Cologne Noire

Van Cleef & Arpels creations are recognized by all and worn by crowned heads the world over. The brand's first perfume, First, was a very surprising event since it was the first time a jewelry house had unveiled a perfume. In 2009, Van Cleef & Arpels presented Cologne Noire, a fragrance that is part of the house's Collection Extraordinaire.

Van Cleef & Arpels's tribute to the eaux de Cologne of the past

Long before the world of perfumery as it is known today, eau de Cologne was the queen of scents. Eaux de Cologne were highly prized, by women and men alike. Perfuming oneself with an eau de toilette was a ritual, on a par with washing. With Cologne Noire, Van Cleef & Arpels wished to pay tribute to the origin of perfumery. The Collection Extraordinaire is intended to highlight a noble perfumery ingredient, enhancing it with other carefully chosen raw materials. Cologne Noire reveals eau de Cologne notes paired with darker, more intense notes, oscillating between shadow and light. Cologne Noire is thus meant to be both strong and fresh, allowing the eau de Cologne of the past to be revisited in a thoroughly modern way. Cologne Noire is a unisex fragrance, like all those in the Collection Extraordinaire, but it is nonetheless the most masculine of them all.

The scented notes of Cologne Noire, between shadow and light

It was perfumer Mark Buxton who imagined this highly distinctive composition. Cologne Noire opens on the bright freshness of citrus, mandarin and bergamot. These are joined by the spicy notes of pepper, contrasting with the freshness of the opening. The heart of Cologne Noire develops toward even more contrasting notes. There, the intensity of cardamom and ginger can be found. These are quickly overtaken by the brightness of neroli. Finally, the base is thoroughly woody, and the fragrance ends on warm, spicy notes. The understated, elegant bottle resembles all those in the Collection Extraordinaire. Rectangular in shape, it commands both strength and beauty. Its label, placed simply at the center of the bottle, delicately displays the name of the perfume along with a number indicating the trial number selected by the house.

Another marvelous essence from the Collection Extraordinaire. Cologne Noire is a distinctive fragrance, as it is the only one that pays tribute. A tribute to the origin of perfumery, a tribute to the scents of the past. The composition is magical, and the result is even more so.