Van Cleef & Arpels pour Homme

I randomly bought this maybe 10 years ago at a discount store, prior to its discontinuation. I normally go for an amber gourmand, or a sweeter patchouli fragrance - this however was my favourite of all time. Pour Homme is an aromatic fougère that evokes memories for me of spending time in my Grandad’s home - it’s green; but simultaneously possesses the characteristics of rose, traditional Indian incense sticks, the smell of fresh tobacco, andbtge scent of someone embedded within woven linen. I would sometimes wear this with Lush’s Rose Jam. People used to ask me about my fragrance when I wore this, people of all genders, as despite it being in many ways a quite essential 90’s fougère it’s incredibly unisex. I haven’t tried the re-release as it’s exclusive to Harrods in the UK, and not available in their beauty offshoots - but I almost expect to be disappointed.

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.

225 in Harrods.

This is like a more soapy Cartier Santos. They're so similar you won't even tell the difference if smelt in the air. Not sure if it deserves all the hype it gets nowadays 7/10

This is powdery. Why is powder not in the description? I think it's quite nice and gentlemanly.

I have over 500 fragrances and nothing smells like this legend. I'm not saying it's a GOAT in terms of mass appeal because it's definitely not. But for uniqueness it's 100% in the top 10 for its distinctiveness. The review below me is clueless coz smells nothing like Paco Rabbane Pour Homme. Not even the sane genre. VC&A is a dark, aged rose, wet oakmoss, earthy woody scent. Meanwhile while PRPH is a soapy, green, grassy barbershop fragrance. I do prefer the latter but VC&A PH will always have a special place in my winter rotation worn no more than once or twice a year

Near identical possibly elevated version of Aramis / Pour Lui / Paco Rabanne Pour Homme. That same mossy green spiced leather chypre soil smell. Far more like those mentioned than Chanel Antaeus - why must everyone chose antaeus for everything when its a dark green vintage lol. That nauseating rosey castoreum in Antaeus is definitely its own thing. I dont get that from V&A PH. The rose in VA PH isnt prominent enough for the Antaeus nod neither. Overall, MEH. TSAR is a better release. But to be far I like fresh uplifting scents and not dark heavy ones.

this belongs to the great old family's azzaro, aramis, quorum, ..... very classic, peppery, spicy with soft leather wood and roses dry down. Barber shops style very muscular scent.

Epic and Mysterious Smoke. Like No other. A unique experience. I wish they bring it back to production. please don't let the legend die.

A true masterpiece from the past 🏆❤️ unfortunately has been discontinued 👎 the new version isn't the same as the vintage version! Sadly we have to hunt vintage versions 🤔

Honestly, this has the exact same dry down to Rive Gauche pour homme. Beautiful green fragrance but then followed by this really beautiful rive gauche aroma. I’ve heard the new release of this has more of a powdery feel to it, instead of the 80s Fougere chypre backbone.

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?

I’m tired of writing about barbers like this one. It’s the kind of barber that kills, like Azzaro or something — mintiness above all. Or maybe lavender, I don’t know. It seems there isn’t even an extra note here, as is common in those classics. So, the level of Tabac? Craven? Weaker than Craven. I’ve had enough of barbers. ⸻ Quite original for a barber, I agree that the differences between these scents are small because they belong to the same family, but you have to get used to them to understand and appreciate them. Unfortunately, a weak effect, aged.

Is there anything made recently that even tries to immitate this? I already have Kouros and Antaeus... I like those but they are not the same as VC&A PH. My father used this when i was a child, found an 30cc bottle 10 years ago, and memories came back.

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.

Smells like a father, dad, gent. A very handsome smell.

I'm in mourning. This morning my 3 year old tossed my bottle in the toilet recently and tried to flush it away. It cracked the cap and snapped the nozzle off probably causing bacteria to enter the bottle. In deep sadness I'll be laying this legendary scent VC&A Pour Homme to rest. I'll miss you my flamboyant old school friend of many years. Although you had your haters calling you outdated You was always elegant to me. Unfortunately you're much too expensive now to replace. RIP old pal.

Classic masterpiece. Bold, very masculine and long lasting. This is Collector's material.

This is really good… it smells like if an industrial grade leather cleaner had been infused with roses. It reminds me of my grandpa’s car workshop. The rose is soapy, but as a whole this not a clean smelling fragrance because of the raw leather smell and a STRONG labdanum accord that borders on church incense. Actually the first picture brought to my mind when smelling this was of a man in church.

This is currently available in a newer style bottle about €160 under Les Classiques Line. Problem is it's only sold at the Paris Train Station Boutique for VC&A. It's only to be bought in person.

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.

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.

A difficult review! This is what I always bought my dearly departed dad, in the 90’s. I inherited the last bottle I bought him. The power of scent memory, fresh in my mind’s eye!

VC&A Pour Homme is now available again, but only in the brand's perfume shop in Place Vendôme (Paris). It has now joined the "Collection Extraordinaire" so not in the same bottle as before. The formula seems to be the same as a few years ago.

I always come back to this one because it has something that you don't find elsewhere. It is a distinct smell, retro, complex and sophisticated. It creates a mood, and instantly transports you to its own time dimension. I wore it as a teenager and I still do today the moments I want to feel like the protagonist of a 70's French film about love. Strangely enough, I have never received a compliment while wearing it and that says a lot for the people around me.

such an dirty masculine perfume, this is compared to Antaeus, but Antaeus is way more posh than this wife beater, the closest thing that reminds me of is Santos by Cartier

How beautiful this perfume is. In the myriad of notes, few stand out to my nose. It opens vibrantly with juniper berries, basil, and lavender (the latter appearing very subtly), producing a soapy aromatic accord that soon gives way to a wonderful rose, completely different from how it's treated in contemporary perfumery. This rose is powdery and vintage, blending with clove, patchouli, and clover (relatively discreet), producing a floral-woody earthy accord that is enriched by oakmoss with leather (a note that, as Marcosbr rightly pointed out, is far from being predominant) and softened by sandalwood, discreet on my skin. The ghostly coconut accord, I believe, is produced by musk. All of this is complemented by an incense touch, perhaps brought by vetiver and labdanum. The scent can be summed up in a wonderful combination of rose, oakmoss, patchouli, clove, and a smoky woody base, all balanced by musk and sandalwood, which don't make the perfume too rough. I don't feel here the animalic touch (fortunately) present in its younger brother, Chanel's Antaeus, which it bears considerable resemblance to, but I end up not liking as much because of the prominent castoreum. For me, it's a more refined version of Antaeus. Although they both belong to the same "family," it's as if Chanel were the more rough and reckless brother, while Van Cleef were the smarter, more restrained, and calculating one. It's not a blind buy perfume, unless you like obscure, vintage, and niche fragrances. This is all of that. In terms of performance, it's impeccable: despite being reformulated (I can hardly imagine what the vintage version must have been like, which I didn't know), it lasts for at least 10 hours (even after a shower) projecting intensely for at least 2.5 hours. However, it's not a party scent (even though it has the performance for it), but it's an excellent choice for a concert, opera, or some more sophisticated social event. The floral, earthy, and antique accord of the perfume evokes a dark, gothic, contemplative, and very refined atmosphere, I would even say aristocratic. The bottle is a wonder in itself, one of the most beautiful I've ever seen, and it effectively represents what the perfume is like. Despite being launched in 1978, it seems much older, Victorian. It would perfectly, as many places comment, be the signature scent of Dracula or some other literary vampire or supernatural creature, due to this coexistence between the aristocratic and the dark: the darkness underlying the impeccable image of the gentleman.

is this the same old version ? i had mine in 2018 and i think it got discountinued ? how come its still here

Taztiger72. I received if last week, a friend bought it for me at the place vendome, their shop. It still the same Scent, maybe a bit more refined and very long lasting. Mind the price, it’s 160 euro.

This was reintroduced in 2023 with a few others including Tsar under the Les Classiques line now as before I've seen the new packaging in the current bottle design. The catch with VC&A right now is if you haven't been to the Boutique near the Main Train Station in Paris you wouldn't even know. Nothing anywhere. Has anyone actually got a new bottle of this and how does it compare to the original?