Luna Rossa Black by Prada

I’m 27. I like it, even if it’s not quite as amazing as I expected. At first glance, it looks serious, perfect for events or dates. It reminds me of His Confession, minus the iris, but with that powdery makeup vibe. As it dries down, it becomes more mysterious and earthy, yet soft. Ideal for formal nighttime events; I wouldn’t wear it daily because it loses its magic. They say to wear it black. It seems pricey here, but it’s an excellent option if you’re looking for something subtle that invites people to get closer. Sparkling at the start, it gains more body and personality as it settles. If Batman had a signature scent, it would be this one.

Dark and elegant, PLRB projects class and distinction. Ideal for the man seeking sophistication and mystery on nights or in cool weather. At first, it’s dark; the bergamot is so subtle I barely notice it, going straight to the depths. As it dries, there’s a green and earthy phase (the angelica and patchouli). The soul is the base: a powdery vanilla that, while sounding odd, makes sense. That coumarin with amber and musk creates something enveloping. To summarize: it’s powdery and clean (that Prada DNA), but it adds maturity. It gives the feeling of a “talcum-powdered old man,” very sophisticated and neat. It has a slight, balanced sweetness, never cloying. It’s not youthful and demands cool weather. Although the powdery aspect isn’t my vibe, I recognize it’s rich and well-constructed. For the quality, I give it 7/10, though the powdery touch holds it back.

I love it, but it’s the first Prada fragrance in a while where I can complain about the longevity. Let’s hope it improves with maceration.

Prada plays in a different league in designer fragrances, few know this, but that handling of the iris… Dior can’t even do it. I love the Luna Rossa line; all its flankers hold elegance and class. This is the most evocative, mysterious, and deep. It’s a shame its performance dropped since it came under L’Oréal’s ownership. Wear it in fresh seasons, at night, to seduce. A 10.

Prada Luna Rossa Black: I get that it’s a hit—it has a distinct, striking scent. But it just doesn’t work for me. I bought it blind based on the good reviews; at first, I liked that amber with angelica, but then it gets stuck (I don’t like powdery fragrances) and adds a burnt note. As it dries down, all the nice stuff disappears, and in my opinion, it smells like burnt rubber with a cloying finish. I don’t detect the vanilla people mention; instead, I notice an undeclared leather nuance. I gave it several tries, but it just doesn’t work on my skin. Performance is average (6-8 hours). I’m not trying to trash it, just so others know what to expect before buying blind—of course, it could be a whole different story on another skin. Rating: 5/10

I’m not much of an amber lover… I usually don’t like how it’s presented. But in this Prada, it smells delicate, warm, and sweet, like a pleasant sweet treat. Maybe it’s the mix with coumarin and musk… Anyway, I absolutely love it. It feels rich. I wear it to the office and have gotten great feedback from colleagues. Although it doesn’t have a huge sillage, those who catch it have liked it. I see it as ideal for fall, though it’s versatile enough for spring and winter… why not even summer nights?

If a man wears this perfume, I’m marrying him. Absolutely spectacular on a female nose.

It’s back on the shelves. I don’t know how the old formulation was, but this one feels very tired and understated. The scent is pleasant, clean, and elegant (very Prada), but the performance is a letdown. Sometimes people just don’t learn, and the Arab perfumers are stepping on their heels. It makes me furious that they treat such a well-crafted fragrance this way.

Sisucoro, you’re not anosmic; I’ve been through the exact same thing. I’ve had Prada Black for about a year and a half. I managed to get it back when it was discontinued. A few days ago, I saw it on a shelf in a store and thought, ‘No way, it’s back,’ but what a letdown… The new version seems about the same as the old one, yet it’s incredibly flat and linear, just as you said—only ambroxan, and it’s nose-tying boring. Compared to the gem that Prada Black used to be…

It’s always a relief when good perfumes don’t disappear. Even though this Luna Rossa Black could still be found drop by drop, it’s great news that distribution issues are resolved and it’s now accessible like any other fragrance. I won’t review it since others have explained it well below, but I wanted to highlight that its scent has changed substantially: the powdery, soapy notes are now much toned down, and the coumarin is more ‘toasted’ at first, turning creamy in the late dry-down, whereas before it was creamy almost from the start of the mid-stage. I suppose some component changes caused this variation compared to older batches near the relaunch, if that can even be called that. Still, it remains a different fragrance that won’t suit everyone, but undoubtedly it’s a good creation. It suffers quite a bit in performance despite already being somewhat restrained originally, but I recommend giving it a try and more than one opportunity.

When they say ‘reformulated,’ I imagine a wizard in a kitchen stirring potions with curses and adding random ingredients. But here, the spokesperson screams to warn us of the trap. They sacrificed themselves for us. If we went by the reviews, we wouldn’t know where to put our feet.

In my opinion, the most mature and ‘nocturnal’ in the Prada Luna Rossa saga (made by L’Oreal). The scent isn’t original or potent; there are many similar ones, especially in cheap Arab perfumes. It has echoes of classic 90s men’s fragrances, but light-years less powerful. On my skin (February 2023 batch), it lasts a short time, 3-4 hours, and the last 2 hours are just skin scent. It has that clean, refined soap DNA typical of Prada, but without ambroxan, more herbal with angelica, soft patchouli, and an ambered coumarin base. Ideal for men over 30 for intimate gatherings. Unfortunately, it seems discontinued since mid-2023 and is hard to find in Spain. On the gray market or second-hand, it goes for 70-80 euros. I wouldn’t pay for it even if I had to, unless you have extra cash, are a Prada fan, an obsessed collector, or just a bargain hunter.

For now, the best from Prada. What an elegant scent, very similar to the coveted Van Cleef. Great aroma and performance, but the price left me speechless.

Smells very similar to The Body Shop’s White Musk For Men. I have both. I bought the White Musk first, and when I smelled this Prada, it was a direct reference. Now I compare them side by side; they have differences, but small ones. The Prada has more quality and ‘refinement,’ is a bit sweeter, and has that impeccable cleanliness aura. The White Musk leans more toward laundry-fresh, less sweet, thanks to the musk. It’s balanced, versatile for everything except heat or sun. It’s not explosive, maintaining a half-meter aura. The bottle color doesn’t match the scent: the blacks usually indicate imposing or ‘bad boy’ fragrances, but this one brings peace, generates confidence, and invites people to get closer.