Lanvin Arpege is an elegant, slightly woody, Aldehydic, Floral fragrance with a warm and slightly powdery nuance. 

At nearly 100 years old, I think it’s a scent we should talk about.

Lanvin is a fashion house that began as a hat shop by Jeanne Lanvin in 1889. 

The house launched its first fragrance, My Sin, in 1925, and in 1927 the infamous Arpege was introduced to the world.

Jeanne commissioned perfumers Andre Fraysse and Paul Vacher to make a scent as a 30th birthday gift for her daughter Marguerite, who had by then become Marie-Blanche de Polignac.

The name Arpege comes from the musical term “Arpeggio”, both as a way to describe the scent’s unfolding notes, and to pay tribute to Marguerite as a talented Violinist. 

Once source says that when presented with the perfume, Marguerite exclaimed, “It’s just like an Arpeggio!”.

The scent almost takes you back in time. It has a soft, yet warm, powdery floral nuance that recalls the popularity of the Aldehyde style of its time. A floral bouquet is brightened with hints of Bergamot and Peach and warmed with gentle infusions of Patchouli, Vetiver and Musk. It feels elegant and timeless, light and dense, at the same time. The flowers and the warmth of the base creates an almost honeyed floral quality that lends a subtle sensuality that will make you feel alluring. It conjures images of a time when women would wear their best dresses and finest jewelry, and powder and rouge themselves up with their finest cosmetics from France, and attend the plays or symphonies in the city. 

The perfume was a blend of Bulgarian Rose, Grasse Jasmine, Honeysuckle, and Lily of the Valley. These essences are still found in the composition today, alongside the warmth of Sandalwood, Amber, Vetiver, Benzoin and Patchouli.

In 1992, Arpege was reformulated by perfume Hubert Fraysse, the brother of Andre Fraysse, one of the original perfumers.

It has likely been reformulated again a few times since then, but it remains an elegant, timeless, Aldehydic, powdery, warm floral scent.

Though the bottle has also changed over the years, it has always been adorned with an image of mother and daughter; Jeanne and Marguerite.

Arpege was a scent made out of love, and will wrap you up in an essence of tenderness today.