Magnificent Black

There is a particular time of day when the dying light has not yet given way to darkness, or the dawn has not yet pierced the veil of night. It is a magical moment in which the landscape seems enveloped in a muffled atmosphere and suspended in an unreal dimension, and everything, everything, is tinged with blue. When the sun is below the horizon, before dawn, which heralds the passage from darkness to light, or after sunset, in the twilight which precedes darkness, then the blue hour occurs. It is an evocative and exciting chromatic phenomenon: everything is enveloped in soft light, in shades of blue and purple. It lasts a few minutes, half an hour at the most, but it represents a show of rare beauty. The blue hour is the idea that everything is about to end or, conversely, that everything is about to start over. Magnificent Black is comparable to the blue hour, disarming and enchanting fragrance, a superimposition of two masterpieces, one from the last millennium and the other from recent production. Imagine spraying Baccarat Rouge 540 EAU DE PARFUM and then over this original M7 (2011). Well, the major accords of these two perfumes, M7 at the opening and BR540 at the end, are the ones I find in this creation by Hamid Merati-Kashani. M7 was my first experience with the oud, sweet, warm, and sensual. And this specimen reminds me so, so, so much. Amber, mineral, leathery, with that complicated oud smell-feeling that comes to life after about two hours. Please, don’t get me wrong, this is not a replacement for M7 original or BR540, yet it shares many vibes with them. Magnificent Black is an exploration of amber wood with a beautifully subtle opening of spicy and semi-bitter orange peel. Underneath, something liquorice-like darkens the concoction and smells like Konfekt gummies by Haribo, chewy, soft, creamy, and flavoured candy surrounding a liquorice centre. There is an energetic affinity between amber and orange that is softly explored in the opening spray, which remains slightly sweet and vaporous while in the background circulates a tone made of smoky agarwood, noble vetiver, and wisps of leather. It takes a few minutes to settle, and the warmth of the skin helps give off a semi-caramelized amber tone reminiscent of BR540. The heart is many things: sandblasted, soft, woody suede, fine-grained, a little fleshy, steaming, brushed. A cocoa-like patchouli takes the stage, along with a burnt sugar tinge. It is balsamic and floral. But not sweet floral with a too-feminine slant. Instead, violet brings a water facet, a dewy, mineral, while jasmine subdues it with a creamy nuance. That sense of burnt amber and warm wood is always there. The more it grows, the more it gets akin to BR540 while keeping a distance from M7. It’s slightly medicinal, with a cherry cough syrup nuance. Woody scent with strong oud and vetiver note. A little sweet and powdery. In the end, the scent turns a tad woody, earthy, and slightly leathery and resinous. A lot is going on there, while drydown, so from time to time, you can hardly differentiate which of the components you hear at this moment. At first, it is very medicinal but turns into a natural and very sensual vetiver and wood scent. Over time, the perfume becomes sweeter, amber, salty, and dark, it gently settles on the skin while remaining slightly powdery, deep, soft, stimulates the senses, and above all, elegant, virile, oriental, dense and damn sexy and long-lasting. The ultimate combination is an amber musk haze, a sweet, creamy, even slightly powdery scent that continuously caresses your nose in a very warm, friendly way. Also, I feel some hints of vanilla. What it left on the blotter after many hours, and even days after, is a sweet oudy accord with semi-medicinal cherry cough syrup nuance. Besides, the M7 shadow is still lingering. Last night I put a couple of squirts on my neck before dinner with friends I had invited to my house. During dinner, everyone wondered who was wearing that perfume that they sometimes felt spinning in the air. It turned out to be mine, and I got a ton of compliments. They said it was so manly as if some natural BO was among the notes. Hence, pay attention to the number of sprays since all room smells Magnificent Black if somebody wears it, surely dominant. Longevity and projection are all great on my skin. Definitely, this is the best performer of the SERIES N° 01 collection. It is a cold-weather scent, for fall and winter late-evening intimate events. I would refrain from wearing it at work, it projects too much and not everyone enjoys oud-like perfumes. Thank you Hamid Merati-Kashani for bringing this magnificent creation to us among ZARA's infinite collection. I'm basing my sensations on a bottle I've owned since April 2023 (BC 30240).

From the moment you spray it on, Zara Magnificient Black pulls you in with a smell that’s both comforting and exotic — imagine a blend of spicy cookies with a twist. The opening notes are a hook but they're just the beginning; this fragrance has a lot more to offer. This fragrance stands out with its unique mineral note, an uncommon component in perfumes. This intriguing feature seamlessly blends with the subsequent earthy, woody notes, revealing meticulous craftsmanship from top to bottom. The fragrance truly shines in its complex yet harmonious blend of elements. Imagine being in an Arabian marketplace, enveloped by various exotic scents; this fragrance captures that in a single, well-balanced experience. Each note is distinct but works in harmony with the others, avoiding any sense of disarray. As you wear it, the scent evolves. The mineral note, for instance, becomes more pronounced over time without overwhelming the other elements. It keeps you interested, from the first spray to the last lingering note. The fragrance is tagged as unisex and rightly so. It’s versatile, not just in who can wear it but also when it can be worn. You might think this is a cold-weather scent, but don’t be boxed in — it's versatile enough to wear all year round, be it day or night. Now, Zara scents have a bit of a reputation for not lasting very long, but Magnificient Black goes against the grain. It's got a longer lifespan than you might expect and the reach of the scent is also better than most in the Zara lineup. Considering the affordable price, particularly if you find it on sale, it offers excellent value for money. In conclusion, if you're looking to expand your fragrance collection, Magnificient Black should be at the top of your list. This is particularly true if you can snag it during a sale. It’s a fragrance that keeps you guessing but never disappoints, a rare find that’s worth every penny. The real kicker? It smells very niche, but it's from a mall clothes store. Opening note: 9 Sillage/Projection: 7+ Dry down: 9 Longevity: 7 Blend/Composition: 9 Versatility: 9 Uniqueness: 9 Value for money: 9+ Bottle design/Aesthetics: 6 Overall experience: 9- Blind-buy rating: 4

I consider Magnificent Black to be the best of Zara's 2023 collection. The fragrance opens with a clean oud-like smokiness and a cold inorganic quality that is said to be orange, mineral, and violet. The duality of stillness and movement is very balanced and noble. Yet there is a calm energy, not an old man vibe. The drydown has a slowly shifting beauty with the sweetness of vetiver and amber and the smokiness that continues from the opening. The sweetness is definitely there, but I think it can be worn all year round, except for mid-summer afternoon. I had hoped this fragrance was some kind of clone, but this is truly a Zara original. The only reason I wish it was a clone is because the performance is not very good, and I would even buy a full bottle right now if there were other perfumes of higher quality. Magnificent Black does not last unless you reapply it every hour. The only disappointment is the performance, the scent is really great.

On the first spray and sniff it really reminds me of M7 but that’s just in the opening of this perfume , that reminiscence does not linger very long . It quickly evolves into its own character and scent profile which is luxurious and smooth . The mineral/watery notes give this perfume a metallic scented vibe, mixed in with a sweetness of I think the amber and violet mixed with the patchouli. The leather in it is not the putrid one of goat-leather, the ones you can smell on Marrocan leather wallets and such, but more the buttery one of suede, so not so detectable , at least not in the beginning. Will continue this review when it has had time to really evolve but I’m already very happy to have found a bottle of this just recently. Édit : 21/12/2023. Getting lots of compliments when I wear it out , even got asked what I was wearing. It does stay long on clothes.

IMPORTANT: if you buy this or any of Zara refillable bottles please adjust them tight to avoid leakage. Do this and there will be no problem! This is so good for the price. And truly unisex on me. It is woody, sweet and ambery. It has a dna similar to Baccarat Rouge 540 in the middle stage, but it is more incensy (no incense in the note but I can feel it), also fresh in a way. It's smoky and mysterious but at the same time the violette gives a clean and louminous vibe, a little soapy even! It is the one that impressed me the most from this line. Elagant and niche smelling, I strongly suggest you sniff it! Edit: a salty layer can be appreciated if used during a very warm day, but more in the dry down. Like a salty soapiness, very peculiar. And that bit of licorice undertone and woody suede? Unique for sure! And it is now on sale for only 17,00€.