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Elysian88 – :
Another interesting creation from Kyse Perfumes, Elegance Sombre is closest, as far as other Kyse creations, to Mandorlo Cioccolato, in terms of their common pairing of a strong orange note with some sweeter dessert notes of chocolate, vanilla, and in the case of Elegance Sombre, cacao.
It’s citrus-intensive and sweet, sure, but with the coffee and patchouli come a more bitter edge to it. Overall, it’s still sweet but certainly the orange is significant.
Performance is fine, perhaps a little weaker than J or Oui Plus but still quite good, especially considering its pricing, which is exceptional like the rest of the line at $52 for 60ml.
Simply put, due to personal preferences, this isn’t a fragrance I’d be inclined to wear much and to me it just smells okay, but that’s mainly due to my
6 out of 10
kazax – :
One of my favourites from the Kyse house. I can’t believe I have not written about this lovely until now! Yes, its a gourmand but not too sweet which is how I like it. I think it’s birch and coffee that give an edge.
In the UK we have a much loved chocolate orange (it literally is the size of an orange and made up of segments) and I swear I briefly smell that yummy chocolate orange.
It then settles to what I consider a not overly sweet chocolate liqueur. It doesn’t change again.
Moderate sillage and longevity.
Kurimu – :
Wow this smells yummy. Just like one of those chocolate oranges my mom always put in my Christmas stocking with a little spice, woods and patchouli. There is a boozy vibe too. My husband said ” whew its strong” lol but the silage is actually what I consider low to moderate. Not too bad at all. I hope the longevity is good, no one has really commented on how long this lasts so I will update on it later. Altogether I think this smells wonderful and it’s very nostalgic and Christmas-y for me. UPDATE: longevity is 5+ hours although pretty close to the skin. Drydown kinda smells like Jazz Club.
goldkot – :
I’m beginning to think I should avoid chocolate as a perfume note, and just sniff some real milk chocolate from time to time to get my fix of that lovely smell. Some smells, however much I like them in real life, just don’t seem to work for me in perfumes, and chocolate might be one of them. Or at least I’ve never tried a chocolate-centric fragrance that has really totally done it for me. And neither does this one, unfortunately.
It’s not that it smells bad in any way, it’s just that the combination of sweet edible chocolate with murkier ones like patchouli somehow doesn’t sit quite right with me. In the opening especially there’s something that vaguely bothers me about it, although I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. As it dries down it quickly becomes softer and more wearable for me, both less chocolaty and less murky and so more in harmony, and I actually quite like it then.
So my feelings about Elegance Sombre are too mixed to want more of it now that my sample’s gone, but that’s just for me – I think it’s definitely worth a try if you’re into chocolate scents!
Diavolo21 – :
very similar to her Mandorlo Cioccolato, with a strong orange zest note
xyq083JeomiWogkig – :
Smells like a high-end orange chocolate bar, like one of the very expensive, thin selection. It’s a bit boozy, too.
astasiya – :
A pretty cocoa patchouli combination with orange, birch leaf and buttered coffee. On me, it shows up as a nice coco/patchouli scent that reminds me of a niche called Sammarco Bond-T. Here the cocoa/patch isnt as dark, but more wearable.
In comparison to Mandorlo Cioccolato:
The notes do seem similar and one thinks about do I need both? What are the differences?
ES is dryer, more patch, licorice and cocoa powder. MC is more almond,boozy, wet or syrupy in feel than ES. ES has a more unisex feel and very low sillage.I dont think you can over spray this so heavy handed sprayers– this will work for you. A sophisticated gourmand. Id recommend layering this perfume spray with its matching oil for more mileage. Is there room for both in a wardrobe? Absolutely! Kyse’s affordable pricing and bohemian artistry allows everyone to indulge. Id buy something from Kyse over 90% of chemical soup name brands in sephora. Just better quality and niche artistry.
templar5 – :
A dark and bitter chocolate with orange, like the one in Mandorlo Cioccolato but without the almonds. This reminds me of Christmas with the cloves and liqour.
smabintemnese – :
I tested this first with a sample. It was boozy at first; with some chocolate then dries down spicy and a bit woody/leafy, very natural and interesting, little clove and patchouli and softness; lasted long time. A friend sent me a partial bottle. On second wearing, it was similar but this time I got the booze, chocolate, coffee and then it dried down to more of a sweet tea scent.
Prometey1983 – :
First burst matches orange chocolate description however to my nose it quickly turns into highly flavored black tea leaves (which is strange, I wouldn’t have thought judging by the notes), which gives it a soothing quality especially in wintertime. I like it.
update: too strong and aromatic for my taste though, it’s more masculine than unisex. Although I can appreciate its qualities, it’s not something I could wear.
Clumma – :
My reaction is very much like “Becuille”s review. Its bitter dark chocolate, orange peel and a woody base. It is very unisex, and quite different. Quite low on sillage.
pavlentyi – :
Well, this is a lovely little oddball!
It opens as a dark, slightly bitter orange, with slices of rich dark chocolate running through it.
The addition of patchouli and liquorice creates a scent that’s very hard to describe. I don’t get these notes as individual notes, they add a depth and kick to the orange and chocolate, creating something not quite like anything I’ve ever smelled before (those of you who have read Perfume: Story of a Murderer, will remember the passage about the unique third scent that comes from mixing two others. That’s the best way I can describe what’s happening here).
This isn’t going to be for everyone, but if it’s for you, you’re going to love it in a major way.
tbigor – :
Elegance Sombre is a very rich gourmand perfume that offers the slightly odd combination of dark orange chocolate, butter and patchouli. Try before you buy, it’s not your average perfume. Some will hate it, others will love it, and others (like myself) will be very impressed, and taken with it’s strangeness. I like strange. Without strange the world would be a very dull place, so for it’s strangeness alone I’m going to give this scent a slightly wonky, talking to myself in the highstreet thumbs up.
viktor42 – :
I am immediately reminded of terri’s other creation mandorlo cioccolato. I do like this a bit better, smells like a dark orange chocolate with woodsy and amber like accords. I think this is a darker scent for terri’s realm but I don’t think that should scare off a candy lover who is cool with a mid-level of sweetness with a little complexity. There is something a little sticky and powdery about this that I don’t like, which is a vague sensation that may be imaginary. But something about that combination that turns me off.
Not fbw for me, but check it out.
pgn – :
Elegance Sombre: following that incredible lobster dinner in Maui, surrounded by the rich, native florals, the ocean breeze…right next to that inviting dessert is this little cordial filled with creme de cacao. And just as I take a bite of that marvelous dessert, I lift the glass cordial to chase it down, only to spill some on my leather jacket. Why am I wearing a leather jacket to dinner in Maui? I have no idea! But as I remove it and hang it on the seat behind me, I get a whiff as the alcohol has dissapated some and that creme de cacao has now fused with my leather jacket (it’s a thin biker jacket, not a bomber), and the result is really something…
Vlandser – :
For me, Elegance Sombre is one of the more darker and wearable fragrances in Terri’s collection, and one that stood out to me at once. A scent that says, “I want to go out and smell like this”, as opposed to “It’s simply a tasty gourmand foody comfort scent for staying in only.” Living in a tropical climate, this smells like something I miss so very much; the scent and feel of real European autumn. Straight away I see the image of birch leaves. Fallen to the ground in beautiful colours…
Sure, there is an orange chocolate element to it, and something that reminds me of raisin toast, but in a good way. The sweetness of this balances out the tougher leather, oakmoss and patchouli. It is spiced woods, but sweeter with a gourmand vibe.
Imagine the perfect chilly but pleasant autumn afternoon. You’re enjoying coffee and some orange-flavoured chocolate, that you just ordered from a local cafe. You sneakily add a little bourbon into your coffee to warm you up. The warm aroma is so comforting on this cold day. You’re sitting outside near a park area, with lots of birch trees around you. The leaves are changing colours, falling to the ground. You just enjoy sitting there, on this blissful day, purely relaxing, with not a worry in your mind. Yes, this is what Autumn in a bottle smells like.
Edit: I now recognize why I love this scent even more; it reminds me of a sample of a niche fragrance I tested (not in the database), and also fell in love with, but couldn’t afford to buy the full bottle!
ewewew – :
I got a bunch of vanilla, orange, cacao in the beginning and then poof, all that was remaining was a weird soapy scent that I couldn’t even recognize. Doesn’t smell like other perfumes by Terri, which I loved. I wish I could smell all the wonderful notes that the people here are smelling.
Maybe the weather wasn’t appropriate( it’s hot like the surface of the sun in Mumbai right now )! I’ll give it a try in the winters or when I visit someplace cooler. I guess I am pushing this one to the back.
osana74 – :
What an olfactive confectioner Terri Bozo is! Elegance Sombre is dark chocolate and orange all the way! AMAZING. I wish I had all her scents so that I could just spritz them into the air when a little happiness and uplift is needed. I feel that this is definitely where the future of fragrance is going.
Okay, now for the harsh criticism … the sillage and longevity are too weak for my tastes. I also detest the label designs on her bottles. They do nothing by way of inspiring anything for these unique scents. Perhaps it’s the equivalent of storing a gorgeously made cupcake in a ziplock bag? Also, I feel like her creations are more fun to smell than to wear. They don’t seem to blend into the personality of the wearer, but instead it just sits on top … for however long it lasts.
The combined effect feels slightly amateur, but the concept of her work is very innovative and modern. That’s the compromise, which I’m glad is reflected in her prices.
asde – :
initial thoughts from sample:
a gentle chocolate orange scent, nice, very luscious/realistically edible, like many of hers. Gentler sweet than the rest but I bet the development is lovely! (want listed 2.4.15)
mmmm…
saks2009 – :
a beautifully uplifting and comfortable scent to wear–love it!