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Unnamed-zzz – :
WHY, WHY, WHY was this one discontinued?
It was the closest thing to vintage Pour Un Homme de Caron. 🙁
sweetleFare – :
I’m sorry But I just keep going back to re-write about this perfume. It is by far the best smell I have ever smelled. I own over 150 fragrances and 90% are high-end niche blah blah blah…., Nothing like this, it has the best Lavender note with Vanilla, Licorice, tobacco and a dominant Dose of heaven, Yes this is Wow! I can write poems about this fragrance. my partner hates fragrances with passion, he just likes to smell clean, But when he smelled this one his eyes widened and his face changed and he said: “this is beautiful”. go figure, anyway I got so lucky to find a 2010 bottle 250ml and now I have 2 bottles of it, and I will keep digging for more if any can still be found. I want this smell to be always always in my life. Thank you Kurkdjian for this. I probably gonna come back and re-write about this fragrance because, why not? right 🙂
rtsshome – :
Dior Eau Noire is a beast – it explodes into the room with a huge burst of what smells to me like a tray laden with glasses of hot Chartreuse mixed with espresso and maintains notable presence even as it ages down to a sweet but spicy warmth….
This is a ‘power fragrance’ for someone who wishes to dominate the room and is very much a masculine scent.
AMF09 – :
It is a better version of Annick Goutal SABLES!
herooflegend – :
@MichelMontaigne well said This is one of my top 5 fragrances of all time, Nothing like it. The curry note that people talk about I never noticed it until reading here in the comments about it. so I think no one can detect it or can associate the smell by themselves unless someone told them to dig out that smell. Trust me you will not smell like curry I see this as a very unfair description of this fragrance to say that it has a curry note. But what you will smell like, especially in the drydown, is tobacco of that of a cigar, Vanilla, spices and of course lavender, Very Alfa male.
Eugen77 – :
this is the fragrance that got me into buying Nich Fragrances (Or privee in this case). this is the most elegant sophisticated mature (not old, well maybe a little) fragrance I have ever smelled. I get a little “Excited” thinking about it. Love the opening But I Adore the dry-down. you get spices and tobacco with a warmth of vanilla to die for and lavender. not much to say except that this will forever be in my collection, and to be sprayed only in some very special suit and tie occasions.
crayry8 – :
It smelled quite familiar yet different, and it took a few minutes to figure out why. What I get is an “old school” lavender “feminine” scent (Ambush, perhaps) with some added sweetness and of course the coffee note. For me the problem is that the coffee isn’t distinct enough and also it comes across as discordant. I can see why some would like it, but can only tolerate scents with this much lavender if the composition is just right, it seems. And here, it’s clearly wrong for me. I’d actually much rather wear Legend by Michael Jordan, as it’s not discordant (there seem to be floral notes in EN that generate a note clash). I guess it’s a good thing I don’t like a lot of the most expensive scents!
UPDATE: I eventually figured out why I thought it seemed so familiar. It’s like the Les Plus Belles Lavandes EdT version of Caron Pour un Homme, only diluted a bit, made sweeter, and with the coffee note added. A real unpleasant note clash experience for me, but for those who like lavender it might be a great scent.
andalestr – :
Lmuradian said, “The signature scent of a old rich pompous mans/womans crotch.” The fact you know what old, rich, pompous crotch smells like is reason enough to ignore–with appropriate therapy–your review. LOL!
Anyway, I smelled Eau Noire rather briefly several years ago and I am so disappointed that I didn’t order a bottle because I find it to be a timeless aromatic fougere, blended expertly with that tell-tale La Collection DNA, along with a whisper of that coffee note found in Dior Vetiver. It’s gorgeous IMO. Sadly, I could not justify buying yet another full-bottle from the Dior Private Collection lineup since I already had seven 500ml bottles in my infamous Scent Armory.
Performance is excellent in that it lasts a solid 10-hours and projects slightly above average on my skin. If anyone would like to swap a 30ml decant of Eau Noir for Leather Oud (2014 beastly batch), Vetiver or Mitzah – just hit me with a PM. Just like Mitzah and Vetiver, I feel that Eau Noire is one of the standout perfumes in the La Collection Privee lineup and it earns my Gold Seal…no, make that Gold Squeal (with delight) award. Cheers!
CehilmDyeme – :
Denemeden SAKIN almayın. Gerçekten riskli bir parfüm kekik suyuna lavanta kolonyası döküp öyle hayal edin. Daha ne diyeyim.
Edit: Koku ilk sıktığınız an lavanta önderliğinde kuru baharatlarla açılıyor. Sonrasında baharatlar geriye çekiliyor ve baya yoğun bir kahve vanilya birlikteliği ile birlikte tütün kokuya ekleniyor. Açılıştaki lavanta kekik ve baharat dokusu sonrasında kahve tütün ve vanilya ile ilerleyen bir koku. Kesinlikle beğenmedim.
Puanım: 2/10
serlavrenyuk – :
Stuck with this one and glad I did, the Curry shock soon wore off and now its just a nice herbal spice feeling.
The lavender wave that I get after a minute or two I have to say is the most natural real lavender I have smelt in a fragrance, a true feeling of walking by a lavender field in the summer.
And well the drydown is a easy to enjoy, think flat white coffee with some vanilla essence.
Claimiskast – :
The curry note people mention is most certainly coming from Helichrysum italicum I have some of this growing in my herb planter in the garden and immediately recognised it, its common name is you guessed it curry plant.
I am struggling to get the other notes from this now my brain has focused on this note, but I shall keep trying this one.
AndrianoO – :
Back on the Dior UK site!
tsiundrik – :
The true meaning of elegance, I had fragrances that I called elegant before, but once I smelled this one, these fragrances just dropped down to the floor. it is not versatile, it is definitely a Suit and Tie perfume, if you wear it underdressed it won’t be noticed. but if you wear it with Suit and Tie, or at least a shirt with classic pants, You are a king and a billionaire.
julek_s – :
I bought my bottle of Eau Noire almost without haven’t try it before, actually, taking the opportunity of a good price, just because of its, let’s say, ‘legendary’ status. The thing is that I’m loving it more and more with every wear, as it’s truly addictive: a marvelous , amazingly well done dark bittersweet gourmandish beauty. I don’t regret even 1 of the euros I paid for it.
Tatsy75303 – :
A very kind and generous friend gave me a sample of this, for if I ever decided I couldn’t live without it and wanted to buy a decant. I can safely say, without a doubt, as I’ve reapplied this three times within the last thirty minutes to get another hit of that beautiful lavender, that I sadly cannot live without this in my life.
That first hit of lavender is a calming and herbal lavender, not soapy at all. When it combines softly with the licorice, it gives off a feeling similar to Brins de Reglisse by Hermes. However, after about five minutes it becomes this smooth and almost creamy love smell. The thyme and cedar then make their appearance, mixing superbly with the vanilla, lavender and licorice. All very soft, never overwhelming.
I find the idea that violet would be a base not fascinating. The violet to me comes out much earlier and just permeates through the other stages. The coffee is sweet, perhaps a bit chocolatey. This is everything I need in a fragrance. It’s powdery, mildly spicy and so so calming. NEED.
NastyKluv – :
The darkest, most melancholic lavender, shot through with herbal notes, and underpinned by the warmth of vanilla and immortelle. A mystery as to why this well-regarded masterpiece was discontinued.
t04026 – :
So last night I was putting on my Christian Dior Eau Noire and I was struck by something familiar. I couldn’t shake it and felt like this was very reminiscent of Cadavre Exquis. I looked up the notes and the notes are remarkably similar with lavender being substituted for the cypress in this. There are a few differences, with CD EN being easier to wear, less like a Yankee Candle shop than CE. The chocolate/coffee like quality is evident in both, as is the note of immortelle which is not listed in either one but recognized by many reviewers, especially those commenting on a curry note.
Many reviewers note that they can smell the lavender predominantly, and I really wish I could. My favorite note in perfumery is often lavender, but it seems when it is mixed with other aspects, particularly chocolate or patchouli or other herbs it gets lost unless it’s mixed with something like thyme or sage or limon. Unfortunately, while I quite like this, I think it would be love if I could pick up the herbal notes. On me this is mostly chocolate/coffee, vanilla, immortelle syrup. Tasty, but it needs an astringent bite.
Edit: After spraying and atomizing profusely–NOW I GET it: Lavender. Ahh…It’s a top note however, for me that burns off quickly. Really like its quirkiness with the rest of the accords.
wareri343 – :
Scent – cumin, maple syrup & licorice.
Season/Time of Day – I prefer to use this one in the colder months, day or night.
Projection – I didn’t get noticed, I didn’t get a compliment.
Longevity – I get 8hrs consistently.
DIR – :
Wow. Cumin and celery. I’m personally getting a huge curry shop vibe. But that dissipates really quickly, the curry never quite leaves though. I don’t know if I love or loath it. I’ll have to come back to it and try again.
thilaflituisy – :
Sadly this is discontinued. I am not a HUGE fan of how people react to this BUT the combination of notes is very pleasant and intriguing to me. This scent has a very strong licorice smell to me. It dries down to a smooth lavender and vanilla mixed cloud. Certainly a unique combo that I enjoyed……after the licorice part of course.
Luckily I have a decant of this to wear to be unique because I know nobody else will be wearing this.
deni1478 – :
Yes, it’s a kind of smell. It’s definitely not a perfume
Drionn – :
Wow, Magic, Dark, Elegant, Cozy, bittersweet, a bit gloomy, and the list can go on an on.
There is nothing like this fragrance. Nothing that you can compare it to.
nothing.
Masterpiece.
chikon – :
Dior eau noire
Green,bitter and a little sharp opening.Almost confusing for a few seconds but quickly unfolds to an aromatic lavender and dark bitter leather.Then some sweetness arrives.Must be coffee beans or licorice and vanilla.
Dry down is a very balanced well mixed classy and rich perfume.
A must try..lasting and sillage are really nice.
سمپل ارجینال جهت تست موجود است
alexandr63 – :
I had it when it 1st came out in 2005. I sold it and now I regret it. I know this is a love or hate it scent. I did make me think of curry initially. But honestly, it’s a beautiful aromatic spicy lavender scent. This scent along with Sables A. Goutal really sold me on the note of Immortelle.
sims2000 – :
For those of you who are saying that there are curry dish triggers in this composition, I agree to disagree. of course there is that sweet cumin but there’s no overpowering about to have you instinctively think I was some sort of food dish . if you are suggesting that, then you are linear in your thinking.
There is a nostalgia though. A comforting sweet melody. Maybe the coffee and vanilla.
MFK can do no wrong in my opinion.
bodya3103 – :
This is a tough one…
I’ll start with a little disclaimer:
I DID start looking for it when I knew it was discontinued and when I found out it was Kurkdjian’s creation so I’m late for the party and I do not know how it smelled like when it was first released (in case it was subject to reformulation).
It’s a perfume dominated mainly (to my nose) with the note of licorice , this dry, slightly herbaceous, remotely sweet scent.
Is there a cumin note? Yes.
Would you smell like a curry dish a-la Amouage-Fate man? NO.
The cumin note just rounds up the harsh licorice note, it adds warmth to the coldness of the licorice/lavender combo.
The coffee note is there somewhere in between , adding another layer of dryness to the scent, it’s the smell of freshly ground coffee beans not the scent of a cup of coffee, it’s organic.
Overall this scent is simple and sophisticated at the same time: simple in its structure yet complex in its olfactory result.
Sillage is moderate and longevity is high, I still smell it on my arms after 6-7 hours.
Is this a crowd pleaser? No (thankfully my partner loved it)
Is it a gourmand? Sort of, yes.
Do I regret the blind purchase of a 250 mls? HELL NO.
It is uniquely made gourmand that is not easy to appreciate for the aquatic scents crowd or the super florals crowd (no disrespect meant, I love A LOT of the latter olfactory group).
It would be a shame not to try it at least once to get a taste of a sadly discontinued masterpiece.
On a side note: this juice’s colour is divine. Its green is mesmerizing a la Absinthe.
shorik – :
Was really looking forward to trying this but it’s too akin to dabbing a vegetable samosa over yourself. Just can’t get beyond the curry note.
viktor_56-2 – :
just tried this one a moment ago. so it brought me imediatelly to my childhood. where my grandma was baking hot buns 😀 all the spices (cinamon,cardamon and so on) some peppery smell at the begining too. all in all its nice,warm,spicy frag. so far can’t say anything else 🙂
yuraha1991 – :
A wonderful perfume where familiar notes and accords are harmoniously assimilated in an unfamiliar composition.
The opening is thyme and lavender, intensified by coffee and spices to create a dense structure. It smells at once green, vegetal, aromatic and gourmand. There is a very prominent immortelle note that renders sweetness to the composition. The composition never waivers much from this satisfying central accord.
While there are some minute structural similarities with Caron Pour un Homme, this is much deeper and darker. Having significant tenacity on skin, it also has a good sillage and shrouds the wearer in a hazy, fragrant cloud for long hours.
There is an unmistakable academic quality about Eau Noire. With its spices, lavender, coffee and immortelle, it is at once heady and elegant. Intense, deep, satisfying and addictive, Eau Noire is one of the best Dior Privee creations that is unfortunately very difficult to find outside of France.
4/5
karloff22 – :
One of the more lauded (and now discontinued) fragrances in the Christian Dior Privee line, Eau Noire is a dark, spicy entry that reminds me mainly of spiced gingerbread cookies. It strikes me as a distinctly cold weather scent, as I imagine this could be off-putting in the summer.
The licorice factors in strongly for me, which is why although unique, Eau Noire is a little off-putting. Despite the licorice, a pleasant combination of sage, cedar, and coffee compromise the rest of the experience for me. All in, a very nice winter fragrance that reminds me of the holidays. Also, the juice is strong, with robust projection and good longevity for a higher-end EDP.
Unlike Mitzah, I highly doubt it is worth the discontinued costs, but I’d be curious to sample it some more.
7 out of 10
kameltrofi – :
Dior eau noire: When i heard about this fragrance i wanted to try it out. So i bought me a 10ml decant from seller on fragrance community on FB. My first impression green, herbal, dark, mysterious scent. Its almost like some kind of medicine smell for healing sore aching muscles. Kinda reminds me of some kind of herbal tea from asia. This is not a sexy type of fragrance more like love and hate. Not for everyone.I can definitely smell the licorice in this fragrance a long with some green herbal smell i think its coming from thyme. I dont detect any coffee or vanilla. Licorice and thyme dominant the rest of the ingredients. Cant think of any occasion or formal event to wear this fragrance only winter season. Its not a bad fragrance from Dior but more like mysterious fragrance from dior line.But im glad i have a decant in my collection. Dior makes great fragrance and looking to try all their fragrances line.This is definitely a try and not for younger crowd. Tested on my skin it performs well and projection is pretty good.
dj-dar – :
“Eau Noire”
Its an aromatic spicy dark , little sweet mystreios scent very complex and unique !
its opens with blast of lavender and thyme then developes into deep dark herbaly green liquorice quite sweet earthy spicy gentle scent, with a musky flowery nuances , it impressed me how its well balanced , strange and different from the others .
Otherwise Iam not that fun of dior house but I appreciate that master work from Mr . Francis kurkdjian bravo !
I see it in Dior boutique and on the official site and dont know if it discontinued ?! I dont think so .
Ps: its not for every one , and try before buy !
Mysterious uniqueness
9/10 .
LiGoLais0 – :
i bought it blind and regret it.Too much barber lavender,not feminine at all.
AlacleGlaks – :
This is an unusual and exquisite scent although I wouldn’t wear it personally. However when I smell this on, every time, I get this really odd image in my mind – of two black keys of a piano being played discordantly together. I think it’s the coffee and lavender hitting each other..
B_O-B_A_H – :
WOW looking at the green juice and the predominately lavender voting, I did not expect such a spicy (in an herbal way) blow! I don’t normally care for lavender but it’s very complimentory here, since it quickly dries down into a surprisingly sweet yet mature scent
Lexsus – :
(Current profile name Anais Nin)
Love at first sniff!!!
The opening is lavender with very herbaceous facets from the thyme. The lavender lingers as the licorice joins the scent. The licorice is strong but not overpowering the lavender on my skin. The scent is gradually becoming darker but still retaining its herbal aspects as the coffee joins in, it is thick, dark and bitter. The bitterness of the coffee enhances the scent of the dry lavender. The coffee is lovely.
I think it is the mixture of coffee, lavender, licorice that creates the syrupy immortale note on my skin, I detect this unbelievably sexy warm, dirty pungent curry note. I catch gentle hints of vanilla. The drydown is a powdery immortale-licorice accord.
Eau Noire was created by Francis Kurkdjian, so naturally this creation is gorgeous and elegant, and the way the scent develops is very complex, yet smooth and carefully thought-out.
It has very good sillage and great longevity.
I was looking at the pyramid notes and figured that I wouldn’t like Eau Noire. Boy, was I wrong! This is an unusual fragrance that belongs in my collection!
Why is this beauty discontinued?
Can anyone share some of their Eau Noire with me? Please?
Miron2608 – :
Sometimes when fragrances get discontinued, there is a reason why. The spiced sage and thyme note reminds me of a spicy, earthy food…which I don’t want to smell like. I like/own many of the Dior Prive fragrances (Bois D’Argent, Ambre Nuit, Feve Delicieuse) but this one…nope.
Good thing I only bought a 10 ML sample. This is definitely not a blind-buy.
skmixa – :
Neither an “eau” nor “noire”.
In fact, this is not just a cologne. And the concept of noir is a puzzling one, after so different takes by many perfumers (TF Noir de Noir: rose oud; Bvlgari Black: leathery black tea…which noir will be mine? Probably not one with the name on it).
This has an enormous longevity and suits me much better in a winter cold day. Why? Because of its warmness and full character, given by the immortelle.
Actually that note is one of my preferred, and as in AG Sables or more subtly in HdP 1740, immortelle plays the main role here.
Francis Kurkdjian made a twist with lavender, and it became a bonbon. Eat one, two would get you sick.
My immortelle remains 1740, the most masculine of the three, more leathery. But the sweetness of this one is very comforting also. I’ll wear 1740 when I feel a bad boy, and Eau Noire or Sables when I am a good boy (not so often, I know!)
DED_MOROZ – :
I own this and it is one of my favorite coffee scents. It starts with a blast of herbal lavender and thyme. Mixed in is syrupy immortelle and coffee. I love flavored teas and coffees. For me this is like going into a funky café and they tell you they have a new sweet lavender and maple flavored latte you should try. You don’t think it’s going to work but it actually tastes amazing. Also, the person you’re with is sipping on a spicy herbal tea. It is a very comforting scent. Only for fall and winter. This perfume is a sillage monster and you can suffocate people in an elevator. It lasts a very long time. Sadly it has been discontinued. The Dior store in Las Vegas still had the smaller bottle available last month if someone out there is still interested in this fume.
elmir041 – :
I have it, and wish I didn’t. It reminds me af a Aatar my mother has kept with her since her days in the East. Its horrid! Green liquid, I think if an Extra Terrestrial life came to earth it may be a good deterrent into tham staying.
ruslan_250295 – :
Herbal pancakes. Literally syrup with thyme, lavender, and cedar. An interesting idea, but not my thing and very feminine.
vln988Negeltzex – :
Just got a bottle of the pure perfume at the boutique, a one of kind find. Kurkdjian is a genius. Intriguing richness gives way to subtly balanced perfect dry-down. Try to find this one before it is gone forever.
SL_SL – :
Bence bu bir parfüm degil. Bu bir Çin Lokantasinda taze kahve ögütüldügûnde oluşacak kokudur. Daha once Dolce Gabbana Velvet Patchouli için çok olumsuz bir yorum yazmiştim. Ancak bunu denedigim zaman ona haksizlik yaptigimi gördüm. Sayisiz parfüm denedim, aldım, kullaniyorum ve bu açık ara en kötüsü. Böyle bir kokuyu kim parfüm diye kullanır bilmiyorum. Tek kelime ile “berbat”…
nanocry – :
Received word today from Dior this is now officially discontinued , stock up while you can , this is a gothic masterpiece that will be the envy of any great perfume collection.
wooladirway – :
I forgot why I ordered this one. Have been madly trying out scents from notes I enjoy on their own. Searching for “my” fragrance.
Tiny smidgen on wrists and crook of elbow…delicious! Coffee and liquorice after a strong cedar blast. I was wary of the lavender notes as I don’t really like it on its own, but in this I get coffee, woody, loveliness. I love this one! It seems to smell totally different on my male partner (more cedar and leather than soft coffee and lipsmacking liquorice), but still in a good way. Do masculine scents smell more feminine on women? Or is it a trick of perception?
rustikzaharov – :
I smell lavender end coffee the most. With Lavender being the dominant note in this fragrance. Although coffee is present this doesn’t smell as a typical, sweet gourmand. Overall: an excellent lavender fragrance, soft aromatic and gentle. Very well done! Love it!
tendg – :
Over 40 or 50? 26 years old here, love it. Many talk of immortelle in this but I get none. Compare to something like Sables or 1740. I think it’s easy to confuse the lavendar+coffee accord as being reminiscent of immortelle.
On my skin, the liquorice note blooms magnificently with lavendar and coffee bringing up the rear. I can’t smell much vanilla personally, but the thyme and cedarwood provide a buzzy, almost salty counterpoint to what would otherwise be a plainly sticky sweet perfume. It’s wonderful, and likely a scent that people with more quiet personalities may have a hard time finding the appropriate mood for.
PashTet20 – :
i’ve asked the seller about the genre of people who buys this perfume & from his reply i’ve realized that only people who are over 40 or 50 and prestigious that buys this fragrance. the kind of women or men who has that powerful personality, and a hint of attention seeking. the kind of people who loves that when they passby some place other people would define that they were here because of the signature fragrance they always wore. it is definitely a huge bizarre essence as it contains some (i can barely define it as skunk) an animalic note that i guess the Thyme and too much Lavender created that with a tiny bit of something green and i would go for moss or algae. those three are combined together to give a very drawback top note IFF (if and only if) you have thought of it as a perfume without taking into consideration the powerful element that it was created for and the kind of personalities that uses this fragrance, so be a little bold and give it another chance or maybe a 3rd chance 😉
now i can’t explain it according to my skin because my skin chemistry has a unique type, not all fragrance gives good essence on my skin. this perfume specially when it dries down (right after 20 minutes) gives me a weird essence. an old forest that has been on fire for hours and no one could extinguish it. and after 3 to 4 hours the fire almost ate all the woods and the remains are quite wet from the water that has been used to extinguish it. now this is what i have smelled on my skin and honestly Adoration by Boadicea the Victorious perfume came on my mind at once. after all it is challenging and not acceptable from the first sniff, but give more time.
zfv266speagoessenda – :
I bought this when it was released. I wore it a couple of times – love masculine fragrances and I love spice so it seemed like a no-brainer that I would love this, sadly – just didn’t work with my chemistry so I had to rehome it. Shame really, it just turned into curried coffee on me – very bitter notes that just gave me a headache. I am still not over the disappointment….. it SHOULD have suited me! LOL.
mulch – :
Unique, masculine, complex, fresh and warm at the same time, but not my cup of tea.
Opens with a very soapy fern and lavender note with spices such as thyme and sage. Thyme should be a sweet note (check MFK’s own line of Pour le Matin) but this one has a heavy hand which makes it earthy. If anyone ever put too much dried thyme in their stews, you’ll know what I am talking about… Sage gives it a anisey tinge to the smell.
The licorice note is VERY prominent and along with the sage makes this fragrance even more sour and anisey. Herb de Provence with winter spices like star anise, fennel, sage!
I don’t like this combo because it reminds me of cough medicine and/or disinfectant, or chlorine in the swimming pool; no such note here, but does give me this feeling.
The coffee note peeks through around the 30 minute mark and this smells like dark coffee beans with no dairy; unlike the typical gourmands. Unfortunately the sour notes at the top makes this coffee smelt burnt, rather than enveloping. If only the top was less sour and herbal…
Immortelle is here also,and gives a hint of body to the scent and towards the 1 hour mark this and the coffee and some woods creates an enveloping scent which is actually quite good. I get a hint of coriander or tumeric here too; perhaps the infamous curry note? Its not as pronounced as what most make it out to be though I think it complements the coffee note just fine..
This is one of the best coffee notes I have ever smelt so far, but the sour top really spoils it for me…
I understand that the spices are here for the “Noire” in this fragrance, but I would have preferred more woods and coffee and immortelle, and tone down on the anisey, licorice notes.
Perhaps a lavender, clove and bergamot opening, with similar mid and basenotes?
Could be an all year fragrance.. Probably best for fall I would say
Thumbs down for me, but thumbs up for complexity. So net-net, a neutral.
Btw, is this an EDC or an EDP?
electrosound12 – :
Everlasting Lavender…
So the name of Eau Noire relates to the Château de La Colle Noire, located in Provence in southern France, where Christian Dior spent his holidays in retirement. To put that in context, it makes use of a lot of Provençal (i.e. Mediterranean notes), namely Sage, Thyme, Lavender, Immortelle and Liqorice. Also, I read that the head of design at Dior, Hedi Slimane, wanted something that he would wear based on his lifelong signature scent, which was Pour un Homme de Caron, with it’s Lavender-Vanilla combination; and what better man to do it than Francis Kurkdjian, the man who created the world famous Lavender and Vanilla bomb, “Le Male”?
Right out of the bottle I get a really aromatic thyme note (listed by Dior as ‘white Spanish thyme’). Thyme as a herb can be sharp and is unmistakable, I also detect sage, which adds to the herbal build-up. The thyme, sage and lavender all play on the dry herbal aspects of one another to give Eau Noire a definite herbal quality. I would describe this fragrance as a “herbal gourmand” or “aromatic gourmand”, purely because of the aromatic coffee-vanilla and herbal lavender pairing. I happen to love the smell of lavender, and the lavender here smells very much like the almost-dry lavender picked off the bush in hot summer. The herbs are then paired with a deep-roasted coffee bean note, with the leather and liquorice simmering underneath.
With regards to the infamous “curry note”. I wonder if the mention of Immortelle or ‘everlasting flower’ is not just a trick of the mind? As it could also be the liquorice/thyme combination or the burnt vanilla-coffee mixing with the herbs and leather? On the Dior website Immortelle isn’t listed in the notes. However, if the flower IS in the fragrance (and many people swear it is), it most certainly forms its backbone, the very thread which holds it together, and in this sense it completes a very Mediterranean vibe when paired with the herbal qualities of the sage, thyme and lavender.
Overall, Eau Noire may be a love or hate fragrance. It is undeniably well made and well composed, of that there is no doubt. It smells extremely natural, very much like sitting on a Mediterranean hillside in the South of France in hot summer whilst sipping an authentic espresso. It’s gourmand, it’s definitely interesting, and whilst it’s not for everyone, and it’s certainly not bad. I for one find it really unique, and not something that I come across very often in fragrances.
MihailAВD – :
Be patient with this review.
I drink a lot of strong, rich coffee. My clothes always have a little “sweated out” coffee smell, especially in warm weather, and especially, say, in the armpits of fitted sweaters.
I also eat a *lot* of vegetarian Indian food ~ very spicy, at that. This also comes out in my sweat, mostly in my armpits.
I eat lots of ginger, garlic, turmeric, and cardamom.
So, already, I have pheromone-musk-BO mixed with expensive coffee and spicy Indian food in my sweaters. And other spices galore.
Eau Noire on my bare, unscented skin smells *exactly* like my warm clothes when I’ve been drinking good coffee and eating rich, spicy, veggie Indian nom noms.
I can’t think of any better way to explain the complexities of this scent other than to say that ~ to me, on me ~ it’s body odor (in a good, raunchy way), coffee, Indian food… and sometimes, just a hint of Bond no9 Chinatown…
Verdict: LOVE.
NOT for everyone.
Different on everyone.
Kamskih_V – :
Wow.. this one odd fragrance. This is one of those fragrances that really puzzles you from the very first spray.
Eau Noire opens up VERY green and herbal – fennel and cow parsley to be precise. I wouldn’t say it was pleasant but it was very powerful and had an emotional quality to it – reminded me of my early childhood. Then boom all of a sudden the fennel hid and a very interesting curry note appeared paired with the typical Dior’s vanilla.
The curry was there just for a few minutes until boom again it was gone and a strong violet had repla