Blackout

I just love the yummy, unisex, herbal/floral spiciness of Blackout! I got a little travel spray but have just ordered a 3.4 oz. bottle because the longevity is not great and I keep having to spray to keep the party going. I'm also trying the method of layering it over the various Egyptian Musks that I've been wearing lately to see if it improves lasting power. Weirdly, when I sprayed it on this morning, it reminded me of the very mineral-ly, sweetly grassy/herbal, warmly spicy Aesop Eremia -- though that one is undoubtedly greener, more distinctive, and boasts way better lasting power. Nonetheless, I'm really enjoying Blackout and am happy to include it in my large collection. If you enjoy spicy stuff like Aesop Eremia, Guerlain L'Heure Bleue (cool/warm spicy-sweet), Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant, BDK Gris Charnel, or the more recent Zara Energetically New York or Creatively Shanghai, you may very well enjoy Blackout. Incidentally, I blind bought another Derek Lam fragrance, Something Wild, and really didn't like it -- much too sweet -- and so I decluttered it. Though in a way it's unfair to say this, since I haven't tried any others, I suspect jeannebelmondo is correct that Blackout is the best in the range...

This scent is a very interesting one in the best way possible. If I would have read the notes before Trying I probably wouldn’t have even given it a chance, but it happen to be at Sephora maybe 9-10 years ago when I first started getting into fragrances. I sampled all of the Derek Lam fragrances on the little test sheet and then set them down to settle. When I went through and smelled them all this was by far my favorite so I purchased it! I used up my bottle fairly quickly and back then it was more expensive so I didn’t replace it right away. Well just a couple years ago I remembered it and found a bottle on eBay for like $30! Since wearing it again, I have found a trick to elevate this fragrance to the next level! I layer it with the aromatic molecule called “Cetalox”! It’s the same exact thing as “not a perfume” by Juliet has a Gun, but you can get it for like $30-$50 a bottle without the brand name. It not only has a fantastic woody/musky scent of its own but it improves the sillage and longevity of whatever perfume you pair it with. It just does something to blackout that gets me so many complements! I highly recommend 😀

This is the best, most original, most classy, fragrance in the otherwise forgettable range of ten fragrances. While the majority of the range is not worth your time and ranges anywhere from rank portapotty smell and fermenting wine to cheap drugstore shampoos and infantile body mists, this is a shining standout, and what makes the hunt for discontinued cheapie lines worth it for me -- to find just that one in the range that is an incredible hidden gem. Blackout is a rich, hot, waxy, herbal, but ultimately very gentle and wearable tea scent -- if you're the type to like the idea of the tea trend in fragrances but find the green tea ones too clinical and white floral you have to try this one. It's sensual, warm, intimate -- exactly what I'd want from a tea scent. There's a touch of similarity to '80s orientals like Samsara or Coco, but only a whisper -- it's not a heavy fragrance at all. This is divine and a must try if you like a unisex, but very light tea scent that is as cozy and sensual as it is androgynous!

This is a beautiful fragrance that suffers from a terrible description. First of all, this is not chai tea. It doesn’t have any of the spiced warmth of chai. This is a strong cup of black tea, blended with a touch of herbal bergamot for that Earl Grey vibe. The floral element lifts the perfume beyond basic, strongly fortifying the tea concept with impressions of jasmine tea, or those floral notes that are always mentioned in the description of excellent teas. I have to laugh at Blackout being described as passionate and dangerous. It seems far more cool, calm and collected. Personally, I think this fragrance would raise an eyebrow at displays of passion, and save the drama for later.

This is one of my signature scents. Smelled it in a Sephora store several years ago, and would routinely get samples as I couldn't afford a bottle at the time. Then I noticed them being sold at discount stores, and that's how I purchase them. The scent reminds me of the early 90s. Idk what it is, but it's very early 90s. Barely sweet floral with a touch of powder and tea. I don't get a spicy chai, it's a sweet chai with light powdered sugar. The scent doesnt last long, but people seem to smell it on me even after a long day. When I sweat (lightly) on a hot day the scent "reactivates" so to speak. Almost like I just put it on. At that point I'm able to smell it again...Weird....