Magie Noire

[1200] Magie Noire is a classic Lancôme scent that predates the bottles of syrup that seem to be their modern specialty. A dense, green-woody chypre, it is aptly-named - the kind of scent that brings to mind witchy potions, and the dark sister to the demure aldehylic violets of Magie. It is unsurprising to me that MN was a greater success - complex yet cohesive, it is compelling throughout, in contrast to its simplistic sister. I adore chypres and greens, and while it is of its era, it is timeless. I have a vintage miniature EDT from the 1990s, and it smells beautiful and intact. MN is green from initial spray, refreshingly dry and dark, reminiscent of a forest rather than going down the more predictable route of being citrus-led. The galbanum plays a big role here, leafy and dry, enhanced nicely by the freshness of the cassis. The woody notes emerge early on, keeping the forest image alive throughout. The cedar here is much more realistic than in modern scents too. As it develops, the florals come to the fore. Hyacinth, a favourite of mine, is evident, green-tinged and lily-like. It reminds me of childhood springtime, and is a lovely inclusion in perfume, but seems to be a rarity in modern scents. A powdery bouquet develops, led by rose but comprising clean, sweet white florals. There is nothing cloying, waxy or overwhelming here; it is beautifully balanced with each note carefully chosen to contribute to the scent as a whole. The green, woody undertone remains throughout, developing into the dark, mossy base of a classic chypre. There is a lovely amber accord in the base, animalic and musky, and of the high quality that is only found in vintage perfumes. It is in the background, enhancing the chypre beautifully. It fades to a dry, musky skin scent, mossy and powdery until final fade. Sillage is moderate and longevity is long-lasting - it performs extremely well for an EDT. It is feminine-leaning, but could be unisex by modern standards. It is transeasonal, suitable for colder weather. A beautiful, woody-green-floral chypre, MN is my kind of scent, but is also objectively excellent, masterfully composed with high-quality ingredients. I would be curious to try the modern iteration for comparison, but they don't make them like this anymore. Witchy magic indeed. 5/5.

This is a “brand new” bottle, bought around last summer from Douglas, a parfumerie chain here in Germany. Brand new, my bottle did not smell much like itself. It lasted, lord it lasted. But it was very sharp and green and thin feeling, and all out of balance. It behaved like a regular perfume, without the signature “figure 8” progression of Magie Noire where you smell the base notes first, then the mid, then the top notes, and then you work your way back and forth. Going from top to mid to base notes and having that progression stay constant is very unkind to the scent. But I could smell it TRYING to do the right things at times, and I’ve tested bottles in store plenty, so I suspected I had an aging problem on my hands. Today, I know for sure I was right. This isn’t a scent I tend to love in very cold weather. It’s more of a warm weather scent for me, and 9 months of sitting mean I have my lively, vibrant perfume back. It’s always different for me from wearing to wearing, so it’s not a scent I grab when I want consistency and comfort. You can never quite tell if it’ll be a rich ambery scent (very rare, DO NOT buy this expecting something sweet, even when this version shows up for me it’s strange) or a sunny green scent or a spicy leather scent in advance. But if you want an adventure in a bottle, this scent will give you what you want. Today’s version, I’m getting something I don’t remember getting, where there’s tiny wafts of a peachy aspect. This isn’t a scent where I can easily pick out notes when it’s working properly. I’ve never smelled rose in it, or orris. Oakmoss, yes, in quantity but that’s the only bit that’s ever been a solid ID for me in this. It’s pretty heavy on civet by all accounts, but I’ve never been able to reliably pick that note out by smell, only by what it does on my skin. (Good things, for me civet is a reliable guide to things I’ll like to smell) I can’t really recommend getting into this scent if you’re not already an addict as dealing with aging a scent yourself when it should be sold ready to use is not fun for most people. But if you are an addict and you’re frustrated with stalking vintage bottles, the current stuff does (eventually) settle into being itself, as much as this scent ever settles.

I loved this perfume when I started wearing it in the 80s. It was rich, deep and seductive. It was sexy and self-assured and smelled... sophisticated. Unfortunately, my adopted mother (some 45+ years my senior) decided she really loved it and started wearing it; as a result, I stopped! I hadn't worn it for years and the negative associations have gone... and I've been revisiting lots of favourites from my youth. I bought a new bottle (I now can't remember the manufacturing date) of MN about 3 years ago... and was bloody horrified. I accept that some perfumes have been altered because of concerns about their constituents, which have been discovered to be harmful since their release... but Magie Noire was tragically different and unrecognisable. I swapped the bottle away. The worst of it was that I didn't know if I'd mis-remembered the fragrance, if my nose was screwed... or... what? A month or so ago I took a chance on a 100ml tester for sale at £120 sterling on eBay. checkcosmetic.net dated the bottle's code to 1986, and - despite the comments on this page about vintage MN's tendency to turn - I bought it. My bottle is almost perfect. It's clearly been stored well and it smells - almost exactly - as I remember it; this proves that: a. My nose is working, b. My memory is accurate, despite my advancing years, and c. What is sold now as Magie Noire is a bloody travesty. I've had a think about Magie Noire and Opium (which I conducted a similar experiment on) and believe that manufacturers should gracefully retire perfumes which they can no longer make due to new IFRA regulations... or they simply can't afford to maintain the original's quality due to the expense of the ingredients. If they don't want to do that, they should (at the very least) rename the perfumes - "Magie Noire 2" should do it. At least that would save lovers of the originals money (and doubting our senses). To summarise: If you loved Magie Noire forty years ago, don't buy it from a department store; seek out a vintage bottle. It's worth it.

1978 Glittering Emerald & Jet Chypre... There's a definite 70s vibe and a darkness here, but paradoxically also a timelessness - a combination of late 1970s glamour and Egyptian magic perhaps. Like a dark Charlie's Angel, I could imagine this scent being worn by Jane Birkin in the film, Death on the Nile,1978, or the S.S. Karnak river cruiser smelling of this. In the 2022 remake I imagine it being worn best by Sophie Okonedo or Emma Mackey, but any of the star studded cast including Armie Hammer & Gal Gadot could pull it off. I first discovered this in the early 2000s, and loved it for its otherworldly appeal, as it was so unlike scents that were being released around that time. There's a lot going on in the notes, but I'll do my best to describe what I get. Opens with a glittering green galbanum with some sharper points from cassis & a soft floral backdrop including hyacinth, but already the darkness of oakmoss & spice are peeking through. The glittering green effect is carried into the heart but deepened & sweetened with honey & tuberose, while narcissus continues the sting. Smoky incense starts to peep through, while the the exotic green base of patchouli, myrrh, & sandalwood starts to take shape. Civet is well blended here and much less forward than scents like Paloma Picasso, but may be more forward in vintage bottles. Contrast to Paloma Picasso Paloma Picasso: These are different but there is a similar vintage chypre vibe. Magie Noire has the prominent galbanum which tilts it dark green, while Paloma Picasso has a more forward civet & animalic accord. Both have excellent performance. Contrast to Diva Emanuel Ungaro: These are different, but again there's a similar vintage chypre vibe. Magie Noire has the more forward galbanum, while Diva is sweeter with a more forward honey & rose Both have excellent performance. Performance is excellent, and it really shines at anytime with the right mood, at night or when it's damp or rainy. It's a longtime love for me, 10/10. Enjoy!

I hate it... but I love it, can’t live without it!!! I remember being a kid playing with my cousins in my aunts vanity room, she had a large dresser with a big perfume selection this was in late 90’s so I was accustomed to the fresh, green, floral modern scents of that time as I was skimming through bottles something caught my eye and low and behold was a half empty bottle of Magie Noire, it was the 80’s version, I spritzed it on my wrist and took a whiff and was blown, I instantly hated the fragrance but i couldn’t get enough of it , constantly smelling my wrist over and over again something about this fragrance kept drawing me back for more. lovely. I remember the spice, creaminess, fizzy, soapy, animalic, dusty and also a faint manure tone in this fragrance, years gone by and I still would remember this fragrance, so I recently did a purchase of the new formulation and it did remind me of Magie Noire but if I would have to describe the current reformulation I would say it’s more of a modern rounder refined version compared to before, still a gorgeous fragrance but a little different, first thing I noticed missing is that it’s not as sharp, dry as before also the deepness is not as profound, the creaminess is lower in fat, the soapiness not as medicinal, the dustiness doesn’t tickle my nose, the fizziness isn’t as effervescent, the spice isn’t as hot, the animalic tone is vegan, also the manure is masked and refined, the new version is still a magnificent lovely fragrance and some notes have been heightened and some have been toned down compared to vintage formula so to me it’s a little less naughty less skanky, but it’s more seductive, much warmer with more waxy lit candle smoke. all in all this fragrance is a masterpiece and if I can linger to any memory it has from the vintage then so be it! I’ll take it! It’s better than nothing in my opinion. Please don’t ever discontinue this and please continue making it for the next generations to experience this masterpiece

The mystique in older formulation Magie Noire EDT is in its refusal to be reduced to its density. It is no assault to the nostrils, weaving an invisible tapestry of incantations around me as I wear it. For those who obsess over immediate gratification and a big block of a fragrance pummeling you into submission for the sake of performance, it may seem a bit lost in the shuffle. Fear not, my conditioned fragheads, scents that are nuanced and sly tend to be the ones that most enchant the wearer over time. There is no argument on whether Magie Noire 'performs,' because it transcends that. It's better than that. Magie Noire can be the seducer or the seductress, whatever you prefer. The point is there is seduction. As it first hits the skin, we have the high timbre of galbanum and hyacinth shaded with a dusky panoply of spices, woods and musk that are the hallmark of the scent. There is a tint of raspberry tartness that also contrasts in the top notes, but it is the slightest touch, there is nothing sweet about Magie, I assure you. There is zero gourmand going on, and for that, I am happy. After all, gooey desserts, caramel, and maltol were not a "thing" for fragrance in the late 70s. This is the truest chypre in that it comports itself as confident, mature, wise, and not to be played around with. The bracing opening transitions to a heart of an abandoned garden of flowers: narcissus that have been flanked with wildflowers and weeds, overgrown tuberose, a carpet of muguet that swallowed the more delicate flowers of the courtyard. This is no cacophony, but nor is it a Wagner drama....maybe its more a flute solo in minor key that builds as it dries down and we enter further into the deep, dark forest, with moss-smothered ancient trees and honeyed distant rays of the setting sun lending what little light that allows us to see in front of our face. That's it, that's the dark magic of Magie Noire. I suppose that it was aptly named!

My review is based on the older version of Magie Noire. I acquired a bottle through a family member whose mother-in-law had recently passed away. She had a HUGE collection of fragrances going back many years, and this relative of mine couldn't use them all, so she gave some of them away. She intended for my mother to have this, but my mom was not interested in it. It wasn't her style. I had studied French in high school, and of course I understood what the name meant, and that is the reason why I was initially attracted to it. I found the name to be intriguing and I knew that it must have been an expensive perfume. So, I claimed it--despite the fact that both my mother and our relative thought that it was too mature for me (I was about 19 at the time). I loved Magie Noire. I loved it right away. It was like nothing I ever smelled before. It was dark, mysterious, and alluring. Even at a young age, I understood that it was a nighttime fragrance that was best suited for fall and winter. I also knew it was more of a special occasion fragrance and not for every day use--though I did sometimes wear it to work. Some people didn't like it, but I didn't care. I loved it. It is definitely one of those fragrances that people either love or hate. There isn't much of an in between with this one. I remember wearing it the college library once. I remember a student saying out loud "someone in here is wearing Magie Noire." I was amazed that she could smell it from across the room, and that she was familiar with this fragrance. So that told me that it was a real powerhouse....it had good projection. It also lasted a long time. I used to wear a lot of black back in the day, and I would spray this on whenever I'd go out on a date. It was/is a gorgeous fragrance, and I loved wearing it. I hope to buy another bottle of this one day so that I can revisit it. I know it will bring back many good memories of bygone years.

Dark/ green /woody perfume. Green but not fresh or wet. It's bitter and earthy and has a dusty_dry atmosphere There is a light floral acord in it and a little honey that makes it slightly sweet and warm. Also woody spicy incensy composition that makes it oriental. Magie Noire is an oldschool and nostalgic scent that reminds me of my childhood. . مژی نواغ به معنای جادوی سیاه به فراخور اسمش فضایی تاریک و خشک داره. عطر با رایحه ای سبز و گس از برگ انگور باز میشه. تیزه و کمی حس میوه ای همراهیش میکنه. اما رفته رفته حس سبز عطر خاکی تر و زمینی تر میشه. بوی آشنای تلخ و خاکسترگونِ باریجه در کنار خزه و البته حضور پچولی با حس ترش و خاکیش... سبزی عطر مثل بوی پوست گردو تلخ و گیاهیه. فرش و تر و تازه نیست. از اون مدل سبزی های آروماتیکِ غبار گرفته و کلاسیک و صابونیه. . سایه ی نرمی از شیرینیِ عسلی گلی به مرور سعی در تلطیف فضای رایحه میکنن اما این گل ها هم در بحبوحه روایح سبز و خاکی از بروز شیرینیشون خجالت میکشن و سعی میکنن همرنگ جماعت بشن و بیشتر وجهه ی سبز و خاکیشون رو نشون بدن. وزش این نسیم لطیف گلی بر پیکره ی عطر برای من به مثابه اسپری کردن یکی دو پاف عطر گلی روی بدن یک مرد خشنه تا کمی مهربون تر و صمیمی تر به نظر برسه! چشم امید عطر برای حفظ اندک شیرینیش فقط به عسل با شیرینی گرم و سنگین و کمی حیوانیشه. . حس چوبی ادویه ایِ عطر که حضور مهمی داره کمی صندل گون و برنج ماننده و انگار چوبش زیر نور آفتاب داغ شده و کمی حس سوختگی گرفته. ترکیب ادویه و چوب در کنار حس صمغی بُخوریِ تلخ ، در شرقی شدن رایحه هم تاثیر داره. نهایتا پرونده ی عطر در فضایی سبز، چوبی، بخوری و ادویه ای بسته میشه. . 🗝کُلیت رایحه خطیه و تغییر چشمگیری نداره. مژی نواغ پر از روح کلاسیک و نوستالژیه اما گویا نسبت به نسخه قدیمی خیلی ساده تر شده و محکوم به از دست دادن پیچیدگی ها و برخی زیبایی هاش. ضمنا اصلا گزینه ی سیف و عامه پسند و حتی شاید خوش بازخوردی نیست.

I used to gaze at the beautiful vintage bottle of Magie Noire, created by the genius Pierre Dinand, with its round cap and hypnotic overlapping curves, an iconic design from the 70s. I longed for it, though with little hope of ever holding it in my hands. A couple of years went by, and finally, this gem arrived in my collection, bringing with it the untouched character of another era, and a familiarity that surprised me! Although the current formula retains its spirit, its DNA, I perceive an “excessive” use of white musks that lend a more powdery and clean effect. In contrast, the vintage version reveals a more sober depth and a subtly enveloping sweetness, probably enriched with nitro musks, offering an elegant and sensual warmth on my skin. MAGIE NOIRE EDT (Vintage) – 1978 I like to think of Magie Noire as a dark spell in the form of a floral chypre, unfolding its mystery from the first green and fruity notes, with galbanum and blackcurrant, into a voluptuous heart of dense honey, tuberose, and jasmine. The base is deep and musky, with civet blending into the composition, adding warmth and sensuality, in harmony with a mix of myrrh and incense, supported by that oakmoss so characteristic of classic Chypres, which adds richness and complexity to the fragrance. I’d say that if you don’t know the vintage formula, the modern Chypre-retro version (with a classic character) might be very pleasant for you, as it was for me. However, owning this original edition feels like holding a fragment of perfumery history in my hands. And also, a small dream come true! ❤️

I love Magie Noire - the current version. Others make a hobby of seeking some Holy Grail vintage of a fragrance..Goodie! I hope they find their Precious. Me? I don't care. There are too many perfumes in the ocean to worry about it. (The wrong metaphor, perhaps. But who has time to search for metaphors, or dusty, ancient perfume bottles on eBay, for that matter?) To me, Magie Noire is an overwhelmingly earthy fragrance. At some points, I smell the other aspects - like the floral notes, which are delightful but slightly muted in comparison to the earthiness. I consider for a few minutes what it is that makes Magie Noire feminine. Conclusion: It is not feminine. In my opinion, it smells like a dude's cologne. Trees, dirt, greenery, a few herbs thrown in and some flowers. Plus some other stuff that adds complexity. But rest assured, Lancome says it's for women. So it won't create havoc with your menstrual cycle, or cause your breasts to be forested in a massive amount of body hair -- like the chest of the late actor, Burt Reynolds. But most women will understand this. If only men understood that the label on a bottle won't cause their body to form boobs and to produce massive amounts of estrogen. I guess I don't care all that much if others like or wear this. For one thing, I wear fragrance almost entirely for myself. However, I do want Magie Noire to be adequately supported by the almighty consumer dollar so that production won't cease. It has quickly become a favorite of mine. Oh, and one last point: the longevity is excellent.

First time I wore this I was taking a night class in college.I had gotten a sample from Cherry&Webb,and honestly I hated this scent it was so strong and woody I couldnt wait to go back home and take a shower.Mind you I was still a novice with fragrances and couldnt fully understand the beauty and depth of this fragrance,until now.I had purchased a small bottle of this on ebay,the batch code is from 1998.First spray was ok and after a few minutes I couldnt stop smelling my wrist."Wow,this smells amazing,so unique",I thought.To my nose I can detect civet and honey,galbanam and wonderful oakmoss and a lot of incense.I was curious to try the newer version and compare it to this one from 1998.So I purchased a new bottle from ebay,this time the batch code is from 2016.After the first spray I noticed the difference between the two.With the older version the notes are more intensly pronounced.As with the newer one there more subtle and softer.Older one,projects far,I was at work when I sprayed myself four times and my coworker who was standing about ten feet away could smell me.Newer one,about arms lenght unless you spray more.With older version the scent stays on your skin a long time and even longer on clothing.Newer version I got maybe an hour on my skin,but clothing I havent tried yet.To me both older and newer versions smell almost the same but not exactly.Bottom line if you want try this fragrance and experiance its breathtaking beauty go with a vintage first and then try a newer version.

“Mmm....I need a bottle" involuntarily popped from my mouth as soon as the first spray hit my skin. Smells dark, beguiling, mysterious, witchy, goth, erotic, sexy, and romantic. It's Black Magic indeed! It makes me think of a deep, dark, overgrown forest at dusk. If literary characters had a scent, this is how Maid Marian would smell when she was abducted in Sherwood Forest. Or Rebecca in Ivanhoe. Or the Lady of the Lake. Or any other fictional enchantress - your choice. It conjures up dark, romantic images to me. Well, maybe what I envision when reading fables, classics, and fairy tales, as if this really isn't a perfume at all but a prologue to some epic tale for my imagination. Crazy, I know. But it is just lovely. If the reform smells this good, I can only imagine how wonderful the original version smelled. OMG! Now I am really torn. Do I just stick to this travel sprayer to make sure I really like it? Nah, I adore it right now. So, the next question is: Do I want to risk getting a vintage only to be disappointed with spoiled top notes, or do I want the latest edition? Or do I get both? Hell, I only have one body, how much perfume do I need?! Oh, this is going to take some serious deliberation. Edit 8/3 - I bought the new version because, tbh, it smells wonderful to me.

I wore this in the 90's and adored it. I wanted it again but I can't afford the vintage bottles so I bought a 2018 bottle that said l'eau de toilette and I'm so happy because it smells very good. In fact this bottle the juice is darker than my moms recent bottle so I don't understand the difference except to say the newer bottle is better than the earlier ones in the new packaging. To me this smells exactly or close enough to the early 90's bottles I've enjoyed. I was also able to find a huille parfum at a reasonable price so I'm really excited. So for me im really happy. This is my scent that I wear all the time and I have always gotten compliments on it. Btw the longevity on this lasts till the next day I was so happy about that. I only apply a tiny spritz to my wrist and neck and my mom remarked oh you smell like me as she wore this in the 90's and I always thought she smelled so good! This is a classic sent that's not for everyone but as I said I always get compliments on this it was the perfume I wore on my first date with my Sig other and that was 21 years ago and he still loves this on me. :) I always loved this scent and am very happy I can still get it. It smells like nothing I've ever had. To me its the best and I will continue to love this.

What can I say about Magie Noire? I happen to really adore chypres, so the darker and more bitter, the better, and she is dark but not bitter. MN has been obviously reformulated — I have an edt from 2017 — and it is a little diminished from what it was; *however* it is still gorgeous! Rose, a realistic oakmoss, bracing galbanum, a golden touch (it smells a little like warm hay, which is how patchouli reads on me), and a little honey to lighten everything. MN lays on my skin like a rich veil of scent, flowers and herbs mingling in a symphony worthy of Bach. The honey comes in waves, lending a unique dimension that plays a lilting melody over the floral mid-notes and the deep bass of the oakmoss, civet, and patchouli. Is Magie Noir dated? I think not. The reformulation has smoothed out some of the more unique edges, which while many of us feel took away the perfume’s individuality, it probably does make it more approachable to the consumers of today. Magie Noire is far from banal, though. While I wear it for an every day perfume, others may not be so comfortable and reserve it more for special occasions.

My favorite perfume. I started my fragrance journey in 2019 when I hunted down my first vintage bottle. No matter how many other perfumes I try I always come back to Magie Noire. My mom wore the version of this with the black shoulders (the Darth Vader bottle) while I was growing up in the '90's and early '00's (not the reason I like it, that's why I know I truly love the scent) and I always thought it smelled amazing. Grown, sexy, mysterious, warm. I describe this to friends as smelling "like a fur coat". It's well blended so it's difficult to pinpoint any specific notes. The description of a figure eight is spot on; just when you think you've honed in on a note it morphs. I have yet to find another fragrance exactly like it. Definitely not for everyone, it's a very mature/old school scent. I haven't smelled any "modern" versions past 2005 (when my mom was gifted her last bottle). My bottles' batch codes span from 83-94. Early vintages of this will last on unwashed fabric for several weeks. I have literal pints of '80's EDT if anyone is ever looking for a sample 👀

This was my Christmas self-gift. I had sampled it before in the store and HAD to go back on saturday and get it, because I kept thinking about it for weeks. I love its 80's vibe, I love how it's so different from the modern best sellers. I love how it makes me different from everyone else, without smelling "old-ladyish". I can only image the greatness it must have had back in the old days, because I didn't know it then. I just purchased the new EDT (2016 batch). Sadly, I think its perfomance is poor. I expected something strong, based on the character of this perfume and also the longevity and sillage rating here in Fragrantica (which I always take in consideration), but a couple of hours after applying it's already fading. I'm so sick and tired of this problem, don't know where else to look for a good perfomance perfume, like the ones I used to wear in the 80s, when 12 hours later you could still smell them very well on yourself. Anyway, I think it's still worth it, very nice and original, for a woman with personality, I feel it boosts my confidence.

Questo meraviglioso profumo è stato creato in un periodo in cui si dava il meglio e si usava la creatività,lo spirito e l'anima per fare tutto. Magie noire è un profumo dal bouquet estremamente ricco ed elaborato,composto da una miriade di ingredienti presi dal bosco,alberi,fiori,frutti,foglie,animali,muschi,resine,mescolati come un filtro magico delle streghe. Quando lo spruzzo la partenza è un miscuglio nebbioso e turbolento di verde,giallo,nero,aspro e poi fruttato. Poi cambia lo sfondo e i colori vanno sul blu vellutato,il cuore giallo oro,lo sfondo nero... Insomma è un fluttuare continuo di note diverse,l'effetto è stimolante. Viene voglia di uscire e andare a fare le piroette per la strada.Un profumo che induce alla follia. Chi se ne innamora ne resta vittima e cade in un vortice dal quale non riesce e non vuole uscire. Cambia molto a seconda di vari elementi e di fattori esterni, come clima e temperatura corporea e soprattutto umore. Ho parlato delle versioni vintage anni 78/ 80 e 90 e anche 2000,che restano molto fedeli all'originale.

Magie Noire, for me, is a beautiful and contemplative fragrance. It’s a floral-chypre, but also incensey-amber and so lightly honeyed...a chypre-oriental? Whatever, I’m pretty smitten. Oakmoss, incense, red red rose, galbanium, civet and honey-colored amber. It makes me think of harvests, lengthening cooler nights, and moonlit meetings in autumn forests. Something about the note combination really reminds me of crunching through fallen sunset-colored leaves. Makes me want to let my hair down in the wind on a country walk, then get home and pull out my tarot cards and listen to Kate Bush. “Waking the Witch,” if you will. “I myself being strange and unusual,” (to quote Lydia Deetz), I had been interested in this potion since discovering its existence. I have a current bottle and a vintage sample, both EDT formulation. I love the current one, it’s still singular—but the vintage does seem more complete, earthier, muskier and more potent. A couple sprays and it billows around me all day in pleasant little gusts. Casts a spell on me, anyway.

I can still get whiffs of it after twelve hours of application, it is strong and bold. My Wife loves it on me, still, she does not like to wear it, for her it feels manly, you get the idea: it is on the vein of Dior Homme Parfum or Dior Homme Intense pre 2020's, or the heavy orientals by Middle Eastern houses selling many of the kind as unisex. The new formula does not have the silky feeling to the nose it used to have, I assume the floral notes were tamed down in favor of the base notes, what my nose feels are those typical of orientals, this is the reason I really enjoy it. To wrap it up, MN, IMHO, is in the league of scents for women that men can use: Obsession, Le Baiser du Dragon, Must and Youth Dew (almost identical to JHL). For better results, you might try layering it with a men's leather, like Aramis or Ombre Leather, or any oriental for men. Note that these women's scents can be too heavy, so a light application could be the solution if you do not want to impose your preferences on others.

Wow, this has Wuthering Heights vibes! Both the movie version with Binoche and the book. 18th century Europe, a long dress, unbrushed hair, bare feet on a cold, mossy forest's ground. I don’t have a thoroughly formed opinion on this recent Magie yet (planning to update later) but it makes me excited just thinking about it. I can understand why some people may dislike it. It’s a no-nonsense, dark, green chypre. Honey is present but it’s raw honey with an edge. Addictive. Cassis is glorious here. I bought it based on the negative reviews - “skanky”, “sweaty”, “bitter”, and “sour”... Yes, yes... Come to mama! Considering how crowd-pleasing Lancôme has been in the past 3 decades with its fruity pink creations, kudos to the house for putting this on the market. Whoever pushed this forward, thank you! I like the minimalist aspect of the bottle. The lid is hard to take off and put back on though - I even emailed Lancôme to ask how to open it. They said to just put some muscle into it, haha. Love it.

A dark, dark forest, the type that must have inspired every Grimm Brothers tale, shamrock and cassia green first, crushed pine needles and fresh spruce camphor into the pyre later, sulfur and smoke wafting around a narcissus that flickers about like lighted torches circling an impending ritual. Within, dried rose petals and bitter briar fruit ripened until slivered mush lying over the moss floor skimmed by the brush of a black velvet cloak shrouding something growing fur, fangs and thorns. Magie Noire must have been some dark, rough brew used by medieval witches to bring down kings or where Cleopatra dissolved her pearls invoking one of those ancient godess-priestesses of the helenic world with the power to rise and stamp out men, turning flasks of honey of every good intention, curdling them with malice and offering its fermented fruit hexed with some long-lost sorcery to Ulysses and his men. Circe ́s vengeful spell brushing the earth, alluring and imminently dangerous.

This perfume has been calling out to me - I don't know how to describe it but I knew deep in my bones I needed to get to know it. I've recently acquired a bottle of the vintage EdT at an unbelievable price - I thought I would risk getting scammed for USD10 for a 50ml bottle anyway, because... Why not? I haven't been able to find the latest formulation in stores to even catch a whiff so I don't even have a reference for this. I went in completely blind. I've had a single drop on me for 2h and I'm not sure how that is the case but the intensity of the scent has been GROWING. I'm guessing this is the real thing because the civet and oakmoss are unlike anything I've ever perceived in other perfumes that I've been exploring around. Although not listed in the notes, I'm picking up some soapy, aldehydic notes dancing at the top. Deep, dark, magical on its drydown - this experience is incredible and I can't imagine what a bomb the Parfum would've been!

The way this dries down on me strongly resembles Tabu, which was a complete surprise but maybe shouldn't be, looking at the notes. I only think it resembles Paloma in the bottle (mine is probably from the 80s, a 1oz edt in a round, clear, splash bottle.) Once on skin it's a honeyed balsamic Chypre, pretty different from other chypres in my collection. If I make a comparison overall, I'd say Feraud Vivage is similar. Not an automatic love, honey is a challenging note for me, cassis too, but I like this and the mood it evokes. I look forward to spending more time with it. It might not be the best time of year for testing this, either. It definitely has an autumnal air. Update: Reminds me of Coty Chypre, moreso than any others, including Mitsouko. Magie Noire having a stronger honey note. If you can't get the O.G. Chypre because of the crazy price, get a vintage Magie Noire If you're interested in what it smells like.

MAGIE NOIRE, is a chypre fragrance with a vintage character, which evokes the sophistication and mystery of bygone eras. Its opening is herbaceous and bitter, with a floral touch of bergamot that gives it a slight freshness. Quickly giving way to an opulent and powdery heart, with a mix of flowers such as ylang-ylang, jasmine, tuberose and iris, which merge with cedar wood, creating a retro and elegant effect. Honey softens the bouquet, giving a sweet and sensual nuance to the fragrance. As the hours pass, the base becomes more oriental and complex, with notes of wood, moss, spices, balms, and resins that give it depth and warmth. The incense is responsible for enveloping the entire composition with a soft and seductive halo. While the animalic and musky chords give it a wild and magical touch, which lives up to its name. The substantivity on my skin is eternal, more than 12 hours with moderate diffusion.

I had both the 1980s EDP and EDT versions of Magie Noire, a truly magical fragrance. My late mom used to wear this on special occasions and I would sneak a little spray when she wasn't around. I recently purchased a new bottle, it's the square one in the black box. I've had such bad luck with reformulations lately so I was expecting this to be a disappointment too.... My 1st testing was horrid! It was so feint I could hardly smell the Magie Noire I knew. Yesterday I decided to give it a proper go - 3 sprays on the neck and 2 per wrist. I figured I'd have to spray that much Just to smell it!! Oh good Lord! What a wonderful surprise! Within about 5 minutes my childhood memories came flooding back. This is every bit the Magie Noire I used to know. It lasted 12 hours! I floated in the most beautiful cloud all day. Now I know how much I need to use to get the original effect and I will happily oblige!

I just received the new version. I’m very disappointed. It’s not even a shadow of the original Magie Noir. It’s more like a very bad dupe. Whyyyy, Lancome?..... I don’t understand why they ruined such a beautiful fragrance. It doesn’t have depth, it doesn’t have mystery, it’s a boring herbal concoction with something artificially sugary in the background (it smells like saccharine to me), very weak sillage compared to the original one, I’m pretty sure you can find something like that for £5. It actually smells like piss after a while. I feel like crying, really. Au revoir, Magie Noir. L.E. After a while it smells like Kashmir, a £5 dupe of Sikkim, except that Kashmir smells better. On the positive note: it has a good longevity, way more than 8 hours. On the hydrated skin it lasted about 12 hours, which is impressive. That doesn't compensate the boringness of this awful reformulation.

Magie Noire is timeless. Why? Because it's a classic chypre that is also somehow unique. It feels luxurious and yet it's day-wearable. It's warm and yet it's fresh, even soapy. It's sexy and yet it's not a sugar bomb. First, let's talk about the oakmoss. Nowhere can we find, at least in the Magie Noire vintage version, an oakmoss this deep and real that's backed up by civet, galbanum, and cassis in this manner. While it can sparkle like Chanel No. 5 and come off as clean or even sharp, after the narcissus wafts a while Magie begins morphing into an herbal honey-spice-myrhh concoction. The oakmoss is still there and stays throughout yet never gets cold or wet. Magie Noire stays heated, as if it has an energy or inner sun of its own. Magie Noire's not for those who enjoy something light, floral, sweet, or citrus. It's for the true devotee of orientals and chypres, man and woman.

Had to give this one a few "wears", but I just love the way it makes me feel. Honestly and in short, to me Magie Noire smells like seduction and sex, so what's not to like(?) I know MN has been reformulated, and with respect for those lucky ones out there, who have experienced and enjoyed the original, I just can't compare and would never claim that this one is "as good" as the original version since this reformulated Magie Noire is the one I've got. All I know is that this one, to me, is sultry, dense, sexy, mysterious, spicy, sweet in a subdued not cloying and a very mature way, seductive, alluring, somewhat insisting and captivating. If you don't like attention, don't wear Magie Noire because even two sprays will provide a noticeable (and sexy) sillage, in my experience. Early Spring, Autumn and Winther are the seasons I would recommend wearing this perfume in.

Di Magie noire ne ho versioni di tutte le annate,dall 83,86,88,90,94,97,98,2001,2014...e devo notare che non sono tutte uguali. Alcune hanno un tono più vellutato e blu, altre sono piu dorate,altre piu frizzanti, altre piu muschiate.. Ma magie noire è un profumo meraviglioso che ho amato fin dall'inizio degli anni 80. Ha un bouquet unico,un filtro magico antico che ricorda le streghe,un calderone di erbe,fiori,radici,foglie,spezie e un filo di fumo di incenso mistico. Ha anche una parte di note animali feline e selvagge,muschio animale e di quercia che si fonde con la pelle e ti fa sentire una pantera nella notte.. Fiori gialli e miele nel cuore,un'aura nebulosa,atmosfere remote,a volte chiaro altre volte notturno,silenzio e confusione.. Insomma Magie noire è sempre stato un profumo multiforme e mistico,sensuale e magnetico a cui non ho potuto rinunciare.

This is quite a big departure from my usual Angel, Opium, Angel Muse or Tobacco Vanille I wear. This is woody and "green", but still an Oriental (which is why I kind of love it probably). Magie Noire is one of the scents that really should be marketed as Unisex, or at least bottled in a "Cologne" bottle for men that are afraid or not manly enough ;) to buy a "women's" perfume. Magie Noire is woody enough to smell amazing on a man, yet enough of a "feminine" scent to smell incredible on a woman! The initial blast I do not like, but within mins it softens and yet deepens. On my skin, it is like a cyphre Estee Lauder Beautiful, even though this is Lancome. Longevity is strong, but not a powerhouse like, say most Tom Ford scents. Sillage is respectable. I think this is one of those 2-3 sprays is optimal kind of scents. More and it might be too "Much".

Magie noire era ed è un vero profumo evocativo,intimo,connesso con l'anima e con la notte. I suoi vari momenti sono il verde,aspro e boschivo,poi il blu notte,dato dallo storace,il giallo dorato del miele,narciso,il bianco della tuberosa,gelsomino,mughetto,neroli,l'aspetto piccante,speziato,gli incensi,l'aspetto mistico e meditativo,l'aspetto animale selvatico,felino,muschi di quercia e benzoino ma soprattutto quello che non viene nominato è la cascarilla,una corteccia pepata e secca dall'effetto stordente. Magie noire è la riuscita perfetta di una formula alchemica,una ricetta di stregoneria medievale usata per scopi non ben dichiarati ma il risultato è stato ed è ancora strepitoso. Chi lo ha amato negli anni 80 lo cerca ancora e lo vuole tutto per se. Un profumo che andrebbe salvaguardato tra i capolavori.

At first sniff I was unsure. It was a blind buy and I had high hopes for this bewitching fragrance after all the reviews and felt slightly disappointed... until I realised I kept sniffing my wrist. Each time was different, floral, then peppery dry, then spicy, then woody. It is bold and different. I would wear this day and night and I don't think it is offensive for the office, although on me it smells quite fresh and I don't get any warmth or depth particularly. It certainly is a grown-up scent and I must admit I haven't had any compliments on it. In fact my friend said it was "okay". However - I wear fragrance for me and now I keep going back for more. It's very addictive and drew me in to its magic and I think now I understand what the other reviewers mean. I have indeed been bewitched and bedazzled.

Il fascino di Magie Noire dopo 46 anni è ancora unico e intramontabile. Le versioni vecchie sono incandescenti e suggestive,trasportano indietro nel tempo e portano a visioni inquietanti, rituali di stregoneria, di magia nera brasiliana,di streghe medievali e di notti di luna piena. Non serve che faccia una nuova recensione ma parlare di questo profumo per me è un piacere che mi assale ogni volta che lo indosso. La differenza tra il moderno Magie noire col tappo dorato e quello vecchio col tappo nero è nel numero di ingredienti usati,nella particolarità di questi e nel risultato complessivo,che risultava vellutato e viola nero,cuore giallo, sfondo grigio di incenso fumoso e miriade di note vegetali. Oggi è stato semplificato anche se resta magnifico nel suo essere così retrò,lontano dagli odori moderni.

Ah my old love, Magie Noire. Myrrh, patchouli, spices in such a bequiling, layered, warm, inviting, mystical, alchemical potion. Beautiful perfumery. I love these late 70s early 80s rich, complex perfumes - they are like a Renoir next to pop art, compared to much of today’s commercial flat and boring perfumery. Or, in the case of Magie Noire, a Caravaggio. Maybe the one where Judith beheads Holofernes. I went through several bottles of this in my younger years and it still has not lost any of its deep, sensual appeal. Review for the original formula. EDIT: sadly the current formulation doesn’t cut the mustard- it has lost its mystique, the depth, the small subtle nuances which make the original so interesting. Perfume aficionados - you need to find the original in this case

I had to get a sample of the current Version, since I was curious if it really was almost the same as the vintage, as some comments say. Well, no. The new Version is warmer, more ambery, maybe also a tad more animalic, all in a sweet, warm and flesh-y way. The vintage Version, beside being suuuuuper strong in longvety and sillage, is sharper, colder, I can smell definitely more aldehydes, and the civet comes out a lot. If you know and treasure the old one, the new doesn't really live up to it, but it's fine, since many of the actual Magie noire witches seem to have found their Interpretation of the scent with thua. To me, MN vintage is a witches potion, threatening and impressing, where as the reformulation is the witches cozy blanket next to the fire stove. Also fine.

My mother's signature perfume, since 1978. Since she was a teen... She wears it non-stop, day and night, always and everywhere! It's so fine and elegant, it leaves an indelible mark. On her skin, it leaves a sweet, yet woody feminine and seductive feeling and lasts 24 hours despite the shower. But when this perfume wanders in space, (since I can remember myself), I do not envision a dynamic independent woman, but my tender, adored mother. This perfume for me screams "mom"! I consider it loving, warm, precious, I have NEVER smelled THIS WONDERFUL ODOR to any other woman! I love it so much that I seriously think, when I become a mother, to make it my signature scent. Very remarkable perfume, top olfactory creation! Luxurious and timeless, not dated.

Intoxicating. Sexy. Bewitching. This scent immediately took me back (though to where I don't know). I knew immediately it's the scent for me, forever. It smells of nostalgia and yearning, like the most agonizing limerence in a bottle. A wicked love spell of unrequited love. It's AMAZING! I have a very old bottle of Charisma perfume oil by Avon that was my mother's and while that has a similar "vintage" essence, Magie Noire is like nothing else and stands alone. It's hard to believe an EDT has this much power. When I saw it was for sale in the discontinued section of the Lancome site I bought three backup bottles for an insane discounted price. I hope that was enough! If not then I will have no choice but to have it duped someday.

Someone call a priest! Magie Noire is somewhere between a sultry floriental and a Satanic ritual. It smells evil and tantric, of smoke, fur, and sensual oblivion. There are top notes, green and spicy, perhaps to lure the good Christians into sin. But that's not what the perfume is about. This is a graven affair of leather, fur, and smut. Up close, the civet and spices are decadent and shocking. This is a modern fur perfume! The sillage is that of daffodil and leather with an indescribable tension and furry texture. As it wafts by, it feels I am dragged along not only by my nose but by my heart. It is feminine, but only in the way Giger's giant bio-mechanical vaginas are. This one is beyond occult. This is overt.

I just found the one. This is it. From the instant I dabbed it on my skin, I knew. I’ve been trying many vintage perfumes that contain oak moss-Mitsouko, Nuit de Noel, Gucci No. 1, Miss Dior, etc and have developed a deep appreciation for this lovely, slightly bitter note. But in my opinion, this is the best of them all. This perfume is not conveniently pretty, but it is so achingly gorgeous in a darker way. I’m sampling the edt and it is big, loud, beautiful. Within 10 minutes of wearing this, I already found a vintage 5 ml edt to tie me over until I can afford more. Such a dreamy oak moss, I am so in love with this perfume and have never had a reaction to a perfume quite like I have with Magie Noir.

@vanillastorm To be very honest with you being a real big time fan of Magie Noire theirs really nothing like Magie noire she shines absolutely on her own but if you cannot get your hands on this Bewitching beauty and cannot afford don't be afraid to buy the reformulated version squared bottle or try another perfume that's really close to MN notes Dilis Classic Collection No. 2 by Dilis Parfum is a Chypre Floral fragrance for women. Dilis Classic Collection No. 2 was launched in 1998. And I totally agree with @nakedcity Aromatic Elixir is no wear close to Magie Noire MN is to me a Green Floral Chypre absolutely Magical. MAGIE NOIRE LANCÔME IS A MASTERPIECE! Peace love and happiness be safe y'all!

In my humble opinion THIS is a dark perfume, not the sweet, syrupy “seductive “ ones that are called dark, for some strange reason. It’s the only perfume that I can say that I truly love and there’s absolutely no discordant note in it, it’s perfect. I didn’t try the new formula yet, I’m afraid they ruined a masterpiece like it happened with so many good fragrances after they’ve been reformulated. Anyway, for those who are afraid to try it because of the raspberry note, don’t be, there’s absolutely no raspberry in it, at least I can’t feel any fruitiness or sweetness and I usually detect (and hate) fruity notes. This is the kind of perfume that you wear for yourself, not for those around you.

This has definitely been reformulated. This was the second dark oriental fragrance I had experienced after Samsara. Both fragrances blew my young girls mind. I remember it being more mysterious and shockingly arresting in the past, when there was a black plastic casement around the bottom. I'm always hunting for the best patchouli fragrances and the old formulation was stronger on this note. Still a wonderfully enigmatically spooky perfume but I would recommend the Russian perfume Tête-à-tête for a good dupe of the original formulation. Update : layer Tête-à-tête or Magic Night with Avon's Occur and you have it! The beautiful original before the accountant moths got a hold of it!

This used to be magnificent, seductive and mysterious. When I was 19, I felt confident and sexy, when I wore it with abundance, and my boyfriend called me Black Magic Woman. I adored this scent. Now it is a ghost of it’s former self. Anemic and much duller. It’s still wearable, but not in the same league. By the way, Lancome answers customers’ concerns about reformulation thus on their website: “It is possible that minor changes have been made in the formula of a product; however, the performance should meet or exceed previous results and may not be noticeable at all” And: “There has not been a formulation change to this fragrance” Well then, we must be mistaken, the lot of us

I have the new EDT, it's so herbaceous and dark and just a little bit powdery. Magie Noire isn't for the witch that lives in a gothic castle that flies on a broomstick, it's for the witch brewing potions in the depths of a forest, planting magic herbs in her garden and enchanting lost travelers under her spell. I remember spritzing a bit of this years ago on my jacket and it smelled amazing. I wasn't into perfumes back then but I still remembered the name: Magie Noire. It indeed put me under its spell. I was scared of the day the smell would disappear, but it lasted on my jacket for literal weeks! Amazing strength, even after reformulation, and perfect for the spooky season.

I smelled my 16 year old bottle of Magie Noire (the 'new' one, like the picture above) the other day, put some on. Hadn't worn it in a long time. Lancome - you destroyed Magie Noire - WHY? Now your best seller is the horrendous La Vie et Belle, whilst MN is a shadow of the Queen it was and Climat? That beauty? Wow - don't even go there (water with a dash of hairspray - an insult). I had at first thought the new, supposed MN was acceptable but smelling it now, it just makes me sad. The real Magie Noire was so much a part of my '80s teenage years. I miss the almost acetone-like edge, with all kinds of magic swirling around it. Now it's just pedestrian, old hat. Ce la Vie.

It’s brilliant, but not for everyone, to be sure. Definitely not a safe one to gift or wear around the office. It’s addictive, though. I first smelled it on a coworker, and thought it was way too intense for me. She was much older, wealthy, well dressed, sophisticated. I realized I sought her out quite a bit, not only because she was funny, but because she smelled amazing. Ended up buying my own bottle. I don’t wear it often - but there are certain days and occasions that call for it. I like it far more than Paloma Picasso, although there is certainly some overlap on notes. Nothing better than coming home on a cold winter day, starting a fire, then spraying this one.

I have finally been able to compare a sample of the vintage, against a bottle from 2017. I'm not sure if the vintage was perhaps past its prime, but the newest formulation was much better. The new one is pure oakmoss, a note I have always loved, and one that seems to have pretty much vanished. The vintage was smoother, less sharp, but performed less well. The name certainly suits this beast, black magic in every sense, one of Lancome's best. Lasts about eight hours, and projects well, the oakmoss never goes, it's there throughout, the honey comes through, as does the herbal, woody tone. Less is more, not much is required as it's still potent.

Oh, my. Reformulation, evidently, was not kind to this herbal, woody, honeyed potion. My EDT (current version) just arrived, a blind buy. It is, by definition, my kind of perfume and it is just stunning, "bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses" indeed. That is, in the first 5 min that I actually can smell it on my skin. It hardly projects and lasts on skin about and hour and about 3 hours on a woolen jumper. It is a ghostly shadow of what it must have been in terms of depth and performance in its glory days. I don't mind though and am not disappointed. I am out on a hunt with all guns blazing for a vintage parfum!

I love a good chypre. In fact, they have become my favorite. So happy I found this, thanks to Fragrantica. I tried the current formulation, and it’s a love for me. Can’t wait to get a full bottle. This is right up there with Paloma Picasso, Ysatis, and Halston.....earthy, herbal, animalic, exquisite! They all share the same chypre heart, but they are all utterly unique as well! This one is stunning. I put a little Magie Noire on my wrists, and a spritz of Dior Poison on my neck, and it was the most beautiful, vintage powerhouse concoction that I have made thus far. So happy this is still being made💜

It is a kind of magic. I love this so much, such a gorgeous fragrance. I really like galbanum in the scents and this is absolutely beautiful. But this is very unusual, probably unique, maybe not for everyone. I can say that it changes according to the weather. For me Magie Noire is sometimes fresh, clean, powdery and comforting, but sometimes very spicy, sensual, wild and sexi. I think that for me this can be an excellent fragrance for all seasons, because every kind of weather reveals different sides of this magic potion. So, definitely my favourite scent for all the seasons.