Noir De Noir Clones

"### Notes & Nuances Club De Nuit Intense opens with an aggressive saffron accord, reminiscent of medicinal iodine. This sharp introduction lacks the nuanced sweetness found in Noir de Noir, instead presenting a harsh metallic tang. The heart attempts to replicate the original's black rose, but the rose note veers toward an artificial rosewater, lacking the velvety texture. The truffle accord is noticeable, adding an earthy undertone that combats some of the sweetness, but the overall impression is a muddled floral composition with a damp soil aspect. The drydown reveals the patchouli and oud, where it distinctly deviates. The patchouli is a musty, rather than chocolatey, type. The oud is a synthetic rendering, lending a harsh, smoky and almost acrid note, rather than the smoother, animalic profile of higher-quality oud. A faint vanilla provides minimal sweetness and lift, barely masking the plasticky drydown. ### To Buy or Not to Buy? This fragrance is for the individual who favors a strong, statement-making scent with pronounced earthy and woody elements. Someone who values longevity and projection over subtlety and naturalistic qualities, perhaps a nightclub enthusiast, seeking a fragrance that will cut through the environment. ### Projection Power Longevity is impressive, projecting for 8+ hours on skin, and lasting significantly longer on clothing. The projection is substantial, easily reaching beyond arm's length for the first 3 hours. I wore this during an evening walk; the sillage was considerable and noticeable."

"### Scent Breakdown Club de Nuit Intense Woman opens with a brazen saffron note, immediately divergent from the inspiration. This saffron isn’t the refined spice; it’s closer to a medicinal, almost iodine-like sharpness. The heart attempts to mimic the black rose with a generalized “floral notes” accord that smells distinctly like potpourri, dried rose petals and old sachets. The truffle note is largely absent, replaced by an earthy, damp soil impression, but unfortunately, this earthiness has a synthetic edge – a mineralic tang reminiscent of wet cement. As it dries down, the composition struggles. The patchouli is prominent but lacks depth, smelling thin and papery. The vanilla presents as a cloying, artificial sweetness, far removed from the nuanced vanilla bean extract of its inspiration. The oud is a whisper, a fleeting hint of woodiness that's overshadowed by the persistent saccharine vanilla and that plasticky rose. ### To Buy or Not to Buy? Wearing this fragrance as opposed to the original Noir de Noir is an exercise in compromise. You gain substantial projection in the initial phase, but at the expense of a smoother, more refined composition. You lose the textural richness and the nuanced balance of the original, trading it for a louder, more monolithic interpretation. The cheaper materials are detectable, lending a harsher edge to the overall experience. ### How Long Does it Last? Longevity is substantial, clocking in at around 8 hours on skin. Projection is initially strong, extending easily beyond arm’s length for the first two hours, before gradually receding into a skin scent. Tested in both indoor and outdoor environments."