Noir Tom Ford 2012 Eau de Parfum

Intention:
Noir...the dark, the black, and the night...depending on the current mood and situation, perhaps even the abyss, are words often used for fragrances with this label.
Certainly not fundamentally wrong for this work from the house of Tom Ford, but it would not do justice to the actual depth - which does not reach far or is exactly fitting. For when I think of truly "dark" fragrances, I recall - also from Tom Ford - Noir de Noir or the Encre series (not all) from Lalique. Yes, the bottle may suggest it, but "Noir" is bright enough for everyday use, the small, shadow-casting light in the night space.

Relatives:
Let's clarify upfront: No, "Noir" bears almost no resemblance to any of its namesakes from the "Noir" line! While "Noir Extreme" is a sweet gourmand and "Noir Anthracite" has a more woody touch, only the "Noir EdT" somewhat resembles the original EdP. Unlike the EdP, the EdT reduces its floral notes and instead focuses on citrus and minty components. An equivalent fragrance with a relevant financial saving compared to an Eau de Parfum? No! As the bottle suggests, it is a fresher variant for those who find the EdP "too much".

Scent:
But what does "Noir" smell like? Well, I must say that I have never experienced such a wide range of perceptions of "Noir" among testers in my surroundings! From "slightly sweet" to "I like the leather scent" to "smells somewhat old-fashioned," I heard almost everything, which is why I will stick to my own perception here.
While in the top note, the violet particularly reigns with a splash of freshness from the bergamot used, the base is created from the usual combination of components like amber, vanilla, and patchouli typical for Tom Ford fragrances, forming a pleasantly sweet yet rough base - here, especially the vetiver, leather, and styrax help.
The violet can particularly give younger noses the feeling of the tooth of time, while the base often used by this house may not necessarily bring leaps of joy to fans and enthusiasts.
It is the heart note that makes this fragrance so special for me!
The rose geranium, iris, and Bulgarian rose are what create the largest and longest-lasting accord in this fragrance creation for my nose, especially since it sneaks into the base note for a fraction of its lifespan.
If I were forced to describe "Tom Ford Noir" in as few words as possible, they would be: "Noble" and "Floral"!

Sillage and Longevity:
Shall we keep it short!? Sillage and longevity are good! Only good? Yes, indeed "only" good! Within its fragrance line, "Noir Extreme" has the longest longevity on my skin. Nevertheless, "Noir" performs significantly better than the EdT and "Noir Anthracite"!
While the EdT can radiate stronger in the top note precisely because of the citrus components, it does falter in the heart note compared to the EdP!
And the "Anthracite"? Let's leave it at that, okay!? A nice fragrance, but unfortunately does not stand out in any category on my skin.
Summarized in time indications, we are talking about approximately 15 minutes for the top note, about 2.5 to 3.5 hours for the heart note, and another approximately 4 hours in the base - totaling a pleasure of around 7 to 8 hours.

Usage:
When it comes to usage possibilities, one should not be deceived by the bottle. Also suitable for work, "Noir" has yet to draw any negative attention. However, it does stand out wonderfully in general! Modern enough for today's time, this fragrance still retains enough characteristics from the last decades and manages to look through the - seemingly soon to be only appearing - aquatic and "blue" fragrances!
For summer or warmer months, it should be noted: no problem! At least if you reduce the number of sprays, as the heart note with its floral components does react somewhat differently to temperature and sweaty skin. Not unpleasant or bad, just a little different!

Bottle:
Opinions on the bottle may vary! Even if the fragrance is not as dark as initially mentioned, the bottle with its dark glass and cap excellently sells this intention. The labeling - both on the bottle and in initials on the cap - is clearly visible and readable, yet does not disturb the overall picture.
The spray head does its job - there is hardly more to mention. It does what it is supposed to do, but is miles behind those of the Dior or Chanel brands.
And regarding the cap, one can hold whatever opinion one wishes: while the bottle comes across as valuable and sturdy, the ribbed cap is made of the simplest plastic and suggests its lack of value through its light weight. However, how much one wants to evaluate a fragrance based on its bottle is something everyone must decide for themselves. There could certainly have been more here, which would have directly impacted the price.

Price:
In terms of price, "Noir" now ranks in an acceptable category for designer fragrances. Represented in the in-house signature line and with nearly eight years under its belt, "Noir" may still cost around 80 to 90 € for 50 ml in physical stores, but due to its "age," it can be snagged for much less money at an online discounter. Without warranty but still for orientation: I was able to acquire my second bottle for 54.90 € including shipping!

A special thanks:
Even though she will probably never read this, I would still like to express a small thank you to the knowledgeable saleswoman (who is now likely enjoying her well-deserved retirement) who recommended this fragrance to me. Amusingly standing at the checkout with "Habit Rouge" by Guerlain as a gift - it was shortly after store opening on a dreary day with already little foot traffic - she quickly went to the back to fetch a tester of "Tom Ford Noir." She explained to me that the fragrance had not sold well so far, which is why it was now languishing in the stockroom and should make room for another fragrance on the shelf.
Thus, I left the store still with "Habit Rouge" as a gift under my arm and a half-full 50ml tester bottle of "Noir" for a symbolic price of a few euros.