Noir Extreme Clones

"### First Impressions & Dry Down ÉCLAT 798 VIP opens with a forceful wave of cardamom and nutmeg, but lacks the nuanced saffron shimmer found in its inspiration. The initial impression is undeniably spicy, yet veers slightly into "Christmas candle" territory, missing the original's sophisticated warmth. As it settles, the heart attempts a creamy kulfi accord, but reads closer to a powdered milk sweetness with a hint of rosewater. The mastic note, thankfully subtle, adds a touch of green resinous depth, preventing it from becoming cloying. The drydown presents a vanilla-forward base, laced with amber. The promised woody notes struggle to surface, resulting in a slightly plasticky finish that lingers for hours. ### Final Thoughts This fragrance is for the individual who enjoys projecting a sense of soft, approachable warmth. They might be a bookshop owner, curating their shelves under the soft glow of lamps, or an art student sketching portraits in a cozy cafe. They favor quiet evenings, prefer intimate conversations, and find comfort in the familiar. They want to suggest indulgence and comfort, without dominating the room. ### Longevity & Projection On my skin, ÉCLAT 798 VIP boasts moderate longevity, clocking in at around 6 hours. Projection is intimate; it creates a soft bubble around the wearer, extending to about an arm's length for the first two hours before fading to a skin scent. I wore it during a chilly evening walk and a casual indoor gathering. It performs best in controlled environments, becoming somewhat muddled in the open air."

"### How it Smells Select Night attempts to replicate Noir Extreme's luxurious spice-meets-dessert profile. The opening cardamom is a shout, not a whisper, quickly overtaken by a somewhat medicinal saffron note. This phase leans into cherry cough syrup territory, a sharp contrast to Noir Extreme's smoother, more rounded spices. The "Kulfi" accord, the supposed heart of this fragrance, translates more as a generic creamy sweetness rather than the specific pistachio-cardamom delight it should be. There's a faint rose presence, buried under the weight of the synthetic vanilla and amber. The drydown becomes a homogenous woody sweetness with a noticeable plasticky edge. It lacks the depth and nuanced chocolate gourmand facets that define the original. ### Projection Power I achieved around 5 hours of wear before it faded to a skin scent. Projection is initially strong, extending a good arm's length for the first hour, then quickly retracting. I wore this during an evening out to dinner. It was detectable within my immediate personal space but didn't project into the room. ### Bottom Line Wearing Select Night is like admiring a photograph of a masterpiece instead of standing before the real thing. You get the general idea, the broad strokes of the concept. However, the details, the texture, and the overall artistry are undeniably missing. It provides a surface-level impression, adequate for someone unfamiliar with the original, but it lacks the richness and sophistication that defines Noir Extreme."

"### How it Smells Odyssey Homme opens with a blast of powdered spices – a dusty cardamom and slightly acrid saffron dominating. The nutmeg is there, but subdued. It lacks the rich, creamy depth of its inspiration. The heart introduces a milky sweetness, attempting the kulfi accord, but it lands closer to a generic vanilla pudding with a ghostly rose presence. The mastic adds a faint, medicinal edge. As it dries, the woody notes emerge, but they have a definite plasticky character. The amber is a synthetic vanilla that lingers far too long, and doesn't have the luxurious feel of the original. It deviates noticeably in the base, with the synthetic vanilla dominating. ### Projection Power Longevity is impressive, clocking in at 7-8 hours on my skin. Projection is moderate, extending about an arm's length for the first 2 hours, before settling closer to the skin. I tested it in an office setting, and it didn't become cloying, however the synthetic amber became somewhat annoying after hour five. ### Is it Worth It? This fragrance would suit a young professional who wants a sweet, spicy scent for evening wear or cooler weather. He appreciates a bold fragrance, but isn't discerning regarding scent quality. He spends more time in casual bars than upscale lounges."

"### To Buy or Not to Buy? This is a nighttime fragrance for someone who wants to make a forceful, if somewhat unsubtle, statement. Envision a person who favors loud music, vibrant clothing, and isn't afraid to command attention. This scent would work in a crowded club or at a lively party, settings where nuance is lost, and projection is key. Not suited for intimate encounters or professional environments. ### Notes & Nuances Pendora Noir Enigma bursts open with an abrasive greeting: cardamom mixed with play-doh. The saffron is barely there, a ghostly whisper. As it dries, a peculiar kulfi note emerges, but it's more artificial sweetener than creamy dessert. The rose is a candied afterthought, fighting for space against the syrupy amber. The drydown is where it truly departs from its inspiration, settling into a generic woody accord with a persistent, synthetic vanilla that smells like stale cotton candy. The likeness is superficial, mimicking the general sweetness but lacking the luxurious depth and smoothness of the original. Instead, a faint whiff of melted plastic lingers. ### Wear time & Sillage Longevity is surprisingly tenacious, clinging to skin for around 6-7 hours. Projection is initially strong, filling a room for the first hour, then receding to about an arm's length. I tested it at an evening concert and it competed aggressively with the other scents in the air."

"### Notes & Nuances Wood Noir initiates with a forceful cardamom and nutmeg blast, exhibiting a pungent sharpness somewhat removed from the original inspiration. The saffron note, while present, leans toward a metallic tang rather than a nuanced spice. The heart attempts the kulfi accord, but it comes across as a cloying, synthetic creaminess, with a distracting bubblegum sweetness that overshadows any pistachio nuances. The rose is subdued, almost imperceptible, and the mastic adds a subtle green bitterness attempting to cut through the sweetness. The drydown is where the scent diverges further. Instead of a rich, dark vanilla and amber accord, it presents as a thinner, more linear vanilla with a plasticky, cedar-esque woody base. It lacks the original's depth and warmth, instead offering a lingering synthetic acetone edge. ### Longevity & Projection Longevity is moderate, clocking in at around 5-6 hours on skin. Projection is initially strong, extending a good arm's length for the first hour, before quickly settling closer to the skin. I tested this in an office environment, where its synthetic sweetness became somewhat distracting, and during a cool evening walk, where it fared slightly better, though still lacked the comforting warmth it strives for. ### To Buy or Not to Buy? This fragrance is best suited for cooler evenings. Its opening might suggest a wintertime gourmand, but the synthetic quality and lack of depth make it more suitable for casual, informal settings where stringent fragrance expectations are low. Definitely not for formal occasions or close encounters."

"### To Buy or Not to Buy? If Special Oud were a movie character, it would be a knock-off James Bond villain – all the posturing but none of the sophistication or gravitas. He might be wearing a velvet suit from a discount retailer. ### Olfactory Experience Special Oud launches with a potent cardamom and nutmeg blast, spiced but with a surprising medicinal edge, similar to a cherry cough syrup. The saffron adds a subtle leathery dryness. The heart attempts the kulfi accord, but reads more as a generic sweetened cream, missing the pistachio nuance of its inspiration. The rose is dialed down, almost imperceptible. As it dries, the base emerges dominated by vanilla and amber, creating a cloying sweetness. The promised woody notes are muted, yielding a plasticky drydown. The absence of sandalwood, a key element in the original, is definitely noticed. ### Wear time & Sillage I got about six hours of wear from Special Oud, with projection that extends to about an arm's length for the first hour, settling closer to the skin afterward. I wore it during a moderately cool evening out. It struggled to cut through the ambient scents and felt somewhat suffocating by the end of the night."

"### To Buy or Not to Buy? This fragrance is suited for evenings when the intent is cozy rather than captivating. Think casual dinners with friends or a night spent indoors reading. It has a certain comforting quality, but it won’t command attention in a crowded space. It is a simple, sweet, and somewhat hazy scent for relaxed, personal enjoyment. ### Scent Breakdown Just Jack's Homme Noir opens with a bold, almost medicinal blast of saffron. The cardamom lacks the original's nuance, instead leaning towards a generic, potpourri-like spiciness. The heart attempts to replicate the kulfi note, but lands closer to a Play-Doh interpretation of gourmand. Rose struggles to break through the sugary density. The base offers some redemption; the vanilla is rich, yet the amber has a slight musty character like old library books left in the sun. The woody notes emerge as a slightly synthetic sandalwood. It diverges from its inspiration's sophisticated smoothness, lacking the luxurious depth. ### Projection Power On my skin, Homme Noir lasts around 5-6 hours, becoming a skin scent after the initial 2 hours. Projection is moderate for the first hour, extending to about an arm's length, then quickly fading. I wore it during a chilly evening walk and found its warmth comforting but not overwhelming."