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?

This is an aromatic soft spicy scent. The combination of its elements give me different impressions every time I wear it. Sometimes I get a bit of freshness similar to mint. Other times, specially by night, I feel it sweet, but not necessarily vanilla, as it is declared as one of the notes above. Other times I feel it a little harsh or boozy, specially at the beginning. I think it has a nice longevity and it sticks into your skin for a long time. While the fragrance is drying down on your skin, definitely it gets better. Even though I have never heard of a absinthe as a note in perfumery, I don't find this perfume specially innovative. For instances it remind me of different scents I have smelt before: Versace Eros, Chanel Allure Sport Eau Extreme among others, but somehow, I find this fragrance still stands out on its own terms and character. I'm enjoy it every time I wear it.

Listen.This cologne does the job.I never even considered to get this up until I received a box of 14 designer samples.This box contained some of the most sought after samples on the market.I sat here with my girlfriend and we just smelled all of them.Low and behold the one she kept going back to was VIP BLACK.I tried a few wearings and she does not want me to wear this anymore cause people ( and i mean woman specifically) cant get enough of this.My nose is not trained to smell all the notes like an expert but for some reason this is one of my most complimented fragrances.You can blind buy this!!! No lie!! Spring,winter,autumn and office setting is perfect.Sometimes i wonder how many fragrances i lose out on because people dont talk about them.This is so underrated. Ldeezy rating - 8 out of 10

Looks like most of the reviews are AI generated or just made by a first impression from a try at the parfume store. 212 VIP Black is pretty unique and more mature than you think. The absynthe, fennel and anise from the opening is very noticeable for the first 2 hours. This is not a vanilla bomb as people are posting here. For me it's a very unique fragrance for fall/winter for the evening/night activities. And if you're clubbing in dark electronic, metal music, goth ambiences you gonna conquer some hearts. Playful, not serious, but definitelly not for a teenager (i'm 44) 8/10 and a must try... For the people that just are biased and comment without having the VIP Black bottle in their collection just leave and go buy the fragrances instead commenting random stuff cause, we know you're lying.

The perfect clubbing, black tie, manly night fragrance. It is sweet, strong and lasts a good six hours. It is warm, gourmand-ish and smells delicious. It does not remind me much of the original 212 VIP, but that's okay. I like how CH went a different route with this flanker. Anise and fennel, sounds weird, but interesting right? Mixed with lavender and vanilla, they both perform so well and I can't get enough of it. Absinthe is mainly in the opening, but the boozy note retains its mark throughout its play. It could do better on projection, its noticeable within three hours. I like the soft musky-vanilla skin scent very much. If you need a different and unique, playful but stylish cologne that is not Eros or Sauvage; choose VIP Black.

as of 2025, longevity and projection are mediocre, perhaps its bias due to it being one of my first ever fragrances, but i absolutely love this. whilst it is still a designer fragrance and it has that designer "muting" of the notes, it does certainly standout a lot with the liqorice absinthe and lavender combo, setting it apart from the mundane world of the myslf's and the prada paradigme's we get these days. it does have that safety net that most designers have, sacrificing nuance for mass-appeal, yet it is for me one of the more enjoyable designers despite its flaws.

This is definitely for kinda person who's like "Hi, I'm loud and I don't give a f*ck! Let's party, baby" and "I won't text back you after I leave your place" XD Now about the scent XD It opens up with a very strong vanilla boozy note which is followed by the anise. After 15min of applying, it starts to settle down a bit and rounded up with lavender and vanilla notes. The dry down is much more pleasant than the opening, very seductive, musky and youthfully (or immature) sexy. The dry down reminds me a bit of Paco Rabanne's Pure XS. Solid 8+/10!

Disfruto muchísimo este perfume. Huele muy rico y tiene excelente rendimiento. Tiene una proyección moderada, con una longevidad muy buena, de 8 horas. Ha habido un par de ocasiones donde según ya no huele pero me han dicho que huele muy rico. Tal vez es un aroma de hace unos años, pero vale la pena por completo, muchos de mi círculo me lo han chuleado. Usable en climas templados, pero si llueve o hace mucho frío, recomiendo usar otras opciones Masculino y muy bueno para todo tipo de ocasión, usable para escuela, oficina, una salida o cena

Carolina Herrera 212 VIP Black is a truly beautiful fragrance - very playful, youthful, sweet and slightly masculine scent. I love it just got a sample and I really want to buy a full bottle but the problem that's holding me back from it is the performance. For me it is pretty weak in both longevity and projection I put on 8-10 sprays and after an hour and a half I couldn't smell it at all nor my friends could sense it. I got a 2022 batch and it is very disappointing despite the scent itself being really nice.

212 VIP Carolina Herrera Black is one of the fragrances I personally enjoy a lot. The absinthe (green fairy) touch in the opening gives it a modern and distinctive edge, then it evolves into a more classic masculine scent. Watching this transition is quite enjoyable while wearing it. I find it especially suitable for evening use, where it becomes quite attention-grabbing in the right dose. In the designer segment, I think it’s a solid and well-characterized fragrance.

Completely different from the Elixir version. This is much more light and aromatic. Not super sweet at all. Mostly lavender and herbal/absinthe with just enough vanilla to round it out. Stays pretty linear for me. The fragrantica notes are more accurate than the ones listed by Carolina Herrera. I get no leather out of this at all. Could get away with some extra sprays with this, where you have to be careful with the elixir and that potent licorice and more sweetness.

212VIP Black CH is in top five in my collection, this one attracts positive reaction and compliments. Longevity: 6-8 hours(around 8 sprays) Sillage: moderate some 3-4 good hours that's when you will get the compliments. Scent: 5/5 definitely something that not to many people know about it, but not unique. Looking forward to buy a new bottle soon.

First time I wore this when I bought it I felt good all day and I couldn’t stop sniffing my jacket. One of my favorites right now. Amazingly good, such a beautiful smell and lasts all day on clothes. CH has always been my go to when it comes to fragrances. All of them are unique and good in their own way, especially the 212 line 👍

This is to die for! Smells great, and really is not as loud as I thought it would be, which was actually a great thing for the fragrance. One that is successful and not as night-oriented as everyone talks about - great three season signature for a man. Easy blind buy here. Really don't have anything like in the collection.

Got this for about forty odd pounds from Boots (UK retailer) just before Xmas. Not a bad fragrance this though not as good as Stronger With You by Emporio Armani or Pure XS by Paco Rabanne. Just a shame it doesn't perform as well as those fragrances. A decent frag to wear for a night out clubbing or going on a dinner date.

This is the first fragrance that i bought with my own money It's a fragrance that appeals to young people more Its longevity is good enough but it could be a little better to sillage It gets a lot of compliments especially from girls If you ask me it's a fragrance that you can definitely buy and use for all 4 seasons

If you remember late 90s and early 00's mens fragrances that's what this smells like and I love it... the sharp anis and lavender, also slightly spicy. longevity's not that great, sillage is amazing. if you're on a date chances are they're going to like it. It might not get you laid but it won't hurt your chances.

This one is a beast! The opening notes itself are just so good. Probably the only fragrance I’ve bought as an impulse purchase. It’s the right amount of musk blended perfectly with vanilla. The absinthe and fennel cut that sweetness brilliantly. Lasts long and the silage is good.

Great fragrance. I got this as my second designer fragrance after only using the original 212. I love it, works great for everyday use but is also great for going out. Projection and performance are good so it lasts a lot on the skin and clothes and gets you a lot of compliments.

Got it from my girlfriend as a gift. Opening is very similar to Stronger With You by Emporio Armani. 5 minutes later Anise and Fennel aroma kicks in and makes it a great scent. Do not blind buy it, I ccn see some people who won’t like it. Longevity and silage are great.

An extent of hate to this predator, I’m not really bothered as long as hunnies love it I care less. I was told I smell very sexy numerously, well majority of them love it. Blind buy it if you want tons of compliments, best performance & smelling sexy for any vibe.

This has become my go-to for evenings or formal settings. The vanilla base with the absinthe and aniseed top notes are comforting. It is a bit powerful, I only spray twice, but it lasts all evening. My wife also loves it which is a win.

I'm in love with this one and i think many people sleeping on this gem right here, it's EDP with very nice performance and price, versatile and can be worn any time of the year. Sits on skin for at least 7 hours solid.

In my opinion, this is absolutely a-mazing! I don't think it's aimed at the juvenile population, but rather for a man in his late 20s - early 30s. My brother fell in love with it in an instant! Big love!

It became relatively common to smell this scent but still smells amazing. Perfect for a date night or go out for drinks. You can even suit it for other occasions if you don't over spray it.

A great party fragrance. However it is quite expensive. Another party fragrance that is better than 212 vip black is Bharara king edp. It costs half of what 212 does and it performs better.

I absolutely love the DNA of Carolina Herrera perfumes; this one is very distinctive. I bought it blind and I don't regret it at all. It was totally worth it and gets compliments

its gorgeous...lovely fruity vanilla, reminds me of polo red intense mixed with azzaro wanted and pure xs, beautiful heavy bottle, definitely long lasting.i loved it 9/10

Very pleasant opening. Deep and dark scent. Little sweat and sharp. But after......there is nothing. Only pure valila in the drydown. Very discrete......

This one smell really good and quite unique, the Absinthe note make it very sexy, but I hope it last longer, becasue my bottle performance not good

smells very good, somewhat unique, kinda strong, great buy if you want something different 1.5-3ft projection for 2 hours longevity 7 hours (skin)

This smells so nice. Seriously. I would get it if my friend didn’t have it. I hope he reads this and considers trading that for something I have.

Super Nice ... On a sweeter side perfect for summers .. compliment getter for sure . EDIT : AM LOVING THIS MORE IN WINTERS ... FANTASTIC STUFF

Mucho mejor que eros edp para salidas, vainilla super cremosa con una lavanda fuerte, algo licorosa y un toque de anis. Elegante y llamativa.

Fuck ultra male get this. This is the ultimate clubbing fragrance and I accidentally make this my signature scent according to my girlfriend.

Better wait 1/2-1 hour before going out after spraying this sweet and sexy smokey fragrance, because the opening was pretty damn strong!!!

Very underrated sweet fragrance, it lasts for hours on clothes and has moderate sillage. I would definitely recommend it.

Sparkling and a little sweet. Playful and sensual at the same time. Nice to wear it. Puts me in a good mood.

Perfume sensacional para a noite. Balada, barzinho, encontro e etc. Performance boa e o cheiro é viciante.

عطر جميل جدا جدا، من أجمل العطور الي اشتريتها، رائحته بالنسبة لي تكاد تؤكل من لذتها، والأداء جيد

-Amazing school fragrance -Not too strong and suffocating -Smells sexy -Gets compliments

Very high similarities with Le Male Le Parfum, this one is a lot more mature though.

The new batch are downgrade in quality, weak longevity and weak fragrance

I find it really similar to Jean Paul Gaultier La Male. Love it.

من العطور الجميلة للمناسبات وحتى الإستخدام اليومي وبأداء جيد

Very mass appealing scent, sweet and stays for a long time.