Narcisio Rodriguez for him Bleu Noir EDP

Product Information

The drydown, which begins shortly after the opening and remains mostly the same throughout, is dominated by smooth musk, and a rich chord of warm woods and amber. If the name Bleu Noir leads you to expect something evocative of the deep blue sea then you need to give your expectations a good talking to because that is not what this fragrance is about. Not in the slightest. Bleu Noir is a sexy melange of spice and woods that feels as rugged as designer stubble. A pepper-soaked grapefruit note brings freshness but it’s a sharp, warm and slightly sweaty kind of freshness that feels multi-faceted and more than just a little bit sexy. This clash between freshness and woody spice forms a large part of Bleu Noir’s signature, making for a bold wear. Between Dior’s Sauvage and its many iterations, Chanel’s Bleu de Chanel, YSL Y EDP, and Dolce & Gabbana’s K and Light Blue (among many others), the blue fragrance marketplace is crowded to say the least. Almost every major designer house has released their own take on the genre, and it’s easy to see why: blue sells. Narciso Rodriguez for Him Bleu Noir Eau de Parfum by Narciso Rodriguez is a Woody fragrance for men. Narciso Rodriguez for Him Bleu Noir Eau de Parfum was launched in 2018. The dominant scent profile of Bleu Noir EDP is that of the characteristic Narciso Rodriguez smooth, creamy, clean musk, undergirded with amber, woods, and vetiver.

It’s just a bit quieter and more reserved than the brash and loud men’s fragrances that are in vogue at the moment. Déclaration is a complex composition, rich and spicy and woody and dirty and full of twists and turns. By comparison, Bleu Noir EDP is an exceedingly simple fragrance, in the best way. Trim Déclaration of all its sharp edges, smooth it over and round it out, and you’ll be in the ballpark of what Bleu Noir EDP smells like. So, in a blue world, what does Narciso Rodriguez For Him Bleu Noir Eau de Parfum bring to the table? Fans will instantly recognise the iconic bottle shape. But for the first time, the Bleu Noir is dressed in an elegant blue outer lacquering, without interior lacquering for a slightly translucent touch. The matte navy cap adds the final luxurious touch, whilst the deep colour expresses its mystery and intensity.In the heat, the woods and vetiver are more prominent on my skin. In the cold, however, the amber and creamy musk take center stage, and the fragrance assumes a more powdery character, with the woods peeking through in the deep drydown. Warm, musky and utterly addictive, the Blue Noir Parfum combines sharp citruses and deep musks with signature Narcisco Rodriguez notes for a seductive long-lasting scent. The For Him Bleu Noir Parfum opens with wafts of aromatic citrus before drying down into the sensual and familiar Narciso Rodriguez’s signature heart of musk. To finish Bleu Noir projects a delicious vanilla tonka bean enhanced by a smoky base of vetiver, leather and santal accords that linger on the skin for an addictively moreish trail that’s unforgettable.

With my usual four to five sprays, I get about an hour or two of a little bit less than arm’s length projection and sillage that remains a bit closer to the skin. As such, Bleu Noir EDP bears some resemblance to other Declaration-likes, such as S.T. Dupont’s Pour Homme, released in 1998, and the more recent and highly affordable 1920 The Origin by Tous. But again, these fragrances are more focused on spice. While Bleu Noir EDP does have some faint spiciness, you will notice that no spices are listed in the note breakdown. Creamy musk and woods are the star of the show here. Pros & Cons Pros For Him Bleu Noir EDP doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it wasn’t really setting out to. This woody-musky-fougèreish DNA has been done before, and will likely seem somewhat familiar to most. This fragrance isn’t “out there” in any way. But the distinguishing factor here is the quality of the composition and blending. If you’re a fan of the Narciso Rodriquez For Him Blue Noir range, you’ll love the familiar musky heart and sensual yet sophisticated pairings. Compared to the Narcisco Rodriquez Eau de Parfum the Parfum boasts more animalistic, leathery notes without the familiar spicy pink pepper start. Eau de Toilette fans can explore a new scent profile with a more refreshing citrus start rather than the spicy wintery spices; the base is cooler with a smoky leatheriness instead of the more familiar warmer woody facets.Bleu Noir EDP comes in a simple, dark blue cardboard box with the name of the house and fragrance listed on the front. There aren’t any frills about the box presentation, and so I haven’t kept it. This handy dandy image here comes from Google. Bottle A few weeks ago we talked about the association between scent and colour, and how a fragrance can showcase a vast array of shades and effects. One brand that seems to think of colour when it creates perfume is Narciso Rodriguez. For their original fragrance, they created the olfactory equivalent of pink satin, whilst NARCISO was an ode to the nude tones of beige and their masculine For Him is as grey as a scent can be. It’s not just the power of suggestion in the shades of the bottles either, these scents all have a distinct hue making the Narciso Rodriguez collection one of the most finely tuned out there. For those looking for increased longevity, simply amp up the sprays. If you usually do two or three sprays, try four or five. If you usually do four or five, try six or seven. This is not likely to choke anyone out or cause offense to any but the most sensitive of noses. I’d say that Bleu Noir is relatively linear, meaning that it doesn’t offer up a vast olfactory journey, but there is a slight shift in nuance as it dries down. Things soften and the density of the top notes opens up a little, allowing for a sense of space to be created. Ashen woods blend with the dryness of cardamom, creating the darkness evoked in Bleu Noir’s name. It takes the opening’s freshness and it pulls it right to the depths of each note, giving the impression of dark blue fabric tailored to perfection. As with all of Narciso Rodriguez’s fragrances, musk plays a large role, adding a soft breeze of elevation that gives Bleu Noir a smooth finish.