Cuir Noir

Leather, Rose, & Violets. This is one of the sweetest & gentle takes on leather. Cuir Noir (CN) is dominated by a very sweet, but not cloying, rosey vanilla scent. Almost like a sweet rose drink: floral, creamy, sweet. That sweet rosey smell is made powdery with soft sandalwood. Then the scent is Arab-icized with woody notes (oud, supposedly). The benzoin enhances the sweet vanilla facet of the scent. There is very light spiciness to liven up the scent. Finally, very late in the dry down you get some incensy leather. Soft, powdery, rosey, vanilla, very sweet, leathery. I like this fragrance but the leather does take its time to come out. Also, the oud is barely there, just to Orientalize the scent than be detectable as a note. You really can not trust Fragrantica votes when it comes to oud. CN is sweet, rosey, & powdery. That powdery accord is very reminiscent of violets' floral powderiness. CN is a still is a good fragrance but the name "Black Leather" is misleading: the leather is a second to the sweet vanilla and rose, & there is nothing black about CN's sweet roses. In fact, gourmand lovers are likely to love this. There is no wonder it is voted to smell like Elie Saab's "Cuir Bourbon". I haven't smelled Saab's but looking at it notes, CN can easily have the exact same 4 notes. Unisex, leans feminine with its sweetness. Suitable for cool weather. "Like"

Starts off straight up leather mixed with slightly medicinal dirty oud. I’m a big oud fan, so I really like this. It’s a little rough around the edges and I mean that is a good way, it’s smoky and dark, the way a true oud should be. It softens downs nicely and becomes slightly sweeter, at least on my skin. This is when the rose and vanilla come to the surface. Not obviously sweet, but sweet in a dry, nutmegy spicy way. Finally the wood notes come out in the dry down giving this a soft, natural and slightly musky finish. This stuff is pricey and I bought blind because I saw a deal on eBay I couldn’t pass up. I paid just enough to take a gamble, thinking if I hate I’ll just sell it to someone...long story short, I really really like this. It’s got a definite expensive high quality air about it, total sophistication and elegance from beginning to end of the dry down. Can be unisex, but veers more to the masculine side for me. Only flaw is the longevity. It’s not as horrible as some reviews say, but it’s got about 3-4 hour life span. Not a good fragrance to spray heavy either because the opening is so strong. Still, it’s a truly beautiful scent.

#1022 in my "Tour de Fragrance" I have so many woody leather scents, but as I was comparing them note-for-note with this I realized the notes this has that all my others lack are benzoin and vanilla, and it's quite a difference. Comparatively scents like Dior Homme, Afnan Rare Carbon, Rasasi Shurah, Shaghaf Oud Aswad, Lattafa Ra'ed Oud, Ford Ombre Leather, and I can name another dozen or more, all come off dry and arid compared to this. Fruitier leather scents don't have that issue, but I actually prefer not to have raspberry for instance as at times I find it nauseating. I think this scent is more likely to encourage intimacy than any other scent I have on the shelf as all the women I go out with are into vanilla. You could wear this to the office if you're involved with or trying to get involved with a co-worker, but I'd save it for date night. Otherwise if you're going to be in tight spaces with a non-partner I'd choose a different scent. This is long lasting, projects beyond arm's length. Pricey like the entire Prive line. For me, since I have them on hand, I'll layer Grand Soir and Ombre Leather and get pretty close to this.

At first when sprayed this had me excited a dank, mouldy Oud woodiness with almost sweet top notes that are perfectly complimentary. I thought this had the quality and balance of MFK Oud but sadly as it develops past the opening couple of minutes or so, it shows it's true colours. It's not bad as such but just very weak and longevity is poor. This is odd because I would've thought they'd use the same quality of Agarwood for all this collection (with the gold stoppers) and Oud royal is good and Myrrhe imperiale (although doesn't have Oud) is a favourite of mine. The leather in this is there but not very pleasant and luckily not very strong when it emerges, nor does it stick around for long. Cuir noir is certainly not smooth or luxurious and does evoke more of a rough tanning vibe which is supposed to be Armani's intention. This fragrance is not bad just lacking in originality and strength at this price point. The dry down is subtle but pleasant if you like Oud...That's all I can say really.

I am extremely sensitive to leather. So a perfume called “Cuir Noir” (Black Leather), you can imagine that I smelled it without much conviction. And big surprise; it is sublime. Here we are not dealing with an animal leather, nor dirty or invasive, but with a very soft, warm, attractive, sensual and comforting leather; we want to snuggle up close. For once, I agree with the appellation; It’s perfectly unisex. Cuir Noir is primarily a scent of leather, sandalwood and benzoin. This sandalwood/benzoin combination with its cocoa scent is delicious. After several days on textile (by the way, very good staying power - at least on fabric), I find it has a smoky smell. A wonder, a real crush. It's a shame that the price is so high because, as someone who doesn't usually like leather, I would have bought it straight away. In reality, I will never buy it...

I don't know if I am reviewing the same fragrance? The one I bought yesterday is phenomenal! It is sweetly mysterious. Not gourmand, but the opening does trigger visions of sugared brioche and other delectable creations in a French patisserie. Then the scent mellows into the most delightful incense. Smooth, rounded, bodied, blissful. Wow. I fell in love and bought a bottle immediately and I can't stop sniffing myself where I have sprayed this amazing scent. For me, this is the fragrance I have been searching for probably my whole life. It is like liquid poetry, telling the tale of Arabian nights. It is what I expected all other noir fragrances to be. Sophisticated. Mysterious. Alluring. Addictive. Makes me feel powerful. I'm sorry to all those people who aren't able to experience this enticing fragrance in all its glory.

Wow, this is really different than any other leather. I am extremely impressed by this mixture of leather, vanilla, sandalwood and guaiac wood. Is smells so pillow soft, and beautiful that this is the first time I've ever considered leather as almost a gourmand. This is addictive and extremely versatile. This is my favorite from the Armani Prive line. However, performance on this one SUCKS. I spray the hell out of this and carry a decant that quickly drains just like my wallet 😕 Scent 9/10 Performance 2/10 (very bad) P. S. Draws lots of compliments if that's something you're interested in. I've been told it smells expensive 😄

For the last year this has been my favorite scent, the one disappointment being that it fades so quickly. To me the coriander, leather, and vanilla are the most obvious impression, fading to vanilla and a hint of leather after an hour. The salesperson recommended this after I had already purchased Ombré Mercure...he thought I might be intrigued with the masculine leanings of Cuir Noir as well. I actually hesitated to buy such a non-feminine fragrance, but the test on my arm was all it took. Almost ready for a new bottle of this one.

By no means is Cuir Noir beast mode. Comparably, other leather scents tend to be extremely nuclear in its strength. However Cuir Noir lasts a long time. I’ve sprayed it on my coat and I still get warts of it three days later. Perhaps some people are going nose blind to this scent as it is a bit sweet and persistent. The smell also dries down to something that’s almost human skin like. A creamy suede... Which is why I enjoy this scent so much! It’d appeal to those that like gentle leathery musk scents like White Suede by Tom Ford

I went to Armani Boutique in Dubai with my mind set on Oud Royal as i had sniffed and really liked it and almost decided on buying the same then I tried Cuir Noir and i was blown away with it. Cuir noir is sexy Leather frag and it does the same thing to leather note as Tom ford NDN does to rose note which is it makes Leather very metro sexual Leather is soft and very wearable it projects for about 4 hours and longevity abot 6-8 hours I am very sure everyone will love its opening . I love this frag :) 8/10

My father used melted stannary and resin to glue together small metal parts of broken machines. I used to love to see how the metal melts and the resin melts and evaporates into a wonderful perfume. The melted resin is what this perfume reminds me of. It smells a little bit like a toned down incense blended with sandalwood and rose oil. It's a beautiful oriental, not as powerful as I would expect of it but is has good staying power. If only it were a little bit cheaper... :-

nonostante il nome rimandi ad un accordo cuoiato, io ci sento tutt'altro. ed è un tutt'altro che mi piace moltissimo. si tratta di un profumo molto mediorientale, con una prima fase di rosa e oud che rasenta il gourmand, grazie anche al benzoino che conferisce all'insieme un bel calore resinoso. col tempo si assesta su sentori assai simili al mio amato ameer al oud di lattafa (che è quasi medicinale) ma con un fondo più morbido di cuoio. molto bello!

A delicious smooth leather perfume with no harsh edges. This is ultra-refined and sophisticated. Like a leather scent for someone who don't like the animalic sharpness. It reads like 'White Suede' by Tom Ford, but even smoother and rounded. The scent also gently hovers around the wearer and it doesn't insult your nose. Just a soft cloud of yumminess. It lasts 24+ on me, in particular on clothes, you get wafts of it days later.

Okay brief re-review as I've started on my second sample. I pretty much agree with my original sentiments a great smelling, resiny, Oud opening, quite sweet actually, which matures to a rough leather and vanilla this could be so fantastic if only it lasted. I must say I'm really enjoying the second wear this sent is right up my street and I'd even put up with the longevity & projection issues if it was significantly cheaper.

Cuir Noir is a beautiful and elegant leather with a sweet oud background very well structured, with a marked European character, giving a refined and even magnetic sensation capable of catching you between your nets in a matter of minutes. Perfect and discreet to use during the day as it projects well without hazing. It is as if you smelled a nice portfolio of the best skin, yes, a little expensive. Rating: 8

Un parfum aux notes oriental, rêveur et chaleureux, le coté cuir mixer avec la vanille lui donne un aspect unique, une projection et fixation modérer, peut se fixer plus sur d'autres personne si jamais il en mettent un peu plus ( si vous êtes gourmand comme moi :) ) ressemble un peu a l'arabian oud Kalimat, juste que ce dernier se ressens plus noble en terme de valeur de composition... bonne expérience

A delicious and refined saffron suede like scent. It smells like skin but better, and has a velvety leather feel. Not a harsh or handbag like at all. Just soft suede like vanillic leather that floats like a veil. It doesn't project too far I don't think. But it does last over night and 12 hours+ on clothes. Highly recommended.

Very nice. Friend's comment: "You smell like baby powder!" Yes, but baby powder noir or baby powder intense. Reminiscent of L'Instant Magic but a touch darker and more floral. I was expecting something a little more dramatic. Lasting power not great.

This is one of the best beautiful blend of leather and vanilla with touch of agarwood...😌 Its so smoothly blend 👌🏻 perfect for winter with leather jacket and leather boots kind of vibe...😎👍🏼 Nathalie Lorson never failed to amazed us 💟

Sweet woody oud. So beautiful! Smells like sweet burned incense. Still however, the price is unjustified, just like the rest of Armani's Prive series. Such a shame really, & the lasting power makes it worse.