Narciso Rodriguez for Him Bleu Noir

In 2015, three years after launching the Eau de Parfum version for his male fragrance (For Him), Narciso Rodriguez decided to “reinvent” his male perfume line. He could have continued the For Him line - as many brands do - through versions called Absolut, Black, Intense or Extreme. But, as I explained in Narciso Rodriguez For Him EDP's review, I think the level of confusion that new flankers could generate would not make up for the high investment. So it was time to turn the page and keep creating new hits. Narciso For Him Bleu Noir EDT has arrived as a new pillar within the For Him line. The creative concept speaks of confident men whose sense of freedom exudes sexy deliverance. And once again, each fragrance fits into one color, in a synesthetic process that permeates through all of the brand's fragrances. The color of this one is midnight blue, which represents the elegance of this decade, where suits no longer have to be black or gray, hair can be sculpted, and tattoos are no cause for prejudice. However, this man may even be varied in style, but he has already learned some fashion and beauty tricks that made him more demanding when buying. That's why Narciso For Him Bleu Noir EDT's fragrance is not relaxed or refreshing just because its vessel is blue. It is designed to convey seriousness and sophistication by combining heady notes of cardamom and nutmeg over a musky center and a woody background of blue cedar, ebony, vetiver, and amber. On the skin, Narciso For Him Bleu Noir EDT is hardly innovative because, as many know since its launch, the output is rich in a spicy cardamom that immediately reminds us of the smell that gave fame to Déclaration (Cartier - 1998). In addition, musk - a key ingredient in the brand's fragrances - seems to be nonexistent and evolution brings us to a refined and dry vetiver that has gained a bit more versatility because of its union with cedar. - "Does it remember any other perfume?", people always ask. - "Yes, it's a mix of Déclaration with Terre D'Hermés", others respond. But we need to value the creaminess of this fragrance, which seems to embrace us as the time passes and is the result of ebony wood (note that I believe it comes from Ebonol, Givaudan's molecule with heavier and darker hues of sandalwood). Narciso For Him Bleu Noir EDT has a good performance and represents well the style of the brand, even with respect to the Haute Perfumery aspect that continues to be sold. That is why, in the end, I could just say the same as everyone, pointing to similar perfumes on the market. But it's much more interesting to say that this fragrance is the kind that makes anyone see a perfect fitted suit on a man, who is wearing a T-shirt, shorts and flip flops. Why don't you try it?

This was a blind buy based on the high praise of the fragcom in Facebook groups. I'm usually a bit apprehensive to buy into hype. But I've noticed that this is an under-the-radar gem in the broader sense of the entire world. I'd never heard of it, so that was a plus. Oddly, it's quite linear, but more than any other fragrance I've ever tried, it bothers me not at all. Being linear is often a criticism I have against a lot of other fragrances. Here, it works. It does have some development though. The opening gives me a bit of a spice with the cardamom/nutmeg combo, but I can't really pick out either one specifically. I also get a bit of vetiver in the opening. And the strongest player to my nose is the beautiful ebony wood that lasts throughout the long drydown. And of course there's the Narciso Rodriguez signature musk in the drydown as well. Overall the scent is beautiful. Strong, masculine, smooth, elegant, refined. I don't have many occasions to wear it, nor very much appropriate attire for a scent this sublime. I never wear suits, no formal events. I'm an entrepreneur and work wherever there's internet – coffee shops, restaurants, home, etc. I wear jeans most of the time or my uniform to my part time bartending job. Today is my birthday, so I'm wearing it with my jeans today, no apologies. This is one of my favorite scents ever. It lasts a long time, but the projection tapers back within a couple of hours. The longevity is anywhere from 8 to 12 hours depending on the day. I apply to pulse points on the skin, then add a couple of sprays to the lapel area of my shirt to extend the longevity a bit. After enjoying this one for some time, I now wish I'd gotten a bigger bottle. I have the 50 mL bottle. I'm gonna go for the 100 mL next time. I'd also love to try Narciso Rodriguez for Him. His women's fragrances are lovely too. One of my favorite designer houses. Bleu Noir is sublime, transcendent, and an essential addition to the collection of every gentleman. 10/10

Narciso Rodriguez for Him Bleu Noir is the kind of perfume that doesn't need to shout to attract attention; it speaks softly but firmly. Launched in 2015 and created by perfumer Sonia Constant, this fragrance exudes a clean, captivating elegance with a mysterious air that gradually wins you over. From the very first spray, you smell the spicy freshness of cardamom and nutmeg—a blend that creates a sophisticated and modern feel without being overdone. Gradually, the brand's classic musk takes center stage, with that comfortable touch, almost like a second skin. It's discreet, sensual, and yet cozy. In the base, it reveals its more serious and seductive side with vetiver, cedar, ebony, and amber, creating an elegant and masculine woody base. The performance is good for the style it proposes. It lasts about 7 hours on the skin, with a striking projection in the first two hours, then becomes closer to the skin, ideal for those who enjoy elegance without being overdone. It's not a scent that fills the room, but anyone who comes near it can feel it, and feel it well. It's an extremely versatile fragrance. It's perfect for the workplace, meetings, evening dates, and even casual moments when you want to feel good about yourself. It pairs well with cooler days, fall and winter, but also works on cool spring nights. For intense summer, it can be a bit overwhelming. Final Score: 8.8/10 Bleu Noir is a perfume that exudes confidence, elegance, and discretion. It's not explosive, it's not obvious, it's for those who know the value of a good presence without constantly drawing attention. An ideal companion for the modern man who values style in moderation.

Many people are complaining about the longevity, but to me this is a very long lasting, albeit soft, scent. But the notes are soft from the beginning, to me there's nothing sharp (in contrast to the description above) or screechy. Instead it is warm and inviting, huggable. It's pretty good in most conditions except the high heat, and being a scent with a soft character it's not going to compete for attention in a club. Look carefully where you spray on skin and you'll see the oil content (seems high for an EDT), with a beautiful, long-lasting musk that goes for hours, apparently long after many folk are still aware of it. The drydown smells like sweet, clean skin (with hints of lemon and spices), that seems to me to last all day on skin and even longer on clothes. Very sensual and warm, one of the best designer releases in the last ten years in my opinion, with a quite different scent profile to most other things out there. To me it doesn't smell much like TDH at all, more like Declaration but softer and a bit more 'natural'. Perhaps 1920 The Origin by Tous comes close. I don't get the BO, as I said clean skin, soft spices, even when I tried it in the summer heat (not the best time to wear this - maybe summer nights though?) Not like the other designer 'blue' scents at all, and all the better for it.

The EDT from the Narciso Rodriguez Bleu Noir family is a woody spicy aromatic fragrance with opening notes of nutmeg and cardamom, possessing a musky character complemented by sweet amber and black wood. It is a unique fragrance with a highly attractive character that once discovered, you cannot get enough of. While the signature musky middle note in company with the sweet amber is so addictive. Sadly it is a little short on longevity, becoming a skin scent in around three hours. However upon close examination you can detect the elements of the scent, notably the warm spice, wood, nutmeg, cardamom musk and amber accords. To continually enjoy these, topping up would be the solution so take a decant of the scent with you and remain uniquely fragrant all day long. The Bleu Noir EDT is highly rated by Jus de Rose on her excellent YouTube channel and I would share a lot of her thoughts on the scent, especially those woody ambery musky notes that set it apart. If not for limitations with respect to its longevity the Bleu Noir EDT would easily have been signature scent-worthy. Regrettably this rather impacts its rating which is given at just making 9/10. Were that not the case, it would have been rated well-advanced of 9.