Tsar, the fragrant heritage of Van Cleef Arpels Estelle Arpels and Alfred Van Cleef opened their jewelry boutique in 1906 on Place Vendôme. Success did not take long to arrive and their creations were recognized worldwide. They opened another boutique in New York in 1939.
The star fragrance of Van Cleef Arpels: Tsar Released in 1989, Tsar symbolizes the olfactory heritage of Van Cleef Arpels to Russia. Tsar carries within it a heavy heritage and an important past. Tsar is an essence that gives off a very particular nobility. With this fragrance, the house Van Cleef Arpels pays tribute to a specific period in its history. It was in 1925 that Van Cleef Arpels received the Grand Prix of the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs, thereby placing itself within the movement known as Art Deco. It was during this period that Russian princes arrived in Paris, in exile, marking the cultural influences of the time.
Olfastory’s review
Tsar, a classic perfume steeped in history
It is therefore a moment of its history that the house Van Cleef & Arpels invites us to share with it, through it. Created by Philippe Bousseton, the composition of Tsar has managed to remain timeless and chic. Tsar is a generous aromatic woody fragrance that carries within it the history of this period so dear to the heart of Van Cleef & Arpels. This is why Tsar possesses a strong identity, recognizable among many fragrances. As deep as the emerald, the color of the bottle, Tsar has established itself as an elegant and timeless masculine fragrance.
Tsar, an aromatic fougère perfume
Tsar opens with the freshness of bergamot combined with the aromatic notes of lavender, rosemary, mugwort and thyme. Lavender was used by the Romans to keep linens fresh and to scent baths. It was in the Middle Ages that lavender cultivation developed, mainly in Provence. In the 18th century, lavender was used to fight the plague. In the 19th century, it became part of the perfume industry. Lavender is then obtained by steam distillation of freshly cut flowers. The heart of Tsar is floral and offers a feminine side, combining jasmine and geranium. The base is meant to be woody, not without a touch of sensuality, blending sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver and oakmoss. Native to India, vetiver is found in various tropical regions, growing in large tufts. Vetiver is obtained by steam distillation of its roots. Vetiver began to be used in perfumery at the end of the 19th century, mainly in masculine fragrances. Within compositions, vetiver gives off woody, earthy, smoky and tenacious tonalities. The emerald green bottle reinforces this impression of a sumptuous, noble and rare fragrance.
A piece of the history of the house Van Cleef & Arpels, Tsar defines itself as a noble fragrance. This tribute to Russia refers back to a specific period, a period that the house Van Cleef & Arpels wished to capture in a bottle. At once elegant and timeless, Tsar is a composition one does not forget.