Dahlia Noir by Givenchy

It’s sublime; talcum and roses in a subtle, elegant, and natural way. Even good perfumes can give me a headache, but this one doesn’t. Hopefully it hasn’t been discontinued.

Sometimes we wonder why popular fragrances are discontinued, but with Dahlia Noir, it’s clear it happened without much fuss or glory. Francois Demachy’s creation for Givenchy isn’t bad, especially for those who appreciate the subtle and accomplished; it wasn’t a best-seller simply because it wasn’t flashy. It is sober, classy, soft, and very powdery, with a delicate rose almost overshadowed by an ethereal, dusty iris that lasts until the very end. In the opening, aside from the floral combo, there’s a slightly sweetened citrus and patchouli accord of mandarin that fades over time, allowing rose talc notes of sandalwood, oakmoss, mimosa, pink pepper, and tonka to emerge. It was a chypre-floral that didn’t find its luck in the market for being too reserved, yet it is sublime and highly accomplished by Demachy; later, they gave us Dahlia Divine, which, while not widely known either, is more populist, but that is another story.

I discovered it this week… a few days ago… A TRUE GENTLEMAN’S PERFUME! I tried it to see something different; at first, I didn’t like it, but within minutes the scent transformed. It’s one of those fragrances that takes you to the skin where you applied it. I loved it so much that, although I had previously bought two sweeter scents, I returned today to grab this before they ran out, as there were very few left. A very pleasant discovery, even for a cold autumn between 0 and 12 degrees. It seems feminine, elegant, fresh, and cosy all at once. I detect floral, green, and woody notes, plus the undeniable talc, but it is soft, delicate, and well-blended. Sandalwood and vanilla give it longevity on my skin. What surprised me most was the longevity: more than 8 hours intact. The projection isn’t high, but it’s optimal for feeling comfortable without bothering anyone at the office or a meal. I haven’t bought Givenchy in ages; they have won me over; I think my nose is turning a new page on floral chypres thanks to this delight. I recommend it for autumn, spring, or a lovely summer night.

I would summarise Dahlia Noir as a beautiful rose talc with mimosa and vanilla; the dominant note is the iris, unmistakable. It is sublime, ethereal, soft, and delicate, as if floating in the air around you. The last note I can detect is tonka bean; its longevity is great but close to the skin, making it very intimate in its final hours. The first two hours have moderate projection. It is pleasant to the nose, conveying softness, fragility, and tenderness. I consider it versatile; it can be worn on any occasion, at any time, and in any weather. Another plus: it didn’t become mass-market, so it can be truly your own. Highly recommended.

I fell in love with it because of its resemblance to Givenchy’s Pi; I gifted it to my boyfriend and then used it myself. It carries an excess of tonka bean, and I don’t perceive any other ingredient. In summary, I like it. Tomorrow I’ll wear it to the gym; I want to mix it with my natural sweat and oils to see what happens. With perfumes, one must experiment.

The first thing I thought when I put it on was: elegant. I agree with the others; it’s super floral and talcum-like, which makes it unique and very refined. The trail and sillage are ten out of ten. I recommend it to women over 35 who have a certain ‘charm’; it’s not for going to class or work.

Floral notes, lots of iris, a bit of rose and patchouli, a scent with a powdery touch. I didn’t detect the pepper, neither in the nose nor on the skin, thank God, as they don’t go well together; my skin hates it. On me, it goes straight into the mid-phase. EDIT: yes, eventually the dreaded pepper appeared and ruined this beautiful perfume; on my skin, anything with pepper (especially rose) becomes murky and heavy, what a pity. I will continue searching for another special rose (they recommended Encre Noir by Lalique to see if I can find it).

Smells good, but I only notice the rose. It’s a kind of youthful and modern rose.

What a disappointment! I had great, though not enormous, expectations. I adore Givenchy’s design and Ricardo Tisci’s gothic-sensual style, who has revived the great French house. As it was his first fragrance, I expected something sensual and spectacular, but the result is very soft, barely noticeable at skin level. It’s feminine and delicate: a sweet and citrusy opening of mandarin, a powdery and adorable heart of iris, but nothing as sensual as Shalimar Initial. The base is sweet, perhaps vanilla, tonka, and patchouli. It is an eau de parfum but softer than its flanker eau de toilette. If it’s incredible, I must admit I made a mistake testing it alongside two giants like Shalimar and Fleur du Male; it was completely overshadowed by them. Perhaps I’ll give it another chance on its own to see if it performs better, although it has already set a negative precedent. Let’s hope it changes my mind.

Top Givenchy fragrance. The iris dominates and gives it a powdery touch that, far from being annoying, makes it feel super clean. The mandarin and rose add freshness, perfectly balanced with the vanilla. I loved discovering it contains patchouli, something that previously scared me for fear it might be too strong, but here it’s soft and delicate on my skin, not light. It lasts quite a while, with a moderate trail that doesn’t overwhelm anyone. It’s sexy but classy, nothing scandalous.