ZAHAROFF
SIGNATURE NOIR

2020

PERFUMER
Claude Dir

Pink Pepper
Basil
Coriander
mandarin
Bergamot

Cypress
Freesia
Balsam Fir
Cedarwood
Ginger
Anise

Oud
frankincense
Myrrh
Sandalwood
Tonka Bean

‘The first of “two siblings” born from the Zaharoff Signature Pour Homme Collection! We took this extraordinary fragrance and removed all of the herbaceous oils and with just the wood and balsamic notes, added Pink Pepper with citrus oils, Mandarin, and Bergamot with a floral Freesia. To take it to another level of dark, Anis and Tonka were added to the Oud, Frankincense, and Myrrh to create a magical scent that will elevate the soul and take you on the journey of a lifetime!’ – Zaharoff

Noir is the Signature Pour Homme DNA with the green, herbal notes taken out of it. To be honest, that’s not what it smells like to me in the opening for me; it’s not as punchy, sparkling and lavender heavy as the original, but it actually feels a bit more citrus heavy in the opening.

The citrussy aspect has a lot to do with the ginger, which I absolutely love in this fragrance, but it doesn’t give me a ‘noir’ feeling at all, so it took a while for me to avert my expectations. That being said, by the time I started getting used it, the darker, more woody composition started to come through. In the drydown, it definitely feels like a darker take on the original, but it has an overall similar feeling.

I think both work really well as an office fragrance, with the soapy quality; the Noir feeling a bit more heavy-handed and mature. It’s not as sweet as the original, which again, goes against my expectations, because George described this as more of a (date)night, sensual scent.

I’m a big fan of the opening and the the more woody base is nice, although I prefer the Royale that I was released alongside it and I also prefer Signature Pour Homme slightly.