Noir de Noir by Tom Ford

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For this edition of my fragrance reviews, I have another entry from the Tom Ford Private Blend lineup, Noir de Noir. The scent is one of the more popular perfumes offered by the brand, but does it actually smell any good? How does this black of black perform? Is it even worth a try? I’ve been testing it out for a while and here are my results.

What does Noir de Noir Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, oud, patchouli, black truffle, tree moss

Click here to try: Tom Ford Private Blend Noir De Noir Eau De Parfum Spray Edp 3.4 Fl / 100 Ml

My Full Wear Review

I’m not too much of a fan of rose, as a note in fragrances. Especially, rose dominated scents, they usually never really strike a chord with me; even if I don’t hate the way it smells. So, Noir de Noir shouldn’t be a perfume that I enjoy, but I actually do.

When I saw that oud and patchouli were added to rose, I had the preconception that it was going to smell exactly like, every other Middle Eastern inspired fragrance out there, with a huge rose and overpowering spice. What I got from this Tom Ford scent, was quite different.

Noir de Noir does indeed open up with a familiar aroma of rose, however, it seems sweeter, while at the same time dirtier than other rose scents. But this is what makes it such a good smell.

It is paired with patchouli at the start and this provides an earthy spice, that not super intense but allows the scent to be dark and not just another in your face rose.

The oud sits at the base, along with the slight mossy element in here. However, the key here in my opinion, is the black truffle and vanilla. I didn’t see vanilla listed as a note, but I get that sweet creaminess peaking through during the dry down.

This is when Noir de Noir is at its absolute best. I love the balance here, one minute it is rosy and floral, the next dirty and spicy, and then it is sweet. All wrapped up in a dark and enveloping warmth. The oud is the sturdy heart of the perfume, but it stays out of the way, and isn’t super overt.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, and Versatility

Projection wise, I don’t find the sillage of Noir de Noir to be all that powerful. It isn’t weak, but it didn’t make me recoil when applying it. It’ll stay in a nice little 3-4 foot radius of you during the wear and you will catch nice whiffs of it throughout.

It also stayed on my skin for about 9 hours or so. Wasn’t insane, with the longevity, but it is certainly very good. On a colder day, the performance does stand out. The longevity is good, but what’s impressive is how it sticks around with a good amount of power.

This is a unisex scent, maybe leaning more towards a woman’s fragrance, but it doesn’t really seem as wholly feminine. Noir de Noir works fantastically on me, as a man, so I wouldn’t worry about seeming too girly with it.

Either way, I liked wearing it in the cold weather recently, and don’t think that it would be too successful for anyone in the summertime. It’s a bit too rich for any time with too much humidity or heat.

Noir de Noir is a sophisticated scent, as such, I probably wouldn’t wear it casually. This is more of something to wear on an evening out, whether that is in a suit or a dress. Anything with a bit of style to it. It is sexy in its own way, not super seductive, but inviting and intriguing.

Overall Impressions of Noir de Noir

Overall, do I like Noir de Noir by Tom Ford? Yes, if you couldn’t tell. I think that it is a highly enjoyable fragrance, that captures a lot of different moods, aromas, and skirts the line of masculine and feminine.

It successfully managed to take notes that aren’t usually my favorites and make me enjoy wearing it. This is a wonderful piece of the Private Blend collection.

The truffle is a fantastic addition, getting paired with the more commonplace vanilla note. They sweeten and calm, what would otherwise be quite an intensely earthy sort of perfume.

Nonetheless, it ultimately is an earthy experience. The rose note is surprisingly good, when paired with patchouli. It comes together as a very dark, warm, sweet, and powerful wear. Noir de Noir is a fragrance, I wouldn’t have expected to enjoy, but really did, in the end.

Luna Rossa Carbon by Prada

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In this review, I have one of the flanker fragrances from Prada’s Luna Rossa line, named: Carbon. In this post, I am going to relay my thoughts about this particular cologne after wearing around. How does it smell? How does it perform? When should it be worn? Is it even worth a purchase?

What does Luna Rossa Carbon Smell Like?

Notes include: lavender, ambroxan, metallic notes, pepper, patchouli, coal, bergamot

Click here to try: Prada Luna Rossa CARBON for Men Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 ounce

My Full Wear Review

All right, so, Luna Rossa Carbon gets compared a lot to Sauvage by Dior. While I get, the comparison, and there are a lot of similarities…the two are still distinct from one another. I’ll do a whole break down in another post, but for now, I just want to focus on Carbon. (Carbon vs. Sauvage)

The opening of Luna Rossa Carbon features that Sauvage-like ambroxan, pepper, bergamot, and lavender. I suppose there is a slight metallic note to the opening, but nothing like that found in something such as Hugo Red.

The bergamot strikes me as the strongest top note at first, but it fades into the background within 5 minutes. Though, it does provide a nice citrus support throughout.

I really do like the citrus and the way that it plays off of the pepper and the metallic. The mix is just better for me, than it is in Sauvage.

After the initial wave, I get the feeling of an earthy kind of soap or shaving cream. The lavender note is the main attraction here and it really starts to show up as the fragrance moves along in its life cycle.

If you’re someone who really enjoys the smells of lavender, this cologne is probably as good as it gets. At least, in a mainstream fragrance, that doesn’t extract that note in isolation.

Luna Rossa Carbon is pretty linear throughout the wear but not entirely. The lavender is a constant but different notes sort of dance around in the background of it.

At times, I get a breakthrough of patchouli. Then, more ambroxan. Then, the pepper. There is also times when it becomes difficult to distinguish between the ingredients and it does produce an aroma that brings to mind a metal…like carbon.

That coal/metallic note is kind of a weird addition, but it isn’t that heavy, and actually feels like it’s a solid fit within the composition.

Sillage, How Long Does it Last, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s not crazy loud, but it performs well. I’d say on the upper end of moderate. With a few sprays, you’ll be fine. It can be strong in the first 30 minutes or so, as such, you may need to give it a bit of time to settle if you’re really putting on the sprays.

While Luna Rossa Carbon, is not a projection beast, it does sit on my skin for a long, long time. I catch whiffs into the evening after an early morning application.

Depending on the circumstances, I’d say in the 7-11 hour range. That’s after I’ve been coming back to it, over the past few years. Very nice performance, not crazy, but solid all around.

What I really like about Carbon, is just how versatile it is. It is understated enough to be safe for work or casual wear. It’s mature enough for formal wear.

Plus, it is really damn attractive or even sexy enough to wear on nights out at the club. Also, it doesn’t feel restricted to any particular season for me. Personally, I have enjoyed wearing it in more moderate or warmer temperatures. That’s when Carbon feels like it is at its best.

Overall Impression of Luna Rossa Carbon

Overall, do I recommend Carbon? Yes, it’s quite nice. I’m not sure how much of a spot it’ll have in my personal rotation, as I’m not always in the mood to smell lavender. However, it does everything very well, and still manages to be an attractive cologne.

I’ve got a whole mini sprayer, so, I’ll probably be spending plenty of time with it, in the future. Update: Carbon has become one that I now wear sporadically, but I’ve come to enjoy it more and more.

It’s still not a favorite of mine, but it does have strengths that I appreciate. I like the metallic edge, the citrus opening, and the lavender now feels fresher to my nose. To me, it’s better than Sauvage EDT, and a great easy wear especially in spring or summertime.

Tuscan Leather by Tom Ford

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I’ve got a whole lot of Tom Ford fragrance write-ups to do over the next little while, so you can expect 20+ reviews, over the next months (?) as I get all of them written and sorted out. Today’s review, we have a fragrance from the Private Blend Collection, Tuscan Leather. It was released in 2007. How does this popular scent smell? What’s inside? How does it perform? Is it even worth a try?

What does Tuscan Leather Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, suede, raspberry, jasmine, olibanum, saffron, amber

Click here to try: Tom Ford Tuscan Leather Eau De Parfume Spray for Men, 1.7 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of Tuscan Leather is obviously full of the headlining leather note, but it is also joined by saffron, which brings to mind Godolphin by Parfums de Marly. However, what separates the Tom Ford creation, is the addition of a light raspberry note which sweetens up the background. It isn’t super juicy or girly, but that familiar aroma is there.

The leathery fragrance is obviously going to draw a lot of comparisons with one of the newer Tom Ford scents, Ombre Leather. I think Ombre is a drier fragrance than this is, but I will do a full comparison in the future.

The leather note in Tuscan Leather is utterly phenomenal. I’m a huge fan of this ingredient in fragrances and it is done to perfection here. Rich and super smooth, only made more so by the addition of the black suede note. It all comes together as very dark and deep.

As it dries down further, there is a subtle smokiness to Tuscan Leather, and a warmth provided by amber.

Beyond that, a faint jasmine note peaks in to the composition at times, but never quite unseats the saffron. In the end the main players are: leather, saffron, raspberry, and suede.

Leather and saffron are really great together in fragrances. Tuscan is a premier example of this, and that juicy raspberry note, just ties it all together.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage on this one is really strong, at first. Then, it settles down into something more moderate. To me, I love its loudness and confidence, when it kicks off. I am reviewing the current formulation and the longevity isn’t what I remember it to be in the past.

It is still good, but doesn’t have that same all day and into the night performance that it used to. I can still hit around a standard work day with Tuscan Leather. So, now it’s about 8 hours. Before, it would get 10+ pretty easily.

Is this decline just in the batch I have? Not sure, but I’ve read some other reports of this as well. Nonetheless, Tuscan certainly isn’t ‘weak’ by any means. Maybe just lost a step.

Seasonally, this is a wintertime gem. It hangs beautifully in the chilled air. You could also break it out during the autumn months to great effect. I’d definitely avoid it in the summer months or if you happen to live in a tropical climate. Not great in the heat.

This Tom Ford fragrance is classy enough to be worn for business or formal occasions, but also, sexy enough to go out at night.

It’s pretty much an anytime wear during the winter months. Maybe not for totally casual occasions or for really young folks, but it wouldn’t feel completely, out of place.

This is classified as a unisex fragrance and it does fit that bill. However, it does lean more toward the masculine end of things. That being said, anyone can really wear this one. The raspberry and jasmine notes, really help to give Tuscan a lighter touch.

Overall Impressions of Tuscan Leather by Tom Ford

Overall, do I like Tuscan Leather? Of course. It is a really great leather fragrance, that is sophisticated, well blended, and smells awesome. Smooth as hell and the saffron/raspberry really add a nice touch to the whole composition.

If you’re not a leather fan, obviously avoid this one. However, for anyone else with that kind of money to drop on a $200+ bottle of Tom Ford, this is an excellent choice.

This has a less dry and earthy feeling than does Ombre Leather, and I slightly prefer that scent from Tom Ford. However, this is still a really great perfume, maybe not exactly what it once was…but it holds up.

Pegasus by Parfums De Marly

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I’ve been gradually working my way through about a dozen samples of fragrances by the French designer, Parfums de Marly, over the past few weeks. I’ve still got a ways to go with this project, but today, I have a new review of their cologne called Pegasus.

This is one of their best-sellers from the lineup, but how does it actually smell? Does it have good performance? Is it worth a buy?

Reviewing Pegasus: What does it Smell Like?

Notes include: sandalwood, vanilla, almond, lavender, bergamot, heliotrope, cumin

Click here to try: Parfums de Marly Pegasus Men’s Edp Spray, 4.2 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

From the opening, you will get the sense that Pegasus is an absolute force of the almond and vanilla notes. I have to say that I don’t really like the almond that is in this one and it will be what kind of sours me on the fragrance.

It’s a super bitter almond that is loud and from the opening is blended with that almond and a citrus tinge from the bergamot. It strikes me as quite a dry aroma with a bit of a chemical vapor hanging around in the mix.

I’ve seen people compare this scent to Le Male or Ultra Male by JPG and while I’d get why you’d say that if you looked at the ingredients, these scents really aren’t comparable. Those other two colognes have a much sweeter and spicier sort of profile.

Pegasus is as I said much drier, but also has a different sort of powdery vibe than the other two. It’s less like baby powder and more like a powdered malt drink mix, using almond and vanilla.

I’d say it’s closer to a scent like Hypnotic Poison by Dior, which is a ladies’ perfume. But, even that is different from Pegasus.

Pegasus is smooth and warm. As it dries down, the lavender note emerges more and so does the sandalwood. This blending with the other notes gives it a creamier aroma and less of that powdery scent that I mentioned above.

This is how it stands for the rest of the wear, a smooth vanilla and sandalwood with that familiar lavender and still bitter almond. I like the latter stages of this fragrance more, but I’m still not crazy about it.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, and Versatility

Projection wise, this Parfums de Marly scent, competes well with the others that I’ve reviewed from the brand.

Pegasus is pretty powerful for multiple hours before it settles into more of a moderate. However, it is easy to go overboard with it.

It also has very good longevity, Pegasus is an absolute all day wear kind of fragrance. So, no worries there. This will go into the double digits in terms of hours worn. It’s performance isn’t up for debate, it’s outstanding .

This is also best to be worn during the colder months of the year. I will say, that even if you like the way it smells, don’t wear it on hot days with high humidity because it turns into a mess.

It’s pretty versatile in that it can be worn on pretty much any occasion, but only on those cold days. If you live in a tropical climate, this one will be a pass.

Overall Impressions of Pegasus

Overall, do I like Pegasus? Meh. I really am not into it. I would’ve thought that this would have been one of my favorite Parfums de Marly scents, just by looking at the ingredients, but it just isn’t clicking with me. It’s too much for me and I got a headache while wearing it.

The bitter almond and whole profile just doesn’t strike me as pleasant and is more irritating than anything. Now, it isn’t a horrible scent by any means, just not one that I can enjoy.

I think this is one of those either/or colognes, that will have people loving it or not being able to stand it. I’m in the latter camp. That being said, Pegasus is one of the most popular fragrances from PdM.

To me, it’s overrated and doesn’t live up to its lofty position. I’d rather go with plenty of their other offerings.

Ginepro di Sardegna by Acqua di Parma

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This post is going to cover the last of the Acqua di Parma samples that I got with my last batch. Ginepro di Sardegna is a cologne from the Blu Mediterraneo collection. What does Ginepro di Sardegna smell like? How does it perform? When should it be worn? Read below for my full take.

What does Ginepro di Sardegna Smell Like?

Notes include: juniper, cypress, cedar, sage, and pepper

Click here to try: Acqua Di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Ginepro Di Sardegna Eau De Toilette Spray 75ml/2.5oz

My Full Review

The opening of Ginepro di Sardenga is a spicy blend of woods and juniper. The cypress note is fairly dominant to my nose while I also experience the herbal scent of the sage note.

It’s quite a dry fragrance, but dry like an alcoholic drink containing gin. Then of course, the contribution by the wood ingredients. The juniper and other spices, give it a light fizziness. Almost like Brooklyn by Bond No. 9, but not as much of a boozy touch.

This Blu Mediterraneo entry is different from the other fragrances in this lineup. that I have experienced. It doesn’t have that big citrus note, is heavier, and is a different kind of aromatic journey just on the whole.

Most of the others feel like a typical summer cologne with the citrus fruits and/or oceanic-like breezy scent.  Ginepro allows you to take your style in more of a unique direction.

Ginepro di Sardenga is a natural woody aroma without being ‘dirty’; it is light with an energetic and clean soapy quality, lurking just underneath the surface.

As it dries down, I get less of the spice and more of the cypress/cedar smoothness, to go along with the juniper note. It almost takes on a very slight powdery aroma, but not quite a baby powder, just fresh and softer than it had been.

Ultimately, it gives you a cooling freshness, with a naturalistic set of smells for the summer months. At times like walking in a forest, at others, like stepping out of the shower.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this Acqua di Parma fragrance is pretty light. It’s not weak per se, it’s just one that operates more as a skin or having to get very close scent. It’s not a scent that will totally overwhelm the room but one that you will catch whiffs of throughout the wear.

With the longevity, I get about 5-6 hours of performance from Ginepro di Sardenga, which is actually better than some of the other Blu Mediterraneo fragrances that I’ve worn. Not great for my skin, but not terrible either.

In regards to the versatility of this fragrance, I think it is a very balanced one. For starters, it can be worn nearly year round, except for the hottest days of the year (at least outdoors).

Ginepro is a summer scent, to an extent. I don’t mean that it’s going to utterly melt in the humidity, just that it won’t be at its best.

Beyond that, it is a mature type of cologne that can serve as a everyday business wear, and then be worn for a date later on in the evening. It is masculine and does have a certain sexiness to it. Smooth and old school.

Overall Impressions of Ginepro di Sardegna

Overall, do I like Ginepro di Sardegna? I do. I’m not in love with it, as it isn’t my style but it is still a damn good fragrance. It is fresh and energetic. I like how it takes woods and earthy notes, but keeps them clean, and doesn’t stray into an overwhelming mess of a scent.

I do enjoy the gin sort of fizziness here. Plenty of other scents have had this same sort of thing, but I think that this Acqua di Parma fragrance is one of the better examples of it out there.

This is one for guys who like those dry woodsy/spice blends but wants one that is refined at the same time. You get a very versatile wear, with adequate though not great performance. If you can get a discount on a bottle, Ginepro is worth a shot.