Noir Anthracite

In terms of notes, it open with a peppery/fresh/green blast. Then the sichuan pepper fully takes the lead, supported by galbanum, birch, cedar as well as other woods, giving nearly an impression of incense. An ode to sichuan pepper. In terms of sensations, this is a niche spicy blend, very dark. Without reading the olfactive notes, I first had the feeling of burning pine, and then, in the drydown, an extinguished but still smoking bonfire. Like the smell of clothes the day after have sit for several hours near a bonfire. Smoke, coal, ashes, pine... that's what you will think of smelling this fragrance. The name Anthracite reflects well this idea. I think that this one was designed for the TF Private Blend line, but did not pass the bar of the marketing dept to be commercialized as such, and they thus decided to put it in retail at a price tag in between the regular and the Private Blend line. I admit, it is a little too linear to justify the PB line price tag, but definitely too sophisticated for the average Sephora Joe to appreciate it. To me, this one had nothing to do on shelves at Sephora, and I'm not surprised at all that it quickly disappeared, since it's not a crowdpleaser, and the price tag was too high for Sephora. Like previous reviews said, despite its name this is not remotely related to the TF for Men line, nor it's a flanker of TF Noir. This fragrance will fulfill experienced creative fragrances lovers, who are looking for a bold dark fragrance. If you liked Amouage Journey, and are looking for something bolder and darker, that shares similarities with Piguet Casbah, and some vibes of Lutens Serge Noire, the original Lalique Encre Noire, and a hint of Gucci Guilty Absolute, then this is for you. Tom Ford fans? Well... you may be surprised. If you loved Tobacco Oud and want something slightly more challenging, then go for it. Anyways, if you like challenging niche frags, just ignore the negative reviews here. Those have probably been written by crowds who love mostly feminine gourmands like TF Noir Extreme, or -at most- unisex leaning masculines like TF Tobacco Vanille (thinking it's a "bold" frag), and who probably classify Oud Wood as a "skanky oud fragrance" despite there's none noticeable in it. If you don't know what I'm talking about when I cited Robert Piguet or Serge Lutens, stay clear from this one. If you love those houses, then rush to get it while you can (I wouldn't pay full retail for this one but, if like me you can find a sealed 100ml pop for $50 on ebay, it's a no-brainer!). Great performance and nice packaging pleasantly contribute to the enjoyment. A little too linear to deserve the "masterpiece" grade imo, but definitely a great dark/fantasy fragrance. Would recommend to more mature crowds, not because it smells dated, but because it makes a statement, and one needs some charisma to wear this one. (money is not, personality is everything... just a reminder). In my top 3 TF fragrances (including the PB line). Highly recommended, for cold evenings and freezing days, 35+.

My 100th review. Yes sir, I have done a lot of Fragrantica shizzle! Before I begin to pen this review, I would just like to quickly say a massive THANK YOU to all who make Fragrantica possible. For an olfactory addict such as me, it is a very valuable resource, when I want to study a particular scent. It's websites like this that make the internet a little bit easier to take. I doff my dusty, foul hat to all who make this website run. I love you, Fragrantica. May you live for all eternity. This scent is a special one for me, hence saving it for my 100th review. Noir Anthracite was the scent that opened my eyes to the world beyond the CK Ones and the Paco Rabannes. A world where raw earth elements clash with luxury, in a hyper-urban setting. It allowed me to see past the plain and ordinary; it showed me another way. Perfumery is an artform. I did not know that until I smelt Noir Anthracite. It is now a mythical beast - since it was discontinued, I have searched high and low for it. Verde by Ajmal is methadone. Noir Anthracite is pure heroin. I hope to one day find a bottle, because I will never give up the search. I must smell it one more time before I drop off the perch and die. It opens cold, and it stays that way. Coal, metal, mineral, rain on urban pavement slabs, wet concrete, corrugated iron being hammered into wet mud. Sharp bergamot for a shimmer of sweetness on the top. Glabanum bridging the gap between green nature and industrial steel. A commanding base of leather, patchouli and cedar. Sold as a rock. It is Mike Tyson in perfume form. It is a smell that I will never forget, and that I will eternally and ferociously hunt. The sad thing is, I almost bought it when it was readily available. But the perfume counter man steered me in the direction of Man 2 by Comme De Garcons. I hugely regret allowing Noir Anthracite out of my grasp, but I thought I had more time to get it. Dang and blast the perfume counter man! If I could go back in time, I would get a message to my younger self somehow, ORDERING myself to buy it immediately. Or I would put laxatives in the perfume counter man's coffee, so he would be unable to steer me away from it. I didn't know the mistake I was making. The perfume counter man sniffed out my naivety, and sold me a something else instead. Looking back on it, I think that the perfume counter man had designs to shift bottles of Man 2. Perhaps they had too many in stock. So when a young, directionless whippersnapper comes in, the perfume counter man enacted his dastardly plan. That is the only reason that I can think of, for why he chose to steer me away from Anthracite. Or maybe he just hated Tom Ford. Maybe one day I will be reunited with my Noir Anthracite. I can only dream. 10/10. Thank you Tom. It is a shame that your brand has now gone to the dogs. In the days of Noir Anthracite, you were at the top of your game.

I was intrigued and loved this fragrance from the first sniff at a Dillard's store. The knowledgeable SA there asked me what I liked and then brought me to the TF fragrances. I was like, "Oh no, nothing is so good that I will pay those prices!" My husband and I ended up buying a TF fragrance that night, but not TFNA. We bought Noir Extreme that night but never forgot TFNA. I was pleasantly surprised that the fragrances in this line weren't as pricey as I imagined! Even if I immediately loved TF Noir Anthracite, my husband thought it was tough and was put off by it. He thought it was a fragrance for Rambo and wasn't something he could wear. Meanwhile my eyes rolled back while sniffing the blotter point blank(this reaction is extremely rare for me as well as letting an actual fragrance blotter touch my nose or even get too close to it). There is a peppery, dry, rubbery, asphalt-like quality to this fragrance. It lacks any sweetness to my nose and smells very serious and masculine. I really enjoyed it immediately and would have loved it if my husband wore it. It's projection and longevity are good but it is not beastly or anything. Something like this might be too much if it were too strong IMO. Months later, we shopped and sniffed at a Sephora and I requested a decanted sample of TFNA with a couple other perfume samples for myself. I gave it to my husband and planted the seed... My husband wore it a couple times and began to like it OK. A couple more months later, and he quickly used up the rest of the decant claiming that he then REALLY liked it. HA!The seed I planted sprouted! He came home with the fragrance yesterday as a late birthday present for himself. YAY!

With the flashlight through an abandoned mine I don't think Tom Ford was around when Noir Anthracite was created. Honorine Blanc, the perfumer in charge of Opium flankers at YSL, tried to bring to light a men's fragrance that would somewhat match the Tom Ford line. I say that because it's really a male beast but it jumped out of the house. If you expect a gurmand, seductive perfume, with rounded edges, maybe balsamic or floral specific TF, no way. It's not necessary. The perfumer forced himself to bring the charcoal out of the perfumery and ... he succeeded. Kneaded leather with birch, galbanum and Sichuan pepper is pretty much all fragrance. Ginger and lemon do not give a fresh note, on the contrary they intensify the harshness of the pepper. If the sandalwood was used ... then it was used maybe to give a more friendly look to the olfactory pyramid because the perfume is sharp, smoked just like a ember, quite hard and imposing. The aromatic pepper still attenuates the abrasive smell of charcoal, but the composition remains dark. It is clearly a masculine perfume, an outfit that is suitable for office events but also casual under certain conditions. It must be worn with confidence, otherwise it will carry you. In autumn, in winter I see it suitable but also in spring when the temperatures are lower. Incredibly artistic and with an average performance. Maybe TF tried an experiment. A successful one, I say, although it does not enjoy a wide appreciation. This perfume doesn't even take into account your opinions when it makes its presence felt. It is about the same volume as Lalique Encre Noir or Narciso Rodriguez for Him, but each with its own unique darkness.

I tried this as a test on my hand in Debenhams a few months go. First sniff....Yeuch! What the hell? Second sniff...hang on, that reminds me of something.....third sniff ....Hey, that is amazing!! That is how polarising this scent is. I ended up playing safe and bought TF's Noir instead. It got me wondering though. What does it remind me of? Was it an aftershave I had long ago in my twenties? Kouros? Aramis? Jazz? Xeryus? I cannot recall. Intrigued, I bought a 5ml sample online. I still can't place it..was it an olfactory flashback to the days when we had a coal fire? On the opening it quickly asserts itself. If a smell could be represented by a statement, it would be "Get out of my way!". I can only describe it as a dry, pungent, smoky, mineral, earthy perimeter that sits around you. If you are close enough to smell it, you are not adhering to the government's social distancing policy. I like it. I like it a lot. I have now bought a 50ml bottle. It means business, don't expect compliments, expect respect from your co-workers. You need balls to wear this. It is a very punctual scent too....if you go for a meeting, this fragrance will arrive in the meeting room before you do and remain long after you have left. Your presence at the meeting will be well and truly registered. Longevity is a reasonable 5 to 6 hours, fairly linear, gradually fades to a leathery skin scent. Sillage is impressive, walk five paces and do a U-turn and walk back. You will walk past yourself. Fragrance- not for the faint hearted, but not unpleasant. I reckon it wont be long before I scale up to a 100ml bottle...maybe one day I'll remember where I have smelled this before.