Noir Extreme

I had it and loved it a few years ago and it was just such a magnetic fragrance, to me and others. Then, once it was gone I didn't get it again due to other purchases that I made. I decided to pick up a new bottle a couple of weeks ago and it smells nothing like the addictive buzz that i got from the first bottle. Is that me? Is it reformulation? I don't know as I love that kulfi note which makes it different from all others. It smells fine, like ok, but just milder, and the spicy sweetness that made it what it was is completely missing. As with most bottles that I own, designer, niche or dupe, you know when it's good straight from first spray and longevity. Some are long away from maturing but others are great from the off, and sometimes this is regardless of their genre. I'll give this a chance again as it was a favourite of mine, so I'm hoping that after a bit of time just sitting in the bottle it'll develop, and hopefully Estee Lauder have not deleted or reduced all of the things that made it what it was years ago. We are now a long way away from the initial effect that TF fragrances used to give us, and make our eyes light up, probably due to reformulations and different ingredients, but I wish after a bit of time this turns out to be good and maybe all will be forgiven. To tell you that I bought a clone of this locally a while ago, for around 1/4 of the price of this, there's nothing to lose, and when I used it, I thought it was a weak representation of the OG and I didn't use it after the first few sprays. Fast forward to last week when I did buy this OG and I sprayed both on different arms, then the realisation that the dupe is spicier, is more stronger and lasts longer than this original can maybe draw us towards only one direction. I love a dupe, especially if it is one from a discontinued fragrance, as the options are very limited or over expensive and I've got many, and I do always prefer to go to the original if I can just because I know what I'm getting. But when I don't then let's do a dupe as they are getting better and better all the time. I'm not a perfume snob at all. Let's get what we can that makes us happy and if the big fragrance houses take the piss, then bye bye.

This wonderful fragrance screams "night elegance" and "mystery", Tom Ford Noir Extreme is probably one of the pinnacles of luxury commercial perfumery of the last ten years. It's not your usual fresh, sporty masculine scent; it is dense, gourmand and decidedly sensual. As soon as you spray it, Noir Extreme hits you with an explosion of Cardamom and Saffron. It's a warm and pungent start, but made less "aggressive" by a touch of mandarin. It is an opening that immediately makes things clear: this is a perfume for those who are not afraid to be noticed. In her soul lies the true magic of Sonia Constant. The Kulfi accord (a typical Indian sweet made from milk and pistachio) transforms the fragrance. Instead of being a dry woody scent, it becomes creamy and almost "edible", while remaining masculine thanks to the mastic and white flowers. It's a rare balance: sweet, but with a solid structure. The dry-down (the final phase) is an embrace of Vanilla and Amber. The sandalwood adds a velvety softness that lasts hours on the skin. This is where the scent truly becomes "Noir": dark, enveloping and perfect for cold temperatures. Noir Extreme is the scent of the man who wears a black cashmere sweater or a tailored suit. It is magnetic and much appreciated by the female public for its sweet and spicy component. If you are looking for something even more intense and less sweet, there is also the Parfum version (golden bottle), but the Original (black bottle) remains the most balanced and loved for its creaminess.

Part 1: True story: so Im going to work one morning, it’s rather cold and wet outside. I have TF Noir Ext. on, as I like the longevity it offers through out the day. I have my big coffee cup in hand. Holds like a quart. I’m heading inside the construction site that’s a completely gutted 109 year old building that’s being restored. Several men wearing hard hats, safety equipment and boots. All are bundled up due to weather and no climate in old building. Everyone sleepy eyed,it’s not even close to daylight yet. Lots of dust and dirt with dull lighting, broken concrete, rebar, and lumber . I know what you thinking, why would someone wear Tom Ford in a setting like that? So there is a meeting being held, safety stuff, blah blah. And break, we all head off to our own task. Out of all those men I only know of one other guy there that wears colognes daily. The rest you can tell just would not have the slightest interest. Later that day one of my coworkers comes up to me and ask what kinda coffee you drink? He proceeds to explain how during the meeting he couldn’t get over how great that coffee smelled I was drinking. How powerful it was, and it just seemed to linger in the air around me. I had to explain it all, brand, creamer, showed him pictures, where he can buy it, etc. It wasn’t till later that I realized it wasn’t the coffee aroma he really liked. It was Tom Ford Noir extreme. Poor guy just couldn’t process someone smelling that nice in a place like that, so it must be the coffee.

First smell: I got creamy and dark vanillic accords along with bitter accords that were distinct from each other, and they contrasted so magnificently to bring so much character to this semi-gourmand fragrance -- the bitterness making this a semi-gourmand fragrance rather than a gourmand fragrance. This smells textured -- you can pick apart the different, distinct accords. This is a moderately-sweet fragrance with a lot of character and complexity, especially from some bitter accords that compete with and contrast against the sweet, creamy accords. It generally smells like a complex dessert you'd get at a high end restaurant, consisting of something sweet and creamy with bitter flower petals for contrast and complexity (not white florals, and not rose; some other dark, bitter floral). This would be a great spring/fall counterpart to Black Orchid, which is more fall/winter appropriate. Definitely not as dense and full-bodied as Black Orchid, hence I think this is optimal for fall, and can be easily pushed into spring with fewer sprays. This is sexy enough and semi-gourmand enough to be used as a seductive scent on cozy date nights and in the bedroom (while still smelling very expensive), and yet complex enough to wear with a suit on formal date nights -- incredible. Unisex. This is as opulent/luxurious and almost as sexy/delicious as MFK Oud Satin Mood (unrelated scent profile; just for comparison), but has as much character and rebel bravado as Black Orchid.

Hear ye, hear ye! This is the best designer oriental on the market. It is sweet, but the spices, florals, sandalwood and kulfi note give it the perfect amount of balance. It is wonderful. It is brilliant for Autumn and Winter. A spray or two is office appropriate. A few more is night-out appropriate. It has the perfect amount of projection for this style of fragrance. Dear God! Such rapture! But soft, what cry from yonder tiktok breaks? "But squire! This is a date-night fragrance! This isn't a clubbing scent! This isn't a head-turner!!! I need to project loudly so the buxom maidens notice me and hold me in their thoughts!" And to that I say, I don't really think its the job of your fragrance to do the heavy lifting that your personality and style is meant to do. If you can smell this scent on yourself all day long, whilst projecting enough for anyone close to you to be able to smell you, that is ideal. Instead of trying to slip your olfactory goodness up everyone's nose, let them come into your space more; if they want to be near to you, they will be able to smell you. If they don't, they won't. Noir Extreme is an inviting fragrance. Be an inviting person. With many fragrances, less is more. Noir Extreme is a brilliant fragrance because its projection is fundamentally moderate, but its execution is fundamentally perfect. 10/10.