Lavender Thorne
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In New York
by Van Cleef & Arpels
In New York by Van Cleef & Arpels presents a clean, aromatic fougere with citrus and marine accords, creating a light, fresh impression that stands out among modern blue fragrances. The opening features bright Italian lemon and mandarin orange, quickly unfolding into a restrained, aquatic-lavender middle with subtle amber and tonka notes in the drydown. While the fragrance is praised for its clean, versatile character and elegant bottle, performance is notably inconsistent—many users report moderate longevity and sillage that fades quickly, with projections lasting no more than a few hours at best. The scent evokes an airy, sunlit city atmosphere, reminiscent of afternoons at the beach or a cool city shower, with sartorial elegance that suits casual, office, or summer wear. Despite being described as safe and mass-appealing, it stands out from direct clones like Bleu de Chanel or Montblanc Legend through its warmer, sweetly dry tonka base, making it more refined and complex than typical aquatic scents. Its charm lies in its understated smoothness and pleasant freshness, though this same restraint may frustrate those seeking stronger presence or lasting power.
Pros
- +a coherent, clean, and modern fresh scent with versatile personality suitable for spring and summer wear
- +a refined base with tonka and amber that differentiates it from generic blue fougères
- +buys him elastic performance with a good cost-to-quality ratio, making it accessible and safe for daily use
Cons
- −consistently weak sillage and longevity, fading to a skin scent within an hour for most users
- −some feel it lacks distinction despite being elegant, achieving a 'safe' neutrality
- −can project a synthetic or 'over-scrubbed' quality, with notes that veer toward commercial-clean or fake-bath-like freshness