Van Cleef & Arpels – Moonlight Patchouli

Van Cleef & Arpels is a prestigious brand which, for several years now, has chosen to develop a Haute Parfumerie collection in homage to its traditional Haute Joaillerie sector. It is also a series of perfumes featuring iconic raw materials in their most beautiful expression. Also, Van Cleef & Arpels has just announced the upcoming arrival of Moonlight Patchouli , a unisex juice that is both woody and chypre. It is already present exclusively at Harrods since May 15, 2016. It will, however, be available nationally from July 4.

Patchouli, an iconic ingredient revisited by Van Cleef & Arpels

As the name of Moonlight Patchouli suggests, it is a fragrance that places patchouli at the heart of its composition. This ingredient is originally a tropical plant grown in South America, Indonesia and the Philippines. In addition to its fragrant side, it is particularly recognized for its medical benefits. In the West Indies, for example, it is said to treat colds, vomiting and that it is an anti-inflammatory. Nevertheless, other populations lend it many other virtues. In India, the essence of patchouli is even used in magic rituals to promote financial and love goals. Asians, for their part, attribute aphrodisiac properties to this ingredient. In fact, it is a raw material that was spotted by perfumers in the middle of the 19th century. Indeed, at that time, cashmere shawls were sold on the grand boulevards of Paris. In order to combat myths, they were wrapped in patchouli leaves. However, this smell turned out to be a real “customer trap”! It is therefore quite naturally that patchouli was declined in perfume. However, it experienced its heyday in the 70s and very quickly became the emblematic scent of the hippie current. It is therefore a modern revisit of this ancestral ingredient that the Van Cleef & Arpels house now offers us. However, it experienced its heyday in the 70s and very quickly became the emblematic scent of the hippie current. It is therefore a modern revisit of this ancestral ingredient that the Van Cleef & Arpels house now offers us. However, it experienced its heyday in the 70s and very quickly became the emblematic scent of the hippie current. It is therefore a modern revisit of this ancestral ingredient that the Van Cleef & Arpels house now offers us.

Moonlight Patchouli, an enigmatic and fascinating fragrance

Moonlight Patchouli is then contained in a bottle common to all the perfumes of the Extraordinary Collection of Van Cleef & Arpels. This one is, for the occasion, entirely lacquered in black. Thus, it is a way for the sign to symbolize its darker side. Indeed, Moonlight Patchouli clearly plays on a chiaroscuro blend. It is described as being a fragrance that “echoes the poetic vision of the moon lighting up the night with its halo.” »Its scent begins with particularly unusual top notes. One notices in particular the presence of woody tones. The latter help to bring great elegance to this perfume from the outset. They are then accompanied by the power of patchouli as well as the gluttony of cocoa. In this case, if it is a surprising start, it is quite simply because these three ingredients are usually reserved for the base notes of perfumes. They are then contrasted by a more floral contribution. Moonlight Patchouli takes care of the nobility of the iris as well as the elegance of the Bulgarian rose. Then, it gradually evolves towards a more fruity trail. Likewise, it draws all its sensuality from the animality of leather and suede.