Bulgari • Black • Fragrances

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aniliini on 2/2/2013 3:58:00 PM more reviews by aniliini

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Grey    

I have a miniatyre bottle of Black and it's... strange. It has this funny rubbery, oily feeling like freshly laid asphalt but deep down it's also warm and soft and very much vanilla. I don't like vanilla in perfumes so I seldom use it, but if vanilla is your thing then this has the kinky vibe to take one step from girl next door to sinful.

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gmstrack on 2/2/2013 2:52:00 PM more reviews by gmstrack

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Hazel    

This is naughtiness in a bottle. The vanilla is sweet and bossy at first and then dries down to a slightly powdery “skin, but better” routine. The leather cracks the whip early on, but calms down after rubber shows up. And then, there is something else. At first, it is difficult to place, but suddenly the answer appears…oh no they didn’t. Animalic. Salty. Metallic? Maybe buckles and chains? Is someone smoking in the corner?
During my next trip to New Orleans, I plan on drenching myself in this stuff. Well, maybe more than four sprays.

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amv10 on 1/18/2013 4:33:00 PM more reviews by amv10

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

Colosal !!! Black is just as much the masterpiece that I expected (hoped) it to be after all the reviews I read on it since years. What a surprise where on the bottom of a shelf in Munich airport my eyes suddenly set on....Black! After all the time I was looking for this perfume, not being able to find it where I live or around (for some reasons, I noticed that you can have in all the fragrance shops the entire Bulgari fragrance collection - except Black!). I love leather and smokey fragrances so the opening of Black is everything you can hope for on the smokey side. A deep leap in a teapot of a Lapsang Souchong and I can clearly see the references to the note of "burnt tires" but it is more smoked tea than tyres, without the chemical fumes. Then what surprised me even more it was how it settled, from that smokey, dry, dark grey, pretty masculine opening, into a radiating warm, amber (with a bit of vetiver maybe) note that lasts until its end, but where you still recognize in the background, very shy and diffused this time, the initial smoky note. If you think about it, you have two of the most opposite notes, blended together like by magic. If it were an image, to me it evokes a flash of black-grey, smokey cloud, through which when it clears out, you see glowing embers. But let's be clear, if you're not attracted by atypical, definitely not "nice and pretty" or polite fragrances, you should pass your way because either you will be disappointed or you will try to place this perfume in a category where it is not meant to be.

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ohwrite on 12/22/2012 11:06:00 PM more reviews by ohwrite

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Other   Eyes: Blue    

This is genius. Notes are described below. It starts strange then gets more feminine on me. It seems less of a "you smell nice" scent and more aromatherapy. This is as complex as a real person and just as interesting. Not masculine, just real.

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AlexAlexAlex on 11/20/2012 1:32:00 PM more reviews by AlexAlexAlex

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I've been wearing this fragrance for about a week now, and I adore it. It smells unlike anything else.

I was looking for a replacement as my go-to winter fragrance MV3 from MAC was discontinued. I read about this as a replacement for MV3, and bought it from ebay sight unseen. When you first spray it, you do get the hit of rubber, but once it is on your skin it mellows beautifully into a warm vanilla jasmine scent. I do not like sweet florals and tend to gravitate towards unisex fragrances but do not like overly musky or manly smells. This one, while being billed as unisex, is not at all masculine and very wearable. I highly recommend it. I took one lippy off because it does not last very long, but I don't know a high end fragrance that does. Plus, at the low price it sells for (it is fifteen years old, which is why it is so cheap) I can afford to buy a second to keep with me.

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*TOP REVIEWER* danai on 11/2/2012 4:00:00 PM more reviews by danai

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

This delivers most of the things I look for in a fragrance. It's warm and inviting but unusual and kind of strange. It somehow draws you in and weirds you out a little at the same time. I can't put my finger on what it is that makes it this unique and intriguing exactly, but I have smelled nothing like it. I can see how it could be worn both by guys and girls, as it's neither entirely masculine nor feminine, however it does still manage to smell very sexy.
And also, surprisingly, it's not as expensive as you'd expect it to be.
I think it's best saved for winter as it's also pretty incense-y and heady.

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*TOP REVIEWER* stls on 10/23/2012 4:16:00 PM more reviews by stls

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I don't know how to rate this one. Of course it's very unique: extra potent rubber and vanilla, who would imagine? Very longlasting too. But there is no way in earth I can wear this one. Interesting, yes, creative, yes, wearable (for me) no.

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*TOP REVIEWER* yankeerose on 10/23/2012 4:00:00 PM more reviews by yankeerose

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Other    

I have more perfume/cologne/body sprays from the highest end to WM...but this one fragrance is the most unique. It is actually formulated for men, but I believe the vanilla makes it one hellava sexy woman's scent. It is definitely a autumn/winter fragrance, and MUST be used sparingly. When I wear this, not only do I receive compliments from strangers...but I feel sexy wearing it. Now I will say, that I wear most scents to please others, since we don't really smell our scent after a short while, but this one makes me want to strut my stuff. I do not feel pretty when I wear it, I feel biker chick sexy to the bone. (yes, I am a biker chick, but spend most of my days wearing a lab coat) . I don't know if its the rubber smell or what, but its amazing, dangerous and not for the timid. It is the only fragrance that smells the same from the time I put it on, til it wears completely away. I love it.

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kittyc on 9/8/2012 3:22:00 AM more reviews by kittyc

Age: 44-55   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I bought this for my teenage son to set him on the right path. As a bonus, he no longer bothers with Lynx body sprays, and I get to steal a spritz or two of Black myself when he is not around. To me the rubber note exists in a 'push-me-pull-you' balance with the vanilla. They need each other. That is the glory of contrasts. I find Black's sillage only moderate, but the longevity pretty good, and it lasts forever on clothes. On the discontinuation issue, I had heard that Black was to be d/c, but it is on Bvlgari's websites at the time of writing this review. Still, if you love it, stock up. Just in case.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Beauty4Ashes on 7/27/2012 8:17:00 PM more reviews by Beauty4Ashes

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Tan, Warm   Hair: Brown, Relaxed, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I sampled this in Sephora after I read favorable reviews about the fragrance. I enjoy unique scents and this is definitely a unique scent. I like everything about it except the rubber note which is what the scent as unique as it is. Not for me, but I can appreciate its beauty.

Sexy. Dark. Urban. Modern.

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*TOP REVIEWER* apparently on 7/23/2012 3:37:00 PM more reviews by apparently

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

Tires on wet pavement, followed by smoky vanilla tea. Absolutely stunning. I could wear this every day. Maybe I need a job in a bike store next to a Teavana.

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*TOP REVIEWER* girlndocs on 6/27/2012 6:35:00 PM more reviews by girlndocs

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Other, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Grey    

Bulgari Black does smell like rubber. But not at all like burning tires! To be exact, it starts with fairly strong and slightly sweet vanilla, which the rubber catches up on until it's the dominant note. I guess if you really wanted to you could call it leather. I say it's rubber, that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.


The thing I love about Black is that the rubber's not just weird and interesting, it's pretty. Black manages to fold it in as something that utterly belongs even while it's hogging the limelight. It simmers down a little as some warmer and well blended possibly-woody things come out, and some gentle musk, and the vanilla gets powdery. The rubber is definitely there the whole time, and it takes what would probably be an utterly boring scent and makes it fascinating. I was head over heels in 5 minutes.


I wouldn't describe this as a sweet scent -- the vanilla and the rubber and woods balance out well to a sort of neutral on the scale, and because of the rubber/leather ambiguity it maybe leans slightly salty. It's warm but not fiery or heavy. It stays close to the skin, and because of the rubber and skinlike musk it's kind of naughty-sexy, but not overwhelming sex in a bottle. It reads gender-neutral to me.

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mricci on 6/12/2012 11:56:00 AM more reviews by mricci

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

Props for uniqueness, I like that...BUT, it smells like burnt rubber. There's a reason such a fragrance is one-of-a-kind (becauseeeee most people don't want to smell like a blown-off tire).

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DrDorothy on 12/1/2011 10:57:00 PM more reviews by DrDorothy

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

Stop panicking--it's not being discontinued. Unless "discontinued" means "still being sold at Sephora, Off 5th, Bulgari's own website, and who knows where else."

On to the good stuff. Black is a masterpiece, and it's truly unisex. It doesn't depend on your naughty bits, it depends on your personality, and it's definitely not for everyone. Yes, it opens with burned rubber and ends with vanilla. I also find it spicy and very warm. Black dares me to wear it with a cute floral dress and pearls, just for the sake of contrast, but somehow I always put it on when I don a business suit instead. It's assertive.

It's not like anything else I've ever tried, and there are days when nothing else will do. Highly recommended.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ellizam on 10/13/2011 10:38:00 AM more reviews by ellizam

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I love love love LOVE Bvlgari Black. When it came out, BB was one of the first (if not THE first) "rubber" leather perfumes. Rubber, leather, incense, spice, smoke... wild, wierd, and daring. And utterly gorgeous.


It opens and holds, foremost, a spicy/smoky scent, probably the lapsang souchong tea note. The opening also has a slightly rubbery leather (not a little remiscent of condoms, in a good way), and a smoky incense vibe. As BB dries down, sometimes it picks up vanilla from its base, sometimes not so much. It can end, on some skins and on some days, as a vanilla fragrance with smoky/spicy top notes, but on other days/skins, it stays leather, spice, and smokey incense all day.


If indeed BB has been discontinued, it's tragic -- this fragrance was and still is widly original and beautiful, one of the most fragrant and well-composed scents in the world. In winter, the appeal is obvious (smoky, spicy, warm) but in summer, used with a light hand it manages to smoulder in an aromatic, spicy haze that's as refreshing as iced chai tea. In fall the smoke is perfect, and in spring the spice feels like an invitation to life. The packaging reflects the aesthetic -- sexy, a little wicked, odd. I love the on/off nozzle, and the wide base with rubber is very stable. This is one fragrance that never tips over. It's also one of the few bottles I've burned through -- twice. Large bottles. When in doubt, this fragrance always works, and it's one of the fragrances I never want to be out of, a sort of LBD of a fragrance. Night or day, winter or summer, it works. There are no good dupes out there, by the way, not a single one. They all miss the mark completely, falling into citrus over leather, and bad leather at that.


As a public service, with possible discontinuation I'll give some smellalikes: Speziali Fiorentini's Te Nero (BB - rubber/leather), VIP room, Alan Cumming's Cumming (plus a lot more rubber/leather). but maybe if we all cry out in sorrow, they'll keep this one on?

4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

chrystelica on 10/4/2011 7:43:00 PM more reviews by chrystelica

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

At first, I gave this a 4. It's not a great stretch of the imagination to smell 'tires' in this, but it is not so literal, nor is it rubber on me. I do sense a deep leather that melds well with a vanilla-softened smoky tea.

This I love very much because the mid-notes open to a lovely warmth that smells the way Armani code did on my ex, but on me instead. It mixes really well with my skin chemistry and becomes a snuggly, dry vanilla and I can almost visualize a soft white undershirt with this on.

It is an incredibly lovely, sexy skin scent drydown, like unlit vanilla incense, deep, rich and mesmerizingly enveloping. In this I see no metropolitan city, but timeless eternity flowing into one moment. It is a memory I associate with a forgotten past which only vaguely involves a city, perhaps merely as a point of departure.

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tanno123 on 10/1/2011 6:52:00 AM more reviews by tanno123

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I bought this online without tryin and I LOVE it.

Its different, its interesting and really sexy!
It does smell like the car shop but in a very clever sophisticated way.
I like its sultry smokiness and the way it sits close to the skin
You can tell a lot of work has gone into this perfume unlike a lot that are out there now. This is true Italian craftmanship!

I hate girlie boring fragrances and like hardcore kick *ss scents.
I've been lookin for a new perfume and have gotten so bored tryin one bland scent after the next.
So finaIly I have found what Ive been lookin for.
I plan on wearin this to work -- just wish I'd bought a bigger bottle

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love4animals on 6/28/2011 10:53:00 AM more reviews by love4animals

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Cant believe this has been discontinued. Its such a unique perfume.

This fragrance is a comfort fragrance to me, yet I find it sexy as well. Its a smoky, musky, woodsy black tea scent that has the perfect amount of vanilla so that its not sweet. And its soft. It has a grounding effect on me. I dont get the rubber tire smell at all, I guess this note translates to a smoky smell on me.

Sillage is there but not in your face. Just right. And it lasts and lasts on my skin until my next shower.

Mysterious and comfortable. One of Bvlgari's best.

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ncjdivadancer on 6/21/2011 11:58:00 AM more reviews by ncjdivadancer

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

I dont' get a rubber scent on me at all. It's very powdery on me instead. freakin love it! Such an unusal and interesting frag. you won't smell like every other woman out there!

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BrigitteTolson on 4/20/2011 1:38:00 PM more reviews by BrigitteTolson

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I absolutely adored this perfectly unisex elusive fragrance from first sniff- it manages to be sophisticated and close to the skin while being rather dry and clean in many respects as well.

Though the black tea is with other much more heavy and potentially over-poweing notes, they've done a wonderful job in allowing the gentle smokiness of the black tea to shine through as the star. The vanilla note is an icy dry bourbon vanilla that initially mingles with the leather note perfectly, and aside from that- I really don't get any additional notes after the first 10 minutes. It's such a perfectly balanced scent that it's difficult to tell exactly what you are smelling in it at times, but it's quite comforting and inviting. I've heard many remark it smells "expensive", and because it is so beautifully done, it really does- though I've found many bottles online for under 40$. Gorgeous!

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No