Encre Noire A L'Extreme

This is the third of five of my Encre Noir reviews. Encre Noir A L'Extreme is, like Encre Noir Sport, a variation on the original Encre Noir, managing to stay different enough to be really interesting but true enough to the original DNA to be identifiable as a member of the series. From the off, this was a bit more challenging than the original and the Sport version. On the testing strip it is harsh and very balsamic, and like the other other two I've reviewed only really comes alive on the skin after it starts to dry down, so you'll need to give this one a couple of minutes. When it does start to settle though the effect is dramatic. The smokiness from the nearly-burned sandalwood is heavy and immediately reminds me of Ebene Fume which is another one I enjoy and actually the comparisons to that fragrance are well made as there is a similar heart and feel here, but for 15% of the retail price. The classic EN inky vetiver is immediately recognisable here and runs through this fragrance from top to bottom like a mineral seam in a Klondike mine. It is more medicinal than the original and the Sport. It feels more ageless. The way it works off the sandalwood, itself not pure but smoky and aged, but a little burned as I mentioned, is absolutely brilliant. Star of the show here though for me is the very clever benzoin in the base and the incense in the heart, adding richness and just enough sweetness to stop this going too bitter from the vetiver and smoke. The orris is subtle but makes the incense and benzoin a little powdery which works incredibly well here. Again, it is really well balanced. I'm a big fan of Nathalie Lorson's work and this is every bit as good as the first two in the series, even if it has a much warmer feel. Is it less moody? Maybe, but certainly it retains the ageless, timeless feel of the original. I love how the vetiver and resinous accords work with the wood here. The smell all together evokes similar pictures that Ebene Fume does: log cabins, pristine wilderness, pine trees, plaid-shirt-boots-and-jeans, and cold, clean air. Performance is great - 7 hours give or take and it does project very nicely. As it dries down the smoke sits in balance with the resinous, woody, earthy, soily accords in a way that again does evoke Ebene Fume to me, the two smell quite similar to me. For me, this is the least unisex of the three I've tried so far and I struggle to imagine a woman wearing this. It is more linear than the first two. Like Ebene Fume, I really enjoy this one and love how it smells on my skin. In fact I would say I think this one has more complexity and "nose interest" than Ebene Fume. But, also like Ebene Fume I find its wearability a little limited as it isn't formal enough to wear to on formal occasions, not appealing/alluring enough to wear on a night out to the pub, but is too heavy and smoky to really carry it off in casual settings, so it sort of falls between the stones if that makes sense. I don't think that is a criticism. This is/was never going to be a mass market daily driver and nobody (?) is buying this bottle to do that. But, as another highly refined, niche quality study on vetiver and wood, it is outstanding. Encre Noir A L'Extreme is a respectable office wearer I would say, and would be a nice choice if you're going out for dinner as it is gentlemanly in the way it projects but has the staying power and richness you want. I reach for Ebene Fume for nights out but layer it with something that moves it sweeter (typically Myrrhe Mystere or Amber Intrigue) and I have a feeling both these would work amazingly well with Encre Noir A L'Extreme as well for the same reason, though I would use less of both. One spray only, Vasily. Three Word Summary: Woody, Vetiver Wildnerness Scent - 8/10 Sillage - 7/10 Drydown - 6/10 Bottle/packaging - 9/10 Performance - 8/10 38/50

I promise you, my original intention was to leave a bad review. I am, just now, reaching about nine months of purposely acquiring fragrances, as opposed to before, when I'd just so happen to make a fragrance purchase, once every 10 years or so. Lalique Encre Noire A L'Extreme was one of my very first purchases, probably because the price looked right, and,...can't imagine why else, but, it was a total blind buy, to say the least. I don't know what is the difference, then to now, but, I can say that, when I first tried it, Encre Noire A L'Extreme was offensively horrendous to me! I couldn't, for the life of me, comprehend that anyone would want to walk around smelling like that. As I do with all my fragrance purchases, I let it sit for a month, hoping that macerating might do it some good. No such luck, though. I tried it, was still disgusted about it, and, I put it away, unable to imagine any occasion that it might see the light of day again. Fast forward to today, and, I was going to write the negative review, get it out the way. I don't like being negative, so, it took me awhile to muster up the initiative to do the deed. Fortunately, though, being as I'm off today, and only around the house, I figured that I'd, at least, give it one last wearing, so that, while I'm writing the negative review, my thoughts would be fresh. Suddenly, I GET IT! And, not a moment too soon, either! Six, seven month later, MANY purchases later, middle of summer even (but, inside, air-conditioning). But, I finally get it. And, I don't know what it is: was my nose too inexperienced, did anything about the fragrance change, do the substantially-warmer circumstances play any part...? Instead of the off-putting inky smell, I'm now getting the woods, which, for whatever reason, have a sophisticated, slightly elegant appeal to them. I'm literally blown away, because, if this is real, then, this fragrance has jumped from being a contender for the worst expenditure of my fragrance dollars ever to somewhere up in the group of those that I don't mind, at all, kinda like, and, can even begin to imagine situations that it'd fit into my life and activities. I'm gonna wait awhile, before rendering my final assessment, so that I can be certain that this good turn isn't just a one-off. But, trust that I am VERY pleased to have joined that group of folks for whom Lalique's Encre Noire A L'Extreme can hold a valued place in their fragrance collection.

Launched in 2015 and once again created by the talented Nathalie Lorson, Encre Noire À L’Extrême is the most intense, dense and resinous interpretation of the iconic Encre Noire line by Lalique. It preserves the woody, enigmatic and vetiver DNA of the original, but adds greater depth with resins, incense and noble woods, making it a bolder, more mysterious and captivating fragrance. Aroma and Evolution on the Skin The opening is dry, green and slightly resinous. Cypress continues to be a key element, offering that woody and dark freshness that we already know from the line. Elemi resin adds a balsamic and almost clean touch, and bergamot, although present, is discreet — its function here is more of a balancing one. The heart reveals the soul of the perfume: a luxurious vetiver with smoky, earthy and elegant nuances. The incense brings a mystical, resinous and subtly smoky air, which blends beautifully with the orris root, giving it a powdery, sophisticated and slightly melancholic touch. In the drydown, the perfume dives into a warm and enveloping base with balsamic benzoin, creamy sandalwood and earthy patchouli, closing with a rich, woody and almost oriental signature. It is a perfume with a lot of personality, which imposes itself without shouting. Performance Long-lasting: 9 to 10 hours Projection: Strong in the first 2 hours, then moderate Sillage (trail): Notable, especially indoors Ideal Occasions Cool or mild climates Nighttime use Formal or romantic encounters Sophisticated events Indoor environments with air conditioning Not ideal for intense heat — its density can be bothersome in high temperatures. It is a perfume of presence, class and contemplation, perfect for the man who likes to stand out with discreet elegance and olfactory power. Final Score: 8.7/10 Encre Noire À L’Extrême is possibly the artistic pinnacle of the Encre Noire line. It preserves the dark and vetiver essence of the original, but deepens the experience with resins, incense and a luxurious base. Introspective, seductive and elegant, it is a perfume for those who appreciate deep, dense fragrances full of personality. Ideal for cold nights, special moments and men who prefer perfumes that tell a story.

** A very sad/odd performance update** So, when Id initially purchased this GORGEOUS, "Niche level" Lalique fragrance, I was very dissapointed only bc at first it would last maybe an hour or two, to then basically DISSAPEAR wo a trace! The projection was also quite atrocious. So, I'd put it away (Maturation) for a good 3 to 4 months, and BOOM! problem solved! It became LEAGUES stronger, deeper, llonger lasting, more substantial, and Im talkin' all day longevity ON SKIN! So, excited and feeling triumphant, I'd put my bottle up in its own box, then in a crate with a lid, and stored it in my temp-controlled apartment for nearly a year now and havent worn it since bc I live in this whacky Florida-heat, plus I hardly ever go to any "Formal events" for which I feel this dna is meant for. Well, so out of nostalgia and curiosity, how bout I break out my bottle fully expecting that beautiful, dark, long-lasting woody/smokey/resinous/vetiver and barely nothing at all AGAIN, but what I instead got was a faint nuance of what EN L'extreme was just before Id stored it away for those 3-4 months!😮. Ofcourse I thought "Well, maybe i've simply gone instantly nose-blind bc this makes zero sense at all. So Id sprayed a bit more on my arm, waited maybe 10 minutes so it'd settle on my skin, and then had my brother sniff my arm and he'd said "I can smell something, but its very, VEEEERY WEAK". Say WWWHATT!? LOL! So frag-fam, can anyone please tell me whats going on here? Had I not sprayed enough out prior to letting my bottle maturate for those 3-4 months and so now I need to take those maturation steps AGAIN, or is that NOT a thing? Or do yall think its just "Gone Bad" after only owning my for only a year and a half or so? I know that the batchcode was from only 3 years prior, so its NOT that old, plus again, I store my bottles very, very well. Im just totally perplexed here! Lol! So por favor! Any feedback on this?? Thanks!!

Deep, dark and heavy masculinity. I cannot shake the unmistakable feeling of confidence and surety when I wear this. The smell all by itself paints a picture of a thousand words and transports you to another place entirely. It strongly resembles the evocative smell of walking through the forest on a foggy, misty afternoon during a gentle rainfall. You can smell the musky aroma of damp wood and wet undergrowth. You will feel as though a cool, grey mist were lingering about your surroundings obscuring any light or ability to see far. You can almost hear the light sprinkle of the raindrops as they pitter-patter against the leaves and foliage around you. But all the while, this fragrance induces a perfectly quiet serenity. There's no loud sounds or need to rush anything. All is calm and still. But once the incense fades into the scene things get even more personal. The incense creates a calming and secure feeling, similar to a home out in the middle of those mysterious woods. An old, but familiar and intimate residence. It's almost the place where you long to be. The projection of this masterpiece is quite phenomenal too. I can smell it lingering around my person throughout the course of the whole day. And even the next day, my clothes still emit the soft musky scent of it enough for others to notice. This modern and minimalistic aroma is greatly underappreciated. It smells very similar to Terre D'Hermes, but with more personality and deeper feeling. Every man should have this in his wardrobe, even if it's for occasional use. You will not be dissatisfied no matter what your preference or tendency is for cologne. This is completely inoffensive and entirely safe to use for anyone. This is more of a pleasing and evoking aroma than a fashion statement. Collective Rating: 9.8/10 Masculine, but serene; evoking and comforting.