Pasha de Cartier Noir Absolu by Cartier

I’m here to defend it. It’s true the opening is weird and strong, but the magic is in the dry-down: ultra-niche quality smoky caramel notes. The longevity is abyssal, lasting over 12 hours on skin on the wrist.

It smells terrible, heavy, and suffocating. The Ted Lapidus Black Extreme smells 100 times better. It smells like urine mixed with smoke, old woods, heavy spices, and something like spoiled must with a violet undertone. It lasts longer than a day without bread, and since it’s Cartier, it’s not cheap. Don’t buy it blindly or you’ll have to throw it away. They tried to make an oriental experiment based on the classic Pasha and failed miserably. A total mess. The worst Pasha ever, with all the flaws.

One of the most challenging scents I’ve tried. I thought it was niche, but it isn’t. You have to give it time; the opening is pure smoke that makes you recoil, then the caramel softens it a bit but the chaos remains. At 2-3 hours, it’s in its splendor: burnt wood, lily root, tonka bean, and a boozy touch. Best-in-class performance, style 90, well above average. Only for noses with olfactory baggage and strong personality. Thanks Cartier for daring to break the mold without losing elegance.

I’ve given it many chances and nothing, it just rejects me. As many say, it smells like pee, that typical disco bathroom smell with intense urine. I don’t notice any declared notes. If it weren’t for others saying the same, I’d think the bottle was defective.

I wore this powerhouse and a girl more than a meter away shouted ‘it smells like a medieval market.’ I asked if it was me and she confirmed. At first, it felt offensive, but by night I understood a medieval market doesn’t smell bad, just strong. The smokiness is potent, reminiscent of incense in those places, and I love it. It lasts forever and comes in bursts; when you think it’s gone, another wave hits and reminds you of the wonder you’re wearing. To those who say it smells like cat urine, I don’t get it; maybe it’s the caramel mixed with violet. Try it several times before buying; if you like it, it’s a gem.

Don’t buy it without smelling it first. I was about to spend $180 but managed to test it on skin in-store. It smells like wood with lots of sugar and soaked in cat urine. A horrible aroma I don’t understand how Cartier dared to create. Don’t buy it blindly.

Cartier Pasha Noir Absolu is smoky, sweet, and woody. The opening is harsh, smelling of burnt and smoky sugar with an amber accord that on my skin gives an unpleasant, almost urinous vibe. That bad smell stays strong for an hour and a half before fading, leaving woods and tonka bean which are more bearable. I think it’s suitable for autumn and winter due to the sweetness and smoky tones. In my case, only for special occasions or personal enjoyment. The longevity was brutal (unfortunately), lasting almost 12 hours with a regular sillage. I didn’t like it at all; the scent is very bold, original, and risky, of the niche type. I haven’t tried anything similar, though it has some elements of Pasha Parfum. If you want to try something different, I recommend it, but not as a blind buy.

I’ve tried this Pasha several times and noticed it ages beautifully over time xD. At first, it’s sweet, young, and modern, with a hint of smoky caramel (on my skin, it smells like chocolate), but as it dries down, it becomes animalic, classic, and vintage, as if revealing an 80s heart. Occasionally, it hints at violets, connecting with the Edition Noire EDT (which is also delicious). Maybe I’m wrong, but that’s how it feels to me. It’s very particular; in some phases, it might be hard for some noses. I like it because it’s original and different, so I enjoy it. I wouldn’t recommend it for young people (don’t get fooled by the initial blast) or if you’re looking for compliments. My girlfriend makes weird faces and says it smells like a cat to an old man or “dirty” haha. Just a heads up: I’ve read this isn’t the only one that does this. Try it on your skin, let it dry properly, and draw your own conclusions 🙂

It’s a smoky, vanilla, woody, and dark incense with a subtle freshness at the base (citrus, I suppose). It lasts quite a while: projects to 1.5 meters before dropping off to leave an adequate trail. On skin, it lasts over 10 hours; after that, around the 5-hour mark, an animalic touch appears, like civet, similar to the delicious musky part of YSL’s Kouros (though not the same). It’s not for beginners or those who prefer simple sweets like One Million or Scandal. If you like complex aromas, you’ll love it. It’s very niche, a dark sweet. I bought the bottle and will definitely buy backups. On the first day, a family member (versed in perfumes, over 30 years old) complimented me. Cartier always bets on the sublime and disruptive; if it were just watery citrus, it wouldn’t be Cartier. The peculiar thing is that it stays even after a shower. Sometimes it seems like it doesn’t project after 6 hours, but it easily lasts a full 8-hour day and more than 10 on skin. Sincerely recommended.

The opening caught me off guard during my third try, and even today I still don’t like it, but it gets interesting as it dries down. It keeps that ash and cigar smoke vibe with spiced incense and old saltpeter. At the base, little by little, the legendary Pasha DNA enters with patchouli, mixing with the beginning while the sweetness drops until it becomes a niche aroma: mysterious, very woody, and with an almost animalic smokiness. It’s that sweetness that makes it so rare and sometimes unpleasant. I rejected it the first and second times, but with a sample, I’m starting to get it. It’s dark, nocturnal, and mysterious. A breath of fresh air for the modern designer, a risky bet in my opinion. It lasts a long time on my skin (10 to 12 hours), projects close, and releases bursts occasionally. Never buy blindly. If you like it for the price, it’s a great option for winter nights if you don’t seek compliments but want to enjoy that mysterious feeling.

Very smoky and powdery, it has something that makes it both vintage and modern. Sincerely, it’s a very particular scent in the designer world; not everyone will like it. I think it’s better for cold days and nights because of the mystery it exudes.

A very particular aroma, with a smoky and sweet opening. It’s a burnt sugar sweetness that disappears in half an hour or less to make room for a mix of wood and incense smoke that lasts until the end. It’s as particular as it is original; personally, I like it a lot, though I admit it won’t please everyone; it’s more for personal enjoyment. Cons: I find it not very versatile and with moderate longevity. If that initial sweetness lasted longer, it would be much better. Tips: Of course, don’t buy blindly, try it first, and if possible, several times.

This perfume is truly original; its smoke and cotton candy notes are notable and hypnotic. Its base is indeed the Pasha one and goes completely in line with Noir and Noir Sport, giving it remarkable elegance. The quality of the incense is high-level, and the sweetness is gourmand-level. I understand you might not like the combination, but saying it’s like any other sweet perfume and doesn’t fit the Pasha line is really unsustainable. For me, it’s one of the best designer launches of 2023 to date. The only thing that feels familiar to me might be Terroni by Orto Parisi, except the fruity part here changes to the fougère part of Pasha, and it’s much more wearable for daily life.

It starts citrusy and modern, but dies quickly to give way to a deep, invasive, intense caramelized sweetness, like sugar burning in a pot to make molasses. Yes, there’s smoke, and the result isn’t offensive, but it’s not flattering either. In the dry down, you can notice muted flowers and spices. Longevity and projection are good. It fits the season so well I wouldn’t even call it Pasha. Personally, I don’t like it, but for a bold young person, it could be a solid clubbing staple.