Encre Noire (2006)
by Lalique

Wow, I came in with the notion that this would be a black scent as the name suggests. When I smelled it in the mall, I found the dark spices and I thought that it wasnt for me. When I got away from the commotion and into the car, I thought I had accidentally overridden the scent with another since I smelled so much vetiver in it (I sprayed around 9 other scents all over my arms). Now that I confirmed the fragrance by seeing the notes listed here, it smells very deep and intriguing. Can be had relatively cheap now as well.

A superb vetiver. Period.

In my experience, vetiver scents tend to fall into two broad categories: the crisp, suave variety, as in Guerlain Vetiver, and the pungent, uncompromising sort, as epitomized by Route de Vétiver. Encre Noire to some extent straddles the two groups. It is a bold, hard-hitting vetiver, but not in the earthy manner of Route du Vétiver or the sharp, dry style of Malle’s Vétiver Extraordinaire. Potent, dark, and yet transparent, Encre Noire is aptly named. It smells “moist” and rooty, but not dirty. Its vetiver is nutty, smoky, and pleasantly bitter, and it is balanced by the merest touch of sweet licorice or anise. In character it is perhaps closest to Givenchy’s reissued Vetyver, but Encre Noire is a bigger fragrance and distinctly less "polite."

Once it establishes its central vetiver accord, Encre Noire holds to a linear course, and with a heart that’s so well crafted I don’t object. While it is by no means a weak scent, Encre Noire does wear fairly close to the skin, and its sillage is not going to fill a room. The vetiver becomes woodier in the drydown, and is eventually joined by some warm musk and maybe a touch of labdanum before it drifts off altogether. On acquaintance I find Encre Noire to be a distinctive and successful take on vetiver that’s easily qualified to stand next to my favorites, which include Route du Vétiver, Givenchy Vetyver, and The Different Company’s Sel de Vétiver. If you’re fond of vetiver based fragrances, I think you owe it to yourself to give Encre Noire a try.

Smelling this and terre de hermes on each wrist they are very much alike, this is less harsh. With two types of vetiver and maybe some orange and greens thrown in it is very nice and complex.

i thought i was ready for this.... after reading all of the reviews i could get my hands on, after studying all of the dynamic nuances of various vetivers, after attending lamaze classes to learn the correct breathing techniques, i really thought i was ready for this... i wasn't... there is absolutely nothing in my advanced vocabulary to accurately depict this fragrance... some say that vetiver is vetiver is vetiver and they have their head shoved so far up their ass that they can taste their own throat... this is the earth turned inside out and smacked with liquid nitrogen... this is what it smells like at the event horizon of a black hole... this is the coldest, dryest, most intriguing thing i've ever had the opportunity to smell, and i haven't even decided yet if i have the intestinal fortitude to wear it... but i love it... thumbs up for absolutely changing my swollen paradigms of what a fragrance can be

Robin: Batman! I haven't seen you in days. Have you been in the Bat-Cave this whole time?
Batman: Of course I have, Boy Wonder, I've been smelling this entrancing scent that I found on my Bat-News.
Robin: Holy what-do-you-call this dark crusader?
Batman: Lalique Encre Noire, but keep it quiet, Robin, I don't want everyone to know about this marvelous aroma!
Robin: Holy Dynamic Nuclear Ink Blot, Dark Night, it smells like Gotham City after the Penguin, Joker, and the Riddler burned it to the ground!
Batman: Maybe so, Batboy, I could save the world with this Gothic fragrance!
Robin: Holy unbridled sexuality, Batman! I could seduce Catwoman with this and stay up all night with it's diabolical longevity! This will even make Bat-guano smell great!
Batman: Slow down Boy Wonder, even crime-fighters need their sleep.
Robin: Holy Grail, Batman, this is a very sexy incense-y smoke scent - makes me want to put on my spandex pants and take it out on the town for a ride!
Batman: Settle down, Boy Wonder, we have villains to go after. One whiff of this and...BAM, KAPOW, SOCK, CRASH!!
Robin: Holy Approval Rating! TWO Knight-Wings way up!
Batman: Robin! To the Bat-Mobile!
Robin: Uh...the flat. Remember?
Batman: Of course. Alas! Why wasn't I given the power of flight like Superman? For the love of kryptonite, even Wonder Woman can fly!

It is my favourite perfume. I love this vetyver scent...Superb.Thumbs up!