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Christian Lacroix Noir Eau de Toilette
by 1st2thebar
There is something remarkably French about the French - I can't put my finger on it, but it is as if being French you have the inherited knowledge to be able to just look 'chic', naturally. Every 'petit' detail thought through, as if they've been tuned in simultaneously to a fashion guru - 'This is the way you walk, the way you talk, the ... way you look and smell - a type of national performance 'extraordinaire'. Parisian down and outs - tend to sing a melodic love song, when they ask for money, when you pass them by, they blow kisses at your back, as you walk on by. Creasing up at the pain of losing their only love forever. The shorter male seeks out three inch soles so their stature stands-up better to their stunning leggy bean-pole partner. Appearance is paramount, as is scent. No doubt the French do marry the balance of aesthetic and scent, too perfection; therefore it is no surprise the French rules the world of fragrance and it is epitomised in the fragrance 'Christian Lacroix NOIR'. 'Ah Non!'
Noir means black in English. In short the fragrance should be called 'Chris Black' along Blackpool promenade, yet even the insular, locked in urban British types buy into the French-ness when it comes to 'perfumeries'. Del Boy Trotter even spruced up his Peckham vocabulary with Franglais terms and you can see why the beautiful language is used by many - albeit, most haven't a clue what it means. Avon has adopted these traits in the same fold. By introducing, 'Christian Lacroix NOIR' to its catalogue, by spicing up its l'homme' range when it comes to fragrance - and going French, is because Avon think l'homme is worth it. I'm not complaining - shrugs shoulders like a Frenchman.
They used 'Eartha Kit' to capture the wood aromas
Ironically the packaging and decorative motifs on the l'eau de toilette; could've been designed by English textile genius William Morris (1834 - 96) Silver block foliage on a black background, draping around the beautifully named and formed 'Christian Lacroix NOIR'. The font is neither flamboyant nor ordinary, maybe slightly understated - as if it can't really take on-board the grandeur of the occasion of being a 'French fragrance' in all it's splendour. A garland motif resembling a poppy head delivers festivity to a stately home rather than the packaging to a mass produce product specifically for Avon. The price doesn't fit the retailer, as it is a hefty 20.00 GBP for a 75 ml of Christian Lacroix NOIR. Considering the brand is getting better known, Avon must've pitched the price tag about right to their male consumers. Not that their male consumers got a lot of choice. Avon is the equivalent to a Fosters Advert for men, but for the ladies. 'Noir' is as masculine as Avon gets; albeit spice wise you can sense it prior to breaking the cellophane. Like a bull in the china shop on the nasal passage - scent-wise it is reminiscent of an early Paco Rabanne - 'paco lotta punch.' I understood why 'Christian Lacroix NOIR' flooded the nasal airwaves as it does, just to compete with the nasal boxing match of Avon's sweet and floral scents. Noir has exerted itself down the rare spice route, cajoled with the musty aromatic wood scent that may waft with a degree of extra potency; evident when the heavens break open - Noir has captured the earthiness.
The bottle colour is in keeping of the brand being black. Square in shape without the sharp corners, the nozzle head protector visually imitates an old wooden head corkscrew from my youth. A smidgeon overdone for my liking - a black plastic cap would easily suffice. On first pump of the nozzle a familiar odour of alcohol lingers for a few seconds before it gets swamped by the nasally tickling spices - Ginger and Saffron and then the humidity of the woods gets introduced - Mint, Cedar and deep undertones of vetiver (used as therapeutic oils) plus musk is the last to enter the fray and last to leave the epidermis. On a good note the initial burst of robust spices dies down considerably and for four to eight hours a milder sibling of the fragrance takes centre stage. Thankfully, the scent is recognisably masculine - as it lacks the distinct feminine sweetness and floral attributes which we (the consumers) relate to as being from Avon. On the packaging there is a promise of further editions from the designer 'parfum' brand: Christian Lacroix.
Once you've gone black - you won't go back (excluding anything French)
If, the bottle has anything to go by, don't be drawn to the design, thinking it is an eloquent Ungaro' scent - Noir is 'Old Spice' re-branded. No, I'm being cruel; 'Noir' has some redeeming qualities - by being 'French' helps. Except for the useful fact you can see through the transparent bottle and see where the 'parfum' line is - Thanks to modern day 'transparent bottle technology'; this consumer friendly functionality runs across the l'eau de toilette' spectrum. No need to guess when you're just about to have the last squirt. In this case 'Noir' for the faint-hearted may wish every squirt was the last.
3/5 Star rating - I can take it or leave it.
38% anti-freeze product - please note; if it is over 50%; it is definitely more useful as an anti-freeze product.
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Britney Spears: Hidden Fantasy, Eau de Parfum
by waniyaahmed
Britneys trilogy to Fantasy - hidden fantasy- is yet another standard, uniformed celebrity perfume with a huge aim towards the niche its settled in. The youth. It follows the standard formula fruit, florals and musk. Sweet orange, tangerine, grapefruit blossom, verbena, jasmine, stargazer lily, sweet Napolitano cake, vanilla bean, ... jacaranda wood, fluid sandalwood and amber are the notes you will expect to find in this perfume. It opens up with a very strong does of cherry cut with an even heavier dose of citrus. The cherry continues to mingle with florals, almonds and vanilla. Delightful. Not. The lasting power of this perfume of amazing, I will have to give it that but o just cant stand the smell. It reminds me of loreal kids shampoo, the cherry almond flavor in the red bottle. YUCK! The bottle, which is available in 30, 50 and 100 ml is in my view tacky. Its spherical in shape with a spherical lid and rhinestones all over. And naturally its red. This adds even more to my image of the bright red kids shampoo bottle. Ewww!
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Britney Spears: Believe, Eau De Parfum
by waniyaahmed
Britney Spears perfume Believe is just like a typical celeb perfume, floral and fruity. The top notes welcome you to the perfume with a very sweet juicy guava smell accompanied by a beautiful tangerine. This then quickly transforms into sweet, yet subtle florals (honeysuckle mingled with pretty hints of linden blossom). These florals ... just as rapidly switch to drydown which is soft, musky and slightly woody. This is apparently down to a " patchouli aura is wrapped in a wink of sensual amber and pink pralines". Even though the smell of the perfume out does all of Britney's past perfumes, the staying power just doesn't do it for me. The smell disappears fairly quickly unfortunately. The scent is available in fifty and one hundred ml. The perfume, in my opinion is very typically celebrity, with a n aim towards the younger generations. However the packaging and the bottle was something that impressed me quite a bit. The bottle is very simple and elegant. It kind of like a cube made out of triangles. It is not tacky in anyway, no crystal , rhinestones or bright colours it is a soft mint instead.
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