Wild Noir

Wild Noir opens with a bright hit of bergamot lifted by black pepper, the same fresh, sharp introduction that made Sauvage a modern staple. Lavender and geranium settle in at the heart alongside Sichuan pepper, keeping the aromatic-spicy backbone the original is known for. The base is built around ambroxan, cedar and labdanum, which is the right note set, but the ambroxan is pushed harder and reads a touch more synthetic and one-dimensional than Dior's smoother, more rounded finish. Longevity and projection are decent for the first three to four hours before it fades to a skin scent, well short of the all-day performance the genuine Sauvage is famous for. As an everyday, low-commitment take on one of the most recognisable men's fragrances of the last decade, it does its job convincingly for the price.