Isabey Lys Noir

Hmmm...this is nice but the whole time I was testing it, I couldn't help thinking it really smells like *something* else, but I couldn't put my finger on it. I was thinking maybe just Isabey fragrances in general, since Isabey definitely uses a common base in all of their perfumes and it's especially strong here, as if this entire composition is essentially an amplification of their base (think of guerlinade, and how L'heure Bleu is particularly heavy on it, a fragrance build entirely upon Guerlain's signature base-this is Isabey's LHB) and then I checked this page and oh my god, in the "smells like" section, there it is! Fiore del Dragone! Yep, that's what this smells like. If you've tried FDD, you'll know that it has whispers of Dior Hypnotic Poison, but overall is very much its own fragrance. Well this is exactly like FDD but where the Hypnotic Poison aspects are replaced by that signature Isabey base, making this somewhat similar to HP as well, but by no means a dupe. This, and FDD, are more like an exploration of HP's white floral side, if we're to compare them, whereas HP's almond cookie facets are showcased in perfumes like Profumum Roma Conafetto-similar to HP but in a totally different way, so Lys Nocturne and Conafetto don't smell alike but share a similar cousin/ancestor in HP, if that makes sense. Sorry to ramble, I just find families of "dupes" that explore different facets of a certain fragrance/style of fragrance very interesting. I think HP is special because it marries the gourmand and white floral sides, whereas most similar perfumes focus on one or the other mainly. Back to FDD, well this is a lot nicer than FDD in my opinion. Although they are VERY similar, this smells like its much more expensive (which it is) and made of quality materials, FDD unfortunately has too much of a synthetic chemical vibe to me, so if I wanted this scent, I'd definitely choose Lys Noir. Still, I think my favorite almondy white floral perfume remains SL Datura Noir, it's the roughest around the edges which is precisely what I love about it. This one is *very* smooth, *very* round, and pretty lactonic. Those traits will make it loved by many, but I prefer scents that are less smooth and creamy and rather sharper and more in your face. But it's well done. It's so smooth and round that I don't really smell any of its notes individually as much as I smell the whole composition-a creamy, sweet, very slighly powdery, soft tropical white floral. And I agree with a reviewer who said that this smells much more tropical than it does "noir", it really is a tropical beauty. One last fragrance I'll compare it to, Keiko Mecheri Datura Blanche-it shares a lot of DNA with that one as well. If soft tropical gourmandish white florals are your thing (ie. you like HP, FDD, datura noir or datura blanche) give this one a go.

This is a very pretty scent but it does not strike me as particularly dark, nor is the lily very detectable, so I find the name something of a misnomer. This goes on very smooth, creamy, I am unsure why but it makes me think of the kind of thick yellow custard used in those iced vanilla slices, that particular shade of creamy yellow. Heliotrope and Tuberose are by far the most dominant notes, in honesty I wouldn't have said there was lily in this if I didn't know. The tuberose here is not at all animalic or indolic it is tamed, domesticated - a fluffy white kitten rather than a roaring tiger - and very very creamy, the heliotrope works beautifully to complement this creaminess and plays more to its powdery nuances than to an almond or cherry note. The narcissus adds to the slight sweetness, and again reinforces the yellow softness. The sandalwood is also soft, an unseen support rather than a note of itself, but again lending to this creamy yellow softenss. Did I mention it is creamy? Or soft?! I suppose the softness of the lily makes this a lily scent more in the style of Baiser Vole or Lys Carmin - very soft and gentle, rather than the bolder and raunchier lily scents such as Lys Fume, Shanghai Lily and Alameda and it is a world away from heavier scents like Gilded Lily. In the opening stages this reminded me of a Guerlain scent - that is a complement. I would have been tempted to say this contained coconut, but I think it is the interplay between the heliotrope and tuberose. It reminded me of Datura Noir (another really-not-noir noir perfume!). in the heart the lily makes itself known, very shyly. I perceive absolutely zero pepper at all, thankfully, as I cannot imagine it working in this mix. All in all this is a beautiful scent, and one I would like to get to know better. Very feminine, soft, calm, beautiful, this makes me feel like I should be one of those impossibly beautiful women in lifestyle magazines, sitting in my impractical for real life designer barn conversion replete with overstuffed beige suede sofa, natural toned carpets and white painted walls, my real sheepskin slippers on my sockless feet as I sit sipping a cocoa and gazing dreamily into the middle distance. I like it.

Black Orchid had a baby and named her Lys Noir :) Lys Noir is definitely the progeny of Black Orchid. It's quite a bit softer, lacking the aggression and compelling nature of Black Orchid. As a point of comparison, Ford’s Black Orchid is a loud roaring tiger, threatening to pounce with every spray. Lys Noir, on the other (more cautious) hand is a purring black kitten curled on your lap. She’s still dark, warranting the Noir name, but just barely. That being said, it still works for me. The reason it works? The floral and woody notes! Florals–They’re central in this creation. You’ll smell an impressive lily note here, but it’s not the only prominent floral. A creamy tuberose is also present and surprisingly, it doesn’t overwhelm the other florals as tuberose is often prone to do. Heliotrope comes later but it’s not nearly as robust as lily and tuberose, but you won’t mistake its slightly sweet floral infusion to the bouquet.. Narcissus doesn’t play a role at all, but gardenia makes an appearance. Isabey excels at gardenia. Woods–Lys Noir is about ebony wood note. Sandalwood is present, but it is not what gives this composition expression. Lys Noir finds its voice through its lovely lily, tuberose and the use of a darker more interesting wood note. I love that the ebony feels darkish here but resists being bitter or too masculine in the way the inclusion of darker woods can present. Top spice is black pepper and an unlisted cinnamon. I also smell a sweet coconut on top, which is an interesting choice. Base patchouli gives weight to the bottom, further grounding the lingering florals and ebony. Musk goes without notice. Noteworthy lily, tuberose, dark woods, patchouli The nod to Black Orchid, DNA doesn’t lie. Lys Noir is definitely a descendant ;)

This is a surprisingly beautiful fragrance, from someone who typically does not like lily fragrances. On my skin the tuberose is a little more amplified, but beautifully blended with Heliotrope and a slight green freshness from the narcissus, with the wonderful woody base notes underlying. The is definitely a slight “noir” vibe about it giving it interest and a slight edge. Just wonderful! Would consider a full bottle at the right price as it is a strong like but not enough of a love to wear it often enough. EDIT - although there is a distinct lack of lily, this kind of reminds me of both Trussardi Pure Jasmine and also Nishane Hundred Silent Ways. I own both of these and don’t really feel the need to add a lily-version of this scent profile to my collection.

I received a compliment for Lys Noir by Isabey. Yay! It's not a super huge projector, but definitely the person sitting next to you will get a definite whiff of the fragrance. The pepper is very present in the opening and then it quickly mellows out to the floral notes by the 1.5 hour mark. I can't distinguish between narcissus, heliotrope or rose. That said it does have a pronounced powdery delivery. By the 3 hour mark there's a soft sweetness in the drydown. It's a sophisticated lady rather than femme fatale vibe. This would be perfect for a cocktail or fancy evening event. I'm so glad I picked up this perfume. It's the perfect fragrance for an elegant occasion. It's a bit strong so I would stick to wearing this in the evening.

One of my favorites - my mother picked up a bottle for me when meeting with a perfumer in Paris, who chose it based on a photo of me. It's rich and heady - deeply floral and unconventionally sexy - I always feel magnetic and mysterious in it. The lily and tuberose have a creamy sweetness that I can't get enough of, while the woody base notes keep it grounded without going to powder. It's powerful - one or two sprays is plenty. It's perfect for cool special evenings, but I really I love to wear it counterintuitively on on hot days.

This is so beautiful, Tuberose, Lily and Narcissus together and it works! It's heavenly! For me it's creamy and Tuberose and Heliotrope are the more dominant notes on me and I find it a very wearable day time scent, not what I would describe as "Noir" but beautiful and elegant none the less. My little boy sat next to me when I was wearing this and said " mmmmm mummy you smell nice", one for the memory bank :)

Gorgeous, Fresh Lilly in spring. No offense. Not even remotely close to TFBO.

This is a beautiful and bright happy lily. Very elegant. No darkness here.

This is a nice perfume, but it isn't my absolute favorite and I am not getting a whole lot of lily here. Just touches of it, honestly. Heliotrope is what I smell the most of, followed by the ebony wood and then the patchouli. I smell a good wollop of pepper at the beginning too, which is honestly too much for me and sometimes makes me sneeze. I wish that there was no pepper and no patchouli and that the ebony wood was dialed down a bit, with more lily added in this fragrance. It is also slightly too strong for my tastes. I would wear it if someone bought it for me though, but with a light hand and only during night in the fall/winter season. It would be too much for spring or summer and during the day. Having said that though, it is quite a long-lasting fragrance and it definitely projects. It kept on going for about 10 or so hours on my skin before it dissappeared completely and so I think that it is definitely worth the money if you are into this sort of fragrance. Lys Noir kind of reminds me of Omnia Amethyste, but with a more woody/peppery/dark vibe and not as sweet. I think I prefer Omnia Amethyste because of that, but I am just that sort of girl. All in all, I'd give this fragrance a 7/10. Nice, but not absolutely amazing and something I think women should wear with a light finger.

I wasn't in love with the opening, from which I detected strong notes of soapy floral coconut (though coconut isn't listed I'm certain it's there). The floral and slightly spicy elements soon kick in after ten minutes though, and the dry-down to my nose is mostly about a peppered tuberose with velvety underlying sandalwood and earthy patchouli. I don't get much lily from this (to me it appears as a slightly soapy edge in this perfume, which fades into drydown), and that's no surprise with strong notes like patchouli and tuberose in the mix. Before the spicier woody elements develop, this actually reminded me of Bath and Body Works Velvet Tuberose, i.e. there's a fruity dark aspect that's softened by sandalwood, but where Velvet Tuberose dries down to a cheaper, less complex effect, Lys Noir becomes a bit deeper and warmer, with earthy patchouli. I can see why it's described as a sexy femme fatale, but to me it speaks more of an unrestrained, fun loving party girl really. I don't find it intriguing or elegant. Good longevity and sillage

LYS NOIR was so strong on me! Unfortunately I couldn't get past the accord of moldy musk! Oh boy how unpleasant it became at some points! I could appreciate the initial sweetness of flowers, but the sweet syrup scent of heliotrope + the moldy musk was just a little bit too much for me to bear, so if 'mold' does become a problem for you, be cautious when trying LYS NOIR. It does drydown to a very nice fragrance, very feminine, creamy and almost milky. I did get the "noir" part at the strong opening, but drydown is very mild and easy to wear. Longevity was excellent some 7 hours and it did project strong for at least good 6 hours which is excellent. LYS NOIR is something I would suggest to try. I did tremendously enjoy the ending of this journey, but the first 3 hours and the moldyness...was just too much.

The main overall note for me on this one is heliotrope, which is not one of my favorite floral scents, especially since I'm fond of lily and was going for that as a main note in a scent. I also get some tuberose that is dominant. Very sweet, silky, very mild powder, ethereal are more words that come to mind on this rather than something called "noir." If I were to purchase this, which I don't think I will, I would wear this in the spring and early summer. It almost reminds me of Guerlain's Apres L'Ondee, but is much less moody and even more delicate and spring-like. The wood base is very, very mild. A very tame Floriental that is attractive and feminine but not a knockout for me.

Like others have mentioned, the "noir" part of the name doesn't make much sense. This perfume is slightly sweet and light, characteristics one does not associate with darkness. The most prominent notes are heliotrope, sandalwood, and ebony. The floral notes are barely detectable, with the tuberose being a bit more noticeable than the lily. It's definitely a feminine scent, but in a youthful, carefree way. Appropriate for someone in their mid20s and up. Perfect for a night out in the town. Moderate sillage, and moderate longevity, about 5 hours on my skin. I like it, but not enough to pay for a full bottle.

Dark and seductive notes of white flowers, narcissus, tuberose, lily with a very dense mix of sweet amber and patchouli. The patch and spices are very elegant, nothing vulgar here. Very strong sillage and great longevity, expensive smelling cloud. However, this is not very original. I have Velvet Orchid Lumiere by TF, and they both are very, very similar. At least on my skin. Beautiful scent but if you have Velvet Orchid Lumiere, probably don't need it Lys Noir. Sample it first!

I have a decant from Luckyscent, it's nice! Super buttery, warm floral that definitely has an old money Grande Dame vibe. I get loads of white flowers and woods after the brief hit of black pepper, then later the dry down is still very warm and slightly funky (must be the tuberose). I don’t feel woman enough to pull it off tbh, it’s heady stuff, but I’m definitely holding on to my decant for when I’m feeling opulent

This seems more tropical than dark. Coconut, lily and heliotrope are strongest to me. It's slightly peppery but fleetingly so. The drydown smells like old fashioned cream soda when I've been wearing it a couple hours. It's nice enough just not a love.

Lys Noir is nothing at all like I was expecting it to be. Upon first sniff I get a black pepper note but it is very mild. But what really surprised me about this perfume is how freaking sweet it is. I was expecting more of a vintage vibe and what I am getting is a sugary floral that should be marketed towards teenagers, not someone in my age group, which is more mature. I get no lily whatsoever and I'm not getting a whole lot of tuberoses either. This perfume for me is a vanilla, heliotrope, almond and sugary bomb w/ a hint of greenness and mild black pepper. And how do I know for sure there isn't a whole lot of tuberose w/ this perfume? My husband hates tuberose is very sensitive to the smell of it, and he said oh I don't hate this. It is very sweet. The vanilla in here I will say is high quality so if you are vanilla lover, you should check Lys Noir, because I really think this is a heavy on the vanilla and light on the florals type of floral perfume. This is one of my least favorite of the line. Tender Nuit was the worst. Lys Noir is Very, very vanilla heavy w/ a mild warm spiciness, floral perfume. I was just expecting more. It isn't as seductive as I thought it would be. Smells almost like a vanilla cream soda. Edit: I know vanilla isn't listed here but I smell it all the same. This is only slightly woody for me. Another overly sweet vanillic white floral and the market is flooded w/ those. For this price point I could get something else close to this and it would be half the price.

Isabey Lys Noir by Isabey is a tuberose fragrance that fully embraces a bubblegum character. It's a suitable choice for those who appreciate this particular facet of tuberose. While it may not align with my personal preferences, I can acknowledge and appreciate its quality.

Honestly I get way more Heliotrope than Lily from this scent, it's pretty soft and powdery but overall I'm a little underwhelmed. I would say that it is ok.