Creme Noir

Think of a hot, freshly pulled coffee carried out of a cafe on a cold October morning. Creme Noir opens exactly there, with a strong, roasted coffee note that is the loudest thing in the bottle and the reason most people will either love it or walk away. It is not a soft latte at first. Some wearers find that opening sharp and a little dark, and a few read it as leaning masculine. The coffee does not vanish as the scent settles. It keeps percolating while chocolate and vanilla move in around it, turning the whole thing creamier and sweeter, like cocoa dusted over foam. Tonka bean and amber form the base, and they give the dry-down its warm, soft, slightly powdery glow. By then the bitterness has mellowed into something comforting, closer to a gourmand than a coffee shop. On skin it lasts a few hours, and it clings well to scarves and jumpers, where it can still be caught at the end of the day. Projection is moderate rather than room-filling, which suits a scent this rich. It is a limited edition in the Discover line, sold in a 100 ml bottle at a price that undercuts most coffee perfumes from designer houses. It sits near the cosy coffee and vanilla styles, in the same cosy corner as Black Opium, though without that scent's floral side. It is a good pick for autumn and winter, for evenings and for anyone who wants their perfume to smell like a treat. Try it on skin first, because the coffee is a strong opinion.