Volupté Noire by Pierre Guillaume – sensuality in black

With today’s fragrance Volupté Noire by Pierre Guillaume, we are dedicating ourselves to a creation inspired by a poem by the French writer Charles Baudelaire. His famous collection of poems Les Fleurs du mal – “The Flowers of Evil” – has been a source of inspiration for many artists – painters, musicians and other writers. Compositions inspired by Baudelaire’s work can also be found in the world of perfume: Crying of Evil by Stéphane Humbert Lucas, for example, Baudelaire by Byredo or Albatros by Mendittorosa – olfactory interpretations that balance between melancholy and seduction.

Volupté Noire is also part of this tradition. The name takes up a poem from Les Fleurs du mal: “À une Madone” is a text in which Baudelaire describes a woman as both a saint and a lover. This woman is worshipped like an iconic figure and at the same time physically desired. Holiness and sin merge, a contrast of purity and darkness – very typical of Baudelaire’s view of femininity, as can be seen in many of his poems.

Volupté Noire – The dark side of love

This leads us directly to Volupté Noire, the “black lust”, the expression from the poem that describes the moment when devotion and desire merge. Baudelaire uses it to describe a form of lust that is heavier, darker and more intense than pure sensuality. Perfumer Pierre Guillaume translates this literary inspiration with the ingredients bergamot, davana, date, lime blossom, acacia blossom, jasmine, oak, honey, ambergris and musk into the eau de parfum that the brand writes about:

A wild panther lurking beneath the foliage,
Patient guardian, awakening as a lone huntress.
Her eyes are two fiery stars, tinted with honey and amber.
As ambassadors of her power, they penetrate the darkness of her fur with their brilliance.
A mirror of fur, a dark robe that sways to the rhythm of her silent steps.
She disappears into the shadows, mysterious ruler, leaving behind a musky scent, feline and floral.

What does Volupté Noire by Pierre Guillaume smell like?

Dark, sweet, seductive – these are the three words that first come to mind when I sniff Volupté Noire. The eau de parfum starts straight away, without beating around the bush, and leads us into a composition that is very dense, complex and sensual. The lime blossom and acacia lend the creation a honey-like, radiant sweetness, accompanied by sugary dates and fruity, liqueur-like davana. Jasmine and ambergris bring creamy floral and warm balsamic nuances to the fragrance, which is rounded off with soft woods.

Is Volupté Noire a temptation?

Definitely in my eyes. If you love complex, cozy and deep compositions with a comforting sweetness and sensual elegance, this eau de parfum could be just the thing for you. A creation that is perfect for fall and winter and should be worn for every occasion. Even though the fragrance has the potential to be heavy and extremely opulent, Volupté Noire reveals a wonderful transparency and freshness, which is probably due to the bergamot, among other things. Pierre Guillaume’s eau de parfum is never oppressive, but is beautifully balanced, finely composed and very elegant throughout. A creation for all those who prefer warm, spicy and sweet fragrances. Really great!