Zanzibar (2001)
by Van Cleef & Arpels

I was lucky enough to have purchased this rare VC&A fragrance from another Basenoter (thanks Laph!)

I've read on another blog that this fragrance was described as like "African wind". I find this a most apt description!

Like Africa it conjures up thoughts of dark wood, heat and spices; yet like the wind it's sometimes strong and sometimes fleeting.

I do really like this one for a change to my usual summer rotation of aquatics and fresh fruity scents; but I do wish that the overall initial effect of wood, heat and spice lasted a bit longer. It's still lovely, but perhaps a touch too gentle.

P.S. The bottle's gorgeous to look at in person, but the shape and position of the nozzle makes it a bit difficult to use!

24th November, 2011.

An honest woody/citrus fragrance with some spices thrown in. Nice opening opposed to a faint woody drydown. Overall Zanzibar smells fine but don't expect something particularly artistic or distinctive. Average quality.

Weak lasting power.

21st November, 2011.

GROUP. Citrus – Woody. GENDER. Unisex CREATIVITY. Absolutely nothing special. DAYorNIGHT? Strictly a daywear scent. LONGEVITY. Average. COMMENTS. Top note citrus, mid note citrus, base note citrus. So linear, so monotonous. You have the feeling that this nice fresh citrus opening will never leave your skin. Very few spices (coriander, pepper ) and some herbs try to take this a step further but its not enough. A soft woody note just comes too late. Good though as a car air freshener or a linen spray.

25th September, 2009.

Herbal citrus spice opening. No depth and nothing else going on. It's a very pleasant scent nonetheless with a very faint wood base. Doesn't last long.

15th February, 2009.

Like the spice, but no distinctive notes here. VC&A Original Pour Homme it's NOT. Again (as others have pointed out in other reviews here), staying power is a bit of a problem.

3rd October, 2006.

Good citrus opening, but not very different from the openings in many other scents. Not too sweet—freshened with coriander. The coriander holds for a long time before moving into the spicy mid notes. These spices are quite tame, with the pepper coming through nicely to add elegance to an otherwise casual fragrance. The dry down is a subtle wood accord. Even though not very much about Zanzibar is new or creative, it is a good solid scent while it lasts, which is not very long.

5th March, 2006.