Black Pearls

Honestly speaking I was expecting richness of Passion. the week I ordered it I was imagining it as a very strong type of vintagy. Straight from my work I took a shower and I ate dinner and time came to open the fragrance. I was afraid/hesitate to put it on my tshirt. I have sprayed the box. I closed my eyes I was in big shock its smells like this. Right away I saw Kolobrzeg/Poland and beautiful town in north by Baltic Sea. I was in so big shock. I saw exactly the last walk with my mom and my brother. I remember my mom took me there to show us the waves during the storm. I will never forget this tall big waves hitting the bridge. It could be somewhere in the end oh 80's. The waves smelled so nice.. and wet bridge too with the rain... And this is where this scent have taken me... We were living in the house next to paper manufacture not too far from the Sea... and this is... how I remember this area... this is what this scent is reminding me... 30 min ago... I was in big shock...why I actually have this fragrance... I saw a seashell but.. I haven't expected this Sea feeling and memories it will wake up in me. While I was buying it... I said what what a pretty bottle... love it...but actually what amazing... surprise.. that first 30 seconds after applying it....I saw exactly this Town next to Baltic....I am not saying its smells like the sea breeze...no but it has something in it....scent of that wet bridge during... the storm... Later next day after... I was walking under this bridge and I was finding pretty amber stones... and their scent were... like in this fragrance in some notes..... Wet salty sand... with ambers and seashells. .... Now its 50 min after I have sprayed it on my top and I see similarity to Allure in some souernes.... please don't... laugh.. but this sour feeling I am getting reminds me old formulas of Guerlain- not sure which one... Jacky? Mitsouko? This scent smells to me as well ...so opposite to sea... and ambers...- desert. Where...in hatta Oman. Especially in the rainy days... this is how the sand smells to me... In my opinion this perfume is formulated in really unique way. How come... I see a Sea and later I am taken with my scent memory to the Emirates/ Oman border in rainy day? This is the scent of middle east. It has some ... oriental vibes... maybe that's why.. reminds me... first formula of Guerlain.. his perfumes... were ... inspired by far.. far East... and this is how I feel it in Black Pearls. It's not about... scent of oriental perfumes and spices.. it's a very specific...scent.. of...bedouin tant. In rainy... day somewhere in the middle of the desert. What is interesting a lot of... Elizabet's perfumes... are taking me exactly over there... Middle East. I can't explain why.. but I do travel often there... and to me this fragrance smells exactly how - the desert/ sand...stays in my memory. Because this perfume gave me so many memories and pictures in my head, it deserves for special place. Reminds me my mother, our amazing time during this incredible afternoon back to my times in Poland... and now it took me to desert. How come I have no idea. How technically one perfume can take me to stormy Baltic Sea... and couple minutes later... I am in Hatta Oman .. in the middle of sand... pure... sand... Black Pearls you are so special. Especially because I do appreciate Guerlain first formulas- and this scent has a lot of common with it... Love the unique ... tones of sour nature of this.. perfume...incredible - green lemons/citruses/oakmoss ...as Pierre-François Guerlain... used to add to his ...perfumes... When I talk Guerlain I see an old bottle of Shalimar- by Jacques Guerlain... Definitely Black Pearls and Passion is my fav.

Mercy! Thank you Thomasania, I received my opaque bottle as per your review and this is glorious! Where do I start? First with a note - On first spritz I noticed this is very oily so it is rich in actual oil; impressive, then detected a burnt rubber/leathery note that was off-putting. In about an hour that turned into a fabulous, soft musk. I also agree with review above mine. Wrong category. This is a soft, creamy vanilla based, peppery oriental floral. Black Pearls... I want to bathe in this juice! When I smell this I do not only think of black pearls. I think of black gloves with cluster rings (more than one) a black rhinestone choker, blingy shoulder duster earrings with black leather heels or boots and a fur coat. I think of an exotic form of gorgeous that is over the top, over the moon, yet magically and mysteriously not overdone, and as classy as it is, a bit on the naughty side. Wow. It's flapper juice! I am now positively convinced Liz was born well after her time. Either she really was a queen in a past life or a favorite odalisque to a king somewhere. Black Pearls whispers "Come hither" in every way. Elegant, classy, stunning, sexy but not quite raw or in the face, though the possibility of a certain raw encounter definitely lurks. I am picking up a sultry, smoky note that is superb and this scent smells highly expensive to me. The smokiness is the quality sandalwood combined with the other notes which smells like a delicious fresh vanilla pipe tobacco; rich, juicy, boozy, peachy, soft rose with just the right amount of powdery vanilla. Just enough. I barely detect flowers of any kind. The amber in this scent is the killing kind; the very best of rich, sultry amber. There is a slightly dark element to this scent that is not sharp at all which I am thoroughly adoring (pepper?), with a warm, cozy, comforting aura that rocks at the same time. The vanilla/musky/amber/sandalwood dry down is exquisite. (Do it to it, Lizzy Girl!) I do not think "The Current Trend Crowd" could handle this one, though a young lover of fine scents with a trained nose would view this one as a rebellious nose thumb to the status quo; a unique and sexy scent to set her apart from the rest...and good for her! Liz was all about jewels but the name of this scent could also be"Black Leather" and would definitely fit a rocking/punk/grunge girl with rainbow hair and piercings of a certain "I choose to remain a mystery" sort of attitude. I can see this fitting the equivalent of a modern day flapper in that way. It's very there somewhere. As a lover of fine orientals with a preference for the spicy ones this smoky, woodsy, not-too-sweet or spicy gem had me at hello... and I am thinking the name is not quite fitting yet very much is. Black Pearls is the sensuous of night paired with refined, old money opulence. I mean very old money; the kind certain families will never run out of. I am not the fortunate one in that way but have smelled it many times and this is right on the mark. Somehow the overall symphony is incredibly harmonious and beautifully, softly sexy, and it takes me to a place where luxury is a casual way of life if only in my mind. Just pure glorious. Liz seems to be equated with dated to some but I say... only to an undiscerning, unlearned olfactory. It's fabulous... It's rich as hell but heavenly and I am highly pleased! :)

Wow. They don't make them like this anymore. I have a gift set which includes the spray perfume in the glass shell bottle as seen in this Fragrantica page, a small dab on miniature perfume, the body lotion and the shower gel. So I am basking in the full glory of this amazingly beautiful scent. The mini pure parfum is like an exotic peach and flower juice - peach scented body lotion, with accentuated notes of rose and lotus. The florals in the dab-on are louder, sweeter, stronger. The dry down comes along and it turns into a lovely sandalwood. I also sensed some dark vanilla or tonka bean but I could be wrong. The spray is much easier to figure out. The opening is aquatic. It's like fresh sea air or a sea breeze. Citrus notes of bergamot orange and maybe a lemon are also there at the opening. It smells like a sweet citrus forward perfumy perfume. But then all of a sudden, a juicy and almost photo realistic gourmand peach. It also has a melon vibe. Fruity fruity. But not sugary sweet fruit candy. A grown up fruit with peach vibes. Delicious. The water lily plus lotus is there soon enough. Aquatic florals. The one floral note that is the strongest is the gardenia. To my nose the rose note is very faint. The gardenia here is not like most creamy or lactonic gardenias but just a bright simple gardenia. The heart can best be described as white floral. The white flowers and the sweet citrus and peaches and later the sandalwood and amber create a tropical scene. It's a sunny warm day on a Hawaiian island beach, or Tahiti, the South Pacific or the Caribbean. I think the real reason it gives off this tropical vibe is the combination of fruit and gardenia. There is also an absolutely beautiful lotus flower note. I have smelled actual lotus and worn lotus oils and it really smells like that. This is a happy, warm, bright, tropical, beachy island perfume. Mood lifting and so very joyful. It seems to want you to wear her on a vacation. It is hyper feminine, mature but not old lady. Yes it is strong so only one at most two sprays is enough. But it is so captivating. It's like a party on the beach on an island with palm trees. The fragrance never gets too dark or even too musky despite there being musk in the dry down. The driest stage is more like a kind of gorgeous expensive sun tan lotion. It also may come off as powdery. But to me it is definitely a warm lotion. The powder seems to emerge as it is most dry and nearly gone. It's too relaxed to be formal and yet too beautifully composed for casual. I would say it's good for wearing it on a vacation, a cruise, a day time pool party. It does remind me of Elizabeth Taylor but it's also coming off as very Joan Collins. It's like Liz Taylor and Joan Collins having margaritas at the beach in Hawaii. This aroma is to die for. The sillage is great and can be detected by others and has lasting stay power lasting all day. I would also say this is a day time fragrance not evening and is best worn in spring summer and early fall. I love it so very much.

5/5/18 Update #2 I know I called this tropical, but the right word to describe it is Exotic. Its funny, when I first smelled this I thought I didn't prefer it but I really do love it and wear it at least once a week. I hope anyone who tries this can give it a few chances because it really grows on you. 3/13/18 ***Update*** I was fortunate enough to get a great deal on a 3.3oz at an online store. Yesterday was my first day wearing as I had other fragrances I ordered to test out first. My initial thought when I first smelled it wasn't a positive one. I didn't take it to heart, because I had been smelling other perfumes and colognes. I know that first initial reaction, especially to a brand new bottle of perfume can be false. Yesterday I took the cap off the bottle and smelled, and was intrigued with what lingered in the cap so I figured what the heck and sprayed my typical chest, and on both wrists/forearms. Like most ET fumes, the initial spray is strong and needs about 3-5 minutes to dry down a bit before you can start to appreciate the notes. Upon initial blast, I am overwhelmed by a boozy peach and what I can only describe as that decomposing vegetation smell one gets in a swampy or pond/river area where there are water lily's. As it dry's down further, Its very sweet, the peach, gardenia, lotus and water lily really give it a heady sweetness, as the powdery-ness of the white rose starts to come through. I never really pick up the bergamot as an individual note, but it must lend to the tropical overseas vibe I get. This is not tropical nor aquatic by todays standards of pineapple and coconut or sea salt. Its a reminiscence of the air of a tropical place, that sweetness and vegetative pond water with a wisp of floral and citrus. The amber, musk, sandalwood base is absolutely divine, as it retains the sweetness of the top notes in the end. All in all I really like it and am looking forward to wearing it in the summer, as Florida has been chilly due to all the Nor'easters going on up North. I was concerned my Husband wouldn't care for it, but he really likes it! He smelled it about an hour after I sprayed, and did not complain of it being too powdery. I feel sophisticated and worldly when I wear this. I think this could be completely dressed up, or I could wear this in a bathing suit with a lovely sun dress or wrap. It is indeed iridescent and luminous like a black pearl. Keep and open mind when trying it, as it was released in 1996 and deserves a proper wear or two to be fully understood and appreciated. ***Original Post***One of my two last acquisitions I need to make in order to have collected all of the ET fumes. I'm glad there is still some mystery to this quest, as I am unsure what fragrance obsession I shall find myself upon once this comes to a close. I really like how some reviews call this tropical...I live in Florida and hope this is a summer time by the pool/at the beach/dinner in a sun dress sort of smell.

Dear Readers, This fragrance by Elizabeth Taylor is a very lovely ,elegant womanly fragrance that is a must have if you enjoy roses and peaches. I liked this Black Pearls since it came out ,I did not own it then since I was a child and for me perfumes was a grown up thing but when I turned into a teen I could not help but to always desire to own this fragrance some day. Years went by until 3 months ago, I was gifted this by a family member that she found it and remember I liked it very much since childhood since I even collected the Black Pearl perfume ad that had Elizabeth Taylor coming out from the black sea backdrop like a majestic mermaid. And lucky for me, the bottle and fragrance was all authentic and the aroma of the perfume is exactly how I remembered it, rosey,warm and sweet. Seeing the ingredients here, I learned what was in it and Black Pearls has notes that I enjoyed in fragrance and I can tell this perfume has very good quality rose and peaches , it does have a light powdery note but nothing cheap or offending. it last a good amount of hours, on my chemistry lasted 5 hrs tops. The fragrance is a very womanly ,bold and beautiful scent that cast a "loveliness" serenity about you , I gotten good warm complements in my recent outing at a art opening and inauguration party and people couldn't not help but to give me hugs and just inhale me sweetly. The opening is very sweet but just let it touch the air or get mixed in your body chemistry and it do its magic, Its a very sweet womanly fragrance with touches of powder musk that creates a soothing serene feel to it, specially when the wind carries your scent mixed with this perfume into the air, blowing a sweet mysterious scent upon mortal men and woman, that cant resist the mermaids spell and take them to you, the source of their beating hearts. Frankly this perfume isn't ment for everyone these days, since its a happy and loving grown up scent with a lot of confidence in its womanly power but in a serene way, I don't recommend this to women who are "little girls" for Black Pearls is very womanly for their infantile taste and may call this a "old lady" fragrance as they feel their clock ticking louder and their winkles grow longer like ivy vines, it could cause a haunting effect on such a mind, so stay away baby jane . For the"androgynous" to "sporty" types of women I don't recommend this unless you want to get in touch with a soft but bold serene energy then this is your perfume. Im happy to have been gifted this precious perfume, I love the bottle shape of the shell and the fragrance is so warm,loving and beautiful. R.I.P our Piscean diva Elizabeth Taylor & and Viva the house of Elizabeth Taylor .

Got a large bottle of this for a song today and 1997 came rushing back to me. That is the year my son was born, so the moment I spayed it I felt this urge to start sobbing. It was so sweet. So moving, so many emotions I had then were evoked within the scent and released from that little place that stores your smell file cabinet. It is a soft perfume but strong for certain. You do not need much or there is a note that may give you a head-ache...for me that is probably from the Gardenia. This is blended very well. I think watery type flowers (lily, lotus, etc) can be difficult to blend with white flowers (Gardenia) with out smelling oddly like a compost bin, especially if a good dose of bergamot is tossed in for good measure. I am a fan of peaches...to eat. I don't usually like to wear it in a scent and find it turns body-odorish on people quickly. Somehow the sandalwood, musk and amber spice it down and mellow everything out. I think these were KEY blending ingredients that made this fragrance come together! It all turns into this warm (you would swear there is vanilla in there...and I am a vanilla lover so you usually can't fool me!) and it almost has that effervescent liquour/boozey quality to it...It is a fabulous fall/winter scent I am so happy I grabed this one! :) Give it a try! I think if you enjoy: John Varvatos, Fancy, Tracy, Mitsouko, Burberry Women, Far Away Paradise, Brandy Brandy, Wonderstruck, Samsara, you will probably really enjoy this one! I believe in my Jimmy Choo review I mentioned that his is almost a DEAD RINGER For this one!!! (Less than a quarter of the cost of JC!) Best Wishes this Holiday Season, and Merry Christmas! xo ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NOTE/UPDATE: I was thinking about it, and forgot to mention this, which may be of interest to some: In my opinion, this smells the same as the scent as I wore in the '90's some people say it has been reformulated, but if so, I can't tell. I do know that the bottles are not the same. The one I received this week is a clear glass bottle with a solid black top with a golden colored perfume...almost yellowish in color. The bottle I had in the '90's if memory serves me correctly, is the same shape/pattern (very Art Deco)...but more of a cut glass. It was frosted glass, and the "black pearl" which sits prominently on the cap was a "pearlized" black...not solid in color. Hope that makes sense...and I hope that assists anyone looking for the older formulation on ebay or online. <3

There's something timeless and lovely about this fragrance. I have an old bottle that was my mother's, so perhaps that's why it registers a little differently to me than some other reviewers, or it could simply be skin chemistry. I don't get the "boozy" edge some mention, for example. It starts peachy and sweet, but never in a juvenile way. Not artificial in the least. The sandalwood is definitely there, especially after it's had a chance to dry down, but I don't actually feel like it's that powdery. At least, I wouldn't describe powdery as the main accord. It's floral in this classy, elegant way. Especially after it dries down a little, the gentle florals are what register the most to me. I think the powdery accord and musk note could scare some off, but it never feels aged. It's not "youthful," but it's also not "old." It feels just right. It gives the vibe of an experienced, successful woman. Someone established and confident. Especially once it dries down, it's very sexy. And to me, the sexiness is in the subtlety of it. I don't register the musk as much as others seem to (maybe due to my bottle, skin chemistry, or whatever else), though, so I could see that note making this aspect come acress as more overt depending on circumstances and that might change the overall effect. Someone else said it reminds them of being on the beach after a storm, and I can think of no better way to describe it. I'm not sure if it's thanks to the water lily alone, but there's something so very oceanic about the scent without anything that directly smells like the sea. I think this also makes it hard for me to classify it by season. It reminds me of taking a winter trip to see the ocean, of the air being just slightly cool at night, hearing the waves, sinking my toes in the sand, all of it. It doesn't truly feel wintery but it also doesn't feel bright and summery, even with the peach opening. It also lasts all day for me, slowly evolving and changing over time. There's no period when it smells bad, and this change also doesn't register as jarring. It feels like a natural progression. If you've never tried it, I do think it's worth it.

I bought a porcelain doll from a thrift store that smelled like this when I was 13, many of the things in that thrift store were from people who died. My mother tried to talk me out of buying it bc she felt a "dark energy" from the doll. I later, blind bought this perfume bc it was on sale and wanted something "mysterious" smelling at 18, imagine my shock when I was met with the ghostly scent of that doll's owner, long since passed. I've been complimented on this fragrance but I can't help but be reminded of mortality when I wear it. My mom says it smells like her grandma's house. Odd, since this only came out in the '90s, it feels so much more antique. Not necessarily a bad thing, it pairs well if you wish to have the vibe of a doll stuck in someone's attic. EDIT: After I recovered from covid and got my sense of smell back I somehow fell deeply in love with this fragrance. It used to be just sort of weird for me, but now I'm spraying it like an absolute monster. EVERYWHERE. I can't get enough. it lasts so long, which is good, but I probably smell a bit like an antique store, it still holds that vibe for me but that only adds to its charm. Apart from my older sister, nobody in my age group seems to like it, but people above 30 compliment it a lot. Have I grown up? maybe. This is a scent for a woman who truly knows herself. Sweet, yet sophisticated. Totally unlike anything I've ever smelled since. I've heard people compare it to Shalimar and I really ought to test it, but since I'm a broke college student I might go with Emeraude first. The only perfume in my collection that can be quite compared it it is Diamonds and Rubies, but even then, Diamonds and Rubies is ultra-sweet (almost sickening in the wrong weather) compared to this. The woodiness cuts into the sugar perfectly like the citric acid in sour candy, adding further depth but also a distraction from the sweetness. I'm so glad I got this at the time I did, because it's hard to find right now, and certainly not for 12 dollars as I paid.

Still trying to get the right amount applied. I’ve been erring on the side of light because I think this one could easily be overdone and overwhelming, but I’m about to get it right. I can truly smell it in the bottle across the room, hence my cautious approach. When first applied, there is a strange acrid smell like damp ashes in a cold fireplace, but it very quickly subsides and everything starts to develop. I initially thought this had poor longevity, but I was wrong. It’s very long lasting. I’m not able to judge sillage properly yet, but one indicator is whether I can smell it in the car after I run into the store for a minute. I don’t detect this one at today’s application level. I will say that it takes time for everything to open in this. I know it’s not a listed note, but after 6 hours the strongest note is vanilla then woodiness, which is fine with me. I would say this is very feminine, warm, intimate, sweet, and interesting in the ways it changes. I am impressed and like it quite a bit. Edit: I quit being conservative and just went for it - sprayed generously on torso, small of back, back of neck and inside elbows. Turns out that lots more is just right! I gave it 30 minutes to settle down and it’s perfect. Makes me feel pretty. Great blind buy based on the reviews here - thank you all!! Update: This is just an absolutely lovely perfume. I am enveloped and addicted. I often apply it before I go to bed. It lasts 12+ hours, the last few of which are gorgeous, very powdery wood vanilla - most of the sweetness is gone in the first 6 hours. The sillage in the first couple of hours may be moderate, but mostly this stays pretty close. There is a beautiful ever-present smokiness that survives all stages, becoming fainter as the perfume develops. I just bought a back up bottle, as Black Pearls has joined the "can't be without it" ranks of EL Sensuous and Burberry for Women for me.

Hello from Deco Dawn this is my review of Elizabeth Taylor Black Pearls. Beautiful packaging & fabulous 'Art Deco' clamshell designed bottle with gold lid with Black Pearl on the top. Top notes burst of peach very dry opening I would class as a Classic Chypre, pronounced 'sheepray' very sensual stays very close to the skin. Floriental, So ideal after dark and intimate moments. A 'grown up' scent for a 'real' woman, this is not a girly scent at all. It's rather solumn and serious & a little sad.Nothing funny about it and it doesn't say 'happy'. I would say ideal in situations when a more subdued scent is required. I own Passion, White Diamonds, Diamonds and Rubies and now Black Pearls. I am also going to buy 'Gardenia'. Elizabeth Taylor fragrances are amazing value, all individual and well crafted. After much research I have not found out 'The nose' for this Scent, I believe personally due to the notes and formulation it is Jacques Polge, of Diva Emanuel Ungaro fame from 80s and of course previously Head of Chanel Perfumes for 35 years. All in all I am very impressed. An ideal all year round scent & particularly Autumn/Winter as warm, rich and spicy dry down of Sandlewood, Musk and Vanilla Try it you will love it. Dry down is very similar to Chanel Allure. WARNING: Do NOT over spray! Just one on wrist and 1 on neck is more than sufficient. I unfortunately sprayed loads on today and it took 2 hours to calm down and went straight to the back of my throat. Update - After wearing for 24 hours and applying sparingly this morning only 1 spray to wrist and neck I am delighted with this sensual fragrance. It really is 'as near as damn it' a copy of Chanel Allure which retails in the UK for £105.00 for 100ml bottle. Do not be put off by the low price of Black Pearls it is incredible and fantastic value for money. Well done to the beautiful Elizabeth Taylor her memory lives on.

Finally got this in the mail today and I've been testing it. This starts off w/ a crisp bergamot that quickly settles into a melon/peach accord, w/ gardenia then white rose and lotus show up. I find white rose to be a lot fruitier than other rose scents and lotus is no different in tonality. There is an aquatic feel in the beginning of this perfume. This is an aquatic that I do not mind because it is pretty, sweet and not sharp. Like the shimmering water of a lake at sunset. After that settles to the background this perfume gets down to the business of seduction and becomes very powdery, woody, musky, boozy and a little dirty. I know leather isn't mentioned in the notes above but I am getting a lot of leather w/ this one in the dry down. And I am picky about leather but this leather accord is like a well worn leather jacket that has the patina of love. This also has a lot of sweet vanilla/amber in the base combining w/ the sandalwood, leather, florals, that is quite intoxicating. I find all of the earlier perfumes that Elizabeth Taylor put out in the world, Passion, White Diamonds, Diamonds and Emeralds, and Diamonds and Rubies are very old school, very seductive, rich, and opulent. They do not really fit in w/ post modern tastes. I have post modern perfumes that I do love but man I am really loving Elizabeth Taylor's older perfumes. They are all about decadence, they are all a bit to much and that suits me right down to a tee on most days. Larger than life perfumes for bold women! And this one is no different. If you like bold, powdery, woody, musky perfumes this is one you should seek. Can still be found on ebay. Oh and this review is for the clear glass reformulation.

Ok. This Isn't what I was expecting. I blind bought it based off the reviews. I purchased the original frosted bottle, and maybe because it's dated, I tried it several times, it smells very much like plastic barbie dolls. I was hoping I'd get the peachy booze so many commented on. Can you imagine? The plastic Barbies and synthetic hair oddly enough have a smell. I'm mean, its a soft, distinct scent that doesn't have much depth, and it's also pretty linear. It does have a "dusty" vibe to it. Maybe I'm wearing it in the wrong weather, as it's summertime here. I'll do myself a favor a purchase the reformulated version, maybe it was remade for a good reason. I wish I could be more specific but...please don't bash my review for not being necessarily positive, it could help others just as well as positive reviews do. ******UPDATE: OMG, A MIRACLE HAPPENED. I was patient, spent more time with it, and the plastic barbie doll smell literally disappeared. Now I get warm boozy florals with a backdrop of powdery vanilla. It's very intimate, elegant and mesmerizing. Did I say this is linear and doesn't have depth? Well! After about 6 hours it dries down to a luxurious vanilla baby wipe feel, similar to Shalimar! This is still coming from my vintage frosted bottle. I am assuming, because the bottle is very old, the alcohol content somewhat screwed up the notes because its been sitting for awhile. This is a lovely oriental floral fragrance! I'm glad I kept going back to spray and sniff, because I knew I was crazy, not being able to experience this in full!!

When I blind-bought this (the current formulation in the clear shiny bottle), I wasn't expecting Black Pearls to smell at all like it does. I expected, and wanted, something very woody, with a very real peach note to it, and something light, and possibly quite weak. The perfume itself starts quite peachy and screech, but that totally disappears, which I'm thankful for after more recently discovering how peach REALLY smells on me, making way for this masterpiece. Vanilla (though not a note listed here) is very present to by nose, as well as the amber and the sandalwood. Rose stays strong throughout the drydown, and gardenia never seems to make an appearance. The overall effect is quite sticky and thick and boozy but also slightly dry, very aromatic and slightly smoky, and very, very long lasting on my skin, but as the other Elizabeth Taylor perfumes are, this one is an acquired taste. I can't imagine this being liked by everybody. My best friend, who almost exclusively smells like vanilla, doesn't like this at all. I would definitely day this would be stereotypically be listed as autumn-nighttime, but I wear this all the time. The sillage on this is only moderate, so you COULD wear it to work if you were daring enough. I've worn this to work and it garnered me compliments like I did not expect from customers I served, and it's quickly become a favourite perfume of mine. Well done to the Elizabeth Taylor perfume line, for giving me one more perfume to love!

I wouldn`t think of ET in general as for perfumes - I did buy a few sets as pressies in the past though for aunties, in-laws and mum/grandma: they were over the moon. But I got here by accident and the reviews here got me curious, so I ordered a bottle of this juice. And WOW!!! This is a true `80s-90s powerhouse, with a twist. It`s heavy and heady, but NOT in `the old lady`-kinda way, not on me anyway..I must admit the first few moments were discouraging - bug repellent, etc. - but as it develops it becomes the best amber-sandalwood combo I`ve tried recently. It kind of falls between Rochas Femme and Prada Amber somehow, especially the drydown, after an hour of application. It`s rich, resinous/balsamic. No pepper or spices, yet it is potent. I get only a reminiscent of peach, as for flowers they appear and disappear quickly, and there is a leathery note also in the background, which makes it a bit masculine even - it wouldn`t even surprise me if lads would reach for this scent too! There is something else that makes it memorable, but I just can`t put my finger on it..some bittersweet note which pops up as you go along sniffing..a secret ingredient, maybe something to do with the black pearls.. All in all I find it a classic scent with a twist, defo a throwback 80-90s stuff, but an absolute value for money, if you want a good amber-sandalwood scent which is not watered-down or synthetic. Can`t understand how it`s not sold everywhere, it`s a gem. LOVE!

I really wouldn't consider this a "floral" scent, but more of a straight up oriental. It strays away from its more heady floral creations in Elizabeth Taylor's line. Bottles of the EdP can be had for cheap under the 15 dollar mark. Aside from the powerhouse floral-chypre of White Diamonds, Black Pearls is another great fragrance in terms of composition quality. To me this is a smoky (at first), dark and powdery rose, creatively embellished with indiscernible ripe fruity notes--something like melon, and deep spicy notes. There is also a bitterness about it, which reminds me of something of a leather note. The piece-de-resistance is definitely the base notes, which smells of amber, musk and elegant woody notes. The EdP is remarkable, although the bitterness of the scent can really assert itself, if not the powdery notes. There is a parfum version--rare, beautiful bottle, but still can be had for cheap. You just need a little patience and need to hunt around a little. The parfum is the true expression of the scent, but not necessarily stronger. The floral nuances can be smelled better, and not quite so shocking as the EdP. Both versions have the same longevity and emits a soft aura. They are not strong fragrances, per se, but they are full bodied and hovers close to the skin--a true sensual fragrance. It's probably not as popular as it deserves, but it is most undoubtedly an elegant and beautiful perfume.

Didn't buy perfumes for a long time and when I decided, that the moment of smelling something new have arrived - for some unexplainable reason I landed on Black Pearls. BP is what I personally thought it will be, fits to the name, - dark gemstone with a changeable metal luster, that makes its sheen appear blends of green, gold, pink, lavender, and blue from various angles. They symbolize wealth, wisdom and prosperity and even though I will indulge myself in wearing this fragrance for a cozy evenings on the sofa, - if I would have a chance to wear black evening dress with pearl necklace - I will be wearing Black Pearls of Grojsman/Taylor as well. It smells posh, classy, intense, yet soft. The smell is sweet peach with mellow gardenia, - fruity-floral not in a girly, but in a womanly dressy way. While some people perceive some leathery accords in it - to me it is more like suedy tonalities of orris root, that you can get from Grojsman's Nude of Bill Blass as well. Drydown is like a calming body powder, more on a shiny lipstick side of smell, if to compare with Arden's True Love, that would be more like a dry, rice face powder. So, in a few words, - close to True Love and Nude (all Grojsmans), but while TL is for tea-parties, dinner with family and Nude for private dates, - Black Pearls is for evenings, going outs and such. Like it a lot.

Finally an Elizabeth Taylor I can wear. I`ve tried the diamonds with various gems, and they were a def no go, although smelled beautiful on others. A most kind member gifted this to me, and I was excited to experience it :D I over sprayed, on purpose. It does not come off as a powerhouse on me. I actually found it somewhat soft . Right away it was cola, a twist of lemon,the teensiest of dry cinnamon, and cool powder - it brought to mind Shalimar - yet I see none of those notes listed, nor notes that make up "cola". A juicy peach made it`s appearance, which I am glad for, very creamy magnolia and sandalwood, a golden amber, soft musk,and I sense a touch of honey which is a tad boozy as the peach is, and something somewhat menthol fresh, and green. I cannot smell rose, or the lotus and water lily - the latter 2 usually miss me anyway. An hour later, it is still soft - medium, not a skin scent, but nothing to be afraid of. I really cannot compare it to other orientals I have, or have worn. It has a good balance of sweetness, spice,and musk. If I was to layer, I would with a honey, or orange. For me, BP not being an oriental bomb, I would be able to wear all of the seasons, and am curious how it will play out.

As I have stated previously, peach scents are not usually my favorite. They tend to smell "fake" on me. However, Black Pearls used a "peach brandy" note, NOT just "peach", despite the way the notes are listed above. This makes a world of difference, as the peach brandy is luscious and seductive. It is a rich, spicy/sweet, almost syrupy fragrance, with some pleasantly old-fashioned powdery floral notes and a very sexy musk/amber/sandalwood drydown, which seems to use better-quality sandalwood (or simulant) than many other modern scents. The sweetness is not the vanilla/cotton candy type like that in many of the celebrity scents. It smells "deeper" and certainly boozy, in a good way. The longevity is impressive, and the sillage is quite good. This was, to me, a fairly strong scent which could be overpowering if overapplied! UPDATE: I just won a bottle here on Fragrantica!!! I am thrilled to finally own a full bottle, not just samples, of this enchanting scent. Yes, it's the reformulation, but honestly I have smelled both versions and to me there is not a huge difference. Indeed, I think I prefer the "clear bottle" (newer) version as it has more of that luscious peach brandy accord!

What else positive can be said, had this for a quite a while, still having never found any fragrances that thrill me as much as Liz made during her lifetime. Though connected in the middle it seems, aside from Gardenia (Being a male,Liz fragrance fan, gardenia is the only one a step too far...lol), the two sides of her fragrances...the spice and the soft seem to be workable by me upon the correct mood. This scent to me, fits into the spice side. White Diamonds, Diamonds and Rubies, and Passion. This fits nicely into those flankers. It doesn't come across nearly as hot as WD and D&R but settles into a very nice warm and sultry place. With fewer notes, the full experience remains the same throughout the lifetime of the application, in a very good way. Thankfully, the Gardenia note is muted imo and doesn't make this scent unwearable by a man, unlike the namesake "Gardenia" itself. More a floral oriental than the other warm side fragrances, but not as soft as the soft side ones like Violet Eyes, Brilliant or Sparkling, or even Forever. (All of which I adore and well very well in my softer moods). All in all Black Pearls is a wonderful fragrance and I'll always keep a bottle around.

This one is very different from anything else I've ever tried or worn. Definitely an oriental or floral oriental; not a true floral by far. It opens immediately with a blast of peaches, lotus, sandalwood, vanilla and spices, with a hint of lilac. Within a few minutes, the amber and sandalwood come out a bit more for a while, and a soft powdery accord develops. Then eventually it mellows out a bit and turns a bit fresher and more floral towards the end, which is highly unusual. I'm thinking the lilac, jasmine and lotus notes are the strongest. It's not my favorite fragrance in ET's line, but I'm fascinated by it because of its uniqueness. I would wear this as an autumn daytime fragrance, I believe...not so much a sexy fragrance (which I think her Passion and Diamonds and Rubies definitely are!), but a mellow, comfortable, and, as iMaverick said, a sensual scent. More akin to a cozy, romantic night at home, in front of a fireplace under a cashmere throw, as opposed to a night on the town.