Marilyn Monroe’s love affair with Chanel No.5 perfume is known to everyone, with the bombshell famously quipping to a reporter, “Chanel No. 5, of course”, when asked about her bedtime attire.
However, it turns out that wasn’t her sole fragrance favourite. Erin Parsons, a renowned Youtuber and vintage beauty aficionado who also works as a makeup artist for A-listers like Bella Hadid and Karlie Kloss, has revealed in an in-depth video that Monroe was frequently spotted with another scent: Arpège Eau de Parfum by Lanvin.
Delving into historical receipts, interviews from the 1950s, and snapshots of Monroe’s personal vanity, she has highlighted the undeniable link between the Hollywood icon and this particular perfume.
For those eager to channel their inner Marilyn, Arpège remains on sale today. A 100ml bottle typically retails at £80, but savvy shoppers can snag it on Amazon for just £37.49, or even less at AllBeauty for £25.97.
Known for its ‘floral aldehyde’ notes, Arpège has been enchanting noses since its debut in 1927, reports Manchester Evening News.
Despite undergoing a package redesign and reformulation in 1993, devoted fans insist that Arpège has stayed true to the original essence they remember. While vintage perfume collectors may detect variations, it’s important to note that, much like fine wines, perfumes change over time.
This fragrance exudes an air of sophistication with its elaborate blend of scents that come together to create the ultimate symbol of class. Kicking off with sparkling aldehydes, this perfume offers a crisp, soapy aroma enhanced by the freshness of lily-of-the-valley, peach, honeysuckle, neroli, and bergamot.
The heart of the scent blooms with lush florals such as jasmine, ylang-ylang, Lily-of-the-valley, iris, coriander, rose, lily, geranium, and camellia. Solidifying the experience are ample traditional base notes of sandalwood, amber, vetiver, musk, benzoin, vanilla, and patchouli.
With only 14 reviews on Fragrance Direct, it has already achieved a remarkable average rating of 4.64. A devoted enthusiast exclaimed: “I’ve been wearing this perfume for over 40 years, still my favourite. Beautiful light scent which last for several hours, not too sweet just the right mix.”
Another user reminisced: “This Arpege is just as I remembered from 50 years ago. Brilliant.”
And one more content buyer cited: “If you love floral aldehyde like Chanel No. 5 you are going to love it. I love the delicate floral dry down on this one as opposed to No 5. However the opening is a lot similar and screechy like Chanel’s. You just have to give it time to settle as it turns into a beautiful soapy creamy floral and lasts until you wash your clothes/body off. Very happy with the purchase.”
Arpège remains a hot topic among perfume connoisseurs, drawing comparisons to the legendary Chanel No. 5 due to their similar aromatic qualities, leading some to claim they belong in the same ‘perfume family’.
Despite Chanel’s fragrance being the elder sibling, both scents are celebrated for their distinctive likenesses. One Fragrantica enthusiast commented: “I can’t comment on the notes, [Arpège] is so well blended but I would say it is a finer Chanel 5, more vibrant, lively, with a sharper intro. I love it.”
Adding to the mix, another aficionado weighed in: “I agree with everyone who says No5 and Arpege are in the same family but definitely not the same. I find No5 to be more powdery than soapy, specially when it dries down, whereas Arpege retains its sparkly soapiness. I definitely get more florals out of Arpege as well.”
Currently, Arpège can be snapped up from Amazon for just £37.49. A similar perfume could be the Floris London No.89 perfume, which has notes of fresh citrus cologne top notes and a distinctive spicy woody character, but the price point is higher at £74.63 on Amazon.
Guerlain’s Samara eau de toilette spray is inspired by the bond between the East and West with jasmine and sandalwood as main notes, it was first launched in 1989 for women who wanted an ultra-sophisticated fragrance to set the mood for romance. You can get it from Escentual for less at £58.30.
