Unit

I do love sweet-spicy lavender tonka scents, e.g. La Nuit de L'Homme. Since I also like pepper, testing this was only a matter of time. I am not yet familiar with F by Ferragamo pour Homme without Black.

One motif that has been critically discussed in the reviews here is an alleged Wall Street association. The fragrance starts for me, despite the apple, with a golden radiance, and I like it at first. Office? My first thought is more of an ambiance like in the "I don't always" meme, where one could enjoy rum and tobacco, without it being in the scent. The pepper comes quickly and lingers longer, as it is also listed as a heart note. A nice change to be tickled in the nose, and it’s not just the hyped glowing dust of a woody superamber. I’m not really into apple scents. YSL Y, Boss Bottled, don’t work for me. Here, however, there’s a subtle hint, which fits. The lavender is definitely present and wonderful, but since the pepper is very spicy, I can’t quite discern which part of the scent impression actually belongs to the lavender. Like a background color (the function, not the smell). Interestingly, the same applies to the tonka, always just there, not very tangible. I can faintly imagine coriander, but I wouldn’t have thought of it. I usually associate labdanum (-resin) with a dark, medicinal-animalistic aspect of honey, but this view doesn’t seem to be very widespread. I perceive something like that here too, and it makes the scent immediately more luscious. Upon closer inspection, though, this could become a bit too much of a good thing over time. And then there’s one more thing I’d better not think about too much. When I get really close, I perceive a fecal note. Not a big deal, I’ve smelled much stronger versions of this in rose scents, and most people don’t even seem to notice it consciously. It certainly contributes meaningfully to the overall impression. On the skin, it develops rounder than on paper. Even the next day, traces are still detectable, no wonder given the heaviness.

Overall impression:
F by Ferragamo pour Homme Black is for me like pepper-honey on an average lavender-tonka canvas. At first, I found it rather pleasant, with edges and corners. After longer contemplation, however, on one side it’s scratchy, cool, distant, while on the other side it’s clumsily buddy-like. The banker often cited by others here might actually identify with it. The scent is really not bad, I might even wear it someday, but it’s not a candidate for purchase.

I received this fragrance as a free sample in a sampling set from L’Oréal. This is my first review.

So here he is, the new man by her side. His name is Tom. Or was it Oliver? Nothing about him left a lasting impression, but at least the overall impression was pleasant. Dynamic and well-groomed, almost a touch of elegance, then again youthful and casual. He tries hard to do everything right, yet carries an astonishingly confident demeanor. Character-wise, he remains elusive.

The scent clings to my skin like this man to his girlfriend. It initially meets my expectations of a shower gel, and contrary to my expectations, I find that really good. Pleasant sweet freshness, where I can hardly identify individual notes. I imagine lighthearted woods and even a hint of spice. I am somewhat blinded by something I recognize from scents like Sauvage, which I would call "designer synthetic."

I initially categorize it in my mind as suitable for casual occasions, for which I could also wear Allure Homme Sport, as that represents for me the epitome of nondescript freshness, without any negative connotation. However, this is not meant to be a scent comparison; it is less classic and definitely sweeter and warmer. And shortly after, something animalistic comes into play, further steering it off course.

Towards the end, it becomes "radiantly white," like a laundry detergent with musk, elemi resin, and amber on steroids. Still recognizable as a perfume through woody and animalistic facets. This stage lasts a long time until it eventually transitions into a scent background noise. At this point, I would have preferred a rough ambrox; the animalic aspect becomes too sweet for me, but it is anyway only close to the skin.

I see no reason for me to buy this fragrance. At least the first half seems well-made to my inexperienced nose, as long as one likes this type of clean scent.