Black Perfecto by La Petite Robe Noire Guerlain 2017 Eau de Parfum Florale

Yesterday afternoon I went to the perfumery because I felt the need to smell something unexplored. Does it happen to you too? It is an unstoppable impulse, a desire that I have to satisfy. There were several offers on the shelves in anticipation of Valentine's Day, and one of them caught my eye. A small all-black bottle depicting a sword whose handle looks like an upside-down heart. I grabbed it, approached it, and immediately understood that it was a La Petite Robe Noire (2009) flanker, even though it did not show the little black dress. Even if the wording says "Black Perfecto Eau Florale", the instinct to try it was intense.
I thought of something dark, oriental, mysterious. This line of fragrances has always intrigued me because I often read that this gem inspired L'Homme Idéal Eau de Toilette. I took a blotter and went heavy on it, with three or four sprays since I had to feel it through the mask. And even before I approached it to my nose, I felt it in the air. Mmm... It's just as I imagined it. The notes and chords that predominate were the black one of liquorice, bitter touch of almond, and a heavy floral hint of rose, indeed an assorted bouquet of roses. Not much time went by, and I immediately tested it on the back of my hand. The more it grew on me, the more I fell in love. Here the liquorice shines in all its glory, and I am fond of it, grasping all its facets. I went to the cashier to pay, but alas, I realized I didn't have my wallet with me, which carelessly remained in the coat I was wearing yesterday. I gave up, and a bit gloomy, I returned home. But the perfume did not leave me. I felt it for hours, and when I went to sleep, my hand still anchored it. And then I just had to describe it.

Black Perfecto is a nice mouthful. Men, do not neglect this hidden gem because it is anything but feminine, and above all, do it before it goes out of production. One drop of that potion can change a man's fate. The roses are there, but in a silky, jam-like way that is just holding all other things in their tiny jelly petals. Notes of almond, leather, and a bouquet of the best quality rose essences from all over the world make this perfume perversely sensual. But, when you wear it, you realize that it is not an ordinary rose scent. I managed to get the delectable accord of black cherry, almond, and rose and leather's remarkable agreement. The fragrance opens with rose water, a ted fresh and green like the watermelon, which gives softness and a floral background to the juiciness of the cherry. A pinch of black leather escapes from the bottom. I'm not sure if the cherry fruit is in there, but the resulting aroma is undeniably that of ruby ​​and morello cherries. It's juicy and tart, real, with the sharp sweetness of cherries and the delicious dewy refreshment of rose water. Still, I get a short blast of liquorice on my skin before any cherry or rosy accord.

During the transition into the central stage, a burnt brown sugar dominates, followed by the scent of the Centifolia rose expertly balanced with a note of almond which, unlike most perfumes where it has the effect of an expensive soap, is so organic and crunchy that we can almost taste it. As we delve into the perfume's composition, the rose becomes stronger, darker and more mysterious. The rose also appears to be dark, black. And the texture of the toasted almonds is crunchy, giving the impression of a delicious tart overcooked. When the bitter almond essence opens, it offers a delightful rose macaroon effect. If I smell the sprayer, an aroma of rosy patchouli hits my nostrils.

Of course, the dry-down is all about the tea accord, a musky black tea. All the dark, smoky materials come out to play on the finish, and I feel something like a black leather jacket. For an overwhelming finish, Black Perfecto combines leather notes, not raw but tender, refined and supple, with a clean and woody patchouli and a creamy tonka bean. There is a touch of caramelized dark sugar, slightly burnt, that vaguely resembles Pink Sugar Eau de Toilette. The addition of leather in the base brings an extra layer of complexity. It smooths things out a bit while adding an intense richness that amplifies the silky musk and smoky notes, allowing the fragrance to end with a dry vibe that's pretty tough. I still get some cherry, almond, and liquorice hours later, next to the skin, as well as tonka, patchouli, and sugar. And the blotting paper, the next day, still smells of dark musky and smoky black tea accords.

To conclude, there are notes of leather and liquorice, but once the top notes have settled, the base is a blend of vanilla, tonka and musk with a touch of cherry and rose. My advice is to wear it in the cold months. Autumn and winter evenings are the most appropriate. Yet, I can wear it even during the cooler days. I think it has contained projection and sillage on my skin while it lasts for hours. I appreciate how unlike anything else in my collection it is. OK, then, now I have to have it!

I base the review on a 30ml bottle I have owned since February 2022 (batch 7W01, 2017-09).

-Elysium

The perfume opens with a juicy fruity cocktail and a creamy almond. It is a nice mixture between fruits and almond, bright and brilliant as a glitter dress. It has many facets. Interesting and delightful with a nutty touch.
After this sparkling opening some tiny shades of roses make their presence felt. It is not a strong odour, but a soft, delicate one. The leathery note can be felt all the way, from the beginning till the end. It is just a touch of the leathery smell, not a strong note with personality.
The deeper we get in the heart of the perfume, the more it smells like La Petite Robe Noire. All the different notes disappear and there is only the smell of LPRN. It is like LPRN would take off her leather jacket and stay in the dress.
The base of the perfume has tonka bean and the nutty sensation is more profound now. Creamy, sweet and nutty, this is the remaining effect. This is what I feel when I wear Black Perfecto. I don’t see a black leather jacket. I only see a nice ‘robe noire’.

This is better than the original, IMO. Not exactly a gourmand, but approaching that territory. The tart cherry and black tea combo make it nostalgic and familiar for me, we had cherry preserves in abundance at home in Ukraine, and black tea was a staple. I don’t sense any licorice, and leather and almonds are very subtle. A young scent, but not too trendy or immature. Easy wear for any occasion and season.

This perfume is truly beautiful. I don't like it, I want to, I've tried to...but I can still FIRMLY state that it's beautiful nonetheless.

I had this recommended to me by someone over a year ago (which I appreciate). I tried it, didn't get along with it, wrapped the decant in electrical tape, left it in my drawer, and I tried it again tonight.

It's a strong, smooth blend of cherry, leather, and a slightly bloody rose. Yes, bloody. You'd think I'd dislike it due to that, but no...I dislike this because I tend to dislike leather in perfume, and I almost unanimously dislike cherry. A slight metallic edge to rose though? I'm personally fine with. It melds beautifully against the subtle licorice, which I can detect part of the time when I focus on it. But largely, the licorice almost smells as if it's *part* of the leather itself.

It's congruent. This perfume tells a story, it sings of vampiric, villainous, sexuality dressed up in leather jackets, stilettos and velvet little black dresses. Not unassuming, but dark necessities beneath a socially acceptable enough veneer. A woman who might be an actual psychopath, but can dress neatly and talk sweetly enough to pass as merely edgy, without raising red flags.

That's Guerlain for you though. Nothing if not full of character.

Again, I want to love this (and I do love the general feel of it) but it's consistent of notes that I simply recoil from. It's 80% leather+cherry. I do, however, think this is a cult classic that should absolutely be tested if you get the opportunity to do so.

You definitely need to be in the right mood to wear this. It's not linear on my skin. The leather is most prominent at first, with the tart cherry supporting it. After a few hours the leather fades and the cherry remains. At this point it smells similar to the original LPRN. I could see this one being super polarizing, so be careful where and when you wear it.