Framboise Noire

I ordered a sample of the Framboise Noire fragrance online. 5ml bottle samples cost £5, which I suspect is a bit steep, but given that just one spray lasts a while and the portability of the tiny lil glass tube, well, maybe £5 is just about do-able. Framboise Noire is from the ‘Fruit‘ category of Shay and Blue fragrances, which is composed of: Top Note – Rare black raspberry with mixed forest berries for a hit of red fruit. Heart Note – A touch of chic iris pallida to seduce and enchant. Base Note – White oud and black woods underpin the composition for a darkly noir finish. Described as “like a rich, dark wine...Rounded, rich fruit underpinned with sensual black woods”. Added to that; “The blackness of night”. Yep. Sold. The perfume really does smell dark and sensuous, I would add to that ‘glamorous’ and ‘sexy as hell’. You don’t usually expect raspberries to smell sexy, but when combined with oud and woods, well, that’s a killer combo. Interestingly, when I first smelled this, I thought it smelled old and dusty, like an abandoned castle buried deep in a forest. I sampled it again the following day and only then did I appreciate the berries. Like a fine wine, you have to swirl this fragrance around a couple of times. Deep and mysterious. I love it. To note: This is the perfume that Lady Gaga's 'Fame' wants to be.

Mhhm, this is fruity oud at its best! I'm not the biggest fan of oud, sometimes it's just too pungent and bitter or too masculine for my nose, but at other times, when it's combined with sweet notes, I really like it. That is the case here. The berries in Framboise Noire are so juicy and ripe, but still fresh. Especially the raspberry note is lovely. Together with the woody, oily, slightly medical oud note it smells so balmy and lush. This is a warm and dark fruity scent, kind of sexy even. Some say Framboise Noire smells similar to Aquolina Black Sugar, but I don't really think so. FN is more oudy, more natural and fresher, while BS is more smoky, sweeter and heavier. I like both and it wouldn't be redundant to have both. This is not something I'm in the mood for every day, but to be honest I regret a little that I didn't buy a small bottle of FN when Shay & Blue was on sale in a department store here. Well, I guess it's impossible to get every perfume I like.

I think I was hoping Guerlains LBD was going to be a little like this. The opening is sweet and very fruity. Sweet but natural smelling raspberry along with some other sweet natural juicy fruits. I think its the touch of sour that achieves this. A slightly sour Bonne Maman rasperry compote. Its not syrupy sweet like Guerlains LBD which ruined it for me. There might be oud in this but its not heavy duty. Its not all moisture sucking up and raspy if you know what I mean lol It is more evident on the dry down along with the other wood notes. The iris and musk are revealed in the dry down but very softly. After an hour its all about natural smelling raspberries and wood notes. The oud is not too strong and it is a perfectly unisex fragrance. A lovely fragrance and if you like a natural smelling, not over sweet, fruity wood fragrance then well worth checking it out. If I dont moisturise my skin well then the longevity and sillage are not great.

I had been wanting to test this one and had the pleasure of receiving a 30 ml decant from another member. The second I took the cap off and smelled this, I fell in love. It starts off as a black licorice scent on me. I love black licorice so it didn't bother me and it quickly dissipates. Once it dries down it is it is this musky woody smokey iris fragrance with the slightest berry hint. I don't smell the berry except every now and then it appears for a split second and then disappears again. I really love this and although it may be better suited as a cold weather fragrance, it still worked on a hot humid rainy day like today. Longevity : 8 hours Sillage: a little past arm's length Potency: She is strong. You don't need much Unisex: yes but I think it smells nicer on a woman. However, my hubby tried it and it smelled nice on him. Recommend: I want to say no so I can be the only one wearing it but the truth is, yes...yes...yes!!!

Framboise Noir is excellent. I absolutely love the raspberry note as well as all of the other berries interplaying in this amazing fragrance. The oud is blended in such a way as to not overpower which I appreciate immensely. The "dark wood" notes are more apparent to me than oud, which I also appreciate. There is a licorice vibe to this fragrance and that aspect of FN reminds me just slightly of Vikt by Slumberhouse, although the berry notes which remain throughout as the main player are definitely not like Vikt. Framboise Noir is a fragrance that has brought me many complements from people when I wear it. I don't wear fragrances for compliments, I wear them for me, but it still merits mentioning that people seem to like the way this fragrance smells when I wear it as much as I do. This is a 10/10 for me. Highest recommendation.