What's the darkest scent that you know? And with dark I mean SUPER-DARK!!!

[Virtue&Sin]

dark and natural: Elogio de la sombra; vetiver and dark: Hornero, both from Fueguia 1883 (here at database). I love an oriental too: El mono de la tinta. Must-try!

[HORNS]

Throw another one into the discussion: Oscar de la Renta Pour Lui.

[Darjeeling]

I wonder how our perceptions and descriptions of the scents would vary if they didn't have Dark, Black, Noir, etc. in their names. Honestly, not all perfumes with such descriptors in the name come across as dark to me.

It kind of reminds me of experiments with wine drinkers where their perceptions and descriptions were influenced by the colour when red food colouring was added to white wine. From the suggestion by the colour and their expectations of red wine they start talking about tannins, berries, red fruit, etc. Don't underestimate the power of suggestion and expectation.

[mrcologneguy]

Cartier Santos Concentree. It's bone-dry, a little smoky. Dark.

[L'Homme Blanc Individuel]

Sombre Negra, by Yosh.

[knightowl]

Cartier Santos Concentree. It's bone-dry, a little smoky. Dark.

And a masterpiece to boot!

Mazzolari Lui dark, dark, dark as well.

[Possum-Pie]

I wonder how our perceptions and descriptions of the scents would vary if they didn't have Dark, Black, Noir, etc. in their names. Honestly, not all perfumes with such descriptors in the name come across as dark to me.

It kind of reminds me of experiments with wine drinkers where their perceptions and descriptions were influenced by the colour when red food colouring was added to white wine. From the suggestion by the colour and their expectations of red wine they start talking about tannins, berries, red fruit, etc. Don't underestimate the power of suggestion and expectation.

That is one of the truest things I've seen posted on BN... I believe our expectations/predjudices influence our perceptions vastly. I am always going on about people bashing fragrances b/c they perceive them as inexpensive, dept. store variety. I would love to see an experiment where someone took an inexpensive but well made Avon fragrance and put it in a Tom Ford or Creed Bottle and said it was the newest offering....We must admit our biases or we won't be aware of them. The first time I tried Tribute Attar at $1200/ounce I had a hard time separating my opinion from knowing the cost.

[mumsy]

This is exactly why the blind sniff game is such fun. Three anonymous vials of A, B and C to smell and guess. When the preconceived ideas and hype are totally removed, then it really is up the the frag to do all it's own work.... the difference between the smell of a frag and it's hype/value are definitely not guaranteed to be related. There have been some interesting damnations of some really well known and expensive frags.

[Possum-Pie]

This is exactly why the blind sniff game is such fun. Three anonymous vials of A, B and C to smell and guess. When the preconceived ideas and hype are totally removed, then it really is up the the frag to do all it's own work.... the difference between the smell of a frag and it's hype/value are definitely not guaranteed to be related. There have been some interesting damnations of some really well known and expensive frags.

Right Mumsy, and some really nice inexpensive fragrances that would be praised...until they found out they were not "niche"

[kellyjelly]

Serge freak here, so...
Borneo, because that's like fucking wordlessly on a jungle floor, the last night before the rains begin.
Serge Noire. To me its like standing next to Byron while Shelley burns.
And Fumerie T, for almost the same reason, that whiff of crematorium, burning phoenix feathers, that singed, tarry licorice just ties black silk over your eyes and whispers terrible things. Its all about association in the end and they all have very dark colours to me.

[Darjeeling]

That is one of the truest things I've seen posted on BN... I believe our expectations/predjudices influence our perceptions vastly. I am always going on about people bashing fragrances b/c they perceive them as inexpensive, dept. store variety. I would love to see an experiment where someone took an inexpensive but well made Avon fragrance and put it in a Tom Ford or Creed Bottle and said it was the newest offering....We must admit our biases or we won't be aware of them. The first time I tried Tribute Attar at $1200/ounce I had a hard time separating my opinion from knowing the cost.

At least, unlike some hifi forums I visit, we aren't tied up in endless discussions about expectation bias and demanding double blind testing and measurements of everything before accepting an opinion. Actually it would be kind of interesting to have chromatography analysis accompanying all reviews and allegations of reformulation...

[stevolution]

Satyr by Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab

[mumsy]

V&A PH +
SD PH +
M7 (original) YSL +
Black Afgano and Duro Nasomatto +
since you want it to be "evil" and not sweet, but smoky: Bvlgari Black.
Happy hunting!

Bvlgari Black was extremely sweet on me with its amber and vanilla base.

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Just for interest, I've been adding up these suggestions and there are approx 125 recommended perfumes to try here with these having multiple voters. (Bear in mind this is a quick estimate and I could have missed some comments)

S. Dali = 15 votes (but has comments about it's lack of darkness and some sweetness)
Encre Noir = 9 (But H doesn't think it is dark in the OP)
Montale dark Oud = 7
Or black, Memoir man = 6
N. Black Afgano, Mazzolari Lui, VC&A PH, = 5
Jacomo, Patch 24 labo, Narciso R, Montale Black Oud, M7, TF Black Orchid, Avignon (OP says no), Ungaro III = 4
Serge Noir SL, Farenheit Abs, Norne, No 88, = 3
Patch Villoresi, Eucris, Sombre negre, Black Tourmaline, Onda, Cuir d'Arabie Montale, Noir de Noir TF, Nas. Duro, Petroleum, Rosam, Ambrarem, Kolnisch J, Bvlgari B. (OP says no), CDG 2, Cartier Santo = 2

That is quite a test list H... lol.

[L8bro]

+1 for Dark Aoud, Narciso Rodriguez for him, Pure Oud, and Memoir Man

[voodoodanny]

Al Oudh by L'artisan Parfumer, a great take on oud which, according to the SA, smells particularly dark on my skin.

[Oupavoc]

Nasomatto Black Afgano is probably the darkest scent I have.

[hoschhti]

I revised my opinion on Pure Oud from By Kilian in post 65! I found a sample and actually it is pretty dark, only a bit too animalic and it could have some smoke. I like the saffron and I love its deepness!

[Dernier_Cri]

I revised my opinion on Pure Oud from By Kilian in post 65! I found a sample and actually it is pretty dark, only a bit too animalic and it could have some smoke. I like the saffron and I love its deepness!

hoschti....
First of all, I thought we were looking for, in the words in your orignal post, something that "....smells like (a) bone-filled dungeon in a medevial castle in the darkest night in coldest winter. Pure Oud is a favorite of mine. I never thought of it as dark in any sense of the word. I wouldn't be afraid to wear it to a children's birthday party. I left a previous post in this thread, #31,where I attempted to concoct a dark fragrance for you. While I was being facetious for the most part I would recommend if you are interested to get hold of a sample of Acampora Jasmin sometime just to see how dark jasmine can be. It is truly a dark scent and is eye opening in the sense that it shows you that not everything "dark" is leather and smoke and body excretions. But I was thinking that something more of what you're looking for might be Xerjoff Homme. I don't think anyone in this thread has mentioned it but I might be wrong. Homme is pretty much smoke and black leather with a little sweet undertone. Good hunting.

[bigsteve]

LeMale

Oops... I thought you said "dorkest" and "SUPER-DORK"....

[hoschhti]

hoschti....
First of all, I thought we were looking for, in the words in your orignal post, something that "....smells like (a) bone-filled dungeon in a medevial castle in the darkest night in coldest winter. Pure Oud is a favorite of mine. I never thought of it as dark in any sense of the word. I wouldn't be afraid to wear it to a children's birthday party. I left a previous post in this thread, #31,where I attempted to concoct a dark fragrance for you. While I was being facetious for the most part I would recommend if you are interested to get hold of a sample of Acampora Jasmin sometime just to see how dark jasmine can be. It is truly a dark scent and is eye opening in the sense that it shows you that not everything "dark" is leather and smoke and body excretions. But I was thinking that something more of what you're looking for might be Xerjoff Homme. I don't think anyone in this thread has mentioned it but I might be wrong. Homme is pretty much smoke and black leather with a little sweet undertone. Good hunting.

All I said is that it's darker than I remembered it because in post 65 I wrote that it's "not dark at all". All in all it's a nice and comfortable scent and is easy to wear, but certainly not dark enough!

Although I like Castoreum I am not keen on "body excretions"! Also not keen on a "sweet undertone"!

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LeMale

Oops... I thought you said "dorkest" and "SUPER-DORK"....

[SaNielsen]

You should have Christopher Brosius of CB I Hate Perfume to make you a bespoke creation. I have no doubt he could do a dark, mouldering crypt.

[david]

The perfume should not have even the tiniest hint of sweetness, it should be extremely dry and maybe smoky.

Eau de Fier ~ Annick Goutal

[hoschhti]

Eau de Fier ~ Annick Goutal

Thanks for your recommendation! The reviews sound interesting!

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@ Dernier_Cri: It would be interesting to know how Acampora Jasmin smells compared to Tawaf? Tawaf is also a jasmine-scent and so far the only floral perfume that I like. A lot of people say that Tawaf is raw and kinda dark and masculine, so a comparison would be interesting. I think I need a sample of Acampora Jasmin!

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dark and natural: Elogio de la sombra; vetiver and dark: Hornero, both from Fueguia 1883 (here at database). I love an oriental too: El mono de la tinta. Must-try!

Thanks for the recommendation!

- - - Updated - - -

You should have Christopher Brosius of CB I Hate Perfume to make you a bespoke creation. I have no doubt he could do a dark, mouldering crypt.

I have sampled some of his premade ones and yes some of them are unusual and creative, but they smell a bit too synthetic and a few of them have a sharp grassy, also synthetic note that I don't like.

[nthny]

Montale Dark Aoud is like floating in space. Totally dark, totally strange. I haven't seen any other recommendations for the following but you really must try Montale's Black Musk as well. Both are as dark as can be. I can't say they'll be exactly what you're looking for but if you started here, I can't imagine you'd be disappointed. You should also include Byredo M/Mink. Dark inky madness. These three. Dark Aoud, Black Musk, M/Mink. Go.

[Skyline]

Amouage Memoir Man
Zirh Ikon

[DULLAH]

I'd like Everyone in this thread who has not tested Maitre's Route Du Vetiver to do so.

[Dernier_Cri]

@ Dernier_Cri: It would be interesting to know how Acampora Jasmin smells compared to Tawaf? Tawaf is also a jasmine-scent and so far the only floral perfume that I like. A lot of people say that Tawaf is raw and kinda dark and masculine, so a comparison would be interesting. I think I need a sample of Acampora Jasmin!

Sorry old boy, I can't help you there because I haven't tried Tawaf. I went through a jasmine phase but seems like it's somewhat past. I see teardrop wrote a review of Tawaf. She's a jasmine lover so I defer to her. I will try to get a sample.
As for the Acampora Jasmin as jasmines goes it's pretty unique and not all in a positive way. I always think of it as kind of a reference jasmine, but it can be overwhelming, especially as time goes by, as certain dense florals can be: thick, langorous, suffocating. I really find it suffocating.
One of the few fragrances I actually find depressing. And yes I recommend trying it. I don't think I've ever worn it anywhere.
Since you like bone dry.....did you every try CdG Monocle Hinoki? Not particularly dark though.

[hoschhti]

Amouage Memoir Man
Zirh Ikon

Memoir Man has been mentioned also by others before. I wonder if people think of it as "dark" because of the dark bottle and packaging and the whole "black swan, dark side in us"-blah blah blah? To me it's creamy-green in the beginning, almost like jade. Then it turns in this fat, heavy, sweet, boosted sandalwood-monster! Not really dark and gives me terrible headaches!

[Diamondflame]

Have you tried Immortal Mine perfume? Inspired by 19th cantury vampire novel Clarimonde, t's supposedly a very dark, gothic fragrance. Quoting from indieperfumes.blogspot : -

"This perfume is rich and dense, and as it opens it reminds me of white smoke trapped in a honeycomb, causing drowsiness among the bees, so they lay quietly while the keeper siphons off the honey.

This is a deeply moving dark and changeable perfume. It gets deeper and darker as time goes on. It dries down to a tobacco honeyed phase which lasts for a few minutes, then down to the vintage oud that holds the faint memory of the florals to itself closely. The central theme of this perfume is hypnotic attraction. It sinks deeply into the skin…There is a hint of beeswax and florals, but my favorite explanation of the ingredients of this perfume comes directly from Alexis Karl:

Soil from an unmarked grave. One single drop of blood from a slain Wyvern, the sweet elixir of dying jasmine and fading neroli. Amber found in ancient tombs of civilizations lost. Longing. Essence of smoke from the funeral pyre. A cut of material from Bela Lugosi’s cape, the dust from a bats wing. Wood resins gathered from the Forest of the Dead, Myrrh scraped from the cliffs of The Dark Realm. Precious ouds unearthed from burning desert sands. Wax dripping from black, white and pink candles, ashes of a Phoenix, words from a dead poet’s mouth. Rare herbs found in a cathedral’s forgotten garden. Desire."

The catch: $200 for 10 ml. Ouch.

[Dernier_Cri]

The catch: $200 for 10 ml. Ouch.

You can't get much darker than that.