Tom Ford has launched 4 new floral perfumes in the Private Blend Collection – Jardin Noir. I said years ago that the “noir” trend was over. Boy, was I wrong! 2012 has been a big year for “noir” perfumes. The Jardin Noir Collection is supposed to showcase the “darker” and “dangerous” side of flowers, the “less innocent”, blah, blah. Now what does Cafe Noir smell like?
Café Rose opens as a peppery rose with a hint of fresh coffee grounds in the background. And the theme becomes rose. You get both the minty and fruity facets of rose. It’s a rose perfume. I feel that the cooling mintiness and dry, metallic incense come across to my nose as “oud”. It’s not aggressive, but it’s there. The base is “exotic” woods and a more subtle version of the incense that was in the heart.
I hear from many people that they are disappointed that the coffee isn’t more prominent. I understand their disappointment. I’ve also found that really good rose absolutes have hints of coffee grounds. My feeling is that with this fragrance there is no extra addition of “coffee”, but they’ve used a rose that has a subtle black coffee richness.
Notes listed include saffron, black pepper, may rose, Turkish rose, Bulgarian rose, coffee, incense, amber, sandalwood, and patchouli.
Give Café Rose a try if you like woodsy rose perfumes. Or if you like perfumes like Montale Black Aoud, L’Artisan Parfumeur Voleur de Roses, Pirouette Essentials Rose Musk (seriously a great dupe of this), and/or Atelier Cologne Rose Anonyme. Cafe Rose is unisex and the most masculine out the Jardin Noir Collection in my opinion.
Projection and longevity of this perfume is above average.
Cafe Rose is available at Nordstrom and Harrods (UK) with prices ranging from $205-$495.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – A dry, woody rose. Pleasant but nothing new and honestly I don’t think it belongs in the Private Blend collection, it’s redundant. Noir de Noir is better. Actually, I can name quite a few roses that are better.J
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I’ve not smelled this, but I absolutely agree with you. This sounds *especially* redundant, given all of the dark, woodsy patchouli-rose fragrances that have come out in recent years (and at much better price points). Like you said, if you’re going to do something like this, then do it spectacularly.
I also don’t get why a line that already has a “dark rose” would make another dark rose…and one that is less exciting.
I think they keep coming out because people will buy them. People seem to be drawn to “new”. And the expensive price tag attracts a certain group of people too.
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