Our take
What does Moonlight Patchouli smell like?
Van Cleef & Arpels added Moonlight Patchouli to its Collection Extraordinaire in 2016, with Sonia Constant as the perfumer. The name is a little misleading. Patchouli is the frame here rather than the star. From the first spray you get a supple suede accord, like the inside of a glove. Powdery cocoa comes with it, drier than chocolate, along with a slightly camphor patchouli leaf. Bulgarian rose then slips into the background. Iris takes over and grows more velvety as the hours pass. A dried fruit note close to dried apricot adds some roundness. The base stays woody and leathery without turning rough. Compared with Chanel's Coromandel, another cocoa patchouli, Moonlight Patchouli is softer and less resinous. It suits anyone who finds classic patchouli too earthy. On a cold day the suede and cocoa feel almost like a warm scarf.
When to wear it
An evening scent for autumn and winter that works well over a cashmere sweater. Two sprays are enough because it stays close to the skin.
It belongs to the Woody, Chypre family. Moonlight Patchouli is one of 20 creations by Van Cleef & Arpels in our encyclopedia.
