Magie Noire

Magie Noire, a Lancôme fragrance for women from 1978 by Jean-Charles Niel, Gerard Goupy and Yves Tanguy, is floral at heart, woody for half of its wearers, and gourmand for about a third; green, amber and citrus sides are noticed by a minority.

The opening is dense and green-fruity: galbanum gives a bitter, resinous green, raspberry and blackcurrant a dark, tart fruit, Bulgarian rose a rich petal, with bergamot, cassia and hyacinth around them. The heart is a classic bouquet of tuberose, jasmine, narcissus and ylang-ylang, sweetened by honey and smoothed by orris root. The base is where the darkness comes from: oakmoss, patchouli and vetiver for earth, incense and myrrh for smoke, civet and musk for an animalic warmth.

More than a third of wearers say it lasts indefinitely and another third call it long lasting. Sillage splits between moderate and strong. It is voted for autumn and winter and clearly for night, which suits a deep, old-school floral for cold evenings.

Magie Noire — unisex fragrance by Lancôme (released 1978). Top notes: Galbanum, Cassis, Cassia, Hiacynth, Bulgarian Rose, Raspberry, Bergamot. Heart notes: Honey, Narcissus, Cedar, Ylang-Ylang, Orris Root, Tuberose, Jasmine, Lily-of-the-Valley. Base notes: Oakmoss, Spices, Civet, Patchouli, Incense, Myrrh, Amber, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Musk. — Parfica open fragrance database