Lampblack

Lampblack fulfils it's promise of light vs. dark in some style, it feels like a dark rubbery mutant solid heart surrounded by kaleidoscopic orbiting gasses and sparkling motes of light. As deadidol mentions it definitely has a CdG synthetic feel, but with some meat added to the bones, the vetiver and opening citric notes adding a natural comfort that only seems to further highlight the alien futuretech synths. The dark side also hides some delightful associations and surprises (more of that later). What's remarkable is the fact that the sparkling thin gassy grapefruit accord maintains itself to the close, maintaining the light vs dark dance for the full duration, I've no idea what synthetic molecule achieves this but it works wonderfully here, it reminds me a little of nu_be Sulphur in this respect but applied in an even more successful way. CdG lovers I would be awfully surprised if you didn't wet yourself over this. Lampblack opens with a lifelike citrus grapefruit, with a little sparkle. Shortly after an accurate ink note joins and these two sides define the opening stage. The transition to the heart seems to strip back the grapefruit to a thinner more persistent synthy note, and the ink note morphs slightly, now exhibiting a light rubbery facet. The combination can come off a little sweaty, not a cumin BO sweat, but more the slightly sharp smell of sweat breaking through an anti-perspirant. There is also a de-rooted vetiver (ala VE) and some kind of musk that seems to add a compliant solidity to the heart underneath the swirling mid to high notes, this identifies a little like toasted circuit board lurking around. As Lampblack moves to the drydown the earlier accords remain in an attenuated state and a plumy berried note is added. The effect of this is to add a very slight nauseousness on the periphery that reminds me of the ghostlike form of cyborg wet dog. From there it looses the berry notes first, then the darkest rubber and fades to a close with grey vetiver and the radiant grapefruit synth sparkle. I know I've mentioned some odd concepts above but it's what I'm feeling, but in no way does it come across in a nasty or skanky way, it's more of a artificial digital fascimile of an organic impression. It isn't a beast in strength or projection, but seems to have a pronounced radiance much in the spirit of Timbuktu, and longevity seems good at 8-10 hours. 4.5/5

Respectfully, I couldn’t disagree more with the previous reviewer who says this scent is nothing new and has pretty poor performance; I think if this scent is not exactly like anything else, yet has familiar characteristics, then that itself makes it something new and interesting. Familiarity can be a good thing. In fact, I always get compliments when I wear it (just 1 spray) and it lasts for hours on me with good projection. Of course perfume can behave differently from person to person, which I think a lot of reviewers don’t keep in mind.. Also, while I wouldn’t consider this a minimalist perfume (though I guess you could), I think minimalist scents ABSOLUTELY belong in perfumery. There’s still an art to it. I don’t judge a perfume by how complex it is anyway; I judge it by its wearability and how often I want to wear it. I keep coming back to this one, which is a testament to its overall effect. Luca Turin, one of the most respected perfume critics, wrote that Lampblack is “...stylish and salubrious,” and I definitely agree, even if scent is highly subjective. Also, $125 for a bottle is not necessarily expensive for the concentration and quality you’re getting, imo. Many perfume extraits and oils go for way more. If you compare this to a more cheaply made perfume, of course it’s going to seem very pricey. Samples are always a great option...Anyway, this scent is DOPE. EDIT: To any reviewers I disagree with, I still respect your opinion. And this is mine. Btw, I’m pretty sure this is not an eau de cologne.

The zip of freshly rolled ink on a brayer; wood and paper pressed together with giant steel rollers; the faint whiff of deodorant as the printmaker bends over the press with a block in their ink stained hands. Sunshine streaming through an open window as motes of sawdust catch the light; that same sunshine bathing a new print, drying on a rack just out of the way. Lampblack, oh my god, Lampblack. I bought a sample, intrigued by descriptions of it smelling like printmaking, but without high expectations as I'm a wood block printmaker myself, and figured it would just smell like people imagined printmaking must smell like, and not the actual thing. It smells exactly like the actual thing. From the nagarmotha lending the scent of freshly carved wood and freshly torn paper, to inky notes that couldn't be any more accurate, to the citrus and spice reminiscent of a clean studio and a clean body, this scent is a work of artistic genius, and an incredible tribute to wood block printing and printmakers themselves. This will be the first scent that I buy as a full sized bottle, and I already know I will return to it often. Additionally, this scent works very harmoniously with my go to deodorant (Old Spice Captain) and my usual working hands lotion (a homemade blend with calendula, geranium, and wild orange), it's the first scent I've tried that I don't need to wait until my other scents fade some before applying.

Well this fragrance caught me a little off guard but in a such a good way. This Smokey vetiver, citrus concoction has my immediate attention from the first spritz. I can see the CDG interpretations that come to mind in other reviewers thoughts but to me stands alone in it's dark yet tame delivery.To gain a better understanding about what Bruno was trying to achieve in this unique offering I had to understand the title "Lampblack" which I was told represents the pigment of Indian Ink. I remember in my Grammar School days with pen,ink and blotting paper those odors immediately came to mind. But this masterpiece is so much more than that smell with it's subtle nuances. A relative newcomer to the fragrance industry I can see Bruno's artistic talent in this genre by his devotion to detail and yes you can be one with the progression of notes weaving their way and encompassing you in a trance. I think with that in mind Luca Turin has become a fan of this presentation giving a more than a respectable 4 out of 5. A winner indeed. This is one you will be enthralled to enjoy. 9/10

Previous reviews are right, this isn't, per se, anything terribly new or unique, I can think of at least half a dozen scents with very similar notes. But for me it's the most exact and evocative ink scent I've encountered - the precise smell of my art studio in college, a thing I hadn't smelled in years. Wet india ink and thin textured sketch paper, a creaky old wooden easel with rusty hinges, charcoal you've accidentally wiped across your cheek, pencil shavings and those moldable rubber erasers, your nose pressed against the textbook, bitter linseed from oil paint and the plaster of someone else's sculpture drying across the room but when you're next to an open window and it's late May and you can smell cut grass and hot tarmac and fresh air outside. I love this. I can't even be bothered to try to tear apart the notes because it's such an intense memory scent for me that I don't want to complicate it. Plenty of CDG perfumes are similar and Andreea Maack's "Coal" is very close and IMO a lot more wearable, but I love Lampblack so much more.

Wow! Lampblack certainly grabbed my attention with it's dirty, boozy (make that petroleum) like introduction. There's a sharpness there from the citrus but a dirty coal smell starting to develop which is perfect considering the name. Just to say I haven't sampled anything from Bruno Fazzolari to date but I'm drawn to fragrances with names like Lampblack & Room 237 (anything that references The Shining has to be worth a sniff right?) So top marks for creating intrigue before I've even sampled them. As it settles down on my skin it's all about that Cypriol oil adding a spicy earth to proceedings. However, the further drydown is lighter on it's feet and I can actually smell the grapefruit now and what is more of a vetiver sort of vibe. Interesting stuff, I thought it was going to be hellishly strong after that opening but is actually quite disappointing. I love the way in which it has mellowed now. So a really good scent then but I feel it will be one to divide fragrance fans.

Lampblack does what it sets out to do so well, that I dare call it perfect. I have absolutely no gripes with it's execution. It is, by all means, the perfected version of a wearable inky facsimile fragrance. From the moment I smelled it, I knew I had to get a bottle. Lampblack is the poster child of niche done right. Anyone who dares to claim that niche fragrances are too gimmick heavy, or value concept over execution/wearability should be forcibly gifted a sample of Lampblack. Boiling this fragrance into a note breakdown is a bit of a disservice. While my nose clearly makes out grapefruit, vetiver, quite a bit of pepper, and some other subtleties, it does not smell like a jumble of notes. Each is so expertly implemented that it jives into a beautiful perfectly bitter yet fresh woody ink aroma. Can't really recommend it enough, totally deserving of the praise it receives. 9/10

impressive resemblance to an actual print shop. litho ink, darkroom, rosin, pulling silk screens, plywood floors, metal drying racks. leans masculine, but in a nuanced way. barbershop, garage, well-oiled machine, tar, dry heat. smells like a life dedicated to analog crafts. starts off incredibly intense, dark, and luminous, yet it carries this airy, effervescent, green, zippy quality from the grapefruit and pepper notes. mellows very slightly in the dry down when the woody notes come forward, but i find that it remains intense throughout the entire duration of wear. i was hoping for a little bit more ashiness and smoke. i am new to fragrance, and this is so exciting to me. such a comforting fragrance as someone who studied printmaking, and i can't wait to wear this all fall and winter long. would loooove to find a comparable home fragrance/candle/incense situation.

"Lampblack" is fantastically vibrant and modern vetiver. It opens with a sting of tart grapefruit, then a dry, smoky cypriol and pepper which instantly gives things a distinct woodshop feel; wet paint, sanded work counters and charcoal. The orange and benzoin inject enough mellow, juicy sweetness to balance and cushion the more bitter, smokier aspects of the composition, allowing it to remain fresh and youthful smelling. The overall effect, for me, conjures up memories of taking life drawing classes in a student workshop at college, inhaling the scent of warm redolent wood furniture, varnish, paint cans, graphite pencils and tinges of Tutti-Frutti bubble gum. I listen to a lot of Jazz hop (chilled out instrumental hip hop with jazz sampling -check out artists like "Nujabes" for reference). I feel that "Lampblack" is the olfactory embodiment of that music.

This week has been my week for sampling three fragrances from Fzotic, the house created by Bruno Fazzolini. (For some reason Fragrantica does not have "Fzotic" on its searchable list). I tried Zdravetz, Room 237 and now Lampblack. I guess the creator specializes in associating his scents with bizarre, gothic, industrial and chemical things. Lampblack "is pigment and the smell of ink" he says. But I don't detect those in this fragrance. Instead, I find this one is bright, spicy, vetiverian. There is a peppery and citrusy tanginess to the parfum which awakens me and makes me feel happy and alive. There is a spiciness that is counteracted by the pungently bracing citruses in here and underneath it all the vetiver which adds a note of class to the composition. I would wear during the day, perhaps to an office if I worked there.

this is god damn glorious; a perfect example of materials cohering seamlessly to exceed the sum of their parts. attempting a note breakdown to explain the effect of this fragrance is completely redundant. the overall impression I get from this fragrance is that of a smouldering sunset refracted through smog to produce otherwordly color, a seething, post-apocalyptic aura. there is vestiges of vintage, gasoline-addled masculines in Lampblack, but the touch is more of a nice homage than a replication and is ingeniously offset by the sharp, uncanny grapefruit-cypriol effect. In this sense, Lampblack merges past with future until they're no longer points of reference; the organic and synthetic until they're almost indistinguishable... I'm just glad this exists.

This is a high-contrast, angular oddball: equal parts smoky and resinous and green. It’s a pick-me-up and also a comforting layer of protection: dark yet airy, like fragrant soot or a silk screen printing machine. The woods here are dry, sour and rubbery. The citrus is bitter. The benzoin brings charm and rounds it out beautifully. Lampblack was my introduction to nagarmotha (cypriol oil), and it’s a super clever deployment. It communicates ink pigments and smoky tar while somehow remaining sheer. To me, this is a better, more original rendition of vetiver than Vetiverissimo, also by Fazzolari. The overall effect is bold and industrial, but on my skin it also has a subtle black-leathery aspect. This ambiguity makes it sexy as hell.

Its opening is jarring, like getting slapped in the face with a gasoline soaked newspaper. It then dries down into a peppery grapefruit with a subtle hint of that smell of old computer parts from the 80s. It is not a friendly or casual scent, but I'm fucking obsessed with it. I wear it on occasion and it stays on for hours. Perfect for goth night at the local dive bar if you are into that. CAUTION: do not blind buy this. But definitely get a sample. Fzotic stuff is significantly more expensive than it should be, but I will have a bottle of this around for the rest of my life. (also if anyone finds a cheaper alternative to this scent please let us know)

I love the opening, but the tar scent that I love about it doesn’t last on my skin for more than an hour. I could spray this all day just to get that opening, but that’s just unrealistic. It is love, but the performance needs more. BUT, other reviewers have stated the opposite of the performance, so it might come down to my skin chemistry. I am basing this off only the Lucky Scent sample, so I might want to try applying it through spray to see if I get better results. I am hoping that that’s the issue, because I do love this scent. And, regardless, I will be adding this to my collection - it is a must have.

This is another incredible fragrance from FZOTIC that wears like a true olfactory art piece. Lampblack feels nostalgic for a time when handwritten letters and printing presses were a central part of life. It’s pitch black, inky, smoky, a bit oily and tar-like, but also comforting and bookish with the vetiver. I think it nails the photorealistic art-studio concept, but also reminds me of stepping into an old-school bicycle repair shop. Alluring, refined, super handsome, and I can viscerally feel how much love has gone into crafting this.

Lampblack is so fabulous, so good that had it been a mainstream release from say Dior or Cartier, it would be as sought after as Bulgari Black once was. Just the right balance of refined and novel: citrus and newsprint that goes on and on in a variety of effect-creating ingredient combinations, always flawlessly on key and keeping the theme going. My favorite of BF along with Vetiverissimo, both beautiful twists on vetiver (and I don’t even usually like vetiver).

I first heard about this from on Michael Malice's show "Your Welcome". I always liked the smell of ink and when he explained Bruno Fazzolari produced a fragrance that attempted to produce the smell of ink I had to try it. I bought the Portfolio set offered on the website and I really enjoy Lampblack. It smells like a strong India ink and vetiver. The other scents really make this a great fragrance and is one of my favorites from Bruno Fazzolari.

Wow this is nice! I get that ink vibe but it's so much more than that. Very well done & absolutely gorgeous. This is a winner for sure... that citrus twang surrounded by the vetiver sets this a part from anything I've ever smelled before. This is my second from this house & it's definitely my favorite this far. Longevity is a perfect 6+ hours & the projection is a good 5 feet... GET YOUR NOSE ON THIS ONE!

this is a perfect example of how varied people's experiences with fragrance can be. my impressions couldn't be further from the person below! this is a heavy, incensey, woody perfume, perfect for a bitter cold night walking around the city. 1 spray is enough, two is pushing it. i think it would be suffocating in warm weather. definitely get a strong, mysterious feeling from this!

Undoubtedly Bruno’s best work.... I find this just delivers in every sense of its concept. This is like the indie version of encre noir with sparkly grapefruit and a cleaner and more versatile vetiver. No cashmeran bomb here like encre noir. Just really high quality natural-ingredients. This fragrance also happens to be a beast!