Van Cleef & Arpels pour Homme

I'd like to clear up some confusion about the Concentrated Cologne "version" of this fragrance. It's been widely assumed in online forums that the boxes designated "Concentrated Cologne" were a different, more intense version of VC&A PH. This is false. The boxes marked "Concentrated Cologne" are simply the original versions of the fragrance from when it was released in the USA. One side of the box was in French, and VC&A decided to translate everything into English for the other side of the box, including the phrase "Eau de Toilette". Instead of directly translating it to "Toilet Water", which some people would find off-putting, they Americanized it into "Concentrated Cologne", which is basically what an eau de toilette is...a more concentrated version of an eau de cologne. This is why the bottles themselves make no mention of it being more concentrated whatsoever. It was just used on the box for sales to Americans. The original formula bottles do, however, feature "85°" or, later, "85% Vol" under the logo. This does not signify a more concentrated juice, as the current version as of 2018 is still 85% alcohol according to the bottom of the box. The reason that the "Concentrated Cologne" version smells different, is because it is pre-reformulation, and after the first big reformulation they removed "Concentrated Cologne" from the box, leading people to believe the CC boxes were a flanker of some sort. It's also worth noting that it's the most complex and beautiful version of the fragrance; almost totally different from the current formula. Hope this helps. 11/5/18 EDIT: I have recently discovered there are actually THREE different formulations that are featured in the 85° and 85% bottles. I'll go over these, as well as give breakdowns of all the formulas I'm aware of. The very first formula is the one with 85° on the front of the bottle, and Concentrated Cologne on the box. The only way I can describe the original formulation is MEATY, oakmossy, animallic, dark. No soapy rosy notes like later versions. I've actually had two separate people tell me they smell beef in the original formula, and I agree. This version smells the closest to Leonard Pour Homme. The second formulation has 85% on the bottle, and Concentrated Cologne on the box. Very similar to the original, but with the beef turned down significantly. The soapy notes very slightly creep in here. This is my personal favorite formulation and the perfect balance of all of the iterations of VC&A PH. The third formulation has 85% on the bottle, and DOES NOT have Concentrated Cologne on the box. This is the first major reformulation which accentuates the soap, rose, lavender, juniper, etc. Much more effervescent while still retaining that mature gothic vibe. The fourth formulation easy to spot as the bottles look just like the first three minus Paris and 85°/%. These are usually distributed by Adipar and are similar to the third formulation with reduced longevity and projection. A true letdown, in my opinion. *NOTE* - the photo Fragrantica is currently using is of a fourth formulation bottle in a fifth formulation box. This sort of thing often happens when designs are changed but there is still a surplus of boxes or bottles left over from the previous versions. The fifth formulation features the new label design with "pour homme" (all lowercase) above Van Cleef and Arpels. I have not personally smelled this version, but the reviews I have read online have all been generally negative. The sixth, and current, formulation loks just like the fifth, but with the P and H capitalized in "Pour Homme". This stuff projects like a beast and lasts forever, but the formulation has been altered drastically to the point that it's almost a different fragrance. No detectable oakmoss or dark spices. Soapy rose for days. An airy quality that isn't unpleasant at all. I enjoy this formulation quite a bit, however it is a reinterpreted version at this point and I still reach for the second formulation bottle most often.

THE GENTLEMAN PLAYBOY Serge Gainsbourg was a famous French playboy known for his good taste in choosing his female companions and his perfumes. His most famous girlfriends were probably the very beautiful Brigitte Bardot and Jane Birkin. He was also an unconditional fan of Van Cleef & Arpels Pour Homme. He really had very good taste! Just two or three sprays make the air denser than almost any other perfume. Make no mistakes in choosing this scent. Just a few scents are as manly as this one. And it's quite good! It's really damn good! It starts with juniper berries, cheekily tamed by lavender and very distinct bergamot. The spices appear a little later but are quite persistent. They seem like friends who came for a short social visit and then stayed until dinner. The soapy musk asserts itself about an hour later with the help of unctuous labdanum and offers the persistent spices a pleasant lounge where the notes of sage, mugwort, nutmeg, cloves and especially oakmoss can interact with each other in varying degrees of intensity. The highlight occurs in the base phase of the fragrance. The contrast created by the citrus notes in the top note, a labdanum-centred heart and an almost animalistic moss, shape the strong olfactory impression of a chypre, here paired with an intense leather and some sandalwood. The leather note is restrained but, thankfully, not too much. All this is done in a very refined and only slightly animalistic way. The performance is huge, but without causing any kind of boredom. It is a fragrance that is placed somewhere between a gloomy, dark ambience and a mysterious, woody-green aroma. Although it contains only legally permitted substances, it has been addicting many noses for over 40 years, including mine. With a little luck, your nose will be addicted too. I know of no other perfume made by the perfumer of this Van Cleef & Arpels, but I can convincingly exclaim: - God bless you, Louis Monnet for this precious gem! Rating of a wonderful and powerful old-school fragrance: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ - Opening: 10.0 (Admirable... bergamot, spices and a hint of juniper berries). - DryDown: 9.5 (Heavenly chypre accord with strong leather, sandalwood and resins). - Longevity: 9.0 (3 sprays last up to 10 hours) - Sillage: 8.0 (6 feet sillage and up to 2.5 hours projection with 3 sprays) - Exclusivity: 9.5 (still almost unique after all these years; I notice some similarities with the much younger and much more expensive Roja Enslaved) - Wearability: 8.0 (not suitable for warm weather) - Versatility: 8.0 (you can use it almost anywhere, but I recommend it as an evening fragrance; good for a night out or casual wear. Avoid the beach and the gym). - Praise: 8.5 (you will get more compliments than average). - Quality: 10.0 (Fantastic) - Presentation: 8.0 (Simple, effective and stylish) - Price: 9.0 (I bought my last bottle in 2016 for €34/100ml; Currently only god knows how much a flask can cost) ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Overall rating: 8.86 / 10.00 - between 7 and 8 = above average; - between 8 and 9 = recommendable; - greater than 9 = definitely not to be missed; My opinion: This is one of those masculine perfumes that I consider timeless and a true olfactory work of art. I usually consider perfumes to be gender-neutral, but this one is "For Men Only"! If you find a bottle in a shop at a reasonable price, just buy it blindly. Music: Francis Lai - "A Man and a Woman" or "Un Homme et Une Femme".

Pour Homme turns 40, even a few more. Indeed, it was launched in 1978, along with masterpieces such as Azzaro pour Homme EAU DE TOILETTE, Ghibli, and Lagerfeld Classic EAU DE TOILETTE. That doesn’t mean they’re alike, but they all smell as opulent as the powerhouse 1980s. If you try them together, you will recognize the same footprint, fullness, strong fougère, chypre, nearly barbershop, and oriental atmosphere. And Pour Homme is an old school cologne, but with a classic vibe, and utterly modern in its reformulation. It’s soapy, it’s green, it’s luxurious, and it’s masculine. Don’t let the bottle fool you into thinking this will be a variant of Tsar EAU DE TOILETTE, because this one came a decade earlier, and they are two colonies apart from each other. Pour Homme is darker, warmer, more powerful. On par with Tsar, the fragrance opens with an outburst of aromatic, harsh green, and spicy tones, with just a smidgen of tart citrus. I detect a lot of the herbaceous notes, savoury marjoram, a grass that I adore for savouring dishes, a hint of juniper, and the velvety sage. The lavender is subdued and not as prominent as in Tsar. The initial stage is bitter, sour, and austere, with a thin veil of basil and cumin. I own a recent bottle, therefore I can only imagine how stronger it was when it hit the market back in the years. The initial blast lasts a while before turning into a creamy and soapy accord. Here I get the clean smell of the beauty soap bar, and the Gothic rose reminds me of Camay. The more it enters the heart territory, the soapier it gets. There are plenty of roses, dusty, not like the Middle and the Far East perfumes, but in a way that masterfully blends with earthy patchouli and leather. I bet the soapiness of the rose comes from an abundant addition of fatty aldehydes. Green galbanum and carnation make the background. Despite the riot of blossoms, the cologne remains within the masculine territory. I get the leathery, mossy, and amber accords in the dry-down. The coconut note does not come alone and perhaps contributes to the overall scent. The already dark and decadent atmosphere settles into something even more shamelessly virile in the background when the rose finally gives its hold on the composition to reveal a rough base, with leathery, animalistic, and amber shades, made of intense castoreum, the musk of oak and earthy vetiver. And the incense is so smoky, comfy, and a bit churchy. It might seem like there is too much laundry moss, but when I use it fully, oakmoss, juniper berries, lavender, tobacco and cedar all come together into a fruity complexity that is very rewarding and the laundry moss doesn’t consider. In summary, a soapy, spicy formula enriched with aromatic herbs, wood and leather. Yes, there is definitely a significant luxury soap element, but that to me is what makes it so enchanting. These aldehydes enhance everything, including the incense base. For my taste, I find it perfect for the cold evenings of late Autumn and throughout the Winter. More formal than casual events, it develops in a huge projection within the first hour, then becomes a perfume on the skin, with moderate longevity. Unique, and relatively little known to the masses, a long way from the extravagant modern gourmand sweetness.

♡THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE♡ So deep & full of beauty. PREMIUM PERFUME COMPOSITION, UNMACHED. AMEN. Arrogant harsh powder... yes! Singing its magnificent song.. After trying so many perfumes, I always come back to this Everclassic Masterpiece! For Men Van Cleef & Arpels Eau de toilette - 1978 Olfactory family: Chyprée Louis Monnet, creator of Pour Homme by Van Cleef & Arpels The composition according to Interparfums who are the lincensee for the jewelry house revolves around three main accords. There are fresh and aromatic notes with thyme, basil, juniper, marjoram, tarragon, clove, hay, tobacco, sage. Then there is a "masculine floral heart": jasmine, tuberose, rose, ylang, galbanum; finally, the third main facet is woodsy with notes of patchouli, vetiver, cedar wood on a leather background, oakmoss, castoreum, cistus labdanum. Louis Monnet, a perfume bestseller and then goes away ... Some perfumers have a longevity in the absolutely exceptional profession. They are known to all perfume lovers and are sometimes particularly prolific. Others, however, sign one or two compositions and do not talk about them anymore ... No one often knows what is the reason for this absence. Is it a choice or a combination of circumstances? Be that as it may, they at least have the merit of having enriched our perfume department with an odor that succeeds them. Such is the case of Louis Monnet Louis Monnet is a perfumer whose main perfume we will remember, but not least: the iconic Pour Homme by Van Cleef & Arpels. Created in 1978, it is one of the most beautiful fragrances of this renowned jeweler. This is a tribute to the dandies of the 1920s, a fragrance that is both classic and timeless. Pour Homme by Van Cleef & Arpels is far from pretense, and has the art of being noticed without ever being noticed; an image that seems to fit perfectly with the personality of its creator. For Men by Van Cleef & Arpels is characterized by a very elegant floral accord, nuanced with wood, spices and leather. This wake sometimes elegant and discreet, sometimes more powerful and manly, is the happiness of refined men for 40 years now. Thus, Louis Monnet has made only one great fragrance, but we must recognize that its longevity is absolutely exceptional. THE SONG OF SWAN, Mr. Monnet BRAVISIMO! The Legend! (Hulio Popović - Čovek od čelika)

Just two or three sprays make the air thicker than almost any other perfume. And it's good! It's really damn good! It starts with juniper berries, cheekily tamed by lavender and very distinct bergamot. The spices appear a little later but are quite persistent. They seem like friends who came for a short social visit and then stayed until dinner. The soapy musk asserts itself about an hour later with the help of unctuous labdanum and offers the persistent spices a pleasant lounge where the notes of sage, mugwort, nutmeg, cloves and especially oakmoss can interact with each other in varying degrees of intensity. The strong dish takes place in the base note of the fragrance. The contrast created by the citrus notes in the top note, a labdanum-centred heart and an almost animalistic moss shape the strong olfactory impression of a chypre, here paired with an intense leather and some sandalwood. The leather note is restrained but, thankfully, not too much. All this is done in a very refined and only slightly animalistic way. The performance is huge, but without causing any kind of boredom. It is a fragrance that is placed somewhere between a gloomy, dark ambience and a mysterious, woody-green aroma. Although it contains only legally permitted substances, it has been addicting many noses for over 40 years, including mine. With a little luck, your nose will be addicted too. I know of no other perfume made by the perfumer of this VC&A Pour Homme, but I can convincingly exclaim: - God bless you, Louis Monnet! ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Overall rating: 8.86 / 10.00 My opinion: This is one of those masculine perfumes that I consider timeless and a true olfactory work of art. I usually consider perfumes to be gender-neutral, but this one is "For Men Only"! If you find a bottle in a shop at a reasonable price, just buy it blindly. Music: Francis Lai - "A Man and a Woman" or "Un Homme et Une Femme".

I noticed in my reviews list that I hadn’t posted anything for VC&A pour Homme, which I wore today. Here is a speedy remedy to this grievous omission. After wearing VC&A pour Homme, I am convinced I have not and will not smell a more Draculesque perfume, either for men or for women. Starting with the opaque black glass bottle and the black box with the intricate broken-glass pattern, you get an idea of what lies in store for your olfactory senses. Then, you sense a black leather saddle, a thorny bloody-red rose, a black leather satchel, attached to the saddle and containing all manner of fragrant herbs and precious woods, gathered from clandestine trips all over the world. The owner of said items is crossing a dark, mossy forest in Romania at the beginning of December, just before the first snowfall. He is a mysterious individual with an untold past and he is wearing this fragrance, as he likes nothing else. He isn’t sexy or attractive, just a dark figure that disappears into the night. And then, one is left with the real longing, not for the man, but for the moment and for the truth behind this encounter. This is the impression of VC&A pour Homme, that there is still more to be discovered at every moment of an encounter. This is how I felt all afternoon, just relishing the scent that had enveloped me, an almost orgasmic experience. I don’t feel I have enjoyed a scent to such a sublime point often before, but this is the magic of the black bottle. Curiously, the afternoon revealed the true beauty of VC&A pour Homme, which speaks of a long and steady development over the hours. I think I may have been raising eyebrows in my surroundings, which is all the more amusing. And for those who detract this true giant in men’s fragrances that ushered in the 80’s as we all know them, you are simply not right. VC&A pour Homme still is an outstanding perfume for men, as much as it was in 1978.

"Don't let the smooth taste fool ya." VCA Pour Homme is so smoothly blended it could almost be easily forgotten or under appreciated for the true glorious piece of perfumery that it is. The opening is a lovely rose, basil and leather trio that sets this scent off onto an intriguing path. After the opening the herbs come in and the scent veers into soapiness, a very clean old school Dial soap vibe. But pushing subtly under that cloud of soapiness is something sharp; sage, juniper and marjoram give this scent something sharper in the sense of herbaceousness and push away the soapiness, giving way to spice and florals and citrus. Finally the woody notes kick in and its like the rose and leather come back front and center. This scent is so well crafted and blended it is a marvel to take in and to wear. This isn't your typical soapy barbershop scent in my opinion. VCAPH tiptoes into fougere territory then jumps more in to a chypre vibe. This scent goes in a few directions for me; first leathery then soapy, after a touch powdery and then a real smokey, leathery, woody base. This scent is as simple as it is complex, and judging by the notes, the goal was achieved. This is a creation that is complex sure, but also something refined and classy. I wore this to work a few days this week for my own enjoyment and to be honest this juice is essential for nighttime wear. Think; Date night, trip to the cinema, birthday at a restaurant, or just galavanting around town in a cool night air. Rock this when your clothes say casual, but your mentality is black tie affair!

Loved it, this cologne is to me a sort of herbal/leather aromatic fragrance. It is very ala Drakkar of men's cologne, deep, rich and blooming it's projection long after, I spray it today and can still smell it the next day at sunset, lasts long. It is made by luxury jewellery makers, which makes me feel grand, it is like their signature cologne in their collection even today. Upon initial encounter, I felt like I was in a gothic, romantic, beauty induced dream, the lavender makes it feel clean, the rose is strong and blooms romance throughout its sillage, the leather makes it masculine. Rose, romance and love, it's essence is a man, to me a french man who is handsome, sexual, passionate, dark and sophisticated. French masculinity, sex, roses, beauty in and out. It is I think, best suited for adults over 25, a mature type of personality, sexually mature, adult. This is a dark fragrance like its bottle, herbal, rosy, leathery, enduring, masculine, elegant, clean, french, grandiose because of its brand. Again, all I think of in this is frenchmen, sex, roses, romance, luxury, an orgasm of passion brought on by the love of a french man's desire. Update- Smells like fresh cut roses, red roses, you can smell the green leaves, so fresh, romantic, clean and homely, a breath of fresh air in a bottle. There is very sweet note in the end that is so good.

This is a gorgeous complex, refined, fantastic, beasty fragrance. Great for anything except hot weather. I love it, my wife loves it. For me it's an absolute masterpiece. Upon initial spray, it comes on quite bold and classy. The notes are citrusy and flowerish in the opening dominated by lavender. A minute latter you receive an avalanche of notes including patchouli, vetiver and rose, and woody notes well composed that lead you to love this fragrance. This is a symphony by Van Cleef. Its longevity is easily 14+ hours. Due to its smoothness you may over spray a bit - 4 to 5 sprays, not more. You get a very lovable dry down with a very strong leather, oak moss, amber, musk, sandalwood - inevitable notes of the 80's. In terms of longevity it's almost a beast. Longevity good for 14+ hours This EDT smells expensive and and in line with what you expect from Van Cleef & Arpels. It is indeed a very nice juice and one of a kind with its proper individuality. It does remember Bois du Portugal. However VC&A por Homme was launched 9 years before than the Creed fragrance. My rates: Scent:9.0 Longevity:9,0 Sillage:8.0 Uniqueness:8.0 Wearability:9.0 Quality:9.5 Price: 10,0 Overall rating: 8,93/10,00 I absolutely adore this frag

I have recently been sourcing some vintage fragrances to add to my collection. This was one that kept standing out to me to try. I was lucky to find a vintage formulation 30ml spray bottle off eBay. It doesn't come across to me as an extremely dated or harsh like some fragrances of the 70s/80s etc. Off the bat it's smooth, soapy and rose. I find it quite a calming scent. I haven't tried it on long enough to account for longevity etc (for my vintage boxed bottle) it smells great though and I'm hopeful it's true to itself and the positive reviews particularly for the vintage formula. I'm nearly 32 and I will feel confident enough to wear this out and not just at home for my own enjoyment. I'm eyeing up a 75ml sealed vintage splash just for a backup and decant bottle. If anyone has any suggestions for similar vintage fragrances then please offer your suggestions as I'd love to keep on going down this route. Going by the excellent formulation breakdown given by EvanOZ85 I must have the third formulation. Long lasting but opens up with a soapy rose. I've showered and can still smell it. Beautiful and classy, that 75ml splash is a must as it appears to be the very first formula

VC&A Tsar has been a favourate of mine since I first got to wear it in the late 1990s, but I have never smelled or owned Pour Homme. I have been on a drive for the last year or so to collect some of my most loved vintages and discovering new classic masculine leaning vintages. I was able to secure a 1998 bottle from the Adipar (1995 to 1999) period. It is an instant love since my first wear about a month ago. Beautiful, classy and rich smelling. I find some similarities to both my signature fragrance, YSL Jazz Prestige, and 1990s Sanofi period YSL Kouros. It was a blindbuy and I was worried that it would be quite challenging to wear but I am glad that it is not case. I will not hesitate to get a backup bottle should I get another opportunity. As in the case with the later formulations of Tsar, the earlier versions (before 2000), are overall more "complete" and more balanced smelling due to less restrictions on certain notes like oakmoss. I prefer Tsar over Pour Homme as it is more suited to my personality, skin ph and partly also as I have certain memories attached to it. 9/10

Just got this one without having ever tried it before -they don't sell it in stores here and I also needed to spend a little more money to get free shipping on a gift. What I get is a soft deep dark rose satin blanket dusted with powder which envelopes like a cloud. This lasts a while then it starts to waft and sink and starts to become a little more transparent like a fog. Little hints and peaks of spice and herbs start coming through, and on with the progression they become stronger and give a mezmerizing contrast of a tangy herbal sour quality. It must be the basil, thyme, marjoram, and juniper listed in the ingredients giving this effect. The spicyness is light, like cedar, but maybe in warmer weather it would shine through more. Everything about this perfume is soft, like a satin pillow, with finely roughened edges from the spice and powder. It can seem very soapy too, like shavings off a bar of soap. I like it quite a bit - plus I like powder. Pretty strong and long lasting perfume, which is nice - I can smell it clearly and it lasts. Great scent. One of my favorites.

Van Cleef & Arpels for men بعض العطور تجعلك دائما تعاود الكتابة عنها برما لأنها تفاجئك بين الفينة والاخرى بشئ جديد وهذا يعني انها تنطوي على سر خالد نعم ، في فصل الشتاء وأجوائه الباردة لاتكتمل المتعة إلا بارتداء بعض العطور الكلاسيكية المشهورة عالميا وعلى رأسها عطر van cleef pour homme الاسود ، هذا الذي أعشقه لحد الهوس لما يشتمل عليه من باقة سحرية من المكونات ، الورد الاحمر المغربي واللافندار وتوت العرعر مع مزيد من الأعشاب العطرية والعديد من الأزهار والعبق المدخن وحضور طحلب السنديان بقوة دات الطبع الفخم والمميز ، ولمن يعشق رائحة الجلود المدبوغة ( الكستريوم ) فعطر فان كلييف الرجالي الأسود أحسن من وظف هذا المكون بشكل ذكي . لايمكن أن تمر في أي مكان دون أن تسمع كيلا من المديح والإعجاب وأنت ترتدي هذا العطر ... يناسب أجواء الليل الباردة لكن بالنسبة إلي أتمتع به أكثر في بداية الصباح حيث يكون الضباب كثيف والدخان يتصاعد من الأفرنة ورائحة الخبز والحلويات ويمتزج كل هذا برائحة العطر الدخانية أيضا مما يجعل من وجبة فطورك في هذه الأجواء شئ جد رائع... وأخيرا أقول لكم بأن العطر حافظ على جودته ونقائه وهذا ما عودتنا عليه دار فان كلييف العريقة ونتمنى لها مزيد من الإخلاص والتألق .

''You cannot see me, hear me, or touch me. I lie behind the stars and alter what is real, I am what you really fear. Close your eyes and I come near. What am I?'' Darkness. There's something goth-like about VCA PH. Something dark and mysterious. It's a powerful fragrance with the substantial amount of passion regarding it's notes as it builds. Van Cleef & Arpels Pour Homme is a true gem. It evokes everything that is dark, elusive and complex. The opening to this fragrance is very exotic with a fresh-soapy floral and herbaceous note which after a while transitions into a very warm, dark and sensual leather musk. The Patchouli, deep rose, amber, oak moss, lavender, artemesia, and leather like a symphony orchestra, create nothing other than excellence. 1 spray on each pulse point (be gentle with the trigger) and you're in for a romantic journey. If not, a journey to the unknown. I get 10+ hours. Great longevity, great silage. Compliment galore.

Note: Probably contains real Oakmoss, so if allergic - avoid. This is the kind of cologne that grows on you; Dark, soapy, almost mossy quality to it. It smells like wealthy refined great grandfather of Paco Robanne Pour Homme, dries down with some sort of rose notes. The bottle design is gorgeous, dark glass with gold lettering, feel solid in the hand. You feel like a wealthy Mogul reaching for it, when you spray it on - you're invincible, unapologetic. You might offend some people, but don't give a f. Not for the typical sweet-fragrance-loving teens but for mature gentlemen over 35. Ideal for colder fall and spring weather. I'd suggest having a nice shave with some classic soap like Tabac shaving soap (has a very nice 'aristocratic' smell) and then applying this generously to feel and smell like 'old money'. It's a true gem..I'm burning through it pretty fast and dreading the day I won't have it anymore.

I absolutely love the opening and keeps growing on me more and more. I find the first bit to be a very clean woody spice with a rosey touch to it. Very masculine and for mature men only 30+. This is a quite a complex fragrance that seems to surprise me everytime i wear it. I must say though when i wear this on my skin after about 10 hours I don't seem to enjoy too much with what is left behind. I get a bit of an off putting musk smell. I wear this for work or just staying at home on a cold dark winter night. The opening on an early winter morning before going to work seems quite alluring, but not quite something I would personally wear going out for an occasion or in the summer. With all this big talk about the old formulation, I really wonder how great the original actually smells. I still have nothing bad to say at all about the new formulation though. Definitely worth a blind buy for the price.

Volunteering at the Art Institute today they are setting up for "Art In Bloom", floral interpretations of pieces in the museum's collection. I wore VC&A Pour Homme for the rose. I got two unsolicited compliments, "your cologne smells really good" from fellow volunteers. No one EVER says anything about my fragrance in Minneapolis. This stuff is great, even without the compliments! I track it as ROSE, soapy herbals, LEATHER, moss and florals. This is a classy, classy fragrance. It's been projecting almost all afternoon which puts it at about six hours now. I would restrict this frag for use in cold and cool weather. I don't use this as a casual scent, but for something even just slightly special. I wouldn't wear it to the office for fear of it being a bit too sensual. A Classic men's fragrance who's price seems to be going up in the US from what I see on the discount sites. I dig it!

Love this deep traditional masculine with some serious gothic undertones! Note: This review is for the three-ingredient box (and no 'Pour Homme' on the bottle) ... Grottola (7-21-13) is correct. There's a strong resemblance to Dial Gold bar soap but it's great. As the initial soapy blast fades and this masterpiece evolves, I'm reminded more than a little of Salvador Dali Pour Homme but this is clearly more approachable and wearable. In fact It feels deeply transcendental in a grand and dignified way ... and it's also 'old-school bad-ass' if that makes sense ... kinda like the black 1963 Lincoln Continental in the Matrix movies. VCAPH is heavy, dark, mysterious ... yet also rich, formal, traditional, and commanding of respect. This could be the Godfather Michael Corleone's signature scent. A staple in the well-accessorized man's collection.

The smell reminds me of very strong flowery combination that knocks you off. Virtually. Rose, jasmine and carnation combined are a killer combination for lasting effect. I don't get much of the others, but the subtlety and variety is there. It is a very complex scent. Do I like it? Yes, I do. I'm ambiguous about where to wear it. It's because it's heavy and that can put one off, so I guess if you're gonna wear it during a day, have an hour or two at home or wear it outside before you take it inside again. In a work situation, it can come over as bothersome smell. On to sillage. It's there, and up to now, I got nice comments about it, so no put off, but I also met some allergic people who reacted almost immediately. I'll guess someone may always react. Overall success nevertheless, and I'll keep wearing it.

Manly. Classy. Gentlemanly, and ever so slightly edgy. Van Cleef & Arpels Pour Homme certainly has a dazzling note pyramid. Louis Monnet's skillful blending is an impressive feat of the perfumier's art. So, how best to review this über masculine classic? Merely rattling off notes misses the point. It would be like reviewing a Rembrandt portrait by talking about the pigments and brushes; all essential components but having little or nothing to do with the matter at hand. Like any fragrance, the overall effect is subjective. Still, there are salient aspects of Pour Homme that are universal and independent of personal taste. Pour Homme is serious, not playful. It's sophisticated, not pedestrian. Formal, not casual. Mature, not youthful. Beyond that, it's a matter of personal taste. Only your nose knows.

an amazing fragrance for those who love the strong and rich thick scents, incensy scents, woody spicy, etc. First use of it it certainly smellt retro - I thought I would need to wear this strictly with paisly shirts out of the 70's, but then I sprayed some when going to bed. I laid down and the scent was like an incredibly soft pillow of silk rose petals, like I would imagine in a rose petal factory, but there is so much soft rigded spice and powder and some piny juicy juniper, sandalwood, patchouli and whatever else that I dont know if its even rose at all or just hyper illussion. When I use it now, it's basically a sort of dark spicy soapy floral oriental chypre, and I can wear it with my regular outfits, but that incredible softness early is pretty amazing, and then it gets more drier and spicy.

If you have a hard time with rose and patchouli, this will make you run for your life. This fragrance is one of those fragrances that you have to consider as art, it's not for everyone, not for everyday and not for most nights but if you're in the right mood, it fits perfectly. In many ways it reminds me of the movie "La rose de fer"(The iron rose) by Jean Rollin. It doesn't smell good, but it smells of power, not wealth but power as in strangling someone and deciding to let go or keep strangling them. I don't imagine the man wearing this having a face as much as he has a shadow over it, it's mysterious but not playful, it's mysterious because there is only darkness within it. It's a fraghead fragrance but to most people it would smell like rose scented wet wipes. That's the sad truth.

Shares some faces of other powerhouses from the early 80s like krizia uomo,one man show or paco rabanne pour homme. I do mainly get rose soap incense from it especially in the first stage of the trip. A rose a la Ungaro III With an overall paco rabanne ph cleanliness feel. Then the amber and patchouli kicks in. Leather i dont get that but that is maybe what makes i like this scent so much. The dichotomy clean / dirty is what makes this fragrance so interesting in my opinion. I just checked the 2016 formulation this afternoon and found it quite similar to my old 80s bottle. Fortunately ! Maybe a brighter opening and less moss on the new one but it doesn t bother much so that buying vcph now is still relevant. I get the same kind of performance on both. Great longevity !

Blind bought based on reviews, I was looking for something a bit retro and something smart, similar to Antaeus. Not an easy perfume to wear, took me a couple of tries to get used to it, even though I liked the scent straight up. That stuff is strong and lasts a very long time. It is a very dark scent, very formal, very classy. The opening is all rose and oakmoss to me, it takes a while for the leather to show up. But then, I get a strong "patchouli incense" note with the rose still lurking around. Very linear, once that note is there, it stays. I can see how this is definitely classic. Despite my initial thoughts, I actually wore it to work and got a few compliments. This stuff is really growing on me. Scent: 9 / 10 Projection: 10 / 10 Longevity: 10 / 10

This fragrance is hard to describe. Smells expensive, mature and is very long lasting. This smells like you just entered a library or a theater. A respectable theater with leather seats and you are an elegant gentleman with fine taste. I love this smell and I think it is good for everyday during the winter. I think it is very professional but nowdays people are not used to this smell.. that is why I think it is a daring fragrance. Not the fragrance it self... but you will smell different. I don't find it overpowering, I actualy find it relaxing but one spray is enough because it projects very well. By the end of the day and the day after your shirt will retain an amazing Sandalwood base wich is very noticeable.

A king amongst fragrances in a world of princely pretenders. Dark, brooding and gothic at the outset with the florals leading, subsiding slowly to a leathery, oakmoss luciousness in the drydown. Despite the inevitable reformulation, it has seemingly changed little from my first, early nineties purchase. Potent with excellent projection and sillage - two sprays will last all day on me, remaining as a skin scent well in to the following morning. Was very reasonably priced, now, not so much... But one of very few discontinued fragrances for which a sturdy premium can be justified. Would easily - and by some margin - be my signature scent were it not for paucity of supply. My very favourite scent of all time.

Damnnn! Don't let the bottle fool you into thinking this will be a "Tsar variation". In fact, i'm surprised this came before Tsar by a decade, cause it actually smells more modern than Tsar, which is another frag that i also absolutely love. Sure, you can definetly tell it's an old school frag, but when you sniff this you get the "classic old" vibe, not the "grandpa old". It's a timeless scent. It's soapy, it's green, it's luxe and it's masculine. I can definetly see this one being responsible for people being born and marriages getting destroyed back in the day. I'm glad i found a bottle of this one for cheap. It sits right next to Santos de Cartier in the "classic and timeless" spot.

One of my absolute favorites, VC&A PH is a confluence of all that I love dearly in fragrance: rose, leather, patchouli, herbs, spices, and woods. The whole is much, much greater than the sum of it parts. When this is unleashed on my skin, I feel like an aristocrat, I enter a fable, I escape the tawdry and mundane, and my imagination is free. Yes, there is certainly a significant luxury soap element to it, but that to me is what makes it so ravishing. These aliphatic aldehydes exalt everything, including the incense base. Mythical, masculine opulence, like the great dark man who was in those Barclay cigarette ads back in the 80s. 10/10

ARAMIS BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER, I LOVE YOU BOTH! I compered the notes given by Fragrantica and most of them are the same. I feel better about the broken bottle(my fault or seller? Or factory?) Anyway I was crying a river cause I had only 50ml but Aramis 300ml!!! Leather and warmth, like skin. It make me think of cigars/tabacco too, although it's not listed. I find very sexi and to be honest ... who need a man if you have this? Very long lasting too as other Van Cleef I own, personally I think that they do better "male" fragrances than women but maybe if they go for the fruity, there's no brand that can make it work for me

Epic Journey Into the Bottled Yonder, 024 ------------------------------------------------------- Purchased May 2017 Very addictive stuff. This is extreme leather and powder. Also mossy rose, mossy lavender and carnation. It's basically PS Fine Cologne Intense if that could exist, except this pre-dates that one which could make it a "light" version or something. Van Cleef & Arpels Pour Homme's definitely better than Antaeus because it's more versatile, strikes the mood more frequently and worlds cheaper. That's how you know you have one for the ages. A really brutal men's frag. Batch: 01G30G160 from 8th June, 2016.

I bought this on yahoo auction for a few jp100¥, not unused but there’s a good majority remaining. And it seems to match the scent profile most people are describing, so I think it’s a good bet that it is still in good condition. I didn’t know it was such a beloved fragrance with a reputation. I wasn’t sure about it at first. But after a few ties I’ve grown to really love it. It’s dark, powerful, masculine, confident but not dominating. I feel very comfortable with it. I’ll definitely wear it on days I need a boost. Also, having a Japanese style of the bottle labelling is quite cool too.

Van Cleef and Arpels Pour Homme is not for the feint of heart! VCAPH definitely smells of Oakmoss, Leather, but overall I get an in your face soapy vibe. It is super loud and almost headache inducing at the top. It does settle down thankfully and I get 12+ hours and good projection for a long time. It is a beast. No real compliments with VCAPH. It is a bit dated, and people have smelled it before. It is the kind of fragrance that ruled the 80's, when fragrances were uber masculine and unisex acquatics were non-existent. Still smells good though! 8 of 10.

A powerhouse fragrance. Strong, spicy, powedery. Very manly. Too strong for today's tastes, and perhaps one could call it dated. Certainly unique today - noone makes them this strong and unabashedly manly now. Lasts and lasts and projects like it should - enough to be present and noticeable, not enough to fill a room or choke people out. I wore this in formal settings, definitly not a casual or work scent. It's a nice item to have in ones collection. Bottle is quite iffy, leaked a bit, the atomizer was terrible and broke too.

Leather is present so is the rose, perfect and unique. It is dark, gothic and green, green from a night garden, fresh and ready for the morning dew. It projects the color black, it projects the word love. Very strong, it is not quiet, it speaks and you can hear it clearly, like a singer, you will hear it and it will enchant you with its voice. Wise, bold, mature and romantic, it projects masculinity with gentleness, the gentleness of a red rose blooming in a green, deep forest. Gothic, european, meditative, bohemian and rich.

Van Cleef & Arpels pour Homme. Glorious scent, great depth, super super aromatic. I've absolutely no idea what barber shop means, I have never been inside one, but I'm sure VK&A is not one of them. Some say it's a manly perfume, but it's been a long time since I've been over that distinction in relation to fragrance. Van Cleef & Arpels pour Homme isn't dry, it's a dark floral, there's tons of roses, leaves, patchouli, amber, wow, I just love it for the winter time! Can you recommend anything like it in the market?

fragrance - Van Cleef & Arpels pour Homme bottle from - late 2016(reformulated) longevity - 10/10(10+hours) Silage/projection - 9/10( several feet away for the first 3-4 hours) weather - Winter Age - 30+ Compliments - 8/10 Scent - 9/10 Main Notes According to me -oakmoss,rose,leather,vetiver,patchouli emotions -mysterious,stunning,masterpiece,Class,powerhouse,dark scent The drydown is awesome and a little bit dark.All notes are arranged brilliantly. A beautiful classic masterpiece.

This fragrance makes me think of Dracula, a victorian or regency era, gardens, romance, sex, and red roses. A sort of European erotic dream, from France to Romania. It makes me think of late-night escapades, of lovers, of the underground, the secret, of leather and nudity, of what is erotic and carnal. It is a dark rose, green none the less, a truly magnificent rose scent. Leather, rose, oakmoss, patchouli, such a powerful combination with the rose being most precious of all notes.

I love this scent! Wonderful, rich, dark, soapy and sophisticated. The brooding, deep rose note is excellent and very well done. Very masculine and leathery as well. A classic for a reason. I guess you could say it's more suited to an older gentleman..in my opinion it's a masterpiece..one of the best fragrances I have ever smelt. It also lasts an age on my skin..a powerhouse and for the price it should be in every man's collection. 10/10

I tried this perfume after I knew one of my favorite singers, Serge Gainsbourg, used to wear it with Guerlain Habit Rouge. I was only 13 Y.O, Not a high school crowdpleaser for sure. I find it Gothic, very classy and loud, the Rose is bright with a heavy leather note, and a mineral quality to it thanks to the subtle lavender in the opening. Vintage style and an amazing fragrance from Van cleef & Arpels, among Tsar & Midnight in Paris.

Love love this one. I would say sexi, warming or at least is the effect it has on me. I like leathery fragrances or at least I think it's what it's driving me crazy. It remind me of Aramis. Both I've got at a very good price. That makes me even happier. They have both a good name, I don't know about quality of the ingredients... But the different prices you can't find them for, shows the price doesn't reflect always the quality.

Elegant scent. Stylish bottle. No frills nor sweets here. I bought this for a friend, luckily he loves it and so I get to enjoy it as well. Very good silage and longevity on him. It slips from sturdy (yet not overpowering) leather into something little softer towards the evening. Slightly impersonal quality to it, in a good way, a nice balance between a little formal-yet not too distant. Happy to have found this.

I've just goy myself a vintage bottle of this one and I am in love. I can't tell major components of this perfume, but whole mix is extremely masculine, I feel like this fragrance could be used by James Bond from old movies. When I smell it, it is drawing a picture of elegant male on late night date in fancy restaurant at early 80's. He is driving his Porsche and has no regrets.

its a GEM that people don't know about these days. Average young men are more inclined towards spice bomb or armani code (nothing is wrong with that) and they dun even bother to smell this old masterpiece. Give it a go, smells GREAT. i love spice notes . smells bit sweet to my nose at opening, which is very pleasant. reminds me of Rive gauche(YSL) once it settles down.

I just bought a bottle (125 ml) of what it seems to be the original croop, deep in the late of the '80s: a kind of "cologne concentrée". No match with the "eau de toilette" that we can buy today, unfortunately. The original, concocted in 1979, is strong, herbaceous, spicey, herbaceous, manly and seriously strong... Give me a message if you still find such a treasure.

This fragrance is so good for its price that I honestly feel like I ripped Van Clef & Arpels off -- it is truly a steal. To me, this is soapiness and rose done right. The leather and spices give it a peculiar and intriguing darkness. The main words I would use to describe it are "dry," "clean," and "reserved." This is a fine, fine gentleman's cologne.

A fabulous perfume for men! This is luxurious, elegant and gorgeous. Floral, soapy long lasting and spicy with great sillage. The rose note is quite prominent especially in the dry-down but not overly done. The woods, leather and spices are perfectly blended. I have to say that, for me, this is a classic!

VC&A pour Homme has a very similar scent as Oscar Pour Lui Both of these fragrances smell really nice! Because they are so similar there's really no need to own both. I can wear Oscar Pour Lui for casual and formal occasions Whereas with VC&A pour Homme, its usage is limited to formals

seeing that people are selling this for almost $200 per bottle now, I think I should have bought as many as I could have back when I got a bottle for $24 off scented monkey years ago. About the fragrance, it;s a pretty strong scent, very soapy, lots of satin rose petals, lot of spice.

I have read this can smell sweaty but this has not been my experience. At first spray this is sharp and very soapy to my nose. Then it settles into a pleasant and clean herbal fragrance. This smells traditionally masculine. Man I feel so manly wearing this. I love it.

tonight after years i wear this scent...it was in my favourite...but in last time i preffer new scent..... error...the old scent are the best!!!!! what sillage and longevity.dsquared potion royal black is a poor copy of this magic parfum!!!!!!! class!!!