Our take
What does Dahlia Noir smell like?
Dahlias have no scent, which left Givenchy free to invent one when it launched Dahlia Noir in 2011. François Demachy built the flower from mimosa, rose and iris. Pink pepper and mandarin give the opening a quick sting before the mimosa softens everything into something like cotton. The rose stays in the background. Iris is the real lead here, dry and almost chalky, and it gives the perfume its powdery texture. Patchouli shows up early. It is the clean, modern kind with no damp earth, which puts Dahlia Noir closer to today's chypres than to the old mossy ones. Sandalwood, vanilla and tonka form a restrained base where nothing spills over. Hours later you are left with powdered skin and, for some noses, a faintly medicinal edge. Several retailers now list the Eau de Parfum as discontinued, though Givenchy has not said so.
When to wear it
Works for a quiet office or a dinner in spring or autumn. Two sprays on the neck give a powdery trail that bothers nobody.
It belongs to the Floral, Chypre family. Dahlia Noir is one of 48 creations by Givenchy in our encyclopedia.