Our take
What does Noir Anthracite smell like?
Unveiled in Milan in June 2017, Noir Anthracite was the third scent in Tom Ford's Noir line, following Noir and Noir Extreme. Honorine Blanc composed it. The opening tingles. Sichuan pepper, ginger and bergamot create an almost electric buzz on the tongue. Galbanum pushes the heart into greener territory while soft spices and a quiet jasmine take the edge off. The base is where the name comes from. Cedar, ebony and sandalwood build a dark wood, and birch adds the smoke of a campfire that has just gone out. Leather and patchouli close things with a dry texture. The house called it a woody chypre. What you actually smell is polished black wood with no sugar at all. Next to Noir Extreme and its gourmand kulfi accord, Anthracite is far more austere. It is the most grown-up of the three.
When to wear it
An evening scent for winter, ideally over a dark shirt. One or two sprays are plenty because the smoky birch projects hard.
It belongs to the Woody, Spicy family. Noir Anthracite is one of 33 creations by Tom Ford in our encyclopedia.
