Elysium Noir

Was given a small spray and spraycard of this at a niche fragrance shop in Chicago (House of Dubai) and wasnt particularly amazed. With time though, I found myself missing the scent trail of the Roja more than the Bleu de Chanel L' Exclusif I tried later on that same day. I ended up ordering a bottle of Noir out of pure intrigue with the help of a 15% off promo. Having received my bottle, I was anxious to open and commit. The first spray was tainted by skepticism and prejudgements. I initially perceived the fragrance as metallic/cold and with that chemically oud vibe I get from Mancera/Montale fragrances.. That definitley is Not how I felt after several follow-on applications. Within a few minutes of trying to decipher the notes and giving the scent time to lay on skin+clothes...I began to really appreciate/like this. Appropriately classified as 'Noir', this scent is mysterious and intriguing with a similar bold allure that captured audiences of Sauvage, Dylan Blue and the like.. but NOIR is very much a different scent. Bold at first, Noir keeps a strong yet soft character as its projection calms and transitions into a long lasting dry down. People here have emphasized blackberry. Its present and balanced - not amped up like citruses in the original Elysium. Dense and smooth, Noir's Blackberry note does not domineer. It is not notably 'juicy' or have a sticky syrupy sweetness witnessed in fragrances that feature cassis or blackcurrant - it is more in line with Purple Label, and less like Bleecker Street. Noir remains clean and becomes slightly soapy rather than sweet or fruity in the dry down. I love how this is so unabashedly masculine without overly woody or spicy accords. This might be hated now for whatever reason..but it Will gain cred in the community with those that buy, wear and give it time to appreciate. An homage to the manly man fragrances of the 80s, 90s and 2000s; NOIR fuses elements of those old bold scents with a modern twist to create a palatable fragrance that is complimentary of that same old-school man living in the modern age . Uniquely Intriguing and alluring. Again, this is unlike any Elysium.. its nature is not bright, zesty, citric like previous Elysiums. It might be closer to Apex or a more denser version of Sauvage in that regard - so I would recommend trying before buying. All in all, very glad with my full bottle purchase.

Elysium Noir is the latest release in Roja Dove’s Elysium collection, and it could easily have been launched under a different name because it bears no resemblance whatsoever to the previous versions it’s a completely different fragrance! Noir opens with a mix of fruits, geranium with a rose-like aspect, and a slight lavender bite. The much-discussed blackberry note also appears right at the start, even though the official note pyramid lists it as a heart note. It’s a juicy, sweet blackberry that stays present from the very beginning all the way to the end of the perfume. One note that really stood out on my skin is cypress. It shows up right after the opening and remains quite prominent during the first 30 minutes. I’m not the biggest fan of this vintage green vibe it’s the moment I like the least in the fragrance but luckily for me, it gradually fades away, giving space to a warm base of cardamom, pepper, and leather. I also pick up the earthy touch of patchouli, though not as much as I’d like, but it’s definitely there! The blackberry remains throughout, adding a sweet fruity tone in all stages of the perfume until it finally dies out into a slightly earthy fruity aroma. A relevant point: among the four in the line, I found this the “least natural,” something that really leans more towards a designer-style fragrance. It feels as if Roja’s new perfumer wanted to create something that would appeal to as many people as possible. It’s a very easy scent for someone just getting into niche perfumery, but it may not be as appealing for those who turn to niche houses looking for something more exclusive. If, like me, you enjoy the Elysium line and insist on owning every release, it’s a solid choice—easy to like and easy to wear. But if you don’t care about collecting the full line, I believe you can find something better, more natural-smelling, and more exclusive for the price!

After spending more time with it, this is definitely overhated, and would have had a much better reception if it was a separate thing. People are whining about how unoriginal this is, but they forget that the most successful ROJA releases are distantly related to very classic scent DNAs, and its the elevated quality that makes them stand out. For example, you wouldn't be surprised to find out someone who loves Terre D' Hermes also loves Elysium. Well, this could be considered the tart and tangy Bleu De Chanel, in the best rendition possible. Or an extremely expensive Y flanker. I too agree with @PeterNorthStars, the leather/cypriol/incense nuances bring it very close to BDC L'Exclusif. Of course they don't smell the same, but you probably like one if you like the other. As expected, there are lots of naturals in the blend, so it performs way way better in colder weather. The citrus top lingers in the air around you for much longer, and the blackberry/juniper combo shines all the way through. The scent bubble is too small for the retail price, but it does smell expensive and makes you feel really good. Best thing about it for me, it never gets sweet and retains the tanginess, very 90s/00s coded. EDIT: Now available at around 200€ on some discounters, if it falls around the 160€ tag where other ROJA "Parfum Cologne" bottles are found nowdays, it will be fairly priced.

A longtime fan of Elysium Parfum and the cologne, I blind-bought a 10ml bottle of this and find it absolutely beautiful. The comment below comparing it to Sauvage is interesting, and I don't disagree, but I myself was getting a hint of Parfum de Marly's Percival—it's no doubt a mass-appealing scent. But the reviews here don't do justice to the fact that this is clearly a high-end fragrance, done exceptionally well. Though it may remind some of a $30 cologne, as one commenter wrote, to me it stands utterly apart. It's less cinnamony than Creed Aventus Absolu, but has something of that exceptional frangrance's wow-effect. I'm really impressed overall with this; I wasn't planning to write a comment, but reading the generally lame reviews here motivated me to inform people that this is truly stellar stuff. ps. To the commenter ripping on Roja's private life, get help.

This smells NOTHING like mid ahh Dylan blue, blue de Chanel, Dior Sauvage, or any other MID tier GENERIC blue “shower gel” designer. This is absolutely nothing like any of those, nor does it smell like Imagination, which I also hate. This is vastly superior to all of those COMBINED. Phenomenal 9/10 fragrance. Love the dark fruity clean shampoo/shower gel vibes from this one, without any of the unnecessary powdery or soapy crap that the other frags mentioned have in varying degrees. Also isn’t too Amber or ambroxan heavy unlike some of those. The only similarity to the fragrances described above is the scenario in which you’d wear the fragrance. Same occasions. Completely different (WAY BETTER) smell.