Arquiste The Architect’s Club is the 2014 launch from Arquiste. The fragrances all center around a historical time/place with the smells from the era and the location.
Arquiste The Architect’s Club is set in 1930s Mayfair, London, architects gathering in a smoky bar room, velvet, woods, leather. Created by Yann Vasnier, this is a great vanilla smoke scent filled with woods. It has an almost Guerlain feel to it at times – something about that smokey vanilla base – and the longer it is on, the softer and sultrier it becomes, as those architects’ eyes half close and they sink down into their chairs and let the world around them go a little dim.
Notes of juniper berry oil, angelica root, lemon peel oil, bitter orange, pepperwood, guaiac wood, oak, vanilla absolute and amber. There’s nothing Entirely New and Different in this for the vanilla lovers or the woods lovers. I’m not exactly sure what I really like about it, except I do. It’s soft and comforting and a little hazy. It reminds me a little of Le Labo Vanille 44 as well. The Architect’s Club has some of my favorite features. I didn’t find it as gourmandy as some did, so it never veered too far over in that area, keeping enough smoke and woods that it wasn’t a big frosted cupcake. It does have a little boozy vibe running around it.
I really liked it. It seems a little more mainstream than some of the other Arquiste fragrances – meaning it may have wider appeal – but I don’t feel like it’s a departure from their theme.
Oh, hell, I’m a sucker for a woody vanilla with a shot of gin. So?! Sorry not sorry. I also really love that new Jo Malone thingie, the Wood sage and sea salt. More on that next week. Let’s give away 4 samples of this fragrance to four commenters drawn at random. How’s your fall shaping up? Mine is insane so far – busy beyond busy at my job and business, plus filling in for vacationing people for three weeks. I’m so behind on everything, it’s ridiculous! Fan of Arquiste and the historical fragrance representations? Or no?
This scent sounds lovely and I could use a little comforting, that’s for sure. Its been a hellacious last couple of weeks between work, home and dealing with some acute medical issues. Once all the dust has settled (hopefully by early December) I plan on locking myself in the house on weekends and just laying on the couch, sipping tea and catching up on my reading in my jammies. Of course, I’ll need some cozy, comfy scents to wear and this one sounds just up my alley! Please enter me in the drawing as well. Thanks!
I made the pilgrimage to Barneys and got to sniff many things in person, including Arquiste! Loved Anima Dulcis and The Architechts Club. Sprayed it on a card, wrapped my scarf around that, it is so lovely….I really want a chance to try it on skin.
I was surprisingly enjoying the heat of summer but with my gloves and sweaters, I’m ready for fall–and wearing warmer scents along with warmer clothes.
Very cool that Arquiste created a scent inspired by the dirty 30s!
The fall has crept up on me quickly. I still need to find some time to put the garden to bed and clean up the yard a bit before the weather starts to turn, but for now, it actually is still quite nice out, so I am procrastinating. Will probably end up doing a yardwork blitz once it finally rains, knowing me!
Anything with gin is worth trying for me! It sounds comforting, just the thing going into a busy fall semester.
I love boozy vanillas and would enjoy trying this. I haven’t had the opportunity before to try any of this line. As for Fall, what Fall? We are still having temps in the 90’s where I live. I can’t wait for Fall, it can’t get here soon enough!
You had me at “reminds me of Vanille 44.” 🙂
My Fall is yet to arrive as it is blisteringly hot, sadly. Thank you for the draw!
I have been eagerly awaiting this release. I am a big fan of the Arquiste line with Anima Dulcis and Boutoniniere no. 7 being my favorites. Then I read Kevin’s less than favorable review and was disappointed. But you make it sound like there is hope for me to like it.
Would love a sample, and thanks!
I’m a fan of Arquiste and their historical representations. After all, scent evokes memory of a time and a place, so why not try to build a scene in the mind of the wearer?
As for the fall, it feels like someone hit the fast-forward button and everything is going double-time. Maybe it will all calm down by October. I hope so!
Definitely still summer here, but I need to buckle down and get done everything I let slide in August. I’ve only smelled Anima Dulcis from Arquiste, which was pleasant, but fleeting on me. I like vanilla, and am more interested in beautiful perfumes than innovative ones. (Do I have pedestrian tastes, or am I just not yet jaded? Probably both.)
A slightly boozy vanilla sounds wonderful. I’ve liked most of the Arquistes, even the ones that didn’t really work for me seem extremely well done. Fall has been crazy here too and I feel like I’ve fallen behind on sampling new things—and on so much else!—but I look forward to trying this one eventually.
Fall here has been very fickle! The temperature is all over the place everyday, but I love it. Hot during the day and nice and cool at night. My fall is pretty uneventful. Mostly unemployed and getting pretty tired of it. Hopefully something will come along soon! Thanks so much for the draw. I haven’t tried any Arquiste but have always wanted to.
Hang in there, Ashley! I feel for you — a while back, my whole department at work got eliminated and I was unemployed for more than two years. Just keep your head up and keep looking — I bet some time when you least expect it, something perfect will fall into your lap. I will send prayers and good thoughts your way.
it would be great to be able to try this, fan of Arquist, here
my autumn is busier than ever, I almost skipped this post….
thanks a lot, Patty
I haven’t tried this one, nor any of their fragrances (I’m relatively new to the world of perfumes so there’s soooo many labels I haven’t tried but would love to get to know), but when there’s an interesting vanilla scent involved it goes up on my wishlist. ODed on overly sweet vanilla in my teens, but now — especially now that it’s getting colder — I find myself looking for vanilla in perfumes the whole time. Still on the hunt for a favourite. Even if this one doesn’t turn out to be it — I doubt it already — I will look forward to trying it one day.
I’m also curious about Wood sage & Salt. The photos etc really entice me, not least since I live near the sea. It’s similar to their photos here, but I’m in southern Sweden instead of England. So many see the sea as a summer thing — the place you go in the summer — but for me it’s a beautiful place I visit around the year. The perfume seems to be more about the sea I visit in the rest of the year — an I love that idea. I just have to get my hands on a sample soon!
As for the question… No plans for the autumn, just hoping a new project I just joined will turn out to be good, but right now I’m waiting for the leaves to change as I’ll spend time walking in the forest and taking photos. Until then I’ll stick to picking apples (for apple pies and storing for the birds in winter) and grapes — and enjoying the moments of sunshine in between the rain showers. It’s a privilege to live in the countryside sometimes.
Architects club sounds great. It’s definitely on my to-try list. Vanilla and woods are my sweet spot. Vanille 44 is one of my favorite comfort perfumes. I am craving it a lot these days. We just started second year of med school and somehow it’s even more work than first year… thanks for the draw!
Vanilla? Of course! Love any vanilla with character.
September is crazy. October’s going to be even crazier. What’s going on? Everything. If it’s in my life something’s going on with it. Work? New fitness class, new music, new choreo. Kids? Both starting new sports. New carpool. Remodeling. New friends. Old friends having issues. Everything is in a state of flux. I need some vanilla to make it all pause.
I’m already stressed over everything I need to do this month ….lots of work related travel. I’ve never tried any of the Arquiste frags but you definitely had me at vanilla and smoke.
The Vanille 44 comparison is intriguing.
Fall is still much like summer. A bit of a break in the heat, but not much.
I look forward to a couple of days to myself end of the month.
ty
I’m busy with two teenagers this fall — one is a senior in high school, and the other is a freshman — at two different schools. So right now my life is all about filling out forms, going to Back to School nights, and getting into a new, even-earlier morning routine. Ugh. Other than that, I have my usual volunteer activities up at my church. Plus, I’ve got a long list of scents I need to get out and sniff! Priorities people! 😉 I haven’t sniffed any Arquiste scents yet, I don’t think. This one sounds really nice the way you describe it, Patty. I love historical novels, so historical scents seem very intriguing to me. As for “smokey,” I love Sycomore for just this reason.
My fall is insane. I’m an accountant, and it is budget time (eek). Add my graduation from my accounting designation program in 3 weeks and our yearly holiday in early Nov, to a flurry of concert band performances (clarinet) and I an rocking and rolling. I have not tried anything from Arquiste, but the idea of recreating an era with a scent sounds wonderful.
This sounds good, thank you, Patty! With the approaching spring, weather is already getting warmer, and the mulberry trees are charged with fruit. I´ve been working like a fiend (so tired), but my mind´s been nirvana-happy, so it´s all good.
Smoke? Vanilla? Woods? Gee, yesss! Definitely a fan of Arquiste.
i have been really wanting to sample this brand for ages!! i would love to be transported to an architect’s club in the 30’s…yes please!!
I love vanilla too, and I credit Shalimar with inspiring that love. Right now I’m crazy about Bond #9 Success, which is also vanillic but much less sultry and better for daytime.
My fall is looking good, with two classes at the local community college and continued training for the new career I want. Also, I may be close to convincing my husband to give me a kitten for my birthday.
Whenever I hear the adjective, “Smoky…” I think of a line from an old, short-lived, but spectacular, Aaron Sorkin TV show called Sports Night. Felicity Huffman’s character, Dana, tells Peter Krause’s character, Casey, to give her a compliment right NOW or… else (OK, I can’t recall the exact threat.) Dana is nearly out of the room when Casey finally manages to mutter that he thinks Dana is smoky.
You can see Dana’s knees buckle.
I want to be smoky.
I’ve never tried Arquiste and would love the opportunity. This fall is shaping up to be a doozy so interesting, distracting or comforting scents are all welcome. Plus, I’m a sucker for tobacco and vanillla.
I love the sounds of a smoky vanilla! It makes me want to go dig out Lonestar Memories 🙂 The weather has just started to turn into fall in upstate NY, which makes the smoky vanilla even more perfect.
Sounds interesting, thanks for the draw
Is it fall? Still feels like summer here, which is normal. August and Sept seem to be chaotic every year and so far this year is falling right into the same pattern. My husband and I both have early Sept birthdays and something major always seems to knock us out of celebratory mood.
I admit to being curious about The Architects Club partially because I was a design/architecture major for a while (and nobody in my studios ever smelled that great, lack of sleep and cigarette smoke mostly) and partially for the gin/juniper berry note. Is it really noticeable?
I’d love to try this. I have the two new Arquiste for J Crew fragrances, which I bought blind (just the roll-ons) and both of which, surprisingly, I like! Thanks for the draw. Things are busy in September, but it’s my favorite month, so I’m happy.
Reviews on this that I’ve read are kinda all over the place but I’d like to try it. Fall is my favorite season and so far we have beautiful early fall cool mornings and warm gold afternoons, just how I like it 🙂
It specifically reminded me of Angelique Noir from Guerlain but I liked the Guerlain better so no need to enter me
Oh, Patty, this one sounds simply lovely! Anything that reminds you of the luscious Vanille 44 has got to be good! Thanks for sharing this one (and of course, no draw for me.) Thanks for all you do!!
I have never tried any of the Arquiste fragrances, but this one sounds right up my alley. Thanks for the drawing!