Dahlia Noir by Givenchy

Sublime: subtle talcum and roses, elegant and natural. While good perfumes often give me headaches, this one doesn’t. I hope they don’t discontinue it.

Sometimes we wonder why popular fragrances get discontinued, but with Dahlia Noir, it’s clear they did so without much fuss or glory. Francois Demachy’s creation for Givenchy isn’t bad, especially for those who appreciate the subtle and accomplished; it wasn’t a best-seller simply because it’s not flashy. It’s sober, classy, soft, and very powdery, with a delicate rose almost overshadowed by an ethereal, dusty iris that lingers until the very end. In the opening, aside from the floral combo, there’s a slightly sweetened fruity accord of tangerine and patchouli that fades over time, letting rose talcum notes emerge alongside sandalwood, oakmoss, mimosa, pink pepper, and tonka. It was a chypre-floral that didn’t find its footing in the market for being too reserved, yet it’s sublime and brilliantly crafted by Demachy; later, they released Dahlia Divine, which, while not widely known, is more populist, but that’s a different story.

I discovered it this week… a few days ago… A TRUE GENTLEMAN’S PERFUME! I tried it just to see something different; I didn’t like it at first, but within minutes the scent transformed. It’s one of those fragrances that takes you straight to the skin where you applied it. I loved it so much that, even though I had bought two sweeter scents before, today I went back for this one before they ran out, as there were only a few left. A very pleasant discovery, even for a cold autumn between 0 and 12 degrees. It feels feminine, elegant, fresh, and cozy all at once. I detect floral, green, and woody notes, plus the undeniable talcum, but it’s soft, delicate, and well-blended. Sandalwood and vanilla give it longevity on my skin. What surprised me most was the lasting power: more than 8 hours intact. The projection isn’t high, but it’s optimal for feeling comfortable without bothering anyone at the office or dinner. I haven’t bought Givenchy in a long time; they’ve won me over; I think my nose is finally turning back to floral chypres thanks to this delight. I recommend it for autumn, spring, or a lovely summer night.

I summarize Dahlia Noir as rose talc with mimosa and vanilla, where the iris is the queen note, unmistakable. It’s a sublime, ethereal, and delicate fragrance that almost floats in the air around you. The base note is tonka bean: great longevity but at skin level, very intimate in the last hours, with moderate projection at the start. It conveys softness, fragility, and tenderness; it’s a beautiful and versatile perfume for any occasion or weather. The best part is that it’s not overused, so it can be very much your own. Highly recommended.

I fell in love with it because of its resemblance to Givenchy’s Pi; I gifted it to my boyfriend, and then I ended up wearing it myself. It has an excess of tonka bean, and I don’t perceive any other ingredient. In short, I like it. Tomorrow I’ll wear it to the gym; I want to mix it with my natural sweat and oils to see what happens. You have to experiment with perfumes.

The first thing I thought when I put it on was: elegant. I agree with others; it’s super floral and talc-heavy, which makes it unique and very refined. The trail and sillage are top-notch. I recommend it to women over 35 who have a certain ‘charm’; it’s not for going to class or work.

Floral notes, lots of iris, a bit of rose and patchouli, with a powdery touch. I didn’t detect the pepper, neither in the nose nor on the skin, thank God, since they don’t go well together; my skin hates it. On me, it went straight to the dry-down. EDIT: Yes, the dreaded pepper did appear at the end and ruined this beautiful perfume; on my skin, anything with pepper (especially rose) becomes murky and heavy, what a shame. I’ll keep looking for another special rose (someone recommended Encre Noir by Lalique to see if I can find it).

I absolutely love that rose; it’s the absolute queen on my nose! I didn’t notice the top notes, but I did catch that initial blend of rose, iris, and patchouli. In the end, it leaves a chocolatey-sweet trail on the skin—very soft with low projection. It feels elegant and pleasant, though a bit simple, like a crisp white cotton shirt. That’s not a bad thing; on the contrary, it’s very comfortable and versatile; it goes with everything and suits almost any woman. I don’t think it would be out of place in any wardrobe.

What a disappointment! I had great, though not enormous, expectations. I adore Givenchy’s design and Ricardo Tisci’s gothic-sensual style, which has revived the great French house. As it was his first fragrance, I expected something sensual and spectacular, but the result is very soft, barely noticeable at skin level. It’s feminine and delicate: a sweet, citrusy opening of mandarin, a powdery and adorable heart of iris, but nothing sensual like Shalimar Initial. The base is sweet, perhaps vanilla, tonka, and patchouli. It’s an eau de parfum but softer than its flanker eau de toilette. If it’s incredible, I must admit I made a mistake testing it alongside two giants like Shalimar and Fleur du Male; it got completely overshadowed. Maybe I’ll give it another shot on its own to see if it performs better, although it has already set a negative precedent. Let’s hope it changes my mind.

Beautiful Givenchy fragrance. The iris really stands out, giving it a talc-like scent that, in my opinion, isn’t bad; it makes Dahlia Noir feel “clean.” Plus, the blend of mandarin and rose adds freshness, very well balanced with the vanilla. I love it and was surprised to find it contains patchouli, a note that used to steer me away from certain fragrances because I thought it was too intense. But here, on my skin, it’s soft and delicate, not too light. The longevity is good and the sillage is moderate; no one will feel suffocated. In my opinion, it’s sexy but not scandalous. A classy fragrance.