Question:
Though I have searched a little for info on Encre Noire at Basenotes I haven't found much from anyone who has tried it.
I would have thought the Vetiver crowd would have tracked it a little and written just a small something about it but I see nothing.
Does anyone have anything to say about this fragrance? It seems strange that it hasn't had more notice here and I am wondering why...
Vetiver for me usually means a safe Blind Buy but I am hesitating this time...
I'd love to read Other's views on this fragrance before bringing Blind Plastic to Light...
G

Answer:
I smelled it last weekend, but frankly I was so distracted by testing so many other scents that I don't remember anything about it. I was walking around holding a dozen test strips and had every inch of both arms covered with various scents ;-) Things definitely got out of hand. But I do remember that it was very different than the normal Lalique for men, and that it seemed fairly soft, not loud or aggressive. I don't remember any vetiver, though.
I am going to test it again tomorrow morning and will report back in this thread when I get back. I also like vetiver and will pay attention this time to see if I notice it.
Do you really live in Vatican City? How cool!
noggs

Answer:
I have tried Encre Noir, twice.
The top notes remind me of India ink and the hours I used to spend practicing caligraphy when I was young. Sweet, soft, yet composed.
The bottle is memorable and very handsome, like an ink well. And Encre Noire is different from the current offerings.
It is rich and dark, lingering for only a moment. But wait for the eau de parfum as it should much more long lasting in this format.

Answer:
Originally Posted by graffham I have tried Encre Noir, twice.
The top notes remind me of India ink and the hours I used to spend practicing caligraphy when I was young. Sweet, soft, yet composed.
The bottle is memorable and very handsome, like an ink well. And Encre Noire is different from the current offerings.
It is rich and dark, lingering for only a moment. But wait for the eau de parfum as it should much more long lasting in this format. I cannot say anything about the sillage, since nobody has commented it (I tend to use as little as five spritzes only), but I have the edt and it lasts easily over 12 hours on me =:-o And I do get a strong vetiver note from this one - in that sense it reminds me of Guerlain Vetiver Extreme...
Regards,
-Tero-

Answer:
it is a great fragrance & for me the best launch of the year,
I sniffed it in Paris last Nov. & I feel so sorry now that I didn't bought it ,
it is a dark one for evening or winter wear, there is somthing raw in it feels like iris but I don't think so..well I can't describe a smell well , but you can detect the smell of ink & an old book.

Answer:
I've nabbed some samples of this last week. I'm a woman and I've tried it on myself. I really like it.
As others have said, it's dark yet soft. I found it elegant and subtle at the same time. My nose did not detect the ink so much, as I'm unfamiliar with ink smells. I smell mainly wood in the initial spray and as it dried down, it smells rather "earthy". It lasted a long time, about 8 hours on me.
I think it is a really very unusual scent, it would be something I would wear in fall/winter with my black cashmere turtleneck sweater.

Answer:
Okay, I bought a bottle of Encre Noir this morning and can now give a better informed opinion of it. Needless to say I liked it ;-)
It definitely does contain vetiver. The vetiver is very pronounced in the middle notes but is more subdued in the drydown. But you can still tell that it is there.
Overall it is a deep, dark, subtle type of scent. I compared it with Guerlain's Vetiver, and the Guerlain is brighter, more citrusy, and sweeter than the Encre Noir. The Encre Noir is drier and softer, and doesn't have that soapy sort of smell in the drydown. It isn't a loud scent by any means. Just smelling the two, one on each wrist, I have to say that right now I prefer the Encre Noir.
I agree that it does somehow evoke ink or printed pages. There is a slight medicinal quality to it, especially in the beginning, which may contribute to this impression.
The drydown seems pretty subtle and close to the skin. I detect something that reminds me a little bit of cedar. For some reason it reminds me slightly of Terre D'Hermes. Perhaps it's the overall dryness and subtlety of it that gives me the same overall feel. It's too early to tell about how long it lasts.
Hope this helps.
noggs

Answer:
Thanks for all the feedback. Encre Noir is definitely coming into the Wardrobe this month.
G.

Answer:
I have also sampled Encre Noir (likely at the same store that graffam visited). I was quite intrigued by it as well. I agree fully with the other basenoters who notice a strong vetiver presence. I like how "sharp" the note is kept through the development. Lalique doesn't shy away from it, or try to mute it with synthetic sweet'n'creamy notes.
As was previously mentioned, Encre has a "dark" nature to it and gives me the same "cool, collected..disconnected" feeling that Artisan's Passage D'Enfer does. It's quite a remarkable fragrance and a drastic departure from the current designer frag goals.
The inky note is quite reminiscent of Creed's Silver Mountain Water... only they seemed to expand on this dynamic, and focus on bringing it to a pungent, earthy hidden place.. rather than jazz it up with berries, to impress.
This fragrance will not be a huge seller, but I commend Lalique for having the guts and confidence to release this scent.
For the record, as someone who is consistently "damning" about the sillage and longevity of fragrances... Encre Noir's EDT version... had "incredible power".
Infact, in an attempt to wash the "strong" aroma off my hand, an hour before a party (had applied it 4 hours previously)... I could still smell it intensely throughout the night (even moreso than my evening fragrance of choice).
Quality fragrance, quality packaging... a winner.
At least give it a try.
a.

Answer:
Thank you all for the great reviews and thorough information. I'll pursue this one too.
--Chris