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.