WHAT I SMELL: Coco Noir opens with a brown sugared and sweetened grapefruit and bergamot. It’s light and happy, pretty and rather bouncy as the notes crackle with the brown sugar. The sugar note starts to reveal a lovely floral dominated by jasmine that starts to grow and expand. There’s something almost a bit masculine about the fragrance as the patchouli provides a woody note that keeps the florals from becoming too feminine. But as soon as I say that, the perfume continues to grow and expand and it becomes rather creamy, like it would make for a beautiful and enriching hand creme. Finally, Coco Noir finds it feminine self and the perfume radiates warm florals which are beefed up by a pulsating sandalwood. The perfume almost has a heartbeat that pulses and projects off the skin in a rhythmic manner. In the end, Coco Noir provides a powdery finish to a radiant floral that is warmed from below.
From the Chanel website:
Magnetic and uncompromising, COCO NOIR reveals a black that is intimate, seductive and intensely brilliant. Striking top notes of Grapefruit and Bergamot accentuate the floral accord, with Rose and Jasmine, while Indonesian Patchouli and Sandalwood notes add warmth.
WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME: pulsating passion
THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE COCO NOIR: tempting, self-assured, confident
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT COCO NOIR: Bois de Jasmin, Kafkaesque, Undina’s Looking Glass
BOTTOM LINE: With “noir” in the name, I was expecting Coco Noir to be a heavy oriental full of deep and dark mystery. Instead, I found a fragrance that is rather big, bold and full of passion. Coco Noir takes no prisoners and although being rather feminine, there’s enough beef here to make me think that a man could get by with wearing this with ease as well.
- Bone Rating: 4 out of possible 5 bones
- Scent: Woody Floral
- Nose: Jacques Polge and Christopher Sheldrake
- Classification: Feminine, but could work for a man
- Expense: Review based on the Eau de Parfum version. $98 for 3.4 oz. Eau de Parfum.
February 23, 2015 at 6:14 am
Hey Houndy! I’m glad to see some Coco Noir love here. Agree that there’s no noir in Noir, but the gorgeous bottle IS Noir so that counts! Have you tried the parfum? It’s has extra depth and the bottle is oh so cute!
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 23, 2015 at 6:24 am
Morning Sunshine! I was at the Saks counter yesterday and was hoping to get a whiff but they didn’t have a tester of the perfume. I have the feeling that it may have to be a blind buy for me. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 23, 2015 at 9:38 am
Great review- I feel the same way about this perfume. It’s a favorite of mine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
February 23, 2015 at 8:35 pm
This was a complete surprise to me. I was not expecting much from it, let alone to like it. I love those unexpected surprises 🙂
LikeLike
February 23, 2015 at 1:05 pm
Tempting review. I want to try this now as it’s one of those perfumes I’ve never been drawn to but should really give it a shot.
LikeLike
February 23, 2015 at 8:37 pm
I would love to see what you think…passion in a bottle to me is a good thing 🙂
LikeLike
February 24, 2015 at 1:50 am
Definitely. I think I was put off by all of the downer reviews on this one, so it’s nice to see one that has a different spin. There are such high expectations around perfumes from Chanel, Guerlain and Dior, the reviews can be a bit Mean Girls.
LikeLike
February 23, 2015 at 7:34 pm
Well, I’ve never been that interested in trying this (I don’t seem to have good luck with the Chanels, though I did just try and like the LE Gardenia), but you make this sound absolutely dreamy! Pulsating passion?!?! Goodness. That’s some good stuff. I’ll definitely have to give this a try – I love creamy and floral! Thanks for the review 🙂
LikeLike
February 23, 2015 at 8:40 pm
It’s funny how some houses don’t work for us and others do. Chanel works for me for the most part and this was a pleasant surprise. Yes, creamy and floral is a GREAT combination!
LikeLike
March 16, 2015 at 7:44 pm
I plan to try the parfum: with such a beautiful bottle one might hope to like the juice. I hope 🙂
LikeLike
March 16, 2015 at 7:48 pm
Like you, i desperately want to try the parfum too!
LikeLike