Narcisio Rodriguez for him Bleu Noir EDP

Product Information

As a Parfum, the scent is the highest fragrance concentration, lasting between 6 to 8 hours on the skin – it’s the strongest of the collection. 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. 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. Bleu Noir EDP creates a very pleasant but restrained aura around you, which in my book is the best kind of projection. This won’t announce your present at forty paces like Dior Sauvage, but anyone who gets close will not fail to get a whiff. Value For Money

It’s just a bit quieter and more reserved than the brash and loud men’s fragrances that are in vogue at the moment. I have the 3.3 oz (100 ml) bottle. It is very nice, made with heavy, dark cobalt glass. The outer part of the bottle is lighter, a bit more color-saturated shade of blue and more translucent. The inner part of the bottle, though, is a deep, dark shade of blue that is entirely opaque. Blue within blue. You can see that there’s a bit of wear and tear on my bottle. I’ve put it through the ringer. 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 ProsAs often as I’ve mentioned other “blue” fragrances such as Bleu de Chanel or Sauvage in this review, For Him Bleu Noir Eau de Parfum doesn’t really smell like any of them. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Narciso Rodriguez For Him Bleu Noir Eau de Parfum is a unique take on the “blue” genre. Featuring Narciso Rodriguez’s characteristic musk note, the fragrance is warm, rich, and woody, but fresh, making it perfect for all-season wear. It also offers excellent performance and value for money. 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.

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Taking that, in addition to the quality of the ingredients, composition, and performance, I would deem Narciso Rodriguez For Him Bleu Noir Eau de Parfum as having very good value for money. Who’d Like It 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. And if you’re curious to know more about projection and sillage, feel free to peruse these articles. 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