2000 et Une Nuit

The Verdict

Lancôme's 2000 et Une Nuit is a fragrant time capsule from the cusp of the millennium. Released in 1999 as a limited edition Eau de Parfum to celebrate the arrival of the year 2000, this Christine Nagel creation weaves together aldehydes, pepper, roses, woods, and musk into what Lancôme described as a fabulously floral arrangement. Available only as a 50 ml EDP, it was one of three millennium fragrances from the house, alongside 2000 et Une Rose and 2000 Et Une Folies.

Today, 2000 et Une Nuit exists primarily as a collector's piece and a testament to the era's approach to fragrance creation. Christine Nagel, who would go on to become head perfumer at Hermes, crafted something that balanced the classic aldehydic tradition with a modern spiced rose character.

What It Smells Like

The composition opens with refreshing floral notes reminiscent of neroli, alongside the aromatic freshness of angelica and lemon leaf. Pepper provides a spicy edge that prevents the opening from feeling too sweet or predictable. The heart is dominated by rose, described by those who have worn it as wonderfully airy and natural, avoiding the heavy-handed rose treatment common in many florals.

Musk and woody notes provide the foundation, while aldehydes add the sparkling, effervescent quality that lifts the entire composition. Some wearers have described the overall effect as lemony pound cake with vanilla icing, sweet but clean and non-offensive. The interplay of the aldehydic sparkle with the warm pepper creates a sophisticated tension that keeps the fragrance interesting throughout its development.

When to Wear It

As a floral with soapy, aldehydic qualities, 2000 et Une Nuit suits romantic evenings and formal occasions where an elegant rose fragrance is appropriate. Spring and fall provide the ideal temperature range for its character, allowing the aldehydes to sparkle without the heaviness that summer heat might induce or the muting that extreme cold could cause.

Longevity & Projection

As a limited edition from 1999 with very sparse community data, precise performance metrics are difficult to establish. The Eau de Parfum concentration and the quality of Lancôme's formulations from this era suggest respectable longevity, likely in the range of 5 to 7 hours for bottles that have been properly stored. Any vintage bottles still in circulation should be evaluated individually, as storage conditions dramatically affect aged fragrance performance.

The Community Says

Community discussion of 2000 et Une Nuit is understandably limited given its age and rarity. The few who have encountered it speak warmly of its beautiful rose character and its distinctly late-1990s approach to feminine fragrance. The name itself, translating to 2000 and One Nights, evokes the romanticism that defined the millennium celebrations, and the fragrance apparently captured that spirit effectively.

Who Should Buy This

This fragrance is really only relevant to vintage fragrance collectors and dedicated admirers of Christine Nagel's body of work. If you happen to encounter a well-preserved bottle at a vintage fragrance seller or estate sale, it represents a genuine piece of perfumery history from one of the industry's most respected noses. For anyone seeking a wearable everyday rose fragrance, modern alternatives are far more practical and accessible.

The Bottom Line

Lancôme's 2000 et Une Nuit is a charming millennium-era artifact that showcases Christine Nagel's talent for creating elegant aldehydic florals, a fragrance frozen in time that rewards the lucky few who can still find it.