Van Cleef & Arpels Oriens

Oriens comes from the house of Van Cleef & Arpels, who are mostly known for their jewelry. This perfume was launched in 2010 and is considered a chypre floral.  One of the first things you'll notice is the stunning lid on the bottle.  This bottle was actually designed after one of the Van Cleef & Arpels rings, the Arbre aux Songes ring, to be exact.  That translates to the tree of dreams.  Isn't that beautiful?  It already gives a romantic, fantastical image for the perfume. The perfume is supposed to bring to life the Orient, or the East.

This is the Arbre aux Songes ring.

Upon first spritz, I was a bit shocked.  I always anticipate the initial spray is going to be the strongest and most powerful.  Oriens was definitely NOT a fragrance bomb.  In fact, it was very light.  It had a fresh, slightly scented-water quality to it.  I picked up on something very sweet, like candy.  There was almost a bubblegum quality to it.  Along side that I picked up on a juicy berry.

About 15 minutes in I really detect the praline note.  It is creamy chocolate with a hint of something nutty.  Creeping in is also a boozy berry quality.  It is like a bubbly champagne. I also notice that the perfume is getting stronger and blossoming.  YAY! There is something about it at this point that reminds me of Miss Dior. I think it is the orange blossom and jasmine coming to life.

Right around the half hour mark, I smell vanilla.  It is a delicious, sweet, creamy vanillic aroma. Beyond that, the strong scent stepping forward is patchouli.  I have a real love for the earthy, dirty form of patchouli.   Maybe it has to do with my mother wearing patchouli oils for as long as I can remember or every year going to renaissance festivals and being greeted by the shops selling incense and oils.  I've always had a love for patchouli...at least for as long as I can remember.  While some people enjoy the odd smell of gasoline, I adore the smell of fresh turned soil (which is similar to a dirty patchouli). I went off on a tangent.  Anyhow, the patchouli is quite an earthy one in this perfume.

Three hours in, this perfume is still going strong! The amber is noticeable now.  It has become something creamy, and cozy in scent. It has melted with the natural skin smell and is warm and....well....cozy! HAHA!

This is quite long lasting on me.  I put it on late afternoon and the next morning I could still smell it in the crook of my arms as well as on the sleeve of my night shirt.  Same with day wear.  I can put it on in the morning, and that evening I am still catching whiffs of it.

I think the bottle is stunning.  Photos don't even capture how beautiful it is in person.  I have heard some say the bottle is cheap in appearance.  I disagree.  I think it is elegant and doesn't cross into tacky territory. But, that is just my opinion.  I enjoy looking at it.  It has some serious heft to it, too.  It is much heavier than I expected it to be.

All around, I really enjoy this perfume.  I think this is a fragrance that can be worn, pretty much, year round.  The only exception I, personally, would make is wearing it on very scorching summer days. I would probably pass at that point because I think it might be a bit too heady for the very hottest days.

Top Notes: mandarin orange, black currant, raspberry
Mid Notes: jasmine, white flowers
Base Notes: patchouli, praline, amber, vanilla




*Photo of the Arbre aux Songes ring from the Van Cleef & Arpels website.

Christian Dior Miss Dior

OHHH, I love this one!

I have the new formulation of Miss Dior.  It is the ad campaign with Natalie Portman.  The creator behind Miss Dior is Francois Demachy. 

I have said it before, but I appreciate a pretty presentation.  Miss Dior doesn't disappoint.  The bottle itself is squared with a hounds tooth textured underside.  But, the lid is what is so beautiful.  The lid has a silver metal bow attached by a little ring.  Otherwise, it is clean and simple. It is just enough to be romantic and not over the top.

This opens very crisp and bright with mandarin. It is fruity and youthful, but not sugary sweet.  While the citrus burst is going on, I also smell a slightly earthy note.  I, without question, detect patchouli.  It keeps it grounded and from becoming syrupy. As a fan of patchouli, I love this.  Even at its most "dirty", I love patchouli.  However, this isn't as harsh as patchouli can be.  (How many times can we say patchouli?  HAHA!)

About 15 minutes in, I finally pick up on the jasmine.  Thank goodness it isn't heavy, though.  Somehow, the jasmine is delicate and plays nicely with the mandarin and patchouli. While not listed, I pick up green tea. It gives me a sense of Déjà vu, but I don't know why.  I have tried and tried to figure it out...but can't. 

The dry-down is diamonds, pearls, and elegance.  I get rose, but not real powdery and obnoxious.   It is a tamed, shy rose. I also get something clean, like being fresh from a shower...yet not soapy, if that makes sense. It is pastel pink, lace, and all things sparkling...seriously. That is what I keep picturing.  The musk, I believe, cuts the rose and makes it sit nicely on skin...  kind of blending with the skin and not sitting heavily on top.

For me, Miss Dior starts out quite fun and flirty, but settles into something classy and soft spoken.   The personalities in this perfume amaze me.  It changes so much from initial spritz to the dry down.  It keeps me interested. I highly enjoy experiencing each change that comes forward. The amazing thing is, it only contains mandarin, musk, patchouli, jasmine, and rose.

I think this can be worn year round, but the opening would blossom in warm weather.  However, the dry down is what lingers, and that works well for year round, I think.  I can tell you I will be going to this perfume no matter the season.  Ah, and the lasting power is amazing on my skin. I can spray it on several hours before I go to bed and the next morning it is still there.  A lot of perfumes have worn off at that point, but this is still lingering (mostly in the crook of my elbow).

While I was waiting on my bottle to arrive, I had been in a Sephora and sprayed some on a little paper strip and brought it home with me.  I kept getting little whiffs of something delicate, soft, and just plain beautiful.  I don't get bored at all smelling Miss Dior.  It is all around a winner for me.

I like to spray this on my wrists and the inner corner of my elbows, and sometimes a bit on the back of my neck, under my hair.  It wears differently depending on where I spray it.  It is the most light on my wrists, and stronger on my inner elbows.  This makes sense since it can evaporate quicker on the wrists where very exposed, and will linger a bit longer on the crook of my elbow.

I think this is worth a sniff.  Check it out when you are at a counter or in Sephora.  

LISTED NOTES:

Top: Italian Mandarin

Mid: Egyptian Jasmine, Rose

Base: Patchouli, Musk