Carbone de Balmain

This was a blind buy for me based entirely on the reviews on this very page. Like another reviewer I had ordered from a vendor whose image displayed the "Carbone de Balmain" bottle, but instead sent me the "Carbone", which disappointed me somewhat because based on the reviews above I understand that there is a significant difference. Nevertheless, I am wearing it right now and must say that I am very pleasantly surprised. A few years back I was with colleagues at a restaurant in Tokyo when a very distinguished looking European gentleman walked past my table, and as he passed I caught a subtle aroma of the most supremely elegant, masculine and classy scent I have ever smelled in my life. Perhaps the effect was augmented by the qualities of hot sake we had been drinking, but after he returned to his table I summoned to the courage and approached him to ask about the incredible fragrance he was wearing. From the years I spent in Europe I could tell that he was clearly one of those old-school European aristocrats who probably spent the heyday of his formative years on the transatlantic liners, as he was of a certain age, but in a way ageless, and the poise, bearing and demeanour of this impressive gentleman radiated "dignitas" and imperturbable and effortless grace that reminded me of the aristocratic couple I lodged with when I first arrived in Paris many years previously, anyhow he was delighted that I had appreciated the scent he was wearing and said that I was his favourite: it happened to be Ebene - a vintage Balmain creation that is nowadays both extremely hard to find and extremely expensive, but I never forgot the effect that even a gentle hint of that sublime fragrance had on me and ever since I have been obsessed with trying to find something that has a similar "aura". What strikes me about "Carbone" is that the progression is so subtle as to be almost undetectable - to my nose anyway - and the notes are so beautifully complimentary that the overall effect is to evoke the familiar and the exotic at the exact same time, creating an aura of mystery, and class. For me, woods (done well) can be the absolute epitome of masculinity, and by that I don't mean the garish, vulgar, chest-beating, Ron Burgundy "Sex Panther" notion of masculinity but the simple, effortless and classy masculinity of a well-tailored suit, that conjures up images of a wood-panelled library in a stately home or a smoky gentleman's club in the 1920s filled with Chesterfield armchairs and cavendish pipe tobacco. I like "Carbone" thus far mainly because of that woodsy mystery created by the sense of familiar and the exotic, its understated dignity, and the associations that it creates in my mind of classy refined "gentlemanliness". As soon as I am able I will get hold of some of the earlier "Carbone de Balmain" to compare. Edit June 30, 2020: Today I came across an old flacon of Gucci Pour Homme and applied it to experience the trip down memory lane it triggers due to all the fond memories I associate with it. Perusing the Fragrantica reviews for GPH I was quite baffled to read that some people think it’s similar to Bentley Absolute. GPH does not smell anything like Bentley Absolute. If I had to name one fragrance that reminds me of GPH it would be Carbone. I am wearing both right now, on different arms and although there are subtle differences, the two really are remarkably similar. Carbone really does remind me of GPH.

This was a blind buy for me based entirely on the reviews on this very page. Like another reviewer I had ordered from a vendor whose image displayed the "Carbone de Balmain" bottle, but instead sent me the "Carbone", which disappointed me somewhat because based on the reviews above I understand that there is a significant difference. Nevertheless, I am wearing it right now and must say that I am very pleasantly surprised. A few years back I was with colleagues at a restaurant in Tokyo when a very distinguished looking European gentleman walked past my table, and as he passed I caught a subtle aroma of the most supremely elegant, masculine and classy scent I have ever smelled in my life. Perhaps the effect was augmented by the qualities of hot sake we had been drinking, but after he returned to his table I summoned to the courage and approached him to ask about the incredible fragrance he was wearing. From the years I spent in Europe I could tell that he was clearly one of those old-school European aristocrats who probably spent the heyday of his formative years on the transatlantic liners, as he was of a certain age, but in a way ageless, and the poise, bearing and demeanour of this impressive gentleman radiated "dignitas" and imperturbable and effortless grace that reminded me of the aristocratic couple I lodged with when I first arrived in Paris many years previously, anyhow he was delighted that I had appreciated the scent he was wearing and said that I was his favourite: it happened to be Ebene - a vintage Balmain creation that is nowadays both extremely hard to find and extremely expensive, but I never forgot the effect that even a gentle hint of that sublime fragrance had on me and ever since I have been obsessed with trying to find something that has a similar "aura". What strikes me about "Carbone" is that the progression is so subtle as to be almost undetectable - to my nose anyway - and the notes are so beautifully complimentary that the overall effect is to evoke the familiar and the exotic at the exact same time, creating an aura of mystery, and class. For me, woods (done well) can be the absolute epitome of masculinity, and by that I don't mean the garish, vulgar, chest-beating, Ron Burgundy "Sex Panther" notion of masculinity but the simple, effortless and classy masculinity of a well-tailored suit, that conjures up images of a wood-panelled library in a stately home or a smoky gentleman's club in the 1920s filled with Chesterfield armchairs and cavendish pipe tobacco. I like "Carbone" thus far mainly because of that woodsy mystery created by the sense of familiar and the exotic, its understated dignity, and the associations that it creates in my mind of classy refined "gentlemanliness". As soon as I am able I will get hold of some of the earlier "Carbone de Balmain" to compare.

If you truly enjoy unusual fragrances, this one is for you! I blind-bought a reasonably priced tester a month or so ago and it is a true powerhouse of wood, smoke and incense. Of course, I've never sniffed a Balmain that I didn't like so it wasn't much of a risky blind buy for me. I don't get the "barbecued beef" odor that others perceive but the pepper, elemi resin and incense do combine to create a "smoke from a camp fire" feeling which I like very much. And I agree with reviewer Rob Frost who says he gets a whiff of "pencil shavings", which I like very much also and normally only get from cedar notes - and I don't see cedar listed among Carbone's notes - go figure. Not that I can parse them out individually but I suspect the ivy and fig notes are what lighten what could have been a solidly bitter mixture. In the midst of the smoke there's a watery/juicy freshness that makes it perfectly appropriate on my female skin. My guess is that if you enjoy the green & woody forest notes in Yatagan you'll like Carbone. And if you love the pencil shaving vibe in Serge Luten's Daim Blond you will LOVE Carbone. A few sprays last 8-10 hours on me and I notice the scent in rooms I've walked through as I move about the house (haven't worn this one out in public yet but I do wear Yatagan to work occasionally, so it won't be long until Carbone makes an appearance).

I have no idea why this happens but there are some peppers I put on and immediately my whole body relaxes. It's almost like a drug! Can't really say what that's about but I'll take it! Anyway, to the point at hand... For me, this frag hits a lot of right marks. I love pepper, incense, figs. I also enjoy cedar as a wood note. What amazes me though is that there's no cedar shown in the notes, but when you concentrate on what's going on, it becomes apparent that with the addition of the elemi, vetiver and green notes joining with the fore mentioned creates a very definite cedar effect especially in the top. That said it carries on into the dry down where the elemi gives the cedar a resinous effect, and it smells dam fine I might add! Almost gummy. It's like a rich gummy cedar. That gummy aspect is aided by the benzoin which adds a very subtle but right on the mark slight sweet vibe. This for me is a great winter scent, it's got a nice toasty warmness and one I have no doubt I'll be turning too often. It's worth every cent you pay for it and well beyond imo. Well pleased.

the feeling you get when you just *know*... the holy grail in my collection, finally! what else to say? i tried this and the Balmain Homme for men on respective arms. it was like day and night in comparison, or rather dusk and dawn. where Balmain Homme was loudmouthed, nightclub-vibe, literally one-in-a-million-scent; Carbone on the other hand spoke in whispers, calm and soothing; "Come closer if you are the man I think you are" I was a little worried that the scent would disappear, but the lady at the store (or maybe the good witch?) reassured me that I wouldn't be disappointed if I chose this. later today when I was out jogging, the scent got even stronger (probably due to the body heat) and even after showering it's still there, again reassuring me "I'm still here, even though I don't fuzz or brag like the other guys on the shelves" Finally, I am glad that I remembered to thank the 'good witch' saying that I was very pleased to see a cologne like this amongst all the common, well-known brands. My new signature scent for sure!

Another blind buy for me. I've been having a great deal of luck lately! This scent is delightful. If you know what the opening of Gucci Pour Homme smells like, you will have an idea of how this will smell. Spicy, slightly sweet pencil shavings dominate and carry through the life of this scent. It never develops into the rich, incense character of GPH, but I did find the pepper note to become quite noticeable as the day wore on. Don't take me evaluation to imply it is a straight copy of GPH, just that it shares part of its DNA. It is a warm, mature scent with a fairly linear character. I've been testing this on cold winter days, projection seems restrained but I do notice it on and off through its life. Longevity is average, maybe 4-5 hours on my clothes and neck, 6-8 on my wrists. Given the price and quality of the scent, I can easily look past its relatively average performance. If this one were to be discontinued, I would stock up without hesitation! Scent: 9/10 Sillage: 6/10 Longevity: 7/10 Price: 9/10 Overall: 8/10

I got it in my head that Balmain didn't make masculine or even Unisex fragrances but I was obviously mistaken. I have to say I adore this fragrance it's magic! Huge dose of peppery woods and dry synthetic cedar and vetiver but that's telling the story in reverse. The opening is a curious, aniseed, resiny, elemi, (what I assume is) fig, incense vibe then pepper coming on stronger. Very darkly fruity this one and a musky, lightly smoked effect to it also...very very interesting and right up my street. Then it gets a little disappointing the immediate comparison on the drydown is to Encre Noire and that takes a good hour or two to progress past that opening to the familiarity of vetiver and pepper. Not a bad thing to smell like but for me the opening shows more promise and interest. Average longevity and subtle projection...well worth checking out for those who like a arty, not all the way dark fragrance.

Four words: mysterious, intriguing, unique, genius. When I smelled this for the very first time, I was blown away. I had to smell it again and again because I couldn't name a single note of it, yet it smelled so nice. I was just lost and utterly intrigued. I have concluded, though, that to me the incense note is the most prominent. Carbone is not very sweet, but not heavy either, its balance is just perfect. It's "fresh in an incense way" if that makes any sense to you. And Carbone takes a certain kind of wearer, someone who does not give a sh## if someone's eyes keep following them like "that is so weird, WHAT are you wearing?". Carbone's sillage and longevity are both moderate and it's an amazing perfume, masterful work by Balmain. I think you do Carbone justice by wearing it in spring or autumn.

As a "connoisseur" of fragrance - since I was a young girl - I tried & succeeded in getting my sons (20 & 18) away from the horrible Axes & Old Spice scents out there! Every birthday & Christmas I buy them an array of scents - usually samples, then what ever is the best I buy them full bottles! They have from Addidas to Dior! Out of EVERY scent, THIS is the SEXIEST of them all! I am challenged describing this - when my boys are the ones that wear it! But the only way I can describe it is using terms like Primal, Deep, Dark, Sensual etc. I don't smell pencil shavings, I do smell pepper (which usually I'm not a fan of) but BOY is this the scent of the year for me! I'm on the fence about buying full bottles for them - as I don't want them to be attacked! LOL I'm sure they wont mind though!

One real and (by now) a very rare gem from the House of Balmain. It unconsciously turns heads and flares up nostrils of everyone around you, including yourself. The warmth and seduction of elemi/incense/benzoin glides over the juicy, ripe fig fruit and smooth peppery vetiver, like the unhurried hand of a handsome frenchmen husband over my clean sweaty back after a hot bath, not really initiating, just suggesting a prospect of a good time to come. It feels safe and comforting but it is very, very naughty.... A scent that can bring any man into a serious sensual trouble with the opposite (and/or same!!!) sex, if confined in the small inclosure of any kind...but beware- it is gone from the shops shelves (unfortunately) forever.

This bottle reminds me of a big square ice cube in a Dewer's highball -- only, the good stuff lies within the ice cube. Which is not so ironic that after the initial notes start to wear off, I get something a little boozy, maybe from the bourbon pepper. I enjoy it because it doesn't scream at you, maybe due to the moderate sillage, but there's an earthiness there, maybe the combination of the vetiver, fig, incense and musk that creates something pheromone-like. I've had two instances where women asked me what I was wearing because they wanted their present and future male companions to smell like me. I'm not exactly sure how I'm supposed to take that, but I like how I smell and that's what counts.

Dry and sharp, smoky and peppery, Carbone smells like - yes, yes - charcoal. It is highly original, but not eccentric. It is refined, classy and masculine to the bone. Surprisingly, such a masculine fragrance goes wonderfully with an elegantly gowned woman, too. I've stolen it from my father and spritzed myself with it a few times on more formal occasions and received a number of compliments. As for my father, Carbone has become his signature almost instantly - it was a love at first sniff. It matches a middle-aged man in business attire nicely. The only bad thing about Carbone is its longevity - it disappears off of both my father's skin and mine in two to three hours.

almost missed out on this based on the negative review by Brettyboy whose opinions I held in high esteem.well once I got it I was hooked and can only add a little to what others have already said here.this is great for fall and winter evenings or nites.I actually wear this to lull me to sleep.the incense,black fig,elemi and pepper are very addictive. I find this very long lasting unlike on the skins of others.the only other smell I have that comes close to this is Graphite by Claude Montana.they really are very close but this is more compelling. Do give it a try if you come across it and do not be swayed by any negative review.Not for kids though

I like Carbone a lot; I think it smells great. The best way I can think of to describe this scent is to say that it reminds me a lot of pencil shavings (with a touch of balmy, resinous sweetness). I'm surprised that no one has made this association yet (that is, here on Fragrantica; I've read it a couple of times elsewhere on the net). I don't really get some of the notes that others get from Carbone (beef marinade, barbecued beef, male body odor). Goes to show (once more) how different noses work and/or how different the associations are that our brains make with certain smells. Update: Smells exactly like Olfactive Studio's Autoportrait.

Probably one of the 'darkest' fragrances I've ever owned. The name tells you all you need to know about this scent - it's coal. It's dark, metallic, grey and dark all in one. It's like rubbing yourself with coal or graphite ... at the beginning it takes you some time to adapt to it... because it's strong and somehow weird, but after you let the strong spices and pepper do their work, you will know and understand that in fact you're not wearing the fragrance... it's wearing you. I'm not going to lie... it is incredibly strong and heavy. It's not for everyone, but I guess the people at 'Balmain' had that in mind from the beginning.

A great fragrance! On one hand, woody (vetiver, benzoin ..), on the other hand spicy (pepper, incense ...). Fully in balance! The colors of the spice woody chord harmony ... For me this is a signature fragrance! The fragrance is present throughout the day, but a discreet SILLAGE ... Unlike today's fashion fragrance from a unique phenomenon! Great job on his fashion house! And the crown of the clear glass which is a bit "old" memories of times, but completely "pure" form! Based on the color of excessive odor associate juice but not !!! How pleasant surprise .... Love it!!

I'm in love with the burnt tyre smell I get with the initial spritz. A few hours down, and it's only the incense note I get, faintly. I put it down as a poor performer/sillage, until I get asked 'what is this, it's elegant', 6 hrs after I put it on, so I guess it was only me, but the sillage and longevity get a thumbs up Back onto the list, A/W season only.

This magical scent is very hard to find now, but for those who’s bottle is nearing end or if you want to try something similar, I recently tested L'Occitane’s Olivier Ondé Eau de Parfum and my mind immediately went to Carbone, especially the woody resinous aspects. It’s most certainly worth testing if you are looking for a replacement.

I like it very much. It's different, original. It smells like pencil shaving (very woody / carbon). It's an EDT, but to me the scent itself looks more to be like an EDP (a little bit strong), although the performance matches better the EDT standards. Better for Fall / Winter / fresh days and evenings. Highly recommended.

Why bothering yourself killing people around with pencil the way john wick does.wear this fragrance and it will do so. Perhaps the best pencil shaving fragrance ever which brings you many compliment no doubt. I love this one. Perfect for autumn nights. 4.5/5 Age;+30 Moderate projection and lasting.