Orchid Leather

I was fascinated with Black Phantom a couple of months ago, and I saw this in the 'remind me' section and thought of testing it and I'm glad I did... Orchid Leather is a reminder and it's close, especially in the dry-down, it's brighter with a fresher opening, which makes it more masculine and more versatile in my opinion... It has in the background the same chocolaty, coffee-ish vibe that exist in Black Phantom but not as dark, creamy and silky like BP... I wonder what mix of notes gives that scent, considering it's a fruity fragrance with no coffee or chocolate listed in its notes! I think Orchid Leather and black phantom share the same unique beauty in a big share of the fragrance body, 50%+ I would say... also orchid Leather has a very good longevity 8+ hours. I'm also familiar with Wafaa by Ard Al Zafaraan, which is VERY close to Black Phantom if you skip the first weird 5 minutes... Wafaa is very strange in the opening but after the 5 minutes mark of spraying it's very similar and surprisingly smooth, not smelling cheap whatsoever, although it's way cheaper than both BO and Black Phantom! Orchid Leather $100 70ml scent 9/10 - price 8/10 Black Phantom $300 50ml 9.5/10 - price 3/10 Wafaa $15 100ml scent 7.5/10 - price 10/10 It's nice how a rich man, middle-class man, or broke man, all can enjoy this beautiful scent type... somehow /partially 👍

This is by far the best birthday gift fragrance I've ever received. It was purchased by a dear kind friend who joined me on a bit of retail therapy. We were guided to the fragrance by a sales person who raved about it, and from first sniff, we were both hooked (I wasn't intending to purchase, but my friend insisted she buy it as a gift, because it smelt that good on me). How does it smell - Insensey, plumby, sweetness, that is both smokey and juicy. And it's powerful - it jumps off the skin and throws like an Olympic shot-putter. So this is definitely not an office sent. But wear it to the opera. Wear the $#*# out of it to the opera. Overspray and make em smell it in the nosebleed seats. I smell this as a statement fragrance. Being a statement fragrance, and both luscious, sweet and smoky - it is a seductive fragrance, though its sophistication and brand cache will probably attract 'older' fans. There is a market - much younger than Van Cleef's likely primary market - 20-30 yo men in particular) who would be wise to take this one clubbing. No-one, and I mean no-one, in the club is going to smell as intriguingly attractive as you. It's expensive - but if someone is special to you and they love fragrances -then this is an incredible gift. Thanks Sheps my birthday buddy.

Orchid Leather is one that has always stayed on my mind after testing, but I never went back to it again, until earlier today, and now I think of how nice it must be to own this bottle. Such an authentic fragrance consisting of plum that doesn’t smell overly synthetically fruity or over the top sweet, but rather balanced in the two aspects. Like a plum off of a branch just a day or two shy of it being perfectly ripe, it has that sweetness pulled back from it. Ever so slightly smokey labdanum that I find so addictive and to top it off, vanilla that feels like a mother’s hug. An embracing scent that I want to hold tightly and not let go of. It reminds me of a ratherly cold autumns evening, with the sun setting, making the sky turn from a glowing orange and cheerful yellow tone, into a soothing velvety dark blueish colour, that paints the sun’s last moments and uprise of the moon. In that moment of change, I find that this scent perfectly encapsulates the image of the fruity sweetness from the sun’s warmth and bright colours, clashing with the smokiness and seriousness, allowing the darkened, developing dusk loom overhead, and I imagine THIS is what it would smell like.

This blend of spices and leather makes it a perfect and masculine fragrance that fits well in the VC&A collection of fragrances. the best way to describe this is if the spice from Spicebomb Extreme by viktor&rolf was mixed with the leather from Ombré Leather by Tom Ford which may sound like an oversaturation but this is truly a perfect fragrance for work/school. and with the dry down of sweet and more specifically a plum note, it can separate itself from other formal fragrances. overall it's a shame that this fragrance is not talked about as much. The longevity is around 12 hours which again fits a work/school setting too and the consistency of this fragrance was surprising when I first used it. As for projection, it is roughly average in comparison to other formal fragrances so don't expect it to project across the room in the air. Scent: 10/10 Performance: 9/10 Longevity: 8/10 Sillage: 6/10 Price: 8/10 Blind Buy Ability: 6/10 Overall: 9/10

I don’t get the Black Orchid comparisons frankly, i have both and even considered returning black orchid as i got it as a gift and was afraid they’d be too similar, and while the names are similar they don’t strike me as very similar at all, Orchid Leather is even heavier than Black Orchid, and is boozy, heavy vanilla ambery goodness with strong plum notes that pierce you at times, it’s imo more vibrant yet even louder than black orchid and even less versatile, only suited for winter, maybe only winter nights at a stretch. Black Orchid on the other hand is darker, more medicinal and earthy and less nauseating overall, and while both are strong i find black orchid to be less loud due to the earthiness in the notes and a lack of strong vanilla like is present in Orchid leather, neither scents present much leather despite the name in this one, and black orchid is slightly more versatile and can maybe be worn in all nights throughout the year.

Rarely does a perfume immediately speak to me the way VC&A "Orchid Leather" does. I recently ignited an interest in plum-incense fragrances. Of course, Tom Ford "Plum Japonais" seems to be the "Holy Grail" of plum-incense fragrances. We all know Plum Japonais is discontinued and prohibitively expensive, even if purchased as a decant. I have owned/sampled/worn hundreds of perfumes in my lifetime. I am an older woman. I've only had 3-4 fragrances across my lifetime speak to me the way Orchid Leather does: Dries Van Noten "Soie Malaquais," Amouage "Guidance," Amouage "Memoir Woman" and By Killian "Incense Oud." Now Orchid Leather. This perfume is an exotic blend of perfectly executed semi-sweet plum, smoky balsamic incense, earthy woody labdanum and creamy vanilla. After a whirlwind development, the base is simple and linear. Nonetheless, to my senses Orchid Leather is nothing short of soothing and comforting. I love it!

This is intoxicating. Dark sweet plum followed by rich soft vanilla and incense. I don’t think I have anything else like this in my collection. I do own Black Phantom and I can detect some similarities but I prefer Orchid Leather. Just started on this bottle and I’m already scared to run out. I wish they’d make these slightly larger like a 100 ML. I now have four from Van Cleef and I do believe it’s quickly becoming one of my preferred lines. I highly recommend anybody who likes a dark and rich sent to get their nose on this one because it is really special. If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to experience Tom Ford Plum Japanese then you can understand the type of plum that is here. TFPJ goes spicy after the initial plum and this goes smooth. It is very long lasting. My husband said I put a little too much on so I guess that means it’s good value.

I was in Harrods browsing these very expensive but incredible scents and was sold by "Givenchy leflamme" which was on sale for £220. The smell was amazing and I said I would like to wear it on my skin for a few hours and come back. After a short time I struggled to smell any note of fragrance....i was rather disappointed as I was in love with the fragrance of the plum, vanilla and soft tobacco/incense. I then wondered through to house of Fraser and was approached by a lady working there. I told her my desired fragrance and she took me over to the "van cleef orchid leather".... I was amazed at the fact it was a carbon copy of what I fell on love with. Again I wanted to see how it worked on my skin. The whole drive home the scent was radiant, even the next day. I ordered orchid leather and adore this incredible fragrance.

Orchid Leather is my boyfriend's favorite perfume that I wear. I'll be completely honest and tell you he asks me to put it on when he feels "romantic". He is not a fan of my perfume collection in general because he is extremely sensitive to most scents... Such a torment to me because I collect perfumes! However, this one he finds very attractive on me. Out of my 100+ perfumes, the Van Cleef & Arpels Extraordinaire line is his favorite and mine! I'm wearing it today as per his request because we will be traveling by car and he won't be able to escape me. 😉 Orchid Leather is very wearable. A sexy leather jacket. Dark and mysterious with a touch of elegance. Cool rainy days out with friends or cool autumn nights cruising in a black Porsche with the top down. Cool 😎!

Just bought this after trying it a few times on my skin. Incredibly beautiful with a darkness to it that's exactly what I wanted. Perfect for autumn/winter months - smells rich and warm. I imagine Lestat de Lioncourt would smell like this - mysterious, intoxicating, inviting with an underlying sense of danger. Definitely has gothic, vampiric, otherworldly energy. It smells how Queens of the Stone Age and The Dead Weather sound. Seems to have great lasting power on my skin which I struggle to find. And lasts amazingly well on clothes and fabrics. A polarizing fragrance I'd say - it's got a bold personality that you'll either be infatuated with or repulsed by. I don't think there's much in between. For me it's a 10/10 obsession.

I don't review fragrances after one spray, nor after one wearing. I have Orchid Leather. I love leather. I have more leather dominant fragrances than any other note. I get Zero leather in this fragrance. And if it is there, than for sure very weak and on the background, as if shy. What this is for me, and probably for the majority of those who own both Orchid Leather and Black Phantom, is a lovely, luxurious, tasty fragrance, in the same style as my favorite By Kilian, even if a tiny bit more modest. For half the price and 50% more juice than Kilian's Masterpiece. A fragrance worth every cent or penny. But if you are expecting leather, or even suede, 99% chance you will be disappointed.

The Orchid Leather fragrance by Van Cleef & Arpels magically enhances the intense notes of leather thanks to the magnetic Labdanum flower, a flower that blooms immersed in delicious musky notes, and the sweet Vanilla pod. Stimulating opening that evokes mystical oriental atmospheres, thanks to the essence of Cardamom and the vibrant notes of incense to the fruity accord of Plum, finds in the absoluteness of the labdanum flower and incense the explosive and enigmatic force that sublimates the accord of Leather and the sweetness of vanilla. Fragrance with a strong character, sensual, intriguing, persistent, an olfactory experience that I recommend to lovers of oriental fragrances.

In my opinion, this fragrance is about 90% similar to Black Phantom by Kilian, which is a huge compliment in itself. It shares that luxurious warmth, those sweet and creamy notes, and the mysterious, seductive vibe that makes Black Phantom so special. However, it also has a slightly different personality—perhaps a bit more approachable or brighter in some areas—without losing its sense of refinement. It's truly a beautiful, elegant, and well-crafted perfume that can easily stand alongside much more expensive niche creations. I see it as a hidden gem in any collection—one of those rare finds you'd rather keep to yourself.

This fragrance is a true hidden gem—how is it not talked about more? The scent itself is uniquely captivating, with leathery vanilla notes that leave a lasting impression. What truly sets this fragrance apart is its remarkable longevity; it lasts up to 24 hours on my skin and can be detected on clothing for days. Even after a shower, the scent lingers—a rare quality. Considering I paid just around $100, it’s an absolute 10/10 and an incredible value for such a unique fragrance. While it’s a standout, I recommend sampling first, as its rich profile can be intense if leathery vanilla isn’t your style.

In the opening I get a really boozy plum like plum liqueur, gorgeous! Sweet velvety vanilla and then the leather appears, a soft wearable leather. Later you get the incense, but not to smoky, only to make it interesting and oriental feeling. And when it dries down there’s this heavenly warm spicy cardamom. The sweet boozy plum note and the oriental vanilla are there the whole time. Phantastic night out fragrance for the colder month. This is not a daytime perfume, it's for special occasions in my opinion. Unisex, but female leaning, because it’s really sweet.

One of the best, if not the best from the collection. This is a combination of Black Phantom and Myrrh Assoluto. Delicious boozy Plum, some creamy Vanilla, Incense and some spice. Even tho Leather is in the name, Leather plays a background role supporting the fragrance, but it’s not a Leather fragrance in my opinion. Anyone coming here for a Leather fragrance will be disappointed. As a collection, they have some amazing fragrances all of which have terrible performance, except this one. Performance is very good and by far the best. Unisex and smells great.

It was love at first sight for me and one of the few that is really worth the relatively high price. Rich, dried fruits of plum and smoky incense, both softened by the sweetness of vanilla - so perfectly blended that I get warm, spicy skin, even though it's not listed in the notes. Strong, sweet, sexy and attractive, with solid longevity + 10h. If you like leather scents or plum scents, you should try this. For me reminds me a lot of Vinegia 21 Merchant of Venice but Orchid leather is less sweet and cardamom.

Absolute love at first sight and one the very few frags where I think that the juice is genuinely worth the fairly high price. Strong, sweet, yet leathery, sexy and appealing. On me projects moderately, lasts very long and every time I wear it I feel like I want to taste and eat myself. Advertised as unisex, but it leans more in the masculine. I use it predominantly for the nights out all year round, but I feel it best works in spring, summer and maybe fall. In winter I would grab a different DNA scent.

The dry down somewhat reminds me of Tom Fords black orchid, but with a softer dry down (I guess it’s the vanilla). I’m surprised that patchouli wasn’t listed as a note, it was definitely what I picked up on the most during the first hour. Sadly I can’t smell any cardamom, but I do get the warm spicy leather and smokey incense, both softened by the sweetness of the vanilla. In conclusion: Will wear it when going out in cold weather. Not office friendly at all, but sexy in both a sweet and spicy way

This is love at first sniff. The plum and labdanum blend perfectly. The incense, labdanum and cardamom are blended in such a way that it creates a leathery accord not listed in the note breakdown. I personally love labdanum and i feel that this is one of the perfect fragrances for exalting this note. The labdanum is central to the concept, it boosts the plum and is the backbone of the leather accord. If you love leather scents, or plum scents, you need to try this.