Pineapple Vintage Noir

Parfums Vintage Pineapple Vintage Noir is very similar to their Pineapple Vintage (I've reviewed on Fragrantica too), and almost indistinguishable in most respects to my nose. Of a few hundred fragrances I've bought and kept in my collection approximately 1/3rd get a 9 or 10 rating from me for scent as Parfums Vintage Pineapple Vintage Noir does. It's a 9/10. You can see the notes above and compare to the "original." A lovely and well blended composition that insists on comparison with a pineapple-y version of Aventus (of which I've owned two batches myself). Here the pineapple accord (I won't say note in this case) is not just front and center in the opening but ever-present in the heart as well. It is renowned for having a slightly smokier element more reminiscent of the average batches of Aventus and better performance than "original." I don't want to call this a clone, but, if you must, it is undoubtedly better than anything available before it was introduced along with its "original" version (which, again, it may be a tad better than as a truer clone) including any of the plastic scents in the gaudy bottles from the Middle-East. The performance couldn't be much better though this could be cloying if one over sprays. Longevity is well above average (9/10) and projection/sillage are above average (8/10). Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer nights for almost any conceivable occasion as long as one is not crazy on the trigger. 9/10 versatility. Speaking of triggers, the sprayer works quite well. The understated bottle and box speak classic and modern classy, not of stodgy nor distracting style, doing more with less. It has subdued hues and contrasting metallic lettering on the box with its historic homage artwork, and for that and the shapely (pineapple?) heavy glass bottle with its wooden top I give the presentation a 7/10. The latest prices are fair in my opinion, relatively speaking, and Parfums Vintage customer service is fine. As they are pretty clearly a "small business" let's identify Parfums Vintage as the independent niche house it must be. Maybe a lot of fragheads, who subconsciously defend established houses, can take new inspiration now. In fact I have noticed an unusual bias against Parfums Vintage by people who pretty clearly have an emotional as well as apparently too-substantial-for-them-not-to-be-hurt-and-embarrassed financial investment in a bottle of Aventus. I've even seen this disdain in those who only own a cheap (and inexpensive) low-quality knock-off in a silver plastic or black glass bottle that have never so much as smelled no less sampled Vintage Pineapple, and that is even odder still. Both are clearly defensive reactions I liken to you following your favorite sports team, rationally chosen by where you happen to live, on the back page of the newspaper. And then when you read your team is losing to their rival you start cursing the other team. Well Creed Aventus, actually, I suspect you are losing piece by piece and the Emperor will eventually have no (insultingly-expensive) clothes. Finally, this fragrance's brother, "original," was the most compliment-garnering fragrance of all of mine, combined, literally from the first morning I started wearing it before I even sat down at work. In fact it inspired colleagues to start wearing fragrances! There are variations on a theme with Vintage Pineapple "original" let's call it, and in other releases by Parfums Vintage but this particular fragrance earned an "A."

(Jun 2017) This opens great, much better than even Aventus, with a delicious pineapple treat which even lasts through the middle, but ultimately dries down to just a good scent. It's lacking the smokiness and spice of Aventus, even Pineapple Vintage Noir has almost no smoky spice. I can confirm (from a reviewer below) that the samples from this house are all only filled very slightly more than half way, and it's not due to displacement from the atomizer. These seem to have good quality ingredients, and the scents are different enough from Aventus that they can stand on their own. They are NOT, however, different from each other. Intense, Noir, and Classic are all so similar, that they might as well be the same. There's an incredibly slight smokiness increase in noir, but almost imperceptible. They're all more clean, fruity, pineapple summer day scents than Aventus (which is more versatile). You likely won't be wearing Pineapple Vintage on a rainy day, or into the Fall or winter. Even as a Noir version, it's not a night scent in the slightest. Overall: Scent - 9.0 Sillage - 8.0 Longevity - 7.5 (better than Aventus) Versatility - 6.5 (worse than Aventus) Standalone Frag - 8.5 Aventus Clone - 6.5 (for reference, I'd give CDNIM an 8 here) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UPDATE: Received another set of samples unexpectedly today. Much closer to full. Didn't even complain about the first ones, so perhaps they're responding to general feedback. I'm impressed!

Enjoy the scent. Not aventus but a nice alternative. Great complements. Terrible customer service. 2nd time I had a problem with them and their response was lacking. Bought pineapple vintage and noir. Both bottles had loose sprayers which spilled within the box. They stated to return the items and they will refund shipping ans send new bottles. Apparently, they only refunded the shipping for my order but not sending it back to them(which cost double $$ with tracking). I ordered again for the intense versions since I enjoyed the originals. Unfortunately, the noir intense has a component that makes me sick when I smell it. Wanted to return and perhaps swap for the vintage intense(Would even take a restocking fee). They stated, in a nutshell, i should have gotten the samples first and all sales final. Never again.

PV Noir is really a nice, smoky take on Aventus, but with at least one very pronounced difference. Although the notes don't list it, I get a distinct nutmeg twist, binding the rich pineapple note with the delicate smoky touch of birch tar. The result is something a bit out of place, though I can't honestly say that I don't enjoy it just the same. And it seems to both reach out farther and last at least quite a bit longer than Aventus on my skin, so you get a pretty potent and concentrated juice with PVN. Take a vintage smoky Aventus and add that bergamot/nutmeg accord of Tommy Bahama Island Life - and this is what you'll have. Not quite Aventus, but not bad at all.

I can't get past the fact that this smells, right off the bat, like freshly bitten celery after having sprayed a more stock pineapple vintage. It is definitely not a clone. It may have inspiration qualities, but it is its own smell entirely. It is not a bad scent at all, just don't expect to get Aventus vibes, if you're looking for a smoky, cheaper alternative.