Reviews of Pomegranate Noir (2005)
by Jo Malone

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir EDC

Notes: raspberry, plum, pink pepper, pomegranate, patchouli, frankincense, spicy woods (from jomalone.com)

I have smelled pomegranates before--fruit, seed, juice and also oil pressed from the seeds. None of what I have smelled from real pomegranate smells like Pomegranate Noir. What I do smell is a very heavy spicy accord of cinnamon, clove, cardamom and cedar wood. If there is any fruit here, it is completely overwhelmed. The fragrance is not really dark as in "noir", but it is rather heavy compared to many other Jo Malone fragrances, and it is a bit sickening due to its poorly judged proportion of spice. In other words, PN lacks complexity, deftness and balance. Despite the heavy spice accord and woody notes, there is no real substance to speak of. If hamster cages were lined with cinnamon along with the typical cedar shavings, this is what it would smell like. It is a scrubber.

EDIT! I've recently received a sample of this with a JM order and, I tried it again. As is typical of me, one of the fragrances that's affected me most powerfully, is a fragrance I initially disliked on myself. After rereading my original review, I can't help but stress how much body chemistry, at any given time, affects the reactions of those of us who are extremely sensitive to our olfactory neurons. Fortunately, chemical change can be positive, and I think my norepinephrine levels must be in better shape. The first review was written a couple of months before I became pregnant with my daughter, who is now 20 months old. After having her, I guess I smell better! (Smell as an adjective, not a verb). In any case Pomegranate Noir is utterly, completely gorgeous; hypnotic, complex, and sensual. At first it smells like mulled wine, and it quickly transforms to a patchouli-resin warmth that's oddly reminiscent of my favorite Chanels. This pomegranate beauty is so perfect for enhancing the mood for the upcoming holiday; pomegranate is my favorite fruit to eat, and now Ill enjoy it even more. Pomegranate Noir comes across as a fragrance that would be perfect for sitting in front of a fireplace after a day of skiing. Our Southern California Autumns, with the Santa Anas in full swing, often are hotter than our summers. Even with its "cool weather" connotation, Pomegranate Noir is beautiful in our current 90 degree+ weather. The heat brings out a dry warmth in this fragrance (patchouli?) that I absolutely love.

Original Review: On me this is suffocating. It's strong, bitter, and harsh. I think the combo of frankincense and patchouli reacts badly on my skin. I'm with Mr. Quarry on the furniture polish aroma...The composition of Pomegranate Noir comes across as balanced mix of juicy fruits and and heavy woods, and it smells striking and deep when sprayed into the air. Unfortunately I don't find the smell appealing on my skin, but on someone with the right skin chemistry, I'd enjoy it.

With notes of clove, pumpkin, and persimmon, this seems like a scent to use in the fall, especially around Thanksgiving. Aggressive and rather pungent, there isn't much subtlety here. Someone described it as "linear" - the scent never changes from splash-on to fade-out. Long-lasting.

I vaguely remembered that in Greek mythology, poor Persephone had something to do with pomegranates. But did you know that in Exodus the High Priest had images of pomegranetes woven into his robe? That Leonardo and Boticelli featured pomegranates in their Madonna and Infant paintings? That the Qu'ran mentions pomegranates will be in Paradise? Or that some Hebrew scholars speculate that the pomegranate was the forbidden fruit in The Garden of Eden?

No? It's OK, neither did I. I looked it up in Wikipedia.

Be forewarned though, according to the same:

"The pomegranate also evoked the presence of the Aegean Triple Goddess who evolved into the Olympian Hera, who is sometimes represented offering the pomegranate. "

So reviewers, myself included, better watch what we say---one diety you do NOT want to piss off is The Triple Moon Goddess.

How does Jo's offering stack up?

Longevity is very good. I could still smell it on my skin 9 hours later. This is a linear scent, so be certain you like it--as you'll be stuck with it for 9+ hours.

Sophisticated and unusual. However now that some time has passed I concur with Vibert--it no longer puts me in a good mood, either.

Furthermore, I believe women can be better served by this one.

The Bride in Kill Bill immediately comes to mind.



M.

Hmm. Was dying to try this as have heard so much raving about it. Disappointingly spicy, cheap and jarring to my nose. Can't see what all the fuss is about, big thumbs down.

Finally a perfume that sort of resembles Jungle, L'Elephant by Kenzo which I adore; its absolutely unique. BUT Jungle is very hard to find & I sense it will be discontinued soon. So Pom' Noir would be my next choice.
Hildy

Very nice and opened my eyes to how cool pomegranate can be, but it draws attention to itself just a little too much. Worth trying for sure.

I like this one a lot. I think it is very, very similar to Sequoia by Comme des Garcons. But I like this one a bit better because it is slightly sharper, and it has overall more volume to it.

Pomegranate Noir is very linear scent without any depth. That’s okay; it smells very good and that’s it.

PN is a simple and wonderful story of red fruits and woods. Indeed, it smells very red woody – just like Sequoia. Warm, fruity and slightly spicy medicinal (clove). Sweet and a tad bitter. Little bit boozy, too.
I keep thinking my late grandfathers garden which was filled up with different kind of apple trees, plum trees, raspberry and other berry bushes; red currants, black currants, gooseberries... All very ripe, sweet and warmed by sunlight. Hedge full of waxy and bitter leaves gives its own distant shade.

Pomegranate Noir is very long lasting. If you find sweet, dark and fruity scent with woods intriguing, then this is a must try.

Warm and wearable and lasts for ages superb lasting power on my skin, Its more of a winter scent and the 30ml bottle is perfect for travels.

This is delightful. A warm and spicy red fruit scent, opening with a terrific waft of clove and citrus. It reminds me of those homemade orange pomander balls studded with cloves, the ones that you place in your closet to make it smell good. After the opening of clove and spice, the fruit emerges, including a fermented, wine-y note that hovers over a base that's woody, sharp and dry. Very nice, very grown-up, NOIR most definitely! Love this.

The official story says that Jo Malone was insired by a friend wearing a red dress to create this scent.
Fact: It is the most masculine JM. Even her Vetiver is more difficult to be warn by a man.
Everybody comments on how well it transfers the smell of pomegrenates in a bottle.
Fact: pomegrenate doesn't smell to me. Not even a light herbal smell. This is why I hat it.
Having said that I urge you to try this perfume as it is the most vibrant, inexplicable perfume I have ever warn. It manages to accomadate completely conflicting notes, and keep them side by side until the deepest of drydowns. First I get hit by a brief burst of melon, then an almost violent burst if campphor, followed by the sweetes cloves you' ve evers smelled. And then all the other ingredients that others have reported but I cannot separate.
But what is most intriguing is that it lasts for hours and during the whole time you can inhale on your wrist and still be able to smell ALL the notes you have smelled during the progression of the fragrance. a truely amazing accomplishment. The only negative comment is that it feels sort of like a megalith. Sometimes I feel overpowered by it and I have to abandon it for several months in order to fully appreciate it again.

I'm not saying it isn't an attractive (though strong) scent, I just can't imagine *wearing* it -- to me, it smells like a very nice, very expensive holiday candle. Or other room scent. With the subtle undertones of Vick Vap-O-Rub. It's just too aggressively fruity and camphor-like for a personal scent; it's like wearing potpourri. And actually, the camphor notes are starting to make me think of cleaning products -- a luxe riff on Pine-Sol or something. Lemon Pledge smells good too, but I wouldn't dab it behind my ear.

I'm a fan of scents in the wood/spice/musk family and Pomegranate Noir is a particularly fine one; an instant favorite. The fruit note makes it a lighter alternative to my other, heavier scents in the wood/spice family (e.g. Acteur, Antaeus, Scent Intense). Great both day or night in fall/winter.

A great mixer. So this is a real nice fruity/smoky scent on it's own but the best thing to do with this is spray it on top of one of your other scents. It starts out sweet, very sweet to me but if you spray it on say an amber or woory scent it takes on the other scent and adds a real nice layer to it. It's one that people always ask me what I have on when I'm wearing it .

Fragrance notes: pomegranate, raspberry, plum, frankincense, patchouli
I hadn’t thought I would like it. I assumed that it would be very berry/fruity. I find that the frankincense is the dominant note, and the berries are in the background. This seems aromatic, not sweet… and incense-y from start to finish. The fruit notes are subtle, dry and complex. They are not the expected artificial, candy style sort. The scent has been called “enigmatic” and I agree. It is a somewhat rich incense experience all the livelong day. Interesting!

Smells like a cross between old pot pourri and wine dregs. Thick, cloying and crude.

This is a beautiful fragrance - dark and fruity - its good for mixing with non complex - I like it with Armand Basi Hiomme and with Taylor's of Bond St Sandalwood Cologne. The dry down is nice on this and it lingers in the background.

Very, very nice opening. Though it doesn't smell precisely like pomegranate, it does a good job emulating it. Dark, woody fruits is really it. However, it fades out after about an hour but during that hour it's really nice.

Like Coastfansocal, I got the hint of Vick's Vapor Rub, but not all that much camphor. I did not get the cedar chips in the hamster cage, but after a couple of hours, it has subsided and I can get some smoothness. Redhot candies, maybe that is what it might be on some. But I do say that the scent is not one to throw away after your first wear it. Have to give it some wearing, maybe like a Piper Nigrum. Many scents, I can tell from first sniff I won't like them, and those that have vanilla or powder, easily get tossed. Not so. This is my first Jo Malone sample to test, and while I tend to think this line gets less favored status, well, this is well made. I am going to give this a neutral, as I do not dislike it, but that Vick's Vapor Rub at first gets me. Now, someone remind me to come back and revisit this fragrance.

at the beginning, this smells exactly like cheap little cinnamon red hot candies. and I love it!

Pepper and fruit - is it the mutant offspring of Piper Nigrum and Millesime Imperial? No, not with that transparent incense and dark leather drydown. No mentholated cold remedy here for me; just a series of novel accords that keep me guessing right the way through.

I have to agree with Qaurry: this ranks with Cuir d'Oranger as one of the most pleasant frangrance surprises I've had in quite some time. Unisex in my opinion, and though it's not long lasting (4 hours tops) it is surprisingly potent for a cologne strength fragrance. I suppose I'll have to buy some in the fall...

...Six months later: my initial enjoyment of this scent has faded. I've come to find it overbearing and oppressive. While its novelty and quality are undeniable, I don't like the mood it puts me in.

Soothing plums guide frankincense and patchouli into a field of tangy pomegranate and blushing raspberries; who chime in with their own tartness and special zing. With exquisite depth, the pomegranate unravels to feature a myriad of scents; each reminiscent of something great. Dark cherry and cinnamon with dried leaves and sweet scarlet roses and a dash of honey-sweetness are just two of the multitude of creations that this wonderful fragrance can induce visions of. The pomegranate notes become apparent as fighters; as the scent settles on your skin and dries down, the pomegranate still lives and remains the top note. However, that doesn't mean that it dominates the scent and disallows a proper development; rather, the pomegranate allows a generous amount of woods to bleed through, while whoring the bitter notes. There is not much sweetness here, even with the influence of frankincense and raspberries. Rather than sweetening the scent as a whole, they serve to bite out the severe bitterness that such a strong pomegranate carries. Even with the presence of patchouli, containing this particular note of pomegranate is hard, but very well done -- the result is something that's shy of being bitter, but not bland. The fact that pomegranate is showcased here could have resulted in the scent being very linear and bland, but the design and structure of this scent is so well-done and rugged, that there is no room to think that it is merely pomegranate.

The drydown is, by far, the most unbelievable of any fragrance I have ever smelled. In fact, I wore this scent four different times in one day just to relive that experience. The pomegranate dies out, and patchouli, frankincense, and a touch of raspberry are left to work wonders on your nose. I almost sense some transparent rose notes; that may just be the earthy patchouli feeding the raspberry and playing even more tricks on my nose though. Regardless of what it is, the beauty of this lies in the fact that it can be so much to your nose... no two drydowns will be the same. I understand, though, that Pomegranate Noir is not everyone's cup of t-- err, bottle of fragrance, so therefore I will leave you with a metaphor: Pomegranate Noir is the ugliest girl in the world, with the most beautiful personality. You pick your poison. No scent is perfect, and few are daring and bold as this one is. A manly composition of pomegranate and sweet fruits is done justice by Jo Malone.

Overall rating: 10/10: Yet another high-quality composition we see here; the originality and the amount of effort put into this fragrance is superior to damn near every scent I have smelled.

I like this by itself but layer it with a tuberose or gardenia and it becomes even better. This lasts nicely all day on me.

No camphor here.

Top notes : Pomegranate, Pink Pepper, Raspberry

Middle notes : Plum, opopanax, frankincense

Base notes : Patchouli, Musk, Spicy Woods

The inspiration for Pomegranate Noir (PN) came to Jo Malone after she saw one of her friends dressed up in a red silk dress at a middle eastern hookah party all the while stuffing dollar bills in her cleavage. I have enjoyed the simple uncluttered soliflores of the Jo Malone line so the "Noir/Dark" label of this fragrance made me wonder if Malone was going all Lutens on us.

I shouldn't have worried. PN opens with a perplexing accord. Its sweet, lush and minty....and for a moment, does smell like Vicks vaporub except that there's a plummy fruity aroma enveloping this "vicks" accord. I am intrigued by how this minty fresh smell is engineered .. I don't see cloves listed in the notes pyramid, so the only explanation I can come up with is that PN is probably employing a variety of frankincense that is higher in its camphor (moth ball smell) content than the other constituents. Interms of fruitiness, this primary accord has all the hallmarks of a prune...it can be enjoyable and fun as well as occasionally grating and temperamental. While the incense does its camphor like thing, the distinctive sour and sweet smell of pomegranates is neutered by plenty of sweet raspberry and plum notes. PN loses much of its midnight vaporub funkiness after half and hour or so, and lets a timid patchouli note and some non-descript spicy woods base lead it to its quiet but not-so dark conclusion. The longevity is good..around 7 hours.

I admit I expected more "Noir" facets from this scent but knowing Malone's style I wasn't expecting a Jules or Vintage Tabarome. It says "Black Pomegranate" on the label after all, and that could mean "Over-ripe Pomegranates" for all I know. I would have liked more patchouli and spices, and less raspberry and plums in this concoction. Its more complex than other Malone's like Grapefruit and Amber Lavender but is also, strangely, less interesting. With that said, during the dog days of winter and nostril scraping flu attacks, I would still like to spray a spritz or two of PN on my chest before going to bed....I hear it attracts fairies in red silk dresses.

Rating: 7/10

Wow, this is one of the more unique fragrance experiences I've had in awhile. I think everyone's comments so far have been valid. Depending on what you're thinking when you smell it, it can smell like Vicks, fruit, cloves, pepper, patchouli or frankincense. However, it does not smell overdone; despite its many opposing characteristics, it strikes me as rather minimalist and dry. I must admit that I was slightly put off by the (it's true) harsh opening. I thought of a minty and smoky version of L'Anarchiste, and I smelled a strong clove note. But where L'Anarchiste puts me off, this intrigues me. It doesn't have the same sickly aura about it. The drydown focuses more on the frankincense and patchouli, while the fruit peeks from the background. This is a wonderful, wonderful drydown. I'll have to sample it a few more times to make up my mind, but there is a very good chance this is bottle worthy for me.

Lovely frag. Very mysterious and includes my favourite notes, patchouli and frankincense. The pomegranate fruitiness gives it an overall 'burgundy' feel to it, and a much lighter effect that patchouli in its purer form. Very vampish and sexy. A winter fragrance that would be great for a special Xmas party.Instead of little black dress, maybe little red dress would be more suitable?

I am not joking: This smells exactly like Vicks Vapor rub!!


Its really kind of chemical and medicine smelling. I agree that it smells like a hamsters cage cedar chips.


I sprayed it on my skin and it smelled like Black pepper.


This fragrance should be called "Vicks Vapor Rub-Black Pepper Blossom"

this fragrance is seduction in a bottle. there's something about the frankincense that seems to hail from a far-away land of forbidden pleasures, but that somehow also remains pure, the offering to the Christ at the manger..... the pomegranate fruitiness remains warm, edible, hypnotizing. this is a warm sensuality perfect for a cold winter night in which you want your beloved (male or female) to melt into you.....

If fragrances were brassieres, Ginestet Le Boisé would be a 34B, and Pomegranate Noir would be a 42D. Finally, a break-through scent with a personality. It's been months since my nose has been surprised like this. Husband says he smells furniture polish. Okay, dear, make that royal furniture polish used on a rich Frenchwoman's Louis XVI vanity.

I love this fragrance, but what others are describing sounds different from what I experienced. I got an immediate opening whiff of smoky but transparent ruby fruit, quite sensual and piquant. It went on to fulfill my expectations, which I was afraid it would not be able to do, so sultry but light was the opening. This is one Jo Malone fragrance that has staying power, thank goodness, as few of her others do on me. It manages to pull together transparency and darkness in an amazing experience on my skin. If you are a chypre or leather lover like me, be sure to give this one a try.

I definitely adore this fragrance. It starts with something sharp and peppery and then becomes very fruity and nice. It smell very much like cherry to me. Very pretty and not floral at all

Reminds me of cedar chips in hamster cage when I was small. Strange that it would be such an enticing smell now? I will try to get fragrance challenged fiance to try this...so innocent and unexpectedly erotic.

Long lasting...Sweet and woody...it reminds me of Sequoia...maybe a wee bit more sweetness/fruitiness to it....Very nice

I love this - it's got a fruity sourness alongside an incensy quality that's clean rather than suffocating. It reminds me of something familiar from childhood that I can't pin down - it might be to do with a slight sherbertty accord. It also (hurrah!) lasts.