Coco Noir (2012)
by Chanel

I don't know much yet, but I have come to recognize the "exalting" properties of Chanel fragrances. I'm glad I have, because Coco Noir exalts me six ways to Sunday. The whole composition is beautiful, but I find the musk-rose accord most beautiful of all. To be honest, I can no longer remember the opening citrus—I'm overwhelmed by the beauty of the incense-and-rose that persists, endlessly. Other reviewers have found it masculine, but I think the rose and jasmine are perhaps too seductive, and the musk is perhaps too white, for men to wear successfully. Rather than being masculine, I think Coco Noir is serious—thoughtful, deep, and powerful. I imagine that the woman who wears it must be too.

14 May, 2013

Crisp, fruity opening persists for a long time. It is a non-realistic grapefruit, stripped of every trace of bitterness. The base takes too long to come through, but it is a beautiful, sweet, creamy vanilla. In between, it gets complicated -- mainly fruity, mildly floral. There isn't enough patchouli and resin for me to register "noir." That distinction goes to the fabulous Coromandel. I wish Chanel had made Coco Noir smell closer to the original Coco, but updated, less loud, more earthy and peachy instead of clear and grapefruit. They did get the vanilla right, though.

03 April, 2013

A fantastic fragrance that I find very unisex. It is a fairly sweet (fruity) oriental done in true Chanel fashion. It doesn't smell as much like Coco as I would have liked, but then again, I probably would find it too feminine if it were closer to the original. If you are a man and love the way Coco smells on the ladies but find it too feminine on yourself, try Coco Noir. You will probably love it.

26 March, 2013

Coco Noir is somewhat interesting at first but soon turns into a synthetic, nauseous sillage monster. I could smell it from my wrist when walking home on a chilly day with a winter coat on, and my nose doesn't even work in the cold. I tried to pick out individual notes but during the first two hours I only got something disgustingly sweet and fruity. Definitely a scrubber. The shirt I was wearing went almost straight to the washing machine, because tossing it to the laundry basket quickly made the whole bathroom stink.

17 March, 2013

This smells heavenly on me and delicately masculine. I have highly acidic pH, so perfumes can act strangely on me. The beginning was very reminiscent of Mlle, but that quickly transformed into the rich sandlewood and musk, the rose scent wafted along periodically. This is my new favorite from Chanel.

07 December, 2012

Modern, extremely elegant like all Chanel perfumes. Floral-woody-oriental. Feminine and classy.
Not too sweet, not too strong, perfect for me.
Very long lasting. The drydown is similar to Allure sensuelle, a bit masculine, maybe due to patchouli and sandalwood, but gorgeous.
This is my new signature frag.
I love it and the bottle is amazing.

14 November, 2012 (Last Edited: 15 November, 2012)