Black Tie

Been trying to get a sample of this since April and have finally been able to get my hands on one. I’ve been on the lookout for a vanilla fragrance that I love, I’ve gone through some houses but had not found any that I’ve strongly taken to, until now. This is my vanilla winner, when I first sprayed it on skin I could pick up the smokiness from the incense that slightly reminded me of the smoky element of guerlains vanilla planifolia, but the vanillas are entirely different therefore these two fragrances are completely different from each other, the smokiness in here quickly fades on my skin leaving me with a soft fizzy vanilla, which I much prefer as I’m not massive on smoky fragrances. Yeah this is lovely, I’ve been reading reviews of this perfume for ages, someone has compared this to a vanilla Dr Pepper and actually i think that’s a perfect description, I wish i could add more but that truly is hitting the nail on the head. Its classy and of course expensive, I mean never mind about a black tie dress code, you may very well feel deserving of a black card after putting this one on, but the whole of this Celine collection line is expensive I suppose it’s just a matter of whether or not you love one of them enough to make the splurge. I will be buying a full bottle on the basis that this is the only vanilla forward fragrance that I’ve fallen in love with, the only tug of war I have now is which one to buy first, Celine dans paris or black tie. To me this is 100% unisex, to my nose it’s not leaning more masculine or feminine, could be worn beautifully and flawlessly by both a man and a woman. 5* Edit- People form their own opinions on fragrances, what someone loves someone could hate, or think isn’t worth it, but bare in mind not everyone owns several vanilla forward fragrances or just a larger collection of fragrances to make this one redundant or less special, for example as I’ve said I’ve personally gone through what is marked as the best vanillas on the market other than sdv and this one is the only one I love, or even strongly like, and someone may very well feel the same way. I don’t understand why people assume glowing reviews are always on the basis of a hype train, we don’t get paid to promote something on here, if people say they love something I just assume it’s because they genuinely love it especially if it’s a review on here or parfumo. Anyway this is back in stock thankfully.

Wow, what a pretty but sophisticated and elegant scent. Swoon. Slightly sweet vanilla with an undertone of orris. It is so beautiful and right up my alley. It is so well executed. Exquisite. Love. Update: 04/05/2026. My initial review was from a sample. Now I can do a proper review from a bottle. A cool, mineral vanilla‐iris with zero humidity and no cosmetic fuzz. The vanilla is photonic rather than edible sweet, giving the whole composition a polished clarity. The iris stays dry and elegant, never drifting into lipstick with a touch of sophisticated powder. And the woods remain pale and structured instead of creamy. It wears like clean light on glass — refined, linear, and quietly expensive. When I sprayed it again today, my partner immediately leaned in and said, “Ooh, I like that,” without hesitation. He likes anything I wear, but he was very enthusiastic with this one. That instant approval says everything about how balanced and correct this formula is. Black Tie just smells right, even to someone who isn’t analyzing it. Celine Black Tie + Guerlain Shalimar L’Essence — Layering Review A cold, mineral vanilla‐iris spine wrapped in the soft amber‐vanilla glow of Shalimar L’Essence. The combination restores the clarity and structure of Shalimar Millésime Iris while adding a refined, modern depth. Black Tie keeps everything photonic and polished; L’Essence adds warmth without humidity. Together they create a cool‐toned, elegant vanilla‐iris with a quiet amber halo — sophisticated, linear, and unmistakably classy. This is the closest thing to a Shalimar Millésime Iris version 2.0, and it feels intentional rather than improvised.

Someone blessed me with a decant of Black Tie. I would've NEVER picked it for myself.This is like having 20 bottles of your favorite fragrances on the table and you aggressively push all of them off and let all of the glass break & shatter everywhere. The juices are running every direction and you dont care. The housekeeper can take care of it in the morning. But THIS masterpiece .... THIS is the ONE & ONLY bottle left remaining. It smells so good a tear literally fell from my eye. Not even Baccarat Rouge 540 can boast of that impact. This left my body visibly squirming. Its so good I was whispering and screaming simultaneously. This is crack, heroin, and 1st Sunday communion wrapped into one. This left me wanting to purify myself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka. Remember all of the other fragrances that I sd were lovely and great? Scratch that. Nothing in the world smells good anymore ...EXCEPT this. Ive NEVER sd ANY fragrance is sensual but this LITERALLY elevated my body temperature. Why does my hand feel so good touching my jeans? What has this done to my nerve endings? The guy who sent it to me sd it blew his socks off. Another guy with over 200 bottles in his collection sd after he sampled it he went ahead and got a bottle at retail bc it never goes on sale. I agree its worth the $435 price tag. As a matter of fact if it was $1,000 a bottle, it would still be on my want list. Oh the wanting.....oh the wanting....the wanting. I need a full bottle.

this is my absolute favorite perfume of all time. the most sophisticated, creamy, sweet, luxurious vanilla. to me, it doesn't really make me think of a 'black tie' event, because I associate more potent, strong fragrances with those events - this is more like 'I am sitting at my luxurious dark cherry wood library next to the fireplace in the winter with a cashmere sweater from The Row sipping my hot chocolate, reading a book' vibes. its my favorite fragrance to wear at night, to bed, and is perfect for everything really. It lasts forever on clothing, less so on skin. I sprayed it on my shirt and could still smell it days later when I went back which brought me great joy. This is an absolutely incredible fragrance and I love it so. It's worth the price because it is such a unique feeling bottled up that cannot be replicated by any other fragrance. At the Celine store, I smelled almost all of the line and loved Bois Dormant (the 'day' version of Black Tie although I believe Black Tie is day-friendly as well because I love it so), Nightclubbing, Reptile. I couldn't smell Black Tie because it was not in stock in-store, so I blind bought it after reading numerous reviews, confident that I would love it and I DO! absolute love. this is the one in my collection that brings me the greatest amount of love and joy.

Black Tie is one of my favourites from Celine - a big statement, considering how consistently excellent they are. Celine's Haute Parfumerie line consists of scents in both day and night categories, but the DNA of the brand always shines through. BT is one of their "bolder" evening offerings while remaining understated and utterly chic. A powdery vanilla-orris scent, this is beautifully-blended throughout, diaphanous but well-rounded. BT is dominated by dry, powdery vanilla - just the right amount of sweetness, and just the way I like it. The orris joins it after a little while, powdery and refined, like vintage make-up. It is a match made in olfactory heaven. A soft cloud of clean, powdery musk follows, seamlessly melding with the vanilla-orris. The woody and mossy notes are minimal, with just a hint of dry woods evident as it fades. It remains sweetly powdery until final fade. Sillage and longevity are moderate. It is a unisex take on vanilla, best worn in autumn/winter. Simple but beautifully-formed, BT is one of the best vanilla scents I have tried. The balance of the sweet, dry vanilla and powdery orris is blissful perfection. Made with the highest-quality materials, it is luxurious yet nonchalant. An utter gem. 5/5.

This is one of my favorite go to fragrances out of my 500 plus bottle collection. The orris, cedar, and vanilla combine together beautifully to create a gorgeous fragrance if you like orris. This is a beautiful powdery vanilla, not gourmand. It's more of a woody vanilla to my nose. It's a high quality, elegant, well blended fragrance that I get a lot of compliments on when I wear it. It's safe for every day wear and is office friendly. It doesn't have a strong projection, more of a scent bubble. This is not going to be BR 540 where people can smell you from a block away. It's definitely more subtle. I see a lot of people saying it doesn't last long and while it certainly is dependent on skin chemistry, you have to prep your skin for any perfume to last unless it's a beast mode perfume. I live in the hot, humid, deep South and most perfumes don't last the entire day on my skin, but this and my other Celine fragrances lasts for hours on my skin and even longer on clothes. It's not one of my longest lasting perfumes, but I spray it on in the morning and I can still smell it on my skin at bedtime. This is one that will always be in my collection. Scent 10/10 Longevity 8/10 on my skin Sillage 6/10

It’s beautiful - very simple and linear, yet sophisticated and understated. I think the hype is well deserved, but this isn’t a fragrance for everyone. I wouldn’t recommend it for Gen Z, or for anyone looking for a gourmand, sweet vanilla, or something in “beast mode.” This is more of a treat to yourself to be enjoyed by you because you will smell really really good. It’s true that this fragrance isn’t loud. I do wish it were a little more noticeable - so people could smell it beyond a close hug - but I’m also perfectly happy keeping it mostly to myself. This scent is very orris-forward and really feels like an ode to that note. The vanilla adds to the creaminess and smoothness, but it never becomes sweet. You need to enjoy orris and white musks to truly appreciate this one. If you sample it or blind buy a bottle and feel like it doesn’t last, try letting it macerate for 3-4 weeks after the first spray. When applying, use an unscented lotion first so the fragrance has something to cling to. Without any prep, it lasts about 2-3 hours with minimal projection; with proper prep, it can last 6-7 hours on skin and longer on your clothes and hair.

A gorgeous mossy iris scent with that Celine vanilla base. Has a depth to it, a kind of formality, an earthiness from the moss that makes it unique, a floral roundness from the orris. A perfectly balanced sweetness, countered by the vetiver. Black Tie feels sophisticated and established, it has a sense of permanence. There’s a brightness threaded through it, a light in its eyes, it sparkles in spite of its herbaceous restraint. Dries down to a warm, musky vanilla with the barest whisper of green. Just one note: the Celine fragrances I’ve tried so far (Zou Zou, Parade, Black Tie) all take an effervescent vanilla-musk accord in different directions. Parade is a citrusy vanilla where Zou Zou is ambery, and Black Tie has cedar and moss. If you enjoy one, there’s a strong chance you’ll enjoy all three— they really are similar, especially in the dry down. I don’t really have an opinion on it one way or the other as the Celine DNA is one of my favorites out there, but don’t come in expecting whole different fragrances; really, they operate more like flankers than independent scents.

Imagine yourself laying there wrapped in a white towel, at a luxurious day spa, and everything around you is made of the freshest wood. Someone lights up an incense stick, its mild and comforting. You are getting sweet expensive vanilla oil rubbed on your shoulders, and you are in your most relaxed state of mind. The smell of the fresh wood, light incense, and perfect vanilla oil just meld together seamlessly. You want to remember this moment! If that sounds good, you need Black Tie!! I have been hearing about this for so long, every fragrance creator that talks about vanilla mentions this one. I avoided it and im not sure why. Maybe I thought theres no way it could be as good as they make it sound. It's just vanilla... come on! Ohhhh myyyyy goodness!!!!!! I smelled it in store yesterday and HAD to have it! It is so addictive, and stays on my skin for about 8 hours. It sits close to the skin, it doesnt project. So you can spray pretty heavily and you will get whiffs of it but you won't offend anyone. If you do, who cares, apparently they dont like luxurious day spas!

Ok, well I was expecting to hate this just like all the other scents from Celine, and was only trying this out of curiosity really due to the reviews. I don’t think this is worth the hype! Yes it’s a gorgeous vanilla, but it’s a skin scent. At £230 for only 100ml, it’s a joke! It’s just not worth it if you have to hold your skin to your nose just to smell it. There are much better scents on the market for the same price or less..... Guerlain Angelique Noir, Guerlain Spiriteueus Double Vanille, Perestish Cozy Vanilla, Jovoy Fire At Will..... I don’t find it any more different or unique to anything else I already have in my collection, and what I do own performs way better than this. It’s still a 10/10 for the smell of the scent itself, but 2/10 for performance. Currently Black Tie to me is a watered down Jovoy Fire At Will for double the price. I’ll update my review if my opinion changes but for now, unless this lasts on fabrics, it’s currently a pass.

Celine Black Tie is an Oriental Woody Fragrance which smells like whipped chocolate butter thanks to the combination of Vanilla Extract and Orris Butter that is made formal with the usage of Cedar-Wood 😍. Lingering in the background, I do notice light addition of Moss which keeps the fragrance grounded, steering it away from the gourmand territory by adding a masculine cleanliness to the composition ☺️. During the fragrance wearing, I do feel like I’m walking on clouds and it screams quiet luxury! Having intimate projection while lasting more than 12hrs 😱. Since the projection is on the lighter side, I’d advise wearing this fragrance for intimate occasions or when working in a fragrance which restricts heavy wearing of perfumes. Definitely the most underrated Niche Fragrance on the market that is suitable for all occasions during cooler temperatures in my opinion. Will definitely backup 5 bottles of 200mls and 5 bottles of 100mls 🤭.

I blind-got Black Tie from my partner and I am forever grateful. This is what I see in my nose's eyes: a small, exclusive boutique with neatly-arranged high quality suits, leather accessories and jackets, and cashmere jumpers in balanced shades that you want to dunk your cheeks in. The fragrance itself is powdery, it's leathery, mixed with the scent of your beloved make-up bag where you keep your forever favourite cosmetic items. I sense Parisian chic, introversion, shyness, but the moment you come closer, the excellence starts to unravel. This is quiet luxury, understated elegance and simplicity which might not be suitable for loud exhibitions. If I was to pick a celebrity vibe to represent this fragrance, that would be Charlize Theron during the 2025 Paris Fashion Week, wearing that timeless black leather jacket; Black Tie would certainly complement that effortless style.

This is my favorite scent in the whole wide world. It’s so damn seductive you just want a whiff of it constantly. Hits me in the senses pretty quick. Just someone else appreciating this scent or wearing it makes them instantly attractive to me. For my birthday recently I got a travel set/size version of black tie because the big bottle is sold out currently. It’s Vanilla/Caramel rich so stay away from it if that’s not something you like. Again just hitting on the same notes as others it’s a sophisticated scent something really neat, classy and delicious about it. Rich scent. I really love it and of course I recommend it. Celine discovery set is great to get into knowing the line too because they are out of this park good. Parade is good. Reptile is good. Nightclubbing is good. Well done, Celine. This is luxury.

I absolutely love all the Celine Haute line perfumes, they all have this distinct orris DNA, super posh and sophisticated, very high quality, but they are painfully subdued, too close to the skin, no projection. This one is actually a tiny bit better than others from the line, but still have to reapply several times a day. I'm heartbroken as I love this so much. It's such a femme fatale, sexy, intoxicating orris and vanilla combo. Black tie indeed, best suited for women. This one almost forces you to put on a black sexy outfit, maybe a backless dress with sexy heels, to really allow it to shine and evoke the vibe for which it was created. Pure class and sophistication. I'm not doing it justice by wearing it during the day, in a casual outfit, so put this aside to wear for more formal events or date nights.

Black Tie is my favourite of the Céline Haute Parfumerie line, which is phenomenal in its entirety. Every scent there is magnificently blended as if made according to the old école standards. The harmony and the quality of the vintage perfumery meets modernity in this collection, making it timeless. Even the galbanum jungles in Nightclubbing or pure fougère style of Rimbaud do not appear dated. Each fragrance is unique, but they are all united by some kind of airy (never too thick, waxy or dusty) powderiness, approximately in the same style as the gourmand character connects the perfumes in Maison Lancome collection. Black Tie is just the most lush, perfectly soft orris with elegant vanilla in a cloud of powdery musc - simply a masterpiece, smooth, warm and delicious. Bravo, Céline.

ETA: I love how so many of the fragrances that I hate at first sniff become major long-time loves and conversely, how "love at first sniff" perfumes become repugnant after wearing them for a few days. This is a case study in that. I got cigarettes at first and was put off. But I could not stop smelling my wrists. So I tried it the next day and then the next. I am totally smitten. There is a depth to this vanilla that allows for sweetness and darkness to co-exist. I love it. Original review: The opening is a blast of cigarettes and a leather chair. It settles into something resembling vanilla - I guess? It's polished, dark, and smokey (which might just be how my nose perceives moss with cedar and musk). I do kind of like it. But I don't get the hype on this one.

I came in the store dead set on trying out La Peau Nue. But, I sniffed this and other bottles on display and what the heck? First spray on paper and first sniff and it's so damn beautiful. Is my nose playing tricks? Second, third and sixth sniff. This is bad, I'm starting to fall in love. Okay, let me test this out on my skin before I start making googly eyes at this temptress. Spray. Sniff. Huh, not as good. Tested the other bottles but then I went back to my wrist for another hit. Bam! I. Am. In. Love. The sophisticated woody and powdery vanilla had me on a chokehold. It's almost an orgasmic experience. Came out of the boutique poorer but I carried that silly grin on my face well into the night when I slept. I really should not be trusted with any money.

Just exquisite. This is the most sophisticated, polished and elegant vanilla that I’ve ever smelled. Very French. To me it is the polar opposite of Babycat, which I also adore dearly. Babycat is much louder, decadent, and out there with amazing sillage; whereas Black Tie kinda just hovers above the skin and it creates a scent bubble and wraps me inside in such a wonderful way. Funny thing is that I can’t smell BT much right after application, however an hour later maybe it gets warmed up by my skin and I smell this beautiful cloud of vanilla that’s so soft and effervescent. CELINE’s perfume in general doesn’t perform extremely well in hot weather, but man it is magical in cooler seasons, that chilled, cool, crisp and herbaceous vibe. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Listen, i've read the reviews below mentioning vanille planifolia and I'm here to say they ARE indeed very similar. Not identical but both have the full, rich vanilla with a matte texture. One thing to add is that this is also strikingly similar to the drydown of mr.thompson by penhaligon's which I'm surprised no one has mentioned, probably because it's on the lesser known side. Overall, very nice and soft. Reminds me of a loro piana store. Nothing we haven't seen before but lovely nonetheless. Edit: I've worn black tie about 5 times since i wrote this review and I've gotten compliments EVERY time I've worn it. There's clearly something about it since i rarely get that many compliments on a single fragrance. wow just wanted to put that out there.

Another beauty from Celine. YSL Velours is one of my most beloved fragrances, and Black Tie is, indeed, very similar. So if you are looking for a quality substitute for the long discontinued Velours, this is a very good option. I know that this is what I will buy when my precious low partial of Velours runs out. There are, however, some notable differences between them. Both are orris/vanilla centered, but Black Tie is sweeter and much heavier on vanilla, while Velours is all about Orris with vanilla taking the back seat. Black Tie lacks the sharp black tea note and the polarizing rubber-like accord of Velours, the one that makes me love it so much. Both fragrances are absolutely gorgeous, modern masterpieces in my book.