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03/20/2012
Sherapop
1239 Reviews
Sherapop
Top Review
5
A Classic Marigold/Tagetes Floriental with a Greenish Edge
I was initially disappointed upon the arrival of my bottle of Van Cleef & Arpels VAN CLEEF, which I had purchased scent unsniffed from an online discount emporium. As is my custom, I first sprayed some of the perfume on the inside of the top of the box. Turns out that this composition does not show its best side on paper!
Later, when I tested VAN CLEEF on skin, I found that the top notes were a tiny bit sour--as though they had turned--and were reminiscent of my Ted Lapidus BALENCIAGA (reformulated) or perhaps my Ungaro DIVA edt (the edp is much better). Fortunately, the sourness quickly subsides and after a couple of minutes VAN CLEEF is a really gorgeous and compelling perfume! I should say, however, that in order to appreciate this creation, one must like marigold/tagetes, as it is very dominant--at least to my nose.
I am not sure whether the slightly sour shortlived opening is an indication that my bottle is old--I bought it from a discounter, so in theory it could be nearly 20 years old! Another possible explanation is skin chemistry, which might also help to explain why some people dislike while others love this composition. It could be that VAN CLEEF is one of those fickle perfumes which does not express itself consistently from one wearer to the next and one time to the next.
In any case, when this perfume dries down on my skin, it is a consistently beautiful and very sophisticated floriental. It has an old-school feeling but lacks some of the stereotypical notes which tend to elicit cries of "old lady perfume!" from younger wearers. Although galbanum is present, it is not very sharp or marked to my nose. I actually love galbanum, but it tends to impart to perfumes a "pour une femme d'un certain âge" kind of feeling.
I like VAN CLEEF a lot and am happy to have made this purchase. The bottle in which this rich-smelling perfume is housed is also elegant and unique.
Later, when I tested VAN CLEEF on skin, I found that the top notes were a tiny bit sour--as though they had turned--and were reminiscent of my Ted Lapidus BALENCIAGA (reformulated) or perhaps my Ungaro DIVA edt (the edp is much better). Fortunately, the sourness quickly subsides and after a couple of minutes VAN CLEEF is a really gorgeous and compelling perfume! I should say, however, that in order to appreciate this creation, one must like marigold/tagetes, as it is very dominant--at least to my nose.
I am not sure whether the slightly sour shortlived opening is an indication that my bottle is old--I bought it from a discounter, so in theory it could be nearly 20 years old! Another possible explanation is skin chemistry, which might also help to explain why some people dislike while others love this composition. It could be that VAN CLEEF is one of those fickle perfumes which does not express itself consistently from one wearer to the next and one time to the next.
In any case, when this perfume dries down on my skin, it is a consistently beautiful and very sophisticated floriental. It has an old-school feeling but lacks some of the stereotypical notes which tend to elicit cries of "old lady perfume!" from younger wearers. Although galbanum is present, it is not very sharp or marked to my nose. I actually love galbanum, but it tends to impart to perfumes a "pour une femme d'un certain âge" kind of feeling.
I like VAN CLEEF a lot and am happy to have made this purchase. The bottle in which this rich-smelling perfume is housed is also elegant and unique.
