06 Black Platinum

This was another blind buy that I found on clearance at some rack store a while ago and stashed away (until finally opening it today). However, I was inside a Banana Republic store a few months ago, and they had a tester of this on display. The cashier handed me a tester strip, and after spraying it, I remember saying out loud "Ugh! This smells AWFUL! Like a pimp in the 80's!". The cashier laughed and agreed that it was also her least favorite of the selections they had there (I think Vintage Green and Pure White were the other options). I quickly handed the tester strip back to her and walked out, feeling forlorn for the day I would open this, and wondering if it would immediately turn into a bathroom spray. I wish I had a camera on my face to capture my expression as I opened this up today. Nervous and scared, I probably winced as I sprayed this on, my mind (and nose) harkening back to when I smelled it in the store. "Yup...that's what I remember..." I thought to myself. "Thankfully this is only a 30mL bottle, so it won't take long to go through it. They can't all be winners, right?". I walked out of the room, feeling defeated that I let my urge to save a few bucks cloud my judgement. Then something strange happened...I went into the kitchen to make coffee, and as my arm reached up, close to my nose, to grab a mug from the cabinet, I smelled it again. Maybe 5-10 minutes had passed, but it had already changed into a much softer scent that was way more pleasant than the initial opening was. I had hope... This fragrance reminds me of the scene in The Devil Wears Prada, where Andy is first pitching herself to Miranda and says: "You’re right. I don’t fit in here. I am not skinny or glamorous and I don’t know that much about fashion. But I’m smart. I learn fast and I will work very hard for you." I honestly don't know why I am getting slightly emotional as I write this, but I feel like this particular BR fragrance, if it were a person, would say something similar. This is far and away not what I would expect from Banana Republic. Then again, I've only ever finished one bottle, and that was Classic, which neither wowed nor disgusted me, but left me indifferent to its linear blandness. I currently have open bottles of Vintage Green, Neroli Woods, and Midnight Hour. Each of those seem like the other actors in the movie. They know what to do to get praised and not thrown a coat and bag to hang up like some inept lackey (or put in a bathroom). Eventually a new scent emerged. This soft, comforting, almost baby powdery-like scent made me stop and smile, like Miranda did in the final scene when she saw Andy walking alongside her car, and noticing how much she changed. I misjudged this fragrance at first, but I "took a chance and hired the smart, fat girl", and of all the Banana Republic fragrances I've ever smelled...this was by far my biggest (initial) disappointment...and, if you don’t give it a chance beyond the first few minutes, you're an idiot. It must have done something right... 9/10

The Banana Republic Icon line has been something I am surprised by more and more as I get more of the fragrances. They are $20 at my local Burlington/TJ Maxx/Marshall's. Black Platinum is my latest pickup and I'm very impressed, this doesn't smell like something that you'd think Banana Republic would put out. It doesn't have the typical designer DNAs that are popular now either. It reminds me of a toned down version of Greenwich Village by Bond No 9 for some reason. Greenwich Village is very loud, and similar to BR540, but not a clone of it. Black Platinum has the sweet floral vibe to it that I smell in Greenwich Village, but much softer and more powdery. So Black Platinum smells like its inspired by Greenwich Village, which smells like it was inspired by BR540. Black Platinum doesn't smell like BR540, but it gives off a similar vibe, IMO. This is a soft scent, but I feel it actually projects pretty well, better than the others in the line. It's powdery, leathery, ambery, white floraly... kinda hard to describe. It's a unique scent and for the price you can't go wrong. I draw the comparison to Greenwich Village, but only for that sweet/floral component. It has a lot going on, and the cactus note is new for me. This one, for me, was love at first smell. It's definitely something I will be wearing in the spring, but probably not in the summer as much because maybe it could be cloying. Could be a fall scent too, maybe too soft for winter. EDIT: some more thoughts after some more wearing Def the strangest and most unique scent in the collection. Oud Mosaic I do dislike, but the rose/oud is a beloved accord. I find it extremely hard to describe and put my finger on as to what to describe this fragrance with. There's no "one" note that just pulls it all together, It is listed as being animalic and I definitely get that, in an odd sense.. maybe the amber/leather and the powdery notes... there's just the lightest bit of funk in there, but it doesnt smell bad. Gonna smell weird to some, and strangely alluring to others.

Man that cactus 🌵 note is so unique and delicious smelling! When I first tried this I thought it was okay. But I found myself going back and back to it. I tend to reach for this on warm rainy spring days. It starts out more masculine unisex and drydown into a more fem unisex. But to me I love it for the cactus. And I enjoy the light almost smoky leather/patchouli drydown. Kinda smells like a light musky cigarette smoke left on a jacket in full drydown nearing very end before you can’t smell it anymore. But it’s nice. Great quality for the price. Niche level transitions. I haven’t smelt anything like this yet. 8.5/10

Erhhhh Mah Gherrrd! I have no idea what I’m smelling but this freaking rules! It’s by far the most unique of the series. Decent longevity unlike the other three I owned: Pure White, Linen Vetiver & Neroli Woods. I still have a mini of Oud Mosaic which is quite good and lasts awhile but it’s not nearly as as interesting as Black Platinum. I’m def gonna buy a backup bottle of this if I come across it again. I can’t think of anything I can compare it to tho! Weird!

I think this smells really nice. It seems to feel a bit feminine to me - but I wear it nonetheless. It is a light floral with a slight bit of powder. Oddly enough, I kind of understand the habit Rouge comparison, but I don’t know how or why - as I feel like HR is a fairly strong woody. Regardless, this is fairly unisex - maybe on the feminine side - but very pleasant. I’m pretty impressed with the line. 7/10

Yay! I like it! Reminds me very much of Gaiac 10 by Le Labo, but there is definitely more of a shifting landscape with this fragrance. I am very impressed by this. Very unisex, though I could see a girly girl might find this to be too masculine. For me...just right. I am certain it is the cactus note I am finding so Intriguing, since it is the only note I am not really familiar with. I like it!

I love this perfume it's so mysterious, Its lasting power hovever is pretty crap. It does remind me a little of narcisco edt black bottle but way more citrus herbal fresh. I was going to move this on due to lasting powder but I think il try layering with diptyque opheon dupe from Rosa salas. Its just too beautifully niche smelling to get rid of.

I couldn't i.d. a single note in this. Well blended composition. "What IS this!?" I asked myself. Its opening made me smile. It quickly softens, maybe a little too much for this guy, but I have to say this is a favorite of mine from this Icon collection. How BIG a bottle I get is the only question I think...

Love this. It smells niche and unisex. It has an inky opening that morphs into white flowers. The low rating must be due to performance. I just have a few spritzes in my shirt from a sample bottle. If I saw the full size at Burlington I would grab it so I could spray with abandon.

Got both Black Platinum and Vintage green. Vintage green = Ok, a cheaper neroli amara, wulongcha. Black Platinum = Damn! smells niche, warm, a little powdery. So addictive. 9/10!

has a very nice soft floral smell to it, almost intimate in a way. after a while, it has a woody scent to it . you can wear this fragrance at anytime pretty much.

I really enjoy this one, it's like a dark berry scent. It's nice, but I wish it was louder

Sporty powdery scent. Wear any time, anywhere.

If I were to take Ex Nihilo Fleur Narcotique’s sunny nectar sweetness, Narciso Her’s or Byredo’s Velvet Haze creamy florals and soft musk, Gris Dior’s gloomy creamy patchouli, and the polite leather from something bright and unisex and iris-based like ... ELDO Tom of Finland, you’ll see what Black Platinum holds for us. In cooler weather, imo, it works best - it manages to evoke summer longing in me, and the patchouli and the leather sit just right in the cold. In warmer weather it somehow doesn’t have the same magic and can even feel cloying at times. This isn’t some masterpiece of the century, but it’s a no brainer and it’s exactly what works in most random of daily occasions. Magnet cap and nice design add to the pleasure. I have a backup bottle, but still, every now and then I get startled because I haven’t checked if it’s still in production. Excellent grab-n-go! If the above mentioned scents aren’t off-putting for some reason to you - I’d say, it’s blind-but worthy, provided the price point. EDIT: ELLA K has an incredible perfume called Lettre de Pushkar - amazing opening, wears a bit close to the skin and it’s pricy. Its opening is everything, though, but something in the drydown gets amplified in a sour way, like juicy sweet saffron, which causes the fragrance to shift off balance for me entirely. That’s the moment when I chase Lettre de Pushkar with Black Platinum - it’s a match made in heaven for me, as I not only get to change in another scent, but I actually get to get more out of Lettre de Pushkar, instead of struggling with its far drydown and getting tired of it. (Btw, Gris Dior is another chase for both fragrances - so I guess , their audiences may overlap) . In general I could say that it chases well after patchouli fragrances whose top notes leave and the patchouli lingers on like Jeroboam Gozo.

I wore this today and I've had this for a while. It's one of those fragrances where I'm really only in the mood to wear when it's like 50 degrees outside. Mostly spring but fall too. Today was a warmer winter day where I live so I pulled this one out. It's definitely a unique scent where it kind of strays into that unique territory but doesn't fully go there kind of like Calvin Klein euphoria, even though that one is a different scent. I get the florals, the cactus, pepper, leather, oak moss as the main notes in this. It's really like a floral scent made for men and more for everyday use. Even though I don't really wear this one that often, it's nice to have it for these kinds of days, and once in a while when I'm in the mood to wear it. It's linear and lasts as long as it should, like 6 hours tops. You can smell it on yourself when you're wearing it on your skin. Even though this is cheap, I'd recommend to smell at a BR store before buying because you might not like it that much or might not think it has enough use to be in your collection. I think the use use of florals and darker notes in here make an interesting smell. It's something I don't wear often but when I do I enjoy it.

The Icon line from BR is by far one of my favorites from the brand. I can find something to appreciate in all of these fragrances, but that’s not to say I’d wear them. Black Platinum is my least favorite in terms of wearability, but only because it’s not my style. As a fragrance, it’s quite interesting. It’s not that it’s just feminine, but it’s Old Lady feminine. It reminds me distinctly of my grandmother. The florals are driving the fragrance with Pink Pepper giving it a little kick in the background. It’s definitely a pleasant smell, and if I were to smell it on someone I’d find an appreciation for it, but I personally will not be getting much use out of this bottle. Though, who knows.. tastes change. The dry down brings about a clean leathery quality that is a bit more my style, but with the florals in the forefront, it leaves more to be desired than not. It’s all about occasion with this one. On a crisp spring day, you might be able to go to a fancy get-together and rock the hell out of this, but that’s why I collect. I’ve got something for every occasion. Hope I can find the right place and time to wear this one. 7/10

Banana Republic 06 Platinum was not love at first sniff. I was rather disappointed. However it grew on me and by using it more often, I started enjoying it. This was a blind buy based of YouTubers recommendation from Ross at TLTG Reviews and Yana at The Scented. Lemon with pepper combined with this Cactus note (WOW), floral throughout with the jasmine and orange blossom playing their part here and then a beautiful leathery/ambery accord dry down. I do understand that it does not last long but so are 95% of all perfumes. The scent profile that I grew to love is what makes me come back for more. On my second bottle and an advocate of this beauty. BR 06 Platinium is sophisticated, elegant and cozy. A fragrance that beckons to be worn.

This one’s weird, I bought it blindly and figured “what the heck”. I sprayed it and wasn’t impressed... it almost smelled old ladyish at first. But after keeping it on the shelf a couple weeks I came back to it with a greater appreciation. It’s got a nice unique peppery green smell from the lemon, pepper and cactus in the top and a soft powdery white floral and leather accord that fills out the spicy sweet opening. This fragrance dances to the beat of its own drum and I believe everyone should have a couple fragrances like that in their collection. Daring but not obnoxious. I’d roll the dice on this one if you’re looking for something that stands apart from the rest.

Michelle1234567 spot on review. This does indeed smell like NR for her, with more cedar.. it’s a bit like the white cube too (NR). Lots of powdery musk here and when I first sprayed it I could barely smell it at all; there is some kind of chemical here that numbs my nose. It doesn’t quite manage the smoothness or power of the narciso scents but it does get the vibe down. This is the second I’ve smelled in this line that is very similar to another fragrance- the other one was cypress cedar which smells almost exactly like Hermès Terre. Is that a thing with BN fragrances? Decent longevity but stays close to the skin. Very nice for the office. Leans feminine.

This definitely smells like a chypre! It's predominantly floral but then there's an oak moss note that makes it smell more complex. If you aren't familiar with floral chypres, they open with a citrus, have floral notes in the heart, and typically have oak moss and/or labdanum in the base. I'd say this is pretty unisex. The name and the box make it seem like it would be way more masculine, so don't be fooled, a woman could pull this off too. It's not a beast when it comes to performance, but I've also definitely smelled weaker perfumes so.. This is for someone with a refined taste, I think it's classy.