Decanted Sample of L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme Noir Ambre by Issey Miyake

I am not sure what the issue is with this fragrance on my skin, but all the positive reviews can't be flat-out wrong. On my skin , I immediately detected a strong, foul odor that I am struggling to identify.  I couldn't be the tonka bean, vanilla, or amber.  Vetiver, cedar and leather have never out off this smell. My guess is it would have to be either saffron or papyrus since those are the two notes listed on Fragrantica that I've never previously had in any fragrance I'd tested. Whatever it is, it reminded me of an animal needing to be bathed. I smelled it a few times to be sure I wasn't mistaken, then continue to catch the same odor after the dry-down. I am not sure what this is supposed to smell like, but all I got was that foul odor, and it isn't one I could even try again down the road. This is the worst thing I've smelled so far, but please try before you avoid it, as so many rave about this. My nose or skin chemistry must be a bit different or sensitive when it comes to whatever note is prominent in this fragrance.

This doesn’t seem very well blended to me. I really wanted to like it, but it was just too sweet and synthetic for my nose.

Dark and spicy with a cinnamon note. Good cold weather nighttime scent.

Nice Amber with Leather and Tonka notes. If you like those notes this is a winner

Best of the best

I have a soft spot for Noir Ambre, much like Ambre Sultan. Ambre Sultan had some definite pencil shavings in it, but this one doesn't. Noir Ambre is a bit more mellow, incense sweetness. I really like this.

Amazing niche quality amber fragrance. I would sample first since it is quite spicy and leathery, but if this is your style of perfumery, it is better than some niche fragrances.

It's rare to find a designer scent with this much depth and complexity. This is def worth a try if you are an amber lover.

A bunch of modern mens fragrances have this obsession with being sweet, warm, and ambery and this scent is not straying too far from that. It's very predictable but the leather and cedar note creates what almost smells like pure sandalwood that really smells divine. The tonka and vanilla notes are 100000% unnecessary and a bit cynical I think. If they made an intense version of this that removed most or all of the vanilla and tonka bean and focused a tiny bit more on the leather and cedar would come close to a 10/10. Currently giving it a 7/10.

This type of smell that will appeal to a niche audience that is in search for a warm and sensual frag with big a big dose of amber.

The opening has amber and saffron. The mid has leather and vanilla. The dry down has nutmeg. A warm, sweet, spicy fragrance.