Lalique Encre Noire

Well, this really is a special case in perfumery. You look at the note pyramid — just four entries: cypress, vetiver, cashmere wood and musk. A simple enough list, seemingly. But what a perfume it turned into!

When I first tried it from a sample, its vetiver, earthy and woody scent took me completely by surprise. I’ve often come across the description ‘a forest after rain’: damp earth, wet wood — all of that. Some people smell ink on paper. There are plenty of interpretations, but for me, it’s above all vetiver, wood and earth. And I really like that.

It’s considered a men’s fragrance, but I’ve heard plenty of women say they enjoy wearing it. I’ve come across at least several such reviews on YouTube alone. So it’s not about the wording on the box — you need to try it. It’s very distinctive, and it certainly won’t appeal to or suit everyone. But if you get along with it, you’ll have a wonderful perfume with a character of its own.

The bottle fits the story too. Its inspiration was the ‘Biches’ inkwell, created by René Lalique in 1913. Dark glass, a wooden cap — it all comes together as one image. And the name Encre Noire itself means ‘black ink’.

When to wear it? For me, rainy weather is just right. It seems particularly at home in that kind of weather. Beyond that, it’s a matter of taste: I won’t tie it to a single season. Go by how it feels to you.

And here’s what I particularly like: such a distinctive fragrance for relatively little money. It belongs to the designer category, yet many people feel it has a niche character. I understand why. There’s vividness, individuality and that very unpredictability that makes getting to know it interesting.

To me, it’s a kind of masterpiece in its own segment. Yes, some people won’t like it at all. Others will wear it with enormous pleasure. And I’m one of them.