The Black Knight

Bonkers leather. I love a leather perfume, and, if you do too, take it from me that this might push your limits for the genre. This is as if fresh cow hides, hairy and fatty and bloody, tanned hides, tanning chemicals, dyes, and all of the other components that are part of the whole timeline of the leather making process were pulverized together in a massive blender. Lift the lid off and stick you head in for a big whiff. Be careful. The opening is hot, funky, and metallic, likely the artemisia presenting as wormwood, and also a good dose of caraway. It smells bloody, intent on immediately triggering some angst and alarm. Those notes are swallowed up very quickly by the biggest animalic and chemically tanned leather note I have smelled in a very long time. It is enormous. This isn't finished leather, ready to be sewn into a fine Italian jacket or pair of shoes, it's leather in the middle of the tanning process - where the chemicals and dyes are at full volume, and you can smell them attacking the flesh of the cow. A clever dose of honey adds a skin like sweetness and a decomposed floral note that comes across as "rot", rounding out the odor of skin being violently transformed. At this point in my description, you might be interpreting me as saying that it stinks; don't mistake me, this doesn't "stink", but it certainly doesn't really fit the idea we normally have of smelling good either. This is leather perfume of the avant garde variety, and its potency and performance are going to get you noticed and turn a few heads for better or for worse. After a few hours everything calms down, and Bianchi's orris butter that she loves so, so much makes an unsurprising appearance, which - unlike the orris in some of her other perfumes - makes a tight and logical connection to the decomposing-floral-sweet-honey note from earlier. Heaping doses of tree moss also help to quieten proceedings by presenting a calming, damp, relaxing hardwood forest note. Vetiver shows up in the heart but becomes more prominent in the skin scent, opting for levity and freshness with aromatic green notes and letting the moss handle the woody notes. I suspect there is some loamy patchouli, and aromatic cedar or sandalwood as well, but, if so, they are a bit lost in the shuffle; something, or somethings, like that are playing around in the background of the base/skin scent, but it's hard to tell. What a ride The Black Knight has been! It's a roller coaster of a perfume, building you up by taking you to anxious and alarming heights to then slam you down to earth upside-down in a fearful rush, to, finally, some calmness and a moment to catch your breath when the dock is in sight. So far, I have tried Etruscan Water, Encounters, Sticky Fingers, Lost in Heaven, Libertine Neroli, and Angel's Dust, with a few more to go. I have been taken with Etruscan Water and Encounters the most, but The Black Knight has easily moved into the top spot of the most striking and original perfumes I've yet to try from the brand. Like Etruscan Water and Encounters, I very much want to add The Black Knight to my collection. I look forward to my next ride on the terrifying roller coaster.

I tend to not read the reviews of perfumes that I randomly try because I have realised (and I acknowledge now) the role that skin chemistry plays in perfumery and the subjectiveness of personal taste. So here comes the review: I admit that I was introduced to Francesca Bianchi by YouTubers whose opinions I really value and tend to have the same taste with. In that sense, I visited a local scents shop here in Athens (the only one where somebody can have access to her creations), determined to buy something from her. Then the test spraying came. And I was not ready for it. I am pretty new to the niche perfumes party but apparently my nose tends to appreciate complex, evocative and not heavily mainstreamed DNAs. Do I even need to say more? I instantly fell in love with Bianchi's perspective on how to create art through chemistry. I tested on paper several of her creations and I ended up trying on skin this, sex and the beach and under my skin from the fragrance line of the same name, as well as Divine Perversion from Hedonik (she is the nose behind this brand). I cannot even come close to a description that approaches 1/10 of the feelings I was flooded with. I ended up choosing to go with Black Knight because it is the first time in 52 of the years I have spent on this planet that I felt so sexy, mysterious, strong, refreshed and confident just by smelling my wrist. It blasts off with an atomic leather jacket smell. A brand new leather jacket that you just bought and before you put it on, you hold it close to your nose and lips, touching and sniffing it. Then you grab a hot chocolate or a burned brown sugar beverage and you are transferred to a an oak forest where the smell of wood, grass and pines blends in with the aromas wafting from your drink and the leather nuances. You are so comfortable with yourself and you value every single second in this exquisite ambience, before you get back home and you enjoy the cosiness of your own place. You indulge a hot, honey infused drink but you don't want to take off your jacket because it carries some resin, woody and minty, along with its leathery notes and you are not ready to let them go. So.. to conclude: is this an easy to wear fragrance? Depends on your personal taste. For me it is as easy as my own skin scent but, I am an Alessandro Gualtieri fan. So.... Objectively, it can be polarizing if you are not into leather and vetiver/green notes. Is it artistic? 100%. It is a story teller. Is it unique? Personally, I have not experienced a fragrance made like this before. And finally... Is it blind buy worthy of? If you are into indie/artsy perfumes, YES! It is so remarkably crafted, so intriguing and so value for money (I got it for 118 euros) that's definitely worth the investment, especially if you are new to this genius woman's artistry. 10/10 for me and I have most probably found my signature scent.

First review here, and it had to be this one. I've been looking for a signature scene for years, and coincidentally, because of the notes I wasn't even going to purchase this at first. But I'm so glad I did, because I believe I've finally found it. I'm still a novice nose when it comes to deciphering all the notes and specific intricacies of a scent, but this might be the first where the intended mood, theme, and nuances of fragrances were fully projected onto my senses. Right off the bat, I get a strong(but not brash) smell of antique or vintage(but not old) yet polished, buttery leather...possibly a knight cavalry's worn, lived-in, battle-worn leather gloves, a distressed horse saddle or well-worn boots. Juxtaposed with an almost savory honey note(I usually find honey cloying, wayyy too sweet or stifling in perfume, hence why I almost didn't purchase this) that totally warms and lubricates that polishy leather. It smooths and refines it, but doesn't overwhelm it. I'm guessing it's the orris that makes it all feel so smooth and buttery despite the creeping, creaking darkness that lay still. From there I can smell the roses and what I believe to be the moss, like a steed trampling over flowers at a campsite or after a battle, possibly seeking refuge or a reprieve after a fierce battle. Lastly, I get hints of vetiver at the end that rounds it all out with this slight green, ominous edge. There's an overall dark, grim feel I get from this, but not depressing or smoldering. It's gothic, melancholy, and almost romantic in a way? The notes aren't in conflict, it's almost like a dance, and they're complimenting each out. The leather and the honey, the orris and the flowers, and that vetiver. There's a levity and sensitivity to it, but that medieval edge takes center stage and never relents. Moreover there's such an...organic feel to this. I could very easily see how, especially this leather, could come of as metallic, synthetic or sterile but it never does. That vibrancy it was gives it the depth I believe. Everything here smells organic, fresh, and real. You can taste the honey, you can see the roses, you can feel that leather. The one knock I have against it, I simply wish there was more vetiver, as I feel like more of that at the end would really play well with that industrial leather once the honey fades. I'll try mixing Jovoy Private Label with it and see how that fares, but on its one I still think it's an amazing fragrance that really captures it's intended vision and executes it beautifully.

Francesca Bianchi’s The Black Knight....a leather vetiver that is certainly masculine, I mean look at the name, but I feel perfectly comfortable wearing it myself. This one has that well known Bianchi DNA but like the others, it transitions off into its own direction, this time with vetiver. I have found that several of her fragrances smell similar, especially the dark leaning ones, but they each transition into something unique, even if they seem to start from a very similar stock. I think that’s what makes her loyal fans so loyal, it’s that DNA we love and we want each and every variation. The signature leather note is here, a leather that she creates using a combination of animalics, it’s not that chemical smelling synthetic leather recreation that we often smell in modern perfumes, but it’s warm, deep and rich, and it takes a little while for it to settle into the gorgeous note that it becomes. I would say sometimes a good hour or two for everything to adjust and blend. This is not “fast food” perfume. If you’re looking for an easy fresh opening or something that is made to sell at the counter by SAs, move on because you won’t find that here. This is much more involved. But when a perfume lasts 24 hours or longer, it’s worth the investment. This one is also joined with powdery orris and honey, another element of Francesca’s signature, but this time it’s with vetiver which gives it a different feel and what I consider more classically masculine. But the honey and orris keep it beautifully unisex. There are some spices here and oakmoss which adds to the masculinity but we have that powdery element plus the sweetness that makes it feel more unisex. There is even a little rose. On the whole the fragrance feels dark and smoky but it has a soft side. Is it for everyone? Heavens no, this is Francesca Bianchi we are talking about here. Her perfumes are somewhat shocking for the average nose, they are massively potent and can be jarring initially, but once they “brew” on the skin and are allowed to do their thing, they become so gorgeous and it’s always worth the wait.

Sipping smoky whiskey amidst a swift vetiver-storm, we set forth in quest of the Black Knight. The clashing of arms, the snarling snort of warhorses in the howling gale; upon the fresh, verdant meadow, their muscles tense, and their hooves tear up clods of mossy earth. We can nigh feel the steaming breath of the wild stallions, their froth scattering in the wind, the sweat-soaked brown saddle-leather vaporizing, while in the distance, the remnants of a great bonfire smolder. Upon the crest of the gusts, powdery remnants of roses drift like red snowflakes, and torn fragments of scent from the skin of the wilderness lovers lie scattered about. Meanwhile, we rest by the sea, sitting around a campfire, reclining upon the damp earth. We dry our grimy leather jackets, anointing their cracked surfaces with the nourishing, thick, nigh-creamy substance of beeswax. The moon sways ever more erratically in the heavens; as the sun rises, it unfurls the black shroud of night, seeking light within the folds of the dawning sky to drape it over nature. The frosty dawn air, pumped into the fullness of our lungs, burns the inside of our nostrils, while as we journey on, the scent of dusty rose, enveloped in breathtaking layers of orris butter, marks the path against a backdrop of leather and softly yielding blankets of moss. The overall effect is more than striking, the heavenly accord of the ingredients rising ever higher: within the simmering cauldrons of resins infused with smoky honey, naked bodies, tumbled in butter and shrouded in patchouli, lie scattered, embedded in succulent layers of moss. Meanwhile, the fragrance of daffodils wafts up, mingled with smoky hay and sticky honey derived from the nectar of medicinal herbs, sharp and mineral-tinged, evoking an unceasing yearning. An unnameable, dream-enchanted stupor envelops our hitherto alert senses, as the profound impulses of meditation and passion alternate in this rich, gothic drydown, woven from vegetal fibers, wallowing in earthy hues, and shimmering in honeyed light. The beast, but a moment ago raging, now idly basks.

The Black Knight is another leather scent in keeping with the style of this house, i.e. featuring sweet yet animalic facets on a rich, dense amber base. It is leather-dominant from initial spray, bold and realistic, set apart by its woody, mossy base. This base brings to mind the stone castle walls where the knight of the title might be found, damp and mossy, surrounded by trees. The green herbal notes enhance this image further, imbuing this scent with an underlying verdant freshness. TBK opens with a dark, dry leather accord, brown and birch-like to my nose. Some subdued sweetness follows thanks to the honey note and perhaps beeswax, giving an amber-like nuance to the base that smooths out the dryness of the leather nicely. The woody notes follow after a little while, enhancing the dryness and paving the way to the earthy base. I get some powdery, hay-like narcissus - the perfect floral addition to the earthy leather accord that forms the crux of this scent. As it develops, the powdery texture of the orris emerges, melding nicely with the increasingly animalic leather as is the case in most of Francesca Bianchi's leather perfumes. It is a beautiful, compelling use of orris, and its earthiness here contributes to the chypre base as well as tempering the leather nicely. The oakmoss note follows, also earthy, complemented nicely by a slightly bitter herbal accord. Slightly dirty patchouli ties it all together at this point. It becomes musky as it dries down, enhancing the animalic facet of the leather nicely. Sillage is strong and longevity is long-lasting. It is masculine-leaning in my opinion, but is unisex depending on taste. It is a cold weather scent for sure, given its intensity and profile. TBK is more palatable than I expected it to be - the dry, earthy woods temper the animalic edge nicely, making for a great dry, masculine take on leather that still manages to be smooth and full-bodied. High-quality, well-composed and utterly satisfying throughout, TBK is another great take on leather from Francesca Bianchi. 4.5/5.

Alright I started with her discovery set purchased this past fall, this made it to a 5ml sample and now a 3.4 oz bottle. When I first got the discovery set, a lot of samples came across to me as a vintage, old book store/ thrift/ antique smell. This was one of the stand outs to me. To me this is a gritty, leather, vetiver fragrance. I understand the relation the smell of motor cycle clothing in a different review. The grittiest to me smells like your garage after you change the oil on a summer afternoon, your shirt is sweety and dirt under your nails. After a few hours it settles down, and her signature DNA comes shining through, with the leather and vetiver. 8-10 hour mark and this has faded to skin it smell like dirty skin and i mean that in a good way. This acts how i want an extrait to preform with 3 stages and it changes with temperature weather it is form your body or the sun when your arm is in the window of your car as you are driving down the highway. The performance on this is perfect, I frequently am out dancing, and this last the whole night of being in a room dancing with many individual and sweeting through that night until 3am, this fragrance and house stands strong and bloom with heat and becomes more sexy in time. This unisex leaning masculine to me. She uses very very very good ingredients that come off as a natural smell and not synthetic or overly synthetic by any means. Right now i am wearing this daily, mostly spraying after a shower at night, it stay on past the morning shower, and my day is blessed with its late dry down, I work in a combination of office and field work, so the days i am working in the field, it wake up off my skin again. I love when frags can do this. I own this sticky fingers, sex and the sea, and lovers tale.

Nose Note #874 I'll have to sort of copy from my review of The Dark Side, because I've bought the two together and they go hand in hand in my mind. I wasn't expecting much as I was totally new to the brand, but I didn't expect to be THAT blown away. Man, this is just like nothing else that I've had. It's expensive, but one of the few times like with Amouage and Xerjoff I can say - it's worth it. Such a beautiful, oily, silky leather note with this beautiful, beautiful touch of iris. I said that The Dark Side smells slightly barnyardy, like sheep, but this one literally smells like sheep!!! Or, again, the super fat skin cream that they make from sheep fat or whatever. Wow, what a unique thing. It's super niche, but 4.12 is completely justified. Just smells like something from a hall of fame, which it rightly enters in my domain. Just like The Dark Side it's SUPER strong, even STRONGER than Dark Side. Super long-lasting, just what I look for. And it's so strange in the best sense and and the same time it's so down to earth and belonging to the real world. It also has a very very minor Coca-Cola vibe. I'd call this "The Black Sheep" and the other one "The Dark Bee". This and The Dark Side. What a discovery! Bianchi is a master of perfumery. Definately looking forward to sampling more of the masculine stuff from her brand. I'm taking 0.5 off as with Dark Side just because you cannot wear this daily, it's too strong and doesn't fit all occasions. My wife doesn't like the two very much. She did find them amusing, but didn't appreciate them. 9.5/10, another entry to the hall of fame, one of the most curious

A creation with a strong personality, which starts out decisive and powerful as a shot from a rifle. Immediately a magnificent smell of leather emerges, accompanied by the scent of beeswax and faint hints of burning. The overt reference is to the legendary mercenary leader Giovanni de'Medici, known as Giovanni dalle bande nere (Giovanni of the black armours), who used to burnish his company's armor with fire, so that he could fight even at night, with the protection of darkness; this kind of guerrilla warfare was in fact unheard of until that time, if you consider the fact that until the Middle Ages people fought only during the day and in certain seasons. Imagine my surprise when I found out where Francesca Bianchi drew her inspiration, since by an amazing coincidence at this very time I am writing a novel called "The Captain of Fortune," set in Italy right around the end of the Renaissance and in which Giovanni and his black bands also feature. While keeping the leathery scent prominent throughout, the heart of the perfume reveals itself to be gentler, once the wax candles are extinguished and the smoke evaporates, there appears something flowery and herbaceous, until it becomes moist, green and almost earthy, just like the smell of a meadow in the morning, all underpinned by a melancholy underlying sweetness, like pining for the time that was. The Black Knight is capable of lasting all night and projects well all around even with a few sprays, better not to abuse it then because, as Gigi Proietti used to say, "you better not mess with the black knight..."

This is what niche perfumery should be like. The Black Knight doesn't want to disguise itself as something easily wearable, it is unapologetic, kicks you in the teeth with the heavily boozy opening. The first 30 mins is almost only a huge blast of single malt Scotch aged in a charred oak barrel. It's boozy, it's woody, very warm and daring. Then after like an hour it starts settling down and that's when the true magic happens. The sweet tobacco notes come forward with such a wonderful leather accord that feels like a leather armchair well worn-in with pipe tobacco lingering around, and there is also a dry, powdery feel to it in drydown that is somewhat of a signature of Francesca Bianchi. It's not the leather of a new car's interior, it's much more animalic and aged. And the sweetness is very faint, just enough to make it cozy. You're instantly transported back to a lounge where people of the highest class held their parties for a century and the room is soaked in that smell of debauchery done classy. This fragrance is heavy, dense, waxy, lasts a very long time, easily 12 hours on my skin, and as it's an extrait concentration, you gotta be careful with spraying. It's not a people pleaser for those who don't dare looking beyond the designer realm, so I don't recommend blind buying. I'm not that influencer-level collector with 1000+ bottles but as far as my collection goes, the 3 fragrances from the house are at the absolute top of my niche axis and one of the most complex and wonderful scents I've ever had the chance to smell.

An extremely powerful Leather centric fume ! Not per se smoky but does have tinge of smoke in the background swirling around as if to portray an impression of a Man who is adorned with hard buffalo leather armor and has just returned from a military campaign and smells like a mixture of Leather, twinge of dried body sweat & earthy grime from all the horse riding he did( its almost as if the smell of the horse, its saddle, the wax of his saddle, everything fused into the Knights clothing), and carries the smell of campfires that he made along the way back home to his castle. Unlike a similar perfume by Bulgari called Azaran, which uses Saffron as a note to create the leather accord and soften its edges by using honey & beeswax...but here , Bianci has made this into a hardcore representation of how a battle hardened medieval knight outta smell by using natural ingredients without resorting to using the Saffron note ! Azaran and Black Knight do share a lot of similarities in overall vibe and aura ! Its so well blended that its very difficult to separate the notes. Full marks for the blending chemistry deployed here and kudos for being able to create a smell that encapsulates what it was going for in its concept ! If you have seen the Johnny Depp movie Sleepy Hollow....this scent is best suited for the character of the Headless horseman played by Christopher Walken ! Not blind buy worthy. Price is very good for a 30ml bottle and is a must for lovers of real Leather!! Good job by FB !!!

The Black Knight by Francesca Bianchi is a fragrance that feels like stepping into a dark tale—intense, mysterious, and full of hidden layers. It opens with a rich, sweet-spicy accord that immediately evokes honey and beeswax. But this isn’t the warm, cozy kind of sweetness. It’s wild and slightly dangerous, almost feral. There's an edible quality to it, but in a “you really shouldn’t” kind of way—like something forbidden. Soon after, the sweetness begins to fade and gives way to dark, smoky leather. This leather is rugged, worn-in, and deeply infused with smoke, not so animalic to me. As it develops, the scent becomes more abstract. The waxy honey and leather merge into something softer but no less complex. Hours in, a floral undertone begins to surface. Francesca Bianchi’s signature iris makes an appearance—powdery, waxy, and beautifully blended. Alongside it, you start to sense a very dry, bitter, earthy tone, most likely from the vetiver. This adds a grounding element that balances the earlier richness. What makes The Black Knight truly special is its evolution. It doesn’t stay in one place—it transforms over time, and sometimes smells different each time you wear it. It’s not a linear journey; it’s an unfolding story, full of shadowy elegance and unexpected turns. This is a perfect pick for those who love leather, vetiver, and challenging, atmospheric scents. It demands attention and patience—but rewards you with depth, character, and a truly unforgettable experience.

Somehow Amber Kiso, Papillon Salome and Zoologist T-Rex have arranged a threesome at your place. They have broken the bed, trashed the bathroom and now the neighbours are complaining. As you may imagine, these three alphas combine to near-nuclear effect and it's all done in Bianchi's signature style of wild Italian '70s rock-chick decadence. It's ... quite something to behold. Yes, rough greasy leather is the central player here but overall it has the same heady, sweet, head-shop effect of many others from the house. Sweeter and herbal elements (very big, almost urinous honey and narcissus in particular) are layered over with immense skill to make it more of a beaut than a brute. Patchouli and vetiver often rub me the wrong way (smirk) but here just bring useful darkness without stink. Drydown becomes softer and more charming - at least for those (like me) who can see the charm in a layer of oddly ashtray-ish incense effect. Projection and longevity absolutely epic. It's a wild and furious ride for sure, but there's artistry there, rather than just a roar of leather and nothing but. Absolutely not for the faint hearted, but wearable by the bold of any gender IMHO. Don't overdo it, though. And this will polarise immensely: if you have the nerve this is a mind-expanding experience... but be careful who you choose to share the experience with.

Wow dhillongary - spot on with The Headless Horseman played by Christopher Walken comparison! Burton describes him in movie like that: „ The Horseman was a Hessian mercenary, sent to these shores by German princes to keep Americans under the yoke of England. But unlike his compatriots, who came for money, the Horseman came for love of carnage. When battle was joined, there you'd find him. He rode a giant black steed named Daredevil. He was infamous for riding his horse hard into battle, chopping off heads at full gallop. He had filed his teeth down to sharp points, to add to the ferocity of his appearance. This butcher didn't finally reach his end until the winter of '79. Not far from here, in our western woods. They chopped off his head with his own sword”. And here is small part of HH myth: „Franz Potter, a professor at National University who specializes in Gothic studies, says the headless horseman, as a supernatural entity, represents a past that never dies, but always haunts the living. “The headless horseman supposedly seeks revenge—and a head—which he thinks was unfairly taken from him,” Potter says. “This injustice demands that he continually search for a substitute. The horseman, like the past, still seeks answers, still seeks retribution, and can't rest. We are haunted by the past which stalks us so that we never forget it”

At first, I get almost exclusively beeswax with just a trace of patchouli. It's neither sweet nor dry. The initial waxiness dies down to reveal narcissus and a rich leather scent. There's something herbal and earthy in the back I can't quite make out, possibly an unusual manifestation of vetiver. There's some smoke, and it smells like candle-smoke to me. I know it's meant to evoke a campfire, but the presence of wax and the relatively lighter quality of the smoke lead me to candles. About twenty minutes after I apply this, the vetiver takes its place as the most prominent note. It's woody and slightly creamy, maybe due to the subdued sweetness of the honey note that dances around its edges. This fragrance is extraordinarily well-blended, as far as my inexperienced nose can tell. I really, really like it! It's not as dark or aggressive as many of my favourite scents (amusing, given its name), but it's not completely devoid of bite - I think the smoke accounts for most of this. It's a great middle ground that does have a distinctly medieval feel to it. This also seems like a natural scent, as if I'd picked up these smells from the environment rather than by putting on a fragrance. Holy cannoli, the longevity of this fragrance is amazing. My skin 'eats' perfume, but this actually stayed on overnight.

This knight is a dying old man who hasn't changed his clothes in a long time. Sometimes I have a strangely strong association with funerals and corpses, sometimes with the smell of a nursing home. Other times I smell an expensive leather couch or a leather seat on a luxury car. The perfume goes through many phases, undergoes constant development and changes like a kaleidoscope. From an artistic point of view, it is a masterpiece, but it is not for everyone. When I wear it, no one is indifferent, but the reactions are very polarized. I get comments from "you smell like my 80 year old grandfather's stuffy room" to "interesting, you smell kind of weirdly sexy". I have a lot of respect for Francesca Bianchi's work, there is a repeating DNA in her perfumes, but I think it's about time and she needs to break out of the stereotype of the main ingredients she uses in almost all her perfumes, and which form this recognizable DNA. It will be a big challenge for her, but I believe it will give a new and more diverse direction to her future creations. Otherwise, all her perfumes will start to revolve and repeat around the same theme, with a slight change in focus and proportions of ingredients, but with the same core, which will inevitably lead to boredom.

Been trying a sample of this and it's definitely going on the "want" list. The Black Knight in question definitely seems on the chivalrous end of the spectrum. There's a strong leather accord that conjures up horses, but this is no blood 'n guts, testosterone driven beast. Think rather of courtly love. If anything, it smells less like the knight himself and more like what a fair damsel's handkerchief tied to his lance might smell like after her paladin returns it to her after victorious competing for her honour in the joust. The medieval references are spot on. The woody, leather backbone and sweeter notes like honey and beeswax conjure up the warming smells you might expect to waft through a castle, at least a cleaner castle. And the green and floral notes too have something ancient about them, the smell of posies of fragrant herbs and flowers laid between folded tapestries unleashed as they are removed from heavy wooden chests to bedeck the great hall for some celebration of feast. While my instinct is that the deep, powdery notes may not work as well in very hot weather, it's pretty much an all-year-round fragrance and particularly good for making a mysterious, understated entrance for smart occasions.

i don't know where to start off, to be quite honest. it's just incredible. reading the reviews of this i expected to be slapped across the face by an unforgiving, car interior-type leather scent so insecure in its own masculinity it turns flat and monotone. but what can i say? it's just stunning. it is smooth, incredibly smooth, powdery, intense, and medieval. around the hour-hour and a half mark i start picking up on the vetiver and it gets more medicinal - i like to think that it is like a salve a knight would put on an injury. incredibly gorgeous, strong, and evocative scent. a girl told me i smell like a church, and another like fairy dust. someone also told me the scent wafting off of me is so heavy that they thought someone had lit an incense stick, and yet that it wasn't overwhelming or annoying. this is why it's so good. it's strong ( which i do consider to be value for money, diptyque take notes ), but it doesn't have a note that's intense, penetrative, jarring - just a smooth and beautiful profile, rife with honeyed leather and orris butter. i like this with combat boots on and a trench coat.

The Black Knight envisions a setting surrounding an Italian mercenary captain of the Medici family during the Renaissance, picturing his military camp in the low light of the evening, pondering about what the day ahead might bring - death or glory? At the centre of the composition is leather, complimented of course by a dense powdery orris and oakmoss which represents the dusty thick smells of of leather horse tacks. To contrast, patchouli, cedarwood and Vetiver take shape to give the impression of a gently burning campfire nearby, without being overtly smoky or off-putting. Finally, a subtle honeyed sweetness of nearby shrubs, emanating their aromatic glory in the humidity of an Italian night. All of this combined creates the most serene picture, yet the vulnerability of the night comes out with a hefty dose of cumin. It’s utterly glorious, one of the bolder leather scents Francesca has made. It took some time for me to form a proper relationship with this scent but the imagery was there right from the initial spray - this scent really takes you on a journey and it’s done to perfection.

Bianchi's Black Knight is not the typical story of valor and bloodshed, rather the intimate moments in between brawn and brutality. This is the knight in repose. The relaxed arm that was once coiled to strike, the tired head at rest. An oiled linen bedroll that lays on the cool dewey earth retains the comforting smell of the knights sweat and heat, a temporary ghost unable to reanimate itself without the charge of its breathing beast - asleep with a bit of honeycomb left in the teeth, dirt under nails, smoldering embers in morning light. Adjacent to temporary serenity there is a reminder of impending duty, terror, and sorrow. Reeling under the surface is the tremendous weight of preemptive heartbreak, and the prayer that his strength will be enough for him to return once again and rest beside you. “Please bring him back safely and let him leave his ferocity behind. Return to me a measured man full of wise heartache, fleeing his howling momentum and unbound from the crack of skull and mace. Deliver him to me so that I may exercise devotion tenfold the volume of his upheaval.”