Magie Noire

From a 1980s splash mini bought as part of a collection. This bottle had leaked and was exposed to air for an unknown amount of time, so this is not a review of Magie Noire itself, but rather a note for fellow vintage perfume enthusiasts on what a heavily compromised example can smell like. From my leaky late 80s mini of Magie Noire, to my nose only the patchouli survives. It's a very beautiful patchouli, don't get me wrong, and it reminds me a lot of the rich, witchy patchouli notes used by indie perfume oil houses in the 2000s (ie Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab). But alas, whatever other notes gave Magie Noire its much beloved complexity are no longer apparent in this example. I will regretfully be continuing my search for the real, well-preserved thing.

Imagine First by Van Cleef & Arpels (lotiony floral) but with added incense, vanilla and green notes. This is the vintage version I have, with the orange/red striped lid with "magie noire" in lower case, and the box has symbols all over it. I've never smelled the newer versions.

The magic is gone. The newer formulation does not compare to the vintage version as it has been heavily watered down. The vintage Magie Noire in the black and clear bottle was indeed a masterpiece. Fortunately, I have La perla which shares some similarities with the vintage Magie. That I will cherish it. The era of good perfume is gone. Once in a while something good comes out only to be discontinued.

I am normally unable to detect the differences between one fragrance formulation to the next. Poison, Angel, and even the drastically pared down Opium smell more or less the same to me as their original incarnations. Magie Noire is an exception. It is not a matter of less projection or longevity. This is truly an entirely different fragrance from what it was until the 1990s. The original was a rich, deep, mossy rose fragrance with a subtle tang. What is currently sold as Magie Noire is a harsh, powdery lemon verbena scent that smells like lemon-lime Kool Aid dust mixed with Comet. The chypre elements are almost entirely snuffed out. I can't imagine anyone liking this fragrance.

this is soo heavy and bitter for my nose. i was hopeful about this but it literally hurts my nose and gives me a headache, almost repulsive also i think this one really smells old, even i normally like vintage perfumes this is not it for me.

An enigma, a magnetic power, a whispered spell dwelling on your skin like a lasting trace of a spellbinding potion, just like 'Black Magic' Ladies & Gentlemen, Magie Noire by Lancôme Powerful, magnetic, and utterly aristocratic! The opening sweeps you away with intense floral, slightly sweet powdery aroma accentuated with bitter green, citrus & woody notes all wrapped together with a pissy undertone. It’s a vibrant, intense & and well-balanced opening that won't fail to catch your attention. It keeps getting more and more interesting & mesmerizing as we get swallowed deeper into its heart where slightly animalic honey rises with more sour & pissy notes. There are earthy & powdery nuances to it with an amber tone. Everything else is the same from the opening, only warmer, slower & deeper. A lot is going on here, but still, it is harmonious. The real magic happens at the base of this spellbinding potion. It gets spicy, mossy, infused with patchouli & hints of incense & bitter balsamic notes. The interesting thing is that even in the dry down, you don't just smell the base notes; every layer of the perfume pyramid is still emerging and lasting (the opening on top of the heart on top of the base) and that’s almost surreal to achieve. It’s magic yes, once a note is presented & starts performing, it doesn’t stop, that’s exactly what’s happening here & that’s the mystery and engigma of it, cause it’s still very pleasant attractive & harmonious. This is a legend by all means, a floral Chypre Legend. It took three master perfumers to create this magic. Performance here is very good with a very good silage, that’s an EDT This review is based on 2008 batch IG sir.fragrances

Managed to get a 1980’s bottle. I’m in heaven. I forgot how much I LOVE this. The new formulation is a pale imitation.

Has a cocaine smell mixed with every dark and sensual earthly thing available that makes my body tingle like I have the most gorgeous naked woman pointing her finger at me. The classiest, most decadent, furs and gemstones, Babylon sex party perfume. Yessssss

Didn't like the perfume, but love the deodorant spray

Once every few years I treat myself to an ounce of the Huile Parfum, and '26 is that year. It's such bliss... 𓁹𓁹

There was a time when perfume wasn’t clean or comforting. Magie Noire remembers. Green bitterness, animalic depth, moss and smoke.

I used to gaze at the beautiful vintage bottle of Magie Noire, created by the genius Pierre Dinand, with its round cap and hypnotic overlapping curves, an iconic design from the 70s. I longed for it, though with little hope of ever holding it in my hands. A couple of years went by, and finally, this gem arrived in my collection, bringing with it the untouched character of another era, and a familiarity that surprised me! Although the current formula retains its spirit, its DNA, I perceive an “excessive” use of white musks that lend a more powdery and clean effect. In contrast, the vintage version reveals a more sober depth and a subtly enveloping sweetness, probably enriched with nitro musks, offering an elegant and sensual warmth on my skin. MAGIE NOIRE EDT (Vintage) – 1978 I like to think of Magie Noire as a dark spell in the form of a floral chypre, unfolding its mystery from the first green and fruity notes, with galbanum and blackcurrant, into a voluptuous heart of dense honey, tuberose, and jasmine. The base is deep and musky, with civet blending into the composition, adding warmth and sensuality, in harmony with a mix of myrrh and incense, supported by that oakmoss so characteristic of classic Chypres, which adds richness and complexity to the fragrance. I’d say that if you don’t know the vintage formula, the modern Chypre-retro version (with a classic character) might be very pleasant for you, as it was for me. However, owning this original edition feels like holding a fragment of perfumery history in my hands. And also, a small dream come true! ❤️

@jswenson- vintage edition is in no way soapy, but heady, sexy, seductive femme fatale scent

Tried the vintage version today. The opening has a strong sour cassis, not so good. The dry down is where the magic happens. A beautiful chypre. 7/10

Okay so my 2019 edt bottle starts out sharp and green. They tried to recreate the original plushy heart of the composition, but they didnt get it quite right. It comes off smelling quite a bit like "soap" in a way. The vintage parfum doesn't have this soapy aspect to me. I've never tried the vintage edt so maybe its supposed to smell soapy??? Someone please enlighten me

My 90s in a bottle!!

Just got my ‘Darth Vader’ late 80' version of EDT, and wow — it’s amazing! Such a distinctive, powerful scent, totally unlike the newer version, which feels flat and synthetic. Out of my whole collection, this is the one I’d never give up. If anyone’s got a bottle they’d part with for a fair price, count me in.

I recently snagged a version from 1996, and a vintage from 1986. On my skin, the 1996 version leans masculine and patchouli-heavy, which is usually an instant pass for me. The dry down becomes a bit sweeter, which is its saving grace. A sharp, evergreen fragrance that is nothing like its predecessors. After smelling the vintage, I honestly wouldn't even call this Magie Noire. Something like 'Magie Verte' would have been a more fitting name.

Why do they always do this? Reformulate a fragance not to improve but to destroy it.. 🙄 Cause if they wanted to improve they could hire someone that actually knows how to do that🤷🏼♀️

Wtf is this Parsley coriander BOOMMBBBBB all i smell is parsley with a noticeable undertone of animalic sweat with lots of ancient expired spices Parsley leather civet galbanum sweat This is not something a human can consume 0/10

Hi anybody had 3 ml to swap for something else. I really want to try it?

I can still get whiffs of it after twelve hours of application, it is strong and bold. My Wife loves it on me, still, she does not like to wear it, for her it feels manly, you get the idea: it is on the vein of Dior Homme Parfum or Dior Homme Intense pre 2020's, or the heavy orientals by Middle Eastern houses selling many of the kind as unisex. The new formula does not have the silky feeling to the nose it used to have, I assume the floral notes were tamed down in favor of the base notes, what my nose feels are those typical of orientals, this is the reason I really enjoy it. To wrap it up, MN, IMHO, is in the league of scents for women that men can use: Obsession, Le Baiser du Dragon, Must and Youth Dew (almost identical to JHL). For better results, you might try layering it with a men's leather, like Aramis or Ombre Leather, or any oriental for men. Note that these women's scents can be too heavy, so a light application could be the solution if you do not want to impose your preferences on others.

A brand new bottle doesn't smell right. It needs to be sprayed a few times and aired out. Im talking a few months. I think the patchouli and oakmoss have to age before it smells good.

Lancôme offered a limited edition Magie Noire book by Claude Sire in 1978. IT IS SO COOL.

I agree exactly with @maryonacross. A beautiful incense beginning, that quickly morphs into a damp forest floor. Gorgeous. Unfortunately, my vintage mini has a civet note that has soured. But I can still smell the bergamot and cedar and other nice notes. I’m curious to hear about the new formulation.

jswenson--If it's the same formula from a few years ago, it SUCKS. Peppery nose burning nightmare water.

There’s something quite addictive about this fragrance. It opens with a smoky accord, almost as though someone’s burning incense and myrrh in a dimly lit room but as it dries down it transforms into something green and damp, like a forest after rain, at least on my skin. It’s dark, rather beautiful, and carries a vintage charm without feeling the slightest bit dated. Exceptionally long-lasting, with a bold sillage that lingers.

I cannot recall if I got this one from my Mom or if I was given a sample in store. All I can remember is how I was mesmerized by this scent. It is so enchanting and mature. I wore it all the time in my late teens and early 20's. I miss the days when the department store sales staff would load you down with samples on the way in or the way out of the store. I was NEVER without perfume samples. It was a thing, even in high school, to have at least 4 or 5 samples in your purse "just in case"

OMG!! Its resurfaced on their website for $70!! I NEED to know what this new formula smells like!!!

@aprilnicole don't panic, it's available to buy, not discontinued! Online and in store in UK. It has been reformulated after the latest lilial ban and resurfaced on the other side.