Aigner Black for Men Aigner 2004 Eau de Toilette

I received Aigner Black for Men Eau de Toilette as a free addition to a Souk order. Since the ordered samples were initially more interesting to me, it spent a long time in solitary confinement in the sample grab box. Recently, I stumbled upon it again and sprayed it on.

I was quite surprised because the approximately 1ml remaining in the small plastic sprayer with a handwritten label had quite a punch. My nose detects a pleasant mélange of powdery-metallic notes, light vanilla/tonka bean, a bit of dark leather, and also the much-cited pencil notes. The listed citrus top notes are completely absent for me. The progression is quite linear; musk and tonka bean become more dominant while the metallic-herbaceous notes fade a bit into the background. I find the scent very distinctive; I haven't smelled anything comparable until now. The metallic pencil notes (which is probably the styrax) make it seem rather cool and distant, while musk and tonka bean bring it back into balance with their warm, embracing notes. At the same time, any form of sweetness is kept at bay (which I find very positive), and the scent overall feels very dry, yes, somehow also a bit powdery (even though no iris is included).
I also recognize certain parallels outside the fragrance pyramid to "Encre Noire (Eau de Toilette) | Lalique." It could indeed be the more open-minded brother of the black ink, as both scents have a somewhat mystical and dark quality in their own way. However, the Aigner comes across as more positive and pleasing, which is probably due to the musk and tonka bean. The often-mentioned cemetery/sacred notes (cypress + vetiver) of Encre Noire are completely absent here. This makes the scent significantly more suitable for everyday wear for me. The sillage is pleasant (you are noticed but not "blasted"), and the longevity is acceptable for me at 6-7 hours with 4 sprays. Since you can get the 125ml for 25 to 30 €, I didn't have to think long and ordered a bottle.

The bottle is very high quality, heavy, and has an extraordinary design. The cap is made of weighted plastic, and the top is covered with black (artificial) leather embossed with the Aigner logo. Très chic.

Conclusion: with "Aigner Black for Men (Eau de Toilette) | Aigner," you get a special, balanced scent with a fantastic price-performance ratio. If, like me, you prefer classic masculine scents that are a bit darker and drier rather than sweet, you might find this one to be a good choice.