Wood Noir

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.