Love in Black (2008)
by Creed

It smelled bold and peculiar at first - violets and tar!? Something petrochemical? I was all geared up for it to be something interesting and Comme des Garcons-esque when it had a fatal collision in candy cane lane, and a sickening berry-candy note took over and swamped the violet. Another tragic statistic from Creed, and an example of why gummy bears should be kept at least a hundred meters away from any fragrance.

Can be pretty offensive if smelled for more than a breeze. It honestly does seem like a depressing fragrance with some violets. But if it really is inspired by Jackie Kennedy Onassis

Yeah, ok this is unisex -- er that's about it really. Couldn't get by the godawful skanky top notes of parma violets (I hated those little sweets when I was young) -- but wait, the violets are joined by an equally repellant powdery iris note -- oh I'm now in smell heaven. To be fair, this is a knee-jerk reaction to two notes I don't get on with and should have given it more time, but you know -- I have to like it all.

I don't know much about fragrance; I'm still very new to this, still learning. One thing I have learned, thanks in part to this scent, is that I don't like to notice violets. If I smell violets I can't help but focus on it and it drowns everything else out, like a loud, out of tune trumpet would with a string quartet. I know there's other things going on in the background in Love in Black- is that something green in there? something woody? other flowers?- but I can't appreciate them. That violet crushes everything else, and amplified by iris, it becomes a beast that makes me- sorry, those who love it, I know it's just my nose and my chemistry- hate it and want to scrub it off me. I really wanted to like LiB- the name, the bottle, the Jackie O inspiration, what's not to like? Unfortunately it turns out that it's definitely not for me. One of the worst things I've smelled on me yet.

Notes:
Top: Wildflowers, Violet
Middle: Iris, Virginia Cedar, Clove
Base: Blackcurrants, Rose, Musk

Love in Black (LiB), the latest fragrance from Creed, is a homage to Jacquie Kennedy Onassis. I can't vouch for the authencity of this celeb match op., but what I can do is deconstruct this juice based on its merits and wowza this is a solid two brown thumbs up !

Classified as a woody oriental, LiB is a violet-iris exposition. The violet-iris combo isn't new .. it has been been used successfully in the past, but most of the times with little finesse resulting in an unbalanced, trashy, crass tone to the composition. LiB does this combo proud; and despite utilizing this classic combo it manages to smell unique. The opening burst hints at some floral note (is it the wallflower?) and sweet violets but within seconds a fast transformation takes place - a wet-green hue envelops the composition with an emerging doughy earthy aroma. The "wet green" effect is due to a high dosage of violet leaf (violet odorata from Parma violets; think Green Irish Tweed), while the doughy earthy note is rich buttery iris being infused in this heart accord. It doesn't stop there .. a woody aroma soon seeps in (thanks to a top quality cedar note) and thus the earthy, tarry, buttery heart of LiB is complete and it smells strange and irresistible at the same time. Imagine Charlotte York sporting a moustache and a savile row suit, posing as a man. From here LiB slowly morphs over several hours to the base of 'currants and rose. The clove note provides the link from the earthy/tarry heart and the sweetish blackcurrant (which is moderated by a cool bulgarian rose note). To me the decision to end on the rose-currant base was a wise one as it provides a cool-sweet counterpart to the woody-buttery heart. The bad cop/good cop routine to force the enjoyment out of you. Good longevity but surprisingly from the midpoint onwards sillage is moderate. And hell yea, its unisex all the way!

LiB, with its perfectly balanced violet-iris combo, hits all the notes for me: Quality of ingredients? Check. Solid construction ? Check. Satifactory evolution? Check. The best thing Creed has done since Feuille Verte? Ding ding ding...check check check !!. LiB smells unique and satisfies. One needs time to appreciate its subtle nuances as it unravels on your skin. Fans of easy wear like Spring Flower will be bewildered and overwhelmed and pass the bottle to their mother or boyfriend...everyone else will be intrigued. Yes its expensive - but what are you gonna do? It is the essence of a Kennedy after all ...

Rating: 9.25/10.0

Love in Black is a fragrance inspired by Jackie O. It's not ment to be a goth fragrance. Google her life story and you will understand the fragrance. The fragrance is also handmade.