In New York by Van Cleef & Arpels

One of my last purchases, I use it a lot and I realised it fits into a group of fragrances that are like ‘sisters’. Polo Black, Big Pony 1, Fierce, Curve, Dior Eau For Men come to mind, and as ‘cousins’ a bit more distant, Pleasures Men, Hugo Just Different, etc. What do they have in common? They touch several styles at once without specialising in any: they are fruity and sweet but not at the level of Invictus, fresh but not like an aquatic type such as ADG, citrusy but not like L’eau D’Issey, with a woody or musky base but ‘undefined’. For those who follow Barça, they are like Sergi Roberto: they play as a full-back, midfielder or winger, perform well in each role, but are never pure specialists. They are extremely versatile, offend no one, are the most praised, but unlikely to stand out as ‘unique’. If you are looking for that style, it is one of the best in terms of price/product/performance. Cheers.

I’ll start by saying that perhaps I expected this V.C to surprise me in some way, although its notes didn’t invite that. Maybe my expectations were too high. As for the aroma, I suppose I won’t find many detractors: I see nothing original or differentiating in it, but it’s also worth clarifying that it smells quite good, perhaps too generic. Detailed note descriptions aren’t my thing, so I’ll look for a parallel with another fragrance I’ve owned or tested; the one that resembles it most is Gucci Guilty Intense; they have a fairly similar aura. Far from being a detailed description, I’m mentioning this to give you an idea of how it smells, as there are no reviews yet and the English ones on Fragrantica don’t help much. It’s a good purchase; I got it at a great price. It’s very versatile, but in no way original or meant to stand out. Longevity and sillage are moderate.

To be honest: I perhaps expected a surprise with this V.C, although the notes didn’t promise it. Maybe my expectations were a little high. The scent, I suppose, won’t have many detractors; it smells good, but it is too generic, nothing original or distinctive. I am not an expert in describing notes, so I will use a comparison: it is very close to Gucci Guilty Intense; they share a similar aura. I say this to give you an idea, as there are no reviews here and the English ones on Fragrantica don’t help much. It is a good purchase, I got it at a good price, it is very versatile, but in no way original or standout. The longevity and trail are moderate.

It came across as very feminine; total rejection; it is not what Van Cleef usually produces. I will only highlight its longevity and trail: very long-lasting and heavy, but with a very common and synthetic scent, yuck, I had to wash myself. I do not recommend it; out of 10, I give it 2, solely for what I said before, as the scent displeases me. PS: Kenzo launched a fragrance exactly the same this year, but with a more acidic lemon. A proper mess and a bargain, just like this one.

Fresh and strong opening: Italian lemon, mandarin, and something marine at first. Then lavender and sweet red notes, closing with musk, tonka bean, and amber. A well-constructed aroma, but nothing new; it reminds you of something you’ve heard before. Medium longevity and low price are the strong points. The downside is the lack of originality, as this house has created extraordinary scents in the past.

I agree with the same opinion: it is fruity, very rich, similar to a Gucci Guilty, for a general audience. It lacks that conflicting or taboo essence, something that would break the rules. On my part, I will stick with Midnight Paris or Tsar, or perhaps Bentley.

Not a clone of Bleu de Chanel; it smells more like Versace Dylan Blue.