Reviews of Bulgari Black (1998)
by Bulgari

Because of the review in "The Guide", I avoided this one until curiosity got the better of me. This is a very soft oriental in spite of the rubber (tea?) notes that remain throughout the progression. After the initial rubber smell (this is NOT unpleasant), the fragrance turns to a light, sweet, slightly cinnamon jasmine which quickly morphs into a musky vanilla. I need to try this in summer, because I find the notes are almost too soft, and the sillage & longevity are minimal. This is seductive in a very nice, pretty way. I can see this as unisex fragrance in spite of that pretty softness. However, I don't see this as one of the "greats".

The opening blast can be a little over-powering to some, but given time to settle, I get past the rubbery feel there is to it. It settles nicely into something less bitter and much sweeter (from the vanilla), with the smokiness and woodsiness lingering mildly. A strong scent that I find is more masculine than other-wise.

Smells incensey in the top notes, then turns into tar and tires, then turns into a vanillic musk. Bulgari Black suceeds in what CdG Tar was attempting: turning roadwork into a wearable fragrance. Surprisingly delightful, and I love that bottle!

Pretty much just as what others have described. A hint of rubber, tea, vanilla and musk. No more, no less, not bad.

The first 20 min. I get jasmine, and mudcakes, shoved into black rubber balloon.
Very unique. I couldn't keep my wrist from my nose.

Once it settles i get a more 'smokin' wood and vanilla' but i can still smell that black balloon lingering...

Highly enjoyable and 'fun' but not an everyday scent.

I can picture Darth Vader wearing this one! Unisex? This may be Bvlgari's most masculine cologne. It's certainly its best. Though I can also picture Mrs. Emma Peel wearing it, as she counsels Steed to always keep his bowler on in times of stress and watch out for diabolical masterminds. . .

If I had never seen the bottle or read the marketing for this fragrance, this is what I would say about it: Black is L'Heure Bleue lacking the florals and moody romanticism, but with an obstinant, self-assured voice....BB reminds me very much of my favorite parts of L'Heure Bleue without all the tricky stuff that sometimes makes it hard to wear. I think that Black is definitely unisex and is a well done powdery tea fragrance with a sweet powdery amber and vanilla drydown. I smell something a little like anise in there too. And rather than tar or rubber, what I smell is like a dry spice that is heated up to the point of being on fire - just before it starts to burn - actually the smell of something just about to burn. I think that makes it a little sexy underneath all the simplicity of notes. It is not as aggressive as the marketing and packaging would have you imagine.

To me, this has always smelled exactly like a black leather motorcycle jacket. And I like black leather motorcycle jackets. Leathery and powdery. Strong but soft. Homme et Femme. Yin and --oh, you get the idea. I don't like that knob though...the one on the bottle, I mean. It's confusing.

OMG... I am in love with this scent. It's not overtly feminine (and I am not either) and it is so deep and mysterious. Not many people wear it (I like that). It is one that I go to at least 3x a week. Gorgeous!!

This is the best of the best, seriously. Bulgari Black can multitask better the most of us: if you need a superhero costume here it is; if you love the Godfather, this is your chauffeur; if you prefer libraries and literature, everyone from Coleridge to Collins would find inspiration here. Bulgari's Black is like no other, it transcends traditional fragrances and offers something more like a Ticket to Ride. From the very first instant I smelled it, I could smell something as unique as it was enjoyably excitable. Black smells smart, innovative and incredibly contemporary. It also smells like new tires and black powder. This is a fragrance that could appeal to the agrarian in the comsopolitan while also crossing genders. To me, this is a very warm masculine scent, like De Lillo in a limousine. Yet, I must admit how much I really want to smell this on a woman. Truly a unisex scent, it embodies both the masculine and the feminine in one remarkable fragrance. While not for everday use, this should be in everyones selection. In fact, I make plans just so that I have an occasion to wear it. It dominates!

This is quickly becoming my signature fragrance. For me, the top notes are quite synthetic... rubber, latex, spice. Some compare this to tires but I have to go against the grain here and say that to me, it smells a bit of a "fetish" shop. An adult toy store. Standing in front of whips and costumes. It smells sexy, but not in an obscure way, it's more of an "in your face" sexy, fetish scent. Then moments after that you're at ease... the excitement of having something naughty gives way to smelling... warm, comforting, soft. The synthetic scents dissipate enough (but not completely) for you to begin to smell what I identify as warm skin, distressed leather, and strangely - pipe tobacco... or perhaps smoke FROM a pipe, it's very smokey... but still has a very warm and inviting fragrance. It's something you want to smell because it makes you comfortable... and then when you go in for a good whiff you still get the latex/rubber/erotic scent as well. I think this is a very alluring and inviting scent that could work on many levels.

The far far dry down smells more of pipe tobacco than anything else to me. When I put this on in the morning, I find that it excites me for a few hours of smelling and then eventually begins to lull me to a very comfortable place... perhaps the smell of someones grandfather, warm skin and pipe tobacco. The synthetic/fetish scent totally evaporates after a few hours.

I happen to enjoy that very synthetic scent so I often layer this with some of the CdG Synthetic series scents... usually either Tar or Skai. It works out nicely.

All in all, I adore this scent in all of its incarnations. I think it's very sexy and very comforting, all at once. It's a scent that others want to smell... and it's easily remembered.

A new love! That quick slap of burning rubber rocks us back. Smoky black tea promises to keep us up and in tune all night. Yes, the acrid rubber and the black tea drift off soon enough, leaving behind a generic vanilla coziness. So what - isn't love just like that? We're hooked by the torching tires, even if we're dead certain it'll simmer down to virtuous vanilla all too soon. But we plunge right in, don't we? Bring on the flames, again and again and again.

Two words that Turin/Sanchez should have used: VANILLA DOMINATRIX.

Rubber, vanilla, leather, gasoline. This. Is. Bulgari. Black!

My husband and I split on this one when we both tried it. I loved the vague new tire aspect, accompanied by a pretty muted, subdued blend of vanilla, tea, and spices; he couldn't get past the rubber. To me, this is a very refined, perfectly turned out person (of any gender--Black is truly unisex to my nose) sitting in a new car. Interesting and a little unpredictable. Edgy? Not so much--like the other Bulgari tea fragrances this one is pretty Apollonian. If you like your fragrances to evolve as you wear them, Black isn't the thing for you. On the other hand, if you like it at first spritz, you'll probably like it until it disappears.

I've been wearing this for the last couple of days. I caught a whiff when I opened up the decant, and OMG tar. I don't even know what compelled me to put some on my wrist, because I was completely revolted. On my body, it's actually fairly sweet- in a warm way. I like it, it's dark and sexy. Very unique as well. I'm going to test it out on my husband to be certain, but I just don't see how anyone could pull this off as unisex. It's way too sweet and feminine. Kind of a dark, sadistic vanilla.

Opens with vinyl/rubber, swiftly settles into vanilla, and finally a vanilla-tinged musk that is slightly baby powder-ish. I don't find this 'edgy' or as complex at all, save for that fleeting bike tire opening. I think some people are being swayed by the name and presentation -- otherwise it's a unisex vanilla with a bit of a twist. That said, it is very wearable, and I wouldn't mind a small bottle.

Definitely not for everyone, but if it works with your chemistry then you're in for a treat. The Lapsang Souchang tea notes give a smoky and almost rubbery scent that sits in the background while warm amber and vanilla notes dry to a creamy scent on the skin. Hints of Jasmine, cedar, sandalwood and musk can be found but mostly these blend together to create one unique fragrance. Somewhat like Le Male but less sweet and no mint.

Sinister vanilla, a perfect combination : when you get really frightened, it turns into a Krispy Kreme and lets you tickle its tummy; when you relax, it shouts cruel remarks about your figure. It also has its airy-supercilious side, which comes from the whiffs of lapsang and rosewood, as if from a duchess’s antique tea-caddy. Delicious and weird.

Like others here, after reading the "rubber, burnt tires, tar" etc. I had to try it. And it doesn't disapoint. Who would have thought that a scent of tires would make a great cologne. There are other things in there too though, smoky wood, vanilla and spice. I don't get the unisex title, this is a straight up many scent for sure.

I live in England and this scent is nowhere to be seen in this country. Every department store claims it's been discontinued, but it hasn't according to basenotes.

Several years ago, I bought the body lotion and just wore that. It was enough: my body warmed the lotion and I was enveloped in the scent all day.

I find this scent to be very comforting and quite sexy. I like the vanilla, which is not overdone, the spice, and the smokiness. It's very unique. The sales assistant who first sold it to me said that it was created to capture the smell of the streets of New York. I never found out whether or not that was true, but as someone who just loves New York City, it sure did help to sell it to me.

I'd love to repurchase this fragrance, either in the spritz form or the body lotion form, and wish I could find it in the UK.

This is one heck of a brew! Bulgari, as usual, has designed a unique frag, really unlike anything else. I cannot fathom comments that include burnt rubber, tar, etc. in this frragrance, which will be sexier than hell on the woman who CAN wear it. It is bold, starts out with a creamy vanilla top note, soon revealing black, tea musk and leathery basenotes. his fragrance lasts, and like most Bulgari scents, becomes closer to the skin. The term androgeny is also inappropriate for the frag, since it implies "unisex." I can see this on myself, and have used it occasionaly, feeling quite well with the scent, opening and dry-down. The strident uniqueness of this cologne may be one issue that some have. For my part is is truly unusual, but distinct and beautiful.

Good stuff. Sweet, smoky and modern. Vanilla and burning rubber, almost cloying but with just enough traction, if you will. I can understand why someone wouldn't like this - either the sweetness or the smokiness could rub one the wrong way - but that tension makes Bulgari Black probably the only good stuff you'll find in a department store.

Personally, it's almost too sweet for me to wear, but it's pleasant yet kinky, a great evening scent for people of all genders. The big plus for this stuff is its wide availability and low price, which is why I picked up a bottle.

In the same vein but on a whole other level is L'Artisan Perfumer's Dzing!, which is unafraid of the burning note, and throws in the surprisingly enjoyable wet cardboard note/phase, while toning down the sweetness as it takes us though our trip to the circus. But Dzing! costs 2-3 times as much, and I guess the fact that Bulgari Black smells the same right out of the bottle or 4 hours on (though less intensely, of course) is a sort of a plus, too.

Unique. I love the smoky rubbery smell, and with whatever else I could possibly smell alongside the vanilla yummyness. I love the bottle, I love the whole fragrance.

Lasts quite long, sillage I don't know (not used it so much), pretty strong (2-3 sprays max - no more than that for me).
Unisex - sure, it seems very induvidual if you would acctually be able to '''pull it off'', Im weird enough tough so I don't have to worry about that.

Bulgari Black starts off with a warm, almost rice pudding note. It is a velvety fragrance and though it is apparently for men, I could easily imagine wearing it myself. As it dries down there is a very faint rubber/leather smell which I really only found by having read about those notes. If I hadn’t, I don’t know that I would have detected them as they are not dominant notes in the composition. The best way I can describe Bulgari Black is that it is a soft yet translucent, vanilla musk fragrance with a mild hint of coconut, cinnamon and powder. Which doesn’t do it a lot of justice as Bulgari Black really is much more stylish and modern than these words indicate. It also reminds me a good deal of a current favorite of mine – Le Labo Aldehyde 44. And finally, no question about it, that is one sexy little bottle!

Per The Perfumed Court, here are the notes for Bulgari Black: black tea, rosewood, bergamot, cedar, oakmoss, vanilla, amber, sandalwood and musk.

I decided to purchase 'Black' after reading the reviews round here, and it turned out to be a really good buy!

For me, it's a very ambiguous fragrance - in fact it seems to be the perfect olfactory equivalent of the "Necker Cube": On a casual whiff, it actually seems to convey the smell of metropolis, with the emphasis being 'burned rubber' on busy city streets. However, when concentrating, my nose immediately gathers the composition of what I consider to be its main components: vanilla, tea and jasmine.

I consider it to be a good choice for someone seeking some slightly 'unusual' fragrance. And it's also more of a 'male' scent, methinks.

I am not a huge fan of Bvlgari scents but this one blended very nicely. Spicy and lasts very long.

The men who dont like ths fragrance probably like run of the mill smells i.e Hugo Boss or Calvin Klein which I dont dispute that some of these are very pleasant Bulgari Black is a unique scent.
I get nothing but good compliments when I wear it.Perhaps the other reviewers have over applied it.
I do notice the rubbery smell which soon disappears to reveal a mellow fragrance with a hint of vanilla,leathery notes and woods.
Wouldn't say this was a paticularly feminine scent although it is marketed as unisex.
If you want something different give it a try.For me definately a winner.

Strangely edible while still being a fragrance. Smoky tea and woody notes, a creamy touch of something I can't identify. Very lovely, and probably drop-dead gorgeous in cold weather.

The thing I like most about this frag is its schizo persona.

It's masculine, it's feminine.

It's sweet, it's smoky.

"I liked it, then I hated it, now I love it."

Longevity is good, longevity is terrible.

Even one of the reviews here thrashes it, but the rating is Thumbs Up.

That's why I had to try it.

Bought it, wear it, love it.

For now.

Very unique and interesting. I love the bottle - it does fit the concept very well looking like a tire and a rotor when placed on it's side. One thing is for sure, this scent has the "car mechanic" thing down to a very sexy science. It makes me think of that note in Fahrenheit (Dior) that is so obtuse (smelling of an oily mechanic). This one is different in that the "mechanic" aura is more akin to the smell a mechanic gets when being in the environment (the garage), but before getting really down and dirty and covering it up with something . . . or when it was a light day in the garage just changing a tire or two.

The end result - the mechanic went out in his work jacket had some vanilla tea on an outdoor patio.

Funny thing, it soooooo works . . . it certainly conjures up so very sexy imagery in my mind . . .

One thing I am perplexed about - I can not see this being unisex very well, it seems much more masculine to me, but, then again, feminine in an odd way too - like the tom girl, or the girl wearing the jacket of her oily beau hunk she is obsessed about . . . ahhhh, I see. It's like a movie in a bottle in one way it's like Rebel w/o a Cause (it makes me think of the scene when James Dean gives his jacket to Sal Mineo in particular) or, in another completely different version - a little Billy Joel "Uptown Girl" video maybe? In any event, those scenes definitely come to mind for me whenever I smell this fantastic creation.

Brilliant and highly recommended! 5 stars from this guy!

I didn't get a 'rubber' smell from this at all. It did however make me think wearing this you should also be wearing a knock out black outfit and a confident attitude to match. It makes me think dark and mysterious, and although it seems to lean towards being more of a masculine scent I've gotten only positive compliments from gentlemen I work with when wearing this.

This is sooo strange this one...Yes...the rubbery smell etc..which I didn't want to wear on a social night out...I used it just to smell up during the day,or to work.It really started to grow on me...in fact I am going to buy another bottle.The other strange thing was I never had any bad comments about it...in fact no comments at all...until I used my last bit...and off several people...I got " you smell nice!!..." This is something if you want to smell different...get a small bottle or tester....try it...it takes some getting used to...it's distinctive.

Just wow! I wasn't sure what to expect... I read the reviews of rubber and car parts and thought that this couldn't really be that great. It is more than great, it's awesome! I'm trying to pinpoint what it is that I'm smelling... could it be cedar and vanilla? It's a lot like I'm walking through a warehouse where cedar is being cut on one side, and vanilla is being pressed on the other side. I like it, alot.

i had this a few years ago liked it a lot after reading these reviews makes me wanna go get another bottle but be advised it's too stong in the summer time perfect fall winter spring smell

go get it

I first smelled this when a SA in a duty free shop responded to my * I can't stand Western (as opposed to Arab) perfumes, they all smell like fake jasmine * by offering me a spray of Black. I got the rubber and smoke with great pleasure; fancy that, a commercial perfume I like!!! Remembering that has led me to exploring commercial perfumes now ( though I have a good nose for notes, having studied aromatherapy in a previous decade)... and buying five different ones in the last week! I am exploring odd/masculine smells to match my first love (Terre d' Hermes on the way... and and am now that woman some reviewers say they admire who wears Black as standard.. to work...to the shops... I keep smelling my arm and spritzing different places to keep the rubber/smoke/powdery combo rolling on all day. Adventures in Black, love it!

Initially I thought this was a real eunuch of a scent, but have been giving it more wearings and more time, and I've noticed that it does last but operates like a submarine, only resurfacing irregularly when you least expect to be reminded of the fact that you're actually wearing anything at all. BvlBlack suits those days when you're not really in the mood for perfume. It's not that linear to my nose - there's a unique topnote that's fresher than the rest of the marshmallow sweetness. The vanilla is also quite different from many others that have vanilla in the base. The bottle is ever so kewl and my spray mechanism is fine, thus far. I mean the spray mechanism of the bottle...

After reading some of the reviews of this cologne I questioned picking some up. I mean how can rubber and car parts smell good!?! I just picked some up and they pulled it off! I always have girls around for second opinions and they love this one too. You can get this bargain frag for $20 of some websites definitely worth it.

I've just taken possession of my very own bottle of Black, having lusted after it for a couple of years. When I first came to the perfumista world, I tried Black expecting to be shocked and repelled as it's touted as a 'wierd and wonderful' scent, yet I found it very comforting and familiar. The rubber note doesn't spring out too much on my skin (though I like rubbery, tarry smells anyway) and sadly, I don't get any baby powder, or black tea. Instead, I get a nice lingering saddle leather followed by a deep, comforting vanilla. Since I adore both notes, this makes me very happy.

I'd certainly recommend anyone of either sex to try this fragrance - it crops up frequently as a reference and it's an interesting and unique composition. Also, it's widely enough available that you should be able to get to smell it. It's often put in the Men's section of perfumeries, but is very much unisex.

I guess everyone has that one scent in their collection... you know the one... it goes from top shelf to back of the drawer because you can never really be sure of it. Well, Bulgari Black is that one for me: I suppose that's mostly because it, to me, only belongs in certain settings. One, it must be cool to cold outside, and two, it must be dark out. This would not work on a warm breezy summer evening, and would not work on a crisp spring day. Black says it ALL here, especially with the black tire punch from the very first inhale. Mixed with vanilla, and that slightly sour black tea note, this is very intriguing.

The only thing I'd change on this one is, tone down the vanilla, and dry out the sweet. That would make this more modern and more versatile. Bulgari Black Dry... the name needs work but I'd love to see it happen.

its half brother of body kouros...with the woody aspect toned down a lil bit..you would find the same linear smell of body kouros along with the tea (wow) and lil bit of brand new rubber tyre, although its (rubber note) quite subdued. great scent if you are lazin around in house when its rainin crazy outside or when you are smoking or with friends...quite personal kinds..makes you dwell on things and takes you back in the memory lane..quite personal kinds...love it.

it absolutely smells like a sweety playdough. lapsang tea is the refresher in this fragrance i think. altough bulgari says it's unisex, it is a very masculin scent with notes of cigar smoke and rubber. at least my nose thinks like that. i love to wear it in the morning because the sweet yet sharp tea note makes me awake! thumbs up and a hoo-ray. the most original and the best in the bulgari collection.

"You smell that? Do you smell that? Napalm, son. Nothing else in the world smells like that. I love the smell of napalm in the morning." This juice brings me back to the good old days when I sat at a traffic light on a hot summer day in the city before catalytic converters came into being. At first spray, I get a whiff of the guys on the roof spreading a layer of fresh hot tar. After my migraine clears, I wait patiently past the dry down, well into the basenotes, about 4 hours later. Then, my wrist gives off a scent like my roof got tarred yesterday, but someone tried to get rid of the odor with a powerful grease remover scented with something cheesy and floral. Come on people! You can’t really love this stench. I never got past the chemical plant smell to something I could call pleasant.

A great fragrance, though not necessarily unisex, it's rather masculine. Alongside Boucheron Jaipur and Rochas Man, the best sweet fragrance. The smoke and rubber scents aren't what you would normally expect, they are very subtle and veiled perfectly in a sweet and warm aroma. The touch of tea is also very noticeable, giving this fragrance a rather poetic allure. The bottle however, is horrible, it looks like it was made by someone who was in a hurry to catch a train and didn't have time to pay any attention to details. I've tried four bottles from different places and all of them were broken. This makes me think that maybe this fragrance turned out to be great by accident. But overall, this is one of the best scents you can find.

I describe this scent as a room lit up with vanilla scented candles and you can find leather whips under the bed. I love it, on myself either at work or when I'm in a naughty mood already.

I picked this up as my third "serious" foray into searching for a personal scent. After the very pleasant, but predictable Burberry London and the delightfully off-putting Green Irish Tweed, I thought I might try something which everyone seems to agree is different.

There is just something "wrong" about this scent. I don't have a trained nose and am admittedly not very experienced in picking out the basic points. However, this seems to not fit into what I would consider the more pedestrian ranges. And that is something wonderful.

The black tea which I am able to discern reminds me of my favorite cuppa, which is actually Lapsang Souchong. This is not so much New York to me. But more Hong Kong, São Paulo and Tokyo. Urban on the outside with deeper, richer organic roots just below the surface.

I at first hated this... But because Mario Justiniani loved it so much. I gave it a second chance. I do not know if may be I just smelled a tainted tester or what... But the truth is. This is not bad by any stretch of the imagination. For some reason it smells like a vanilla latex condom.

I love it.. I would definetly buy it if I could find a bottle larger than 2 oz.


The rubber vanilla and what I believe tar and tea are great.. A bit too powerful for a woman to wear IMO.. But hey.. Go for it..

One of the most original fragrances to be mass produced. One hour after spraying the most obvious notes are rubber (tire and latex) and vanilla, but I can also smell wet wood, tobacco and jasmine. I think it is much more complex than most people perceive it to be. One of my favorite contemporary fragrances.

one of my favourite fragrances ever!
somehow it seems that i really feel attracted to fragrances composed by annick menardo! i got them all, not knowing they were all created by her in the first place!
they all (and especially this one) develope a latex + babypowder combination on my skin!
this is a fetish fragrance!!!
and believe me: 9 of 10 women fall for it! ;)
(at least smelling it on my skin!)

I have yet to find a tea scent that matches this for me. It's smokey, yet light, and slightly sweet, with a tangy but not piercing top. The drydown is musky and dark. This is one of my favorite all time perfumes.

This was my signature fragrance for a number of years, and I find it so odd that it is classified as unisex... and even odder when I happen past a man who is wearing it. To me, the fragrance is very sexy and feminine, too sweet to be considered unisex or masculine. (No offense to the many men who obviously do not share my opinion on this.) It smells like black leather soaked in vanilla and spices and is very sweet in a non-foody way. There is a rubber-like note in this (although I might never have identified it as such without having read the reviews), but it is not unpleasant. For me, the leather note is the hook; it gives an edge to what could have been an overly soft, generic Oriental/gourmand fragrance and elevates it to something far more unique.

I recently purchased the mini puck. I have been using Issey M. for the last 2-3 years and I am searching for a new fragrance. I really am surprised at the 'new' smells I have found. This one is wonderful. I love it. I have now order the larger 'puck'.
It does take some getting used to as it does remind me of a tire. But, that goes away and morph's into something great. I will be selecting 2 or 3 more to have different smells.

Extraordinary. I honestly cannot believe there are so many different very wide ranging opinions out there. This has been my absolute favorite since first buying it in 1999. Not many others as distinct or unique. From reading some previous reviews, I'm convinced that people are smelling only what they want to smell. I definitely smell rubber, black tea, and vanilla. How some only get cloying sweet vanilla only is beyond me. I have to say, I will now study Luca Turin, because if it's in his top 10, I already have great respect for him without knowing much at all. Pure genius. 10 out of 10!

This was a blind purchase and it's the best blind purchase by far I've made this juice smells great hmmm wonderful instant classic for me can't stop smelling myself a thumbs up way up

I just purchased a bottle (puck?) of this yesterday, and although i'm not sure i would have picked out the "rubber" note had it not been mentioned so much here, i can definitely smell it. For me it's not so much a rubber tire note as it is that of a rubber squeeze toy if anything. I put some on last night and found the sillage to be pretty average, and though some have said it lacks in persistance, I could still very much smell it this morning. Interestingly, while Black develops in a pretty linear fashion (thanks to that O.B.), when i awoke the aroma that greeted me was this peppery/vanilla/muskiness that i REALLY liked. Anyway, the overall unique spicy/sweetness of Bvlgari Black really works for me, and i can see it getting a lot of playing time .

The smell of a metropolitan jungle... Hong Kong, Moscow...Monolithic steel towers, steamy asphalt, sweaty markets full of spices and teas.... This is one of the most unique fragrances on the market. It's blend of smoky tea and vanilla with an odd ozone-rubber note makes for one of the most interesting smells around. Sexy, urbane, and very original. Lovers of vanilla fragrances or tea fragrances should definitely have a bottle in their collection. This one is good for the office or a hot date. Smells equally divine on men or women, though it probably has more of a masculine edge to it.

Bvlgari Black to me is the opposite of Bvlgari PH. Where PH is quiet and subtle, Black is very noticeable and loud. That being said, I like it. It's a very unique combination of ingredients that make it great for a night out on the town, or whenever you feel like wearing it. I wear this year round.

I splashed this on and was immediately taken back to when I was seven or eight slot car racing with my dad - at the big racing tracks not the small HO scale sets at home. I remember we had a batmobile slot car the shot flames out of the back and we built a Ford GT-40 and . . . . I immediately get rubber, metal, light weight oil, and electricity. As it dries down, the rubber looses its sharpness (blends more) and the vanilla and tea comes out. Definitely a "different" fragrance.

Dry, black tea, hints of rubber with vanilla.
Divine and different. Sillage ok
Quite masculine:)

I love Black - it's edgy, yet pleasant and makes me feel mysterious and pleasantly clear at the same time. My boyfriend who loves black clothes and minimalist design likes it very much, too. Bulgari's own description as an urban scent perfectly fits, I think.

I don't get the rubber - but certainly the tea and smoky wood - also a little touch of sweet. This is (so far) my favorite from house Bulgari, but I'm just having a hard time deciding when I would wear this. I'm sure office would be OK as would any casual occasion. I will call it cutting edge simply because I have never smelled ANYTHING like it. I give it thumbs up, maybe I will even buy a bottle when I run out of Armani Code. The two are not so much similar in fragrance notes, but I would wear either in similar circumstances (casual Fall comes to mind).

Thanks to Djuna, I now have a decant of this, and I agree with the descriptions of smoke, rubber and black tea...but I think that it should not be reserved for Batman only, how about L'Eau du Catwoman? It's soft enough for a woman.
I also see how it could be a good layering fragrance.
I like it very much!

Nice warm and light cologne.But anyway this should be men's only.I really adored it three years ago.It lasts very much and it is subtly sweet so you won't smell like a cake.

I really don't find this very sweet at all. I find it smokey and dry; to me its entirely rubber and black tea. Mysterious and off-beat. L'Eau du Batman.

I think this may well be the most avant-garde scent released by a major designer house. For a wholey unique fragrance, try layering a couple sprays of Bulgari Black over a base layer of Dior Homme. No one within a thousand miles will smell like you, and few will smell as good.

Well well well. Bvlgari Black. We meet again. The first time we met, I was astounded that I could be so revolted by a fragrance. You smelled like someone had spilled a cup of stale tea on an old dirty tire. Now, you smell like someone sprayed a sublime vanilla infused tea fragrance on a fresh, shiny tire. A Ferarri tire. And the Ferarri is at a fancy car show featuring many stylish and rich individuals. Honestly, I don't know what happened. Was it my nose becoming more accustomed to unconventional notes? This is an amazing scent. It is minimalistic without being boring. Attention grabbing without being loud and obnoxious. Classy without feeling stifled. Sweet without being cloying. And most importantly, unique without being intimidatingly weird. Despite what others have said, I find sillage and longevity to be better than average. This is an amazingly well thought out and expertly crafted fragrance. Try it!

This is the perfect fall fragrance for me. It's smoky and mysterious, and not just a fragrance, but a sensory experience. I just smell the smoke (and maybe a hint of tar), rubber, and vanilla. And those notes blend together smashingly. I wear this everywhere from work, to running errands, to the club, and I always get compliments on this one. I think it suits my personality, and may eventually become my signature scent. Two thumbs WAY up!!!

I guess I just don't pick up on the much-discussed "tar" notes in this fragrance, folks. I happen to like this one a lot -- esp. the woody notes and tea notes. All that said, I DO have to be among those who say that longevity IS a problem with this one, though -- wish that Bulgari would attempt an EDP version of Black.

Very compforting scent to wear and lasts all day. I don´t think it is too feminine for a man to wear, although on the other hand it smells fantastic on my GF as well.
The consistancy of the notes is superb, Black smells much the same from initial drydown till the very end (many 7-8 hours). Testers are available for next to nothing on ebay right now, highly recommended!

This one does not evolve and it certainly can smell rather odd when on certain types of skin but on the RIGHT skin it is great. Longetivity is it's major problem, that and the fact that it has been deleted in Australia (according to the stores I have visited)

I think Bvlgari Black is masculin & not feminine.
Tea for Two is the best unisex fragrance for me but Bvlgari Black worth to have.
it's a bit like Body Kouros but Bvlgari Black is more refined than Body Kouros.
it is elegant & good longevity,, black tea makes it balanced.
i have always like tea notes.

I made a mellow review of this the other day. But a few days ago I smelled it on someone else in a store and it was an absolute enchanting scent. Lovely. I havent been using it for a very long vile but I might stray with it when I get tired of my signature scent voleur de Roses.
benb

I see that many of the reviewers primarily notice rubber in Bvlgari Black, but I do not notice rubber at all! It is definitely an unusual scent, and far more masculine than feminine. I love to smell this on a man. It is woody and aromatic, with the slightest tinge of aniseed (although I don't know if aniseed is actually in it). It is sexy and mysterious, and its name is fitting.

One of the most chic and ultra-modern things out there, it's perfectly balanced, simultaneously animal, vegetable, mineral. Sexy yet serious, fun yet dignified and mature without being the least bit fusty or old-fashioned - probably the only truly unisex scent I've encountered - as opposed to many others which are really more androgynous than unisex - in that a woman could wear this and still smell completely feminine, and a man completely masculine, if that makes sense.

What to say about Bvulgari Black. One of my favorite scents, despite it's lack of evolution. What you see is what you get.. as mentioned previously, you get your smoke, rubber and vanilla.. pretty much in that order... and the combination is something quite alluring. To me, it is reminiscent of Lolita for men, without the heavy Anise tone. Something about this fragrance reminds me of a freshly opened box of Christmas Ornaments. That being said, my one issue with this scent is the fact that on my skin it just doesn't last.. within 3 hours it has disappeared fully. Like a one night stand, Black is great while it sticks around.. but it always leaves me forlorn, staring into the rainswept streets.. pensively..

This fragrance is pretty unique .. it has that "burning rubber" top and middle notes which are strangely alluring, despite initially sounding like a bad idea .. the dry down is vanilla-esque, and the scent stays close to body. Good lasting power too. In my opinion, this is more of a manly scent.

A unique mysterious fragrance, which is definitely worth a try.

I don't know about this Olfactive Block business. Bulgari Black may have a subtle progression, but it is certainly there. The dark, sort of nasty burning rubber overtones give way to a very well balanced vanilla / leather / tea scent. Polite and sophisticated, but very very versatile. I can't actually picture this as a feminine scent.

Man this stuff is great. It's a slightly smoky vanilla-like scent with a hint of rubber, like a formula1 car driving through a vanilla patch.

Bulgari Black is an original - with a capital "O"! Black tea, wood notes and vanilla steam off of the sandalwood, amber, musky base. VERY SEXY! This scent is earthy and dry with a warm edgy feel. Not overpowering ~ strictly subtle. The bottle is also an original, and seems to be aimed more toward the men, although it has come to be known as a uni-sex fragrance. This is my favorite on my husband ~ I think he's on his fourth bottle! Undoubtedly worth a try!

YUM YUM YUM

Unlike some on here, I DO believe this is a sex-elixir. Not sex of the fluffy, twinkie variety though. This DRIPS with eroticism and masculinity the way nothing else does.

Bulgari does it again. Divine. Very close to being a signature smell - this combination of dark smokey black tea, fresh citrus, mild flowers and a rosewood/sandalwood/vanilla/leather drydown is a magnificent fragrance. What might sound like a fragrance for the winter months actually smells just fine in the hotter months too.

Perfect for me. Leather like,rubbery, soft and it goes sweet on my skin. Somehow it reminds me on guerlain:shalimar. One day black, next day shalimar.

I love this, for the uniqueness and the original of the fragrance. I've used up a few bottles of the fragrance, and still a loyal fan to this.

This one is very tempermental on me. I have to apply it just right in order for all the notes to properly shine through. Apply too much, and I'm left with a mess of burning rubber without a trace of the vanilla note. It's a unique scent that takes some warming up to. It first struck me as very odd, but as a fragrance enthusiast, I like odd. The only downside is the pesky bottle. I don't dare switch it to the 'off' position because I'm afraid it won't turn 'on' again.

I like this a lot. It's gentle rubbery-vanillary, like the plastic layer on a baby's nappy changer or something, sprinkled with talc. It's mild, soft and therefore perfect for wearing with pjs on a grey Sunday when you can't get your arse in gear to do anything but lounge around and snuggle.

WOW, I'm currently obsessed with this fine fragrance that you can only expect from Bulgari. Not overly complex smelling, and yes, it's slightly reminiscent of rubber at one point of the drydown, but on the whole I think it really resembles Kouros Body, or rather Kouros Body is reminiscent of Bulgari Black, since it was created two years later. I love the smoky mellow tea note that seems to be the main theme of all Bulgari scents. Any Bulgari scent never seems to overpower, they are transparent scents that seem to compliment any environment the wearer decides to be in. Modern, simple, timeless, unisex, and beautiful that I regard Bulgari as more of a niche type of fragrance. Buy this if you are like the idea of minimalist sophistication.

Actually, my favourite fragrance.
Wonderful composition of the woody-leathery and delicious vanilla.
Reminds me a bit of JPG Le Male.
Make sure you sample this first, though, since it seems not to fit everyone.
Only downside is that it has a little short longevity

I, also, do not see this as a woman's scent. It is a beautiful powdery, woody scent with a delicate smoky-tea aura. It is subtle, haunting, warm. How can the scent of rubber be so ethereal?

I love Black! This is a great soft leather fragrance. It’s not at all harsh, or herbal like many leather fragrances on the market. Instead, Black is a soft, rubbery, smoky leather fragrance. The biggest downside to Black is the bottle; there is a defect with the spray mechanism and it’s very common to have it fail completely. I ended up swapping my bottles, because I fell in love with Nostalgia by Santa Maria Novella, which is, imho, slightly similar to and much more interesting than Black.

Unique. You can definately smell the rubber intially, with the drydown being dominated almost entirely with a warm vanilla note. The vanilla is not as cloying as in other colognes though, and it retains a slight smoky character.

a fantastic woody vanilla leathery fragrance - verz lasting, very formal, very much like a black suit with thin pinstripes.

Excellent. Classy, subtle, original. Another modern classic from this superb Italian house. Solid rubber mingling with mellow vanilla and smokey tea. As urban as it gets, from image, bottle to scent and overall impression. 10/10 Mattias/Sweden

This fragrance rocks! >:) I love its subtle, reserved nature (that "olfactory bolck" thingy) and how it changes to a vanilla-like texture over time. Yet, that smokiness doesn't disappear altogether. I can't see a woman wearing this, though. But what do I know. :->

Good. It reminds alot of DKNY Unleaded, which I liked, but is no longer made.

This happens to be an exceptionally smooth scent. It reminds me of rubber indeed but I like it. And I really like it a lot.

Resins,leathers and animals rounded by smoked tea, some herbs and bergamot.How could I not like this since it was created by my favourite perfumer Annick Menardo.Jazzy...

The best of all the Bulgari fragrances in my opinion. I love the powdery sweet smell. Clever how they managed to sustain the same scent from spray to drydown. I really like the rubber coated bottle and off/on switch on the sprayer. This is superior to Bulgari BLV. Give it a try if your a sweet fraqgrance buff. Who said this smelled like wet cardboard? where did they get that crazy idea. This is great!

Like all Bvlgari scents, this one is classy and understated. This one is dark and smokey. It becomes a bit powdery, like most Bvlgari's, but is one that I get TONS of compliments for and is a great evening scent. Listed as unisex, but I have trouble seeing most women being able to pull this one off.

A unique scent. I love the heavy warm and smokey scent of Lapsang Souchong tea that first hits the nose and then there are touches of rubber and woods. Although bill as unisex, I can't see most women being able to wear this successfully. Bravo Bvlgari for giving us something that is not a clone of some popular fragrance.