The lovely Drakkar Noir was a regular part of my fragrance wardrobe in the late 1980's and early 1990's. As a teenager just beginning to collect fragrances, I knew early on that this scent was something "other," something mature and serious.
I just recently pulled a bottle from my collection and sprayed it on for the first time in years, and I was instantly lost in the memory. This juice hasn't lost a step, nearly 40 years after its release.
The first part of this aromatic journey is accompanied by a wonderful, tangy lavender. It is an altar of glowing citrus (lemon and bergamot), partially obscured by a cloudy mist of spices and relaxing florals.
There are fresh greens here, spicy greens, even "tingling" greens -- fusions of pine, rosemary, basil, juniper, fir -- that supply this "spice" accord which so beautifully gives the citruses a context in which to shine.
This three-way combination of tingling greens, tart citruses, and soft lavender, forms a very clear impression of foamy, rich shaving soap, brushed gently with hints of sandalwood and amber. This is a true barbershop fragrance, expertly constructed, and ridiculously cheap -- you can buy a 200ml bottle for under $50 at discount sites, an incredible value.
Drakkar Noir belongs in any serious fragrance collection, not as a museum piece or a relic, but as a living part of fragrance history that should still be smelled today.
8/10 stars.
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