Insense

In fact, this is not just a cologne. And the concept of noir is a puzzling one, after so different takes by many perfumers (TF Noir de Noir: rose oud; Bvlgari Black: leathery black tea...which noir will be mine? Probably not one with the name on it).
This has an enormous longevity and suits me much better in a winter cold day. Why? Because of its warmness and full character, given by the immortelle.
Actually that note is one of my preferred, and as in AG Sables or more subtly in HdP 1740, immortelle plays the main role here.
Francis Kurkdjian made a twist with lavender, and it became a bonbon. Eat one, two would get you sick.
My immortelle remains 1740, the most masculine of the three, more leathery. But the sweetness of this one is very comforting also. I’ll wear 1740 when I feel a bad boy, and Eau Noire or Sables when I am a good boy (not so often, I know!)

The opening notes reminded me of Yatagan.
After 30 minutes, it changed, and a slight sweet side was felt.
It was very good, but not long-lasting, after 3 hours was almost gone.
At night I changed to Yatagan, so I could compare.
They are different.
Yatagan is champagne brut.
Sombre Negra is demi-sec.

I've never been in Japan. Some years ago I bought a bottle of this perfume, choosing among all of the series, since the effect on me of its top notes seemed to match the way my imagination drove me into a japanese temple, in the middle of a forest, in a wet day in Japan. I never regretted my choice of this instead of Avignon (a really catholic church incense scent whose memory was not so pleasant to me).
When I wore Kyoto, it became my signature for 2 months till the last drop. My feelings about it changed quietly along the time, as well as my soul became more and more pacified during that period...And with this beautiful and reassuring scent I revisited my memories of playing when a kid alone in the company of cypresses, some smoke being felt in the distance coming from my family home, in a winter end of sunday.
Cedar, cypress: I am now a lover of these two notes. And, above all, my crush on incense began here!

Well, I will dare to be the first to write something...
I never tested Or Black, vintage or reformulated, and profiting of a promotion last Christmas I made a blind buy of this gorgeous bottle.
And I am not regretting the risk I took. A wonderful peppery fougère mixed with citric notes over an ambery-musky base. Very versatile and for all year, fresh and warm all at once.
I think this is what Bleu de Chanel should have been!
Going to Paris next spring, I'll certainly visit Morabito's shop and hope to test the classic Or Black for a comparison, and would love to know other members comparisons.

This is maybe one of the most humorous perfumes I've tried, twisting between the citrus (a deep and summery mandarine) and the flowers: orange blossom and violet, over a rich ambergris base. Yes, I felt the violet in this perfume, and what an amazing violet it is, transforming this perfume into a modern classic! First time I tested it I was in Madrid and that afternoon became magic. My spanish heartbreaker.
Once again, Andy Tauer made perfection.