Van Cleef & Arpels
Van Cleef & Arpels is a Parisian high-jewellery Maison that emerged in the early 20th century and developed a distinctive language of craftsmanship, poetic form and natural motifs. Alongside jewellery and watches, its perfume history includes First, the fragrance that opened the door to this world.
Brand story and character
Van Cleef & Arpels was established in Paris in 1906 and has remained closely associated with Place Vendôme. Its official timeline traces a path from early jewellery to a distinct style that embraced Art Deco in the 1920s and continued to evolve through technical mastery, fluid form and attention to detail.
Nature, movement and light become jewellery in the Van Cleef & Arpels aesthetic. The Maison places high jewellery, jewellery, watches and fragrances within one identity, making perfume a continuation of its artistic language rather than an unrelated commercial episode.
Alhambra, first presented in 1968, became one of the house’s lasting icons. The Mystery Set technique and a wider commitment to archival continuity are further markers of a brand that works with both form and the memory of its own school.
The perfume story began with First, which the Maison identifies as its fragrance debut. Released in 1976, it brought the house’s refined vocabulary into scent. Today, Collection Extraordinaire, Les Classiques and First remain visible within its official fragrance offering.
Van Cleef & Arpels expresses luxury through precision rather than noise: balance, materials, rhythm of line and a lucid Parisian code. The same restrained expression makes the house recognisable in both high jewellery and fragrance.
Brand fragrances
Neroli Amara
Neroli Amara starts with bergamot, mandarin, Italian lemon and pink pepper, creating a crisp citrus opening with spicy lift. Orange blossom, cypress, pear and black pepper add floral, gre...
Murmure
Murmure opens with freesia, mandarin and white rose, then expands into jasmine, lily, orange blossom and tuberose. Cinnamon brings a gentle spicy warmth to the floral heart, while Brazili...
Zanzibar
Zanzibar opens with cardamom, coriander and citron, a bright meeting of warm spice and citrus. Ginger, pepper and cloves intensify the spicy heart, while vetiver, sandalwood and ambrette...
Precious Oud
Precious Oud begins with pink pepper and bergamot, then moves into tuberose, incense and jasmine. Oud, sandalwood, patchouli, ambergris and vetiver create a dense woody base with balsamic...
Cologne Noire
Cologne Noire brings fresh and warm spices into a citrus structure. Pepper, ginger and cardamom meet bitter orange, bergamot, neroli and mandarin, while woody notes give the composition a...
Gardenia Petale
Gardenia Petale is built around white flowers, with gardenia, jasmine and lily-of-the-valley carrying most of its character. Green notes and citrus keep the bouquet fresh, while the lacto...
Eau du Tsar
Eau du Tsar is led by woody, aromatic and warm-spicy accords. Sandalwood, cardamom and lavender sit alongside pineapple, mandarin, grapefruit and melon, while vetiver, oakmoss and patchou...
First Love
First Love opens with osmanthus, pepper and mandarin, setting fruity-floral softness against a lively spicy edge. Orchid, ylang-ylang and peony form the floral centre, while amber and van...
First
First opens with aldehydes, bergamot and a broad spectrum of fruit before unfolding into narcissus, hyacinth, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley and other florals. Civet, oakmoss, honey, amber,...
Oriens
Oriens opens with raspberry, black currant and mandarin, giving its floral structure a juicy, sweet brightness. Jasmine and white flowers form the heart, while patchouli, praline, amber a...
Bois d Iris
Bois d Iris centres on iris as an accord: powdery, earthy and touched by violet, with woody and aromatic facets around it. The listed notes of vetiver and ambergris give that abstract flo...
Tsar
Tsar opens with green notes, lavender, artemisia, rosemary, bergamot and spices. Pine, juniper, carnation and herbs deepen the aromatic heart, while oakmoss, leather, cedar, patchouli, ve...
Van Cleef
Van Cleef begins with marigold, galbanum, neroli, raspberry and bergamot, balancing green bitterness with fruit and citrus. Geranium, orange blossom, jasmine and rose build the floral hea...
Birmane
Birmane opens with pineapple, Brazilian rosewood, bergamot and lemon, bringing fruit and citrus into a distinctly woody frame. Heliotrope, orchid and rose soften the centre before tonka b...
Un Air de First
Un Air de First opens with aldehydes, galbanum, currant buds and mandarin, creating a bright green lift. Jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, rose and white peach soften the heart, while white mu...
Midnight in Paris
Midnight in Paris opens with leather, bergamot, Amalfi lemon, holly and rosemary, bringing dry freshness to its warm profile. Tea, styrax and lily-of-the-valley soften the middle before t...
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