Preliminary - I bought this fragrance in the full knowledge that this is "Club de Nuit Intense WOMAN", so it was not an accidental purchase or even a mispurchase.
My motivation was rather based on the fact that CDNIW is a good clone of "Noir de Noir" by Tom Ford, and as such I would like to rate it. Armaf has yes in recent times some very good imitations, especially of Creed, brought to the market, especially "Club de Nuit Sillage" in the style of Silver Mountain Water.
After I had bought a bottling of "Noir de Noir" here in the souk some time ago, I just could not leave my nose from this fragrance. The whole thing went so far that I decided that a whole bottle had to her. However, there are no 30ml bottles of "Noir de Noir", as there are with other TFs. This was a bit too much for me, both in terms of price and quantity, since "Noir de Noir" is certainly not an everyday fragrance and 50ml would probably last forever. But - oh what luck - there's also what from Ratiopharm, uh Armaf.
So now I have a whole 105ml bottle in front of me, but at a fraction of the price TF calls up. Since both "Noir de Noir" and CDNIW have already been extensively described here, I would now like to go more into the direct comparison.
For me, by the way, both fragrances are really unisex, even if CDNIW is marketed as "Woman". Sweet enough for the female sex, dark enough for the men. Sure it's a rose scent, but this one is so beautifully wrapped in nutmeg and oud that this one comes across as very dark and almost mysterious. Therefore, my appeal to all men - profess your feminine side!
But now to the direct comparison. Sprayer "Noir de Noir" left, sprayer CDNIW right and off we go!
Scent
"Noir de Noir" starts powerfully with a clear, very dark rose. Saffron is also there from the beginning, which gives the fragrance a slightly more bitter, but also aromatic note. At the same time, it enlivens the rose and gives it a very elegant tone. Relatively quickly, the black truffle also enters the scene and combines with the oud, patchouli and vanilla, which then gives the fragrance its sweetness (which can be associated with cocoa), paired with the heavy, dark rose. Overall, I have to say that the scent progression is relatively linear and hardly goes through any transformation. However, this is not meant to sound pejorative in any way, on the contrary, the scent comes across as very classy, mysterious, and high quality right from the start. As already mentioned at the beginning, it is certainly not an everyday fragrance, but to go out, for upscale occasions, gladly also sensual, he is just about suitable in a perfect way.
9/10
"Club de Nuit Intense Woman" is a 95% clone for this. The biggest difference can still be made out in the top note, where CDNIW possibly a very little less present, possibly even something more portable comes across. But even here there is no real scent progression and the fragrance is in principle right at the beginning fully there. Now, if you want to frantically search for differences and put them into a few words, you could say CDNIW is less complex, maybe a little lighter and maybe doesn't quite reach that depth of the original. But maybe, just maybe, this is all imagination, because the brain says that a perfume for a tenth(!) of the price just HAS to be worse. The heart, however, feels what the nose conveys to it and this is a pleasantly warm, enveloping and at the same time uplifting sensation. The layman, just with a bit of distance, as most people will perceive this fragrance yes, will probably no difference between the two fragrances can perceive.
9/10
Durability & Sillage
"Noir de Noir" starts really powerful and can be really room-filling, especially at the beginning. There are certainly stronger fragrances, but anything beyond the current level, would also really be too much of a good thing for this fragrance. As described above, the fragrance is quite heavy, floral and dark, so that it can already seem a little oppressive, especially in the beginning, from therefore the projection should not and should not be stronger. The durability is also really very good and keeps on my skin pretty much exactly 10 hours, a great value.
Durability 10/10, Sillage 8/10
CDNIW, on the other hand, is a little more dignified, a little less powerful, a little less opulent. No question, is still really good to very good and the durability is with 8-9 hours still quite clearly in the upper midfield. But it is also a little weaker in the projection, which may even be an advantage if you want to wear the fragrance more as an everyday fragrance or even in the office. Where "Noir the Noir" could possibly even annoy the fellow men in the office, CDNIW also forms a beautiful fragrance cloud around you, but this does not radiate quite so far.
Here may also be the biggest difference, or justification for the higher price. While Armaf with its Creed clones regularly stomps the originals in the ground (with the poor performance of many Creed fragrances but also not difficult), the Tom Ford delivers here just a little better.
Durability 8/10, Sillage 7/10
Flacon
About the bottle there is not too much to say. The Tom Ford bottle is classically elegant and always reminds me a little of the simplicity of Japanese houses (I have 2 TF bottles by the way, TV and OW).
9/10
The CDNIW bottle comes there, of course, much more coarse and almost clumsy. Nevertheless, the bottle seems relatively high quality, as it has a fairly high weight. Also, the closure sits very securely and the color design in black and gold also fits quite well, even if I find the design of, for example, "Club de Nuit Sillage" with this reflection effect even prettier.
5/10
Price-performance
Here we come now to the real crux of the whole comparison. As much as the fragrances are similar, the pricing is different. Currently, the price of "Noir de Noir" is 220€ for 100ml. CDNIW can be had for just over 30€ for 105ml. Considering that both fragrances are almost identical, one may well ask how Tom Ford justifies this price difference. But everyone can answer this for themselves, since brand prestige, PR and certainly ingredients will play a role here. The better durability and sillage I had already mentioned.
Conclusion
Isn't there something from Ratiopharm? Yes, and specifically from Armaf. As already mentioned several times, both fragrances are very similar. While the H&S at the Tom Ford is not significantly, but still noticeably better, the (imagined) quality differences may possibly be due to a place effect (freely after the motto, the cost more, so he must also be better).
Who has the money to spare and would like to support Tom Ford (I'm always in favor of supporting the spiritual father), should add "Noir de Noir" to his collection. But who does not have the necessary little thing or who 50ml are basically too much (at the price), which finds in "Club de Nuit Intense Woman" a wonderful alternative, which can be worn absolutely also by men and should.
Top Notes
Geranium
Saffron
Rose
Heart Notes
Caraway
Nutmeg
Violet
Pepper
Base Notes
Amber
Oud
Vanilla
Patchouli
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Notes
Amazon1975
MrLawman
PedroDark
Emorandeira
JoaoMartins
Carlitos01
