Some of my friends told me that I am reviewing too much female perfumes – but hello, they are mostly unisex as the niche perfume houses refuse this kind of categorization. Here is something exclusively for the guys! But I tell you in advance, this scent is very smooth and could also be used by a woman. So hide your bottles guys!
I like dark, woody incense scents on men, that’s no secret. This is why Carbone is my taste. Before you read more I have to say, that I would recommend this scent for men with darker skin, maybe particularly the olive type of skin, Carbone needs a stronger base, something Mediterranean – so this is nothing for a pale Englishman. I imagine French men in summer, Alain Delon in the famous movie The Swimmingpool (1969) – or some exotic country. The perfume has indeed something that could be very successful in the Arabian world. A saleswoman told me recently that some perfume houses make 50 per cent of their profit in the Arabian world. Imagine!
The opening of Carbone smells like a sweet cocktail of wood, pepper and some green notes – but very reserved green notes, Carbone is nearly a gourmand scent. It has nothing typical for a men’s scent with fresh elements like bergamot or so. What you get is a huge, lush, sweet, dark fig mixed with resins, vanilla and incense. When the scent develops on your skin it gets a buttery smell, like you might know it from Ouris by SoOud. It is kind of sweet for a men’s scent, but all men I have asked how they like it, were taken by Carbone. So if you love fig scents and are looking for something deeper, mysterious try this one. Fig with butter and incense is very sexy and perfect for a night out. Get ready to seduce. By the way, Carbone has a great longevity! This one stays until breakfast.
Carbone is nominated in the category Men’s Exclusive Fragrance at the Perfume Award Duftstars by the German Fragrance Foundation. On May 27 we will know if Carbone is a winner. For me it has already won!
Category: men
Perfumer: Nathalie Lorson (Firmenich)
Art Direction: Christophe Decarnin
Year: 2010
Notes: elemi, musk, benzoin, bourbon pepper, ivy, violet leaf, vetiver, incense, black fig
