Noir Eclipse

Noir Eclipse opens on an unusual trio for a budget masculine: cardamom brings a green, aromatic spice, fig contributes a milky fruit sweetness with a slightly sappy edge, and black tea supplies a dry, tannic bitterness that pulls the whole opening back from the fruit bowl. It is a genuinely interesting first ten minutes. The heart cools things down considerably. Iris adds its familiar powdery, root-like quality and vetiver runs an earthy green thread underneath, so the middle of the wear is dry and slightly austere. The base is where the warmth finally arrives, with cinnamon giving a dusty heat and tonka bean supplying a soft, almond-sweet finish that keeps everything comfortable. The brand tags it woody amber, and while the amber is real it is understated. What comes across is a dark, textured, close-wearing scent rather than a projection monster. Cooler weather suits it best, and it works particularly well indoors, where the tea and iris have room to be noticed. Evenings, dinners and the office at the smarter end of the week are all sensible. Its lane is the inexpensive but characterful choice for anyone bored of blue fresh scents.