Birmane (Eau de Toilette) by Van Cleef & Arpels

Bottle Design:
Serge Mansau

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Birmane Van Cleef & Arpels 1999 Eau de Toilette

7.6 / 10 53 Ratings

A popular perfume by Van Cleef & Arpels for women, released in 1999. The scent is fruity-sweet. The production was apparently discontinued.
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Main accords

Fruity

Sweet

Floral

Woody

Oriental

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Pineapple

Lemon

Rosewood

Bergamot

Heart Notes

Heliotrope Rose

Rose

Orchid

Base Notes

Musk

Tonka bean Vanilla

Vanilla

Sandalwood

Perfumer

Richard Herpin

Ratings

Scent

7.653 Ratings

Longevity

7.535 Ratings

Sillage

6.735 Ratings

Bottle

7.743 Ratings

Submitted by Kankuro · last update on 10/12/2024.

Source-backed & verified

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Eau de Rêverie

Reviews

5 in-depth fragrance descriptions

05/21/2014

10Scent

DarkMatter
24 Reviews

DarkMatter

Helpful Review 7

Only the Best are Discontinued!

Time and time again it seems that the best and most unusual perfumes are discontinued. Birmane is a case in point. I do agree with a lot of what Scentimental said in his review, but cannot see Birmane as "bland".

Upon first application Birmane is a fruity/herbal mixture. I know that herbs aren't listed per se, but there is a very medicinal quality along with the pineapple and bergamot which are obvious initially. Quite quickly this medicinal note smooths into the most wonderful rosewood that I have ever come across in a perfume. Birmane manages to be both sweet and dry. The rosewood smells just like those beautifully carved wooden Indian boxes that abound in exotic shops. The initial fruitiness is replaced with a smooth cocoon-like embrace of heliotrope, musk and tonka bean. The beauty of Birmane is more apparent in the colder months. Wear it with a cashmere sweater and snuggle into its downy softness. Birmane is comfort food for the olfactory senses. It is complex, cozy and smooth.

Reclining upon a pile of luxurious cushions is a beautiful and voluptuous matriarch. Allow her to take you into her embrace and sooth away the creases on your brow as she holds you against her ample bosom.

EDIT: I note that here it says that Birmane is still in production. I am under the impression that it has been discontinued as it is impossible to purchase. But perhaps I am mistaken. I hope I am!

01/19/2020

8Scent 8Longevity 5Sillage

Serenissima
1227 Reviews

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Serenissima

Top Review 14

the golden pineapple

Admittedly: the "Golden Pineapple" is not an award that anyone is clamoring for.
Unless, of course, they need to stand out at all costs.

But this golden pineapple is not what we are talking about here.
The pineapple, with whose aroma the Eau de Toilette "Birmane" opens, is golden. Not the fruity, flesh-colored light yellow, but softer and deeper, as if under the light's influence in the late afternoon, when the now gentler sun tenderly caresses the fruits with long fingers and paints fine golden patterns.
To put it plainly: "Birmane" is sweet, a sweet feminine fragrance; just like the memory of the first kiss will always remain sweet. (Although it might have just been a wet smooch.)
Here appears a fruity sweetness that neither clogs the nasal hairs nor the little snout.
"Birmane" as an Eau de Toilette is not just "sweet stuff" in fragrance form; it is stylish and very elegant at the same time.

Alongside the immediately present and never fully fading pineapple, bergamot and a fine, airy lemon join in; both provide a light freshness and a certain zest.
The noble rosewood, on the other hand, is in my opinion far too rarely encountered. Its aroma is fruity-sweet with a pleasantly light spicy note. So, quite fitting in this context.
According to common fragrance lexicons, rosewood stands for trust and calm. It awakens the sweet pain of expectation and hope. - How beautiful!
Thus, I enter a summery-light, yet not superficial fragrance world that envelops me like a delicate cloak.
The dark notes of orchid and heliotrope have been somewhat muted, taking a step back. They do not power forward with full force, but rather open the floral gate wide for the beauty of the ripe, fully bloomed rose scent.
I gladly step into their midst to be caressed by the fragrance.
The base note is laid out here on warm, enticing sensuality: musk, tonka bean, and vanilla show that they serve Aphrodite - they spread calm eroticism.
A contradiction in itself? No! Eroticism does not always have to be loud and breathtaking: it is precisely in its subtle approach that the true art of seduction lies!
Thus, the complex scent of sandalwood also opens heart and feeling; mysterious and, as always, somewhat herbaceous.

It is enchanting how the scent profile of "Birmane" changes over time: from the delicate organza, where each thread/every scent note stands clearly on its own and where the underlying is still clearly recognizable, to the fine, slightly denser, more cuddly voile.
As if all the attendees have now introduced themselves, drawn closer to one another, and would finally hold hands lovingly or embrace!
From this embrace emerges a sweet, yet entirely wearable charming fragrance being, which seems to have been created solely to flatter us women.
Thus, it does great honor to the illustrious name of its manufacturer!

For me, "Birmane," even as an Eau de Toilette, is very well suited to give a gray and perhaps even sad day (can days actually be sad?) beautiful golden lights.
Like little points of light, they weave through the hours: quietly flickering, gracefully floating, and warmly smiling!

04/11/2011

8Scent

Confusion
142 Reviews

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Confusion

Top Review 8

Light Oriental, better than it looks

First of all: Van Cleef & Arpels could have put more effort into the packaging. The scent appears completely outdated due to its presentation; the company has created fancier things before.
That's probably why no one knows it...

But I actually think it’s not that bad!

Birmane starts off quite fruity, lemony-fresh-fruity-powdery. I find it very well balanced, not too much lemon, as I don’t like too much lemon. Maybe it’s the rosewood that creates the powdery note. I can only recognize the wood later, when the top note has faded and rose and soft heliotrope come more to the forefront.

Overall, the scent is only slightly floral; the woody notes dominate, and the fruits remain present for a long time.

Well, the base isn’t anything special, but it’s very pleasant. Vanilla, a clear wood note (different from the initial one!), tonka bean, and very subtle musk.

What makes Birmane an 80%er for me is the fact that, for an obviously oriental-woody scent, it is not overly heavy, almost... translucent, but certainly elegant (hey, just because something is supposed to be elegant doesn’t mean it has to be put in such packaging and such a bottle!). This doesn’t mean it disappears quickly; the longevity is fine, and it’s not a so-called skin scent. You can definitely notice it... I think Birmane is wearable all year round.

01/24/2014

9Scent

pudelbonzo
2405 Reviews

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pudelbonzo

Very helpful Review 10

Fragrances...

... of Arabia?
No, I am reminded of the fragrances of Italy - more specifically, Calabria.
The toe of the boot is still largely untouched by tourism, which condemned me to pantomime representations with my poor Italian skills, but the locals kindly appreciated it.
The scent of this region is uniquely beautiful, which made my efforts worthwhile.
This wonderful aroma of lemon groves, bergamot, and blooming rose bushes is exquisitely captured in Birmane. Heliotrope and sandalwood further deepen the Mediterranean feeling, and the gently sweet vanilla bathes my memories in golden sunlight.
This fragrance is a poem:
Sitting in front of the little crooked house - feeling nothing but the warmth of the sun, hearing nothing but the sound of the sea - and between two heartbeats believing - now there is peace.

01/09/2015

7Scent 7.5Longevity 5Sillage

NadsSpatz
597 Reviews

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NadsSpatz

2

Birma - The Golden Land

~ Inspiration ~
My second tested fragrance from the brand Van Cleef & Arpels this week. I also received a sample of this one during a swap.

~ Bottle ~
The bottle looks quite unremarkable. Its name "Birmane" is derived from the eponymous country in Southeast Asia, which is also called "the golden land" (matching the bright color of the liquid).

~ Fragrance ~
It starts fresh, citrusy, and fruity with sunny bergamot, lemons, and sweet pineapple - a hint of rosewood immediately mixes in. Roses, orchids, and heliotrope create a floral-soapy accord. With musk, sandalwood, and a touch of vanilla/tonka beans, it ultimately concludes warm and creamy.

~ Longevity ~
On my skin, it lasts about 7-8 hours (a bit longer on clothing and hair). If I apply too much, it becomes too synthetic and scratchy in my throat.

~ Occasion ~
It fits well for the warmer days in spring and autumn. However, for the evening, it would be too weak for me.

~ Conclusion ~
I like it very much, unlike "Bois d'Iris."
What bothers me a bit is a spicy-dry hint (from the rosewood?).