Patchouli Noir by Il Profumo

WARNING : For those who's proclivities are to simply dabble with diluted patchouli fragrances, there may be repercussions. Side effects include potential vomiting and penile shrinkage whilst 2.5 women out of 800 actually grew one.

Ah.........patchouli..........one of my favorite notes.....and probably one of the most misused in all of fragrancedom. With a name like Patchouli Noir, it was simply a matter of time before I got hold of some in order to sample wear it at the very least. This scent is like beauty and the beast with the brute being introduced first. Fear not however......it is a changeling that morphs into a more docile and seductive animal.

I am fascinated with patchouli and it started in 1977. I had a ( non amorous) interaction in the fall of 77 with a nurse who was wearing a fragrance that smelled divine to me. All she told me, after I asked of course, was that she was wearing patchouli. Since then, patch has had a place in my pleasure center that continues to this day.

Patchouli Noir however can be likened to someone barging in your house without so much as a knock. I sprayed 2 spritzes and said "DAMN" out loud. An eruption of earthy patchouli envelopes you and I find it in between dry and moist. Dusty wet? Ahemmmm.......I doubt that's even possible, but that's the best I can describe it. After a minute, there's also a subtle menthol wafting around in this dark mix. It's a temporary reprieve and embellishment to it's heady counterpart. The menthol lasts a few moments......and then POOF !!! It's gone like a puff of smoke.

Once the menthol disappears, a background cedar encroaches on the patchouli and gives it some added dimension. It's here where I start to think that maybe this isn't a one trick pony after all. The cedar-patch duo soften within 30 minutes and I am enjoying this bare bones combo very much. Both seem to feed off each other and the projection is still rather substantial. The final act in this uncomplicated play is the addition of a deftly played vanilla. It's volume is perfect and blends seamlessly with the woody patchouli to evolve into what I can only call as seductive. This is patchvanedar at it's best.

Patchouli Noir is a terrific scent once it settles in and it really is ONLY for patch fans. It is loud, dark, earthy and very extroverted. This gives Mazzolari, Reminiscence, Profumum, Bois 1920 and Gentleman a run for their money. Huge thumbs up from an out of the closet patch fanatic.

Oriental Lounge by The Different Company

Bergamot, Curry Leaf, Pepper, Red Rose, Tonka Bean, Labdanum, Satinwood. I suppose the first thing I noticed about Oriental Lounge is that as a man, this is a bit of a stretch to pull off. Since the core of Oriental Lounge is a powdery tonka and amber duo, it really does lean a bit too far feminine for me to wear. However, it would smell just as lovely on a woman and more appropriate as well. I bring this up simply because it's marketed as shared. I was wondering about the curry leaf. Actually, this "note" brought nothing to the table with the exception of possibly enhancing the pepper note just a bit. Even so, the pepper note itself was low key ( at least on me ) and both blended nicely with the citrus opening. From the onset of Oriental Lounge, it's unmistakable that this fragrance is.......well.....an oriental. From other opinions, I read some gripes about longevity, but it lasts on me quite awhile. This fragrance is uncomplicated and without much movemen...

Black Suede by Avon

Nutmeg, Clove, Amber, Musk, Moss, Wood Notes. Yes.........I am reviewing one of the Rodney Dangerfield's of fragrance. Black Suede has been gracing medicine cabinets, for better or worse, since 1980 my friends. If you're expecting me to inform you ( like others may have already ) that Black Suede is a nasty scrubber, you will be disappointed. On the other hand, if you're expecting a glowing review claiming it's a diamond in the rough, you won't hear that from me either. I will say though that Black Suede doesn't deserve the hate it's received and most of that is due to snobbery aimed at Avon products in general. I kid you not when I state that a close relative to this fragrance is Cacharel Pour L'Homme. The array of spice in both ensure comparison, but the "smoother" of the two is Black Suede due to its implementation of Amber. While wearing Black Suede, one can detect a hint of "drugstore". That quality doesn't manife...

Paco Rabanne Pour Homme

I am reviewing the original Paco Rabanne Pour Homme ( circa 1973 ) thanks to a generous basenoter who sent it to me recently in a swap. He also sent me the current formulation in order for me to do a side by side comparison. The side by side resulted in what I had already imagined would be the case. Not that the newer formula is terrible by any means. The original version simply is better by being deeper and a bit more masculine. No......you shouldn't go to ebay searching for the vintage formula and paying stupid prices. It's simply a notch or two better than the current and noticeable by comparing the two in real time. Rabanne Pour Homme opens with a slight shimmer in conjunction with lavender, spices and a subtle woodiness. It's an old school introduction, however a good one. The lavender takes about 5 minutes to raise its volume and evolve into a soapy rendition. I dislike when a boatload of soapy lavender takes over a composition, but here it doesn't go over t...

SugandarajaOctober 25, 2010 at 4:16 AM
Sounds good! This Il Profumo ( there are two "Il Profumo" lines that I know of, just to make life difficult it seems ) is a line that's brand new to me.
AromiEroticiOctober 25, 2010 at 5:52 AM
Yea.....I cannot say I'm very familiar with Il Profumo either. The Noir is good however despite its uncomplicated construction.

If I didn't have so many patch renditions, I would definitely consider it @$135 for 100ml.
AnonymousOctober 27, 2010 at 9:30 PM
V interestink! From another patch fan...bordering on fanatic. Will have to try sometime! (my fave EOs are usually patchouli and musk heavy)
NilOctober 25, 2011 at 8:47 PM
My God! This is heaven! My sample is not Osmo Parfum, it's Osmo Absolu. I thought I had the best patchouli fragrances. (Mazzolari, Reminiscence EDT, Farmacia SS. Annunziata, Patchouli Patch, which is not about patchouli enough, though a nice scent) Patcholi Noir is my temptation. I don't know if I will be able to resist.

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