Nuit Noire

This may be a classic example of "what is so right for one person can be incredibly wrong for another"...I adore this perfume. On me, it starts out a sweet and spicy floral, with the orange blossom and tuberose especially noticeable, then the spices begin to warm up. Cardamom and cinnamon come to the front for a bit before settling into the full dry-down with its sandalwood and musk, with perhaps a hint of amber. The florals never fade away; they just get folded into a fabulous, rich, honeyed composition that is seriously sexy. I don't get the dirty or heavily animalic note at all, not even transiently, despite what seems like a good amount of musk going on. I have the type of chemistry that profoundly changes many perfumes, always in the direction of making them sweeter, which is the likely explanation for why this perfume smells lovely to me, completely unlike the experiences reported by other reviewers. This is a rare case where I feel quite happy about my eccentric chemistry; normally I am disappointed when the fragrance that smells so wonderful on others or in the tester ends up smelling like candy-floss on me in 5 minutes. But this time, it enabled me to find one of my all-time favorite fragrances and perhaps, to make it my own in a way. Nuit Noire is all I had hoped that other opulent Orientals would be for me, such as Lutens' Arabie, which I cannot wear as it promptly turns to plum pudding on me. Nuit Noire is, apparently, my jewel hidden in a dung-heap...noxious to some, but amazing if it happens to match your body chemistry.

I'm wearing this with such pleasure today that I'm struck again how inexplicably evil Luca Turin was when he tried to destroy Mona di Orio at the start of her too short career. Like many, I laughed out loud when reading his negative reviews. Back then I'd never smelled a Mona di Orio creation, and the Perfume Guide seemed to want to make sure I never did. But now I'm wearing Nuit Noire, the so-called "civet fart". This is a beautiful, soft orange blossom spicy-soapy perfume which make me (a guy) blush with happiness wearing it. I've also discovered Tubéreuse, Vanille, Eau absolue... I like them all. My respect keeps growing for Mme Di Orio, and keeps shrinking for Luca Turin.

To me this is like an alternate universe "Bal a Versailles" by Jean Desprez, but this one is soapy where Bal a Versailles is not (that one is more kaleidoscopic floral), and this one has even more civet than the Bal a Versailles. Both feature orange blossom and cedar heavily. And I actually like both very, very much. This one is even more sophisticated than the present Bal a Versailles imo. Nuit Noire is sultry and worldly, with for me an exciting somehow synthetic edge that does not detract from the hot heat main event...I don't see civet listed as a note, perhaps it's the leather mixed with sandalwood plus spices that gives the effect?

Oh my God. EXQUISITE , ANIMALIC SHOWSTOPPER ! ...This is a modern Bal A Versailles - a work of perfection ! Mona di Orio was an extremely talented creator but sadly passed away in an accident. This is a permanent item in my collection ! EXQUISITE ! I love you Mona di Orio. This gets compliments from colleagues. Described as : "NUIT NOIRE – The steaming sensuality of a dark, sultry night in North Africa. Notes to Notice: Orange flower, cardamom, ginger, orange, frankincense, cinnamon, tuberose, sandalwood, clove, cedar wood, amber, leather, musk, tonka."

This is an absolute winner and a head turner. Why did they stop producing Mona di Orio ????? I dont understand. I got so many compliments wearing this and I am truly heartbroken that they stopped production.

Nuit Noir is like a vintage jewelry decorated with precious stones, ancient treasure. It is like from the past epoch. I adore this masterpiece. Bravo Mona!

I absolutely ♥️ this! Reminds me of Ivory Soap Flakes and my Mom 💖

Animalic, skanky scents are not usually for me at all but I think I could actually get down with this one in the right mood/weather, probably because it is an animalic white floral and I favor those, like SL Sarrasins, TF Black Orchid, Lush Lust and Cacharel LouLou. There is something appealing to me about a skanky white floral vs a straight up skanky, stinky animalic perfume. On the right occasion, these types of scents are wearable and super sexy. Leather can compliment white flowers very nicely when done right, and I think this is definitely done right and has a charm about it, although I can see why people would hate it because it's definitely all wrong in warm or humid weather and I'm sure, when it doesn't mix well with your skin chemistry too. But although it is challenging I think it's worth several tests since when it works, it really works. I don't undestand the reviewers who say it is masculine though, maybe it's a skin chemistry thing again, but I find it to be ULTRA feminine and womanly. The way it wears on me, I could never see it on a man, but maybe if your skin amplifies the leather more than the tuberose it could be perceived as masculine. I see this as a night version of MdO Musc and if you can handle that one and don't find it too thick or cloying, chances are you can handle this too. It's just as thick, powdery-heavy, and sweetly floral but also dirtier. Not really dirtier than SL Sarrasins or say, AG Ambre Fetiche though, and nowhere near as stinky as Papillon Salome or any old Dehn Al Oudh oil (the former of which is sketchy at best for me, the latter of which is always a resounding NOOOOO). All in all, definitely not for everyone but if you've had luck with animalic or even just musky white florals in the past I think this is at least worth a sample. I personally LOVE Mona di Orio and all of her scents that I've tried work in the right situation, and NN is no exception. I actually think this could be a good animalic perfume for those who generally dislike the category, but like white florals, it's probably more challenging if you DO like animalic scents but hate white florals to be honest.

When sampling Nuit Noire, I didn't really know what to expect, but took the precaution of waiting until I was home alone in case I needed to scrub/and or air out the house. It turned out not to be that bad after all. NN starts out with a big blast of civet along with some sort of hyper-indolic floral that could be orange blossom, gardenia, or both. After a while the ginger comes in and unifies it all into a greenish, glassine-envelope like smell that I don't find at all "oriental", but that I've smelled before in mainstream commercial perfumes. This note persisted until I went to bed, accompanied by occasional whiffs of indole. When I woke up this morning I had a headache, but of course I don't know whether it was from the perfume or some other cause. No trace of the scent was present when I woke up, so the longevity is moderate. My curiosity has been satisfied, and the sample will be stashed away for possible further testing in a distant future when I've tried everything else on my list.

To me this is a skanky leather perfume, the tuberose is broken, scattered, like faint white light leaked from a dark container. The beginning has an obvious citrus note, slightly sweet, mixed with ginger. It's followed closely by the skanky musk. Luckily, before the musk fully takes over, I caught a glimpse of something coconut-y, non-sweet, unctuous powdery. I have to quickly say goodbye to this flash of tuberose, then head into the animalistic heart: it’s not just musk, there is also the penetrating ordor of civet. The skanky odor lasts for a while, until it reveals an “empty cigarettes box” edge—— which gradually take the major role, turns into a full-blown sophisticated leather. It takes its time on center stage like a real diva. Only at last moment, there may be a hint of tuberose, presenting itself as a wintergreen (i.e. methy salicylate) shadow.

This smells like Papillon Salome aka indie Bal a Versailles with an acid Bubble Yum spooge tuberose and a sweaty-armpit-wearing-orange-blossom-deodorant accord. A slurry of Civettone bum rushes the scene with its cat-bum flavor Wintergreen Tiger Balm, and a pair of dirty drawers tossed to the corner in a fit of passion. It's the breath of a trashy hook-up after that post-coital cigarette, a soapy lather with a hint of Frumunda cheese (good hygiene is a must!), hot ball flavored loaded hot balls, and a drunken stupor burying its face into a sable in an overstuffed closet. This is one of the more obscene creations, and I'd buy a full bottle if it wasn't so damn expensive.

Nuit Noire starts with potent leather smell with a crisp accord and moderate tuberose and orange blossom. soon with the leather fading and the musk smashing in, here comes the part i don't like----it's becoming too animalistic for my taste, however, the dry down on me is beautiful.it's heaven of sweet amber! sillage is great and it lasts at least 12 hours. well this is not the type of scent i would wear but i have to say i respect this perfume. it gives me an image of a powerful woman in authority who is sophisticated and elegant and rules some unknown dark world. last but not least, this house uses really good ingredients so Nuit Noire smells damn expensive.

An overwhelming, femme, noir rather audacious opening with tuberose, flowers, citrus... Slipping through olibanum, cedar, amber, musks and leather. The cloud between woods, nails, musks and (maybe) civet make me imagine furs, jewels, hair sprays and leather accessories that have been in a closet for a long time. The opening is spicy, lively and animalic and the softer heart settles down in a long, strongly musky drydown that I find in other offers of the house and which somehow flattens the finish. Not bad though... The faecal nuances that I initially have are still within the limits, not dense and go well with the tuberose and orange blossom creating a slow tail for the entire duration. In part, remembering nocturnal jasmine and ...dirty!

Well, Nuit Noire is for me yet (unfortunately) another proof, that a 'niche' does not always translate as 'extrordinary'. There has been a lot of talking about how fabulous niche fragrances are, and how much better than what you can find in regular perfume shops, which however is not so true... Nuit Noire does not even start good. I hoped for an air of Orient, mystery, something distinctive and seductive. My nose could detect some very heavy ginger and unidentified flowery notes. My beloved cinnamon and tuberose did not even make a brief appearance. The worst was yet to come though. Slowly, slowly Nuit Noire transformed into one note I have known since the day my parents brought me home from hospital after me being born. A note of soap. An old type of soap one used to buy in early 90's, not one of those nice smelling soapies you can get in stores now. A heavy smell of regular, grey soap. For this price I can only say it is a huge misunderstanding.

I don't think this works very well on my skin. I get a nice spice and an elegant vintage feel with a hint of floral that I could see being nice on the right person. Unfortunately on me it goes really soapy after a few minutes and the notes blend together into a blah scent that occasionally smells old and occasionally has a nice spice. The drydown has a nice vanilla to it and is pleasant if a little plain. I'd probably choose Spicebomb over this if I was in the mood for something spicy, but I'm sure it's better on other skin.

Holy c~#p! this is potent stuff. Way too animalic for me. Tonnes of suede and musc before the tuberose can be detected along with cardamom, ginger and cloves. Its a real animalic spice bomb on me. It would be a brave man or woman who wears this. Its not bad after an hour or so its still too animalic for my taste. The usual extraordinary longevity and moderate sillage. Its migraine inducing for me as well.

The first 30 minutes of this scent were both potent and unpleasant. There was a clear background of classical oriental - reminiscent of Nobile 1942, Ubar and Bal a Versailles. However, this was overshadowed by a bitter, brash note that made me want to scrub this off. This did fade after a while, but what was left was simply an unremarkable classic oriental.

What am I smelling here? This is a complete nightmare on my skin. Mothballs, mildew and damp leaves. It could have the most beautiful end but the beginning and middle of this frag make it unbearable, for me.

this perfume must have one of the most haunting openings of any ... I was lucky to have bought right in 2004 two Mona di Orio perfumes in their first formulation of 2004: Carnation & Nuit Noire, with the flacons with 'Champagne Tightened Cork Caps', be it that they were perfume stoppers. I can still remember it. I also remember that I found this a kind of subtle and sophisticated perfume. what must I have been thinking ? it has only gotten better ! this perfume pulls you right away head on in a vortex of Screaming Orange Blossom and Tubéreuses. especially in the evening it has a haunting, narcotic and discombobulating effect. what you definitely first smell are the disturbing clarity of the Orange Blossom and the glassy and greenish Haul of Tubéreuses. right away these flowers, next to their Claret, Trumpet, Heralding Syrens Call of White Flowers to lure in Night Moths and the like, you can also smell a discomforting smell of Indoles, even to the degree of Scatoles & Putrefaction. which is all what I very much love ! and apparently did already so in 2004. (yes) Cardamom (remembering that this isn't Cumin) and Cloves, Ginger and Olibanum are what I think responsable for the Tunisian evening smells rich in spices and aromas. Cinnamon, Orange (which I never can smell that easily), and then the Elements which help this Unruly, Unconventional, Disturbing perfume somewhat settle, like White Musk (I am still, after 50 years, uncertain if I ever smell that), Cedar, Sandelwood, Leather, Tonka & Amber are notwithstanding neither such notes to ascertain an easy landing. but that is all what I love about this perfume. I have always despised Luca Turin and reading as to how he treated the late Mona Di Orio only makes me the more sure about my instincts. that I still have that 2004 Bottle and that it has only macerated and ripened as any Champagne and Wine should also have been allowed to is just a lucky circumstance. this is surely a memorable and mythical perfume. that Serge Lutens was once her teacher makes all the more sense to me. now to still review 'Carnation' and 'Oud Osmanthus'. which are also exceptional yet never so much as this Legendary and exquise perfume.

First of all, I have to confess that for me there is no "dirty" smell. It all just smells, especially in perfumes. That might be a by-product of me working in the health sector and got to smell the the most vile things you could ever imagine. Perfumes smell nice. Believe me. Even the smelly ones. I'm not a particular niche fan, by the way. Nuit Noire is on me very dark, the opening tuberose quickly fades (thanks...) and lefts me a spicy, soapy leather musk. It smells clean and dirty at the same time. I'm not anosmic to musk, but maybe to indolics? I get, if a perfumer amputate the indoles from their origin - the white flowers (boring....), but if they're there, they're there. I never feel offended by them. Nuit Noire is the best "floral woody musk" I can think of (a category, which, I think, is mostly obsolete). If you want musk, why not use a real dose of musk? Look no further. Here it is. This is feminine with balls. Sillage A+. I also can see, why not everyone would agree on that. But on the other hand, think MKK, for heaven's sake! Everybody loves it (but it lacks the soap, maybe it's not the skank, but the soap, everybody hates in Nuit Noire?). In a (strange?) way Nuit Noire reminds me of Covet: If Covet is green and strange viby, Nuit Noire is blue and the same strange viby and much more concentrated. Does this make sense? I suspect the damning of Nuit Noire began, when Luca Turin labeled it as "civet fart". This is the most disrespectful thing I have ever heard. The moment I've read that, he lost his reputation for me. How can anybody be that nasty on a perfumer, someone who would call himself a "perfume connoisseur", who could never be that connoisseur without perfumers? This shows how uncultivated he is, imho. You can disagree on taste, but you should respect the taste of others by all means. You should always behave and write like you'd do. But, for me the price tag always was a don't-buy argument, I agree on that. It was over-priced (or over-concentrated: In EdT or even EdC it might be mass saleable?).

Don't let the opening put you off entirely! I don't know what Mona do Orio used to get up to on her nuits out, but on opening notes this perfume suggests some sort of weird cinema experience - descending into a foetid basement (which carries traces of ancient dog dirt) to discover an arty cinema space where they sell (somewhat out of date) popcorn and everyone wears vintage fur coats that exude the reek of moth balls that preserved them. Well, that's the first half hour anyway. I can think of a time when I'd have relished such an experience, but a lifetime in the arts and living in Edinburgh where we have to endure the Festival Fringe each year with its emerging and experimental shows has cured me of such impulses! Maybe that just shows my age though, there's only so much grungy experimentalism you can consume. After half an hour though, this fades to a pleasant dark treacely salty warm amber with just a touch of buttery sweet tuberose (hence the popcorn feel). Feels natural - maybe too natural if you like your perfume abstract and elegant. Definitely a perfume for those who seek something quite warm and grounded. In total contrast I'm testing Paestum Rose by Eau d'Italie on the other wrist, which feels totally incongruous with Nuit Noir's sticky darkness, as though someone opened the basement window and the scent of an exquisite breeze has drifted in from the rooftop flat of an austerely elegant retired ballerina. Of the two, Paestum Rose feels more expensive, but next to Nuit Noir it's perhaps too austerely elegant for me. Nuit Noir is actually quite easy to wear in dry down, and it's only with nose close to wrist that I can still smell the indolic moth ball notes

Yes, this is definitely a polarizing fragrance but, given how some perfumers and brands have pushed the boundaries of old-fashioned skanky stuff since Nuit Noire was originally released, this is much less *challenging* than it used to be perceived. The opening is a white floral (mainly orange blossoms to me) with some sparkling citrusy notes. Very nostalgic in feel and aimed to tribute french feminine chypre classics. It suddenly turns into a kind of sharp and too dangerously soapy middle phase where the animalics show their presence with a slightly fecal musky presence. The juxtaposition between soap and the animalic elements still feels somewhat classic but there's something wrong about it. It's like smelling a beloved fragrance which has turned. It doesn't settle with the skin comfortably. It feels somewhat out of place. The base is a warm and very old-fashioned ambery-leather with sweetish facets. All in all not the monster they made us believe it was but, in year 2014, nowhere close the charming power of somewhat similarly themed fragrances such as, say, Bogue's MAAI or even Chypre Palatin. Rating: 6/10

Musc tuberose leathery night... This should be the smell of "Tom Of Finland". It is an animalic, a clean sweaty body on black leather & this is definitely not for the ladies ALTHOUGH imagine it ladies to be your man's body scent, i guess by now you will enjoy it, Huh ;) This is a heavy stuff and not for anyone, but this is quite charming as i can detect almost all the notes BUT the cloves! it is quite sexy to be honest because of the animalic note of musc and it is with a quite enormous longevity & silage, just give it more time and more sprays from time to time. Edit (1st May 2016) it has similarity to Musc by Mona Di Orio at some point, and has a similar base to Oud Osmanthus by Mona Di Orio as well! i feel those 3 fragrances are connected together at some point.

I suppose it's sacriledge to say that Luca Turin has never impressed me and his book of opinions is completely overated. You cannot judge perfume comprehensivly and have it be true for everyone in the world. He is so often wrong. That being said, Nuit Noire is a favorite of a good friend of mine, but on me it's what can only be called barnyard musk. I get none of the flowery, soapy, perfumed notes, but all of the old hay, animal musk, warm muck scent. It's not offensive, but my skin seems to bring out the civet like nobody's business, and that's mostly all I get. It's compelling nonetheless, and will be an amazing Holy Grail scent for a lot of people. Luca Turin can stick it in his hat. For the rest of us, let's nod to a well-crafted fragrance and move on.

I ordered 2 bottles of this perfume and received them today. Found out if I order 2 of them it’s free shipping to USA. Had to do that because I noticed slowly original Mona’s perfumes are replaced with new ones that created by her partner. It’s sad to see he does that to such beautiful fragrances. New ones only carry her name but have nothing to do with Mona. So I decided to get 2 bottles of this beauty before it’s discontinued. Absolutely amazing and I’m in love with Nuit Noire. It has this warm tuberose note that uplifts my mood right away. If you love it, order it before it’s too late.

This is a Mae West kind of perfume, they don't make'em like this anymore. It is stacked like a fertility idol with birthing hips and jutting breasts. This is not your ladies who champagne brunch vibe perfume. Spicy-sweet opening to a huge castoreum, indollic smear through the midnotes, and then it settles softly into the most sophisticated combination of powdery musk and amber. I love it. I only wish I could've sniffed the original formulation. If anyone had that pleasure and can describe it for us here I'd be so grateful. Full bottle purchase worthy.

Nuit Noir is a very animalistic jasmine — a little bit dirty, even. It opens with great intensity but settles into a cozy, elegant base - woods, un petit peu of vanille and ambra. My analogy would be a wild party at the start that ends wrapped in a warm blanket with a cup of tea by the fireplace.

This sounded like my dream fragrance. I loved it for about twenty minutes,then was sick . I had to scrub it off . I don't understand because I can't see any ingredient that I have never come into contact with before. The flowery notes are gorgeous but the "dirty" element really is vile .

I really want to buy it but cannot find a place to order it in USA. I managed to buy sample of it from Twisted Lily boutique, but they stopped selling Mona’s perfumes long time ago. Can anyone PLEASE tell me where they buy Mona’s perfumes in US? Thanks!

The lovers of vintage perfumery will appreciate this the most, because it's made in a classical way. Overall: oriental fragrance more woody-spicy then floral, wrapped in a heavy, balsamic-animalic notes that I am not a fan of.

Scent - milky tuberose, leather & orange blossom jam. Season/Time of Day - I prefer to use this one all year round, day or night. Projection - I did get noticed, it garners compliments. Longevity - I get 8hrs consistently.

I absolutely love this. Has a sweaty feel at first then goes to a fluffy animal musk like my favorite MKK. Then it dries down powdery. I’m in love 😍.