M2 Black March

i used to live with my best friend in a houseshare in east london with a very overgrown garden. we would spend winter nights sitting together in the dark living room with a broken lightbulb coming up with absurd ideas for what to do with it, like digging a big hole and making it into a pond with frogs in, or putting up trellises and covering the back wall in wisteria. i spent a wet february on my hands and knees, clearing years worth of old branches and organic matter, weeds, and occasional drug paraphernalia from previous housemates until my effort elucidated the shape of the flowerbeds eventually we realised the soil was very unhappy and we could hardly get anything to survive in it, but i managed to grow dozens of things from seed in pots and buckets, which were scattered all over the garden, and there was an enormous buddleja which would hang over us while we sat on plastic chairs reading books, laughing, eating porridge, talking, or just sitting together in silence. the first time i tried a sample of this perfume i had such a vivid picture of that late february when i was rummaging around in the cold, wet grass all the time. it reminded me of all the damp foliage i cleared, of going out into the wet every 6am to check on our seedlings, and of the huge bags of all-purpose soil we'd haul down from the high street. it even brought to mind a vivid picture of cutting fresh stems later that year once my cornflowers had grown. it absolutely blew me away with its delicate clarity. i bought a bottle of the absolute, which is less fleeting than the water perfume, and especially now that it's spring, i really can't get enough of it. my friend passed away suddenly at the end of that year. she was really getting into perfume at the time, and i don't think i'd ever tried one on in my life. it's become a way for us to remain in conversation. black march serves this purpose in a more photographic way than i could have anticipated and has changed the way i understand fragrance

Black March is Metamorphosis M#2 It opened very green and aquatic - i also smelled hints of melon and cucumber - but this isn't a "fruity" scent (i'm getting sooo tired of fruit perfume, even if the buying public apparently isn't... yet...). It was definitely fresh smelling and brought to mind the optimism of a rainy spring day when everything is budding and growing. After a short while the strong aquatic quality began to fade, but the scent remained green and moist, and the earthy tones began to be more noticeable... moist earth. This is nothing like "Wild Hunt" on me, although i read a review somewhere in which the person felt they smelled similar. There are floral hints in "Black March", but light and still... oh, i know i'm getting redundant... green, very different from the florals i smelled in "Wild Hunt". Also, the deep dark woods of "Wild Hunt" are missing - no pine and fir, no cedar... "Wild Hunt" is autumnal. "Black March" is Spring. I think this would be a good scent to wear on a hot summer day, and is, in my opinion, unisex.

This seems to be the fragrance that I notice longest on myself. As others have said, it opens with dark and wet soil. I feel it's entirely spring soil in t.s. eliot's connotations of spring (april is the cruelest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain) with all this almost contained, restless or reckless life under the surface. It's a really intense experience of a fragrance for me and I love it! It lasts on my wrists for several hours, I think with a note a bit like licorice lasting the longest. It's not a candy licorice smell though, definitely an organic, woody one. If I want to tone down the kind of wildness of it, I've had some really lovely results from layering it over or under green floral fragrances. I find they have a softening effect on it and both complement each other well.

the first punch is soil- a soil that reminds me of black pepper and onions in a weird way, then the smells of water and vegetation drift in, it settles in a sweet floral place that's almost tobacco-y to me. one of my favorites, I'm a big fan of soil and that time of early spring where it seems there's equal chance to rain or snow, right before you start working the ground outside, it's a calm time for me, raising some of the seedlings, plans beginning to fall into place, really hits the mark.

This scent was so beautiful it made me cry. It truly smells like wet earth, stone, moss, tree bark, a little grass and floral. Its like a beautiful memory of being in the woods on a cold spring day, when the snow has melted. That being said, it has very little silage, although the performance isn't bad. I think I'm going to buy it as a pillow spray, there's something so comforting about the smell of the woods. I've only tried the water perfume, I'm not sure how the absolute would compare.

I have the water perfume of Black March and I truly love it, although it goes completely against my usual preference for hefty chypres. This is, as others have said, the smell of spring on the way - snowdrops and crocuses poking through the damp earth. Some find BM morbid but, for me, it is the smell of hopefulness and nature stirring back to life. I do wear this as a perfume, but I also use it as a rather expensive room spray when my nerves are jangled and my mood needs a lift.

I love it. It makes me feel I'm in a soaking wet place with trees, bushes, grass, decaying leaves etc, a very lush and woodsy, earthy place. I love it. It's what I love doing - being out in the rain, in amongst the trees and leaves, on a wet soggy ground. Beautiful. It brings back my favourite memories of being in the bush as a child - the earthy green lush smells, especially on a rainy day. Hmmmm........! Glorious.

This stuff is very unique. Smells like black mud in a hickory forest. The only other houses I can think of who can create realistic forest smells are slumberhouse (norne) and juniper ridge. 5 stars from me, but it is way overpriced.

It smells of wet earth, damp wood, and spring air. The opening is fresh and clean. As it progresses, it becomes soil—earthier and more clay-like. The earthiness gives way to a soft, woody sweetness that lingers until it is gone.

Bittersweet, almost smell of saudade for me. I really experience the power of fragrance and olfactory memories with this one. I love it.

To me this smells like raking wet leaves. It's great.

(reviewing the water perfume) black march very much does feel like a sibling of wild hunt in that they both smell like wet vegetation, but their personalities couldn't be more different. black march is crocuses struggling to survive a late frost, tulip bulbs forcing their way through dark thunderstorm-laden mud, the aching green sweetness of every tree pushing out its buds & new leaves at once. the florals are subtle, almost overwhelmed by dark rain clouds and breezes that still carry the last of winter's chill. as others have noted, this scent is not a bright sunny spring, but a complex moody one. "april is the cruellest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain." - the waste land (t.s. eliot) initially, this is a very cold scent, and i find it slightly intimidating and ozonic. but as it sits on my skin, the flowers start to peek through a little bit more, shyly putting down roots. then, just like the spring ephemerals that bloom and wither all too soon, this scent warms up like days lengthening and finishes on my skin like the sweet dusty warmth of an early summer day. i'm honestly not the biggest fan of its initial phases, they're too aquatic and floral for me, but i love how its atmosphere transforms over the course of the day, a quiet presence looming just on the edge of my awareness like anvil clouds on the horizon, then softened like the sun breaking out over freshly churned earth after a torrential downpour. i don't think i'll get more once my sample runs out, but much like its namesake, i'll enjoy it while it lasts.

Smelled floral off the decanted sample bottle when I first opened it a couple days ago. Smelled from the bottle again later that evening when sitting outside on the front steps overlooking my busy city street, and it smelled more... astringent? Confusing. Maybe just because I was literally sitting in front of concrete and smoke and the smell of gasoline, but other fragrances I also opened didn't smell like that so who knows. I'll have to test it when I'm going out and about someday. Wearing it today it smells like "the woods". The soft ground and sleeping amongst the trees. I was also sampling Fico di Amalfi on the other arm and when smelled together, I was given a vision of being in the woods next to a crisp fresh waterfall and having a picnic. A memory comes up: me with friends, swimming in the pool of a waterfall together when camping. A few minutes later it changed to include a hint of spice on me. An hour later-- do I smell flowers? It smells like a fantasy forest. Another hour, and I smell water! But not the ocean. More like a serene stream? This is definitely a very intimate (and personally, a little erotic) scent that I am looking forward to trying completely solo, without the louder influence of Fico di Amalfi. This is the nicest, most "me" scent I've sampled so far.

Applies realistic brisk, damp soil and wet forest. Walking through nature right after rain. Not cold. Evocative and moody despite not being the most complex. Damp grass and moss remain as soapy note builds. Not normally a fan of soap, but the clean freshness is what makes it cool weather instead of summer. It should project more, but don't mind as much considering its vibe. If you like this, try the same house's "Wild Hunt" and "Memory of Kindness" for less soil, more green. "I am a Dandelion" is also intriguingly realistic nature. 1ST REVIEW: Brisk, dewy plant stems, rain on green grass. Recently moist soil is more fresh than dirty. Milky body adds some creaminess. While I’m the first to obsess over green scents, this works, but is light shampoo. There’s so many others that do what it does better, I can’t help but pass on this. Spraying on fabric saves it by making green element stand out and last longer. After awhile, dry down on skin has a warm woody/vetiver note come out of nowhere. What a surprise that's actually delightful.

I'll always love this one. A step behind my all-time favorites in the CB line, which include: - CBMusk - Alan's 2nd Cumming - Faggot - Wild Hunt But I'd put this one on par with, or at the top of, the next tier that includes Burning Leaves, November, Beast, and a few of the others. My favorites are all a bit edgy, but this one is very pleasing, and my favorite of the many CB perfumes that feature a "dirt" accord. This one starts as pure potting soil, then segues into tree sap. Gardening gloves mixed with hope. Although it's an unexpected smell, I think it's a pleasing one for most people, whether they know it or not, rich with associations and early memories. This one makes a good gift, for men or women, especially folks who don't typically wear fragrance.

Oh wait I love this what the fuck. It’s earthy but not the spicy kind of earth, it’s clean earth. There’s also the beginning of something flowering here, the very first hints of spring. Rich, wet, fertile dirt gives way to fresh, green grass, which then makes way for the first timid buds of late winter flowers. It’s a fascinating journey. The scent is cool, ozonic, it has a freeze to it that feels faithful to its namesake. After the first hour, the floral element takes over, though their bright bloom is still accompanied by that late March chill. Such a fun ride.

In the vial and right at first on skin, it’s an amazingly lifelike grass-and-wet-dirt scent. It’s the lawnmower being run on a cool, muddy day. But, like many CBIHP scents, it’s very light and dies down quickly, first to a thin generally-fresh scent, then to a faint and very close-to-skin patchouli/fresh mix. Anyone who’s tried a bunch of Demeters in the past will be familiar with this accord and with the feel of this scent in general. It’s cool that such a nature experience can be recreated in perfume, though I don’t suspect I'd wear it a lot.

on first applying, my immediate thought was "this is just grass." after a few minutes for the top notes to settle, there came the smell of rich, damp earth & forest air after a storm. on my skin, it has a certain musky quality, like someone worked up a sweat doing yard work this smell is all my favorite parts of a hike in the woods. it's fresh & green & feels like wearing the forest. I really enjoy it, though not for everyday wear - it's good for evoking smell memories or setting a mood

This is my favorite petrichor scent I've smelled so far. It starts off very strong and grassy/green when you spray it and the sharpness is a bit much for me but it fades into a green petrichor scent, which is really enjoy. then it fades into a very soft and clean and slightly floral scent. I really like it. The only things holding it back for me are its strength and longevity. it last maybe 2 hours max and is very close to the skin. I wonder if this being water-based leads to this.

Hyper-realistic and natural smelling scent of a wet winter day. Black March evokes snow, damp leaves, dirt and cold air. To me, it's more like smelling a memory than it is a perfume. It has very minimal projection and lasts maybe 1-2 hours, so it quickly becomes a memory itself. Still, it's a unique and amazingly crafted fragrance. I ordered Black March directly from the pretentious folks at CB I Hate Perfume - an amusing but not pleasant experience.

Black March lives up to its description. Photorealistic wet earth and decaying leaves. However, all that is only present in the top notes. It quickly disappears and leaves a soft sweet slightly floral skin scent. Which is too bad because it's the only reason I don't wear it. Doesn't stop me from sniffing the cap though.

Smells like wet dirt, grass and sitting by a pond in the Spring right after the rain. It is amazing that this natural scent can be bottled up. Not something I would wear very often, but wow just smelling it give you the lift and smell of Spring!

7/10 would be higher if Wild Hunt by Brozius wasn't a thing, as that plays with the soil accord in a way that I very much enjoy. This one is more of a wet, petrichor soil and damp leaves, moss, or forest detritus.

Not nearly as earthly as I expected (and would've liked). But still very delicate and pretty. Not exactly bottle worthy though.

grass and dirt, very green but light and airy due to the aquatic note

Reviewing 2024 sample of the EDT (water). M2 Black March was launched in 2006. A woody aquatic. Opens like a damp green pond with an off putting synthetic soapy accord which ruins everything ? from the water notes. This all rests on dry woods. Unfortunately M2 smells like black mold on dry wood which someone has tried to wash off with soap. Quality- poor to average 2/5 Unisex Performance-very diluted scent (perfume oil would be better but have not tried it) 1/5 I was really hoping for an interesting earthy experience with this scent but am disappointed. Perhaps the perfume is more successful. 4/10

I was kind of into this scent until I read the review mentioning mold and now that's all I smell. Black March is like a mildewy bathroom with a bar of Irish spring soap in the shower. I wish it was more soil and earth smelling instead of having a slight sweetness that is bringing it into mold territory. So close!

A verdant garden, this is grass, grass, grass on me! Then someone spills a melon cocktail on the grass and a cat pees on it. Bummer. Not for me, sorry, folks.

CB I Hate perfume is the house to go to for minimalist trips down scent memory lane, not as much traditional perfumes as recreations of specific moments.....laser precise atmospherics exactly as described on the tin. Black March is the first spring rain that washes out the last of winter snow. The soil is freshly damp and the earthworms are starting to surface, along with the first hints of green leaves and flower buds. The aquatic top notes fade relatively quickly, fading into a gorgeous and subtle dirty garden floral. Honestly, if more florals smelled like this,less prim and proper, I would enjoy them. Longevity is about 4 hours, and sillage is a non entity A beautiful and evocative scent, but best used as a palate cleanser for most, rather than an everyday scent.

I picked up this perfume because I was searching high and low for a good petrichor accord. And you know what I've decided? After sampling several different recommended petrichor perfumes, I think it's safe to say that maybe I don't know what petrichor smells like. I was looking for the sort of wet-cardboard scent of an impending midwestern summer rain. It's an almost sour scent in the air that everybody in these parts recognizes as soon as it wafts over the horizon. Meanwhile, this is nothing but flowers on me. It's nice enough, but not particularly what I was looking for. I'm disappointed but, again, maybe I don't know what I'm looking for. Oh well.

Fun to try but not wear. Soil soil soil and pine sol. Love wet earth and the stink of mold to a certain degree but this is just for appreciation of the art of fragrance more than a wearable scent. I'll put it on from this to time just to feel like I'm buried alive but other than those moods, not a perfume but rather a fun scratch and sniff.

Sort of the culmination of CB's geosmin obsession, this one's not really wearable as a lasting perfume but it's a showstopper as a snapshot of a specific moment. Torrential rain, wet soil and moss, giving way to new spring growth and green florals. Technically brilliant, but much more of a museum piece than a perfume.

Photorealistic to the notes listed. Very slightly floral but mostly evoke a walk in the forest with damp soil and dirt. It's a beautiful scent but certainly not "perfumy". I'm not sure how wearable it is, but it's a very enjoyable olfactory experience.

Photorealistic and true to the notes. Melancholy, cool, clean. Drizzly March day on a walk through the woods. I like a sad spring aesthetic, so I like this, though I don't wear it very often.

I wasn't bowled over by this one. On me Black March smells of grass and doesn't last long. Not my favourite fragrance from this perfume house.

I loved the initial damp soil notes, but they faded away all too quickly, and the mid and base notes were far less interesting