Illusions Noires Le Premier Parfum Eau de Minuit

I recall my overall impression, based around popular opinion here on fragrantica at the time of this one's release, was that the yearly releases were all, pretty much, one and the same - encapsulated in limited edition design boxes and bottles. I mistakenly took that to mean that I could simply stock up on my chosen design and get the best of the bunch, not needing to bother with any of the others. Sadly, this was not the case. The edt version with the little black leaves adorning the base of the sprayer top is my favourite design of the lot, but it does not smell anywhere near as mesmerising, potent and magnetic as this edp. It is wonderful and I love it dearly, but it lacks the strength, complexity and tenacity of this one. If this is night, that would be day. This one is my favourite of all the darker bottle versions I've tried. It is sort of like Minuit Noir (the woodiest, least sweet, most genuine licorice scented version) had a baby with one of the more candied, resinous versions. And it is absolutely amazing. My favorite of all, I might even venture to say. But, then, Fleur Defendue is also a favorite from this brand. The original Lempicka goes without saying as possibly the best of the lot. None (pre more recent changes, which I'm not privy to as yet) are any less wonderful in their own right than this. I just love them all, don't I? But I stocked up on that leafy one when I shoulda got more of this one. This is so dreamy. Lots of licorice, so thick and syrupy, powdery and sweet. So beautifully balanced and smooth. It lasts well in to the night. 🌙 Love, love, love.

Like other LL Midnight perfumes, Illusions Noires has a very clear "LL-ade" and uses a similar arrangement of mostly the same notes. However, they are all distinct scents, despite having similar overall profiles. I think this makes them successful flankers, as they emphasize different parts of the Lolita Lempicka story. Illusions Noirs is the heaviest of the four I have tried (Minuit Sonne, Le Parfum, and L'Eau Minuit), with the most emphasis on basenotes and the second sweetest scent overall (first is Le Parfum). I love the bottle; it conjures the image of the cozy cottage in spooky forest that pops up in fairy tales. Illusions Noires stays true to its name. It is very dense and dark, with lots of brooding benzoin and smokey myrrh. They are the stars of this show. Licorice is here too, as is a heap of anise and a generous sprinkling of vanilla and sugar. These provide a delicious gourmand background. The vanilla is more of a blackened and balmy variety, rather than a fluffy or pastry-like. They never get cloying; they play nicely. Buried underneath is a clearly violet and iris duo. They're pale, soft, and a little sleepy. They are only here and there for brief moments, before being overtaken by the heavier notes; only to reappear at a whim later on. This effect gives Ilusions Noires an interesting development, as it flits between unisex resins and spices and feminine florals. I wear Illusions Noires whenever I wish, but it is without a doubt a fitting Autumn scent.

This 2012 edtion of Eau de Minuit opens with cherry flavoured licorice. The licorice here is evident, but at the same time, not aggressively so. The scent also has a dry and woody feeling. The cherry facet doesn't stay very long, for about 1 hour. Then the myrrh and benzoin come in and smoothen the whole scent. After about 6 hours, I also find the iris more prominent than before and it has a cool vibe adding to the fragrance. The sillage is moderate at the beginning, then soon becomes a skin scent for the rest of the wear. But it still lingers for about 10 hours. Compared to the original Lolita Lempicka, Eau de Minuit is less powdery and drier. Its structure is sleeker and cleaner. Instead of the slightly girly ambiance of the original, Eau de Minuit is darker and more unisex. At the same time, the licorice in Eau de Minuit is not as strong as in Au Masculin version. I'd thus highly recommend it to those who find the original too powdery or too girly, or those who find the licorice in Au Masculin too powerful.

Only six notes are creating a beautiful symphony! Intoxicating, mysterious and unique. It's like the deep wood of the subconscious - it's so scary but still tempting, sometimes even sexually vibrating. White waterlilies on the surface of the deep, black water, the moon is shining, and you enter the world of your most secret desires... The wood and the water are standing still but the leaves are trembling and there's something/ somebody under the water. You want to run but can't move. This has cast a spell on you. To appreciate this you must like the original Lolita Lempicka, this is 10 times deeper, richer. Lolita with dark Smokey eyes and black liner. When the scent dries down, it becomes deliciously, sensually sweet - the forbidden fruit has been tasted. Makes me addict.

Sensual balmy version of Le Premier. More wearable, less cloying, and softer. My boyfriend dislike the original LL edp (reformulation) but he likes this one. It is more subtil and the powder aura is cleaner. I think it is not an intense version, it is a grown up better perfume with a feminine moderate sillage. All the notes are well balanced here, I can smell them all. The only thing I dislike is the first 15 minutes opening which is really too weird (plastic vanillic) and too strong. After that it softens a lot. Very complex and deep. I am addicted for those cold fall and winter days!