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Black Pepper - The forgotten note

post #1 of 28
11/28/07 at 9:15pm
Thread Starter 
I detest Black Pepper. I will not have it in my home. The site of grinding a peppermill makes me nauseous. I simply can not stand it....on my food that is. However, as a fragrance note, it happens to be one of my favorite notes. It adds a certain spark and omph that takes an ordinary scent into another realm. But it's like the Rodney Dangerfield of notes - it never gets praise it deserves. And yet it is one of the simplest ingredients out there. Not everyone has smelled Cyprus but everyone has encountered Pepper. So, in honor of the Black Pepper, I list my favorites.

Gucci PH - cleverly balances the wood with the amber
Joop! Rococo - Pepper dancing on top of a rose
Molton Brown Black Pepper - a delicious blend of ginger and pepper the both soothes and energizes, kind of like a Red Bull & Vodka
Opium PH EdT - Szechwan Pepper? I think I ate one of those one time, and my tongue never forgave me. Anyway, it adds an edge that the other Opium versions lack
Allure Homme - the pepper expertly melds the tart citrus notes with the sweet notes

Next up - Salt!!!
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post #2 of 28
11/29/07 at 12:17am
With the exception of the Molton Brown (which I haven't come across) I wouldn't have thought the other ones you've listed as being particularly peppery.

To me, the really peppery scents are Polo Sport Extreme, Oscar for Men and the somewhat less peppery, Piper Nigrum.
Have you come across them?
Renato
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post #3 of 28
11/29/07 at 12:50am
I second the Molton Brown Black Pepper body wash. Its excellent!
Renato, DJ's stocks the line in their flagship stores. Its worth checking out.

It also appears in some of my fave scents, such as LPNo.9 and others. I also enjoy Joop Roccoco and its unique peppery quality.
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post #4 of 28
11/29/07 at 1:30am
Manicboy... Get thee to Polo Sport Extreme!!!!

pronto.
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post #5 of 28
11/29/07 at 2:12am
Lest we forget the wonderful pepper note in that little known sleeper "Charro" from Italy.
The pink pepper not in OJ Isfarkand is also very nice
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post #6 of 28
11/29/07 at 2:14am
Navegar!
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post #7 of 28
11/29/07 at 2:33am
armani privé bois d'encens - very pronounced black pepper
LV Inglese/Wild Lavender - prominent black pepper
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post #8 of 28
11/29/07 at 2:36am
The peppery opening of Angeliques sous la pluie
the teasing opening of Extravagance d'amarige
The quintessence of pepper Piper Nigrum
Navegar
The opening of Miracle PH
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post #9 of 28
11/29/07 at 2:43am
Another one for Oscar
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post #10 of 28
11/29/07 at 4:28am
Opus 1870 (Penhaligon's)
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post #11 of 28
11/29/07 at 4:46am
I love pepper (both in food and in scents) ...

... l'homme de coeur
... préparation parfumée
... navegar, timbuktu
... isfahan
... and many more :-)
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post #12 of 28
11/29/07 at 5:26am
Hey - what about Rose Poivree by The Different Company, one of my favorite uses of black pepper in fragrance?

I also found out that Lemon Sorbet by ETRO uses a subtle note of black pepper in the middle notes, and gives the lemon the punch it needs.

If you're a fan of white pepper (just a tad more refined IMO) then please try Hermessence Poivre Samarcande by Hermes.
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post #13 of 28
11/29/07 at 7:22am
When I saw this thread title I immediately thought of Polo Double Black. Pepper invested.
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post #14 of 28
11/29/07 at 7:29am
The two Ormande Jayne scents for men are freaking loaded with pepper. Decent, but they are way overpriced for the quality, IMO.
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post #15 of 28
11/29/07 at 7:33am
Méchant Loup (L'Artisan Parfumeur)
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post #16 of 28
11/29/07 at 7:35am
  • KMF
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Baldessarini Del Mar has a strong pepper top note...
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post #17 of 28
11/29/07 at 7:53am
Have you ever thought of buying the essential oil and - be careful, dilute it down - and layering it? It adds both sparkle and depth to other fragrances. I'd encourage you to try pink peppercorn EO also, gorgeous stuff.

The peppers do go with most other notes, so you may easily broaden your spectrum of enjoyment of your fragrances currently in your possession. Have fun!
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post #18 of 28
11/29/07 at 9:03am
Was Caron's Poivre too obvious to mention ?
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post #19 of 28
11/29/07 at 9:47am
Big second on Penhaligon's Opus 1870, and nod to Gucci PH 2!
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post #20 of 28
11/29/07 at 10:42am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dimitri View Post

I second the Molton Brown Black Pepper body wash. Its excellent!
Renato, DJ's stocks the line in their flagship stores. Its worth checking out.

The EdT is quite nice too! Wonder why there are no reviews of it.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Indie_Guy View Post

Manicboy... Get thee to Polo Sport Extreme!!!!

pronto.

I used to have the regular Polo Sport but I must check out the Extreme version.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DesGrieux View Post

Opus 1870 (Penhaligon's)

Sprayed this on once and liked it. Must get a sample!
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post #21 of 28
11/29/07 at 12:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Indie_Guy View Post

Manicboy... Get thee to Polo Sport Extreme!!!!

pronto.

No doubt! Polo Sport Extreme is the fragrance with the closest approximation of freshly ground black pepper that I am aware of; very sharp and bracing.
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post #22 of 28
11/29/07 at 12:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by manicboy View Post


I used to have the regular Polo Sport but I must check out the Extreme version.

They're completely different creations with nothing in common. Polo Sport Extreme is discontinued so it's not exactly everywhere-- but you might be still be able to find the untouched bottle sitting in a glass case at the likes of Walgreens or Wal-mart for example if you want to test it. Otherwise I think it can still be had through a good number of e-tailers.

A lot of good fragrances use pepper, but this one features black pepper to the point that you almost don't notice anything else. Extreme Polo Sport is to Black Pepper what Tam Dao is to Sandalwood. When I wear it I get lots of compliments. It's unlike anything I've ever smelled. One of the most original things Ralph Lauren has ever put out and a real shame that it was discontinued (though I have my back-up stock of this one).
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post #23 of 28
11/29/07 at 1:59pm
Polo Double Black has one of my favorite top notes EVER. Lots of black pepper. But this period of ecstasy lasts only 10 minutes then fades to bland.

I agree with Isfarkand. Great pepper note, but I'm not sure it's black pepper. Not that it matters. It smells great either way.

TdH smells a bit peppery to me all the way through its evolution, but I wouldn't call it a pepper scent.
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post #24 of 28
11/29/07 at 2:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LiveJazz View Post

Polo Double Black has one of my favorite top notes EVER. Lots of black pepper. But this period of ecstasy lasts only 10 minutes then fades to bland.

I had the same experience. 10 minutes of black pepper nirvana followed by the smell of...Polo Sport. Yawn.
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post #25 of 28
11/29/07 at 2:43pm
buberry london
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post #26 of 28
11/29/07 at 4:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by manicboy View Post

I detest Black Pepper. I will not have it in my home. The site of grinding a peppermill makes me nauseous. I simply can not stand it....on my food that is. However, as a fragrance note, it happens to be one of my favorite notes.

That's funny...with me, it's the opposite!!
I don't hate black pepper in general and i Love it on food, the more the merrier, but it's one of my most hated notes on fragrances.


I'll keep an eye out for the salt thread!
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post #27 of 28
11/29/07 at 5:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by supermarky View Post

armani privé bois d'encens - very pronounced black pepper
LV Inglese/Wild Lavender - prominent black pepper

Totally! Bois d'encens is like opening a jar of cracked black pepper and taking a big whiff! The only thing about this one is, that's about all I get.
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post #28 of 28
11/30/07 at 1:02am
As someone who eats PM meals loaded with black pepper, I recommend three different:

For a mild black pepper, mixed with sweetness: Polo Double Black

For very sharp, strong and clean pepper: Polo Sport Extreme

For a pepper note that seems to be void of the harsh top, but very very strong on the earthy and hot base of black pepper (and in my opinion the best and classiest black pepper note): Oscar for men
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