Our take
What does Mademoiselle Rochas in Black smell like?
Rochas gave its Mademoiselle a night-time version in 2020, three years after the original. The bottle turned black and the scent followed. The opening is better behaved than you might expect. A juicy blackberry is kept on a leash by slightly smoky black tea, and bergamot only lights up the first fifteen minutes. Then the heart sets a rose on a black leather accord. Hawthorn adds an almond-like spring note that keeps things from getting too dark. It is still a sweet floral at heart. The leather simply gives it some contour. Ambroxan and a black vanilla pod make up the base, with a little oakmoss drying it out. Don't expect a classic chypre from that moss though. Compared with the original Mademoiselle Rochas, which is fruitier and lighter, In Black feels older and heavier. Rochas has not named the perfumer. This is a fairly priced perfume that doesn't chase originality for its own sake.
When to wear it
Wear it on cold evenings, sprayed on a sweater or a scarf. Two sprays are plenty since the ambroxan projects well.
It belongs to the Floral, Oriental / Amber family. Mademoiselle Rochas in Black is one of 21 creations by Rochas in our encyclopedia.
