To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
ttr2 – :
Perfect fragrance to center and regain balance. Makes the extrovert introvert more and makes him take things more serious. People say it is a fragrance for mature men. I say if you are not mature yet, this frangrance will make you mature
Muroclava – :
To my non-connoisseur’s nose this smells green, but not pungent or sharp; cool and damp, like autumn rain in a garden or forest; lightly sweet or “flowery”; and “smooth” or well-rounded. I think it is appropriate to wear in casual, professional, and maybe also formal settings. Dignified, but not stuffy. I think spring and fall would be the best time to wear this: probably too robust for summer, possibly not robust enough for winter. It’s very affordable and definitely worth the price.
spimberse – :
好聞 優雅，非常乾淨有深度
令人著迷的香味
擴散度：最適中
天氣在寒冷秋冬時，使用最合適
Good smell, elegant, very clean and deep
Fascinating scent
Diffusion: optimal
When cold weather in autumn and winter, using the most appropriate
Vakini – :
A very refined green / oakmoss scent that is sophisticated and stylish, came out amidst the macho man/ uber masculine oakmoss craze of the 80’s yet it wasn’t as powerful as kouros or jules were. Very lovely indeed with great performance and great value these days as well.
dervish73 – :
Butiful scent .
Seems to get a lot of positive reactions
From ladies that are about my age and younger .im 38.
The opening has a very delicious sweetnes
To it and the dry down is like the opening
Of a garden..its wide deep and is for more mature men
But not old…10-12 hours on my skin
Silage great prijection great for 3- 4 hours the the skin svent also strong
oleg111116 – :
Other than the lack of sweetness, there is nothing “old man” about this fragrance. Refreshing and bright on the opening, classy in the mids, and a drydown to die for. One of the few frags for men blended with enough sophistication that it can stand up to reformulation and still hold up. A man can actually wear this instead of the other way around. If there is anything “old school” about Tzar, it’s only because anyone close enough to smell it is left with no doubt that they are in the presence of a gentleman. And I’m afraid that in some circles, it’s the concept of “gentleman” that has gone out of style.
Spray it on, put on a shirt with a collar and an actual pair of shoes, hold a chair for a lady, be nice to helpless critters, don’t talk like a thug, and just watch the magic unfold.
kuhta_sanya – :
I don’t want to be left out in Praising this all time classic perfume. It reminds me of Ralph Lauren”s original Polo green,(as TeeEm mentioned in his review) but better. In my opinion, the Polo over time, can wear out its welcome! As for Tsar and my experiences with it, it simmers throughout the day, leaving a sensual reminder of what you are wearing. I have used both versions, but prefer the original dark green opaque decanter. Not only does Tsar smell masculine, rich, and yes elegant, the decanter’s and box’s shade of green is classic in itself. I could praise this cologne forever. So many have come and gone, but Tsar will always be welcomed on my top perfume shelf.
martin_73 – :
Green fresh Lake in the jungle with woods around and autumn leaves everywhere and you just dived a minute ago in the lake.
Katherine_fromAD – :
How to review or render homage to a classic like Tsar. Everything has already been said before, so here comes my praise. The opening is just green and lush. The smooth richness of the blended notes is just spellbinding. The green notes mixed with the coniferous and herbaceous notes is so beautifully masculine. With the added healthy dash of juniper and oak moss, this scent also exudes a lovely aromatic earthiness. Tsar delivers the goods early. There is no slow build up here, just the choice cuts! Tsar also has a certain brightness to it, which I attribute to the floral aspects of this scent. Carnation and jasmine ring through the vast landscape of this scent. The spice comes through in the mid of this scent and acts as a great backdrop for the other notes. Once again the cinnamon and caraway notes used here are so perfectly executed, harmonizing with every passing note from the lavender to the cedar. I could go on but the notes are endless! Though this scent is a classic it feels in no way dated and every bit unique as it has always been. Tsar is manly and refined and is for the thirty and up crowd. This is perfect for winter and fall. Give this a spray when you want to give your confidence and comfort a boost on a winter or fall day; this scent is simply divine and cozy under a sweater or scarf. Tsar is a must in anyone’s collection and seems to be what modern perfumery needs to return to. Classic bold compositions that take risks and reward the wearer!!!!!
VALEK96 – :
One of the most aptly named fragrances.
Aristocratic, masculine and elegant, Tsar is a beautifully constructed classic fougere for mature men.
As others have said, do not get the clear bottle. Go for either vintage or the newer dark green opaque versions.
kdaktv – :
I totally agree with “TeeEm” Just below.
I’ve just taken delivery of a so called “vintage” version 5ml decant. I totally get the Jazz, mixed with Polo description.
Now for a full bottle of “reformulated”, 🙂
Update: My “reformulated” / current version arrived today. I think that these vintages are often a bit past their best, as this actually smells better.
Very close to Jazz, and I wore it regularly in the 80’s (original black and white plastic bottle & glass after that), so I should know. It’s that close that I’ve no need to purchase Jazz in any of its formulations. The Polo similarity isn’t as pronounced as the “vintage” version, but there’s still a feint reminder.
I shall comment on longevity when I’ve had a bit of time with it. I prefer this to V&A Pour Homme.
One great buy this month has been Jaguar Classic. Refined and cheap!
Valeria76 – :
This is a refined cross between Ralph Lauren Polo (green) and Jazz by YSL.
I first bought it in 1990 (very expesive in those days) and treated myself to a bottle recently (very cheap now)…
Below average projection and longevity on my skin (I wonder if it has been reformulated… I recall the projection of this perfume was just huuuuge!!)
If you love green and spicy you will absolutely love it!!! Just reapply to top up!
8/10
Batch 01F48F240 (2015) dark green bottle
EDIT: 2 compliments received in garden party 22/05/2018
(Tsar was layered with Jazz by YSL and pineapple fragrance oil)
manstr – :
The scent is spicy-green masculine fougere, refined and sophisticated. The resent formulation is better! This is a woody green – hidden rose fragrance. fresh and refined at the same time. An unmistakable elegant masculine fragrance. A Class manly hidden treasure for the young men to discover. top 10 quality at affordable price. Could be niche priced easy! The bottle image above is wrong.
i0509 – :
Just bought a bottle and I seriously don’t know why it has taken me this long to buy it. It has been over 15 years since I last smelt this master piece.
Imo, to sum it up, this is the most masculine, mature, piney green, barbershop like fragrance out there. This is an absolute classic! Take my money right now!
A forever favourite!
VladAmI – :
Just got a sealed 50ml bottle of this, bottle is like the one pictured above in description.
I think the juice in the atomizer was stale, ’cause it smelled like curry…. So I pumped it a couple of times and tried again – just slightly curry-ish, and then it happened…..turning into a green, dense, mossy beautiful FOUGERE!
I love it.
I hope it’ll get even better once the juice settles down, obtaining room temperature.
9/10
EDIT:
Yes! It helped. Curry’s all gone. Now it’s the aromatic, green, mossy, delicious fougere I know and love 😉
10/10
Manhunt – :
Tsar is an elegant fragrance for a man of taste and refinement—regardless of age. Comments like “dated” or “old man cologne” only speak to an individual’s limitations of experience, perspective, and sophistication.
Emil21574 – :
Yikes, this is a wild one. It’s a big 80’s-era scent, at least in the overall scent profile, but it stops just short of qualifying as a “powerhouse,” in my opinion. It’s big, but it’s not obnoxiously loud, if that makes sense.
I’m getting huge amounts of the pine, gin-like juniper, and cedar, with moderate patchouli and some rosemary, all of which are very green and crisp. But underneath that, there is the presence of tonka bean, amber, and florals to round this whole scent out into a soapy kind of experience. Green, clean, soapy. That’s how I’d describe it.
Projection is a bit above average, longevity is just about average and then it gets a bit closer to the skin.
Probably shouldn’t wear this one unless you’re either 35 or older, or you have a high-powered job where you wear a suit and tie to work every day.
breabyoceance – :
I bought this because everyone said it smelled similar to YSL Jazz – it doesn’t.
Jazz has a unique, uplifting, woodsy, youthful brightness.
To my nose Tsar doesn’t have that at all, it’s more of a creamy, soapy green oakmoss for a mature gentleman.
It’s not unpleasant, it’s quite nice…. but it’s nothing like Jazz.
cucher – :
extremely elegant and classy. Has that typical dad’s cologne vibe from back in the day. The oakmoss is prevalent, it reminded me of Pasha de Cartier which I don’t like. In that case it felt like a damp, flat, old vegetable scent but with Tsar, I feel the pine is making it much fresher, wearable and manly.
I really love this, the bottle and box have elegant classic written all over it.
Boynxe – :
So I blind bought this one along with Paco rabanne pour home and so far this is the most wearable. So fresh, manly and green. Doesn’t smell dated at all and can be pretty much anytime of the year imo. I’ve smelt this before and I think it was as one of the Old Spice body washes. Great blind buy and I think anyone would be fine spending the $23 on this to add to their collection.
Ksaltotunn – :
I love this on my boyfriend it smells deep woods in Russia, in early winter. Its deep and majestic and smells rich.
botinok – :
Note: Review is of the darker bottle, which I believe is the current version. Avoid the earlier (transparent) bottle. Go for current (dark, translucent) or go for vintage (opaque).
Tsar is an honest, good fougere, the likes of which are disappearing one by one these days. There’s the traditional bergamot-lavender-oakmoss structure, but Tsar distinguishes itself with an array of fresh, green notes that are slightly more grassy-coniferous than herbal. The bright, vivid opening of bergamot and lavender, tinged with neroli, leads to an aromatic phase that persists over a few hours. It is fresh, delightfully reminiscent of high-quality soap, yet retains a surprising crisp dryness. The oakmoss is discernible, though somewhat toned down, and together with patchouli and woods comprise an abstract accord that concludes the final transformation, where the fresh green aspects are still retained. It seems to have very little leathery aspect, if any. Tsar has an appreciable duration of about seven hours and a persistent gentlemanly sillage.
Tsar’s neighbours could be Jazz (less green, more abstract and complex), Duc de Vervins (less fresh, more leathery) and Esencia (more woody and coniferous). Tsar could be a classic white shirt fragrance, though personally its charms are best experienced at leisure. I tend to think of Tsar as uplifting, uncomplicated, handsome, authentic, wholesome, more traditional than conservative, and a wardrobe staple for the discerning noses.
4/5 (positive)
iliakaty – :
I’m not knowledgable enough nor familiar with all the components of fragrances I read of here, such as tonka bean and bergamot but when I smell Tsar, which i like, I’m sure it smells like the Quorum I used to have. Anyone else?
CoachTayler – :
The Tsar On A Hunt In The Forest
Originally an expensive fragrance from a company known better for it’s jewelry, it’s now a very affordable luxury! Tsar is a masterpiece a manly green chypre. The imagery it creates is that of a Medieval Tsar on a black horse riding in the deep forest as he pursues his prey. Opens with neroli, citrus, wormwood, coriander and florals of lavender rosemary indolic jasmine and carnation. Some soft sweet notes like juniper and cinnamon. The opening is not as green but you have to wait until it turns into the kind of fragrance that makes you think of big greens like Ralph Lauren Polo or Safari.
The few florals in this scent do not come off as feminine so if you’re new to fragrances and look up the notes on Fragrantica and see that there is lavender, rosemary, carnation, jasmine, lily of the valley, geranium and even a rose, do not fear. These are not floral bouquets. The floral extracts are more like soap, more like green soap with a touch of the floral. I mostly get a green cabbage carnation, lavender and rosemary which give it a pastoral ‘outdoor’ scent. Masculine despite the florals. This is more of an aggressive green flora and fauna type of smell.
Tsar cologne is the scent of the countryside. This Russian monarch is not dressed in his regal finery and sitting on his ass in the Winter Palace in St Petersburg. He’s at his country cottage and is living off the land for the summer hunting and fishing. The green notes are what most dominate the cologne. You will smell pine needles, pine trees, tarragon, vetiver grass, patchouli, herbs, Evernia Prunastri or oak moss. The lichen and moss is like a ground of green carpet made of grass and moss. The greenery is outstanding. This has got to be the most green cologne of them all. It’s like living in the forest. This should have a different name than Tsar because it’s more of a huntsman or woodsman.
The dry notes are dominated by musk, leather and woodsy cedar bark. The dry down is totally woodsy. Clean and polished like the hardwood floor in a cabin. The fragrance is quite powerful and throws out an enormous projection so apply sparingly. Tsar lasts all day. It’s quite formal and is best worn with suits and ties. This is a very masculine fragrance but it has a poised elegance so it would suit a big shot CEO, producer, or alpha male of any profession or industry. It is mature compared to today’s sissier scents.
Tsar has much in common with green chypres like Bijan For Men Polo and Safari. Classy and sophisticated but masculine and animalic, warm, deep, a scent that comes from another time and another place. I like how it does evoke a Russian forest and like with Caron Yatagan it’s clearly designed for men only, not a unisex fragrance. Today you can buy it online at a more affordable price. Tsar is for the autumn and winter months with formal evening wear or for day time business formal suits. One of the great colognes of all time.
bedonchik – :
How to review or render homage to a classic like Tsar. Everything has already been said before, so here comes my praise. The opening is just green and lush. The smooth richness of the blended notes is just spellbinding. The green notes mixed with the coniferous and herbaceous notes is so beautifully masculine. With the added healthy dash of juniper and oak moss, this scent also exudes a lovely aromatic earthiness. Tsar delivers the goods early. There is no slow build up here, just the choice cuts! Tsar also has a certain brightness to it, which I attribute to the floral aspects of this scent. Carnation and jasmine ring through the vast landscape of this scent. The spice comes through in the mid of this scent and acts as a great backdrop for the other notes. Once again the cinnamon and caraway notes used here are so perfectly executed, harmonizing with every passing note from the lavender to the cedar. I could go on but the notes are endless! Though this scent is a classic it feels in no way dated and every bit unique as it has always been. Tsar is manly and refined and is for the thirty and up crowd. This is perfect for winter and fall. Give this a spray when you want to give your confidence and comfort a boost on a winter or fall day; this scent is simply divine and cozy under a sweater or scarf. Tsar is a must in anyone’s collection and seems to be what modern perfumery needs to return to. Classic bold compositions that take risks and reward the wearer!!!!!
korsac – :
It is hard to disagree that as you age, you become a little bit more nostalgic. Youth typically does not have those drawbacks; yet when you r younger you lack that ever so needed perspective sometimes.
It is common for fragheads in this forum to complain about the linearity and commonness of today’s offerings. Yet it is a harsh reality.
Enter Tsar.
I have fond memories of Tsar the first time around. It was such an elegant, distinctive and masculine aroma. Maybe too mature for my early twenties, I also remember that year fondly with so many beautiful discoveries like Heritage, or Vendetta and Escada PH, now sadly discontinued.
The heat is rising infernally in South Florida and I decided it was a good day for a fougere. Tsar welcomed me with all its beauty. A green, piney, floral, spicy cinnamon and juniper beauty. All of this upon application. It reminded me of Polo, but with tons of florals to balance the dryness of that other classic from yesteryear. It reminded me of Devin in the drydown too, but more assertive, at least in both of their current reformulations. Here the Lavander becomes more pronounced.
My point? Tsar is, thankfully still available at dirt cheap prices. It is not the current trend, it is not described as a panty dropper, but it will kick any of the Savages butts in terms of complexity and versatility.
Classic and classy. A true beauty.
Smell great my friends.
ZOOM 44 – :
The fragrance has not changed at all according to my nose, this is still a very lovely smell. Maybe the Oakmoss is a little more dominant, wich makes the fragrance even better.
CliliAlance – :
Tsar
Like the bottle, this is a classic scent. Retro. Art Deco.
Belongs in a Dune like world. (The movie not he fragrance)
For me, an old guy, apart from being a fragrance collector, I am also a consumer.
Even if my first fragrance Hugo Boss number 1 is even older (1985), I find Tsar like many other old fragrances in my collection, quite unbearable.
Unlike it’s older brother (or Father) Van Cleef & Arpels pour homme, this one in spite of having about all notes used today on modern fragrances, misses the link with the 21 Century. Which for me is the soapiness of VC&H ph for example.
The soapiness that I love so much in the Acqua di Parma Colonias, and Prada Amber for example.
As I have already said last year about the same time as now, I need to close the Old factory Book. If not as a collector, than definetely as a consumer.
Because, man do I smell dirty today. A bit like a corps in a coffin.
I mixed up the bottles this morning, as I intended to spray the VC&H ph but took Tsar instead. Once I noticed the mistake I sprayed a bit of VC&H ph on top.
Oops, both are sillage monsters and they will last till shower.
In the meanwhile I am developing a headache.
королёк – :
Great cologne
I’m big fan of Tsar. It sticks to my skin.
stvol_915 – :
This will be a review for the vintage 1989 cologne formulated by the nose Philippe Bousseton
Tsar: A Russian Steppe Oriental
This was an epic back in it’s day and my all time favorite green. This was nothing new when it was released. Green theme green note fragrances were all the rage in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Off the top of my head: Coty’s Aspen, Polo by Ralph Lauren in the green bottle and the original vintage Bijan. Indeed this is a Russian tsar a monarch but not in his Winter Palace at Saint Petersburg, nor holding court in the Red Square in Moscow, far from the realm of politics, he is hunting in the steppes of Russia, riding on his horse, and enjoying a getaway in Crimea, in the lush green foliage of the forest. This is a forest scent, natural, spicy, earthy, a roll on green grass, a mountain, a wood, a lake. A scent for the rugged athletic outdoorsy guy. A perfect skier’s cologne. Very European, mature, bold, classy, dignified and undoubtedly the best of the greens.
Tsar has an opening top green notes, artemisia, coriander, lavender, neroli, bergamot orange, rosemary and cinnamon. In it’s heart are notes of carnation, juniper berries, tarragon, orris root, jasmine, caraway, lily-of-the-valley, rose, geranium and pine tree. The base is made of leather, sandalwood, tonka bean, amber, patchouli, musk, coconut, oakmoss, cedar and vetiver. This is a hell of a lot of notes for one man’s cologne, especially by today’s standards where you see three notes in the top, three notes in the heart and three notes in the base. This is not a shy or subtle scent, not a light skin freshening tonic but a real long lasting and deep fragrance an Oriental and a chypre for a man. It’s a classic with a lot going for it. I first wore it at the time of it’s release whenever I went to the Poconos or to Colorado for ski trips and to smell good of course. It still smells the same after all these years and receives compliments from both sexes.
The opening is citrusy in the vein of Coty Aspen a breath of fresh air in the mountains. A sharp bergamot and oil. The artemisia and the neroli are detectable, as is the lavender floral note along with green lily of the valley and jasmine. Yes it is floral but not feminine floral nor powdery despite the iris. It is like those floral greens for men a la Geoffrey Beene’s Grey Flannel or Creed’s Green Irish Tweed. This is a rustic cologne of the forest. The rosemary is also quite noticeable, spicy-floral and you can also pick up on the herbal tones of green leaves, the patchouli plant, the tarragon grass and the vetiver.
When Tsar dries, he is a leathery, musky, woodsy scent. It has a very mature masculine dry down with tons of leather like the kind you would smell on a horse saddle or the reigns. Very leathery and polished, heady with woodsy notes of distinctive cedar, and a pine tree. That pine note is so amazing and so realistic. I don’t know how they did that but the miracle of perfumery is that the chemicals that are mixed release aromas we associate with specific places and geographies. This is a forest and if you smell it long enough it takes you there. You’re on a horse riding in leather boots and a green military uniform. The vanilla courtesy of tonka is subtle but detectable, just a bit sweet by such sweet aids as juniper berry. The amber tree is also very well composed. Smells of amber from trees. Smells of oak moss, moss on the ground and on the base of trees, and on rocks. It reminds me of the filming location in England (or Ireland) in EXCALIBUR by director John Boorman in the scene in which Arthur pulls the sword out of the stone in that dense green forest. It’s Merlins’ mystical green forest. Something about this is magical like a forest in Lord of the Rings. Oak moss reigns supreme. It throws out more moss than any cologne for a man that I’m used to. Oak moss has been primarily a woman’s fragrance note but you will find it in many vintage colognes for men. This is a good moss intro as well. A superb and glorious green.
This is wearable in winter time and fall when the air is starting to get chilly. The aromatic scent is almost medicinal and sure to soothe you and comfort you. Suits coats, jackets, leather, and scarves, or trench coats. This is a very masculine cologne and not at all unisex or feminine despite those flower notes. This is mainly a green note of moss and musk. Animals in the forest are running away from the hunter on horseback. There is mist in the air. Scotland. Ireland. Wales. A European green. Formal and casual at the same time. Day wear. Evening wear.
The Emerald City wrapped up in green leaves vines and moss.
Soundtrack
It’s Not Easy Being Green by Kermit the Frog
neaniimitte – :
Sem dúvida, o melhor perfume masculino da VC & A.
Sem dúvida, um dos melhores perfumes masculinos já produzidos; seja na formulação atual, seja na original.
Sem dúvida, um perfume que fará parte da minha seleção para a vida toda.
sunnymansy – :
Sem dúvida, o melhor perfume masculino da VC & A.
Sem dúvida, um dos melhores perfumes masculinos já produzidos; seja na formulação atual, seja na original.
Sem dúvida, um perfume que fará parte da minha seleção para a vida toda.
supershmarka – :
Ultra-green, woody, soapy masterpiece that reeks of class and aristocratic elegance.
VC&A’s best-selling male fragrance and rightfully so, this sadly gets a lot of hate due to the general stigma of “late 1980’s powerhouse scents.” Worry not, as this fragrance is enduring and transcendent as hell.
While there is legitimate debate about reformulation and concentration since its debut, the current presentation in the translucent green art deco bottle (similar to the original first bottle minus its gold marbling effect) is sure to give its wearer a countenance of affluence, and provoke compliments as much. We don’t often get coniferous greenery, woodiness, and soapy-clean in the same scent then or now, and its most definitely worth savoring here.
The ridiculously economical price making it all the more ironic for such a regal scent, and also seems respective enough for the admittedly average projection and longevity. With a scent this good and this cheap, you can’t really complain.
Not a “dated 80’s yawn-inducer” as some suggest, but a timeless definition of sophistication and luxury.
★★★★ out of ★★★★
Tornfox – :
My dad still has the older, original formulation. This is truely an 80s icon with excellent longevity and sillage. Its an unarguably unique scent! I can pick out it’s fresh and spicey notes with oak moss, lavender and pine in a crowd. What I really love about it the most is it’s reminiscent of a walk through a forest. Oh and the leather! The leather! It’s masculine, woody and green in the best way!
buyzithromaxxxx – :
reformulated recently but still smells good! a genuine classic for mens !
garryn – :
This review is for the older version…
Tsar and Jazz were brother’s in the late 80’s into the early 90’s. In the day fragrance were robust and full of vigor. They had solid base notes of woodsy/green blend with pine needles and oakmoss. Both lavender and juniper berries completes this juice.
Longevity and Silage is very high quality.
I wish that VC wouldn’t tweak this juice…the older version is far better than what was produced later on. The image shown is more recent, the older version the bottle had a the similar pattern as the package. VC should do what YSL did …relaunch several fragrance inclunding Pour homme, Midnight in Paris and this juice. It would be great if VC did bring them back…several classic’s. I remember wearing this juice and I always given complements. Rating it is a no brainer….9/10
polyakov2010 – :
Yep again refulmulated ….less oak moss inside destroying balance to the whole composition
In classic pour him van cleef they stopped using natural oak moss extract and tree moss extract ……it lost beautiful silage and longevity…
Why they destroying theirs own art prices
It is not from allergies reasons only saving the money …alcohol is giving more allergies and other synthetics in the perfume then mosses,……..savings savings savings
nizelnik – :
Tsar – the scent of forest.
Absolutely green. It’s quite simple, oakmoss and green notes, but that is enough for great scent.
Mature and sophisticated.
Unfortunately, current formulation is quite weird, it’s much bitter and less green than earlier formulations. Also the performances are weak.
All in all great scent, but search for earlier formulations if you want real Tsar (before they used real oakmoss, but after ifra ban they use synthetic).
gefesomeNerne – :
As others have mentioned concerning the current version, this is quite a green, soapy, woody scent – I’m not detecting many of the notes listed, just the handful of those getting the most votes. They have clearly cheaped out on the reformulation, and despite the fact that it’s obviously not the complex scent originally released, it definitely has its virtues, particularly for the exceptional price.
This is a very (VERY) mature, scent – and in my opinion it would be an act of the utmost irony to wear this with anything other than business or formal attire, and it’s a prototypical cool/cold weather scent. I can easily see how the initial burst of green soapiness (give some depth with a hint of the cedar note) might be too much in hot/humid air, escalating from pleasant to dizzying without too much effort. The oakmoss and leather in the drydown are probably more pleasant year-round, but I’ll not be venturing through that opening in summer warmth to find out for myself.
This formulation is quite strong within arms length on the opening, but seems to proceed to a woodsy skin scent (on me at least) within about three hours. This is safe for the workplace or any setting calling for a more mature, restrained approach. This is called for when you want to assure those around you that you are, perhaps despite outward appearances, a man. Meeting your potential in-laws for the first time? Tsar will have your back and tell them you are to be trusted. Green liquid gravitas.
I will definitely keep this in my fall/winter office rotation.
Bottle Question – I bought the art deco “clear” bottle earlier this this year (which I really like, very architectural) for what I understood to be the weaker, current formulation – but this fall (2016) if you check online right now you see Tsar being sold in the same dark, opaque bottle that VC&A Pour Homme is sold in (but the Tsar version is, of course, green). I know during original release, it was sold in this same bottle, but with “TSAR de VC&A” printed on it (as opposed to the current TSAR VC&A). I’m curious if the change back to the original bottle this year has also marked a change in the formulation – perhaps to a stronger formula closer to the original?
preslov – :
What a discovery for me – I always ignored this one for some strange reason. I was a great fan of Drakkar Noir and used it for many years from 2000 till 2008 as my main daily office wear along with Paco Rabanne Pour Homme. Unfortunately, both got reformulated in the 2008-2009 timeline and are now pale shadows of what they were earlier. I was desperately looking to replace Drakkar Noir for the last 6 years and so happy that finally found this Tzar!!! What a fresh green soothing combination that really makes a great start to my day.
This is a very complex formulation as well with excellent longevity and decent projection. This is truly an ageless creation, as relevant, enjoyable and pleasing today as it must have been in the 80s. Please do not go by the 80s tag and give a try at least and I promise, you will thank yourself for doing so!
Fadal33 – :
Smells like a mature Hugo.
Furaemainue – :
Van Cleef and Arpel’s Tsar, an 80’s Masterpiece! I used to rock this one when it first came out.
It is green and oakmoss. The reform is weaker, but still get 8+ hours and good projection for the first few hours. The old formulation was a beast, lasting all day and a huge projector.
It does smell like YSL’s Jazz to me. Not too many compliments with this one nowadays, but used to get a lot when it first came out. Some say it is a bit dated, and I can see that. But still a great fragrance.
A great fragrance classic.
9.5 of 10.
alex79 – :
نمیدونم تا حالا گیاه درمنه رو از نزدیک دیدین یا نه
بوی خاص و دوست داشتنی داره
تا حالا هر عطری که درمنه داشته رو بو کردم محال بوده ازش خوشم نیومده باشه
این یکی از اوناست
منو میبره به یک بیابون سر سبز از درمنه های بیشمار که یک گله گوسفند دارند اونجا چرا میکنند
Marceliusic – :
This legitimately smells watered down in it’s current formulation. The smell has this weird airiness that makes me dislike it alot :S. Pine-o