Black

Black was the first perfume that I bought with my own money when I was a senior in high school in 1998. It was the year that Bvlgari released it and I was looking to change my “signature fragrance” (I didn’t call it that), which was Hugo by Hugo Boss, and had been Le Male by JPG before that. I don’t know how or why I chose it, but I suspect that the packaging caught my eye: the flat, disc-like bottle with black rubber, resembling a car or motorcycle tire. I used it my last year of school and took it with me when I went abroad for college. Fast-forward a quarter-century. I’d been hunting for a bottle of Black for nearly a year, ever since I got bitten by the fragrance bug. It turns out that in the intervening decades, Black had become something of a perfumery legend. I don’t remember what happened to my bottle from college. Did I finish the juice and never replenish it? Did I leave it abroad, by mistake or intentionally? What I do remember is that I loved it: I’d found it to be comforting and warm but also super sexy and unique. None of the other guys smelled like me, and that was important at the time (like a peacock, I sought to stand out for the ladies). Luca Turin had something to do with its attainment of mythical status, having raved about it in his first Guide with Tania Sanchez in 2008. He ends his almost full-page, five-star review thusly: “[Black] has the combination of great bones and good skin characteristic of old-fashioned perfumery, while being entirely novel and modern. Some things strive to be classics; others simply are. Spend an evening with Black and you will know that its place is with Bandit, Tabac Blond, and Cabochard among the great emancipated fragrances of all time.” A few weeks ago I was sifting through my usual hunting grounds when a new listing popped up on my screen: a boxed, never sprayed, 75-ml tester bottle with the twist cap that turns ON <—> OFF; the one that was later replaced by a common sprayer with a separable cap due to generalized complaints from users (apparently, the mechanism broke or malfunctioned frequently). When they changed the cap, it turns out, they also reformulated the perfume. So a bottle with a twist cap is a telltale sign that it contains the original, mythical juice developed by Annick Ménardo of Firmenich. The same one that I wore 25 years ago. I’d found a unicorn: a mint-condition bottle with the original formulation! (Batch code from 1999.) And the kicker: the price wasn’t ridiculous and the person selling it was absolutely lovely. I couldn’t believe it. I’m still swooning. As for the scent itself... it’s been described very well by others. I’ll just say that it’s gorgeous. I haven’t stopped sniffing it since I got it a few days ago. It’s been like rekindling an old flame, with the depth of feeling that time and distance and experience and perspective can give a couple of age-worn lovers. This is a special, one-of-a-kind, delicious fragrance. It truly is.

Bulgari Black has a bit of a modern-classic-cult status around it, and as usual with these things they're a bit overblown. Think Patou Pour Homme, with its odd combination of amber+fougere+chypre with excellent materials that seemed to blow everyone's mind (and still does... somehow). Bulgari Black was aimed at the masculine bandwagon of the very late 1990s/early 2000s, just as that wagon was starting to turn under the weight of the metrosexual craze, and Bulgari climbed aboard the wagon using nearly the same steps as PPH: pile into a perfume some accords that are very infrequently found together, but use much cheaper materials. Bulgari and Menardo did have an interesting creative flick of the wand with the opening, when presumably Menardo realized she could take Bulgari's much loved tea material that JC Ellena and Bulgari had been playing around with for quite a while and apply a scale factor that morphs it into an intensely and stridently woody shriek. Then it was given a chemically sheen by bitter and oily bergamot, and parched by completely indolic jasmine. The result is something that smells quite a bit like new tire rubber. As a car fanatic who does a lot of his own car work, I can tell you it gets quite close to the VOCs that off-gas after tires are produced. Then at the heart we get a suede leather accord that lives quite comfortably in the middle of lady's handbag and a man's fine Italian jacket; think of slightly animalic leather that has some baby powder residue on it, managing to be just a touch different and simply likable. At the end we have a vanillic amber that is on the pleasant side of sweet, and certainly favoring vanilla more than it is any other amber notes. Some synthetic woods are present for a bit of breadth, but it's mostly vanilla. In all honesty, Bulgari Black smells quite cheap to make. None of the materials strike you as exceptional, and there doesn't seem to be much technical know-how needed to blend it together since it is... well... really rather simple. But it got a lot of praise for its novelty at the time, that praise still echoes, and I cannot argue against that much. Rubber, a gentle leather, and a unisex vanilla do not sound like a winning trio, but it actually works pretty darn well. It's on the unique side of perfumes I've smelled over the course of my life and certainly on the side of unique in my collection - plus it simply smells good and is fun to wear.

Personal: 9.5/10 – One of the most beautiful animalic fragrances out there. Leather and vanilla steal the show. Mass appeal: 6/10 – It could definitely be polarizing, but taste in art is very individual after all. Performance: 6.5/10 – Despite its notes, it still disappears remarkably quickly. Just makes you appreciate it while it’s there. Value: 2/10 – Current market prices are ridiculous for what it is, even if it’s great. Uniqueness: 9/10 – A dirty leather–vanilla contrast like this is rare and unforgettable. SCORE: 67/100 Full bottle buy? NO, not at today’s insane prices. I’d love to, but it’s not worth the secondary market markup. Blind buy? NO, far too polarizing and expensive to gamble on. Recommend? YES, but only if you’re already into animalic leather scents and are willing to pay collector prices. Date night? YES, for edgy, urban, late-night energy. Office safe? NO, too animalic and polarizing for a work environment. Pros: Perfect for anyone with a love of leather scents. Beautiful play on dark and light notes. Extremely unique. Cons: Performance is surprisingly mediocre, prices are ridiculous, and this one isn’t office friendly. Some may love it, some may despise it. For my fourth review, we’ll review a discontinued fragrance from Bvlgari, Black EDT. This fragrance is beautiful in its own ugly way, and I can’t get enough of it. It’s a dark animalic, dirty leather rounded out by sweet vanilla and a powdery wood base. It’s... a bit feminine, but in the most masculine way possible. It smells like a beautiful woman wearing an old, beat-up leather jacket that was worn by a mechanic. The imagery may be poor, but bear with me. It opens with this dark, animalic leather that immediately gets calmed down by powdery vanilla. It smells like urban beauty. This is what city life smells like. This is perfume greatness. The fact that this was discontinued, to me, is a travesty. This is one of the best animalic fragrances I’ve ever smelled, and it’s so likable. An absolute stunner of a fragrance, and a shame it was discontinued. It’s not for everyone, but it’s absolutely for me. Animalic leather never smelled so good. *Review #4 in my fragrance journey – this fragrance I own as a decant*

I've had this fragrance for about ten years (batch code suggests August 2011 manufacture), so I presume this puts it in the original formulation category. I can understand how some may not like the prominent lapsang souchong "rubber" note, but for me that's what makes it really special. I've also got Fahrenheit though, and I'm a fan of the "gasoline" note in that wonderful fragrance too, so perhaps it just takes a certain taste. I can't speak to performance of reformulated batches, but the one I have goes pretty close to beast mode, I wore it out tonight to a club for drinks, in outdoor section at tables, weather cool and damp ("cool" here being 17C or so...), I could sense my scent dominating the surrounding space. A couple of acquaintances turned up, sitting at adjacent table, both immediately noticed the Bvlgari and one said "Someone smells good!", I knew she was referring to me but two of my friends sitting at my table would've been wearing fragrance also so I didn't want to openly presume I'm the one, she actually stood up, started smelling us one by one and when she got to me she said "Yep, you're the one!" I of course said thanks, and told her what it was. I've received random compliments from strangers with this one in the past, for me it just seems to work. I find Black to be very nicely balanced, but with a distinctive sharpness that cuts through the air, projecting excellently, strong sillage, and lasting nicely. I can see how it could be considered "Unisex", but with "rubber" and leather notes this definitely sits firmly on the masculine side (it's certainly no feminine unisex fragrance, put it that way...). Would consider this an afternoon and evening scent generally, but I've worn it to office in past and managed to pull it off. Really like this one, classy and expensive smelling, if it has been discontinued that's a shame, however if the reformulation has watered down the performance and distinctiveness of it I doubt I'd want to purchase a recent bottle of it anyway...

[175] Black is a unique, original scent that deserves its accolades. I have been intrigued by it since reading Luca Turin's glowing review as a teenager. The bottle is perfect - round and black like a tyre, it matches the concept to perfection while being distinctive and objectively pleasing. I'm glad to have tracked down a miniature instead of a decant - now I've a scaled-down version of the epic bottle to admire! Black opens with a compelling mix of notes that settles before there's a chance to savour them. There are fresh, tart citrus notes, some slightly sweet but smooth florals and a warm hint of something akin to benzoin in the background. I get a hint of fresh, earthy tea leaves, and then it settles fairly quickly into its famed rubber-and-gasoline accord. It smells just like rubber tyres after a car/motorbike has skidded to a stop - smoky and tar-like. It is photorealistic, bringing to mind a rough-and-ready garage/yard selling used cars. I'm surprised that birch tar is not listed in the notes. The gasoline is fleeting, and the vanilla that emerges in its stead is an inspired and unexpected addition that adds smoothness and just the right amount of sweetness. The rubber accord becomes more refined and leather-like, and the vanilla here adds a buttery, luxurious quality to the leather notes. At this stage, it more resembles the biker's leather jacket than her tyres. Tempered by soft, woody notes, this fades to a powdery, musky vanilla-amber skin scent with a whisper of leather until the end. Sillage is moderate but the longevity is lacking - my bottle must be of a later batch. A badass, unisex leather scent, Black is masterfully created. It has shades of Matière Première Falcon Leather, but is more complex and nuanced. Meticulously crafted, Black is compelling from start to finish - I just wish it had better performance. To be worn with confidence. 4.5/5.

Dusky City (Annick Menardo, 1998) Bottle Design: Thierry de Baschmakoff Scentrack: Khruangbin – Mr. White Composed by Annick Menardo and released in 1998, Bvlgari Black was a trailblazer in the fragrance world. I do not know the actual reactions in 1998, but it seems to me Black grew into one of the cornerstones of modern perfumery. A true legend. At this moment it is sad to hear the growing rumors that Black is being discontinued, but it is more than possible that another of our fragrance heroes is going to be euthanized. Why do I appreciate Black so highly? First of all, it smells niche before the niche. It was very brave of Bvlgari to release something so novel in 1998. Black is an urban unisex fragrance that reminds me of a sunset in a city. Dusky, melancholic, but somehow still realistic. It opens with just a hint of citrus, and immediately goes to the beautiful rubber eraser accord that reminds of my school days. This rubber accord is additionally deepened by a comforting vanilla-amber-Tonka combo with a hint of leather. Juxtaposed to rubber and vanilla is a sparkling (almost peppery) green tea accord that gives the whole other dimension to the composition. Strange how these completely different tunes are coherent in this composition. Later this similar theme was replayed in Body Kouros (YSL, Annick Menardo), Midnight in Paris (VC&A, Olivier Polge), Luna Rossa Black (Prada, Daniela Andrier). The composition seems simple and linear, but still possesses several somber layers. Black is perfect to wear with a leather jacket, while strolling in a city. The performance is mediocre, while I remember it back in a day as a more potent fragrance. Still, hoping that Bvlgari will not discontinue this dark urban gem for the sake of generations to come Rating: 9/10 (vintage version 10/10)

If KINK had a scent it would be Bvlgari BLACK Its a high gloss rubber clad model in a leather bondage latex picture fetish mag set in a sumptuous manor like setting with opulent furniture. That's right folks I said it. This is my all time fave second to Dior's hypnotique Poison both crafted by Annick Menardo. Thank you for inventing this. Many scents I adore have been experiences in being hit with. "What are you wearing, I have to ask". Joop was the first. This was worn by Sheldon at Steve's music store. Sometime in the early 2000s. I was wearing Cuba Gold ...and would be for 20 years daily as 10$ cheapie that garnered more compliments than anything else I ever wore....go figure. I had to know what his stank was that day and it was this. I got hip to the tip and got me some of it and never regretted. I got my first and only bottle on the Grey Market in St Eustache. I still own it today and will try to use it to the end. So what hooked me was it's sweet but beneath that is a rubber, leather, wax animalic dry spit like you mom used that kleenex in her sleeve to clean your face as a kid. The rubber undertone was just right. It was a bit candle waxy too. An insence vanilla smokiness envelops the whole thing. Scrumptious. I was an automotive technician for 20 years so those scents combined on a vanillic yummy base were just too good. I still love it. I go nuts when I put it on. I wish I could get more and wear it everyday but sadly....no can do. even the clones are discontinued. I list it as my signature scent of preference. Nothing smells like this. It's a weird one like most of the ones I love. Its black sheep. its shunned , its off the beaten path, its not mass appealing but its something everyone can pick a note to love secretly like kink.

Bvlgari Black holds a special place in my heart as the first fragrance I ever bought for myself. It exudes a sense of nostalgia that instantly transports me back to the moment I first experienced its unique aroma. Regrettably, I write this review with a heavy heart, knowing that this beloved fragrance has been discontinued. Black is truly an olfactory masterpiece, a fragrance that effortlessly combines contrasting elements to create a one-of-a-kind scent. The opening notes are a captivating blend of smoky, rubbery accords that may sound unconventional but are surprisingly alluring. They instantly capture attention and evoke a sense of mystery and intrigue. As the fragrance settles, it reveals an intriguing combination of leather, vanilla, and dark woods, adding depth and warmth to the composition. The juxtaposition of these rich and smooth notes against the initial smoky tones creates an intoxicating allure that is both comforting and captivating. The longevity of Bvlgari Black is impressive, lingering on the skin for hours, allowing its wearer to revel in its unique and intoxicating aura. It's a fragrance that demands attention, leaving a lasting impression on those who encounter it. It saddens me to know that Bvlgari Black has been discontinued, as it has become my signature scent, an extension of my personality. Its departure from the fragrance market leaves a void that cannot easily be filled. However, I will forever cherish the memories and experiences that this fragrance has given me. Bvlgari Black will always hold a special place in my heart, a true icon of perfumery.

Can glamour smell of charred exhaustion pipe cylinders and burnt tires spinning endlessly over asphalt? Well, after 5 minutes of coughing up scrap tire smoke off of my lungs, Bulgari Black told me that YES, it does. It starts with the turbo whistle of a dry, carbonized vanilla darkened by the jazz club-to campfire smoke of lapsang souchong and a lot of asphaltic sweetness from violet leaf, dressed in that modern urban uniform, the black leather jacket, one that has been dragged through the pavement and accessorized with cigarette burn holes. A breakbeat of latex and babypowder similar to the one in Habanita softens the testosterone of the leather though remaining androginous-to-masculine in the fragrances-girlfriends-steal-from-boyfriends category, and a disturbing erotic character, sexual, suggestively. It smells like an epistle from the urban youth of the XX century fin-de-siècle: EDM, inner-city raves, Y2K, the aggressive search for individualism, Fight Club, the surge of the worldwideweb, surviving the howling mob of metropolis and other concerns-du-jour of the time that in part trespassed barriers of millennia and remain to this day. There's a very individualistic not-playing-by-your-rules, dark and unrewarded by society Byronic hero theme scripting this. And Bvlgari Black was unrewarded at the end by being discontinued, and what a shame it was because this fragrance symbolizes what designer fragrances should ideally be about: a democratized, accessible avant-gardism that caresses on the cutting-edge without going full-tilt on it like niche.

Rubber, tea, and vanilla: who thinks like that? In 1998 I went to Russia for no particular reason. A strange place and strange time that lives in my memory as a soft blur, disproportionately monumental, icily beautiful even in summer. I was 17 or 18, just developing a taste for things in life: sensual beauty, leather jackets, black and white Robert Mapplethorpe photos. And black tea, with a slice of lemon. That same year, Annick Menardo created Bvlgari Black. Hot rubber, brand new tires, a biker jacket warm against skin, exhaust, smoked black tea, a touch of vanilla so thick and rich it becomes menacing. A contradictory smell, where sometimes hard is soft. I only smelled Bulgari Black recently, after looking for a bottle for years since it has been discontinued, but it brought me back to Russia in the 90s: an ancient tea room with faded yellow wallpaper and velvet curtains, a tall, bony, pale, handsome, sad young man sipping tea, looking out the window. The first warm room after a brutal winter. Time suspended in an existential syrup, waiting to burst. Bvlgari Black is one of the very few "gourmands" I actually love, because it doesn't smell like a f*cking cupcake trying to seduce me at the mall. It's more my type of seduction: a soft dom leather daddy drenched in vanilla syrup, offering me a cup of tea. How could I say no?

Just got a large decant of this...wow!! Well...there's no beating the original...thats for sure! Now I see what the all the M.E. clones were trying to recreate... The opening has quite a bit of brightness to it....and then it goes right into the smooth creamy Vanilla-Leather. This is a compositional masterpiece!!! Goodness gracious...the drydown on this is divine! It's like a creamy smooth non-offensive leather that just lasts and lasts and lasts. As it dries down the vanilla comes to the surface more and more and it's just SMOOTH....Wow!! I'm wearing this full-body a day after receiving it and I think this is about as good as it gets. I'm loving the way I smell just walking around and picking up my own trail!! I've experienced two remarkable things about this that very few of my other fragrances can own: 1. I can wear this by itself!! No additional vanilla necessary! 2. I don't have to carry a respray-decant with me, this will last my entire workday! I'll probably never have a full bottle of this anytime soon, but I can definitely sell/giveaway my bottles of "Amber&Leather", "Meringue" and "Hayaati Gold Elixir" now...they've all been rendered obsolete. I'll definitely be saving up for a full bottle if I can even find one...it would be worth it for this level of Leather mastery.

Black was the first fragrance I ever bought for myself, back in 1998. I was drawn to the sleek, disc-shaped bottle wrapped in black rubber that looked like a motorcycle tire—an instant symbol of cool. The scent itself was just as captivating: warm, smoky, and leathery, with a comforting yet edgy vibe that made me stand out. I wore it through my last year of high school and took it abroad for college, where it somehow disappeared from my life. Fast-forward 25 years. I struck gold a few months ago when I found a mint-condition, never-sprayed 75ml tester bottle with the original twist cap—the version that holds Annick Ménardo’s original juice, before the reformulation that came with the later, standard sprayer. Luca Turin famously called Black a modern classic, comparing it to legends like Bandit and Tabac Blond, and in my opinion he wasn’t exaggerating. Smelling it again after all these years was like rekindling an old flame—familiar yet richer, with a depth that only time and distance can bring. Black’s magic lies in its seamless blend of smoky lapsang souchong tea, creamy vanilla, and burnt rubber, creating an almost tactile experience that’s both comforting and sexy. The contrast between the warmth of vanilla and the industrial coolness of rubber and smoke is mesmerizing.

I'm not an expert at describing smells, but this is like a classic car/garage to me. Tyres, leather & burning. It seems a bit Marmite in how people react. (Not that it smells of Marmite, which would be bad.) I wore this for years before it was discontinued in 2017, which I didn't realise until recently. The last bottle I managed to find was from a reputable online retailer (I believed - can't remember the name now) but didn't smell right. It was either fake or had gone off. I've not tried to buy any since & when I contacted Bulgari direct a couple of years ago they couldn't let me know of any current legitimate retailer with stock. So I gave up... ...until recently when I started to search Google for "Smells like Bulgari Black" & found there are websites about fragrances like this one - who knew? So my research led me to various threads, many up to a decade old, recommending alternatives, from the cheap to the ludicrously expensive, the way off mark to the discovery below. After a weekend spent sniffing around the Midlands & Bristol (challenging to do safely with COVID) my wife & I have settled on a replacement which is: Molton Brown Russian Leather. We think it's >90% there so I now own a bottle of EDT & some bath gel. Happy so far - you be the judge.

The discontinuation of this little gem made me bought a bottle. I remember having smelled this one back when I started my journey in 2015 and liking it. At the time i bought the also discontinued Midnight in Paris and though that this would had been a redundant purchase. 4 years later, I purchased it just to see if this is really that similar or not and because it could had been the last opportunity before prices go crazy. I'm a huge Annick Ménardo fan and this fragrance is really one of their best creations, imo. This is a very linear fragrance to start off. It starts off with the rubber accord that combines tea leafs, bergamot and a leather accord. After an hour, this accord starts to mellow out and the vanilla became the king here. It has the MiP vibe but, imo, much better made. Instead of the tonka this one has vanilla and is more creamy and less aromatic than MiP which has an excellent note of Rosemary, by the way. Although this is more linear. All in all, this is an excellent scent and I'm glad that I have a bottle. Super unisex and pleasant scent. Longevity is pretty good. I get 10 plus hours on my skin, but the projection is very moderate in the first 2hours and close to the skin in the rest of the lifetime. I give this one a 4/5 stars.

Overall rating: * * * * * (masterpiece) Bvlgari Black is New York (or any other global metropolis, really) in a bottle. Hot pavement, steam rising from the subway, ambient sweet food smells, and...noise. Yes, a fragrance can have a sound, and the sound of Bvlgari Black is the din of the city at lunchtime. It took me a couple of wearings to fall in love with Bvlgari; my first reaction was negative: "Hot Rubber? In a fragrance? Is this some kind of joke?" The sensation was not unlike listening to Achtung Baby for the first time many years ago. I thought my stereo was broken! At any rate, BIack has become one of my top 10 fragrances of all time. Totally energizing, stimulating, sexy--a scent that, like a big city, is all about possibilities and self-transformation/self-invention. A brief word about the nose behind Black, Annick Menardo. This fragrance is the crowing achievement of her remarkable career. It has her signature drydown (familiar to wearers of Jaipur) of spiced vanilla and musk. I can only imagine how magnificent this must have been back before IFRA began treating oakmoss as a schedule 1 controlled substance. If you love your nose and believe that anything is possible in life, you need to try Bvlgari Black. It is a masterpiece.

My note from the last time I wore this (nearly a year ago): 4/6/23 This could be a love, not a like. My spouse had this in his collection and gave it to me after he probably wore it once. I hadn't bothered looking into it until today - maybe 2 years later - now I realize that this is discontinued and also a masterpiece. Today is the second warm day of early spring (71 degrees), humid and a bit overcast. The atmosphere is dense/close to the skin and it matches this fragrance perfectly. Walked the dogs at lunch and the smell of the damp asphalt on 8th Ave, the little blooms starting to open on the trees, rubber and exhaust from the cars idling in traffic.... Today: I love it. If this wasn't discontinued I'd wear it more often. On my skin this is a quite soft-projecting scent. Each time I go to sniff my wrist I pick up something a bit different from the notes list. It's like bitter green tea, soft sweet sandalwood, fresh jasmine, cozy musk, warm amber, black leather, and then around again to the bitter tea. To me this feels meditative, and I would happily wear it for a quiet night of self care and early bedtime. I would go to sleep and dream about white flowers heavy with mist dropping onto wet blacktop.

Here's your Clone: Shobi Perfumes from Greece Shobi 1035 . You can pick your extra oil concentration. The 0ml is a perfume version of the original EDT. The 2ml is a more concentrated version and 5ml extra oil is overkill and kills the top notes out . Word to the wise it's mixed live for your order so the mix will be raw and unbonded like a lattafa clone. Spray some in the box to get some air in the bottle to start the molecular bonding (transesterification) proces. Let it sit 6 to 8 months so the maltols (sweetness) matures into Bvlgari Black. The vanilla crystals need to bond with the leather and other accords. No review will be accurate until the esters meld. The other added bonus is the scent molecules shot in the box create a pressure balance of volatiles that helps stabilize the air around the bottle while it matures. Other important reality check: Be aware that after 2010 IRFA restrictions some chemicals had to be synthesised so these guys are doing the impossible here. The maturing time is crucial . Anyone of you that has noticed the process knows ...others sniff and sell. Live with your scents!! Calimera Kyrie Black!!

This is the brother to Versace Crystal Noir. Bvlgari Black came first. It smells less synthetic and shampoo perfumey than Crystal Noir. Bvlgari Black has black tea, cedar and leather notes but, they are beautifully blended in. Not the Shalimar level of leather. I also, smell laconic notes and coconut? in Bvlgari Black. I know it's not what other people are posting in comments, but it's what it smells like to me. The grounded cedar in here, rather than the perfumey floral base of Versace Crystal Noir makes Bvlgari Black more wearable to me. A real bargain price for this perfume. Both perfumes are made in Italy. I remember smelling this perfume in 2014. Its been reformulated. Then, the tire note was distinct and stood out. Now it's creamy and refined. Definitely worth trying. It's not a sweet or gourmand perfume. I really like this perfume and bought a back-up. Someone else here has said it's discontinued and I can't see it on Bvlgari's website.

This one was an unexpected blind buy for me. I DO NOT condone blind buying, but I’ve always been curious about this fragrance and I saw it up for sale at a fair price ($40 USD for the 40ml) vs all the ones massively upcharging over $200 because it’s discontinued and I just HAD to pounce on it. If I didn’t like it, I can easily sell it. The result? MASSIVE W. F. YES. This fragrance is ABSOLUTELY up my alley. THIS is how creative I wish more designer houses were. It fits my personality perfectly and now I wish I had a bigger bottle. This is just as good, if not better than many niche perfumes Ive tried. I already know I’d be open to paying scalper prices for this just to have the 75ml. In fact? I’ve already put it up on my watch lists. It’s that good. Completely addicted to the rubbery vanilla and tea combination I’m picking up on top of a bed of smoky woods. Ugh. Hell yeah. BRB gonna listen to some Bauhaus now.

Ok, so my love story with this gem began last year when a friend of mine told me that she wanted to give away an almost full bottle because it reminded her of someone she didn't want to be reminded of. Back then I wasn't fully aware of the 'cult' status of this fragrance and didn't know what to expect. When I first sprayed it on my wrist, I was surprised by a note (or combination rather) that I wasn't quite sure I liked. Perhaps that was the notorious rubber/tyre note that is off-putting to many. I accepted it just for the sake of enriching my collection. However, as time went by, I began to appreciate it and the 'like' gradually grew to become 'love'. I don't mind the rubber note anymore because I relish the leather and vanilla fusion that follows (the most prominent notes I can smell) - classy, extravagant and rebellious at the same time. A truly unique scent, such a shame it got discontinued...

If you can find this, and don't mind the elevated price, I'd suggest taking a chance. For me this is a pleasing, slightly warm fragrance that is good year round and would make a nice signature scent. Perhaps not the best for high heat or active/sport outings. This fragrance is blended so well I really have to focus to distinguish the notes and even then only a few stand out. Why bother? Just enjoy it for what it is and that is a quality fragrance that is not likely to be worn by others and will please you and those around you. Lastly, I know a lot of reviewers indicate a strong rubber smell, for me it is only slightly noticeable and then after focusing to identify it. I wouldn't let this be a deal breaker for you, if you blind buy it and don't like it there are plenty of others who will buy it from you on fragrance sites and auction sites.

This is it. When I was a kid I would frequently go to Nordstrom Rack and smell the men's fragrance section which would usually consist of the same 10 fragrances and Bvlgari black was one of them. For some reason despite loving it back then I never bought it and over the years forgot it existed. Fast forward to my fragrance addiction I remembered the exact smell of Bvlgari black but forgot what it was called and what it looked like which sent me on a sample frenzy. FINALLY I figured out it was Bvlgari black and I couldn’t wait any longer to purchase it so I checked out where I could buy it and found out it was discontinued. It took me an entire year but I finally found this for a “good” price and picked it up. Like others have said it truly is a masterpiece and is easily a 10/10 fragrance there is absolutely nothing that replaces this.

My absolute favorite scent just overall not just as a perfume. I would use this as a body wash, room spray, detergent, anything. I say that also because the longevity on this perfume is noooooot good at all. It's down to pleasant powdery vanilla in a few hours. Its a nice enough vanilla but god... that opening hour of fresh leather and rubber is heavenly and makes me want to go back for more. It is so lovely because yes it is dark and edgy but it doesn't sacrifice comfort for bravado. It is still warm and luxurious like it doesn't need to put up an aggressive front to prove how cool it is: it knows how cool it is and has relaxed into it. A lovely bottle reminiscent of a tire and a good representation of the smell. It might look hard and masculine but is softer to the touch and more feminine than you may think.

Big love for this beauty, an absolute favourite. I originally bought it for my husband but he wasn’t keen on it, I used it and never want to be parted from it since. I think that this was ahead of its time- to me it’s very androgynous (but not in a CK One unisex-genre way) and hard to pinpoint. A bit of a contradictory and divisive fragrance but I adore it’s uniqueness. I’m determined to buy back-ups. I just wish Bvlgari would bring this back (along with Blv Notte for women) instead of their current meh and “crowd pleasing” offerings. P.S. For those not keen on the rubber and tea notes, it might be worth checking out AllSaints Metal Wave which to me is a pared back version of BB. When sprayed side by side, the drydown is really similar (MW is less complex, as to be expected).

This is Love when it gets a lil’ kinky. Sounds intriguing right? Niche when niche wasn’t really a thing. The smell of a cold rainy night in a big city in late autumn. The smell of tires and cold vanilla infused tea. Or maybe vanilla flavoured condoms *wink wink* and a mug of tea long forgotten. But not really, no. My solinote vanilla perfume on my boyfriend’s leather jacket after we leave...the tea shop. Ha! Gottcha, what did you think we were leaving? Feminine and masculine, simple and complex, light and heavy, proper and naughty, a true unisex. Performance is good, I can smell it all day if I spray my hairline, but it keeps close to the body. Thought it would smell better on a boyfriend, but as a true main character of my own life, I made it mine.

smoother version of Midnight in Paris, the best from the trio(MiP, Prada Black and Bvlgari Black) per my opinion most versatile for day to day use. If the oakmoss and green tea were more pronounced with better projection, this would be better for all year round, but things are not going that way, you have that leather - rubber tire opening, with some smooth earthy tea complexity which after that is drying down to simple vanilla leather skin scent. If you are looking for some louder version with more projection go with Midnight in Paris EdP- it's richer darker version compared to EdT. Midnight in Paris(Edt) is really similar to the Bvlgari Black, but sweeter, more on a feminine side, sometimes smells like a fancy old lady. 5/10

When I read up on a fragrance with a lot of hype, 9/10 I will blind buy it, 10/10 times if it's discontinued. So I stumbled on this one for R850 ($50), read the reviews and decided to pick it up. All while managing my expectations mind you. This one is worth every compliment that it has ever been paid. It's also not as hard a wear as I was expecting, the vanilla and amber seem to soften the leather and tyre-y smell that this one. But that tyre smell is what will keep you coming back for more. A real pity I picked this up in spring, but I will wear it out in the evenings for sure. Likely, the most rare designer fragrance in my collection, it or the slightly similar Nior Ambre by Issey Miyake. Which is equally beautiful.

A masterpiece. Smells like the confident badass who wears a leather jacket. Introverted and stoic, but ready for action or any trouble that finds him/her. That’s right, it’s unisex, but equally badass on a man or a woman. That’s the magic of this one. I’ve been told Angelina Jolie rocks this one and that makes perfect sense. It’s mostly leather (and yes it has a slight rubbery accord in there), giving it the edgy badass in a leather jacket vibe, but this is complimented with a powdery vanilla and warm amber, making it sensual. Those are the main notes I pick out, but I believe it’s the subtle woody accords that give this a masculine edge. Perfect for end of summer nights when it starts to cool down.

I'm so glad I bought this when I did. Now that it's discontinued the price has soared. Black is such a unique scent, with an accord that smells like rubber, and yet it works. Although it was marketed as a fragrance for men, I wear it anyway. I have a few men's fragrances that I love. I discovered this when I read Perfumes the A to Z Guide, where it was rated as one of the best. Intrigued by the description, I finally bought a bottle. I've never smelled anything like it before, and I likely never will. If you prefer a regular, middle of the road scent, this isn't for you. But if you want something different and unique, this is it. I just hope you can find it at an affordable price.

I agree with the comments about the reformulation. My batch from March of 2019 is a pleasant vanilla tea skin scent with hints of rubber and leather. What I had some years ago smelled like slightly tarred hot rubber tires (like after a mild burnout) infused with that vanilla tea, and quite a bit more. Nothing about it was soft-spoken, even if it didn't shout. Bulgari Black really was something special that matched the theme of the bottle, and definitely polarizing. It's a shame that neither version is being produced anymore. But if you're on a quest to find out what all the hype was about, go for a batch from 2014 or prior. Even if you don't like it you'll probably respect it.

My old favorite. It doesn’t matter that once an estimated eight-year-old girl told me that I smell like poop. Believe me, it was Bvlgari Black, not me or my ass. On the other hand, a close acquaintance of mine told me that the scent is just like a cheap Russian woman. I have not received any other comments. Otherwise, if you only knew how spiteful comments I have received for another Menardo masterpiece, Patchouli 24. For me, Black is one of the best perfumes of all time. Those who hate it can break up into pieces for me. A delicate powder made of jasmine, rubber, coumarin and vanilla, all massaged together, into a unpretentious perfume suitable for all beautiful souls.

Black is deeply comforting and masculine, in as much as it reminds you of traditionally manly hobbies and craft. I don't get much evolution from top to middle to base with Black; more of a hodgepodge of notes. In no particular order jumps out leather jacket in the sun, tire shop, and sweet, sweet gasoline. More abstract, but just as lovely scents of freshly laundered cotton shirt and nostalgic schoolground asphalt petrichor also pop into my brain. Performance-wise, Black is pretty subtle to my nose, barely extending past the skin, and for only a few hours at most. But man, what a scent while it lasts. Just writing this makes me want to go huff some Bvlgari Black

This is such a nostalgic fragrance for me. I bought it in 2010 when I was in college and I love the sweet rubbery scent. It’s hard to describe and I’ve never smelled another fragrance like it. Very unique and brings back nice memories. I was disappointed to see it’s been discontinued and sells for ridiculous prices now. Can’t remember how much I paid for it back in the day but I found a great deal on a 75ml bottle for $75 recently and I’m so happy to have this one again. It has not aged a bit and smells exactly how I remember. It was my daily wear but I’ll save this for special occasions from now on. This can be worn at any time of year, day or night.

Evokes the imagery of being tethered to a motorcycle, navigating a dumpster fire, yet emerging as a trendsetter. This fragrance indelibly shaped me over the past fifteen years. Initially worn by an older acquaintance during my high school years at clandestine techno venues, its smoky, leathery notes lingered on my clothing, unlike any other scent. It transports me back to those tumultuous nights, confrontations, and a spirit of rebellion. Despite trying Tom Ford Ombre Leather, none can match its essence. More than just a fragrance, it was a powerful statement. I would do anything to experience it again. Rating: 1000/10 Pure embodiment of soul.

Bvlgari Black is at first like nestling among some new Firestones while sipping Lapsang Souchong tea. Redolent of smoky vanilla and musky black rubber, there are also wintergreen-like salicylates and a rosy undertone in its heart that adds to its allure. It is shadowy and finessed, a slow simmer. It feels like quiet luxury. It's as if I am a living in a 90s Michael Gondry music video. It smells like the Escherian imagery in the Lucas With the Lid Off clip. It is 90s urban chic, Diesel jeans and Camper Pelotas shoes, after hours in warehouse spaces. It may not smell all that mind-blowing today—but you just had to be there.

On reading Luca Turin/Tania Sanchez's five-starred review of this fragrance, I was deeply confused. Tea? Rubber? Leather? No thank you. But after giving it some time, now I understand why they rated this so highly. This fragrance is a very handsome man in a grey suit, sipping an Earl Gray latte and reading Steinbeck, sitting in the lobby of a tire shop. It's captivating in an understated way. It is genius, the marriage of these notes a thing so much greater than its parts, with such a clear image of what the perfumer had in mind that it's almost tactile. I love this fragrance so much and I wish they would bring it back!

I blind bought this over a decade ago upon reading, that my then favourite (male) singer uses(used) it. I was such a fool, but a lucky one, because this is really unisex and quite a lovely scent. I didn't know much about perfumes back then, but it was a love at first smell. Smoky and sweet, very well done mix of soft and bold. Now it reminds me of hot summers, melting asphalt in the city, sweaty black clothes. Oh my, I need to find some new bottle of this, it's bringing me a lot of nostalgia. Update: BDK Créme de Cuir is considerably similar to this. BB is more smoky and CdC more citrusy though. Get a sample.

Yes, it does give off a rubber tire vibe. This could perhaps be a turnoff for some, but somehow Bvlgari made it work. And work well! One of my favorites to wear. More masculine than Midnight in Paris and better performing than Luna Rossa Black in my opinion. All 3 definitely share a lot of similarities. I was on the hunt for ages for Midnight in Paris, and when I finally found a good deal on it, I struck. A few weeks later, I realized I like Bvlgari Black more and MIP didn't really have a place in my collection besides the gorgeous bottle, so I sold it. That's how much more I like Bvlgari Black.

عطر بلاك من بلغاري هو عطر فانيليا دخاني ذو طابع شرقي و لكن بدون بخور و عود العطر يرتكز أساسا على الفانيليا مع نسبة لا بأس بها من الجلود المدخنة، هذا الأساس الذي يستمر من البداية للنهاية تلطفه بعض النوتات الخفيفة مثل الشاي و هو نوتة تميز عطور شركة بلغاري حيث يتواجد في معظمها خصوصا عطور التسعينات العطر به شبه كبير من عطر مدنايت ان باريس من فان كليف، كلاهما الآن منقطع الانتاج عطر يصلح للمناسبات خصوصا الاجواء الباردة حيث أن لمسة الفانيليا هنا دافئة من أعلى جودة و مع الجلود الدخانية يكون عطر مثالي لليالي الباردة الأداء متوسط حيث يدوم لحوالي 6 ساعات و فوحان محدود جدا و لأول ساعة فقط التقييم 4.35/5

I love this fragrance. The problem is I can barely smell it after about 20 minutes. It seems to last a long time in the dry down, which is quite soft, mostly sweet. But I love that smoky, rubber scent with the first spray. So, I usually end up spraying myself a lot and frequently on those days I wear it. Today I tried spraying the sweater I am wearing; and behold! That initial opening scent remains on my clothing hours later. I guess this is the solution - to have all of it from the beginning to the dry down at the same time. Someone has said it is discontinued.....I hope that’s not true.

From my point of view, it is one of the most beautiful unisex perfumes. Although many consider it to be more masculine due to the aroma of "burnt rubber" in the opening, I feel it as pleasant, sexy and a woman. I think it is the first designer perfume that dared to step on the territory of niche perfumes. Especially in the 1998s when the vast majority of houses launched fresh perfumes or in general "safes". The unique smell of leather, vanilla, tea and that rubber accord ... wow ... a scent craze. Too bad the projection was poor, otherwise it was on the podium.

I'm in the 'masterpiece' camp with this one. Sure, once you smell it, it must be clear why it's such a controversy, but it's a gem nonetheless. I'm a petrolhead, and a motorbike and car enthusiast, so this one has an atmosphere close to my heart: leather upholstery, petrol and oil, tarmac and roses. And since it's so bold, I believe you have to have the right outfit - I wore a leather jacket and heavy boots. Sadly there's not much oportunities for me to wear this beauty anymore, I just grow out of this style. I love it still and cherish the memory.

I've finally got my nose on this after all these years. Truth be told, I've been looking for something that is similar to Midnight in Paris and for years people have compared it to Bvlgari Black. You can certainly see where Van Cleef & Arpels got their inspiration from, huh? Upon first spray, this immediately reminded me of MiP. MiP even has that rubbery note, though nowhere near as pronounced as the one found in Black. I love the intense rubber in the opening, it really sets this apart. A beautiful tea note encased in vanilla. This is good stuff.

I’ve worn this scent for years and still love it. Black is the perfect blend of leather, tire rubber, gasoline, exhaust from a big block engine, and spicy vanilla. I know that combo sounds strange but believe me, it works. Performance and projection is long, this is essentially a day long fragrance. One weakness is that it’s not versatile. It cannot be worn with brown outfits, just strictly black and it’s most appropriate at night. Also never pay full price for it, this fragrance can easily be found at discounters and for low prices online.

oh my! the first moment I sprayed this perfume I fell in love. I have been looking for a new scent and am a big fan of woody, leathery, musky scents with a hint of sweet vanilla, and this scent gives all of those things. Its funny I read comments of others saying it doesn't smell like its for women, but to me it does smell quite feminine, maybe more of a mysterious, strong, sexy woman scent vs sweet. I would say its more suited to a mature wearer. I have found a new scent to add long term to my collection

Bvlgari Black is a unique beauty. Wore it to the race track today, it’s an ideal scent for motorsports enthusiasts with the black rubber note and bottle details. Perfectly unisex, with delicate and fresh top notes, smooth vanilla persisting throughout, woods and earthy notes in the heart and base. I love the tea note in this and found the scent when looking for tea scents. The rubbery leather note gives it a strong and sexy edge. Performs well for an EDT and lasts well on clothes.

So I don't have this anymore, just an empty bottle. I do love the bottle for this fragrance, it's unique, just like the fragrance itself. I know people have mentioned the rubber smell, well I love that rubber smell, it satisfies my sniffer. It's like a big tire swing hanging from tall mountain trees. The rubber smell quickly morphs into a soft woods with just the right amount of floral and a touch of vanilla. This is one of my old favorites. It's a lovely fragrance for any gender.

Masterpiece of annick menardo in its beginning . It is a modern leather, from a futuristic city in the rain... it is beautiful, a smell of moist and warm rounded gum of a bright vanilla with the smell of bitumen burning in the rain... it is from another world. It was my signature perfume for 15 years, why to have discontinued such a beauty bvlgarie , everything was there until the magnificent bottle paying tribute to the jewelry know-how of the brand. Give us back this legend!!!

A pleasant surprise! Yes, resembles Prada Luna Rossa Black a bit (similar fragrance for sure) but IMO better blend and more rounded up. I really like the soft projection and super longevity combination. Very well balanced and smooth blend of vanilla, green tea, leather and amber (with a pinch of wood and florals). Since it's discontinued, discounters have it for ~ $30. Get it! It's a gem. This is one of very few designer scents in y collection and I am very happy with it!!!

The bedroom door opens. You look up in horror - caught! You thought no one would be home for hours. But it’s too late to hide it - the rubber suit is halfway up your torso, the powder that was easing its journey has started to cake with your sweat and the rubber’s begun to squeak (pleasingly) against your skin. Well, you won’t make it to the party now. But you perversely enjoy this moment of exposure - the sight, the sounds, the smell. If only you could bottle it up.