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Black Cashmere by Karan

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Funny how certain fragrances truly polarize opinions. This 2002 release from Karan has certainly accomplished that. The reviews run the gamut.

I have sampled this 4 times now and my first impression without knowing the notes beforehand was saffron and incense, subtle rose and spicy woods. This is, in fact correct, once I looked up the accords and it's a testament to the notes being able to breathe in this fragrance.

I can see why people love this and why it has detractors. The collusion of notes gives me a suede-like vibe, but the driving force for me in Black Cashmere is a spicy incense over woods. The saffron note is intermittent but accounted for and wafts around in the mix. There's clove and nutmeg in this scent and I believe those are responsible for some not liking Cashmere. I like those type of spicy notes depending upon their volume. I also eschew wearing offerings like this in warmer temperatures.

The drydown is a very pleasant spicy wood that has an oriental slant to it. For those who have shown a proclivity for woody incense and spices like some of the Lutens line, you may want to give this a sample stroll. While not for everyone, I like it very much and have found yet another saffron scent that's masculine enough for me to wear. Black Cashmere is assuredly a shared scent that, to me, leans more masculine than anything.

Thumbs up from Aromi for Karan's Black Cashmere.
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  1. HenriqueDecember 19, 2010 at 1:15 PM

    Black Cashmere was one of the scents that i feel in love before even testing it. For some reason i was obsessed with it, and when i bought and received, it was love at the first sight. I really get that silky, suedish vibe you described on your review, but what i enjoy at it is that is not a silly one, it's a serious silkish aroma that emerges from the combination of incense, spices and a dry rose. I love to wear it on colder days and with my black coat. They match perfectly

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  2. AnonymousJanuary 17, 2011 at 9:27 PM

    Intrigued by your description, and entranced by the sample you sent, this is the first frag with big notes of clove that I really, really, REALLY like. (and I love clove.) The clove/nutmeg in this just add to its depth and as Rick says, "silkish"ness. I can see this becoming a staple scent.

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