Arpege Lanvin for women

AWESOME!!!
Wow, now we're talking!

This is really going well with my chemistry--

I am sampling this fragrance to see if I can detect if this is similar to First, one of my all time favorite fragrances. A few people hinted at the fact that this had similar notes to First, so sign me up! First is one of the fragrances that I have consecutively had the most compliments on.

This is warm, but a shade or two less warm than the fragrances that have a lot of cinnamon in the base, such as Chanel's Coco or Timeless by Avon.

I'm sensing a very heavy base note, it draws me in and grounds the fragrance chord. This is nice. The name "Arpeg" comes directly from the musical term Arpeggio. When I smell the fragrance I definitely understand where the name comes from.

So far, so good - this is setting up extremely well on my skin. I will have to see how this unfolds! So far, it is AWESOME!

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I tried this beside "First" to compare the two. The first couple of hours - Arpege is much more alluring, but an interesting thing happens after the first 2 hours. First takes on a very sweet smelling lift that I really love, perhaps it is the musk. Arpege is less alluring after the first couple of hours, but seems all business. It could be a great fragrance to wear on days when you are needing to say "all business".

I usually love aldehydes, #5, le dix, L'Aimant but this one is too indolic, it smells like floral poo.

A darkly mysterious Magnum Opus..........

The Black bottle is most fitting.

LYRICAL!

this perfume seems like a timeless classic wore by aristocratic matured woman. a woman with strong personality....

Just sampled it on paper today, and it smells almost exactly like those fragranced wet towels in packets that you'll get in high end chinese restaurants! Very soapy, powdery kind of scent. Like expensive perfume talc. And I do agree that it is a feminine and timeless scent. Also classy and mature, but I am on the fence about investing in this one. Definitely a very unique scent though, have yet to smell any perfume like this.

Modern EDP (Black Bottle)

Heady, smooth, heady, creamy, indolic, rich, classy and feminine. Yes, really! Arpege is ALL of those things. I surrounds you in a mother's embrace, a mother who knows how to support you emotionally and make you feel safe. It even has a slightly motherly smell.

We don't all have a mother who is still with us, or one who knows how to give us that hug when it's needed. This perfume is one I will surely invest in a 100ml of someday.

I love Lanvin Arpege. I had a small bottle with no spray and found that just two or three dabs on the neck last all day long with no need to refresh it. In fact, it smells even better at the end of the day than it does at the start.

It's one of those perfumes that I think smells better dabbed than sprayed.

Fantastic depth, heady and thick, changing and evolving, with a hint of dark florals, kept Oriental by the Patchouli and Amber. Gorgeous and very classy.

My 6 year old daughter loves Arpege but for me the first half hour is a dreadful reformulation induced headache. So I am at great pains to teach my daughter to "Spritz lightly, Lovely!". She is slowly getting it and I am slowly getting past that aldehydic and honeysuckle oblivion to the fleeting heart of Arpege which is quite lovely rosy, ylang ylang & jasmine.

On me those horrid top notes are the most predominant part of the fragrance and the first spray is inevitably followed by cries of "who sprayed perfume everywhere?"...oh, well. The dry down is very close to the skin on me, a lovely melange but hardly worth the effort involved in getting there. I imagine the original formulation is quite something sublime but for the moment I get greater joy in the lovely black bottle.

I love this scent. Classy, complete, interesting, full-bodied, powerful, long lasting. In the same range as Chanel no.5, but a bit more spicy (carnation? not mentioned). I notice a resemblance with First from Van Cleef & Arpels(which is lighter, fresher), I think it is narcissus but again that is not listed in the notes?
Beautiful perfume... Will be one of my favourites!

(btw: I recognize what it said about the fecal notes, but this is a matter of concentration: in nature, when you smell flowers (and I remember this from my own experience), sometimes when you are very close, or when there is a lot of them blooming, it smells like 'poop' indeed, but less concentrated, or from a distance, the nicer smell, the appreciated flowery scent is discernible!)

Smells exactly like Chanel No.5, EdP. I have full black bottle 100 ml/3.3 oz. for swap. Anyone interested? Please message me.

My Easter gift this year was a beautiful egg shaped bottle of Arpege. I wore this when I was in my teens, yes I had expensive and sophisticated taste back then!
The beautiful black box with gold lettering has remained unopened for a few days, but now the time has come.
So, I was excited and a little afraid that this might not live up to my expectations.
The bottle looks fabulous, black and gold. Beautiful packaging. So far so good. Here goes... Wow! Amazing! Yes! I love it, I absolutely love it!
How pleased I am, and so relieved too , on first sniff it is just as exquisite as I recall! Soft fruity and floral and powdery. So feminine. So elegant. So sexy. So me. I have fallen In love with it all over again. I almost want to cry it is so beautiful. Like a softer and subtler version of Chanel 5.
Why did I wait so long? My new signature perfume!

During a trip along Oregon Coast, I found a parfum at an antique store but passed as I had not sniffed it before. Today, I found it at Holt Renfrew. Oh wow! Aldehydes with ylang-ylang and softened by amber. It reminded me of Chanel No5 (which I like) so the SA had me compare it side by side. Similar but different - definitely in the same vein. I'm glad to have both Arpege and No5 (Eau Premiere) in my closet now. If you like classic perfumes like I do, you might want to try this.It has been more than five hours now, the scent has lost its aldehydes and all that is left are florals. Love it!

One spray on me,
Sillage: about a foot
Longevity: more than 5 hours and softens to flowers at the end
Rating: 5/5

...But I don't like aldehydes! Or white florals! Or patchouli! What's going on here? I'm confused! It has this beautiful powdery floral opening, and I get a little bit of aldehyde in that, but the indoles others are detecting don't seem to come out on me the way they have in other white florals in the past. I couldn't be happier with it.

The current formulation of Arpege at first spray is harsh, with strong aldehydes that create intensely dry dusty sweet woody effect with dry sweet florals similar to the effect of potpurri. Quite an unpleasant shock at first, but if you wait 15 to 30 minutes, the sweetness of the florals bloom and soft sandalwood becomes more apparent. At this point, Arpege settles much closer to skin and becomes softer and quite pretty.
Still, ( as thenightflyer's review states), Arpege remains a "gauzy" fragrance. There is a sweet but very dry lightly powdery note that holds on through the drydown, probably due to the corriander, iris and vetiver blend. Overall, Arpege is a sweet floral, tempered with a dry dusty aspect.
Arpege is interesting, feminine, unique, with 12 + hours of lasting power. Silage is moderate to soft once the first spray settles down.
If you like a sweet, dry, extra-long-lasting floral without any juicy fruity notes, Arpege is a good choice.

I had this fragrance back in the early 80s, and I felt so sophisticated wearing it. That was until I was sitting at my desk one day and one of the guys in my department walked past and asked if someone had recently sprayed fly spray. I'd just sprayed some Arpege on myself in readiness of going out. I felt so deflated, and never wore it again...

Well, I can't say that I completely agree with the comparisons to No.5,although I understand that both are from the same fragrance family(aldehydic florals)their character is different. I like the loose cascade of the gauzy notes which unfurl in secession. I can't speak for the vintage formulation, but the modern extrait that I used to wear, was a peachy soft, dry floral, with a whispering and distinct tuberose supported supported with ruby damasks and sumptuous jasmine blossoms. It is overcast with a kind of beige palour and possesses an edible toasty quality at distances.An antidote to some of the more apologetic(wan) male and female fragrances out there. And one of the few to make people notice without the typical contrivances...

Oh my God - Get this off of me! I scrubbed and scrubbed and SCRUBBED. I tried this because of the comments on how similar it was to Chanel No. 5. HATED IT and I love No 5. While remotely similiar at first, after the drydown, the honeysuckle on me was so overwhelming it made me want to vomit. I was disappointed because there are so many wonderful reviews, but alas, not for me.

Gorgeous,sensuous fragrance.I've been using it sparingly but sadly have finally run out but I know my gorgeous husband will buy me some more.He bought it in a coffret together with some Arpège body cream & I always felt soooo extra feminine & luxuriant when I wore them.
He buys all my perfumes & fragrances & has exquisite taste. He tells me I'm in good company because as well as being one of my all time favourites it was also a favourite of Princess Grace of Monaco!
She was so beautiful - just like this fragrance.

My favorite of all time. Longlasting. Just perfekt for my skin. Not for summer.

I still have some of the vintage fragrance of this one and it is still fresh and lovely. This is like the sister fragrance to My Sin. I wore this one along with My Sin in High School. It is a wonderful soft scent. I hope my two bottles of these two vintage scents last me a lifetime because I am unsure if the newer version would be the same.

I wore Arpege and My Sin in the last of the fifties and sixties. My husband bought Arpege for me because he liked the scent and so did I. Now, I suppose, it has been reformulated and I haven't sniffed it in a very long time. I wonder why perfume houses change scents so much. Is it because original ingredients become hard to find, too expensive to buy anymore, or just because they cater to a more modern clintele? I don't understand really and wondered if anyone had the answer.

What a confusing scent - search!

My previous review still here ~ I must add that I've now tried 3 different bottles of Arpege, and each one was different!

The clear mini was soured, the carded sample was concentrated, dark, and bitter.

Then I hit paydirt! This Black Bottle of liquid loveliness settles like warmth itself on my skin. I smell honeysuckle, and the PERFECT blending of iris with exquisite summer florals.

Wood undergirds the whole composition, creating a womanly and sophisticated aura that people won't soon forget.

Wear it, and create memories........ FIVE Stars!

Lanvin is one of my favorite houses. I like all the fragrances they ever made! This one is no exception, it smells amazing. It's definitely alluring, something a real diva would have as her signature scent. I would only wear this at night time, but it has some beautiful notes. A beautiful blend between ylang-ylang, sandalwood, jasmine and amber. If you like Chanel Nr.5 you maybe would like this too.

I absolutely adore Arpege! It's such a feminine, french powerhouse. I can see how it may not be everyone's cup of tea; especially if you are into sweeter scents or aren't used to sophisticated and complex fragrances. When you first inhale Arpege, it instantly transports you to a red carpet where motion picture era Hollywood bombshells Jean Harlow, Lauren Bacall and Jayne Mansfield are strutting past a press line with a silage of Arpege floating through the air. It is class, glamour and sophistication. Arpege is distinct and in no way similar to Chanel No.5 ...it's an era in a bottle.

allureveil: Congrat's on your newfound perfume obsession w/ Arpege! I discovered it ~ 2 yrs. ago, & have been smitten ever since. I am intrigued by all that you are learning about the history! It's said that in decades of old, Arpege was the world's 2nd best-selling perfume- 2nd to it's competetive aldehydic floral sister, Chanel #5.

I prefer Arpege. The vtg. juice is darker (in scent, not necessarily color)- And, this is probably THE prime example of a juice that's said to "age well". So, if you have a bottle that's 70 yrs. old or so, and it was stored properly, it may smell divinely incredible... It's also generally said (by multitudes of other reviewers and perfume experts), that the 1993 reformulation is an uncommonly well-done perfume- I have both vintage, and current (TONS of both!), and indeed, I find them both absolute life-long must-haves in my fragrance collection. I live in the Syracuse, NY region, where it is FREEZING, and Arpege wears like a constant, warm hug. I NEVER buy #5 anymore- Arpege is a better fit for me fragrance-wise, and, it's practically free!!!

About the #'s 868, 869, etc. on the bottom of the boxes you asked about- These simply refer to volume (amount/size of bottle), labeling the pure parfum / extrait- Ready? From smallest, to largest:

#868 = 1/4 oz.
#869 = 1/2 oz. (15 gr.)
#828 = 1 oz. (28 gr.)
#870 = 2 oz. (54 gr.)

These (above) are the vintage/traditional squarish clean glass bottles with black cap (imprinted w/ mo/daughter logo to represent the muse for the perfume), and gold label on the bottle front. The bottom of the glass bottle may or may not be glass-molded to include specific info, ie, "Lanvin", "Made in France", and the volume, etc.

The classic black boulle is a collector's item bottle- Basically a round glass black bottle with a flat bottom and a gold-gilded glass stopper. I have this in sizes 1 oz & 2 oz's. The glass top/dauber is meant to apply just a trace of the extrait onto the skin. Arpege has historically come in a wide variety of concentrations- It is a classic French parfum, intended to be layered. And, indeed, I do find it wears gloriously when layered!

Finally, my own personal opinion- I've only recently, over the past 2 yrs. or so, begun to explore fine perfumery- BUT- Within reasonable affordability range. When I discovered Arpege, I was completely smitten! I've been to Europe once for a month, and when walking down a city street, omg, everyone smells SOOO good... Arpege seems the ultimate expression of true, fine, French perfumery! If you are located w/i continental US, given your passion for all things Arpege (which seems to equal my own!), I'd be thrilled to send you a few decants of vintage formula's, if you like. The old "Arpege Eau de Lanvin" (EdP, I think?) is a blast of indulgant luxury- It really perfumes the skin beautifully!

Thanks to all for allowing my freakishly obsessive dissertation :D BUY ARPEGE- Best value for the $ on the perfume market ever! Also, to allureveil, there are a few other floral aldehydes you may be interested in- Van Cleef & Arpels First (a MUST-have! Bright, lovely, all girl, with a touch of fruit- just a touch- NOT a horrible gourmand! A bright summer perfume), and Hermes Caleche (a bit pricier, but with a deeper caramel note- NOT sweet- warm, rich, and did I say RICH!?), and a little goes a long way! I have these 3, I wear Arpege the most by FAR, and have given up Chanel #5 ONLY b/c I've worn it for far too long, and it's pricey to apply liberally, which I like to do!

Sorry so long-winded. Thanks to anyone reading who hasn't nodded off :;

A powdery and slightly spicy floral aldehyde which smells a bit old fashioned. I like it but it is a bit too much for me regardless it's superb quality. Of the aldehydes I much prefer the softer, more floral and less spicy Chanel No 5 or Balenciaga Le Dix. Arpege reminds me a bit of Ferre (round black bottle) and L'interdit edp.

Its nice smell. Identical to chanel n5. I have older extrait version that is very strong and gave me headache but I bet it has wonderful smell

Another question: what do the numbers mean on the Arpege Extrait packages? For instance, No. 828, No. 869, etc.? Thanks.

I just answered my own question by finding an SEC Newsletter dated November 1963 with the following text:
LANVIN-CHARLES OF THE RITZ SHARES IN REGISTRAnON. Lanvin-Parfuma, Inc., 767 Fifth Ave., New York,filed a registration statement (File 2-21884) with the SEC on November 14. seeking registration of 800,000shares of caommon stock of Lanvin-Charles of the Ritz, Inc., which will be the surviving corporation resulting from a merger of Charles of the Ritz, Inc. and with and into Lanvin-Parfums, Inc.
So now I will study the Arpege magazine ads closely with this information in mind.

Is there a Fragrantica member with expertise about the diffferent Arpege bottles and labels who can identify the vintage of the fragrance based on that knowledge. By studying Arpege ads on eBay, I'm attempting to learn whether I'm purchasing a true vintage version or not. Did Charles of the Ritz acquire Lavin at some point? Or did they just buy the production of Arpege? When I was in high school in a very, very small Kansas town, I talked my boyfriend into giving me a quarter oz. of the parfum, and I'm trying to find that exact vintage. If only I had realized what a fragrance junkie I would become, I might have saved the bottle. Even growing up in "the sticks" I was wearing Casaque at basketball games, sitting in the pep club, because I had ordered sample minis via some ladies magazine, spending babysitting money! Fragrance is the epitome of Romance to me. Thanks for any tips.

Surprising, elegant, soothing, beautiful, complex, uplifting, comforting, interesting, feminine. That is what Arpege is to me. And what a beautiful bottle (the black one). I love this fragrance, from opening to drydown. I love that it does not smell contemporary. It brings with it something from a beautiful era, long ago, which many today cannot relate to. I frequently spray it on before going to bed, and in the morning what is still there is just so lovely.

I've just tested Charrier Trêve today (not listed here) and, to my nose, it's almost identical to Arpège. There seems to be one slightly sharper floral note in the Arpège but at a quick sniff I can't tell them apart. If I concentrate on it I think I actually like the Trêve better. It projects beautifully and lasts for ages (it's marked as 85% so I'm guessing it's edp). That said, Arpège is considerably cheaper. :-)

Could somebody advise,please,if "Eau Arpege" is different from "Arpege"?

Sweet powdery floral. The perfect date perfume imo. To wear with pearls, an a-line dress and a cardigan- the arsenals of a coquette ;)

This won't make you smell fresh and forgettable or vampy and slutty. It's like french perfumed talc underneath your sexy lingerie.
A man can't resist!:p

I dont like it. i bought it on line because it's a classic and i love Chanel #5 and Le Dix but Arpege has a certain note that smells a little poopy to me, like a baby diaper, that makes this fragrance unwearable for me.

Please don't remove negative reviews. They are helpful to many of us who blind buy. I personally can't get past any "fecal" indoles. It really helps me when people mention smelling "poop" or "bad breath". Unpleasant but true. Thank you!

This is a true old school bombshell fragrance. Gorgeous on so many levels. Like Chanel No5, but different, and I suspect, better. This was my mother's go-to fragrance for being beautiful.

Arpege is an unnerving child.

Arriving at the neat counterfeit of a country cottage that is her parents' - your dear friend Andre and his wife Jeanne - 'little piece of Laguedoc in the suburbs' - she comes across as willful, headstrong, almost unhinged.

Asked to collect flowers for the house from the Fraysee's beautiful garden she (Margaret is her given name, used exclusively by her mother when upset with her, which is often) turns almost feral, a teen on a chemical kick she rushes around the manicured borders (themselves pretending after the style of rural meadows) pulling up plants careless of their complexion or the destruction she is reeking.

Eventually she dumps them all: Jasmine, Rose, Iris, Lily, Lily of the Valley and even the precious camelias from the cloche in a series of unwashed carafes still sour with the stench of last night's rough white wine.

In the music room, where she places three flower rammed vessels in a row atop an apparently out of tune upright piano the smell is approaching the unbearable.

When Arpege starts to hammer out her chromatic scales, you notice that it is her playing and not the instrument that is off-key, and more to the point quite deliberately.

You exchange a sly smile with the daughter of the house: she is affecting inability as accurately as only a truly useful musician can.

What feels like a brief conversation follows and she excuses herself to change for dinner.

Talking politics and the economy and the desperate state of things since the crash as the women prepare, Andre teaches you a new aperitif - vanilla Martinis - the latest American way of forgetting.

Jeanne enters, elegant as ever.

Then Arpege, her hair tied up and and held in place with? With a pencil, an artist's pencil. At dinner she grows with a glass of wine in hand into what you realise she now is: a young woman. Well read, she speaks eloquently of Eliot and that woman Woolf and fragrant. Is it her mother's sandalwood or father's vetiver that envelopes her?.

After the meal you retire to sweet Amaretto's and sweeter Chopin, played by the same delicate hands that earlier tore up roots with such urgency and blundered through elementary piano exercises.

And then she is gone, an early night, for after all she is merely on the cusp of womanhood. A promise of a future of greatness, or perhaps an echo of her mother's magnificent past.

Arpege, even in its reigned in contemporary form, is a tough and strange perfume to get to know. Her behaviour in the opening notes is by most measures quite unsettling and to some noses rather upsetting.

But forbearance and a little understanding sees the acidic aledhyde blossom into first a full-bodied floral and then a warm-hearted almost wooded amber scent, that never looses its edgy integrity. Arpege can give the best in this class - including the biggest names - a run for their money.

I long to meet her mother - the true vintage.

I have both the vintage version and the black bottle. I think that they are both very nice. I usually put my perfume on my clothes rather than the skin due to chemicals. Yet, it is classic and it lingers. Sometimes I have noticed that perfume may not agree on my skin and it is better on clothes. The price of this fragrance is value for money and it is a real treasure. This is a pleasant floral fragrance which is uplifting and a little different. This fragrance lasts for at 10 hours on clothes at least. This is for a mature woman which likes a sweet feminine fragrance.

I bought this unsniffed based on reviews. I really wanted to like it but couldn't get past the "fecal" note. My husband told me that it "smells like an outhouse". Not what I was going for. This is by far my least favorite perfume of all time. I pitched in into the garbage although it should have gone into a diaper pail :) I didn't want to give it to a friend because I never want to smell it again... Ever!
The bottle is truly lovely.
When I told my husband that I wrote this review he told me "it really smelled like someone sprayed perfume on a turd". He really is never crude, but he hates this as much as I do. It was a new black bottle just for reference.

Chanel N°5..? Nooo, this is better. This is sooo gorgeous. Received a perfectly preserved mini in the mail, I am so pleased.

Although classified as a floral aldehyde, I find it soft, warm and very alluring. Considering the very present amber, jasmin and ylang ylang I think this more an oriental floral. Really, the aldehydes behave very modest; after a short presence during the opening I do not get them anymore.
Absolutely comfortable and very classy.
Sillage and longevity are both good.

I am on the hunt for a full bottle !!

I'm sad to say that my love affair with Arpege has ended. The little black bottle I obtained a short while ago smells nothing like the sample that got my attention.

For some reason all I can think of when I wear this is egg nog on the verge of going bad...there's a dowdy mustiness in the middle of it that I can't get past, even though I love the drydown which is full of sandalwood. I don't get any aldehydes...this is an oriental woody all the way.

I must confess that I much prefer Rochas Femme which is very similar to Arpege but has a warm spicy spark I prefer.

I'm sure the current reform is to blame and older bottles of this grand dame are worth appreciating.

Finally, I got to try out this classic. What I sprayed on was a modern formulation in the black bottle, at a department store. I immediately caught the resemblance to CHanel no. 5 (with the aldehydes less punchy), and also (gasp!) to the 70s drugstore classic Charlie. Arpege is aldehydic with a hefty dose of sandalwood, but with a certain lightness and clarity on first application. It is rich and classy, the scent of a real woman -- a woman who has known the full tonic range of emotions from despair to euphoria -- mature in the drydown yet breezy enough for day or summer. Tenacious too. I want to grow old with this fragrance and partake of its long history.

I bought an unopened box of 1980's version of Eau Arpege 125 mls. The top and middle-notes seem to have just disappeared. It has not weathered well! It's flame extinguished. RIP. So that's three large, vintage bottles I have now, each from a different era, and only one still has a spring in her step - the oldest one!! 1950's or 60's era? It's magnificent and I can barely bring myself to use it. Square bottle in display box. The one from 60's or 70's (I think, a gold metal bottle, very heavy) has just gone off, only good for display. I am now happy to end my pursuit of my old fave pharmacy perfume. The current version is very good, but honestly, I think there are other perfumes to try, move on, I already have three. And one's even wearable, yay, for special occasions.
Moral of the story - 1) Be careful buying old stock of this one; 2) I tried to re-create the past and it didn't work so well.
The current version is excellent and an example of re-formulation succeeding, don't you think? All is not lost.

I DO like Chanel No 5, so I've finally gotten to try the much-loved Arpege.

Where is the similarity? I also own ( and love ) L'Aimant, and there is VERY little likeness there either..... on me. On others I can actually sense a likeness.

On my skin, Arpege begins as an horrid chemical experiment, loud with the scent of something burnt. This is merely my skin, and has happened with other likable classics as well.

Now it has settled nicely, becoming quite warm and woodsy. It's a trifle sour, also not uncommon on my recalcitrant chemistry. What REALLY surprises me is the depth of woods and musk, backed by only the gentlest of floral notes.

This composition - at least on me - is not very far from being a men's cologne. Yes, I'm absolutely serious! Add a touch of briskness with a note of lavender, and it would be QUITE obvious.

So this is another lesson in the power ( for good or ill! ) of personal chemistry. If I want a powdery, classic fragrance, I'll stick with Emeraude or Shalimar ~ thank you very much!!

Please don't let me keep anyone from trying this mysterious lady. Chances are that if you love the richness of Patou's JOY, then Arpege will be enchanting on you.

This is perfume with a capitol "P". It's what one wore when a dab behind each ear and perhaps on the wrist was considered ladylike and appropriate. Of course the wrist was covered with a white glove, which when later removed and put inside a little clutch purse, would scent the air when opened.

Lovely, sophisticated floral for a lady turning into a sexy bombshell for a night out on the town. Or perhaps hinting at the possibilities while going about the usual daily activities.

I love reading about the history of perfume and there are many references on this icon, which incidentally, has a history of maternal love very interesting!
When I finally met it, oh what a feeling I could only feel! It is a unique scent, as well as the mysterious black dome that covers your notes and indecipherable, a real sphinx. Aldehydes command this arpeggio. One of my favorites!

I came across some minis of this in my fave perfume discount shop. I bought 2 , one for me , and one to put inside a dior make up bag full of minis for a friends b'day.

My friend didnt like it ! ( lucky she did like the dior minis though!) ....I love it !!

I can see the similarities to Chanel no5 , i havent tried Hermes Caleche so cant compare that.

This is a classic powdery floral aldehyde. A "fur coat and pearls " frag!! Very classy , not an everyday fragrance. I like to wear this on special occasions with a satin wiggle dress, killer black patent heels and my winter white fake fur coat.

I can heartily recommend this for women of all ages who want to smell ladylike , chic and alluring - it's a classic ! Its also much more affordable than the similar Chanel No5. . . Also its very strong , i like to literally DOUSE myself in scent , but i only needed a few dabs from this splash btl and the scent lasts many hours with a good sillage. I also received positive comms from men , but negative bitchy looks from women - Lol! Those women most likely pissed as i smell classy and stand out in a room full of cotton candy vanilla bombs :)

My mini has been used up now and im after a FB ASAP for all those parties in the festive season.

PS - Looking at the bottles for sale online at the bottom of this page ........the minis listed are in a clear bottle and my bottle is a shiny jet black, a true miniture version of the full sized black bottles. . . . So i dont know if my mini is the usual EDP/EDT or a pure parfum or a vintage or what!!! Whatever it happened to be , it was a great buy . I only paid £2 a piece for them so i shall have to go and see if my fave shop has any more . when i bought it they were not on display , but stashed away under counter with other "unfashionable" frags. The shop owner gets all sorts of perfumes in , including "old stock" . He knows i like a lot of old school scents so he hid them away for me.( now thats the kind of shop i like , personal service !) Now i think about it il probably be better off going back and buying 10 minis at £2 each rather than a FB !

I bought a completely full square bottle of Arpege from eBay for $9.99 because I remembered someone in my family having a bottle on their dresser (my grandmother maybe?) when I was a child. The scent was also familiar, but after reading these reviews I was surprised at how light the scent is on my skin. It starts out strong and is definitely old-fashioned. But on my skin it quickly dries down to a light powdery smell that only lasts about an hour. It does remind me of a church however, as others have pointed out. I'm not fond of overly sweet scents, so I don't hate it, but I'm not sure I love it either.

My review is for a bottle from the late 1980's. Arpege opens with a very sharp blast of aldehydes, very strong and almost overwhelming. If you do not like aldehydes, you may be scared off at first. But if you wait a few minutes, you'll see the scent changes a lot. After a few moments, the aldehydes subside and a faint whisper of ylang ylang is noticeable emerging through the top notes. After that, the scent settles into its loveliest phase, one of dense, thick, sweet florals. I smell mostly the neroli, and there is also jasmine and honeysuckle in lesser amounts. At this phase, this fragrance is pure, lush sweet floral. I don't think this smells like Chanel No. 5 at all. They are both aldehydes, but that's where the similarity ends. Once the aldehydic top notes wear off, Arpege is completely different. Arpege is sweeter and warmer. I don't find much change through to drydown, there is not much woodiness or musk that develops on me, rather it maintains the deep floral notes throughout wear.

Update: as it turns out, I don't know the true age of my bottle. It might be from the 1970's, not the 80's as I thought. It's so hard to tell. In any case, it smells lovely!

When I sprayed this on I didn't like it very much, but after some time....., WOW!, what a great scent!

So happy that I blind bought this one!

I have a black flacon complete with the body lotion. I have worn it out twice so far and my initial fondness of the fumes waned when I decided that the aldehydes were just too strong for me. Therefore if anybody is interested in a swap....

No, it did not work on me. Floral aldehydes are way too femenine for my tastes. OK, I liked it, but I just did not feel comfortable wearing it: I had the feeling that it was the perfect complement for a wonderful vintage dress designed by Balmain or Dior during the New Look era, low heel shoes, a pearl necklace and a vintage high - end wristwatch, while sipping Dry Martinis during a get-together in a fashionable apartment located in Manhattan's Upper East side, or maybe a weekend house in Greenwich, CT, cigarette smoking included.

Nope, not my cup of tea, thank you.

It does smell like talcum powder according to my 13 year old daughter. She liked it.

Wow is right... I have recently begun to explore aldehydic scents, and so far Arpege is my favorite of this group. It's not "too" anything, unless it's possible for a scent you enjoy to be too long lasting (ha). The longevity is like no other! Even the first time I sprayed on my wrist and immediately chickened out and *tried* to wash it off, it stayed, and it started to grow on me. There was a bit of a rotten note the first two times I wore it, but the overall effect was still pleasant enough, and that weirdness has since faded away (to my nose, anyway).
Mysterious and solemn, yes.
Haunting, you bet.
Sexy, not particularly. But attractive in the same way that a woman can look stunning without being obviously sexy, and without showing skin.
You don't love Arpege for her sex appeal, you love her for her personality, and, like a person you grow to love, it takes a little time to get there.

Thank YOU so, very much. That´s what I needed.
New, new language.

But, where do you find baloons ? And am I supposed to give that to someone with the same oppinion for ex ?
And how do I do thumbs up or down ?
I will remember YOU as the first warm person at Fragantia. Kindness from Anne

I have a bottle of the original formula from years ago. It is truely the perfume of feminine grace. Its everything a woman should be. Graceful, gentle, wise, comforting and sensual. It was given to me by my mother in the 1960s. Its the greatest perfume gift a mother can pass to her daughter.

Its been many years that she has left the world, yet I still here her words of wisdom when I wear it. Her gentle hand touches my shoulder. The flowers seem like they are pressed in a book. Roses, jasmine and camelia all dressed up in the finest ball gown.

The concert hall is now dry, dark and dusty. The doors are boarded up. Wearing Arpege, you can here the distant music playing on. Its a haunting beauty in every way.

I´become so glad, when I see yours opinions. Because it isn´t directly this type of perfume which is at the top at lists. I just Love it !!! Classic perfume, please more of those. We must take responsitility to save these fragances. It´s, to me not at all "just" a scent, it´s a time-epok. The mother and daughter, as well as on the bottle. To read and learn more of such things, give me nearly more. And what brave women.If you see everything in her notes.
It seems like wastery, but she knew she had to MAKE IT WORK, and with wisedom and love it sure did, and I think A Lanvin will have hard to find " a new one ". It´s like films ex Godfather I II and so on. I was very surprised that none of you mengend alhyde, but I like it, the feeling. Powdery it often stand today, is that thesame as alhyde, or is it only me liking it so it´s removes. I can´t think of that every perfume.

I have an authentic bottle of the old version : this is my favourite fragrance! I have a second bottle from 1996 circa, I had it as a present, this is a very good fragrance too. I have a bottle I bought some years ago because I wanted to spare my old ones, I saw a big difference between the 2, and for me and that was a mistake, I bought it bliendly without testing and I didn't know about REFORMULATIONS: just thought it was similar to my 1996's frag Sigh!!!!!

B-I-G M-I-S-T-A-K-E!

No they must change the name nothing similar to Arpege the original and even the '90 version.
Sorry but this is my opinion.

One of my friends in college wore this. One time, it/she smelled so bad it gave me a violent headache and I was nauseated. I still can't stand this scent.

I have the EdP in the black bottle; it reminds me of No.5 EdT, only with an addition of honeysuckle and something more furry/musky. I think it is very nice.

I don't feel smothered wearing this because it is such a gentle dry down. It envelopes me, like a hug. It is floral and classic. I do not find it old fashioned, in any case I think there is nothing wrong with old scents or "old fashioned" scents, once the scent is amazing. A good perfume is a good perfume, modern or old.

It's a classic, an old-school classic. Timeless, like a pair of mink gloves. Now normally when a reviewer deems something as "old lady" I either pah at it and assume they are a 21yr old who wears britney spears fantasy, or otherwise I am intriuged - because I like these so-called "old lady" scents if shalimar, heure blue, etc. are anything to go by! In my opinion it is far superior to Chanel no.5 and has more personality. It starts off very intense and almost sickening, but luckily the dry down is very pleasant and cosy and you can feel the cashmere like softness taking you back to the 1920's or a similar era. The staying power is good, and the sillage medium - good. It's more suitable for evening and winter wear, and would be perfect for the opera or something elegant and sophisticated like that. It's not a refreshing type or summer scent, it's more cosy, warm and luxurious.

I didn't test this fragrance before reformulation. I know the new version in black bottle.
This is a wonderful fragrance without age. I don't find any similarity with Chanel 5 a part of the fact of belonging to Aldehydes family. Floral and bright, elegant in her genre. Maybe it remembers more First.
Finally I love it and I'm Happy to have it in my wardrobe

This begins like Chanel no. 5 but better (sorry!) Its very floral after this and remains this way for quite a while. Then a very clean woody soap closes this lovely scent. This is another blind buy for me but I'm so glad I've been impulsive. Chanel no. 5. smells great on my sister but pretty much characterless on me. There is no development on me, this however was another story. This review was for the EDP in the black bottle.

This is old school decadence and I am loving it. I got the black bottle and I am totally relieved it does not smell at all like the eclat version, which to me is water on water in a pretty flask. This perfume is a whole other story, a whole other encyclopedia. It's good friends with Chanel No. 5 and the old Guerlains like Mitsuoko but I won't go so far as to say it smells exactly like any of them. I'm getting most of the flowers and aldehydges but thankfully no overkill on either, just a really really smooth blend. I agree with everyone who calls this one of the classics. And for those who dismiss it as an old lady's scent, well it's fine by me, this is one classy, sexy old lady who can wrap any man around her little finger without trying.

I want to thank everyone who wrote a review on Arpege, from the bottom of my heart. :) I bought it on-line, based on the reviews, and I love it! It´s just like what I was expecting. I have a passion for classics and my first impression about arpege is that it could be between mitsouko and chanel 19. I personally find no affinity with chanel 5. It´s powdery and clean. It reminds me of the original Nina (unfortunatly discontinued, so I´m not completely sure about this..) Some pleople may find it a litle soapy. It´s classic and elegant. It´s not a "super-feminine" parfum, and can be used by man (like the original miss dior for example..). I absolutely love it and I´m happy that I bought it.
Please don´t buy "eclat d'arpege" buy mistake, as it is something completely different from the orignal Arpége.

Is like a Chanel nº5 most concentrated

I wanted to love this but the Intense jasmine just ends up smelling musty and poopy on my skin. On the right chemistry this would be powdery dark and mysterious.

I just got a miniature, the color doesn't look golden color as shown above, it's a little brownish like the vintage.

It doesn't smell aldehyde at all like I get in Chanel no. 5, more to oriental woody.

If Chanel no. 5 is sparkling champagne, my Arpege is like a Cognac, dark woody smell. Am I got a fake one?

Update: Smells like Chanel no. 22 a lot.

I would have to say that this is one of the worst reformulations to happen to any of the beautiful vintage perfumes. Years back I had the opportunity to smell this at a macy's counter, and I kicked myself so long for not buying it. Recently I had the chance to purchase it again, but it wasn't that same sparkling powdery mix as before. Now when I wear it, it is harsh and gives me a sore throat.:( I don't hate it, but it is not the same as it once was.

I think I will get a black bottle and put in the fridge like some people said to do...or just find a vintage.

lovely and classic.
so unique.

Hmmm...I'm still thinking this one out. I have to say that after wearing Habanita last week anything I'd put on would have a REALLY hard act to follow. Needless to say Arpege is a 180 from Habanita.

I have an old bottle I got at an antique store. It is a clear bottle with a black lid, there is also a bulb atomizer that comes with it and there is also a small metal container also filled with Arpege. Everything is in a box that looks like an old-fashioned jewelry box that would contain a necklace. Beautiful presentation and a bargain at $22.

Arpege starts with a giant burst of aldehydes. Fascinating stuff. I've heard that different aldehydes can be very different from one another. In this case, the aldehydes are very bitter, so much so there is almost a metallic scent to it. I don't get a clean or soapy feel from this at all. As a matter of fact, I find this one somewhat dirty, dare I say, almost skanky. Maybe it's the jasmine and musk. I find this frag animalic, maybe it's just me because I don't think I read any other reviews that mention it. That facet of the fragrance surprises me because I didn't expect it at all.

The florals in Arpege, to me, are blended so well that I can't pick out any particular flower. The flowers too are not sweet or creamy but bitter and sharp as well.

Maybe because the legendary logo shows a Mom and little kid dancing together, I thought this would be a soft, curvy kind of scent but it's not. It is Harlow's Wire Monkey Mother. The dirty, animal scents I get are not the happy woodland critters I mention in my review of Bal a Versailles either, but dark night-time predator smells - like big black jaguars. There's something slightly dangerous and sinister to this. It's not overly strong but just strong enough to raise one's hackles, like there's danger in the air.

This is the scent to wear when you want to feel sophisticated, remote, and beautiful.

Update: Been wearing it all week and have discovered when I put it in the refrigerator the scent is much more "sparkly" and powdery. Very classic and classy.

This is a classic sent. Guess my mother wore it. It's a bit soapy, something I tend to dislike. But it's actually nice to smell clean and nice at the same time. The drydown it soft and warm a bit like shalimar. Possible as a work sent. Have to try it again. No wonder this has survived throu the years. It a tru gem like Shalimar, Mitsuoko and L'heure bleue.

Sorry, I just noticed my error the perfume I purchased was eau de parfum.

Angie, you are totally correct, the best of both worlds of Chanel and First, but beautifully blended.

Sorry, the size of the bottle was 100mls eau de perfume, I forgot to mention this. For all people who love Chanel, may notice the reformalation of this fragrance has reduced the strength of smell recently. This fragrance's sillage is excellent.

This is a lovely one! My very first impression is that it smells like Chanel 5 and First mixed together...both are my favorites so it works for me! Will be purchasing this one for years to come.

This fragrance is truly a happy, floral and extremely long lasting one. I have just purchased the black bottle, edp version. This chic must have cypre, rich floral, correct sweetness not sickly sweetness perfume lasts a very long time, for a great price instead. I think on ebay I paid $48.00 including postage to a supplier in Australia. Comming back to long aspect of this perfume I put this perfume on my wrist at 3.00pm in the afternoon and now the next day it is 8.15am and the perfume is still whiffing on, and smells very lovely. I usually love chanel 5, but this is better value for money. This perfume has a lovely vanilla floral, lilly of the valley smell after this time. This classic chic perfume is one of the best in my extensive collection. For ever perfume admirer, this perfume is not for the faint of heart, a little goes a long way, this is a defining perfume fragrance of feminity. I usually place perfume on clothes because it longer. This is highly recommended, I think Chanel is smelling rather less authethic and cheaper, these days, a better natural smell comes from this fragrance. A discerning perfume is for more the mature age of 35+, the fragrance is about quality, class and contentment in a beautiful black art deco bottle.

Finally I wear this perfume again, first time I wore it I didn't really get its beautiness. But today, I feel rich by wearing this perfume, echo of the age of opulence! Great perfume!

I always loved the name of this perfume and this bottle simple but magnetic, it has, I mean: it IS all that a perfume has to be into the collective inconscious.
A classic, very female, so elegant, but intriguing, not so clean, and as the aldehydes were back in fashion in the 80s, this fragrance recall me that "dark" period.

PRECIOUS INFORMATION:

I want to share with you this episode. Almost ten years ago I met this very old "aristocratic" lady wearing this fragrance, and answering to my compliments about that choice, she said, like she was talking about days,: "well, I was used to wear this fragrance, but after the war that wasn't good anymore. Last year a shop assistant told me to try Arpege, but I said no, I tried it again several times during these years and wasn't good, but she said 'they have reformulated it, now is good!', and yes, now is good like before the war!"
(of course: Second World War.)

Wanda Osiris (an italian soubrette queen of the Gran Varietà, a sort of café-chantant touring into theatres after the war) was used to descend a grand staircase, builded on the stage, launching roses to the public. And she said in an interview, she was used to put a drop of arpege in the middle of each rose.

Today I bought the "black bottle" after much research and without testing. Price was unbelievably affordable. Well...No regrets here! Absolutely beautiful and classic. I like classic fragrances, and Chanels 19 and 5 (Eau Premiere) are favorites (referring to other reviews). But Arpege is similar in its presentation, but different. Complimentary. The aldehydic nature is nicely balanced by the heart notes, and dry down is subtle to those close enough to sense. With favorites Quelques Fleurs and Chanel 19, Arpege completes the trilogy.

there is a song with lyric which goes like this 'killing me softly...', well smelling this will not kill me softly but it's like a massive blow on the head... and i am gone with the wind. It certainly not for the light at heart. I was hoping to discover 'Moulin Rouge' from Paris but it just turn out to be a seriously 'dead calm' piece of work. Well... c'est la vie!

have it for a good swap. SEALED 100 ml box.

I have just bought the Black bottle from an internet sale, convinced by others reviews. Also by the fact that it is on sale for $49 when usually $175! A great opportunity! Carpe Diem! I have not tried it, but will receive it in a few weeks when I fly down to Sydney. I will add to this review if possible after trying!

My addition: I love it and wear it everyday, not feeling complete without it on! I find the drydown just so rustic sweetshop pink floral! And comforting, a feeling of knitting and older activities of a bygone time. Remaining youthful with a timeless bouquet.

A hug that wraps you in its warmth. Surrounds you with pleasant feeling, still with sophistication.

Vintage Extrait:

Church incense. Dried flowers. Antique pews. A century of accumulated dust in the attic above. Edward Gorey's fur coat. Fantastically dark; abyssaly so. This is the smell of powdered bodies in an eternal orgy in hell. One of the greatest lost treasures in perfumery.

Modern EDP:

A squeaky-clean woody aldehydic floral worth considering. The polar opposite of the vintage; this is old lady heaven. Or perhaps the restroom in old-lady heaven, if you ask my brother. My brother hates it so much, he gladly traded my mother his full bottle of Voyage d'Hermes to her so she would never wear it again. :)

Para mim, é uma volta aos anos 20, e realmente viajo pelo tempo usando esse perfume. Nao é enjoativo, e me faz confortavel em usa-lo.

My grandmother gave me this, I feel it's more suited to her age group than mine (under 25). It's too strong for me, but if you like it you'll be pleased to know it sticks around all day!

The drydown is heavenly and luxurious. Must be the vetiver.

Better than Chanel no. 5.

For theEDP in the Black Bottle (richer than the one in the clear bottle): Luckily I was able to find this lovely fragrance this weekend and gave it a try, mainly due to the fact that Luca Turin recommended it in his book as a best feminine for a man. Actually, what inspired me was the scene in A Single Man where George walked back to his office and his assistant said there had been a boy in earlier asking for his address and as he stood there in a subtle fixation said, "ahh, Arpege,... lovely". I was fortunate to speak with a sales associate at another store who was familiar with it, which by the way they no longer sell, and she made the reference to it being similar to CN5 but perhaps a bit deeper and not as floral. That intrigued me so when I found it elsewhere I wore it in the crease of my arm and it did quite well, but on me still a bit too floral. I'm on the lookout for a deep, dark, jasmine, tuberose, shanky perfume that works on a man without going to flowery - Any suggestions? I'm not saying I would not purchase it for myself, but maybe after I wear it again. Jason G 042312

I once owned this perfume, somehow, there was something that was too much about it. I felt like I was being smothered instead of enjoying wearing it.

Very aldehydic-soapy and similar to no. 5. I am not fond of it, but my mother, who has classic tastes, loves it. She has the black Art Nouveau bottle, which I like very much too.

I'm not a big fan of aldehydic frags, but the warmth of Arpege balances the aldehydes for me. I feel it is warmer, softer and more organic than No 5. There's a note of something baked with butter and spices, and, though it isn't supposed to be there, a touch of carnation or some other spicy floral. I use a light touch with Arpege; only a drop is required. A mature and elegant scent.

legend! Hove no word for this perfume. It must be by me!

I also do not see how it ressembles No5 AT ALL... but the only Arpege I've ever smelled was an older recipe and it was a warm, sticky(literally, it felt sticky), musky, powdery, floral heaven.

NOTHING like any of the Chanel fragrances I know. But I see how a lady could love both as they have the same "allure".

EDIT I now own a bottle of Arpege and I do not see any ressemblance with no.5 except that it has aldehyde. Is that enough to claim that 2 fragrances smell the same?

I must admit it was no love at first sniff between me and Arpege. It was a gift and when I smelled it I didn't feel an 'oomph', and since there are so many perfumes and so little time, I am ashamed to say, somehow it ended up in the back of my perfume cupboard. Unnoticed in its black box.
Till the day I was watching the DVD of "A Single Man" with Colin Firth. There is a scene in it where he is in a shop and purchases something and the sales-lady hands it to him, he smiles, leans in on her to sniff and says: "Arpege? wonderful!".
It was then that I remembered that I owned a bottle and wondered how it would strike me after all this time?
Well, I'm glad Mr Firth brought it -again- to my attention! ; ) It is indeed a gem that one needs to discover in peace, its aroma is sultry and a bit moody. It's a capricious musky scent to me, it seems to change with my mood. I don't smell the comparisons to Chanel №5 but like I said, it's a moody Lady. A true French classic bottled in a charming black bottle with a story of its own. Try it, and be transported to a whimsical Paris and smell like the Beau Monde.

::N.B.::
Review is for Arpege in the black bottle.

I love it....very beautiful perfume...perfect for day and night...always....

I reviewed my beloved Arpege earlier on this thread (April, 2010) and could not express how much I loved it. That was before I purchased a large black bottle (EdP) of what has to be the reformulation. OMG!! What have they done to my beautiful Arpege?!! At one time, my fragrance wardrobe was only Arpege and Chanel #5, and I KNEW that I would be fine if I chose to use either of these two classics. After spraying this new concoction, and getting semi-nauseous from the bugspray dry-down, I actually got back into the shower to get it all off of me. I also laundered all of my clothing it touched. It was sickening, and was nowhere near the beautiful, elegant classic I had loved so dearly for so long. Words can hardly express the anger and disappointment I feel, especially having loved this fragrance for most of my life. Who DID this? What "genius" decided the original version wasn't good enough, and just HAD to tamper with perfection??? This crappy reformulation is a spit in the face to the original Arpege. It's an insult!! It's not even deserving of the name "Arpege" anymore!!!

I do love this perfume. Very 'France in a bottle'.

Don't know if it is just me but if you mixed no 5 up with no 19, I think the result would be Arpege.

It is a fresher no 5 or a heavier no 19.

Last Halloween I went to a party dressed as a 1920's flapper. I wanted to be completely authentic, so I wore Arpege since it is from that era. That's what Arpege reminds me of: classic femininity. Silent film stars with sultry beauty, dark lipstick and nails, elegant but smoldering.

I used to sniff Arpège from my mother`s closet when I was a child, at that time at least for her it was so expensive that she only wore it on special occasions. So for me it is associated with a night out, the best coats and jewelry you can afford, etc.
I've smelled it today again and it struck me that it was not as overpowering as before, but it was the same spirit lightened up a little bit, to make it more affordable to present day tastes.
Anyhow, I'm surprised after so many positive reviews, I've thought that without the childhood experiences I've described, it would be deemed very heavy and old fashioned. It is certainly a piece of the old school of perfumerie francaise that it seems to me is loosing the battle against global consumerism.

DAMN Arpege is GORGEOUS! So THIS is what classic French perfumery is! I have new EdP, vtg. extrait, & everything in between- Love them all. I rock the current formula when I need to "be careful/conservative". I rock the vtg. frag- pure extrait, layered over the EdP equivalent (Arpege Eau de L'anvin) when I just want to be me, my teen telling me "turn it down Mom, it's too loud, I can hear your iPod from here!" with Zep, Sabbath or AC/DC (earbuds), in too much eye make-up, leather boots, jeans & a T- faults & all. The vtg. juice is heavily-laden w/ civet- Not for the timid. The new formula is soooo gorgeous too! Often I am approached with compliments/questions. Apologies- My nose is not sophisticated enough to detail the individual notes, the opening, heart, drydown, etc ... I only know for me, it's an affordable, wearable treasure, for life!

today is a miserable wintery day, the wind is blowing and sleet is falling. So Arpege is the perfect perfume to make me feel warm and comforted. It is one that I will always own even if I don't wear it very often. very classy and feminine and it makes me feel like nothing can go wrong

To rissy! Don't worry, you are helping to develope their noses, lol. I'm almost positive that if you hold firm and still where what you love, that over a little time they will grow to love it.. well msot of them anyway :)

A dark vintage beauty perfect for lovers of sweet perfumes with a strong jasmine note. Sweet, warm, and moist, it feels slightly cloying hanging in the air around me. The jasmine, honeysuckle, peach, rose, vanilla, and musk are classic, heavy, French perfumery. I have tried it over and over, and it is lovely, but it is just not me.

Yesterday I received my bottle, bought it in the blind without first sniffing it. I love it. But unfortunatley my family and friends don't like it much, which I really can not understand. In spite of their comment I will be loyal to myself and this really lovely sent and wear it with pride.

~After some time I will add that even though I use it really rarely, each time I do I discover it's not "me"... It has to do with something in the intensity, something in one of the notes in it that pierces the whole composition... It's a pity because it was the most expensive blind-buy in my collection that I have dared to afford and I should have risked with something else instead...

Dear Melia

Please don't feel insulted by my comments, which are indeed a generalisation and not directed at anyone in particular. Realise, also, that they are simply an opinion ... one that I am entitled to in just the same way that you are entitled to yours :o).

I think it's absolutely wonderful that someone as young as you wears and enjoys Arpege! When I read something like that it chips away some of the jaded-ness in my soul and restores my faith in the young. I seriously doubt that one could fill a telephone booth with people on these forums of your age liking fragrances such as these. That, however, does not mean that I don't applaud you for your excellent taste! I also love the fact that you call yourself a "user", limiting your collection to fragrances that actually go on your body ... BRAVA!!

I have been wearing Arpege for a few hours now... and I am perplexed.
The top notes are almost unbearable for me - very strong, floral, old fashion style, too mature, too heavy, almost offensive to my nose... I found nothing subtle in it.
After a few hours though the scent transformed completely - into such a delicate veil of jasmine and vanilla... I can hardly detect any other, floral note in it after a few hours.
It is lovely, very light and close to the skin, powdery, and elegant... But I am afraid, a little bit too bland for me.
Let me get back to you in a few months time perhaps, when I may be able to edit this review... Or I may still be so perplexed.

well, today I received it after reading your review, without sniffing it. At first it was so wonderful strong just like Scherrer 2, and than surprise, it s nor like any other aldehydic fragrance, the middle notes are nothing like Chanel 5,it smelled a lot of jasmine,the whole notes are more sharper, not that powdery, not that sweet,like No 5, it s strong and outstanding, elegant and special,I like it, I hope to love it, I am curious about the persistence and the base notes, i recomment it it s great... hmmm becouse now I smelled it again, and after an hour it evin better, delicious for me!I think I love it...!

I bought Arpége unsniffed and it finally arrived yesterday.
First, I should say that I never liked aldehydes very much. Or so I thought.This is wonderful from the first sniff!

Elegant, classy,warm and soft but not weak. I like so-called outdated perfumes that send me on a time-travel back to another time. Arpége does that somewhat, and yet not. I believe it's one of the most timeless scents I've encountered. Not fashion-wise timeless but I'd say it goes with any season, any time of day. It has that freshness and warmth at the same time.

It's so elegant. Not loud, but elegant in a discreet way. It could even be an adult woman's wedding scent to balance out all the romanticism. Or Or for a formal theater event. Or for a visit in a famous museum such as Louvre. Or a dinner out wearing a blue silk dress.

I'm so happy I bought a big bottle. I can't imagine I'll ever grow tired of this one.

A scent for everyone? Probably not. Any perfume that pleases everyone doesn't stand out very much and isn't too special imo. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!)

Edit: I have the black bottle. Since I just bought it, it must be the new version.

I have an almost mystical relationship with Arpége. He smells like secret, nobility ... I would refer the darkrooms, shaded by candles in the middle ages ...
I think pure pheromone femino.
It is a perfume, which definitely not pleases everyone, refers to the chanel n° 5, but without the media appeal.

The Glamour of Arpége is veiled is secret and sacred.

For some reason when I first smelled this on my skin, my brain translated it into a shape - a bowl to be precise. A bowl of warmth. However, it's just not for me. It's not offensive but I just find it boring.
To me, it's slightly reminiscent of Coty L'Aimant and Worth Dans La Nuit so if you like those kinds of fragrances, you will probably like this too.
I recently acquired 2 new sweet little mini bottles of this so they will make nice Auntie presents for Christmas.
ps, actually I'm mystified by this one. Reading thru the rave reviews and I just don't get it! I know I said I found it boring before but, whilst not screamingly offensive, it was nigglingly annoying and I had to babywipe a few times to get the stuff off.
And I don't like the packaging or strange motif either..kind of stern and austere.
OK - at the risk of sounding mad - for some perverse reason I tried this again, on my hand.
Last time it smelled like a burned food accident but this time it smells like a divine peach/vanilla combo? In fact, the 'heavenly' tags are beginning to seem not so misplaced. WTH? What IS it with this strange brew?
I'm gonna be generous and still give the minis to the Aunties anyway, they'll love them. :)

Perfect for daytime/business use, classic floral

Dear melia, don't worry, i'm 29 and i like vintage style perfume. I just get myself a Molinard Habanita. Though it doen't smell nice, will take some time to appreciate it while listening 50s music or watching old holywood movies.

YES, melia!
It depends on personality alone.

Coutureguru - as much as I appreaciate everyone doing an effort to write a review, I really feel insulted by yours. I'm 19 years old and a big fan of Arpège. My mom bought it in France when I was about 14, saying it smelled so interesting, 'like a church'. I agreed it smelled interesting but I didn't really liked it at the time. However I kept sniffing her bottle once in a while, which resulted her giving me a 30ml as a present for Chrismas last year. And I'm so glad to have it! It's so mysterious, dark, softsweet and really kind of holy-smelling to me. It brings me back to the ancient greeks and romans.. My special-occasion scent, or sometimes just daytime, if I have that special feeling :) Arpège is one of those classics I cán pull off in my opinion, so please coutureguru, don't categorize 'our massproduction-genetration' too quickly :)

Update: I am "In Love" again with Arpege! Wore it on my wedding Day 40 years ago and tried it out last year and was very disappointed as it didn't smell as I remembered it. In David Jones today and thought I would give it one more try - left it on for an hour and WOW " my Arpege " is back! It is my Ruby Wedding Anniversary (40 Years) this year and I am so pleased to be wearing it again. It is one of the few perfumes that my husband can smell - am looking forward to Christmas and New Year surrounded by this exquisite fragrance - so lovely and elegant and very very special.
Alexandrarae South Australia

I am a new devotee at the altar of Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez' guide ... don't always agree with them but it seems that dry wit and the appreciation of fragrances goes hand in hand! I am going to work my way through their top 10 list of masculine feminines (those which I can readily find) and see what transpires. To that end, I rushed out and bought Arpege today, as it's on the list and I have wanted it for the longest time anyway. WOW!!! Sparkling aldehydic florals nestled on a creamy bed of warm and sensual sandalwood and vanilla with a lashing of peach syrup melding it all together! Turin and Sanchez are right! Your loss, ladies, is definitely our gain! I will wear this often ... in jeans and a t-shirt with a rude slogan on the front! I can already see the confused stares :o). Anyone under 35 need not apply ... stick to your mass market "fresh" scents ... you don't have what it takes (read balls) to wear this!

I am so grateful to still have a vintage square bottle of this fragrance, as well as, a spray bottle with a tad bit left. I wore this often in High School and still turn to them for memories of days gone by. I wear this fragrance carefully in order that it last for as long as it possibly can, or until they bring back the first recipe! This is a wonderful romantic scent that always makes me feel very much like a woman.

This is a lovely perfume. The words that come to mind are...delectable...delicious...intoxicating. I almost want to taste it. It is satisfying from the first opening note to the very last chord. And I never seem to tire of it. A little bit of heaven on earth, IMO.
I like many fragrances but I don't give my love easily: I love Arpege!

Adoro ler sobre a história da perfumaria e há muitas referências sobre este ícone, que aliás, tem uma história de amor maternal muito interessante!
Quando finalmente o conheci, ah que sensação única pude sentir! É um aroma único, misterioso assim como a redoma negra que o recobre e suas notas indecifráveis, uma verdadeira esfinge "decifra-me ou te devoro". Os aldeídos comandam este arpejo. Um de meus favoritos!

Some truths that have been said about this masterpiece:
No, is not at all Chanel Nº 5 (why should they be alike?).
It is powerful, luxurious, spicy, woody, leathery!
There is no bomb flower, there are not distilled aldehydes. Each skin will exude of these a different note, with great projection, thus making it unique.
Yes, it is possible that a girl falls for its luxury while seen and smelling his mother using it. This bond will not break easily, as Madame Lanvin hoped out for her own daughter.
Some truths are always said only half, or between acquaintances:
Yes, it is an icon of femininity and yet its ambiguous character, timeless ability to confuse us between the past and the future (almost unattainable in the present), could in my opinion find as well as a lady, a man able to accept the challenge of carrying this one ourtimes.
No, not for everyone, but is not due to reformulations, or age of the person, but the ability to surrender without concessions to this huge, immense, unmistakable monster capable of swallowing us alive if we are not bright up to it.
Beautiful? Beyond what words can say.

Review based in EDP concentration for 70s-80s-90s and current formulation.

Soapy, solid, classic, serious and elegant scent. The smell of luxury. Aldehydes at their best. Still I can't think of many occasions to wear it often.

Esse perfume tem muita classe é chic,mas para mim o erro dele é a nota de pessego que faz ficar doce demais.Minha mãe usa e nela acho tão delicado e agradavél.A fixação é muito boa 24hs e fica em tudo travesseiro,roupas, bolsa.

How I love this scent.
At once as intimate as the pink powdered smell of a vintage compact and as haughty as a old school ballet teacher.

She is captivating and bewitching.

Don't be led too far astray by the bright crisp opening notes of this fragrance which would have you believe that all she has is in the overture, her real power lies in her unutterably beautiful dry down.

She lingers and lingers hauntingly.

There is nothing else like this scent she is a heartbroken heroine in silk and lace, a deco dame in black velvet and pearls shimmering and dancing her way through time.

With this perfume I learned why some are called "classic". At first I got a bit scared as it was a blind buy and I was not quite sure what to think of it - it has several stages of development, some of them seemed to me rather "solemn", though flowery and nice. Now I wouldn't hesitate which scent I would reach to if I am going to a theater/opera or any such event. An elegant, serious perfume with an amazingly beautiful drydown.

My mother only wore perfume occasionally. Out to dinner, to an event of some sort, to a family gathering she wore Lanvin's Arpege. To a wedding or Something Special, she wore the Eau de Joy that her brother had brought her from Paris immediately after WW II. She still had it in the 1970s. That's how infrequently she wore it.

God, that Joy was lovely. Put me on the couch, get me talking and you'll probably find that that's where the perfume fascination started. But it was the Arpege that suited my mother. It was simple, didn't require any effort or reaching. If the Patou was called Joy, the Lanvin could have been called Contentment.

As my mother's dementia advanced, I bought her a bottle of Joy EDP hoping it would prompt a reaction or that she'd simply enjoy it. I was disappointed when it didn't actually elicit any response at all from her. But then again, perfume is my thing. It was never hers. What I've done since is to buy an ounce of Vintage Arpege extrait. Every now and again I'll put it on, put my feet up, sniff my wrists and remember this remarkable woman.

I have finally bought a small black bottle of this and am thoroughly confused as to which formulation it is. Clearly new. Maybe the latest which some are saying comes closest to the original fragrance.
I like it and although I 'get' the comparisons to C no 5 I prefer Arpege.
It doesn't punch me on the nose like no 5 and is certainly lighter. No surprises but a lovely opening with pleasant smooth progress to a soft elusive quality. It'll be interesting to see the lasting power and final notes.

I found some vintage drops of arpege at the bottom of an old bottle. Possibly the fluid is deteriorated but still the parfume is good. Nothing to do with the new version I tested lately.

This perfume is very thick...very thick! I bought since I read some reviews that this classic is a "must have" item. Also since I read Luca Turin's book that recommends this fragrance as one of best Feminine for Men...but when I tried it on my skin, it smells...well just let say it doesn't blend nicely with my skin and body odor. But when my niece tried it on her skin, it developed so well...so nice! Probably I just skip and give it to her :)

A vintage and mature scent....it reminds me of Belle époque 's athmospheres....but it's not my fragrance!

Arpege was my introduction to classic perfumery as well as my first alddehydic aquaintence. I picked Arpege as a gift from my significant other a few years ago when I was starting to become real serious about perfumes. I definitely was not ready for it. Arpege to my untrained nose was fusty extremely woodsy with a strong peach overtone it lasted all day long to the point of annoyance. I ended up giving it to my best friend and he used up every last drop since Lanvin is his favorite fashion house. I smelled it on his perfume tray last week because he kept the empty bottle for display purposes and It made me feel so sad I gave up such a beautiful fragrance.

Fast forward to today I bought a bottle and was kind of dissapointed that I ended up with the clear bottle. My other bottle was the boule noir which was gorgeous. I think there is a slight difference between the clear and black bottles. The boule noir Arpege is very blended you hardly notice the stages until it hits the spicy drydown and starts to change. The clear bottle has a take on the musical arpeggio it feels like a broken chord. The opening is a heavy in your face nutty sweet soapy aldyhdic scent from opening to end eventually it softens then transitions to a spicy silky floral, the encore is a very peachy earthy sillage which is identical to the boule noir drydown. Arpege feels like her own symphony the notes gliding across the staff. Arpege reminds me of the scent of my violins, vintage wood and varnish tucked in between layers of velvet. I was so inspired I sprayed my violin cases with Arpege so the next time I play the wood will be ingrained with a beautiful classic scent.

The clear bottle is softer melds into the skin more it's different but still very beautiful and recognisably arpege. I'm going to have my best friend try it and see if he thinks they smell the same. To me because I love aldehydic florals No5, Arpege, First; they all start to smell the same but Arpege has her own personality and never feels like she's in no 5's shadow.

OMG, this is simply beautiful! I got a little sample and I couldn't get enough of it, and couldn't stop sniffing my wrists:) (It happens not too often with me.) At first a bit similar to No.5 (I think because of the aldehydes), but 5 minutes later it's much more soft, 'round', deep and nice to my nose. I feel lot of jasmine and then woods (I just love them) but can't say, it's the vetiver or the sandalwood or... they just work together in a perfect harmony for hours. Timeless, not only for 'old ladies' but not for the youngest.

This is simply a spectacular floral aldehyde. As a rule I don't like aldehydes, but I could see making an exception for this one in a few years time. It is quite a bit leathery to me, but the dominant notes asides from the aldehydes to my nose are the jasmine, lily and vetiver. To me this conjures up the image of an elegant wife getting ready for a trip to the opera in the early 1900s, while her daughter hides on the stairs watching her get ready. This is one of the rare classics that I actually quite like.

a sophisticated luxury deep impressive perfume! its a statement fragrance.divinely in his wide range of notes.
i think either you love it or hate it.

I despised this reformulated classic with vengeance. It smelled upon first spritz of FECES. A nasty horrifying smell on my skin, clothing, car, and paper. It was a disappointment as I had read it was a favorite of screen Goddesses Ava Gardner and Rita Hayworth. Obviously the version those ladies used was different! and probably more like a Chanel no5 aldehyde. This new version is weak, lasting power was less than an hour. If anyone can wear this and actually smell pleasant I applaud you!
My mother and friends all smelled the fecal note, it was not only I. It smelled poohy on everyone I know.
Reeks of MANLY SOAP, CIGARETTES, FECES, AND CANNABIS! yes, it smells like fertilizer and marijuana. I know not from experience but from college classmates who openly used marijuana and they smelled poohy and smokey.
The bottle is stunning and very beguiling. I do love the mother-daughter emblem of the House of Lanvin.

Arpege is refined, elegant and very dramatic! It is gentler than Chanel No 5, bigger than Joy and always the underdog in the compared to her peers. After so many incarnations and years late, she is still around! Its current formulation is rather accurate to the original and surprisingly contemporary-no civet.

Yes, was a time when men would gift perfume to ladies. It was like getting flowers in a bottle. How can i ever forget the add "Promise her anything, but give her Arpege!" It has a history and touched the lives of so many women of the 20th Century.

To todays perfumistas. it presents many contradictions. Its is heavy and titanic in scale compared to current plastic fruit and flower offering. A drop is personal and alluring. A spray is a big, bold, formal statement. Its opulent, soft and romantic.

I imagine this would be popular on the Orient Express in the 1930s, with wide brimmed hats, viels, and dangling pearls and real fur. It is a little out of fashion, but if you can get away with this retro style, give Arpege a try.

UPDATE 9/6/2012 The current formula is sadly broken! Everything seems right until the closing notes develop. It becomes like burnt plastic. The civet, woods and moss are missing. It makes a nice roomspray, especially on a sofa. The bottle is beautiful. I must search for a vintage extrait.

Celebrity=Ingrid Bergman

I first discovered Arpege when I was 10 years old. The perfume counter at the local rich's dept store was passing out the samples.

I took several home with me. When I smelled it...I was so moved emotionally. It remains my first fragrance experience and one that I will remember for the rest of my life.

It is the most glorious scent ever!
I'm going to get myself the original formulation because the newer one gives me migranes

Terrible aldehydic fragrance. My collega says, it smeels like soap. Infortunately, he was rigth...

I was given this as a gift recently, my mom could not wear it it was too strong for her. I really like this fragrance in the beginning only it reminds me of Chanel N0. 5 very elegant and sophisticated.

Thank you all for your advice! Just to say I obtained a mini sample of this fragrance from ebay and have to say it is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! To me it smells very similar to Van Cleef Arpels First edp which I love. The longevity of the fragrance is better than First, (at least on me), and has a more resinous dry-down which is lovely. It is a very "warm" fragrance and it does not smell old-fashioned in my opinion.
I have since ordered a 100ml bottle of Arpege and I can"t wait for it to arrive!!!!!!

I'm primarily an oriental lover, but Arpege is a pleasing complex floral, although I do detect the tiniest hint of spice. For me it's a 'go to' fragrance time after time and there is often a bottle on my dresser. It's heady and envelopes like a cashmere coat. The projection and lasting power are excellent. I don't agree with the reviews where people are likening it to Chanel No 5, but perhaps that's just me - the sense of smell is such a subjective thing. I'm not a No 5 fan, but I'm fond of Arpege.

I also have it and I rarely use it too. However, in my opinion, arpège is a magnificent fragrance. What makes it so 'raffinée' is the few amount of musk I feel in the bass notes. Actually, I prefer those deep, strong fragrances, without musk in their bass notes at all.

I felt the first time more than 20 years ago, at the osmoteque and was wonderful as Chanel No. 5
Today these are poor imitations, but they continue to do school on the history of perfume.
About me its wrong, even separately from cat urine! I am very sorry.
I appreciate it, but I respect my skin runs away from him ...

I got a small bottle of the EdP for $1 at a garage sale, and suspect that it is an older, pre-reformulation version that probably belonged to someone’s grandmother. Not a bad bargain! It’s a strong, aldehydic floral, very old-fashioned perfume-y smelling at first with a sharp mix of aldehydes, citrus, and lily-of-the-valley. However, that phase lasts less than half an hour, and it quickly settles into a smooth, full floral, slightly fruity and spicy, but primarily the same lovely “mystery flower” that’s present in so many early 20th-century perfumes. After a few hours it dries down to an almost ambery oriental-type base. I like it, but I think I would like it better on someone else, since it’s too floral for my taste. However, it is a very well-made perfume.

This is another perfume I really thought I'd like, but didn't. I bought it blind based on all I'd read about it and smelling it on other people, and was disappointed to find it just didn't suit me.

It's a very elegant fragrance, and the top and middle notes were fine - fruity, floral, a touch of wood - but something in the base notes really spoiled it for me. I don't know what it was but it came through insistently and lingered on my skin and my clothes and really irritated me.

Very sad, because on friends it smells so beautiful.

The beginning does smell a little mature, but wait! In just 15 minutes this perfume becomes very enchanting and even a little sweet.

This is a very prestigious scent .
I think , and a mean no perjorative ,( on the contrary ) this is a real mature woman scent , but on a good way . This is a perfume that one has to deserve , and only a woman who has a big experience of life can EARN the right of wearing this .
Yes , it's heavy , it's strong but truly royal , "majestueux" !

What in the world can I say that has not already been said in such articulate ways about this iconic scent? One thing is I own both the vintage and the new. I prefer the new EDP. It has the class of Chanel #5 but does not demand all the attention as Chanel #5 EDP is prone to do. Arpege is warm and smells much more expensive than it is. It blends with my chemistry so well I am making it my signature. I cannot imagine a season or a reason this beauty would not work. Arpege has good sillage and longevity.

I think the price is extremely fair. I know they could ask for much more. This truly is a classic. I hope it never goes away. As they say, do not fix it if it is not broken. Arpege EDP is absolutely not broken.

This is for the vintage eau de Lanvin Arpege:

This is one of those old school perfumes that has a million notes but is mixed so well, none are really very discernible. It's a satin-smooth, blanketing scent, and I only recognize a very fine, high quality sandalwood when I wear it.

A blind buy and I'm really regretting it. Thank heaven it was only a mini 5ml that I bought.
Within minutes of applying it I had a headache and felt nauseous, I scrubbed it off immediately.
I so wanted to like this after reading the reviews but its really not for me. I still feel ill.

I used to wear this when i was a young teen. Then i became allergic to perfumes and scents for many years (I know, it was a tragedy!). So when I was able to start wearing perfume again, this was one of the first bottles I bought.

I wore it twice. First time was excellent, I got compliments and it felt classy.
The next time, though, I began to feel a bit uneasy about it. I loved the top notes, it's a bit old-lady but I do like a good bit of old lady.

The third time I wore it, I started getting waves of nausea. It seemed this perfume had turned into horrid cold poison, and was trying to wash up my nose and remove my brain through scent alone! It went on the attack! I retaliated, and tried to scrub it off - to no avail. I was on a training day, and kept running off to wash my wrists, they must have thought i was OCD or something.
I then tried covering it up with an Avon purse bottle of soft musk, which only succeed in turning me off the musk for ages after that.

I dont know where or why the affaire ended. I didnt dump Arpege, it dumped me. It turned! What a sad breakup!

I have a vintage bottle.
For me, it is a strong floral bouquet.
Remind me ...Knowing by Estee Lauder

I bought a bottle of Extrait. It smells wonderful! It's sweet, peachy, amber, and warm. Makes me think of the warmth of Tuscany. I can detect subtle florals, particularly carnation, but maybe some lily as well. On my skin the base screams vetiver, which is one of my favorite notes, so I am enjoying the woodsy undertone to this floral perfume.

This was a great blind buy, but personally I prefer Chanel No5. But when I am tired of smelling like powder, peachy Arpege will not be far behind.

Some people compare Arpege to Chanel No5.IMHO Arpege compares favourably with No5.I used to wear No5 as my signature scent and i think it's sharp,proud and dignified.Arpege,I've bought it blind and I'm enchanted.Excellent,sensual,warm and classy scent.The dry down is very modern,delicate and pleasant.Intriguing,timeless masterpiece and must have for me.I appreciate black,art deco bottles.Moreover,perfect longevity and sillage.

I can't stand this smell.. Dont know why, but to me it smells just awful! I know that my friends hate it too

It almost hurt my nose when sniffing it on my skin?

Love the bottle thouh

I love the Arpege I used to find at the chemist, before the reformulation slash return to the way it smelled in ye goode olde daze. The contemporary packaging is exquisite, but I also loved the way it looked in the "bad years". For those of you confused about the long and convoluted history of the fragrance, google Lanvin and Charles of the Ritz for Wikipedia articles, click on the highlighted links to be further amazed at how a fragrance can become a corporate victim (if you ever find an analysis that offers a clear time-line and or analysis, please let me know).

I have an old glass bottle plus the tall, elegant, black and gold refillable bottle, that to me, epitomizes the beauty of the fragrance. Now also have a vintage bottle on my dresser, unopened and ancient. I take off the display box top and sniff the neck, then cover it up again. It's one of my few antiques. But I long for the version I used to wear. Thank God for eBay, as soon I shall have it again! I remember it being a glorious, happy me perfume, and when I smell it again, no doubt, it will be like finding an old friend, and finding nothing's changed, we're just a bit older.

to update my review: i just received a small vintage bottle of arpege and it didn't let me down. brought back great memories and the scent is as i remembered, warm and sweet with a spicy cream undertone. the best part, i'm old enough to wear it and savor it now.

Love it on a mature woman neck... Like one last drop of pure cognac... last moment of a scented candle...and last note of a Verdi opera. Drop a little bit and just say: the night is young and the "YOUANDME" show has just begun...

It's growing on me, but it's still a bit unsettling somehow.

It's certainly one classy aldehyde in my opinion... the opening is pleasant. But as it starts drying down into the woodier notes, something weird comes out. I think it might be the coriander/geranium/lily that I'm getting that comes across kind of uniquely to me. It has a certain softness, though I wouldn't call it overly powdery... but lying underneath a layer of that powder there's something that feels "tough" to me. This is going to be a weird description, but I feel like I'm chewing on some really tough, bitter stem, but the outer skin of it is a bit fuzzy. It's just... I smell it and I feel like a bull seeing red. Something about it just unnerves me and leaves me feeling tense and anxious. I don't know exactly why, really.

Also, when I smell this on my skin, I feel like my body temperature goes up. It really is a warm fragrance. It smells hot. As a warm weather aficionado it's surprising that this would bother me, but it smells like not necessarily hot, humid weather, where you just take off layers and bathe in the sunshine - it smells like a human body overheating in a small, closed room. In a way. When I was a child, my mother would always have potted geranium plants sitting out on the back porch in full sun, and this fragrance feels like sitting on the porch smelling my mom's geraniums on the driest, most scorching days of summer.

(sidenote: I think my mom had pelargoniums, not true geraniums... I don't know how different they smell or if the geranium used here is "true geranium" or not, but the image of the fragrance still holds for me :P )

later on as the base notes start to come out more fully I begin to simply enjoy the fragrance a bit more - benzoin, sandalwood, vanilla - quite pleasant.

It's a fascinating perfume.
I think it's growing me.
I may keep it.... I'm not sure when I'll wear it but it's a fascinating perfume with a lot of character and presence. (but as a poor college student with an interest in perfume she can't really afford, I may have to get rid of it so that I can afford things I CAN wear... we'll see D: )

Arpege is a beautiful, classic floral fragrance. It's been around along time, a tribute to it's greatness. For me, it is a strong floral bouquet. It last a long time, it is very feminine but not really soft. It is a timeless classic for the sophisticated woman. A beautiful and timeless classic floral,a soft, sweet symphony... the lotion is also very nice and very feminine It smells very expensive, but the good news is, it isn't! I love the bottle with the mommy hugging her little girl! Another lovely sentimental attribute from this perfumer for her little daughter, and I think it's sweet! I love the lotion too!

I dislike aldehydes. Therefore, all those Chanels and similar fragrances are big no-nos to me. However I wanted to try this one because I really like Eclat d'Arpége and wanted to find similarities between that and this one. There's none. And this doesn't mean bad, because Arpége is a great fragrance.

At first, predictably enough, the burst of aldehydes made me almost gag. But, in half an hour or so, the fragrance became a rich, warm, a little zesty and a little soft, definitely a feminine one and I couldn't stop smelling myself. The sillage is excellent, you can smell it everywhere and it's long lasting to boot. It feels a bit old lady-ish, though if your chemistry suits, it'll be very beautiful at the young ages too --not too young, still.

Arpége is a bold fragrance. It's very warm, elegant and it basically hugs you. I love it.

Arpege is a strange fragrance on me. It took me a couple of applications to pin down just what it was that had me puzzled. Oranges and violet. As seperate entities, they are not particularly daunting but when combined turn into the dreaded "old lady smell" on me. I did get some warm, juicy fruits in the opening, which lasted all of one minuite, and immediately ran straight through what could have been a beautiful floral heart into one big powder bomb. Its a shame i cannot like this classic, but a big burst of powder, in a pastel, retro bathroom is not my style. Sadly, a scrubber for me.

I am testing this and I dare say I am in love. I have the flu, and this fragrance is simply warm and comforting to me right now. It makes me think of an old, but freshly washed quilt on a big, cozy bed. I think it's a perfume for women rather than girls (I am in my 30s and I feel I am just now reaching the appropriate age for these gorgeous classics.) I will buy this one and soon. Husband loves it as well.

the vintage arpege was a warm, almost hot, exotic smelling perfume. it was always too old for me, like a grown up. well, if i could get my hands on the real thing today, i would give it a try. i always loved this on my aunt. her signature scent. timeless perfection.

I am devastated - wore Arpege on my Wedding Day nearly 40 years ago and always keep a bottle in my perfume wardrobe for special occasions - my husband bought me a bottle of ea de parfum in a black box for Christmas. Upon opening it to wear on New Year's Eve sprayed with my normal confidence and was shattered at the harshness of the contents! Did not resemble "my" Arpege at all - the bottle was black as well (not clear as in the past)! Left it on for 20 minutes or so but it didn't get any better and I had to wash it off - made my husband sneeze and was giving me a headache! I took it back to the store where we purchased it and I was very pleased to get a full refund! What is going on - it has to have been re-formulated as I have been wearing and loving it for years and this is not the Arpege that I know at all. What a shame - has anyone else had this experience too? Please bring back to old one! If it's good, don't mess with it.

Tried the reformulated edition. It didn't smell bad, per se, but Arpege is the first perfume I've tested that tried to wear me instead of the other way around. I'm a strong lady, but this is one heck of a domineering brew. They say if you like No 5 you could blind buy this- no way. My mom wears No 5 as her signature and there is no way in hell she could pull this off. Personally, after my test I consider that a good thing.

The after Smell is strange, like flem. Made me feel ill in my gut.
As for the bottle, I love the Black Glass. Mysterious.

Add lots of rain soaked wood , skunk juice , pee , Dr Tichenors and 1 part awful chemical and BAM you have a dead wringer for Arpege. Oh its bad , SO bad. I think the only other fume that made me gag , cough and gasp for air like this was Aliage by Estee. So sorry to Arpege lovers. Its a deadly weapon to my lungs and olfactory senses. Pass.......

If I had to wear a fragrance from the 1920's then this would be it.... not Chanel No 5. There is something very warm and comforting about it, whereas Chanel No 5 leaves me cold. This is a true classic and I wouldn't mind having it in my colletion at all.

I tried to find a perfume that contains most of my favourite notes and I got Arpege. It sounds very exciting but I didn't find it yet. Definitely the first on my wish list. I just hope that it's not to agressive.

I really couldn't detect major aldehydes in this! It's a very warm, slightly sickly woody almond paste to my nose that reminds me of Gaultier 2 which I'm not keen on - it's kind of linear and although it wasn't a scrubber, I won't be buying it. It definately doesn't smell old fashioned though and I think that any age could wear it, especially in the winter - it's quite festive in it's blend of almonds and woods.

This perfume is grandmother and great-grandmother, but that's not a bad thing or an insult. Arpege is a woman who rarely exists in this modern age. She lives in a time gone by, rotating in her drawing room to the record on the phonograph, or comforting children when a World War is waged across the sea. Arpege is falling into a light sleep at the family home, full of history, on a spring day where the white curtains flutter in the wind, the garden blossoming outside and rays of light dancing gently on the window sill. This scent is the ultimate comfort and is a treasure.

At first, on me, it started as very musky and I was disappointed. But I waited patiently and the msot beautiful scent appeared, gentle and subtle, unlike anything that is found nowadays. I can't pinpoint any of the notes, but they all play together nicely. The scent becomes powdery and soapy, comforting. As someone under twenty, I can't help but feel it would be disrespectful of me to wear this. I hope that someday I can wear it when olding that special someone on a nice spring day. Special and intimate occassions only.

This reminds me of Secret De Venus the vintage version. It smells expensive!It is strong. I agree with those that mention chanel #5 comparisons a bit.

I bought it unsniffed today with the idea that I could give it to my mother or MIL, but I'll keep it for myself.
It's much softer than Chanel #5, which I never really liked.

A legend !
So warm, so floral and powdery both....
A perfume to die for !

I so want to like it! Unfortunately, this is not a perfume for me. I realize that it does not suit my skin type. After I sprayed it on me my husband asked if I was to polish furniture. I sniffed my wrist and could not agree more. It does smell like furniture polish on me. I am the cleaning-lady, not the glamorous lady when I wear it, LOL. I am sorry, Arpege, others may love you instead.

An amazing perfume for evenings and christmas partys, really classic. On my skin its really woody, although the flowers are there but with an amazing blending. Its definatly sweet with a hint of sharpness that its really sensual I think.
It makes me think about a a classical beautifull lady with a long black dress entering a big dancing room. It requires a lot of charm, elegance and class to wear this. Not casual at all, as I said perfect to wear in a fancy party or dinner.

I have a sample of what I'm sure is the reform and it's a very nice soft floral with the geranium playing a dominant role to me.
When I spritzed this morning, I was concerned that it was too strong but after 2 hours it's smoothed out, very quiet and close to the skin.
It's a cold-weather-wrapped-up-in-a-cozy-sweater kind of thing, not boudoir or nightclub.
If it had a little more projection, I would wear it alot.
A definate "classic" that I'm sure I'll come back to.

Delicate and sophisticated. Your grandmother may have worn it but the scent was ahead of its time. The sweetness of peach and aldehyde note are balanced by that odd bloody smell of geranium. Knowing the notes you can find the violet but the blend is elusive and changes as you move and the day goes on. Sillage is tight and if applied lightly can be worn at almost any time. Applied at night with a freer hand and Arpege will summon a time when glamor actually had meaning.

I had never thought I would like aldehydes until I tried this masterpiece. What can I say when so much has been said below... simply a true, timeless and sophisticated classic. Very long lasting! I love it!

I recently found an old(at least 30 years)bottle of Arpege in my closet. The bottle is empty but the fragrance is still there, divine and feminine. I bought a new bottle, gave it a spray and almost ran to the bathroom to wash it off! The topnotes were a hideous combination of smoke and leather -- loud and cheap. But within 10 minutes the glorious old heart returned: roses, jasmine, and violets. The base is more vanilla than it used to be and it has that peculiar waxy something that so many reformulations have. But even a lesser version of Arpege is still better than almost everything else. A must for every vanity table.

Aperge is one of the great classics in the perfume world. It is soft, warm and ultra feminine. I love to wear this perfume in the winter, it makes me feel warm and cosy like I am wrapped in soft cashmere. A beautiful perfume that I will always treasure.

I'm another who sees a piano, wooden stage, carpeted opera hall when I smell "Arpege". It's just so lovely and interesting, a real "character" of a scent, so to speak. This is an actress of The Stage, when leading actresses of The Stage ruled the world. It's Theodora Duncan, Gloria Swanson, The Denishawn Dancers ("pfftt--Zeigfeld, Smeigfeld, we're the REAL artists!"). It opens on a shimmering burst of aldehyde that smells a little like spilt champagne (stage direction: She giggles, continues to tell her story in grande, animated fashion and goes on). Then, a powdery, sweet but sheer woodiness (almost wood-pudding like) emerges, coupled with the striking, sweaty-dryness of storax ("What's my motivation?": She fluffs out her black, velvet dress--yes, it was stored in cedar--and releases a burst of humidity, some of the champagne still lingers on her skin). Finally, a rich, smoky density settles on creamy vanilla-bean and sandalwood (Final bow: She finishes both her story and her cigar, with the scent of sandalwood warming and drying on her fingers). "Arpege" is packed with character and worldly experience; she's funnier, spunkier, more stylish, dramatic and flamboyant than you or me, but is too classy to let us know it. She'd be a Diva if she didn't adore people so much. To get an idea of the character of this scent: Caswell-Masseys' "Casma" would be her best friend/partner-in-crime and Jean Patou's "1000" would be her other best friend, the responsible one who has to remind her when she's spent beyond her means and is forgetting to show-up for rehearsals (which would be, constantly)."Loulou" by Cacharel would be her protege and sidekick. My last thought on the glorious masterpiece that is "Arpege" is best summed-up in a line found in "Sunset Blvd.", where the butler, Max, explains just how fabulous the mistress of the house is, to soon to be boy-toy, William Holden:

"...She would recieve 17,000 letters in one week. Men bribed hairdressers to get a lock of her hair. There was a Maharaja who came all the way from India to beg one of her stockings from her---later on, he strangled himself with it."

Being fond of the more classic perfumes, I thought I had to try this one today so I sprayed a little on the back of my hand...
Smells expensive but I washed it off (which wasn't easy) as soon as I got home.
Too heavy was the load at the back of my hand and too heavy was the air I did breath.
Tobacco came to mind and medicine (of which the latter do follow the former in common - mind you...I do smoke)
I wouldn't dare to say that this perfume is not excellent but it doesn't match with my chemistry....

Arpege is sexy: but not in the sense of this decade (scantily clad, sticky lips). He brings us the mysterious sensuality of the divas of cinema (40's, 50's). I love moderns perfumes full of sex-appeal. But Arpege reigns over them.

Lanvin's Arpege is an warmer softer and
sweetish younger sister to Chanel no 5
The opening starts with an aldehyde note
but unlike Chanel's aldehydes which has an dryer more harsher drydown of citrus
and Bergamot. But in Arpege it's more
diluted and more softer to the senses'
The note of amber subdue most of the
aldehydes and an strong presence of
peach makes it sweet.

The powdery note of Irises raises above
the dominering note of amber the ellusive note of Lily of the vally and
the quietness of the elegant Calla Lily
floating though the notes
The bottom notes dries down to an dry
spicy coriander turnes to an powder
nuances of rose. after an hour or two
it turns to an fiery Sandalwood and the sweetness of vanilla the inner raisan
of benzoin and the very bottom of patchouli with it's grounded support
that comes in most perfumes.

Lanvin's Arpege with one spray conjours
images of the famous moniker Louise Brooks Lulu In Berlin i can picture
her wearing this in the movie Pandora's
Box a woman is sliped to an downward spiral into deprivaty and lust
walking though the shadowery streets of
berlin

Or picturing an first class Luxury train
compartment in 1935 elined with Sepia
toned marble tiles with gold bording
in a style of art deco smokey quartz
mirrors facing each other side by side
as your walking though an dimly lit hall
fashioned into an triangular shape with luxurious heavy drapery of different hues of brown An oriental rug fills the compartment of splender.
these are the emsemble cast of Charactors in the voyage of the damned

The sad crying clown a failed WW1 British Officer who save his men from the battle of Somme of 1916 A suicidal
Ballirina an penniless artist and his
subservent lover an Disponsed Count
and his devoted servent M.R Bhulagamskam and an faded beauty
who looks faded 30 years ago has stuck
to alcahol and her cigerettes with her gouldy wigs and her fake spiderweb lashes and bright blue eyeshadow

One of the Grand dame of perfumes
along with chanel no 5 Guerlian's l'heure bleu shalimar and Vol de Nuit.

I have the newer version of this perfume. Does anyone know where I can purchase a pre 1992 bottle of this?

Perfumes come and go, this perfume will live on forever. It is a masterpiece and radiates pure class. You will not be dissapionted but truly charmed by its devine aroma.

Arpege was an extremely surprising find for me.

I dismissed it before trying it because I had assumed Arpege was your classic, sharp aldehydic fragrance that only suited the more mature consumers. How wrong could I be?

This is no Chanel No.5. Arpege may be powdery and sophisticated, but it has such depth and elegance that somehow makes Arpege intriguingly sexy on the skin.

As a young woman, not even 20 yet, Arpege doesn't make me feel old or predictable. In fact, I feel very comfortable wearing Arpege, sexy almost.

It's mostly powdered jasmine, lily of the valley and ylang ylang to my nose, with a touch of spice. Very feminine and floral. I really cannot stop smelling my wrists with this one, which shows that aldehydic fragrances are really growing on me.

I must add that I am so much in love with this fragrance that I have ordered a mini straight away. However something tells me that a full bottle will be sitting on my dresser very soon.

Wow. I am in love with this perfume. The opening notes were impressive, pleasing and very old-fashioned; I felt myself asking "how can something be old-ladyish and sexy at the same time?". Well, that feeling faded quickly, because the forming of the composition and the note of licquerice (which was very strong on my skin) made me think "nope, nope, nope", then "YUCK!". But I'm glad I didn't wash it off, because half an hour later I started thinking, "where is that lovely smell coming from?" Then I realized it was Arpege! The dry-down just got better and better. There's so many words I could use to describe it... The first, and perhaps most fitting is "classy". It is unashamedly classy, stylish, sophisticated... And very French. It also smells expensive. I find it feminine, but in a strong and quite rounded way. It is definitely not for the faint hearted - this perfume gives you a punch - although there is delicacy there also... I think it could be mistaken for a Guerlain in character. Arpege is sweet, amazingly powdery, and very full-bodied at the same time. One of the reasons I think it's a great perfume is that it has all these opposites, that don't contradict, but rather highlight one another. The drydown is totally delicious, and very vintage, if you're into that. But you have to be prepared for smelling like a rich woman from the 20s, hair perfectly curled and fox furs draped around her shoulders - in my opinion! I think it's much more evocative of the 1920s-30s than say, Chanel No.5. And it's sexy, aphrodesiac-like. No... it doesn't suit my age, class, or time period. But I want it anyway!!

Advice please.
Can anyone tell me how to pick the Arpage of the 1980s by the packaging ? Any clues that help me find/ pick the pre-1990 reformulation from the newer version would be very welcome. (I assume Arpage 120 is clearly marked as such ).
Thanks

i hate chanel no 5...but i adore arpege.maybe it is the packaging i'm in love with,,,and the 70s advert..'promise her anything,but give her arpege'.
a beautiful journey of soft florals to my nose..from beginning to end,just beautiful

To me, the quintessential "perfume" scent. The little dab on my wrist smells EXACTLY like Chanel no 5. And why shouldn't it when they share many of the same top notes? (Neroli, aldehydes and Ylang ylang) The bergamot scent is light... I only catch wiffs of it hanging onto the edge of the Neroli.

From there the scent deepens and softens the rose opens up a dark deep rose. My overall impression is a blend of Chanel no 5 with rose and spice. This is a very beautiful perfume, and I actually prefer it to No 5.

At one time, my fragrance collection consisted solely of Arpege and Chanel #5 and fragrance life was simple and beautiful. Where #5 is floral, Arpege is a spicier, more sensual scent. It is elegant and gives me a "cozier",warmer dry-down compared to
Chanel's "powdery"dry-down. I tend to prefer Arpege during the fall/winter months (although I've worn it year-round), and Chanel during the spring/summer months (I've worn this year-round also). Arpege is a refined, woody/spicy/floral that is not sugary, but complex and understated. It is, like Chanel, definitely timeless. For me, this is a permanent member of my fragrance family.

I bought a 5ml bottle yesterday to sample...im in love with yet another perfume. The older ones are definately the better ones in my opinion.

Elegant, sophisticated & sensual from the first spray onwards. Long lasting, i can still smell it on me this morning after wearing it for bed.

I personally dont sense any vanilla but it is warm & envelopes your skin like an old friend giving you a hug.

Give me the old classics any day over the more 'fashionable' fragrances of today. This one is worthy of the title 'perfume' unlike many new fragrances.

A perfume to wear to feel classy & elegant. Wear it to the races or Henley & stand out from the sheep who follow fashion trends with perfumes.

A larger bottle is now on my wish list.

although i like the reformulated version really, the old vintage is really a dream!
its like a balm, folding you in its warm melody, embracing strong, but gently your body, softening your senses.
deep sigh from the bottom of my soul ...

I must say that I bought Arpege unsniff and i take some risk doing that, but when i try this perfume I knew it was worth every penny.

Arpege is all the chic and glamour of the 20's in one bottle, and i don't think this smell like oldlady cuz is so soft and sweet. A lot of overwhelming fragance from the 70's or 80's smell like the oldlady tipe but not this one.

Arphege is timeless.. a fragrance for luxurious events and for special occasions.. a little more sweet than Chanel N5 and more sophisticated. The powerlasting is great!


Every woman should have this fragrance!!

Why almost all old classics smell the same to me? Is it aldehyde? Or maybe gardenia? or just too many florals in one? Ah, and this particular heavy sweetness that you will never find in more contemporary fragrances... Sadly, this is the scent of the past for me.

I tested this in the store a week ago and had a test strip in my pocket. I couldn't get this scent out of my head and I mean this in a good way! It's deep, rich and sexy . A definite" Grown Woman" scent. A classic. I went back this week and purchased a large bottle to add to my collection.

One of the greats. It is divine classic...elegant, rapturous, yet refined. I prefer the warmer, peachier vintage juice, yet I get more compliments when I wear the new blend, which I find more sparkling and floral.
Though I am a lover of aldehydic blends in general, I have difficulty wearing them. They can smell great in the bottle but quite nasty on my skin. Arpege has never let me down. Sortilege is my all time favorite of the aldehyde group, but I don't wear it well. For those of you lucky ones that can wear it, you have my envy.

I had a bottle of this in 1977, and loved it to death, so much so that the very small bottle I was given for Xmas did not last long; it really was the absolute epitome of "French Perfume" - but the reformulated one really is not the same, so much so that I don't buy it these days, althugh I have re-tested it several times, just in case. Pity, but not a phenomenon unique to Arpege, sadly.

Ineffably beautiful.

My mother wore this when I was a young girl. I remember the scent very well although I never wore it myself. It does smell alot like Chanel #5 but not quite. So when my mother passed away on a cold November day three years ago, I went to her house to settle the estate and one fine evening when I awoke at 2am in the morning, the whole bedroom smelled of Arpege! This is not a made up story-It really happened, it was my mothers way of telling me that she was there! I'll never forget that for the rest of my life. I will remember this scent FOREVER!

Arpege was one of my earliest perfume colletions. Got it as a miniature bottle sample from Myer in Gold Coast Australia back in 1993. I still have the bottle. It's nice to know it's one of the legendary classic perfume. It smells flowery but not powdery. Elegant.

I was dying to try it for such a long time and finally I had a chance due to generosity of a Fragrantica member, of course!
At first - aldehydes, jasmine, ylang...more ylang ylang then anything else. I could feel a resemblance with Chanel#5, but it ended at a certain point - if #5 is haughty and cold, Arpege is warm and inviting and then they go in different directions. I almost forgot it was on my skin after ylang ylang was replaced by other florals, but now, 6 hours later, I found the drydown to be fabulous.Spicy, warm, abundant...smells like nutmeg a bit:))) and it reminded me instantly of Ange ou Demon.

Arpege is my cup of tea.Definitely a classic along with Chanel No.5.

just one word...divine...in the same class...shapperrelli's..(cannot spell) Shocking, Patou's 1000, nina ricci fleur de fluer and faruouche, balenciaga's Quadrille (if only I could smell it once more) following closely behind L'heure Bleu...Channel no 5 I find is ghastly but then perfumes smell differently on different people...cocoa and 19 in channel is marginally better.

It was my mother's signature frag. for so many years, till they reproduce the new edp in the black long bottle. The reformulation is the most horrible thing that perfume makers do ...

it's my mom's signature fragance and just love this scent on her very unique

I own the EdP in black bottle. It sure contains good amount of aldehydes, because the "peach candle" projects strongly off my skin. To be honest I was surprised how fruity it is on my skin - I get the fruity whiffs for hours - not just at start. Noone mentioned it before, so it might be just my skin or my nose. Flowers smudged by aldehydes to abstract cloud are lovely and spices + sensual base are adding depth to the scent.
Can be worn by anyone who can wear it with style.

Arpege is uncompromisingly classic in its composition. Nothing could be further from the current fashion for foody fragrance. It isn't sweet and it doesn't beguile. I could instantly see it as a perfume for the opera or the ballet, the signature of a rich, older elegant woman. I kept getting the sense of it almost unfurling into a rich thick floral with deep spicy overtones. But on my skin, time, warmth and chemistry transform it into something different.

After about an hour the amber/musk/patchouli/sandalwood becomes warm and almost animal, very intimate indeed.
It is powerfully physical and feminine, to the point of almost (but not unpleasantly) like a faint erotic body odour. If a man was already mad for me I think this would enhance his senses, and if he was lukewarm this would repel him completely!

i love this one! it's so mesmerizing and uplifting. classy, long lasting - i get whiffs all day even with little application. although it may seem similar to no. 5(which i don't like and can never understand the fuss about it) but arpege has a personality of its own. very elegant, i love wearing it to office and special evenings.

I managed to snag a vintage set of 1/8 oz Extrait and a 2 oz bottle of EdT. One has to mourn these classic creations dying a slow death, its discount store dollar value insults the perfume's true worth in terms of artistry.

Arpege begins smelling reminiscent of Chanel No. 5, of aldehydes, powdery rose, iris, and indolic flowers of jasmine, lily of the valley, and tuberose. The aldehydes are not as pervasive as No. 5, and Arpege is less sweet.

After this heady floral aldehyde opening, a chypre tone appears with a clear note of coriander at its underbelly accompanied by green stemmy notes.

Woody and sensual notes come up pretty quickly as the coriander seems to be the only middle note left. It starts to smell much like leather. The base reminds me a lot of Joy (another sad swan song) without the uber-animalic notes of civet and musk. However, styrax seems to be the note that sensually rounds out the base until it exhales a woody trail of sandalwood and patchouli.

Interesting how Chanel No. 5 can stay alive all these years compared to Arpege. Honestly I don't think No. 5 is as interesting as Arpege, though given that No. 5 is definitely "prettier". No. 5 IMO seems to have nooks and crannies that need filling in to help a better transition. I think Lanvin would've stayed in focus if they had the boldness to market itself as the "quintessential" scent of femininity and a sex goddess to go along with it.

The extrait is full and rather bold with with its leathery notes, however the EdT is much easier to gravitate to. After the floral aldehyde opening, Arpege makes a great masculine scent.

True lovers of perfume can embrace vintage bottles of this for a steal and be happy that it could be had without killing themselves in a pool of their own buyer's remorse.

For those who like leather but cannot handle the animalic notes in Chanel's Cuir de Russie should give the more restrained Arpege a try.

to guest bg, yes there are still people around who like these classic smells!! they present more of a challenge to the senses than modern ones, maybe you have to learn to appreciate them. but, to me comparing these with modern smells is like comparing anna karenina with a throwaway paperback, or a beautiful old wooden boat with a lump of modern white fibreglass.they have so much depth and character. arpege does have something similar to chanel 5, which is my all time favourite, but also much more depth and warmth. i discovered it when 24 when a colleague gave me a bottle of the real perfume which she couldn't stand. now have it again as edp. with these little-known old classics you are guaranteed to smell different from the mass-produced sugary-sweet pink smells that dominate the market today, long live the classics!!

This perfume is nothing like Chanel No. 5...and there's something kind of off-putting about Arpege. I just found a vintage bottle of Arpege from Ebay. It does smell vintage. It smells like men's cologne, but, (and I mean this with all due respect) it smells like a gay man's cologne. Gayer than Jean Paul Gaultier's "Pour Homme" which is, quite possibly, the gayist scent ever created.
Arpege, I find it androgynous, falling slightly on the manly side. Like a cross between your grandpa's Brut and CK1. There's a cliche about white people who smell like "wet dog" and after a while, when the top notes of Arpege subside, what is left is that wet dog sort of smell.
What I just did was dab Chanel No. 5 over the Arpege...and that some how balances things out.

My grandmother adores this scent, and it truly works for her. When it comes to someone over the age of 60, fresh and clean scents don't often work well. Classic aldehyde and spicy scents work best, and this scent is truly classic! I find this scent feminine, but not in a screaming florals or rolled in pink sugar type of way. This scent is for the Jackie O type, very powerful and sure of one's self. I on the other hand can not wear this at all, it doesn't work with my body and seems to amplify as soon as it hits my skin. Half a spritz left me smelling life a perfume store all day. If you like very classic perfumes, this might be for you, but make sure you try it on before you buy it!

if you like firs van cleff and arpels and arpege its almost the same.i love it

Smells a lot like aldehydic black rose on me. At the end of the day, there's a dark, resinous note that persists endlessly: This baby doesn't go away. Still, the peach and aldehydes together sometimes give me trouble, leaving a sort of muddy, tar-like scent that I've noticed with other fragrances of this era. It's not bad, but it's not my favorite. I love the idea of it's history, but Arpege and me may never become friends.EDIT: Today it has an almost cocounut note to it. Strange and compelling even when I'm still not sure it'll be a favorite. It does grow on you, hauntingly.

Arpege is a grande dame of perfumes; ladylike, powdery, a symphony of pleasing peach/rose/violet/santal loveliness and a homage to the woman who wears it like a fur coat! The fetching Art Deco logo of a mother and child bears witness to it's creator and her daughter's mutual love especially as the parfum was named by the little daughter. A must-have classic more pleasing to me than rival Chanel #5.

Belle de Sud

This to me is the perfect example of a perfume that is timeless. Not old fashioned, not outdated - just classic and elegant. I love that starts on such a positive note and dries down in a warm and comforting scent.
I cannot see the comparison to Chanel No.5 -sorry, except for the fact that both have aldehyde in it, they do have a different feel to it: No.5 is more sharp and confident, while this one embraces and caresses you, like a protective grand lady.

I think and this is only think that the black bottle is the 1993 re launched version and the clear is the 1927 version.

It is my all time favourite perfume, I am content to never wear a different fragrance. However my last bottle smelt different and I am somewhat confuded about the black and clear bottles can anyone tell me the difference?

Afraafra, I would say it's definetely feminine - on me, but I've never smelled it on a man, so have a trial! I can't exclude that it may work on a man's skin, actually, it might be deep enough for that. Women or men - this perfume is not for young people.

For the life of me, I cannot remember why I didn't like it. It's a warm, floral aldehyde of the classiest type. It does not have the bitter dry-down of Chanel #5. If you like this, you might also like #5, L'Aimant, Wind Song, Bourbon French Festival, and Leonard Tamasa.

A warm, sultry, classic perfume from 1927. I recommend it if you like Chanel No. 5.