Noir de Noir

Nicholas Charles' Noir de Noir opens with a rich burst of saffron that immediately signals the dark, luxurious direction the original is known for. Turkish rose, patchouli and a floral accord build a heavy, brooding heart that echoes Tom Ford's famous rose-forward oriental, if a little less velvety and complex than the designer version. Dark chocolate, vanilla, oud and oakmoss finish things off with a mysterious, slightly earthy sweetness that captures the spirit of the original's chypre-oriental character. The real Noir de Noir divides opinion in the fragrance community - some find it exceptional and richly performing, others describe it as fading to a soft skin scent within a few hours - and this dupe leans toward the faster-fading end of that spectrum, with the chocolate-rose combination softening noticeably sooner than premium wearers would expect. Still, the dark, dramatic rose-chocolate identity that makes Noir de Noir so distinctive comes through clearly.