Tsar

For the uninitiated, Van Cleef & Arpels is a French jewellery company of the highest level, created in the late 1800s. Its master jewellers have designed pieces for royalty. Just think of the wedding set of the beautiful Princess Grace of Monaco, and still today, we find their precious jewels in luxury boutiques around the world. And Tsar is a masterpiece, an emerald in the world of perfumery. But what does Tzar mean? According to Wikipedia, Tzar also spelt czar, or csar is a title used to designate the Eastern and Southern Slavic monarchs. In the latter capacity, he lends his name to a system of government, the tsarist autocracy or tsarism. The term derives from the Latin word Caesar, which must have meant “emperor” in the medieval European sense of the term: a sovereign with the same rank as the Roman emperor, who held it for the approval of another emperor or a supreme official clergyman (the pope or the ecumenical patriarch), but was usually considered by Western Europeans to be equivalent to “king”. Tsar cologne is turning 30 something, precisely it was launched in 1989. I was 25, and the scent sounded a bit too mature for my age, too much to bear. I knew it was good, so damn good, heralded as a strong and unmistakable identity, but I did not dare and passed it. So, this fragrance slipped under my radar until five years ago. Now I am ready for it. Is it a Pour Homme EAU DE TOILETTE flanker? No, it is not. It is more elegant, metrosexual, less rude and manly. Let’s immerse ourselves in the perfume. First, the cologne loses some of the classic fougère and focuses more on the aromatic and green aspects. As soon as the juice touches my skin, I get an explosion of aromatic and green accords. Be careful, because the sprayer is generous and releases a massive amount of juice with a single splash. The top features many greens, moist and herbaceous notes. It reminds me of a digestive liqueur made from hundreds of herbs. Bitter mugwort and herbaceous lavender are very noticeable and masterfully blend with pungent rosemary and lemon coriander. Dried lavender, almost hay-like, becomes prominent after a few minutes, so calming and relaxing. Citrus and flowers don’t stand out too much, but they are there to tame the otherwise overly aromatic edges. In the initial stage, I can get a fresh and delicate atmosphere. The first squirt will knock you down, but wait and let it grow. Let the boisterous opening settle down and soon exude a spicy floral accord. Again, it’s not a dominant floral heart and the flowers are very subtle. Instead, the bouquet of creamy white and red flowers amalgamates with some spices and resins. Cinnamon is most noticeable here, with balsamic juniper berries and resinous pine needles. I feel a hint of powdery iris root, I imagine perfumed talcum powder clouds, not as dominant or with a lipstick vibe as in modern colognes like Dior Homme Original (2011) EAU DE TOILETTE and Valentino Uomo (2014) EAU DE TOILETTE. The intermediate phase is strongly balsamic, scented with woody scents. In this resinous realm, it is practically difficult to pick the rose or lily as a stand-alone note. And then comes the drydown, with a mossy, leathery base. In the final stage, the scent becomes a little soapy and clean, but excellently. Soapy, but far from the traditional barbershop. There is amber wood stained with musky oak. And the great birch note that smells the most in this context for what it is rather than as a leather substitute. In this recent version, sandalwood and patchouli are subdued. Tsar doesn’t smell as complex or sophisticated as the myriad notes listed above would suggest. I’m not afraid to use the words retro and old school here, because this cologne belongs to that genre. A good daytime fragrance that also wears well in the evening. It is more appropriate for the cold months of late autumn and early spring. While I think it smells like the eighties, it’s still a compliment attractor. A couple of people I work with, a man and a woman, said to me “What good perfume are you wearing, what is it?”

I have contacted Van Cleef & Arpels via email to request for them to reconsider bringing back the Tsar that so many of us love.. The person that answered me was very nice but it seems like it is definite NO from them, they are only focusing on the one line of perfumes that all seems to be UNISEX fragrances. Masculine male only fragrances appears to be a thing of the past from this company. Probably all mostly sweet or floral feminine type fragrances, no thank you. Here is the response: Thank you for your email and for remaining loyal to the Tsar fragrance for all these years. We regret to inform you that it has indeed been recently discontinued and our remaining stocks have now been exhausted. This decision was made so as to focus all our efforts on developing our “Collection Extraordinaire.” This High Perfumery range reinterprets the noblest ingredients in perfumery and we are working in close collaboration with renowned perfumers to create the highest-quality fragrances for it. UPDATE: 23 May 2020. I was able to secure a sealed 100 ml from a guy in my city from a 2012 batch for a measly equivalent of $14! He obviously had no idea of the ridiculous discontinued hyped up prices they are going for nowadays. I still cannot believe my luck. Not quite as strong as the dark opaque bottles from the 90s but still more than satisfying in smell and performance. UPDATE: 8 JULY 2020. I have sourced two unused vintage 100 ml bottles from the original formulation (1989 - 1995 Sanofi period). I am actually surprised how close the smell is to the Interparfums formulation (2008 - 2018) which was the last one before it got discontinued. The vintage is however a bit deeper in smell and longevity seems to be better mostly due to the higher concentration of oakmoss, In the parcel the seller also included a sample of the middle formulation as pictured above in the clear bottle. That definitely is bad compared to the others and I am glad I never bought it, so I would suggest it is avoided. It is clearly much weaker than the others and the smell not nearly as complex. I did pay quite a premium to obtain the vintage spray bottles (the splash 125 ml seems to be cheaper) and and to be honest not quite sure at this stage if it is worth paying that much more, I will report back once I have used it for while. If the last formulation can be obtained for a reasonable price, I suggest getting that rather but if roughly the same price, vintage is definitely the better option. Then again the prices on eBay for the newer product is about 10 times more than what it was in the shops about two years ago, crazy!

Let me tell you a story, dear fragheads. Some 5 years ago I was stationed in Japan. Back in a day, I was only starting to scratch the surface of olfactory world, knowing not too much about brands or names. I just knew what I enjoy to smell (like) and based on that I used to search for perfumes. Actually, couple of years before going to Japan I got a chance to smell Van Cleef and Arpels other creation, Ambre Imperial, and this house remained in my head as a synonym for a niche perfumery. So, getting back to the story. As you might know, Japan is a place which is not famous for being a fragrance heaven. Yes, there are Japanese designer brands for foreign markets but the Japanese themselves... Well, they don't use perfume. Basically, none of it (very much related to the concept of purity and cleanness). I believe it was Fragrantica where I got to know about classic juice named "Tsar" from a familiar brand and just for the sake of curiosity I entered this name in a search box of Rakuten shop. Boy, was I surprised when "Tsar' popped up in the results! And you know what, it cost me a fraction of a price, from some discounter online shop. Absolute madness! For a while, it was my main juice and I came back to Europe with half of a bottle remaining. When I noticed that Tsar is not that easy to get here, the precious drops were put aside for the special occasions only. Can't say how happy I am to own a dark bottle version! That's my short story, folks. No need to elaborate on the scent - it's just perfect. Manly, green, dark, serious, and manly again. And, of course, that is really a scent of old glorious times when unisex frags were still not a thing. Not that I don't like them - I do - but having a truly manly fragrance in the stash is, I believe, a luxury nowadays.

Few discontinued men's fragrances are spoken of more highly than Van Cleef & Arpel's Tsar: I had started hearing of this almost as soon as I became interested in scent because so many perfumers and members of the fragrance community speak and write of it so reverentially. (It has apparently been an enormous inspiration for Manuel Cross of Rogue Perfumery, for example.) I see why after finally getting my hands on a small sample bottle. This is the pine-dominant fougére done absolutely to perfection: there are other, even earlier examples of the genre, but this is about as good as it gets. The density of notes in this is remarkable, but they all contribute to the same overall idea. Aptly named, this suggests a splendid dacha in a Russian forest (or to my own frame of reference, like a luxury resort in the Pacific Northwest). Pine is mixed with green notes, juniper, and aromatic herbs, with the big birch note smelling more in this context like what it truly is than as a substitute for leather. There's a beautiful lurking quiet soapiness that doesn't overwhelm but just gives the sense of cleanliness. And there's a ton of oakmoss in the drydown. Although this evokes masculinity, it's not at all aggressive; although mature, it could be easily worn by a younger person who wanted to project confidence and freshness. The fact that this was discontinued is pretty heartbreaking. I understand both why bottles of this go for such high prices on the Internet and why clones have been created that evoke this even still today. If this had been my signature fragrance back in the day (as it very well could have been), I would have been loath to see this go away.

This fragrance turns heads. I own two bottles of the good stuff—one from before 2000 (in the classic green, malachite-like bottle) and another in very dark green glass, likely from the mid-2000s. Price-wise, I paid close to what the latest version of Tsar retails for today. Yes, it’s still available, but you’ll have to travel to Paris, France, and then take a train—quite literally. And honestly? The trip might just be worth it. Tsar smells green, mossy—refined rather than dank, with a powdery hint of moss that adds elegance. Imagine a deep, dark green forest with a soft mist of moss in the air. I haven’t smelled anything quite like it, and I absolutely love it. Longevity is solid, but it becomes exponential when sprayed on wool. I’ve spritzed it on my Aran wool sweaters, and the scent lingers for weeks. It also garners attention. More than once, people have caught a whiff and tried to figure out what they were smelling. Either it’s the fragrance, or I’ve suddenly transformed into a ridiculously handsome man overnight. I suspect the latter is less likely. If you get the chance to own a bottle, don’t hesitate. Prices on eBay are absurd, and no one should pay what some sellers are asking. I’ve had better luck on other platforms—decent deals pop up from time to time. But with Tsar, patience pays off. Dua's Emperor Elixir is a very good clone of this, if you can't afford a bottle. It's over 95% Tsar on the dry down and I'd argue it's stronger than Tsar. I have two bottles of EE to keep me from spraying too much of the original. Original will be reserved for dates, important life events, etc.

I never had the ribbed clear bottles, all of mine were (and currently are) the dark green ones from the 2008 to 2017 formulation. I have been wearing Tsar on and off since the mid 1990’s (probably from the ADIPAR period) when I was still in my early 20’s. It suited me then and it still does now. It is by FAR my most complimented fragrance ever and that includes my personal current favourate Aventus. I also like the smell on myself which I think is just as important. To pay Aventus prices for this compared to just $66 for TWO 100ml EDT bottles, just two years ago, is crazy and out principle I will definitely not pay that as the previous reviewer also noted. Paying a reasonable price of the equivalent of say $100 is still fine and justifiable. I will use my half a bottle that is left (2014 batch) sparingly on special occasions. Unless VC&A come to their senses and start to make this awesome fragrance again that will be it unfortunately for me. I truly hope that the people of Van Cleef & Arpels are reading the reviews placed on here and consider the suggestions made. I personally don’t think that Jazz YSL and Tsar are very similar they do share some notes though and are very "clean" fresh smelling. Both are equally awesome in their own right though and are probably the two fragrances I will miss the most should they no longer be available. My rating for the dark green bottle (2014) is 9/10. The original is probably a 9.5/10 or 10/10 as longevity with the added oakmoss was much better.

How to review or render homage to a classic like Tsar. Everything has already been said before, so here comes my praise. The opening is just green and lush. The smooth richness of the blended notes is just spellbinding. The green notes mixed with the coniferous and herbaceous notes is so beautifully masculine. With the added healthy dash of juniper and oak moss, this scent also exudes a lovely aromatic earthiness. Tsar delivers the goods early. There is no slow build up here, just the choice cuts! Tsar also has a certain brightness to it, which I attribute to the floral aspects of this scent. Carnation and jasmine ring through the vast landscape of this scent. The spice comes through in the mid of this scent and acts as a great backdrop for the other notes. Once again the cinnamon and caraway notes used here are so perfectly executed, harmonizing with every passing note from the lavender to the cedar. I could go on but the notes are endless! Though this scent is a classic it feels in no way dated and every bit unique as it has always been. Tsar is manly and refined and is for the thirty and up crowd. This is perfect for winter and fall. Give this a spray when you want to give your confidence and comfort a boost on a winter or fall day; this scent is simply divine and cozy under a sweater or scarf. Tsar is a must in anyone's collection and seems to be what modern perfumery needs to return to. Classic bold compositions that take risks and reward the wearer!!!!!

This is the signature scent of my childhood. After acquiring a bottle for $140.00 on eBay, the scent rushed back a flood of memories, growing up in Mid-Missouri, including poison ivy, cat fishing and sneaking out of my house to try and finger Jennifer. The opening scent is heavy on Juniper Berry, reminding me of the cheap Gin me and my wigger friends would steal from Wal-Mart. Clove and black pepper come forth quick and last for hours after spraying. I first acquired Tsar as a Mall Rat looting around Dillards and saw a bottle sitting unattended on a shelf. I Sprayed it on my arm and instantly loved the smell. I had to have it but I had no money so I stole it. I wore it daily for a year and then ran out and had to move onto other things. However the perfect scent it had always stuck with me. I bought a bottle at 4x the original price last year (26 years later). My kids hate it. My girlfriend dislikes it and I still absolutely love it. I smell like a 90's dad in 2020. This has become a confession, more than a review. I guess this is because I only hit 3rd base at 14 years old, and now as a 40 year old wearing it, I can still only hit 3rd base. This is the scent of getting close but being denied at the last second? It still overpowers stink bait when catfishing. Put some of this on your arm and you wont notice how bad your fingers smell. I always like to end on a positive note.

@MartinFord The ones stating "de Van Cleef & Arpels" are from the original formulation made between 1989 and 1999 under Sanofi for the first 5 years and then Adipar thereafter. The Sanofi bottles have a marble look sticker on the bottle where the name is printed. The Sanofi bottles also have "Eau de Toilette" and size printed towards the bottom on the front of the bottle. The 2015 formulation is the third and last version made under Interparfums from around 2008 to 2018 when it was discontinued. I have bottles of both the original vintage batches from the early 1990s and of the last formulation. They are fairly similar but the vintage seems to last longer and has a deeper smell with more oakmoss. The overall smell of the vintage is superior as I suspect better quality ingredients were used in the original formulation. If given a choice, rather go for the early 1990s vintage. The bottles are completely opaque which means the fragrance is normally very well preserved. After properly testing them recently, I realised the InterParfums version does not perform nearly as well as the vintage. The prices of the last version seems to be even higher in a lot of cases on eBay. A lot of them are advertised as vintage when clearly they are not. The in between (second) formulation under Gucci in the ribbed clear bottle, is not as good to my nose.

Tsar is a fantastic scent sadly discontinued. I have a vintage mini and a 100ml spray of the last formula: the newer formulation is almost identical to the vintage, even better in my opinion. Superb blend of green notes, lavender, jasmine, lilly of the valley, oakmoss, pine and a soft rose. It is an elegant fougere, old-school but not in a dated, dusty way. It is very balanced, never punchy or aggressive. My gf who doesnt like vintage parfums loves it! This and Midnight in Paris are the best from this house. Good performance (but this not a beast mode at all), for every season, especially spring and fall. For 35 and up. A masterpiece! Tsar è stato discontinuato come tutti i profumi di van Cleef e Arpels ed è un peccato mortale. Un fougere splendido, retrò ma non vecchio, elegante e ricco. Ho una miniatura vintage e un 100ml dell' ultima formulazione e sono praticamente identici. Se vi piace il genere prendetelo assolutamente! Scent-9 Longevity -8 Sillage-8 Versatility - 8,5 Presentation-7,5 Uniqueness-8,5 Compliment factor-8 Backup bottle? Yes My vote-9 In one word- jewel Alternative - paco rabanne pour homme, houbigant duc de vervin, Enrico coveri pour homme, ysl jazz, Givenchy xeryous... The review is based on the lastest formula from 2007 and it is fantastic, dont worry about it!

This is right up my vintage-fougere scent profile lovin' alley. I've scored a nice sized factory decant of the vintage juice and have a good Dua clone. I accept the Woody Aromatic designation of this Fragrantica page, but it certainly has strong Fougere touches, with the lavender-coumarin accord approximated by the earthy green notes and, well, lavender. Oakmoss is characteristically amped up. This is a very pleasant but masculine-tough scent profile very common of the late 1980's/early 1990's masculines. And as such, it is closer to YSL Jazz, Ralph Lauren Safari for Men, Pasha de Cartier EDT (without the cumin/caraway) than it is to Drakkar Noir, Houbigant Duc de Vervins L'Extreme, Bon Monsieur by Rogue Perfumery. Although it does shared the amped up oakmoss of Bon Monsieur. And Tsar certainly is substantially different that YSL Rive Gauche Pour Homme. Tsar has more in common with Houbigant Fougere Royale (2010) than those other Fougere comparisons. I have all of these. My kind of scent profiles. Very nice classic. Would love to score a full bottle but can't pay an arm and a leg, plus a spleen and a liver. And that is what it's going for on the secondary market. I'm wearing the Dua clone today. Nice.

Today’s version of Tsar (in the dark green “Tower” bottle) is very well done and one of my favorite fragrances. It’s a classic Fougere for sure. If you loved the original Polo Green there’s a good chance you’ll love Tsar too. It's wonderfully green from top to bottom — pine is only one of the green notes, though it may be the most-smelled one for many. I certainly notice the rosemary though. It reminds of a Northern forest full of lush undergrowth and is wonderful on a cool evening. I wore this often last year, in fact last Winter I occasionally wore it to bed because it smelled so comforting! But I’ve been conserving it since they discontinued it. Here are the official notes printed on the back of some bottles (including mine) Top Notes: Artemisia, Lavendin, Rosemary, Bergamot, Basil Heart Notes: Geranium, Jasmine, Cedarwood Base Notes: Oakmoss, Vetiver, Amber, Sandalwood You could pick up a full-sized bottle online for about $30 in 2018 which was a steal. Prices have gone up to about $60 since VC&A stopped making it, but it’s worth every penny. EDIT: I should have bought another bottle when it was $60 -- now they're $200! Scent: 4.5/5 Value: 5/5 if you can manage to find it for $30

@aero_captain2003 If you like the current reformulation, you should really try to get a sniff of the original one. Picture this: long ago, when I was in college, I once busted a girl who was wearing my sweater she'd actually stolen out of the guys locker room. I already had some pretty high expectations, but unfortunately, it had little to do with me. It turned out it was the Tsar I wore those days, The Original One, the breath of God. Let me tell you, it was brilliant, refined, addictive, divine...A real head-turner. It was everything I lacked in those days. Later on, I grabbed every reformulation that came on the market in search for the same perfection, but none could match The Original One. I could live with the second one, it was quite different, less dense but fairly good. But the last reformulation...well.. I quickly bought a second bottle because I though my first purchase was a fake one. It turned out it wasn't a fake. It's not terribly bad, but it lacks depth and has a rather poor longevity compared to the others. But considering The First One: those were the days man... believe me, those were the days.

I really enjoy this fragrance. It is one of those scents that I found to be just right in every aspect. Not too loud or too harsh, and not a cloying scent. It was always well received when wearing it. I typically got a compliment every time I wore this one. Sadly it has been discontinued. I spoke with a nice lady at Van Cleef and Arpels. She said they do get calls about it daily with people wanting it brought back. Her suggestion was that if enough people were to call and request it, the team that makes the decisions may take it into serious consideration to make it again. Call and let them know you would like it brought back in the original formulation. If you liked Midnight in Paris by VC&A or Pour Homme let them know you want them back too. Customer Service: 877-826-2533 Hope this phone number helps! Would be great to see these three unique frags brought back once again. Give them a call. They welcome the feedback. Be good to yourself and be good to others. Life is too short. Spread some kindness today.

I regret throwing away the empty bottle i had of this 3 years ago. I didn't know they would just shelf this masterpiece for good. Brings a lot of memories from childhood, since my dad had a bottle of this. Many years later, during college this became one of the frags i would wear consistently specially during Winter, therefore it also brings back memories from college days. Everybody around me hated it and my gf at the time would say i suddenly turned 40 whenever i wore this around her hahaha. But i loved it and the scent is imprinted on my brain forever. Classical old school 80s scent, masculine, woody and bitter. From playing ball with my dad during childhood to driving myself back from class at night, chilling to the bone and the campus lights piercing through the foggy uni roads with people passing by...and the Tsar cloud still floating on my car. Memories i will cherish forever. Recently found a full tester bottle of this. The feels man, the feels.

With the return of the reign of Tsars to Russia (though not yet with inheritance rights, give them time), this gorgeous classic is due for a resurgence. Van Cleef & Arpels Tsar is perhaps the best aromatic fougere perfume ever made, or at least it is my favorite. Perhaps I like it so much because it is slightly sweet and woodier than the most aggressively green bitter fougeres. It is strong, but there is an elegance to the blend that is instantly appealing, yet with an unfolding depth that charms every time. The specific notes are pretty much as given by the Fragrantica vote panel, and as Tsar I hereby ban all future voting and decree that all men shall wear Tsar on one day each year, declared as Vladimir Putin day. By the way, I think the pictured bottle is horrid looking but it is also available in a dark green (almost black) bottle that is nice, though hardly up to the quality of the magic inside. 10/10 in every category

This is uber masculine, strong, old school juice with tons of notes. What immediately jumps out at me is oakmoss. There's a lot of oakmoss here and there's no way on earth this is IFRA compliant by today's standards, which is fantastic. Coriander is definitely present. I get lots of pine as well with spicy carnation and green herbs like the tarragon. I'm not getting much iris or lavender but it could be serving a minor roll of smoothing it out. There's also geranium and I think I can sense the leather. Tons of notes but many are silent on me so it doesn't read as complex niche with radical transitions. Nevertheless, I can see why this one has a cult following for those that love green, powerful, masculine frags (I am one of these people) and if you're obsessed with this type of fragrance, then this could be your holy grail 🙌 Scent 7.8/10 Performance 7/10

What a discovery for me - I always ignored this one for some strange reason. I was a great fan of Drakkar Noir and used it for many years from 2000 till 2008 as my main daily office wear along with Paco Rabanne Pour Homme. Unfortunately, both got reformulated in the 2008-2009 timeline and are now pale shadows of what they were earlier. I was desperately looking to replace Drakkar Noir for the last 6 years and so happy that finally found this Tzar!!! What a fresh green soothing combination that really makes a great start to my day. This is a very complex formulation as well with excellent longevity and decent projection. This is truly an ageless creation, as relevant, enjoyable and pleasing today as it must have been in the 80s. Please do not go by the 80s tag and give a try at least and I promise, you will thank yourself for doing so!

Tsar is a fragrance that I love, has several features that I like in fragrances as it is woody, green, floral, aromatic and slightly spicy. For me it is very pleasant aroma, makes me think being in a wooded area or on the field. The base is a bit common in many fragrances, at least I distinguish leather, patchouli, oak moss, cedar, vetiver and slightly musky. It has a moderate wake and moderate longevity, I did not feel it heavy, or intrusive. I think it can be used at any time and for anyone who likes green or herbal fragrances. It seems to me on the style of Paco Rabanne Pour Homme and Carlo Corinto Classic, but a little fresher. The ingredients used smell with very good quality, which makes the fragrance feels distinguished. It also can be obtained by a very affordable price. I recommend at least try

Tsar is arguably the finest aromatic fougère of the last 25 years. As far as the greats go, Tsar is at the top of the list. Its bergamot and lavender intro is so bright, clean, and realistic that I'm transported to a verdant garden somewhere east of wherever I'm located when I smell it. Well-blended notes of oakmoss, pine, coriander, juniper, cedar, coumarin, sandalwood, and tarragon create a green aura that stays fairly close to its source, politely projecting its soapy ambiance for several hours. Tsar is like finely-cut jade, full of forest green contours and bright facets. There are none of the dark, earthy anchors of near contemporaries like Polo or Drakkar Noir, but you do get a sense of standing in a cool shade. Everything is conservative, fresh, and elegantly arrayed. Two thumbs way up.

Although unlike most discontinued fragrances Tsar deserves the hype. Personally I think the price today is crazy at $350 to $550+ I've always loved it even when I paid $35 for a bottle about 7 or 8 years ago. It's one of the best Spring fragrances in my collection, a beautiful lush green woody floral. Nothing in my collection smells like it, although I don't have Jazz which is said to be very similar. On a breezy and sunny beautiful mid-Spring day, Tsar will make it even better. Anyway friends, I really can't say if the huge price tag is worth it for you. Fragrances are subjective after all. For many the steep cost is very much worth it and I totally get that! It is simply gorgeous. I'm lucky to have it. But would not pay $500 if I never smelled it. But that's just me. I'm a cheap bastard. :)

A beauty, and a classic. Tsar is a green, soapy, floral, woodsy old school frag, but without smelling overly mature. It was passed down to me from my late grandma, who picked up many of these complimentary miniature bottles from various hotels back in the day. As such, it has become a very close and nostalgic scent to me, plus, my better half enjoys it on me too 😁 Longevity and sillage are very reasonable on myself with the Inter Parfums formulation. Two sprays on the chest gives 5-7 hours longevity, and 3-4 hours with moderate sillage. Great for daytime and evening wear in the cooler months to early spring. It evokes memories of autumn: specifically, date nights and walking under warm festoon lights in canopy-shaded parks. It will be used sparingly and lovingly til the last drop. 10/10

Other than the lack of sweetness, there is nothing “old man” about this fragrance. Refreshing and bright on the opening, classy in the mids, and a drydown to die for. One of the few frags for men blended with enough sophistication that it can stand up to reformulation and still hold up. A man can actually wear this instead of the other way around. If there is anything “old school” about Tzar, it’s only because anyone close enough to smell it is left with no doubt that they are in the presence of a gentleman. And I’m afraid that in some circles, it’s the concept of “gentleman” that has gone out of style. Spray it on, put on a shirt with a collar and an actual pair of shoes, hold a chair for a lady, be nice to helpless critters, don’t talk like a thug, and just watch the magic unfold.

I don't want to be left out in Praising this all time classic perfume. It reminds me of Ralph Lauren"s original Polo green,(as TeeEm mentioned in his review) but better. In my opinion, the Polo over time, can wear out its welcome! As for Tsar and my experiences with it, it simmers throughout the day, leaving a sensual reminder of what you are wearing. I have used both versions, but prefer the original dark green opaque decanter. Not only does Tsar smell masculine, rich, and yes elegant, the decanter's and box's shade of green is classic in itself. I could praise this cologne forever. So many have come and gone, but Tsar will always be welcomed on my top perfume shelf.

My dad used to have the vintage dark green bottle one back in the 90s and I had the newer one with the clear bottle and copper colored top and base it's a very masculine scent on both, but the vintage was way stronger, very floral, very elegant and mature, as for the newer it kept the same scent but less strong and a little fresher, making it a little more versatile (my ratings here are for the vintage) Back in the day this was a regular priced fragrance, I'd say under the 100 US mark but now that it's been discontinued, the prices have gone all the way up bor both the 00s version and the 80s-90s version.

Tsar Van Cleef & Arpels... ...is a fragrance that i have only smelled twice from what i can remember as a teenager and it has always been one of my favourite scents even though i have never owned it. As a teenager I couldn't afford it, then I forgot about it and when I remembered it, I couldn't buy it because it was discontinued. I could pull my hair out in frustration because of the thickheadedness of VC&A to discontinue one of their if not their best scent. Even worse, their reluctance to reintroduce it to the market in a way, that it can be purchased around the world and not just in Paris.

OK so I picked up the original formula at Burlington for 5.00. No lie. I figured for 5 bucks can't go wrong. I had never smelled this before and based on the bottle, I was a little afraid. So I get up to the register and checkout, get to my car, open the box, spray, and WOW! This stuff is fantastic. I was expecting an old man scent or 80's powerhouse. Instead, what I got was a well blended fragrance that could easily pass as a niche fragrance. Guys don't let the bottle fool you. Get your hands on the original if you can. I don't know what the reformulation smells like. 8/10

Just got a sealed 50ml bottle of this, bottle is like the one pictured above in description. I think the juice in the atomizer was stale, 'cause it smelled like curry.... So I pumped it a couple of times and tried again - just slightly curry-ish, and then it happened.....turning into a green, dense, mossy beautiful FOUGERE! I love it. I hope it'll get even better once the juice settles down, obtaining room temperature. 9/10 EDIT: Yes! It helped. Curry's all gone. Now it's the aromatic, green, mossy, delicious fougere I know and love ;) 10/10

Van Cleef and Arpel's Tsar, an 80's Masterpiece! I used to rock this one when it first came out. It is green and oakmoss. The reform is weaker, but still get 8+ hours and good projection for the first few hours. The old formulation was a beast, lasting all day and a huge projector. It does smell like YSL's Jazz to me. Not too many compliments with this one nowadays, but used to get a lot when it first came out. Some say it is a bit dated, and I can see that. But still a great fragrance. A great fragrance classic. 9.5 of 10.

Not gonna lie...this is the cologne that got me into colognes, from just picking up whatever name seemed familiar and was cheapest. One of the sexiest women I've ever known told me that TSAR made her wet...and, proved it to me, after she firmly reiterated that I needed to acquire some, ASAP! The confidence I had in wearing it, after knowing that it had met her seal of approval, seemed to always accompany me, and, I received countless compliments on it. Was pretty crushed, when I could no longer get my hands on it.

تسار من فان كليف هو عطر فوجير عشبي أخضر يبدو كمزيج رائع و مثالي بين الاسطورتين جاز من ايف سان لوران و دراكار نوار البداية منعشة و خضراء و قريبة من افتتاحية جاز ثم يسير العطر في اتجاه عشبي نظيف نحو القاعدة من طحلب البلوط و الجلود حيث يصبح اكثر عمقا و تركيزا لون الزجاجة الأخضر يوحي كثيرا بنمط العطر و تركيبته، ارتداء العطر يذكرك بنزهة في مرج أخضر في أواخر الشتاء أو أول الربيع الأداء جيد جدا يصل الثبات ل 12 ساعة و الفوحان في أول 3-4 ساعات مناسب للاستعمال اليومي ليلا أو نهارا طوال العام ما عدا أيام الصيف التقييم 4.4/5

One of the greatest green scents every crested. Could easily hold it's own with GIT as a Spring signature scent. However it appears to be a victim of FB groups hyping this way too much soon after it was discontinued. Of course becareful of ebay and Amazon sellers listing Tsar for $200 to $500! Then coming here to hype it like it's an orgasm in a bottle. Yes, it's a gorgeous green scent. No it's not worth the crazy prices sellers are asking. But hey, business is business.

I was very lucky to find a vintage used tester of the first edition in the marble bottle.When i tried it i was amazed from the quality of this frangrance after so many years it was in perfect contition even the top notes were untouched from the pass of time.It is the best fougere ever made better than his cousin Jazz which is more heavy.Its composition is elegant and smooth perfect in every aspect.When i wear it makes my mood.Nothing else to say.

I purchased a vintage mini-bottle of Tsar and had high hopes based on personal reviews and the original's full bottle high price. I get spicy-woody with a slight floral note. It's very good in a "classic" 90s masculine, fringe barbershop way. While at first I wasn't gaga over it, I've been won over and really like it a lot. I can understand how some do/will love it. I recommend getting a decant as full bottles of vintage are outrageously priced.

Unfortunately this perfume has been discontinued, a very big mistake. While using the perfume, I noticed that it strangely resembles Gucci Nobile, and I think there is a similarity in both because of the tarragon note. Tsar is a scent that suits summer. I wish it hadn't been removed. While Pour Homme liked cool-cold weather, Tsar did not bother in hot weather. I don't think that such classy, masculine men's fragrances are common.

As others have said, either vintage or the last formulation rather than the ribbed clear bottle. I can't add any more to what other people have said about notes. My opinion is that this is a really nice fragrance, long lasting with excellent projection and smells classic without what some people may class as being dated. I'm 32 and feel super confident wearing this. Someone younger with good taste could easily enjoy this. 10

Tsar is a complex yet extraordinary scent. On initial blast you get pine needles, leather and juniper wrapped into a cedar and lavender composition. Fantastic. Mature, sophisticated and rugged all at the same time. Some of the notes are bit hard to pick up and with each wiff you take you will sense something different. Remarkable. Tsar is one of my favorite fougeres. For grown man only -- 30s and up!

Had this one on my white whale list for awhile now. Caved and picked up an overpriced vintage little splash bottle. It's like you walked into God's Barbershop in the middle of a celestial forest during the vernal equinox as the smell of pine tree and moss starts to become augmented by the incoming spring flowers while the earthy loam permeates throughout. Beautiful fragrance unbound by time.

The scent is spicy-green masculine fougere, refined and sophisticated. The resent formulation is better! This is a woody green - hidden rose fragrance. fresh and refined at the same time. An unmistakable elegant masculine fragrance. A Class manly hidden treasure for the young men to discover. top 10 quality at affordable price. Could be niche priced easy! The bottle image above is wrong.

extremely elegant and classy. Has that typical dad's cologne vibe from back in the day. The oakmoss is prevalent, it reminded me of Pasha de Cartier which I don't like. In that case it felt like a damp, flat, old vegetable scent but with Tsar, I feel the pine is making it much fresher, wearable and manly. I really love this, the bottle and box have elegant classic written all over it.

So I blind bought this one along with Paco rabanne pour home and so far this is the most wearable. So fresh, manly and green. Doesn't smell dated at all and can be pretty much anytime of the year imo. I've smelt this before and I think it was as one of the Old Spice body washes. Great blind buy and I think anyone would be fine spending the $23 on this to add to their collection.

Just bought a bottle and I seriously don't know why it has taken me this long to buy it. It has been over 15 years since I last smelt this master piece. Imo, to sum it up, this is the most masculine, mature, piney green, barbershop like fragrance out there. This is an absolute classic! Take my money right now! A forever favourite!

Haven't smelled the vintage so can't compare, BUT to my fairly untrained nose this newer version smells so goood. The green notes, cinnamon and imho too faint coconut is just yummy from top to bottom. Only downsides are poor longevity and sillage. Reapplikation is nessesary if you wannit to last a whole day. Great stuff though ;)

I just received an brand new, sealed bottle of Tsar from 1998 (Adipar distributor) it was expensive as hell, but it's worth every cent. this is the epitome of Aromatic Fougères, you simply can't get better than this. it's a shame how reformulations ruins these masterpieces, when possible i will try to get another vintage bottle.

Tsar is so deliciously green, probably as delicious as green ever gets! Plus, it smells very luxurious and expensive... Very nice and classy and masculine. Boy do you get a wow-moment when someone wearing Tsar passes you... You think that's really someone worth keeping an eye on. And boom, that person has made an impression.

Super manly green aromatic chypre. Just like many other 80s gentleman scent, Tsar is a mixed of everything strong out there make it a memorable juice. But smells nothing like today's fragrance. This classic masterpiece is like flashy long jade limousine. It screams wealthy, class yet campy at the same time

I tried it yesterday and I liked it . Expected a monolithic outdated and smell. It is elegant and powerful, but not as dark and " macho " as Quorum . Quorum for the leather jacket and motorcycle ride . Tsar office and formal occasions . Quorum and Tsar , I think is the best classics.

@DrPhilGood thank you for sharing. I am definitely going to contact them too. I think we should mobilse the masses on this one!! We need the ORIGINAL Tsar back! I am also very curious about the black bottle (pour homme) that was also discontinued before I had a chance to smell it.

Epic Journey Into the Bottled Yonder, 041 ------------------------------------------------------- Purchased June 2017 Another triumph in the world of green. Cloys when slightly oversprayed, a rival of Jaguar for Men. Excellent manly year round gremlin. Luxurious. Glorious.

A very refined green / oakmoss scent that is sophisticated and stylish, came out amidst the macho man/ uber masculine oakmoss craze of the 80's yet it wasn't as powerful as kouros or jules were. Very lovely indeed with great performance and great value these days as well.