Black Onyx by Armaf

Let me tell you: last November we opened a box with about eight perfumes for ladies, gentlemen, and this unisex one from Armaf. Of the three friends, I liked it the most; before receiving it, I had already read the notes on Fragrantica. They, aged around 30 or 35, said it smelled “Hindu,” which is understandable as their noses are not accustomed to such aromas. I, at 50 years old, clearly identified that it was well-made. Young people nowadays like trendy and generic scents… not me. I love the mysterious, dark, and unpopular, if you wish to call it that. I am happy with Quorum, Lapidus Pour Homme, One Man Show, Shades Wood, and others considered passé. I kept Black Onyx aside that occasion because summer was arriving in my Panama, but now with the rains, I use it more frequently. I detect cardamom, myrrh, and patchouli. A beautiful bottle with an enviable quality cap… and what can one say about the packaging (not the box), protected with suede that gives it a five-star presentation. Longevity is very good and the trail is phenomenal. I have now let Shades Wood rest a little and made room for this one. From the Armaf Niche collection, I also bought Red Ruby for my daughters; they love it just as much. With this good impression, I am now looking for Armaf Oud and seriously consider gifting part of my collection (Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Karl Lagerfeld, etc.) to my children, as my taste increasingly leans towards the retro trend. Finally: Black Onyx appears here as an amber for men and women, but it is not. It should be a pure oriental; anyone can detect it at the first sniff. Thank you Armaf for this jewel unknown to many. I hope you continue with the same performance and do not commit the errors of other houses that reformulate after two years and kill the scents. Batch code: 146705 (April 2014). Observations: To see the batch code and info under the bottle, hold the bottle up to a lightbulb and you will read everything clearly; otherwise, it will be difficult. It strikes me that below the manufacturing date it says it expires in April 2019… according to this, mine is expired, but it is not! Now it is better than ever. It is like aged wine; the older, the better. Greetings and blessings.

Rose, oud, very little citrus, soft amber, and a musk that gives creaminess, like in the barbershop. I believe the myrrh gives it depth and a sense of cleanliness. Aside from the oud, I would not call it woody; it has its own personality. Moderate trail; I use it for personal enjoyment, it is not intrusive. Linear dry-down, suitable for any occasion without exceeding four sprays. All seasons except excessive heat. Lovely bottle. So far I have tried three from Armaf and they all have good value for money. Edit: after a few weeks of resting, the trail and longevity increased exponentially. It is such a unique and well-constructed scent that it should not be missing from the collection.

It reminds me a lot of YSL’s M7 and the Italian Uomo. For those accustomed to niche perfumes, Armaf has moved from building fishing boats to fourth-generation submarines, an incredible change that raised the level and positioned it in very important luxury; no expense was spared. The luxury in the bottle design and the liquid shows great evolution. Incredible how rare the myrrh, oud, and cardamom are… uff, this is very well made and it’s a beast for longevity. Obviously, it’s only for those familiar with this style; if a guy who always used Polo Blue or Cool Water tries it, forget it, his nose isn’t accustomed to this era.

The aroma has something strange that does not quite endear itself to me. It is like the smell of a dental office, disinfectant, mouthwash with lemon and methyl salicylate. It is not unpleasant, but not enchanting. A cold, metallic, medicinal balsamic scent, like an ointment with iodine. It has great projection and long-lasting power of 12 hours. I will give it more opportunities, paying attention to the sensations, and I will layer it with its brother Armaf Niche Oud to see if a little sweetness tames that “antiseptic” feeling.

Powerful opening with lemon and myrrh; I do not detect cinnamon, with cardamom eventually appearing in the trail, which is initially high. It lasts all day; I used between 8 and 10 applications in total. I ordered two fragrances from this house, but so far I only have this Black Onyx. It is linear; I notice no changes with an average temperature of 20 degrees today, but we shall see with lower temperatures. I highlight that it does not smell like any other perfume; I like it and am satisfied. I am surprised there are no reviews, and for the first time I will highlight a beautiful bottle with a very nice black suede-lined case. An interesting option. Autumn/Winter. Price 5. Projection 6. Longevity 8. Bottle and packaging 10. A cordial greeting from Argentina.