Perle Noire

What a blast from the past! Yes, I love that first whiff. Inhale, inhale, quick, for the strong first blast is ever too short. Deep, dark, more intense spices immediately follow. Long, finned caddies, rhinestone necklaces, elbow satin gloves, strapless dresses and sensuous red lipstick...this is a classic perfume of a time and era. I can luxuriate in this stuff for hours. Why oh why does Avon discontinue their best perfumes? Perle Noire should be classified as as oriental floral perfume in Avon's all time Top Ten. Spicy cloves, a good sweet patchouli, subtle woods and warm spices mix together to create a believable mix of an oriental that's not overpowering or synthetic. Perle Noire radiates just enough to give an aura of sexiness that is painted of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. There's almost a kitchen kitten sexiness to Perle Noire. You know, clear the table where everything goes flying and...I'm sure you get the picture. This perfume lasts for hours. Still available on the secondary market and well worth it.

Merry Christmas, everyone! Today's scent is Perle Noire by Avon. I found a parfum version of this scent, 0.33 oz spray. I had the EDT before (used it all!) but wanted to try this version. Very rich, intense, spicy clove carnation with background deep floral of rose. And yes, when I wear this, I feel the vintage version of Coco Chanel but also the 1990's Opium EDT (without the strong incense, smoky note) and a touch of Youth Dew. Perle Noire can be found on eBay, it is very affordable in the EDT spray version. It does not develop much from first spray, so what you smell at the beginning is pretty much what you smell a few hours later. But it lasts! It is much better than the EDT or EDP version of Coco being sold right now at the Chanel counters, sadly. Spicy scents like Perle Noire are perfect for the winter holidays.

I am amazed that carnation and fruit are not main notes by votes. There is definite fruit in this that sweetens the pot. Not single fruit notes but like a dried fruit that lifts the spice and carnation and makes it sweet. This is in the family of the Opium, Ciara, Cinnabar, Rumba group but much sweeter and a bit lighter. But, this is an oriental bomb. There is no distinct rose at all. Clove is part of the spice but not distinct. The wood is underlying but I wouldn't call this a woody fragrance. It is well blended but spice, carnation and fruit dominate.

Holy wow! I do enjoy many current Avon fragrances, but I admit that this old school creation blows me away. This is a spicy oriental I can imagine buying at Saks in the 80s or 90s. Perle Noire is not in any way a "big hair" scent, but it is a classy, spicy scent. Someone mentioned Coco Chanel, and I get that reference from PN. Grab one off eBay or petition Avon to bring it back. (Fat chance, probably.)

Felt so glamorous as a teen wearing this! It is so elegant and warm like a stole or expensive velvet cape wrapped around you. A true occasion evening perfume. It started my love affair with amber perfumes that I still haven't recovered from. Even when I cannot detect the notes, I always am drawn to the same ones; particularly amber, rose and carnation. A timeless beauty!