Unforgivable Black (2008)
by Sean John

My man wears this and let me tell you, it's amazing on him. Very few colognes smell good on him because he's a heavy smoker, however this somewhat sweet and pleasantly fruity scent suits his skin so well.

The sweetness is what makes this fragrance so different from the original Unforgivable fragrance. This fragrance seems so much more balanced than its predecessor.

I think the few extra notes thrown in was a good decision made by the perfumers working for Sean John. The overall composition is quite calm, meaning that there are no nasty surprises hiding in the top, middle or base notes.

In the opening I particularly enjoyed the tangerine and pear notes being supported by soft citruses, earthy cardamom and soothing lavendar. The slight sweetness is carried on through to the middle notes of herbs blended with iris.

The base is very masculine with rich rum, tonka bean and amber concluding the olfactory experience. I find that with Unforgivable Black it smells much more expensive than what it is worth.

I couldn't imagine any other fragrance on my man. He's been wearing Unforgivable Black as his signature for a few years now. Unfortunately this fragrance is becoming harder and harder to find these days. Such a shame seeming that it has proven to be an applaudable effort from a celebrity house.

30th June, 2011.

The lavender note used is not a quality lavender, and it detracts from the citrus and fruit of the opening accord. Eventually the accord settles down to a very nice combination and stays as a pleasant but uninspired opening. I’m not fooled by the calming down of the lavender because poor lavender always returns to get its revenge. By the time the fragrance softens to the middle light herbal accord, the fragrance has permanently set its character as a soft, pleasant, uncreative fragrance that probably won’t have much of a dry down because that’s what most fragrances like this do. ... I don’t get much of a drydown except that disagreeable trace of leftover cheap lavender…

1st February, 2010.

unforgivable with a few notes added to give it some depth but nothing original

24th September, 2009.

I really like it. I love the original, or I should say I have grown to love it. The black version includes some rum and cream licqour quality to it that brings to mind Miami Beach. It is playful, definately for night time and worth the purchase. It is a stand-out frag amidst all the mass market junk that's out there, even if it is mass amrket itself.

4th April, 2009.

Tommy Bahama-esque boozy accords but otherwise nondescript.

31st January, 2009.

I own it. You can have it. Indistinct and muddled.

10th January, 2009.