Bulgari Black (1998)
by Bulgari

Uhh, it smells so bad. I just have it on right now and i need to get it off. I cant smell it, its sickening. It smells very artificially and reminds me of (burned) car-tires (just as the bottle does actually). the "rubber-note is dying down" WHERE, WHEN? its all there is and it smells like burned tires all throughout its existence. Nah i find it very unpleasant and un-comforting and therefore would not recommend it to anyone! thumbs dooown!

13rd January, 2012.

I tried Black today thinking I would buy it but then I decided not to. Heavy vanilla and musk are the stars of the show. If I strained my nose I could find cinnamon and maybe some cedar. These are some of my favorite elements but somehow they don't play well together in Bvlgari Black. I'd describe the total package as monolithic. On a positive note, presence and longevity seemed above average. Based on the few dozen popular scents I feel like I know, I'd say it's very unique. Ultimately I think it smells good but it's not something I'd want to smell like. Perhaps it reminds me too much of my recently completed holiday baking. I'll revisit this one sometime later.

6th January, 2012.

The opening is a bit aggressive with the rubber and I can see why most would just write it of right there and then. But after about an hour the true face of this fragrance. The rubber dies down a bit and the vanilla and floral acordes come out. As it dies down into the basenotes what is left is the floral vanilla that sits pretty close to the skin.

You have to learn to love this fragrance. Don't expect to be able to throw this on whenever you like. You'll need to plan to wear this. Make sure you don't meet anyone new (like on a date) within the first hour or so.

If you only expect to own a couple of fragrances this is not for you. Mainly because you won't take it out as much but for a collector this will be an interesting bottle to own.....

20th December, 2011.

Bulgari Black looks like a hockey puck and smells like rubber, sweet rubber. Black is one of the most interesting fragrances I've ever worn. I don't know which notes bring the rubber accord to life, but it really doesn't matter. I really like this fragrance. Black is not an every day scent for me, but it is something I wear during the fall and winter months. The rubber accord lasts through the entire progression of Black. Vanilla is dominant in the base, but the rubber accord tones it down, avoiding a cloyingly sweet mess. We often speak of frangrances as works of art. With Black, I really believe it. An ingenious, creative masterpiece.

4th December, 2011.

if you can bear the initial outbreak of the rubber note you will enjoy one of the best dry down related to vanilla; a little powdered vanilla with a subtle flowery touch, very effective and attractive, wich is in a way the Dior homme of the bikers.
my rating is neutral especially because the more I wear it the more I am unable to rid myself the discomfort it causes me such nagging rubber note.

27th November, 2011.

This fragrance was a cruel let down for me. Amber, vanilla, cedar, sandalwood and leather are some of my favourite notes. I was absolutely certain Bulgari Black would suit me to a T. First, I was not really impressed with the so-called rubber note. I expected something more "Demeter-like"! Besides, it was no longer noticeable after about 30 seconds. However, the real disappointment for me was the lingering musk note which I truly hate in any EDT, EDP or perfume, for that matter. Musk is supposed to improve lasting power. It is not meant to be the star of the show. Also, tea belongs in a cup, not in a fragrance. We did rather well without it in perfumes for centuries, why should we spoil good fragrances with it now? For some reason, whenever there is tea in an EDT, there is almost always some skunky musk note that comes along with it. Musk and tea are not my cup of...

14th October, 2011.