Black Tourmaline (2007)
by Olivier Durbano

In my book, French jeweller/perfumer Olivier Durbano can do no wrong. Of his four stone poems released to date, I have been entirely enchanted by them all.

This scent immediately unfurls with a swelling cloud of sharp black pepper and thick smoked wood... the sensation is intense and palpable; somewhat akin to inhaling the hot, heavy air inside a sauna. All the while, a rich bouquet garni of fragrant spices - cardamom, coriander and cumin - simmer beneath the surface and imbue the air with their dry, aromatic piquancy. A hiss of oudh lends an opulent richness to the composition, and it snakes its way across the glorious frankincense that I have come to recognise as the starring accord in all of Durbano's perfume creations. It is this wonderful incense/resin that is also common to Amethyste and Rock Crystal, and here, it contributes a profound 'otherworldly' appeal. As the fragrance evolves, these accords shift and interweave with dark patchouli, amber and dry woods.

Black Tourmaline is a hauntingly beautiful eau de parfum. It has phenomenal sillage and remarkable persistence, and can be enjoyed by both men and women.
Much in the same way black tourmalines were once worn by the ancients for their protection against evil; one might also wear this scent as somewhat of a 'perfume talisman'... one that strikes a curious balance between the earthbound, and the ethereal.

Black Tourmaline was sent to me as a freebie with a fragrance purchase when I mentioned to the seller that I like perfumes with a pepper note. Well, I don't get a pepper note in this. What I do get is a tidal wave of patchouli and musk that is frankly aggressive and overpowering. The more I smell Black Tourmaline, the more I am reminded of the sillage of Polo and it actually kind of smells like an older brother of Polo. Let's just say that I would not be pleased if my boyfriend started sporting Black Tourmaline.

Per The Perfumed Posse, here are the notes: cardamom, coriander, cumin, frankincense, pepper, smoked wood, oud, leather, precious woods, musk, amber, moss, patchouli.