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.

I always forget how much I love this fragrance. I have to agree with the below review in that I can't understand the TF Black Orchid comparisons either. Orchid Leather is not a floral bomb to my nose but rather a slightly sweat amber wrapped up in incense. I can definitely see the comparison to By Killian's Black Phantom though. This feels dark, mysterious, and sexy to my nose. It's a real stunner and longevity is great. Easily out performs Black Phantom.

To me it smells like Black Orchid, but if you would replace chocolate with plum. Basically smooth sweet orchid and plum. It does not smells like leather or vanilla to me. I really like it because I love black orchid, but I didn’t want to buy vc&a precious oud because it’s smells identical to it. So it’s something very similar, but not identical. Be careful as it’s stains light clothes with oil stains, even though it’s not that high of a concentration.

this is GOOOOODD! i will say the opening kind of threw me off at first because you get hit with a sharp leather vibe and something almost dirty? but in like 2 minutes it goes away and you are left with a smooth incense and plum with this touch of amber. SORT OF reminds me of rock the myrrh by dries van noten but with a plum note and no resins. definitely not an everyday but for those going out moments.....this is great.

As a lover of Black Phantom I have to say they both have the same vibe/character. They are both in your face, arrogant, loud, sexy, mysterious and dark. Orchid leather is boozy, sweet, warm plum with leather undertones. While black phantom is boozy, sweet chocolate and heady coffee. Both are statement scents that would usually be accompanied with “a devil may care” attitude. I love them both ❤️

@Louismanuel - I can only speak from my personal experience. I maybe get 6-8 hrs on a good day with Black Phantom before I barely notice it at all. However, when I spray Orchid Leather, I easily get between 10-12 hrs consistently. Also, considering the price point difference as well (I can usually get the Van Cleef's between $85-$110) Orchid Leather seems like the better choice for me.

Bought today from John Lewis in Nottingham UK, great service and knowledgeable staff. Very vanilla and dark berry, woody and smoky. I have tobacco and vanille by tom ford and it's quite similar, but fruitier and sweeter. Absolutely lovely with good performance and sillage, projection was good outside this evening, 4 sprays is enough. Glad I bought it!

@Frankascentsments, Claims Orchid Leather outperforms Black Phantom. I agree but only on value for money. I also have and love both, but Black Phantom Sillage is better. In terms of longevity they both last 12+ hours which is all I need. Maybe Orchid leather lasts longer but as I shower within 12 hours after spraying, I don't know which lasts longer.

What a gorgeous scent! A cozy and intoxicating wearable leather with a fruity sweetness. Very long lasting (can still clearly feel it on my skin seven hours in), creates a soft and warm scent bubble around you. A more softspoken classy scent that dosent need to be loud to be beautiful.

discouraged.... Why is there talk about "leather" notes???? Where in the description of this fragrance is the note "leather" listed??? If the NAME of a fragrance is “orchid leather”, this does not mean that it contains “leather” notes. THE SCENT IS DIVINELY GOOD. bravo Maestro ❤️

Beautiful, strong amber scent with a hint of leather and a prominent plum accord. Most suitable for nighttime and formal occasions where you want to be smelled before you enter the room. Leaning more towards the masculine side but it can definitely feel sexy on a woman. 10/10

Bought this a few days ago.. my first impression was "wow". I didn't stop sniffing the paper and had to buy it, even bought a second bottle just in case. Unisex IMO. The projection is not as strong as I wish it was, but it is an amazing scent, love it. Safe blind buy.

Not just a love at first smell but an obsession. This one lasts a long time on me and I had people obsessively smelling me when I wear it (not in a creepy way). This whole collection is beautiful and I highly recommend Orchid Leather. It’s sophisticated and gorgeous.

What a dark, mysterious, deep, sweet incensey scent. So gorgeous, i blind bought it and i really liked it, but the plum is very prominent than i thought and i wish only if it was a bit lighter 9.5/10 I didnt test the preformance yet I’ll see

Ooh this is gorgeous. The drydown is a liquorice like black leather but a bit fruity, resinous, sweet and fragrant. This isn't a smokey incense-leather at all, just smooth, sensuous and even seductive on the right person. Wow. Intoxicating.

This is absolutely stunning. My wrist was stuck to my face all day today, one of the very few fragrances that made my head feel tingly with delight. Gave me flashbacks of Plum Japonais. It's a really boozy oriental smell that's cosy af!

This is a very intense room filling plum fragrance and don’t let the name fool you because this doesn’t smell like leather at all this is a sweet boozy plum fragrance, very strong, very long lasting. A gourmand scent, like a juicy plum.

how to describe this perfume ? perfection in bottle once i wear it i kept on coming back to this perfume, i was obsessed with this perfume i wanted to wear it was sexy, heady, it was everything i want and i need

its like black phantome from kilian, not 1:1 but very similiar, prefer BP, but this has something polarising too to me but price tags, much different, its not easy choice, BP 230€ (50ml) and BO 137€ (75ml)

a badass mix of slight fruitiness, smoky bourbon vanilla, and a rich ambery/leathery vibe from the labdanum. reminds me of an even more niche mix between Plum Japonais and PDM Carlisle, well done.

Smelt this on strip and wow... It’s a very round, pleasing smell. Very cozy and pleasant , fruity in a silky buttery type of way. Feels like having a silk blanket on you. Need this one soon

This one and oud blanc.. so perfect man. This is sexy af. I can't stop sniffing that shit. This is a 10/10! But colder weather this is a perfect date night scent imo. You have to try that

If you are trying to imagine how this smells Imagine that Black Phantom by Kilian fused with Carlisle by PDM This is just too good to be true for me

Plummy, sweetly smoked, moldy dark glamour, the scent of the main villain sorcerer/sorceress/ sorcerex (who is sexy in a kinky way). Instant love.

Great fragrance, perfect balance, very creative accords to build an amber-leather masterpiece. Elegant and versatile. 10/10!

Black Phantom and PDM Carlisle infused. Rich, thick, and dense scent. One of many great fragrances from this collection.

A new hidden gem inserted the my collection, just keep it secret

Awesome unisex scent, especially for colder winter weather.

im not puttin NOBODY on to this lmao (it's damn good)

I noticed this fragrance as new and sprayed it on my skin; I was immediately both incredibly impressed and hooked. I love labdanum in fragrances, as I find it to add a rich, plummy and resinous warmth, and here it is intensified in a way by the opening plum note. This doesn’t necessarily make Orchid Leather a fruity scent, at least not on me, but lends a subtle astringency to punctuate all the other heavy and luxurious notes present here. There is also a faintly animalic note in the opening followed by dark chocolate and warm leather that makes Orchid Leather so intriguing. Cardamom is there in the background adding a very nuanced, camphoraceous spice note, and this is all enveloped by a sweet and balsamic vanilla incense. The only nod to leather on my skin was in the pleasantly dirty immediate opening. In all, it sort of reminds me of Tom Ford’s Velvet Orchid with its deep honey and flowers, and of Prada Amber in the dry down, as I find the latter to also showcase that same sensual and intoxicating, plummy labdanum-patchouli-amber note. Orchid Leather lasts for days on my skin and clothes with decent sillage (I douse my suit in it and my bedroom constantly smells of Orchid Leather). It is definitely sweet, but resinous and very slightly earthy like dried fruits or dark chocolate. I tried CdG Floriental for comparison and cannot agree that these two are similar at all. Floriental is quite harsh and peppery on my skin, with fleeting sweetness and performance; it feels to me like it is missing something. I also tried Killian’s Black Phantom, which I found to be more chocolatey than jammy. And Atelier Cologne’s Gold Leather is more earthy and has some bitterness compared to Orchid Leather. Official Olfactory Notes: Top notes: Cardamom, Plum Accord Middle notes: Black Leather Accord, Incense Base notes: Cistus Essence, Vanilla Pod Absolute

Orchid Leather is less the dense, resinous richness of its name and more a study in textures—brushed suede and bruised plum, a slow shift from spice-laced smoky depth to something milky and smooth. The opening hums with a low, spiced warmth, saffron and labdanum threading through tonka’s powdery, coumarin-rich body. Not the nutty, sweetness of raw tonka, nor the sticky gourmand overdose. The note here leans dry, almost leathery, its vanillic undercurrent still shrouded in shadow. The plum is dark but barely jammy, more the taut skin of the fruit than its syrup, a restrained, wine-dark sweetness with the slightest tart edge. Leather here is neither rawhide nor the sharp bite of birch tar—more like a supple, suede accord, its presence more about feel than scent, plush and faintly kissed by incense. And then the shift: where spice and grain once flickered, the fragrance softens into something cream-laced, the lactonic bloom of vanilla rising through the base. Just a tad boozy, so warm, this skin-sinking infusion thick with the velvet of tonka leaves too a lingering trace of something almost reminiscent of the almond-like heliotropin. Silky, mellow and powdered. Truly a fragrance of transition—textured, spiced, and shadowed at first, then dissolving into something smooth and golden. Suede left to warm under a sunlit, milky window.