Fourreau Noir

I fondly recall a visit a few years ago to Bleu Lavande, in Magog, Quebec, where their fields of lavender are open to the public. We visited during peak season, early July, marveling at the expanse of purple, the aroma redolent in the humid air. Along with the usual essential oils and various personal care and bath items that used their crop, they served delicious treats, such as this lavender ice cream, which leads me to Fourreau Noir. Lavender is paired with a creamy, vanillic tonka and the opening takes me back to that day, all warm and hopeful, but its comforting embrace almost makes my eyes water, feeling wistful and vulnerable. Time waits for no one, that day is just a memory, and it is that memory among many that I hold so dear, because it was with someone who I love with all my heart and I am grateful every day to have in my life. If that isn't testament to the power of scent, I don't know what is. As Fourreau Noir settles on my skin, an almond accord surfaces, at once bitter and sweet, while the spot of clean linen dihydromyrcenol subsides and smoky musk moves in like a mist at twilight, shaded with a dusky patchouli. Fourreau Noir puts a spell on me, reminding me of how it feels during hypnagogia, that state between being awake and asleep (hynopompia being the opposite when the body awakens), where we drift in and out, see or hear—or smell things from our past, we almost hallucinate and dreams are just out of our reach. They are the dreams of Bleu Lavande, of lavender fields, ice cream, the love of one's life, and the hopes of tomorrow.

I can't resist...I tried a sample of this and it's a knockout! I could probably pull this off. When I wear Fourreau Noir, I smell like a leather couch made of the finest, most exquisitely treated leather, with a bit of sweetness of excellently blended pipe tobacco smoke...just a hint! After about three hours, it softens into a creamy, sweetish leathery yummmm, and it stays with me as a soft perfume aura for the whole day. I do detect the small bit of lavender in this, which I was initially worried about as lavender projects in a masculine way on me, usually too masculine; the lavender in this brightened the mix so that I didn't turn into a smoke bomb, but it didn't overpower the other glorious ingredients. This one is very refined, and I tried Chergui recently (I can see how these two fragrances could be related), and wore that for a few days and I think Fourreau Noir works the best for me. That being said, if I do buy this (imho, this one IS worth the steep price tag) it will not be for me, but I will give it to my husband and persuade him to wear it. I want to smell this one on men, not on myself. This would be DIVINE on men!!!! Fourreau Noir said to me (I'm serious!), "Vanessa, I like you, but you're not a man. I need a man." I could just see myself following a man who is wearing this, and trying to reassure him: "No, no, I'm not a stalker! I just want to smell the Fourreau Noir on you, just let me follow in your scent wake!" All men should try this. Just think of what you could get away with!!!

Smashing Lavender scent! I bought this in a rare travel kit form. I just recently purchased TF Lavender Extreme and Harrods for Him. All with Lavender my fave scent. I complained that nobody did a great natural lavender that was a stinker and then I get three almost at once!!!! Lavender Extreme is still the best for me - super, super natural bright violet lavender stench with a super powerful tonka that evolves out from behind over an hour to 10 hours at a volume of 10! This is different. It’s slightly darker especially at first. The tonka is there but more of a subtle accompaniment and the musk is there, which makes the lavender bolder - it’s like you have a lavender flower with the stalk and all crushed where as TF LE is more like just the petals crushed. This does not have so far the same performance in Sillage or longevity as LE but it is above average. After 1 to 3 hours the tonka starts to strengthen bringing it closer but the almond and musk keeping it darker than LE. Bond No9 is vaguely similar, in Sillage and longevity too however the chamomile and rhubarb keep it sweeter and smoother. For me these are my top three lavender scents (maybe L’occitane Lavande too). If you like lavender I know you won’t be disappointed...

Years ago, when FN was just new on the market I tried it amongst a couple of other perfumes in the amazing store of Palais Royal and thought that it was not for me...just too heavy, too smoky...it was somewhen in early summer. During one of my later visits there I received the entire collection of wax samples. After another long while I happened to open the one with the FN sample finally and...it was just stunning. I didn't get any lavender or flower from it but the deep musky side of this scent reminded me right away on my dear black she-cat how she often used to sit next to me giving me company while I was lying on the sofa during long, cold and dark winter evenings...such a warm, cosy and comforting memory. It's not that my cat smelled exactly like FN but her black warm hair was the first thing that came to my mind when this scent started to develop to something so familiar on my wrist. It took a while to discover FN for me. But now it's one of my preferred scents from my SL collection. I just bought the bell bottle last this week in the store in Paris - my fragrance for cold weather. Can't wait for autumn to come. Long lasting on my skin with a polite sillage. 10/10

I tried to find a note pyramid on Serge Lutens' website, but there was none. Fragrantica says this perfume contains tonka bean, lavender, almond, and musk. Well, if I may say so, there has never been a perfume that was more straightforward because those notes are all I smell. What you see is what you get. It's creamy, vanilla-like, with strong raw almond and just a hint of lavender. It's hard to say a lot about a perfume that is so simple. I don't see this as a masterpiece, but I certainly love it. The notes combine together beautifully, and it seems appropriate to wear just about anywhere. So the bottom line is that if these 4 notes appeal to you in combination with one another, Fourreau Noir is a safe bet. Update June 2020 (4 years later). I had the chance to buy one of the travel sprays for a very reasonable price, so I jumped on it. It’s as beautiful as I remember. I’m smelling lavender, sweet nutty tonka and laundry musk. Same 4 notes. I really love this fragrance and think it’s perfect for any occasion. Casual or dressed up, it’s perfect.