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Van Cleef & Arpels ph (OR) YSL ph (OR) Mont Blanc Individuel=

post #1 of 16
5/3/12 at 7:00am
Thread Starter 
I am wondering how you can compare the three in terms of quality (syntheticness), longevity and depth/character. Which fragrance offers the most in terms of making you feel good or confident?

Van Cleef & Arpels pour homme vs. Yves saint laurent pour homme vs. Mont Blanc Individuelle

It seems as though Van cleef & Aprels has been reformulated a couple of times, and is not as high quality as when it was first released. Does anyone know which years it was reformulated? Also has YSL ph been reformulated also? If so was it the concentrated version or the regular?
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post #2 of 16
5/3/12 at 8:17am
I own all three, and for me, I'd rank them like this:

Van Cleef & Arpels Pour Homme
YSL Pour Homme
Individuelle
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post #3 of 16
5/3/12 at 8:44am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for replying, are all 3 worth it if you blind buy them?
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post #4 of 16
5/3/12 at 10:41am
Either Van Cleef & Arpels Pour Homme or YSL Pour Homme - two stunning examples of tasteful powerhouse
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post #5 of 16
5/3/12 at 11:11am
I have VCH PH - but not the other two mentioned.

There's a thread somewhere - which I can't find for now - that suggests the latest re-formation was something of a return to the former glory. Needless to say, my new edition is a fine mix of musk and castoreum. I don't get any rose from it. (My guess is that the middle edition was the dusky rose scent, and the third variant - mine - a return to the un-floral darkness of the first, hence the wide variety in the reviews section. I'm in the compare-it-Kouros camp; in the sense of it is to castoreum what the other is to civet.)

It gets a lot of wear. It's certainly my favourite musk, although I find anything with the word 'musk' printed on the bottle to be too floral. It's long lasting - on me - too.

I bought blind, inexpensively, and have no regrets.

EDIT: start here for reformation info: http://www.basenotes.net/threads/285...hich-packaging
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post #6 of 16
5/3/12 at 11:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by hednic View Post

.... I'd rank them like this:

[1] Van Cleef & Arpels Pour Homme
[2] YSL Pour Homme
[3] Individuelle

this ^^^^^^^^^^
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post #7 of 16
5/3/12 at 1:52pm
YSL Pour homme Haute Concentration.
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post #8 of 16
5/3/12 at 6:50pm
I would not suggest blind buying except maybe the Mont Blanc. Seems like it is the safest.
YSL PH is a classic and a powerhouse of heavy, leathery, herbal lemon-really great and natural. The Mont Blanc is the most modern, sort of a lighter verision of Joop or more synthetic Orig Santal. I tested VC&A recently but it really did not stand out probably because i was testing so much other stuff.
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post #9 of 16
5/3/12 at 7:30pm
Individuel is quite good if that is what you seek. I wouldn't go near the new VC&A PH, but instead I'd suggest grabbing a bottle of Leonard Pour Homme (the original/vintage) which is still available on ebay at not too high prices.
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post #10 of 16
5/3/12 at 7:36pm
Do you mean Individuelle or Individuel? I like both, but preffer Individuel.
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post #11 of 16
5/4/12 at 3:00am
VC&A PH > YSL PH > Not wearing anything >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Mont Blanc
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post #12 of 16
5/4/12 at 3:12am
Wouldn't be without the VC&A or the YSL. Have not tried MBI.
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post #13 of 16
5/4/12 at 4:13am
I would put VC & Arpels on top followedby YSL then MBI. I only have the vintage VC & A and it is a rich concoction that is a true gem. Maybe look out for some vintage minis on ebay? There is a thread on here talking about the different reformulations though not sure if any years are stated.
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post #14 of 16
5/4/12 at 3:17pm
Individual is almost identical to Original Santal so if your going for casual/clean/sexy then it's a great choice. Decide for yourself and don't listen to the snobs.
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post #15 of 16
5/4/12 at 5:13pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by silentrich View Post

Individual is almost identical to Original Santal so if your going for casual/clean/sexy then it's a great choice. Decide for yourself and don't listen to the snobs.


I smelled original santal but not individuel, and read that individuel was almost the same as santal just with less longevity, less prominent notes and more synthetic.

Does individuel have the ambergris that you find in other creed fragrances?

It looks like i might not get the VCA pour homme since most likely i will get the reformulated version.
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post #16 of 16
5/4/12 at 6:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigsly View Post

... I wouldn't go near the new VC&A PH....

Why not, Bigsly ?
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Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Male Fragrance Discussion › MFD Archive › Van Cleef & Arpels ph (OR) YSL ph (OR) Mont Blanc Individuel=