Van Cleef & Arpels
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
The pink pepper sparks against bergamot's citrus brightness like a struck match, all brightness and gentle heat. Within moments, the tuberose begins its inevitable bloom, but it's restrained here, temperate rather than tropical, held in check by iris's chalky coolness.
The white floral trio takes centre stage, with tuberose's creamy petals interwoven with jasmine's indolic richness and iris's cosmetic powder. The sweetness peaks here, almost honeyed, but the first whispers of sandalwood begin threading through, adding a woody warmth that promises the transformation to come.
The oud finally reveals itself, not as a soloistic statement but as part of a woody chorus with sandalwood and vetiver. What remains is a soft, resinous skin scent—slightly animalic, faintly sweet from the lingering florals, with vetiver's earthy rootiness anchoring everything to something darker and more contemplative than where it began.
Precious Oud walks a tightrope between opulent white florals and the resinous depths of oud, landing somewhere unexpectedly soft for a fragrance bearing that particular wood's name. Amandine Clerc-Marie has crafted something more akin to illuminated velvet than the austere barnyard funk often associated with oud compositions. The bergamot and pink pepper opening provides just enough citric bite and peppery warmth to prepare you for what's coming: a lavish bouquet of tuberose and jasmine that refuses to be subdued by the woody base notes beneath.
What makes this composition intriguing is how the iris works as a powdery mediator between the heady white florals and the earthier elements. Rather than letting the tuberose run wild with its waxy, narcotic tendencies, the iris introduces a cosmetic elegance—almost like the scent of expensive face powder from a vintage compact. The oud here doesn't announce itself with medicinal sharpness; instead, it's blended into a creamy sandalwood-vetiver foundation that adds weight without overwhelming the floral heart.
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3.9/5 (194)