212 VIP Black

I had a long layover at the San Francisco airport, I decided to go look in the duty-free and I just wanted to smell some things. I normally look past., let’s just say I was in there for five minutes and decided I couldn’t leave there without this 😭🙏 this stuff does not get enough hype, it’s SOOOOO GOOD , at first sniff. I thought it was a little generic, but after I sprayed it on myself and thought about it for a second this is absolutely not generic, for me it starts off with an aromatic lavender type smell similar to le male le parfum , but a little more sweet, and then soon after it turns into this really, really fun and likable sweetness , almost reminiscent of trolly gummy worms, but not in an edible way just in a really good way it has a slight dark purple aura to it, that I really enjoy, previously my signature sent was armani code edp (2024) and this definitely gives off a similar vibe and I’m honestly thinking of switching to this, it’s the same sweet, but also somewhat dark dna that i love but I’m starting to think this almost does it better, with that little bit more of automatic lavender, the longevity on this stuff is also great. It lasts all day and has pretty decent projection if you spray a lot on this would be an absolute banger for parties i’m also obsessed with the bottle, it’s a really fun magnetic cap and when it clicks on, it doesn’t move at all which just adds a nice touch, the liquid also kind of changes color depending on what type of lighting its in which is kind of cool, it goes from clear to dark purple. I’m assuming just because of the paint on the bottle reflecting with the light. But anyway ya this stuff’s amazing go check it out. If you haven’t already fastest I’ve ever bought something from the airport.😭

Carolina Herrera 212 VIP Black is one of those fragrances that manages to smell dark and clean at the same time. It has that recognizable 212 VIP DNA, but here it feels deeper, more aromatic and more seductive. The absinthe and anise give it a slightly bitter, almost boozy freshness, while lavender keeps it clean and masculine. Then the vanilla and musk soften everything and make it smoother, warmer and more wearable. To me, this is a perfect example of a clean dark fragrance. It is not dirty, heavy or overly sweet, but it still has that night-out character. It feels fresh enough to be elegant, but dark enough to be sexy. Definitely more suitable for colder days and especially for evenings or nights out. The scent itself is excellent and it grabs attention, I did receive several compliments on a single wear. It smells attractive, confident and seductive without trying too hard. But the performance is honestly very disappointing. After 3–4 hours, it becomes almost impossible to notice and the projection is quite weak from the beginning. For the price, that is hard to justify. I really love how it smells, but it is definitely overpriced considering how poorly it performs.

A sweet scent that brings to mind a fresh, highly aromatic vanilla, paired with a clean lavender that creates a polished and attractive feel. While it retains a fresh facet, it clearly leans toward a nighttime profile. It evokes nuances reminiscent of hair pomade or even a gummy-candy-like sweetness, making it quite penetrating yet genuinely pleasant from the opening. This is a masculine, sexy, and distinctly party-oriented fragrance, with a youthful energy that conveys confidence and self-assurance. The sweetness is dense but well controlled: never cloying or generic, but rather rounded, full-bodied, and rich in character. Interestingly, rather than evoking the color black, this scent brings violet to mind—deep, nocturnal, and enveloping. It is one of my signature fragrances for nights out or casual evening gatherings with friends. Despite my experience in perfumery, I am still a young man and, at times, unapologetically vain, with a desire to stand out—and this fragrance truly delivers. It is easy to like, pleasant, and distinctive, featuring a dark yet fresh sweetness that is clearly not gourmand, which makes it particularly interesting within this style.

So I took a weird approach with this line of fragrances, I bought 212 VIP Black Extra first mainly because the notes listed really appealed to me. Once I received it I immediately liked it but I did think it was more aromatic and much less warm and spicy than I thought it would be. I felt that same way when I purchased Stronger With You Intensely. The lavender in these heavier fragrances really brings a bright, aromatic facet to them. Now I'm just getting this one and I'll be getting the original version next. I definitely like this one even more than 212 VIP Black Extra. I love the cola note in it, but the metallic quality brought on by the cola note, mixed with the lavender and oak moss used in it can be a bit much in the opening. This version is better balanced than Extra and it's a little bit heavier, more warm and spicy than Extra is. They both seem to have really good longevity and projection so it comes down to which one is more appealing to you personally and for me, it's this one. I highly recommend both. Scent: 8.5/10 Longevity:8/10 Projection:7/10 Mass Appeal:10/10 Uniqueness:2/10

First smelt 212 Men Carolina Herrera when I was a boy back in 2001/2002 when I stole a few sprays of my dad's. Made me feel all grown up back then! This is totally different from the original, for me, this is a dense and dark fragrance, thick and complex..in the best way. I wore it to work and the scent filled the room, pulled in some compliments from female colleagues - perhaps not an everyday scent or at least 2 sprays only if wearing in the office or indoor working environment. There is a strength and weight to this one, of course it is an EDP. Something about it reminds me of blackcurrant liquorice sweets, with a vanilla creaminess balancing it out. Loud and bold projection for the first 2 hours then it clings tightly to the skin, retaining its richness for many hours after. One of the coolest bottles also, the glass is thick and weighty..much like the scent itself. Really nice magnetic lid also, I own a 50ml .. would buy 100ml in a heartbeat when this runs out. PS..is it me or does this scent have some resemblance to Spice Bomb Night vision?