Noir Exquis

Where I live, in the Great Lakes region of the United States, Autumn is the most naturally fragrant season to my nose. While Spring has it’s florals, fresh cut grass, and the smell of evening thunderstorms, each instance is situational and therefore fleeting. Summer is the smell of smoked meats from charcoal grills, but also just as fleeting. In Autumn, however, the smell of the leaves seems to permeate the air as soon as I open my door. Most of the time, there is a pleasant faint smokiness - the smell of a bonfire a few blocks away. Or a major brush burn from the edge of the city. I never know where exactly it comes from, but the smell lingers throughout the season and feels like home to me. So it’s late October. The leaves have changed color and began to fall about a week ago, though many will still cling to the trees for a couple more weeks. I’m walking to a certain corner cafe, a longstanding local institution that fits right into the setting - historic brick streets, uneven sidewalks, old growth trees and craftsman and foursquare houses. I leash up my dog, bundle in my Fall best, my favorite boots and jacket that have spent months seasonally neglected and packed away, and begin my stroll through the crisp, dry morning air - through mottled amber and fire red tunnels of maple, ash and oak trees - taking in the warm hues and smoldering redolence of this morning’s golden hour. At the cafe, I’m greeted by the same friendly staff I see every time, the same warm environment, but this time I want something different than usual - something slightly sweeter, slightly more extravagant. I indulge in a touch of Hazelnut, two ristretto shots of a medium roast espresso, and top it with a little steamed whole milk. I take my lidless drink in one hand along with a small waxed paper bag containing a butter croissant, tip generously with the other, say my goodbyes, and head out to the sidewalk patio, and shortly after to the park across the street to finish my morning walk through the fragrant, somewhat smoky Autumn air. This narrative is the essence of L’Artisan Parfumeur’s Noir Exquis. And in my mind, it’s not far off from their French pâtisserie marketing spiel, so I think they hit their mark. The chestnut, vanilla, and deep woody notes combine to pay tribute to the vaguely smoky sweet idealized Fall experience I speak of, while remaining somewhat airy and transient at the same time. It’s this airiness that gives Noir Exquis the kind of restraint that demonstrates experience worn maturity, thus making it very wearable and downright classy. If you’re looking for an ideal autumn scent, seriously forget all of the pumpkin spice nonsense - Noir Exquis will set you apart from everyone else who has bought into the insipid Starbucks variety of autumnal cafe inspired travesties. And it will do so with undeniable style. It is somehow understated and humble while simultaneously seeming luxurious and intoxicating, the perfect juxtaposition of which makes it an anomaly - a single sparkling gem in a world of underwhelming costume jewelry. Noir Exquis could be considered the definitive outlier of an often disappointing sea of countless mediocre “almost, but not quite” fall fragrances. And thank god we have one - there is nothing basic about it at all. To me, this is also a somewhat rare case of the presentation perfectly doing the product justice in that L’Artisan Parfumeur’s bottle design accurately signifies and reinforces the idea of the high quality of the contents within. If, for some reason, I get through this life not having used my entire bottle, I could see Noir Exquis being a treasured heirloom. The whole package epitomizes classic maturity and timelessness. The same could be said for the other selections I’ve tried from the brand. The cynic in me knows that I am just falling for the image, but my god - their marketing team deserves all the credit in the world for tricking me into thinking I’m getting something more unique and special than the more mass appealing, pop culture endorsed products manufactured by the same parent company. I clearly take no issue with knowingly buying into the gorgeous bottles paired with an antique botanical print aesthetic, a contrived stab at the impression of a long established reputation and rock solid authenticity. I’m so very in - they got me. Frankly put, this is “simple pleasure” defined. I hope that it endures forever.

Noir Exquis absolutely a gourmand fragrance, but it never forgets that it’s a perfume, not a holiday candle. The gourmand elements, such as coffee, chestnut, vanilla, and maple syrup, are front-and-center in the blend, but they’re cocooned with florals and woods and employed in such a way that they’re never too much – never too sweet, never too vanillic, never too juvenile or crass. In line with L’Artisan’s long history, this is an exquisitely blended perfume created with a sense of elegance, sophistication, and care. The opening is a broadside of juicy orange, powdery heliotrope and orange blossom, chestnut, and a deep, rich, almost boozy vanilla, reminiscent of real vanilla extract. Soon, though, everything starts to come into focus. The orange fades, and the coffee starts to bubble up from beneath a golden haze of maple. This is not a harsh, bitter coffee like in By Kilian’s Intoxicated or Sebastiane’s Espresso Royale, but more like the pleasing wafts you might get when you come down for breakfast and a fresh pot of coffee has just been brewed. This coffee blends seamlessly with the chestnut and the thick, boozy, and slightly smoky vanilla. As time goes on, the ebony wood comes more to the fore, and overall the fragrance becomes drier and less sweet. The heliotrope and orange blossom provide a lush, velveteen texture. Where other gourmand fragrances might eschew floral notes altogether, these flowers are used skillfully to add a suppleness to the fragrance that elevates it from a simple vanilla to something more complex and balanced. What you’re left with for hours and hours after initial application is a warm, sensual vanilla flecked with coffee beans, white flowers, a drizzle (not too much) of maple syrup, and dry woods. Performs exactly like an EDP, so good longevity and not-so-good projection and sillage. But I'm okay with that. 8/10

***Black Bottle Review*** Brief personal story to enhance the review. The performance related info will be towards the bottom if that's all you're interested in. I drove by a very small pâtisserie during winter, not far just outside of San Francisco, and saw a massive line all the way down the sidewalk. I was sharing a vehicle at the time and made a mental note to return on the weekend when I'd have it to myself. Got there an hour early on Saturday, still third in line, realized I forgot my coat :)))))))))) and waited until my turn. I'd never been in a pâtisserie before but the smell was just warm, sweet, buttery bliss. The people running the place were equally warm, sweet, and buttery. I got some stuff I don't remember the name of and it made me cry. Spicy meatball hand kiss. Anyways, that same day I ended up in Bloomingdales and was chatting up the sales associate about Kilian when he suggested me this house. This was the first fragrance he sprayed and before doing that he read the inspiration which was "two lovers rendezvous at a pâtisserie" which to me was like the stars aligning, and smelling it made me feel exactly what I had earlier that day. The accuracy of the smell was flooring so I bought the bottle and now every night I smile at my tiny personal San Fran adventure. Noir Exquis wears close to the skin, but has great longevity. I can smell it on my skin for a good 6-7 hours. The only similarity from By The Fireplace this has is the roasted chestnut at the top. None of the smokiness, though, it's all sweet. This hits its stride once the maple and coffee comes through. Maple is foremost, but it's a pleasant airy maple. Not thick or gooey by any stretch, which is why this has turned into the fragrance I spray before bed.

This is for the gold capped version. Just a couple of things to begin with. There are very few gourmand perfumes I can say I love or even like. This is one I love. Second, with all due respect to it's admirers, MMM BTF doesn't come close to the mastery of this creation in my opinion. Someone far down in the reviews mentioned that BTF reminded her of barbecued sausage, and that is how I experience it as well, making it impossible for me to consider the two similar. What I love about NE is that there seems to be an implied smokiness, something that hints at being is a cozy, warm patisserie where the smell of a distant fireplace adds to the ambiance. Stepping outside after enjoying some type of vanilla and maple confection that is not achingly sweet, I smell chestnuts being roasted by street vendors. It's funny because that particular aroma is very present on the streets of NYC in the cold weather just as it is in Paris, but the street I'm stepping out onto is definitely Parisian. I definitely have a scent memory from time spent in Paris in late autumn, and the nostalgia for that time and place makes the experience of wearing NE all the more heartwarming. I've already hit on what most every favorable review has mentioned, though I did forget to mention the rich coffee I was enjoying with my little treat! Beyond that, I'll just add that on my skin I get about 4 hours with projection less than a foot away. ThoughbIve owned this for quite a while, I'm reviewing it today, because as we perfumistas tend to do, I'm thinking ahead to what I will be wearing for the upcoming holidays, and Noir Exquis is definitely on the menu for Thanksgiving!

Lovely sophisticated gourmand comfort scent with strong vanilla honey (without the pissy note). While it may not be groundbreaking now, it is quite well done, if you like gourmands. I'm not a true gourmand lover of perfume, but every now and then.... for some reason I like to wear them to bed, and I suspect this one will be the same. The orange that everyone is complaining about is not really all that present to my nose, nor is the coffee or the hazlenut, alas. But the heliotrope, vanilla and tonka are considerably amplified on me so this is very sweet indeed. I blind bought this based on someone's review and one that I admire, not something I would normally do, but I'm very happy with this, even if it is a warm fall and winter scent. It's not doing too badly in the heat this spring. I plan on wearing it again tomorrow when the weather cools up (we're having some weird weather in Cali). I think this is unisex while skewing a bit feminine, and, for some may even be sensual and sexy, though I eschew sweets for civets with respect to seduction scents. This is warmly, comfortingly seductive. Edit: two-three months later, now October. I bought a FB. Now I can smell the coffee and the hazelnut, but it’s not as strong as the opening of the new Atelier Cafe Tuberosa. Noir Exquis is more expertly blended, and just beautiful—lovely silage, and lasts all day, and as an added plus: I get compliments on this one (a rare thing!). I’m very happy and even with my truckload of ‘fumes—this one is getting some wear and I’m already looking at close to the half-bottle mark...

This is now my favorite release by L'Artisan, and definitely the best thing they've done recently. You're going to get a lot of vanilla and sweet tonka bean in this one, a kind of rich, undoubtedly buttery vanilla but it's accented by many nice and interesting gourmand nuances so that it never gets boring. I wasn't sure how roasted chestnuts would translate here but they smell great, with their own unique flavor. They match up well with the coffee note, continuing a sort of roasted/toasted quality that runs throughout the scent. This roasted side of the fragrance is nicely balanced with the sweet side, so it doesn't become cloying or sickly sweet. Maple syrup leaves a bit of a crystallized burnt sugar impression, and finally there's a nice solid woody structure in the base. I guess it could be described as sandalwood, or maybe cashmeran wood, a sort of dry but solid backbone for the base. If you like New Haarlem but always wished it wasn't as big and sloppy and in your face as it is, this is a great option. If you're looking for a gourmand that has some nice nutty and woody characteristics to it as well this is also a good choice. It reminds me most of Aoud Vanille by Mancera, however Aoud Vanille is drier and lacks the quirky little detail of Noir Exquis. Thumbs up for sure. This was a pleasant surprise that almost slipped by me, and it probably deserves more attention than it's received.

Vanilla flavored coffee, that's the main accord of this fragrance, smells similar to the k-cup coffee I have at work every morning, it has a light-roasted coffee bean aroma, not the bold and dark type. The Opening is a little minty, I didn't detect any citrus or orange blossom at all. After 10min the Tonka and Maple sap came in, with a hint of chestnut as a supporting role in the background. After an hour or so, there's some smokey burnt-wood reared its head, which i presume to be the ebony? reminded me of a fireplace, the dry down is quite dry. At 2hr mark, the Vanilla coffee bailed out and disappeared. None of the notes are in-your-face though, they seem a bit like an illusion. Projection and Sillage are moderate for about 2hr, with an average longevity of about 6hr. The sprayer is like firehose, a massive amount of distribution so 2 to 3 sprays should do. This fragrance project an aura type scent bubble, you know it's there but it's not dense or heavy, wouldn't be offensive or cloying if you overspray. I would wear this anytime in any season, whenever i feel like having a darker gourmand scent. Though, I'll reach for Al Contrario from Terenzi when i want a lighter and more uplifting gourmand scent.

I bought this as a 10 ml travel size, and fell soooooo in love!!! This is the most quintessential autumnal scent to me, alongside ELDO's Like This, in my collection. Bertrand Duchaufour, master that he is, created the perfect balance of nuttiness, with a hint of coffee and a gorgeous, perfect amount of maple syrup giving this a delightful gourmand quality that smells very refined, comforting and delicious!!! I've read some people consider this a skin scent and while it does sit a bit close to the skin, it has some seriously impressive lasting power - I'd applied this in the afternoon yesterday, then later sprayed some of my remaining L'Artisan Nuit de Tuberose on before going to bed. I woke up in the middle of the night, trying to remember what else I'd applied that day as my wrist smelled so wonderful but it was not the tuberose. Ah, yes -- it was Noir Exquis! Really impressive performance here, and a truly exQUISite creation from one of my favorite perfumers! And funnily, L'Artisan has this listed under 'men's fragrances' on their site, yet it is absolutely unisex, as I think pretty much all of their fragrances are, so I'm frankly surprised they even bother separating them by gender?

my mom gave this to me because she said she hated it. I'd never heard of or seen it. I sprayed it and I got this glorious wuff of woodsy vanilla.....sweet woodsy vanilla. It took me about 30 seconds to realize that it smelled VERY similar to by the fire place.....yes....just like everyone says but maybe a little sweeter. And it....was....glorious. After 5 minutes some spicy notes seep through. Still pretty good. The vanilla is strong and pairs so well with the woodsy notes. After about 30-60 minutes it looses it's woodsy vanillery goodness and smells like really strong spice....like sweet spicy mens cologne. I didn't like it much at that point. but to me this was STRONG. like REALLY strong. I don't get why people say it's light and week. I totes disagree. But I've just started smelling niche frags so maybe compared to others it is. I don't get coffee but I'm also not an expert at frags so I probably wouldn't know anyway. long story short.....I was in love for the first 30-45 minutes but after 1 hour this is very much a dudes scent. sweet spicy cologne which I wouldn't mind smelling on a dude for maybe a formal occasion but I'm not into smelling that way.

I have a sample. (thanks SailorV!) ---- Summary: sweet gourmand, but elegant and refined. This is really really good. Smells of dark old wood (like those old offices with high ceilings and dark wood bookcases that reach the ceiling), of candied boiled chestnuts, of the smoky vanilla that old pipe tobacco used to smell like, of something sweet and smoky but not heavy nor sticky, more atmospheric and undulating instead. That is the most unusual part of this, that it manages to be clearly sweet and smoky but keeps its lightness. I don't get the coffee, but I get all other notes. The orange and orange flower notes come and go, the heliotrope is more permanent. The vanilla and tonka are there but are elegant, not screechy as they sometimes are in other fragrances, and the sandalwood may be there (I detect a warm creaminess that is usually, for my nose, associated with sandalwood) but is not prominent. I would love to have this one. I will have to test it on winter as well. Even on warm weather, I find it lovely, but I suspect it will shine on cooler air which will lend it even more airiness and brightness, which is not usual on sweet gourmands like this one.

Oh, dear god. This is first perfume I have ever blind bought. And probably the best perfume I have ever bought. I am so in love with it. According to the notes listed here and the fact that I love L'Artisan vibe, I assumed I would like this one. Damn, I am good. This is good. I got it yesterday and couldn't imagine a better new year's gift. This is really warm and sweet (high quality sweet) blend of something yummy, but not edible yummy. And for me, so unique. Five of my favourite scents are blended together in a way I personally would mix them. Like there is someone working for L'Artisan that can read my dreams. Chestnut, maple sap, orange, coffee and tonka bean are equally strong on my skin, they are very authentic and you can detect each one separately, although in a perfect mix. The ebony and sandalwood basis make the whole thing a bit woody and sacral. Sillage and projection are perfect (maybe a bit strong for the first 20mins). I cannot stop smelling myself and congratulating myself for such a good blind buy. It actually makes me happy. I will wear it for some time and see, but I think this could be my (winter) signature scent.

At first it smells like something is burning,very odd and like fire. Then it devellops to something spicy, Anyway, this is a little review, a first impression, I tested a little spritz to the department store. And to me is more of a spicy rather than a vanilla perfume. Absolutely unisex, at first it smells more masculin and then becomes more unisex. I have to say this is the most longlasting perfume I ve ever smelled.And I was not expecting this bc I own a perfume from this house and I know the longevity is not their thing. Anyway, I have to say, i spritz once on my hand, on the upper side, I am sorry I don t speak english well, not on the palm points and I smelled it for 2 days non stop! And I have washed my hands, of course, several times. I am speechless.... I don;t know how it is in terms of sillage, but oh... it is a mysterious and hypnotizing smell that lasts forever. I like that it is not sickly sweet but more like aegyptian, eastern,really sensual and erotic smell. It is not caramelised,it s not juvenile sweet or vanillary. It reminds me of good old opium very much. Oh I forot how I loved opium...I love it and I want it

Breakfast by the fireplace! This is a lovely gourmand scent, very well blended with a smokey vanilla aspect. I used to own this and MMM By the fireplace but to my nose this was by far the most well crafted and unique scent. It has the smokey-vanilla-chestnut accord that Btf is well known for but this is more. To me Btf is just that and a bit too smokey that some times it's like you smell like ashes or just smoke. This has a beautiful coffee and maple sirup accord, the smoke is toned down, it's a bit woody and the chestnut, vanilla combo give this amazing gourmand-nutty feeling. It's like having pancakes and coffee for breakfast by the fireplace! Performance is the biggest drawback of this scent compared to Btf, it lasts 6-7 hours on my skin with moderate to soft projection. I think that this is a cozy/lay back/movie night with your partner scent and you don't need huge performance. It can be a date scent and you need this person to come closer to smell you. A beautiful gourmand that lacks in performane in comparison to it's biggest rival but wins in smell!

Noir Exquis is a delicious enigma—a nocturnal sonnet where shadow and light perform an intimate pas de deux. The first breath is glazed chestnuts, their candied richness lacquered in the sticky sheen of maple syrup, a benzoin-kissed sweetness that glows like amber in the late afternoon sun. Sweet orange flits through, bright, almost crystalline, lifting the syrup’s weight before the composition sinks into something darker, deeper, more hypnotic. Brazilian coffee unfurls in the heart, not fresh and steaming as I had expected but thick, roasted, almost burnt, its bitterness wrapping around the chalky edges of a warm chestnut paste. A warm fall pie, enveloped in vanillic bakery smoke. Tonka hums beneath it all, lending a familiar, earthy softness, stretched across the polished depth of dark ebony wood. Like a tempered, mont blanc indulgence spun, layered, set with sophistication. An alchemical tapestry that invites a cascade of cozy salivation, a gourmand less explicit and more ghostly, like pumpkin latte-stained fingertips.

The essence of autumn. I imagine this is what the atmosphere of “You’ve Got Mail” would smell like bottled up. It smells of falling autumn leaves, cozy coffee shops, book pages, caressed skin, a warm home, dark sweaters, hugs and falling in love. Stunning concept scent. The bottle is heavy glass and feels of premium quality. It plays with the light beautifully and reflects a different color at the bottom. I love everything about this. I was afraid this would be overly smoky but it’s not. It’s not a true gourmand either. It’s a scent with some gourmand aspects that present themselves in a very light and smooth way (vanilla flavored coffee, toasted chestnuts and marshmallows, warm cacao with orange zest & maple sap) and at the same time, it never forgets it is a perfume and it’s done in a very elegant, refined and atmospheric way. The drydown is heavenly, the longevity pretty decent (will last for most of the day) and the sillage is moderate to intimate...just what you need to make someone lean in closer.

★★★★★ I was thinking of giving this a 4 star rating, but I changed my mind and I will explain why: This might not be ultra original and new, but in the sea of smokey/dark/sweet fragrances this is one of the most elegant ones, with great longevity and an acceptable sillage. It's sweet and edible in the beginning, the nuttiness of the chestnut and the sweetness of maple is striking. Coffee is the note that glues everything together. In the drydown, it gets mysterious, smoky and definitely masculine, which I love. At this stage, it stays true to its Noir concept and maintains depth and elegance. Smoke or incense might not be listed as notes but I think that the ebony, sandalwood and heliotrope make this "noir" and smokey aspect shine. It is not challenging, definitely not groundbreaking, but it makes a perfect signature for the winter if you want to walk around with an elegant, alluring and mysterious aura surrounding you. Can you justify the 5 stars now? Well done Mr. Duchaufour!

The was an informed blind buy...recommended to me buy a scent profile computer at the Champs d’Élysées Sephora. It’s a cool machine that simulates notes from various scent profiles and recommends perfumes based on the notes you like. At any rate - I love this. It’s mostly a marshmellowy vanilla on me with a dry, warm, woodiness. A nice intimate skin scent that doesn’t project too much - which is what I like. I look forward to wearing it with a cozy sweater. I don’t get the other notes but that’s fine with me. It will layer nicely too. By the fireplace gives me a headache though I did like it to start. So far so good with this one! No headaches and I’m three sprays in. Curious to see what it does as it macerates... Edit: I’ve noticed this is a scent that stays on my skin for a long time and it does project a bunch if I still have some on when I hit the gym, so I don’t spray a lot. I am also picking up more of the orange and chestnutty-ness now - still very good and I love it!

Reviewing the newer bottle style, I have never smelled the older bottle style so I can't judge that one. This is incredible. This only smells like BTF in the opening, and even then that only lasts about 5 minutes for me. Noir Exquis goes towards a sweet/gourmand route, whereas BTF goes smoky/woody. This isn't overly sweet, though. It's mostly a comforting scent that doesn't project too much, whenever I've gotten compliments on this is when I hug someone or they sit close to me. Because this doesn't project much I've worn this to the office a few times in cold weather and it's great. I can smell this on myself and my clothes the entire day, and sometimes I get a whiff of it in the air after having sprayed it hours earlier. I've had my bottle for a year and a few months now and have worn this so much that my family considers this my signature scent. If I had to get rid of all my bottles and keep just one, it'd be this one.

Dark, rich and exquisite. This is all chestnut, honey, and ebony on me. I have had people say that the room I just left smelled like "lilies," which I suspect is the honeyed edge to it. So rich and powerful it carries the scent of the flowers the nectar came from. Not quite gourmand, it is too well blended. And this is powerful juice, three sprays gives me a cloud of fragrance that lasts me all day (from application at 8am until bed). It is fairly linear, what you get is what you get. But it is so different than anything else I have ever smelled that I never want it to change. Spicy, warm, and yet I can wear it in the summer as well. (It is more of a dark evening fragrance in the summer, sexy and mingled with the smell of warm bodies.) There is something deeply exotic and alluring about this fragrance. I crave it. I do not get vanilla, or coffee though it seems most people do, so your mileage may vary.

While this is solidly a winter-time fragrance, it lacks some of the typical (stereotypical?) notes that would push it into the "Christmas in a Bottle" category we hear so much about this time of year. There are no spices and no tobacco notes. There's nothing here that evokes Christmas trees, or Santa's pipe, or a snowy sleigh ride (whatever snow smells like). What you do get is deep, rich, and sweet chestnuts, maple and vanilla. Maybe a little orange, maybe not. The maple is quite dominant at the start, but develops some complexity after a few minutes. Not too much more, though. This is 100% gourmand - not a holiday fruitcake, or maple syrup, or anything else specifically (maybe a little coffee) - but it smells delicious. Noir Exquis is definitely a solid choice when your usual holiday fragrance starts to smell a little tired, and it might prove to be more versatile, too.

This is a lovely, cozy unisex scent that, I feel, could really work most any time of day or any occasion. With master parfumeur and mixmaster extraordinaire Bertrand Duchaufour at the helm, all notes and accents are so smoothly blended that nothing feels too loud or prominent and everything works together beautifully. My nose gets some of the sweet orange and a tiny drop of coffee in the opening, but what I smell at 1st spray and lingering closely on my skin for hours is primarily a soft, subtle, sophisticated medley of the base notes: warm vanilla, light wood, tonka bean/coumarin and - a fave of mine - heliotrope, of which there’s a nice creamy, almondy dosage. Another masterpiece. I see why folks might draw comparisons to “By the Fireplace”, but that one would be a drugstore cousin, if anything - much more sweet, smoky and synthetic musky.

When I wear this, I hear - "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..." in my head. It is the scent of Christmases past. As in many families, mine would roast chestnuts for after dinner with dessert on winter holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas). This scent is the blend of the dry, smoky chestnuts, sweet desserts, brewed coffee and a slowly burning fireplace in the living room. Such a cozy and familiar scent that makes me smile. My mind's eye nine-year old is sitting at the dinner table with my grandfather, cracking and peeling chestnuts and eating almond torte with whipped cream on top. Comparisons with BTF are fair, but NE's smokiness is less aggressive, more nutty. Like a smoldering smoke with sweet chestnuts, not full blazing fire with heavier sweetness. The differences are enough to own and enjoy both fragrances.

I received this fragrance yesterday, it was a blind buy and a good blind buy. The bottle is the new style, I have also purchased an old style one so will come back and edit this post if it’s edit worthy. I will be short as there are so many reviews already, To my nose the main note I smelled Immediately was dark chocolate, I eat a lot of it and loved how realistic it was in this fragrance. I also thought that there was a good pinch of cardamom but upon checking, apparently it’s not there. Overall, this is not a usual stereotypical gourmand, it’s definitely grounded by wood which also brings it into the unisex territory. Finally, I sprayed (a lot) before I went to bed - skin, not clothes. I woke up still smelling about 20 percent of it on my skin. Which is great imo.

A very quick review which will require updating, but I needed to write down my initial reaction. I received this today (bought blind as usual), am wearing it now and I LOVE it. I have yet to find a Bertrand Duchaufour fragrance which I don't at least like. It reminds me of something and I am racking my brains to remember what it is... It is one of the Arabic perfumes I own, but I can't remember which one. This is driving me mad. I am certain I smell a light oud or incense in the drydown,although it may be the interaction of some of the notes. Projection is moderate. I suspect that the longevity is going to be very long lasting on clothing (less so on skin, but my skin sucks up perfume, so I never use this as a fair reflection on a fragrance).

Bertrand Duchauford, once again, never ceased to amaze me. Judging by the notes alone and thinking that you will get something incredibly sweet and cheesy, suffocating then you were wrong. I was covered in a bed of warm and woody notes, just slightly sweet enough to bring you tranquility and a homely mind. It feels like being on the winter holiday and cheerfully surrounded by your family members by the lovely fireplace, having breakfast together with waffles and some maple syrup and a hot cup of latte. Creations by Bertrand always brings you back to your very best memories, moments when you were the happiest on Earth. And of course you would never get tired of re-living in those greatest moments, wouldn't you?

Belongs to my top three among all L'Artisans and I love 90% of them. First of all it is the most loud and long-lasting fragrance of this house, - this is The Fact. Noir is in EDP concentration, but feels more like an extract. Roasted chestnuts dipped in maple sap and dense black wood prevents it to turn into sticky gourmand. Coffee is dark here, nothing from cappuccino and no milk , thank you. It has wow-factor, it has beautiful burned woodiness and sweet, pleasant, husky dryness at the base, that lasts like no one's business. I appreciate every minute from start to finish, solid and innovative composition, that would please to both gourmies and amateurs of woody-oriental categories.

At first I get the citrus aspects. Then the honeyed-maple/slight floral...Then the drydown....I really get a chestnutty coffee. with vanilla..and.with the beginning and mid notes still there but "underneath". I was NOT too sure of this one at first,but Like soooooo many scents...this one you need to let do it's "thing" on your skin and with your chemistry....so let that happen before you judge this scent. I am impressed so far. Even tho it is a moderate sillage/projection and still judging the longevity factor.I consider this a gourmond,IMHO. I also do get the slight tonka/sandalwoody vibe too. edit: Spectacular scent !!! After many wearings, this is now Top 10 list material.

Such a beautifully done delicious fragrance. Good for special events or occasion wear, and will make you the best smelling in any room. The coffee is there throughout the development, and the opening has an element of smokiness or dryness which goes away in the dry down, where it becomes a vanilla-coffee-chestnut fragrance. Picture this: you’re eating a chestnut cake, with a vanilla-maple syrup over it and you’re drinking an Italian espresso. All of this is set in an old cafe where you can smell the aging wood. You’re staying warm by the fireplace in the cafe, it’s cold outside, you’re favorite (expensive) sweater is on and everything is good and beautiful.

The perfect gourmand fragrance for anyone who would rather not smell of crème brûlée or chocolate pudding. Noir Exquis possesses an almost savoury character. Shavings of ebony and sandalwood, toasted chestnuts, almond-like heliotrope and rich brewed coffee dominate, but it's the subtly carnal combination of sweet maple syrup, vanilla and orange blossom that give this scent life. The fragrance lasts an exceptionally long time on skin compared to other L'Artisan fragrances I've tried and owned, and projects ideally for wear in the Australian autumn. I feel this is could be comfortably be worn by any gender. Lovers of nutty scents will certainly appreciate.

Smells like someone one made warm maple syrup with a light roast black coffeee also toasting chestnuts in the fireplace in the middle of a forest in a warm log cabin. So comforting, smooth, warm, kind of gourmand but not entirely. Love it so much! You would think these notes would lean heavy, but not at all. It’s a bit light wearing. Will have to update on the longevity of this..but so far it’s a love love love! Edit : longevity is not too great on skin , maybe 4-5 hours . But on clothes I get maybe like 10. projection is very personal , someone would have to be right next to me to smell anything . But it’s still a love despite this

Oooh, this is so lovely. I think it may be one of my first proper loves from L'Artisan. It has quite a few of my favourite notes in perfumes: chesnuts, amber, coffee and tonka. It shows all of these rather intensely, but not so intensely as to put one off of their fragrance. There's also a beautiful powdery incense vibe that I get from this, although it's not listed in the notes/accords. It dries down to a splendid incense/coconut/sandalwood/vanilla in which it becomes more of a body scent. It's stunning and magnificent at the start and beautiful at the end, but perhaps it'd make a better layering scent than anything else.

God this is so good. Such a moody, sweet scent. It does smell "brown" as a few others mentioned, a syrupy caramelized brown sugar quality that somehow doesn't read as saccharine. There's an edge of coffee but not prominent. Vanilla ties it all together. A very alluring fragrance. One of the few I can actually say I love. Edit: The performance... is terrible. At least on me. It's a skin scent with maybe 3-4 hours of life. Maybe using the Vaseline trick would help? Such a shame! Only worth a full bottle if you can get a steep discount somehow. Edit 2: Copped a cheap bottle, I can't deny the signature scent appeal any longer.

Upon initial spray, I was bummed with this one. I'd heard this hype as similar to M3 By the Fireplace, and it did not spray like that at all. But I gave it time (because I truly want this to be similar) and it developed into a near-identical fragrance. The smokiness, the chestnuts, the sweetness, the spiciness, and that feeling like you're cuddling up at a bonfire on an autumn night I get with M3 By the Fireplace are all here. Still testing out longevity - that's my hesitation in buying a full bottle with M3; despite how it lasts on everyone else, the longevity on me is pitiful. Hopefully Noir Exquis far outlasts it.

Probably one of the most comforting scents out there, couldn’t expect less from the Genius Bretrand. Its name matches perfectly the aroma, and i’ll tell you why: It’s noir, because it has chestnuts, coffee, ebony wood. But what if you dip in some maple syrup and vanilla to get noir alive and sweet? This beauty it’s not overly sweet at all, but it has a double face... sweet, dark, sweet, dark, and it smells like perfume, not like an ice cream. I looove it, when i smell it in the summer makes me willing for fall to come in, and enjoy this scent on the sofa while it’s raining outside. Bertrand, keep them coming!

Apparently I love a chestnut note, because this is sooo good. I am falling in love with this scent and can't wait for fall to start overspraying because it smells so good. The opening with chestnut and orange is perfect, and then the coffee and maple syrup start to come through with the perfect balance of sweetness. Noir Exquis ends with a warm vanilla and maybe a little ebony? Most perfumes don't last more than a few hours on me, even with lotion and vaseline, but this one gets me 8 hours or so. Right now I am just putting on the back of my hand before bed because it is so comforting and just perfect. 😍😍😍😍

Crazy! it was a blind buy and when I sprayed it, I also thought my nose didn't work anymore or that I received a scam bottle! A super light honeyish juice, that I barely liked. So I decided to spray it on a piece of towel paper and I went outside to walk my dog. After 10 min it was not the same story, it became sharp, spicy and dry, UNBELIEVABLY GOOD! Reminds me of Armani privé Cuir Noir, but a lighter version, I used to have it and I loved it, but I couldn't handle the slap in your face certain days. Noir Exquis, just exquisite but also discrete. just to put in secrets corners reachable by kisses...

This may be a common trend in today's perfume world, but I love it: a warm, sensual combination of vanilla and a nutty note, a lovely, not-too-sweet, delicious gourmand. I can't imagine anyone disliking it. I agree there are similarities with "By the Fireplace", but Noir Exquis is more natural, smoother and fuller. The lack of longevity is the downside. I wish I could have more time before it turns to a skin scent. On me, it's less than an hour. Still, I love it so much I'm looking for a full bottle. Also, I’m thinking I will layer it with “By the Firpelace” next time I want to wear it.

A classy cool-weather gourmand, for those who want their gourmands to still smell like perfume and not food. Do not expect this to be Demeter "French café," it is more an artistic interpretation of the concept, and is equal parts nutty, sweet, woody and floral. Some say the heliotrope stands out awkwardly, some say it adds complexity, just know that it is certainly there. I found it more powdery than I was expecting and so it took me a while to warm up to it, but it has turned into a favorite this winter as I find myself craving something different from the ubiquitous youthful bonbons.

Guys I gotta tell you. This thing stayed on my arm for 12 hours now anf still going! With some sillage whifting still! The only others I had such a strong staying power with are the exceptions of Interlude Man and Eau Sauvage Parfum and montale Intense Cafe. I'm really pleasantly surprised. Scent-wise it's intriguing. Not really outstanding but still special enough. Specially when u smell it in the air not up close. The drydown is basically smokey vanilla with some woods. At an earlier stage I got that strong similarity to Eau De Baux. Great stuff overall. More cold weather like.

In an alternate dimension there is a precious wood that has a remarkable aroma of chestnuts, heliotrope, and bourbon vanilla; a cosmic wood, if you will, highly coveted but protected from the ravages of over-harvesting. I imagine Noir Exquis to be the scent of this fantastical wood from another realm. An opening blast of liqueur quickly subsides to receding autumn leaves, distant bonfires, and dark shadowy woods at dusk. The base gets ever nuttier, woodier, with just a dusting of powder and pastry. Sweet, pensive and charming. Perfect to wear as we reach the precipice of winter.

I like this juice a lot. I blind bought it hoping it would be something amazing. Judging by the notes and perfumer this was bound to be good. Boy was I right. This is quite linear on me. I get the roasted chestnuts vibe totally. It's a little smoky but nothing too offensive. It's something that you can wear dresses up or down. A gourmand that is kinda out of the box but looking in. I haven't really smelled anything like it before. Great longevity with moderate projection. If you are looking for a gourmand that isn't too sweet then I think this might be the fragrance for you.

Okay I’m reviewing the black cap bottle (which I love their design btw and the bottles are sturdy) I love this. This to me smells like vanilla, woody, campfire ish. There’s a touch of caramel (I think it’s actually the maple) and I smell amber as well. It’s beautifully blended, my husband loves it too. He doesn’t like vanilla and as soon as I sprayed this he said “mmm I like this vanilla”. It smells like a grown up vanilla where the vanilla isn’t the main character but an equal partner with the other notes. Cannot wait to wear this in the fall and winter!

Strong chestnut, smooth honey, sweet vanilla and black coffee on me and I love it. Seems a cousin to my beloved One Legged Joe by Ganache but less foody and, if I may say, more grown up. I didn't know chestnut could smell so wonderful in a fragrance, having encountered street vendors roasting them many years ago in New York City and being overcome by the smell, and not in a good way. Amazing what a dose of honey and vanilla will do, yeah? Goes on with an oily sheen and lasts a good 8 hours on me. (My bottle is the older clear one with a black label.)

This is one of the longer lasting L'Artisan scents that I have come across after sampling tons. This and Ambre Extreme are the 2 best as far as longevity. Noir Exquis easily lasts 6-8 hours with moderate sillage. Not a true gourmand but somewhat of a light or mild gourmand such as Aomassai. No they don't smell the same but would be in the same category. I also find it a bit dry and dark maybe due to the ebony wood overpowering the sandalwood in the dry down? If you are looking for an everyday gourmand scent for the colder temps then this is worthy.

Initially this scent on my skin reminds me of a cup of nutty coffee with a hint of vanilla. Then it starts to be sweet but not too much. The woody notes then turn the whole thing into something much more. I am not usually a fan of sweet perfumes but I like this one. It lasts a long time on me the sweetness fading and the woody tones becoming more prominent. I think it is a rich sort of scent probably best worn in the evening although with its reference to food scents it could also be worn during the day. Maybe at a coffee morning?

Very similar to By The Fireplace. I got BTF first not sure which was produced first without looking. L'artisan is less marshmallow but very similar on the sticky slightly sweet roasted chestnut. L'artisan is a tad bit more bright, maybe that is from the citrus/floral notes (I don't prick up citrus but it must be in there slightly taming the smokiness). BTF is more Smokey. Love both scents but since I get same longevity and performance out of L'artisan I would tend to buy L'artisan since its price point is way better.

This perfume is everything I love. Starts off with the sweetest notes: candied chestnut, maple, orange blossom. As it settles down, the base notes give it substance: dark wood, almost smoky. The scent ends up being sweet but not overly so. A good balance between comforting and sophisticated. Long-lasting with a mild projection that keeps it elegant. I love being able to smell it without worrying about choking everyone else. My current go-to autumn scent but I could see myself wearing this year-round.

Right off the bat I get a whiff of chestnut, and it’s delicious! This is a very cozy, fall/winter coffee shop fragrance. It’s sweet, definitely smell baked goods. But I think the coffee has an underlying bitterness that levels out really well with the maple syrup. I don’t really pick up any orange or orange blossom on my skin. But it’s gorgeous nevertheless. The dry down is vanilla and sandalwood for me. I just think this is a cozy daytime parfum! Not for everyone though, sample first.

This is the only perfume that I have bought two backup bottles of and I am plowing through my first initial bottle like crazy. I want to smell this all the time. At least until spring time or I reach THAT point. You know the one. I have received no compliments on this and the silage is maybe non-existent, longevity is okay particularly on clothes but all that doesn't seem to be that important. Gold cap. update: 3 bottles now finished and it's March 22. I did receive one compliment! Ha

A linear fragrance to my nose, that consists of (ebony) woodiness, chestnut with a touch of the maple. This does not come across overly gourmand at all, but I sorta get the 'By The Fireplace' comparison ( but that is way sweeter ) This is a solid Autumn/Winter dark woody delight. I have a bottle from around three years ago, and performance is great, lasts easily 8 hrs, doesn't protect beyond arms length but the sillage is very good and has been noticed by people several times.