrus-like undertone. Anyone, who thinks this fragrance is opulent and heavy, should maybe try and wait for its drydown. :) ). I bought this because I was wondering if I could handle this type of scent as I intend to purchase Chanel n5, Houbigant Quelques Fleurs or the 24 Faubourg later on as time goes. Anyway, I find Arpege really beautiful, it was a blind buy but it didn't disappoint me.

Someone down there said this smelled of 'mean librarians' and I totally get that. This has such a classic perfume smell--it's the strong blast of aldehydes at the front that has you sucking perfume from your teeth for hours. For me that's the perfume-y perfume smell, like Revlon shampoo from the 80s, or Johnson and Johnson baby shampoo. I let mine sit for 6 months because it scared me when I first got it. Then, months later when I reached for it, the aldehydes weren't so strong, and it immediately went to the sparkling white flowers. Really very beautiful, but never losing its formal, 'perfume-y' backbone. So old-fashioned and correct. But still monstrously strong. One spritz on my wrist and I can taste it all day. For when you want to feel like a mean librarian--and some days you kinda want that.

I'm not sure which version of the formula I'm holding onto but seeing that it's a miniature, I'm guessing it's one of the post-1993 reformulations. I also suspect that this might be one of the earlier bottles because it was giving me a really stinky almost halitosis-like opening possibly from being quite old. If anyone can share what they know about the Arpege reformulation timeline, I would love to read about it! After giving it about 10 to 15 minutes to settle, the complex floral bouquet finally blooms (oh so gorgeous). I can't really pick out specific floral notes but they seem to take turns to shine. So far, it smells the best when you're catching wafts of it in the air - great sillage. After about an hour or so, the scent dries down into a powdery aldehydic coriander on my skin. Wondrous!

Beautiful aldehydic floral whose vintage parfum version could be worn by all in any circumstance in the right amount. Its association with Chanel no 5 really just lies in the pairing of aldehydes with the typical floral bouquet of jasmine, rose, and ylang ylang. This really is a totally different scent in feel, however. It is softer and friendlier and feels like it hinges much more on hydroxycitronellal, the clean and soapy aldehyde that is a lily of the valley building block, and a sweet kind of ambery drydown accented by coumarin and vetiver. I associate No 5 much more with ylang ylang and sharper aldehydes, which are both obviously present here but not as dominant. Vintage extrait is well worth seeking out and not as costly as many other classics which this rivals (and surpasses?).

Arpège is a complex journey. It opens with a classic burst of aldehydes, lily of the valley, and bergamot, but soon transitions into a rich floral heart of jasmine and iris. As it settles, it reveals a fascinatingly 'dirty' yet animalic powdery side. There's a smoky woodiness mixed with a hint of spicy vin chaud (mulled wine)—cinnamon and all. To me, this smells like someone incredibly wealthy and aloof, looking down on everyone with a smirk. It feels cold and 'haughty,' yet there's a strange, heartbreaking void in it. It reminds me of a sunny, snowy morning right before the Lunar New Year. The dry down is a peaceful, soapy, yet melancholic incense. It captures the essence of a fleeting, unreachable adult—calm, hollow, and hauntingly beautiful. Definitely a scent for the cold seasons.

Such a charming perfume! It's true that each wear will reveal different facets. The opening is all about aldehydes and jasmine of course, but then just enjoy the journey and delightful dry down. If it first seems a little old fashioned, give it time, after 30 minutes or so, most will find it timeless I've noticed ( at different times and years) lilac, rose, tiny touch of wild garlic, lily of the valley, ylang, peach, vetiver, sandalwood, even the tiniest touch of coconut. Mostly though it's just a lovely abstract accord, a comforting sweet caress. As an added bonus the history of Jeanne Lanvin and her daughter is fascinating. Marguerite/ Marie became a wonderful soprano singer. The bottle is so lovely too. I need to always have a bottle of this. Big love.

A strong yet sophisticated perfume that will definitely get you noticed. It smells like a classic perfume, with a lovely bouquet of white flowers, but doesn't have the sharpness some other perfumes like that sometimes do have. It's elegant despite the strong sillage, and ridiculously creamy, especially after the first hour. I smell a lot of jasmine, as well as lily-of-the-valley, combined with a spicy scent (I assume the coriander). When the middle notes have gone, it lingers on my skin as a silky musk with amber undertones and a tiny hint of vanilla. To me, it is the perfect perfume to be worn in all seasons, during all times of the day, if you want to be noticed. Definitely an empowering fragrance that makes me feel like I'm in a vintage film noir.

Arpege... it isn’t very like Chanel #5 at all. Aldehydes, yes, enough for the soapy clean component of skin. There’s a light dust of leather, and delicious florals - the lashings of a 10 hour drydown of an expensive classic perfume, but the ‘drydown’ note begins almost immediately in Arpege. Rose, Lily, Bergamot, Jasmine.... A touch of wood keeps dry notes going to counter a touch of a slightly sweet amber. Arpege is a 5 - beautifully balanced, rich, aromatic. It is more akin to Lauren’s Safari, though Safari has a green edge. Arpege is never not perfect for the occasion. Any occasion. Clean, fresh from the bath, opulent French perfume that has been snuggling in for hours five minutes after being applied.

@Carlitos - I love your review but you are mistaken about who wrote the song, "It Had to Be You." Music was by Isham Jones with lyrics by Gus Kahn. It was sung by a lot of individual performers and was used in four movies - 1939: Priscilla Lane performed it in the film “The Roaring Twenties.” 1942: Dooley Wilson sang it in the iconic film “Casablanca.” 1989: The song became the memorable theme of the romantic comedy “When Harry Met Sally,” securing its place as #60 in AFI’s list of top tunes in American cinema. 1992: Megan Cavanagh sang it in the film “A League of Their Own.” I just thought you might be interested to know, and like you, I love the way Sinatra sang it too.

Arpege is so beautiful. It definitely is a fragrance of its time and can be compared to Chanel No 5 or L'Heure Bleue with a lot of the same familiar notes. The aldehydes are much smoother and the fragrance all around sweeter but still just as full bodied as the rest. Full of powder and florals, it's bright and sunny...yet just as intense to make it feel a bit more serious for a formal occasion. I love this fragrance and I'm floored that I can get it at an affordable price. It felt like finding a little treasure still left for us in this world. If you love the above fragrances I mentioned or are looking for an affordable alternative you really should try it.

Fondly recalling how I bought a half dozen bottles of Arpege during one of those pandemic desperation sales some European online sites would run, 12€ the bottle. Current online price in Europe - 25-50€. The fun is that I occasionally see it in fancy pharmacies and old-fashioned department stores for up to 125€. I mention because it's a perfectly valid and lovely 1920's style perfume. As is the budget Coty l'Aimant, and the German dime-store Tosca. My current fave is Polish gem Pani Walewska Classic (blue bottle). That one shocks my nose. It's gutsy and authentic. Moral of my tale: Chanel No 5 isn't the only game in town. And don't forget Blue Grass.

I adore this scent! I’ve been a Chanel No. 5 fan for years so when I learned about Arpège I had a feeling I’d love it. I wouldn’t call it a dupe or a “poor woman’s No. 5” by any stretch — side by side comparisons on paper, clothes and skin confirm this for me. But I understand the association people make. The blend is big and heady and deep, with sparkly aldehydes that I love. Spray too much and you’ll taste it, but a few spritzes and it’s heavenly. To me, this feels a little more cozy than Chanel. Where No. 5 makes an entrance and announces itself boldly, Lanvin sidles up quietly and makes its presence known. I have a place in my heart for both.

I love and appreciate this fragrance. I actually like the updated version. I have not put my nose to the original. I've heard it's lovely and I'm sure it was. You have to experience fragrance fully. Never jugde a perfume right after spraying. At first it can be off putting. Wait for it... wait for the magic to happen. I find this beautiful, classy, and feel put together when I wear it. My daughter compliments me when I wear it. Kids don't hold back lol. Im 41, Ive always loved fragrance. The older I get though and the more experienced my nose gets. I just love vintage fragrances more and more.

this is just phenomenally nice. It just arrived yesterday so I've hardly had time to get to know her, but she's such a sweet, elegant lady, yet without pretension or overly starched grandiousity. Surprisingly earthy and warm. Aldehydes and white flowers followed by sweet pink and purple powder and warm woody depth. Soapy and spicy, i can sense the coriander i think, and nostalgic without being musty or getting bombastically 'white floral.' Edit: also my cat, usually a fuzzy dedicated to giving perfume and hand lotion the stink eye, seems to love this one 😅

Arpege is definitely not a people pleaser fragrance. My husband hates it. But I love it to bits, specially in winter time with a cashmere scarf or some nice fluffy sweater. It' gives me a confidence boost and makes me feel like an aristocrat. Whenever I'm wearing this, even I just finished washing the dishes and having a cup of tea, waiting for laundry to be ready, I get in the "black gown wearing white pearls, sipping a dirty martini with two olives in it"- kind of mood. Not a good blind buy unless you're into vintage vibe scents.

one of the most elegant floral perfumes ever created. The composition is beautifully blended, with florals melting into a soft, powdery harmony that feels timeless and refined. While Arpège and Chanel No.5 belong to the same classic aldehydic floral family, I personally do not find them particularly similar neither to the extrait nor the Eau de Parfum. If anything, Arpège reminds me more of the atmosphere of Amouage Gold. Smooth, graceful and deeply sophisticated, it represents the quiet luxury of classic perfumery.

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night, grab a silk robe and walk into a old, beautiful living room with tall windows framed by heavy blue velvet curtains. The moon is shining in and gives of a cold light that glimmer on a glass table topped with a crystal vase filled with white flowers. There is a side table in glass too with bottles of dark rum and liquor. The room is filled with this cool, heady scent..almost medical (but in the most pleasant way). This is Arpège for me and I love it.

I stayed away from this for so many years because the bad reviews were holding me back.A few days ago I decided to blind buy it and I immediately regret my so many years of hesitation. I just love it!!!In the opening reminded me of chanel no5 but after a while it developed a character of its own. It is beautiful. Not too loud aldehydes,not too loud patchouli not a granny smell not dated at all!!!French gentle powder and ultra luxurious soapiness very well rounded perfect for any occasion.

One of the world's legendary perfumes. Judy Garland, Greta Garbo and Zsa Zsa Gabor all wore Arpege and, if you try it, you'll understand why. It's absolutely beautiful, elegant, hypnotic, French. Smokey and incensey. You can easily pick up a 100ml eau de parfum - it's apparently sadly no longer available in the pure parfum version any longer, why?...who knows? - for under £30. The fabulous looking bottle alone would look great on anyone's dressing table. Men could (should) wear this.