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Van Cleef Arpels Cologne Noire unisex
Van Cleef Arpels

Cologne Noire unisex

Citrus
Fresh
Aromatic
Woody
Vetiver
Patchouli
Earthy
EDC · 2009 · unisex

Van Cleef & Arpels is primarily known for fine jewelry, but the French luxury house has maintained a respected fragrance division that balances heritage with contemporary sensibilities. Cologne Noire, released in 2009, represents their take on the aromatic woody space, positioned as a unisex offering in their cologne collection.

The fragrance opens with bergamot and lemon delivering bright citrus top notes, tempered immediately by cypress and leather for structural depth. The heart layers in ginger and cardamom alongside tea and cucumber, creating a spiced-aromatic profile that feels both warm and refreshing. The base settles into a woody-amber foundation of sandalwood, patchouli, and vetiver with benzoin adding subtle sweetness, creating a dry woody finish with subtle gourmand undertones.

Cologne Noire works best for those who appreciate layered aromatic compositions without excessive sweetness. It suits daytime and office wear well, though the woody amber base gives it enough substance for casual evening use. The spiced heart and vetiver base align it with The Sensualist, The Aristocrat, and The Homesteader sensibilities.

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Main Accordsreported by community
Citrus
100%
Fresh
42%
Aromatic
80%
Woody
100%
Vetiver
60%
Patchouli
27%
Earthy
54%
Spicy
70%
Balsamic
27%
Vanilla
27%
Sweet
38%
Leather
50%
Creamy
27%
Fragrance Notesbrand verified
Top · 0–30 min
Bergamot
Bergamot
A sun-ripened Italian citrus with a brightness that goes beyond lemon, simultaneously tart, floral, and slightly spicy. It's the defining note of Earl Grey tea and the backbone of countless fresh colognes. Perfumers love it as an opener because it lifts the entire composition without overpowering what follows.
Cypress
Cypress
Dry, resinous, and slightly medicinal, cypress has a sharp, coniferous sharpness with a faintly smoky, pine-like quality. It evokes the tall, dark trees of Provence and Tuscany, austere, Mediterranean, and quietly beautiful. A grounding note that adds structure to woody and aquatic compositions.
Leather
Leather
One of perfumery's most complex accords, smoky, animalic, and slightly woody, evoking tanned hide, polished saddles, or fine gloves depending on the recipe. Leather adds sophistication and edge simultaneously, and is deeply associated with masculinity in Western perfumery (though the best leather fragrances transcend gender entirely).
Lemon
Lemon
Sharp, clean, and instantly familiar, the pure zest of fresh-cut lemon peel, not the sugary juice. In perfumery it reads as crisp and energising rather than sweet, and is often used to amplify other light notes. It fades quickly, so it's almost always a top note that makes a striking first impression.
Mandarin Orange
Mandarin Orange
Heart · 30 min – 3 hrs
Cucumber
Cucumber
Ginger
Ginger
Warm, zesty, and slightly medicinal with a bite that sits between spice and citrus. Ginger root adds a lively, invigorating quality to fragrances, it energises rather than soothes. Depending on how it's used, it can read as fresh and zingy or warm and earthy, making it unusually versatile across fragrance families.
Guatemalan Cardamom
Guatemalan Cardamom
Pepper
Pepper
Tea
Tea
Green tea is cool, slightly astringent, and clean; black tea is earthier and slightly smoky. Both add a contemplative, refined quality to fragrances, the scent equivalent of a quiet afternoon. Tea notes bridge the gap between fresh and woody families and are a staple of minimalist, understated compositions.
Base · 3–12 hrs
Benzoin
Benzoin
Sweet, warm, and balsamic, benzoin resin smells like vanilla mixed with incense, with a powdery, slightly medicinal edge. It adds a comforting warmth and fixative quality to oriental fragrances, and blends beautifully with spices. Often used to smooth and round off sharp edges in complex base notes.
Patchouli
Patchouli
Dense, earthy, and darkly sweet, patchouli is the scent of damp soil and dried herbs with an almost chocolatey richness. It polarizes people because in high concentrations it's overwhelming, but as a supporting note it adds depth and longevity that almost nothing else can match. The backbone of countless oriental and chypre fragrances.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood
Creamy, smooth, and milky with a soft, skin-like warmth that clings beautifully. True Mysore sandalwood is one of perfumery's most precious ingredients, simultaneously wood and skin, never cold or sharp. It rounds off sharp edges in any composition and makes the wearer smell subtly, irresistibly warmer.
Vetiver
Vetiver
Earthy, smoky, and complex, vetiver root is extracted from a grass native to India and has a scent that is simultaneously rooty, woody, and slightly lemony. It's one of perfumery's great base notes: tenacious, unisex, and endlessly adaptable. A fragrance built around vetiver feels grounded and deeply confident.
Who Wears ThisScent DNA matches
🔥
The SensualistBest match88% match
You fill the room without trying.

Warm, smooth, projecting. Leather, tobacco, dry amber, bold woods.

🎩
The Aristocrat87% match
Timeless doesn't try. It simply is.

Cool, clean, commanding. Heritage aromatics, classic citrus, dry fougères, refined woods.

🏡
The Homesteader83% match
Rooted, warm, and entirely self-sufficient.

Warm skin musks, sandalwood, soft cedar, clean vetiver. Grounding, intimate, unhurried.

Based on this fragrance's accord profile · Find your Scent DNA →
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Rate this fragrance
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Most Popular with this Scent DNA Type?
🔥
The Sensualist
You fill the room without trying.
Warm, smooth, projecting. Leather, tobacco, dry amber, bold woods.
Discover your type →
Scent Profile
Citrus100%
Fresh42%
Aromatic80%
Woody100%
Vetiver60%
Fragrance Family
Amber/Woody
EDC
Decants Available
1
listings in stock
1ml$4.99/ml

Van Cleef Arpels Cologne Noire unisex— Prices, Coupons & Buying Guide

Best price today: Cologne Noire unisex is $4.99. Without a coupon the lowest price is $4.99. Gush tracks 47+ retailers updated every 2 hours.

Are grey market retailers authentic?

Yes. Jomashop, FragranceNet, and MaxAroma sell 100% authentic Van Cleef Arpels fragrances through unofficial distribution channels. The fragrance is identical to department store stock. Grey market refers to the supply chain, not product quality. The price difference comes entirely from the distribution channel.

Frequently asked questions

Cheapest price for Van Cleef Arpels Cologne Noire unisex? +
$4.99 at ScentSplit. Gush compares 47+ retailers updated every 2 hours.
What does Van Cleef Arpels Cologne Noire unisex smell like? +
Van Cleef & Arpels is primarily known for fine jewelry, but the French luxury house has maintained a respected fragrance division that balances heritage with contemporary sensibilities. Cologne Noire, released in 2009, represents their take on the aromatic woody space, positioned as a unisex offering in their cologne collection. The fragrance opens with bergamot and lemon delivering bright citrus top notes, tempered immediately by cypress and leather for structural depth. The heart layers in ginger and cardamom alongside tea and cucumber, creating a spiced-aromatic profile that feels both warm and refreshing. The base settles into a woody-amber foundation of sandalwood, patchouli, and vetiver with benzoin adding subtle sweetness, creating a dry woody finish with subtle gourmand undertones. Cologne Noire works best for those who appreciate layered aromatic compositions without excessive sweetness. It suits daytime and office wear well, though the woody amber base gives it enough substance for casual evening use. The spiced heart and vetiver base align it with The Sensualist, The Aristocrat, and The Homesteader sensibilities.
What are the notes in Van Cleef Arpels Cologne Noire unisex? +
Top: Bergamot, Cypress, Leather, Lemon, Mandarin Orange. Heart: Cucumber, Ginger, Guatemalan Cardamom, Pepper, Tea. Base: Benzoin, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vetiver.
What fragrance family is Cologne Noire unisex? +
Van Cleef Arpels Cologne Noire unisex belongs to the Amber/Woody fragrance family. It is an EDC.
What is a grey market fragrance retailer? +
Grey market retailers sell authentic fragrances sourced through unofficial distribution -- typically excess inventory from authorized distributors. The product is real and identical to retail. FragranceNet (est. 1997), Jomashop, and MaxAroma are well-established with millions of verified reviews.

Gush earns a commission on purchases at no cost to you · Prices update every 2 hours · Coupon success rates based on affiliate feed data · Grey market = authentic, unofficial supply chain