Vu par Ted Lapidus
Launched in 1975, Vu par Ted Lapidus is a bold chypre floral defined by its bitter oakmoss, dry leather, and warm honey accords. It suits vintage perfume enthusiasts looking for a complex, animalic scent to wear during the cool autumn and winter months.
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Performance Metrics
360 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
This fragrance lasts between seven and nine hours on the skin. It projects strongly for the first two hours before settling into a moderate, arm's length sillage that performs best in cool autumn and winter climates.
Notes Pyramid
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Vu par Ted Lapidus is a dry, mossy chypre floral. It blends sharp green notes and citruses in the opening, leading to a heart of rose, clove, and honey. The base settles into a warm, powdery texture of oakmoss, animalic civet, and dry leather.
Main Accords
7 MAPPEDThe woody and mossy accords dominate on the skin, creating a dry forest floor feel. Honey and amber add a sweet warmth in the middle, while leather and civet provide a animalic finish that develops slowly over several hours.
Community Data
316 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in fall and winter. The vote picture leans most toward night.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Delivers outstanding longevity of over eight hours on the skin
Features a rich and authentic oakmoss note rare in modern perfumery
Offers a complex development from bright citrus to warm leather
Provides a bold presence suitable for formal winter occasions
Appeals directly to lovers of vintage chypre compositions
Unisex appeal makes it highly wearable for adventurous perfume fans
Opens beautifully with a bright, mossy amber chord woven with fresh florals.
Features a multifaceted spice and herb profile with notes of clove and rosemary.
Develops a sweet and flirty presence driven by a classic honey, rose, and civet pairing.
Ends in a rich, warm base of patchouli, vanilla, and exotic sandalwood.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Discontinued status makes finding full bottles difficult and expensive
Heavy civet note may be too animalic for modern offices
Sharp green opening can feel harsh to beginners
Does not perform well in warm, humid summer weather
Requires skin testing as it can turn dry and flat on some skin types
Fails to appeal to those who prefer sweet, clean fragrances
Can diminish quickly into a faint skin scent on certain skin chemistries.
Presents a burnt woody aspect that might not appeal to everyone.
Exhibits a sharp-spicy green character in the initial spray that can be polarizing.
Is difficult to substitute directly without layering separate fragrances like Rumba and MARC JACOBS Honey.
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Vu par Ted Lapidus Review: The Mossy Glamour of 1975”
Vu par Ted Lapidus opens with a sharp, bitter green accord that feels like stepping into a dense forest after a hard rain. Bright citruses run through this green opening, cutting the bitterness with a brief splash of acidity. The initial spray is bold and unapologetic, signaling its 1970s heritage immediately to anyone nearby.
As the sharp green notes begin to quiet down, the heart of the fragrance reveals itself on the skin. A warm rose note emerges, accompanied by powdery iris and a spicy punch of clove. Honey adds a dark, syrupy sweetness to the middle notes, preventing the spices from becoming too dry or dusty.
The dry-down is where this chypre shows its true character. The honeyed florals fade, leaving a heavy base of oakmoss, patchouli, and dry leather. A distinct animalic civet note pops up, warming the composition and giving the woody elements a skin-like warmth that feels incredibly tactile.
Performance is excellent, easily lasting over eight hours on the skin. It projects strongly during the first couple of hours, creating a noticeable presence in any room. It is best suited for cold autumn days and winter evenings, as the dense leather and civet can become cloying in the summer heat.
This perfume is not for those who prefer modern, clean laundry scents or sugary fruit patches. It suits enthusiasts who want a complex, moody wood profile with vintage character. It is a bold statement piece that demands confidence and matches perfectly with heavy winter coats.
Vu par Ted Lapidus remains an impressive example of the green chypre genre. If you enjoy dry, mossy compositions with animalic warmth, it is well worth seeking out. Because it is discontinued, try to sample it first through decant sellers before buying an expensive vintage bottle.
FAQs
What does Vu par Ted Lapidus smell like?+
It smells like a traditional dry chypre. The perfume opens with bright citruses and bitter green notes. It then reveals a heart of rose, spicy clove, and honey. The base settles into oakmoss, civet, and leather, producing a warm, mossy, and slightly animalic profile.
How does the opening compare to the dry-down?+
The opening is sharp and green, dominated by fresh citruses. As the fragrance settles over several hours, the initial brightness fades. It dries down into a dark, warm blend of oakmoss, civet, and dry leather that hugs the skin.
How long does Vu par Ted Lapidus last on the skin?+
On average, you can expect this Eau de Toilette to last between seven and nine hours. The base notes of patchouli and oakmoss cling well to skin and clothing, remaining noticeable long after the floral heart notes fade.
What is the projection and sillage of this fragrance?+
It projects strongly for the first two hours, creating a noticeable scent bubble at arm's length. Over time, it simmers down to a moderate sillage, leaving a warm trail of oakmoss and honey in your wake.
For which season is this perfume best suited?+
This chypre is best suited for autumn and winter. The heavy base notes of leather, patchouli, and sandalwood need cooler temperatures to shine. Warm summer heat can make the animalic civet note feel too dense and oppressive.
What occasions fit this scent profile best?+
It fits formal evening events, business meetings, or casual outdoor activities in cool weather. The dry, bitter green opening and leather base match well with structured woolen coats, leather jackets, and sophisticated, tailored outfits.
Does this fragrance lean masculine or feminine?+
Although marketed to women in 1975, the prominent oakmoss, leather, and green notes make it lean unisex by today's standards. Men who enjoy vintage, dry, woody fragrances will find this highly wearable.
Who is the ideal audience for this perfume?+
It suits vintage collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate traditional chypres like Rochas Mystere. Beginners accustomed to sweet, modern gourmands may find the bitter oakmoss and animalic civet notes challenging at first.
Can you layer Vu par Ted Lapidus with other scents?+
Yes, you can layer it. You can pair it with a light citrus cologne to prolong the top notes, or apply a sweet honey-based scent to soften the bitter oakmoss and dry leather base.
Are there any modern dupes or close alternatives?+
While there are no direct modern dupes, Rochas Mystere shares a similar mossy green family resemblance. Vintage Tweed by Lentheric offers a softer, lighter, and less animalic alternative with a comparable woody profile.
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Dupes & Alternatives
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Rochas Mystere offers a similar sophisticated green chypre vibe. Lentheric Tweed is a softer, cheaper, and less animalic alternative for casual daytime wear.
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