Oriens by Van Cleef & Arpels

Exquisite! The bottle is a true jewel, just as beautiful. I already own my second bottle. It has an enviable longevity and a fantastic sillage. Fresh and fruity, I love it 🙂

Beautiful bottle. I found it on clearance a few years ago, but back then I couldn’t wear anything sweet and it felt too much so. I forgot about it, and now, at a better price, the opportunity presented itself again. I no longer smell the sweetness as much; instead, I detect a lot of patchouli, almost overpowering everything, along with a bit of mint or eucalyptus, which I assume comes from the patchouli. I’m still not sure if I like it or not; it reminds me a lot of Montblanc Individuelle Femme. I’ll keep testing it. EDIT: 2020, I bought it during the pandemic and finally, it has become a sweet fruity scent with a significant but non-dominating patchouli. It’s staying in my collection.

Update: Oh Oriens, your bottle is definitely beautiful. I find a very similar trail to Miss Dior, but you are fresher, have great sillage, and your longevity on my skin is also very good. I tested you in summer and yes, you convinced me; I really liked your scent. Maybe in winter I had a different impression, which is why I’m updating my review: you are a summer perfume and it’s in this season where you shine, both during the day and on summer nights. You charmed me; and yes, when I finish this, I’ll restock <3

It feels so good to wear a perfume like this. The beauty of its bottle matches perfectly with the loveliness of its fragrance. The top notes are completely fruity, a beautiful dance between orange (which seems more like the peel of this fruit), blackcurrant, and raspberry, with the raspberry standing out. But when it settles on the skin, fantastic patchouli appears with its tempting praline (this part reminds me a bit of Thierry Mugler’s Angel, though without Angel’s potency), and finally, I detect white flower notes accompanied by amber and a very light vanilla that fades quickly. I wouldn’t know where to categorize this precious creation, whether in the floral chypre or floral oriental families, as it’s not a gourmand because although it’s sweet, its sweetness is very soft. It’s a strong, mysterious, classy perfume that smells refined, more appropriate for cold seasons and evening wear, with moderate sillage and high longevity. Rating 9/10.

The blend of this perfume is different, and I really like it. I perceive a light balsamic herbal note, something fruity, slightly earthy, very pleasant in my personal opinion.

When it first launched, I didn’t like it entirely; I felt a masculine note I couldn’t identify. After a few years, wanting to buy a fragrance from the brand, I was surprised to smell it again; I liked it a lot. It’s refined like everything in the line and sweet. Probably when it first hit the shelves, it was more original; the bottle is unique!

I have a miniature of this perfume, which leaked halfway during shipping. I tested a bit of what remained, and honestly, it’s not for me. I’ve always had issues with perfumes that have tons of patchouli. The combination of this with amber and praline feels very heavy and strange on my skin most of the time; we just don’t click. The first time I wore it, it was very hot, and it cloyed me quite a bit, almost to the point of nausea; I thought that wasn’t a good day for so much patchouli. Today, I tested it again in a fresh, humid environment with light rain. The result is more tolerable but nothing charming; the patchouli feels a bit lighter and mixed with the amber gives a slightly woody, incense-like sensation, while the sweetness comes in bursts, and I never perceived any fruits or flowers. That said, its sillage and longevity are good, and its ingredients feel high quality. I also don’t consider it a chypre; for me, it’s a fruitcholi like many others but high-end and a bit more ‘mature’. I’m sorry, but as the English say, ‘it’s not my cup of tea’. It might be for you if you love super sweet perfumes like La Vie est’ Belle and don’t have issues with patchouli like I do.

I snagged this at a ridiculous price compared to what it costs at big department stores here. I nailed it 100%. The bottle is a work of art, visually stunning, and that alone made it worth it, but the scent is on another level. It opens fresh with cheerful mandarin, black and red berries, a hint of jasmine and patchouli. The vanilla isn’t the star, but that praline creates a velvety sweetness that melts into the skin and adds warmth. It lasts long, has great sillage, and I’ll be wearing it all through fall and winter. I agree with those who compare it to Coco Mademoiselle or Miss Dior Chérie, though the patchouli gives Oriens its own unique charm.

First impression: gorgeous bottle. The fragrance is high quality. Is it Chypre? I’m not sure; it sounds more ‘fruity-floral’ with a very noticeable praline. It’s cozy, pleasant, and versatile for many occasions, but at first, it didn’t seem charming enough to me. Edit: I tried it again and now I absolutely love it; I’d add it to my collection. Over time, it becomes soft, like part of my skin, and the base notes (especially that praline) really shine through. It’s a beautiful perfume.