As always, I did not know what to expect, and maybe that's just a good thing at this point because I am always left surprised and excited about B.B.'s scents and I have a lot to go through!
Black Bacarra. Where do I even start with this one? Such familiar scents from when I was a child! But the difference that stands between the rose scent from the 90s and the rose from this bottle is maturity and youthfulness at the same time. From the bottle at first sniff, I get this awkward scent that I know to be ylang-ylang. I have only worked with this scent once trying to make solid perfumes for my mom for mothers day years ago. I never picked up on the notes that others have described this scent to be, the only thing I picked up was that it was just a strange scent and I was not persuaded by it either. But here is the thing about the house of Black Baccara, she will ALWAYS persuade you. At this point, I think I just do not know where to get grade essential oils that smell amazing honestly.
At First application, the scent bloomed on my skin, opening up with geranium and ylang-ylang but not in an overpowering way. There is no powdery note in this scent which I was elated to find out. Nothing against powdery notes but they just remind me heavily of older perfumes and it seemed like every rose scent I smelled in the 90s had that. As the scent drys down, you get a bit of smoke, more incense, and less of a burning smell which beautifully rounds it out. I can also smell a bit of woodsy and earth in it in the background. As the hours' pass, I can smell the spice a touch more and a tiny bit of vanilla on my skin. The scent in its entirety is very well balanced, no one scent is trying to take over the others and because there is no powdery note, it gives off a more mature youthfulness allure. It's a beautifully darkened rose perfume unlike others that just scream "HI I'M A ROSE SMELL ALL THE ROSES". It is kind and playfully seductive. It is extremely romantic for sure. A soft blanket of feminity but also a touch of masculinity with the woody earth and spice in the background. It is extremely beautiful and does not lean heavily on rose or dessert sweetness...but also, she's got a little dark side to her that can have others questioning how far that kindness goes.
If you like rose perfumes but don't want anything leaning too dessert or powdery, this is one to try out.
