BLACK by BULGARI

Bulgari Black opens with that rubbery petrol-station feeling that this creation is famous for.  On me it is less harsh than the opening blasts of Knize 10 or TF Tuscan Leather, with a Lapsang Souchong-like smoky tea note being discernible.  

The drydown is markedly vanilla based and sweetly musky with a bit of wood but without much leather on me.  It is still quite balanced and not cloying.  The two phases are clearly delineated, with the first rubbery one lasting about half an hour or so.  Interestingly, towards the end the vanilla becomes a bit less sweet and more interesting albeit rather faint.  The projection is good initially, but later on it is closer to my skin, which makes it wearable for work.  

A great and creative urban cool-weather fragrance of the old Bulgari school with an excellent longevity of over eight hours on my skin.  I can see why is has the status of a classic.  My current bottle design is of the new style and hence not as prone to malfunction.  The bottle fits into the hand very well, and its design is aesthetically sensational, although offering little protection from the light.  

Not very nuanced or complex, but it itself not without moments of sheer brilliance.

Launched 1998

3.75/5