Black is a rather dark perfume concept from Bvlgari which relies on shock value as well as a first class scent to lure its  prey in. This is one of those perfumes where the genius of the creator is partly due to their ability to shock our sensibilities. The perfume is therefore quite rightly marketed as a metropolitan fragrance for fashionable men and women. This is one of those rather rare occasions when ultra modern is quite pleasant actually.

 The Brand

The great perfumer Annick Menardo launched Black on behalf of Bvlgari in 1998. The brand belongs to an Italian jewelry line. Founded by an immigrant, the house relies on hard work and constant innovation. That is why they have successfully been able to move from jewels into high end perfume. The brand brings with it an awareness of customer needs and wants.

The Fragrance

The opens up appropriately with black tea. We then move into rosewood and bergamot. A woody quality is brought to by the presence of cedar and oak moss. The perfume then moves to confectionery with vanilla.  The final hues are of amber, sandalwood and musk. What then is absolutely surprising is that such a relatively simple array of ingredients can produce such a challenging perfume.

The Packaging

I am sorry to say this but the packaging on this perfume reminds me of a bullet. Perhaps the shock value was pushed on for  a touch too long with the design. It is composed of ebony and silver with a circular motive just like a bullet or some other sort of modern weapon. The packaging is a curiosity but I am not sure that it speaks to anyone of perfumes. In short the packaging does shock but does not add much to a great perfume

General Customer Feedback

The customers loved the quirky nature of the perfume and pointed out the fact that it was one of those things where shocking was better than bland. Perhaps customers are generally getting fed up with the bland perfumes that are being produced almost on a factory basis. It is a treasure to find such a perfume and I would recommend it for both women and men.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Uomo is the latest mass market creation from Carthusia. I do not mean this is in a derogatory manner because this is a perfectly nice perfume. I only mean to describe its mass appeal and the design that is obviously commercial. The citrus theme of the fragrance suggest a cool summer scent. The perfume is meant for the gentlemen but the final outcome is almost metro sexual.

The Brand

Carthusia is an Italian niche fragrance line. They do not have the brand stamina of something like Givenchy but they have identified a perfume niche that concentrates on what one could call everyday users. Luxury is not one of their highest priorities especially when compared with practicability.

The Fragrance

One of the most interesting things about this perfume is that the top notes do not exactly match the final product. For example the raspberry would have added a fruity freshness but instead it is completely overwhelmed by a sharp citrus twist. Kelp is one of those unusual ingredients that should have sung out loud for the tester but instead it is merely hinted at. We finally end with the rather traditional rosewood. In my view this is the scent that manages to turn the ingredients into a totally different outcome.

The Packaging

There is something Grecian about the floral crystal bottle with the black square top. I have to confess that I like it very much. The perfume is a very clear liquid but the elegance is brought out by the black finish. It is rare for a perfume to combine cleanliness with elegance. Somehow elegant things tend to have something dirty about them.

General Customer Feedback

Customers did say that the perfume divided opinion sharply. They either fell completely head over hills or could not bear the perfume. One particular customer felt that the best way to enjoy the perfume was to give it something like a month and then come back to it. They also advised that the perfume should never be viewed as a sum of its ingredients because it was not. Rather customers should look to appreciate the  final haunting notes.

Popularity: 10% [?]

“Conquest” is a very effective brand for a perfume that has scaled the heights of the industry. This is not a perfume for the diffident gentleman. You need a certain swagger to carry off conquest and that is why it has evoked memories of James Bond for many of its users. It is meant to be a luxurious inspirational product and it does succeed in its brief. In short this is the golden yardstick for many male perfume products. I am mightily impressed.

The Brand

Agatha Brown is a New York fashion and accessories designer. She specializes in high end products that are for the selected few. There is an air of elitism in the brand but it is definitely deserved elitism. The quality of their products speaks for itself and the exclusivity is not undeserved. The quality of their products speaks for itself and the latest product does not disappoint.

The Fragrance

It is a rather complex blend of flavors that come out with a product that far outranks its ingredients.  With start out with the essential bergamot which is complemented by lemon, yuzu zest and grapefruit. This then gives way to the fig leaf, stephanotis, jasmine, iced lavender and white muguet. As if that was not enough, we move into Braeburn apple, cedar, vetiver, tonka bean, sandalwood and patchouli. We then conclude with olibanum, benzoin and musk.

The Packaging

The packaging is very classy and very masculine. The glass has some angular lines which suggest solidity and dependability. The pale orange liquid lightens the mood. Overall the packaging is just right for the luxurious nature of the perfume itself. This is one of those perfumes that manages to capture elegance and sophistication with the simplest of designs. The packaging echoes that sentiment perfectly.

General Customer Feedback

The customers were just awed by the greatness of the brand. I have a suspicion that many of them did not actually sample the perfume but  assumed its qualities on the basis of a strong brand. It is not surprising that the feedback was extremely positive. For many this was a perfume that was meant to be worn on great occasions.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Developed by Christine Nagel, this is a wonderful rosewater perfume that reeks of elegance and style. At the same time they have done a wonderful job with the price such that it seems that you can get the Rose Absolue for a song when compared to other perfumes. This has nothing to do with its qualities because everyone agrees that this is a first class perfume. Rather it appears that they have rationalized their costs very well.

The Brand

Yves Rocher is not a very household brand name but they specialize in ladies toiletries. Their brand is all affordable femininity. Christine Nagel has already had great success with her previous perfumes and it is not surprising that she has scored yet another winner with this one. The brand is to be congratulated for sticking to their principles of affordable elegance. If other brands stuck to similar principles then we would have more perfume customers.

The Fragrance

I find the combination of flowery femininity with complexity quite alluring. The perfume starts off with spicy overtones including cinnamon. It then becomes fruity with a hint of  various rose waters including the Turkish and Bulgarian versions. They say that it also has a hint of the Moroccan rose but I did not sense that particular fragrance note We then move to the darker tones of cedar, patchouli and Tonka bean. All these combine to create a subtle but very effective perfume.

The Packaging

Pretty in pink would be an accurate description of the packaging on this perfume. The bottle is clear and the writing is just elegant but I wish they had been a bit more elegant with their coloring. Everyone knows that pink goes with ladies products. There is no need to re emphasize the stereotype. Perhaps they could have achieved much more with a bit more imagination and daring. It is not a boring package outfit but at the same time it does not send the heart racing.

General Customer Feedback

There is almost universal admiration for the fact that the product is so cheap. Most people have also started buying the supporting cosmetics such as creams on the back of the rather affordable perfume. This means that the marketing strategy has really been spot on and I commend them for the effort. This is a perfume that can dominate the mass market. As a commercial perfume I think that this is as good as it gets.

Popularity: 11% [?]

When the highly dynamic Thierry Mugler was venturing into the world of men’s fragrances, he chose to start with Angel and the results are quite impressive. It was a hint of the great color and vibrancy that he was to bring to a fledgling industry. The perfume is meant to shock but then to calm down into an old friend with a maculate career. There is some mumbo jumbo about the inspiration of two legends moving between the past and the future. Apparently this is the inspiration for this perfume but I do not buy it for one minute. However the merits of the perfume quickly make me forget the kind of nonsense that the inspiration is made out to be.

The Brand

Thierry Mugler is not for his innovative style within the industry and his ability to work within different contexts depending on the perfume that he is trying to design. As I said earlier, he brings a dynamism to the industry that it has frankly been lacking for a very long time. Most of the younger designers are just too full of themselves but Thierry Mugler shocks with good quality so you really cannot lump him with the modern charlatans.

The Fragrance

I understand the thinking behind the perfume was that women liked chocolate so if they could get a perfume that smelt like chocolate, they could get the women to like those men who wore the perfume. It sounds all rather contrived but in any case the perfume starts off with the feminine lavender which then moves into  Bergamote, Helional and  Peppermint . The culinary theme is continued with a hint of coffee. We then go back to the traditional fragrance list with  patchouli and styrax. Finally we end with the heartening scents of caramel, tonka bean, musk,  vanilla  and the all important Chocolate.

The Packaging

Now this is a very interesting box. It is made of a silver color but with a dark, almost black star. I kept thinking what this all meant because you never know what messages the designers might have left behind. However  I think that it fits in quite well with the innovative nature of the perfume and it goes a long way to complementing what is really something that serves as a shock to the system.

General Customer Feedback

The customers talked about the relative strangeness of the perfume. Some of them could not quite get over the scent of chocolate in the perfume and they suggested that perhaps the perfume would only suit men of a certain moral latitude. There were one or two negative comments to the  effect that they did not feel entirely decent wearing the perfume. However on balance I think they achieved their objective of making the public think and query.

Popularity: 7% [?]

We are now talking of the very high end of perfumery when we refer to Allure Homme by Chanel. It was launched in 1998 but it is still going strong and is revered by those gentlemen who prefer their fashion to be somewhat showy. You only buy Allure Homme if you have the clothes and style to carry it off or else it will end up wearing you. Some people have been brave enough to wear the perfume in the office with no untoward results.

The Brand

Chanel is the brand that brought us the famous Chanel number 5 and thereafter became the doyen of all that is to do with fashion. The brand has continued to remain strong despite the competition that has inevitably sprung up from the would be pretenders. The brand has retained its place by not copying the prevailing trends and retaining its unique identity.

The Fragrance

The overall effect is aggressively masculine but if you look at the composition of the perfume you will find subtleties that are not immediately clear.  The oriental themes is represented by a rather strong scent of bergamot which is tempered by overtones of spice. I suppose the easiest way to make a perfume masculine is to refer to the oriental themes as long as it is done with good taste. The oriental theme continues with some jasmine and cedar. The tempering femininity of vanilla is added to break some of the aggressiveness of the masculine tones. The fragrance list finishes with the smoky flavors sandalwood and amber.

The Packaging

A very classic bottle with just the transparent glass and the light yellow fluid that is the treasure within. I absolutely adored the packaging on this perfume. It is not surprising given the ability of Chanel to deliver again and again even under the most extreme pressure from competitors. The packaging in this case does not overwhelm the perfume but rather gives it a certain elegance that is quite within the overall impression that one gets.

General Customer Feedback

The vast majority of customers were extremely pleased with the perfume and pointed out the classic nature of its overtones. They felt that it lasted longer during the working day and that they did not mind the relatively high costs because the end product was just exquisite.  There were just a few murmurs of discontent from those who would have preferred that the perfume was more subtle.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Magnolia Nobile is one in the long line of perfumes by the famous fashion house that is Acqua di Parma. It is meant to showcase luxury at its best and is not targeted towards the less affluent market. I think they succeed very well in creating a fragrance that shows of the affluence of the user yet is comfortable enough to use on a daily basis. I love the fact that there are people in the industry who are not afraid to ask people to flaunt their wealth.

The Brand

Acqua di Parma is already known as one of those great Italian fashion houses that specialize in the production of perfume and this reputation has not been disappointed in this new adventure. They have an impressive list of products on the market and rarely fail to impress even the most discerning perfume connoisseurs who shop around to test various perfumes. I believe that this great heritage and experience has had a major influence in the production and marketing of Magnolia

The Fragrance

The fragrance is fresh to the point of almost sterile but never boring. It starts off with fresh green citrus. You then have the standard overtones of bergamot, lemon and citron. In the middle range are magnolia, jasmine and sandalwood. Finally you have patchouli, vetiver and vanilla. That means that the fruity and citrus flavor at the very beginning lightens up to introduce a rather woody tone. This is the kind of complex perfume that appeals to my tastes.

The Packaging

I consider the packaging to be of the highest possible quality. The predominant character is that of rich gold. Almost like tea and the outer casing is looks golden with a kind of pale understatement. The overall picture is that of confident luxury. It is neither brash not tasteless but elegant and welcoming. I think they are onto a winner with the packing for this great perfume.

General Customer Feedback

As one would expect with the Acqua di Parma brand, this is a very inspirational brand and many of the customers were really looking forward to sample it. Those who did were very pleased with the product but they said that the citrus flavor was overpowering in the beginning and it was only when the perfume settled that they felt the more sophisticated overtones. Some people strangely felt that the scent was too weak and did not make the impact they wanted.

Popularity: 9% [?]