Reviews of Black Cashmere (2002)
by Donna Karan

Well, That wasn't exactly the kind of smell I'd like to smell on my wife... In fact, I think she would kill me if I bought a bottle of this stuff...It's too dark and cloying, smoky...

Taken by surprise by the overwhelming cedar note (wenge wood?), that seemed to be the dominating scent on my skin. I was never a fan of cedar, so unfortunately, after being so sure I would love Black Cashmere, on me it is "trapped in a cedar closet perfume".

I know a lot of people like this scent so I hope you will keep in mind that our noses are all a little different along with our skin chemistry. The ladies were doing a laying challenge and many were using Black Cashmere and so I had to go out and try it. To me, If one were to put cloves into a used ashtray and set them on fire, you'd get Black Cashmere.

Understand how some women can feel wrapped in a soothing blanket of comfort with this one on a cold, rainy day. Especially if they've od'd on cutesy " upbeat " florals.

But can a man wear this?

Well, yes. Provided:

1. He doesn't mind making the cats sneeze.

2. He's never been pepper-sprayed by a cop. Otherwise it'll conjure unpleasant memories.

3. Never been trapped at church during High Mass by a berserk deacon with an incense fetish, nor ever worked for CdG.

4. Loves sprinkling cinammon on top of yellow rice. Loves cooking with saffron.

Pass.

I have no business wearing this scent, which is loaded with cedar and sandalwood to an extreme I find unbearable. The few times I have worn it, it's smelled as though I've dabbed Liquid Smoke on my pulse points - as there's also something else in here that smells as though it's burning. It feels like cinnamon - the way straight cinnamon oil can really sear your skin - but doesn't necessarily smell like it. I suspect it's the saffron note interacting with the patchouli that's also in the base. I bought Black Cashmere for the beauty of the bottle and will keep it because it's discontinued, from what I understand. But I will not be wearing it unless I really, really want to have that "gather round the barbecue pit and let's fire up some butts, too!" sort of experience.