Bvlgari Man in Black Review – A Boozy, Spicy and Mythical Journey

Before this perfume, I had all the oriental, floral, woody, and musky experiences. Wanted to try something new and smell different. Wanted to embark upon a different journey. During a routine shopping spree in the mall, I detached myself from the family and went inside the perfume shop. A black bottle with golden engravings caught my eye and called out to me. Try me, I am Bvlgari Man in Black.

This perfume was instant love for me. Opening of Rum Note did the trick. It was a perfect different thing, that I was looking for. Bought it there and then.

I know you would be interested in the longevity, sillage, and projection of Bvlgari Man in Black during this review. And we will talk about it in detail, but take my word for it. It is all about the opening of a mixture of spices and boozy notes here that will do the trick.

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Summary of Bvlgari Man in Black Review

Life is fast and to ease up your buying decision, let me help you with the summary of this wonderful perfume

1. A perfect opening note of Rum, tobacco, and spices.
2. Dry-down is woody, sweet and leathery.
3. Not the most refined Iris note.
4. A fall and Winter oriented perfume.
5. Longevity is descent with 6-8 hours.
6. Sillag is moderate.
7. A close to skin Perfume type.
8. Price is fair with respect to value for money.
9. Often compared to Spicebomb Extreme, but my vote is for Bvlgari Man in Black.
10. A pure Masculine scent.

A perfect Fall and Winter evenings companion, that would sit close to your skin. It is a “Come close to me and Fall in Love” type fragrance. Boozy, Spicy and Woody with descent longevity

Imran Satti

1. PERFUME HOUSE – Bvlgari
2. JOUNRE – DESIGNER PERFUME
3. CLASSIFICATION – Warm Spicy, Boozy, Leather, Tobacco
4. FIRST PRODUCTION – 2014
5. OIL CONCENTRATION – EAU DE PARFUM
6. DOMINANT NOTES – Spices, Rum, Tobacco, Iris Guaiac Wood
   1. TOP NOTES – Spices, RUm, Tobacco
   2. HEART NOTES – Leather, Iris, Tuberose
   3. BASE NOTES – Tonka Bean, Guaiac Wood, Benzoin
7. GENDER & AGE – MALE, 23+
8. RECOMMENDED SEASON – WINTERS & FALL
9. OCCASIONS – Evening get togethers, Socializing, Clubbing, Dates
10. DRESS CODE – CASUAL
11. LONGEVITY – INDOOR 6-8 HRS, OUTDOORS 3-5 HRS
12. SILLAGE – 30-45 MINUTES MAX, NOT SO DECENT PROJECTION
13. NO OF SPRAYS – 5-6
14. UNIQUENESS – 8/10
15. COMPLIMENTS – 7/10
16. LIKEABILITY – 7/10
17. VALUE TO MONEY – 9/10

Theme & Inspiration of Bvlgari Man in Black

Bvlgari or Bulgari as a company has a history in high-end jewelry making. Founded in 1884 by Sotirio Bulgari in Rome, Italy, Bvlgari soon made its way into high-end clientage.

The fragrance collection, although not the USP of the company, still has an up-class refinement and attraction for the people aspiring to have a designer perfume in their collection.

A reiteration/ reformulation of the original Bvlgari Man from 2010. It is one of the most iconic perfume ventures by Bvlgari, which made its way into the masses and fanatics of perfume admirers.

The reason is as simple as it can be. It is different. It is refined for the price point and it stands out. A bold step of combining three rushes of warmth together.

The Booziness, the spices, and tobacco in the opening. Seriously, it is a massive bold step. That was taken right by the perfumer, Alberto Morillas.

The theme of Bvlgari Man in Black revolves around fire. Fire is something that resembles the desire of a man that he holds inside.

You need to go close to him to unleash and to know his powers. Fire is addictive and you just want to glare at it endlessly. You want to see into it and through it. With every gush, you see a new variation of color. And it is all there in the perfume.

You need to wear it to feel it. You need to soak it in. Take a deep breath and you will uncover the mysteries a man has to possess.

The Presentation & Bottle Design

The perfume presentation would give you a perfect vibe of inspiration from a high-end jewelry color design. A dark matt black background with glossy and matty Golden engravings. A classy bottle that fits well into the overall Fire & masculine theme.

The box is simple and yet has enough details to stand out from the crowd.

There are some tricks inside the box as well. Especially the instructions for the rotation of the sprayer lock/ unlock cover, which you won’t see in the counterfeit boxes.

The bottle is matt black with shiny black on the upper quarter. And yes, you can not see through it to know the quantity of juice inside. For some, it is a disadvantage but then do not forget the theme and presentation. You can not see through a man either who is mysterious and yet is holding so much fire inside.

I like the bottle presentation and color scheme used. The bottle is heavy and yet it gives a plastic feel. This is a little disappointing as a glass bottle gives a more elite feel than plastic.

The sprayer is decent and has a good locking mechanism. You have to rotate the cap to unlock the sprayer. To me, this also denotes that the right twist can unlock the mysterious inside of an Introvert person.

Also, this perfume is counterfeit a lot, so know the differences between the original and fake Bvlgari Man in Black before doing a purchase.

Glowing with the energy of Fire – a symbol representing the origins of humanity – Bvlgari Man in Black unleashes the vibrant and sacred power of this natural element within a spicy ambery scent. Irresistibly sensual and iconic, the fragrance’s neo-oriental accord incarnates the ancestral roots of man and his almost mythical life.

Words from Bvlgari

BVLGARI Man in Black Notes

It is amazing how something that uses so less can produce so much. There are not many notes in play here, however, the blend and mastery are amazing to drive you crazy.

Opening Notes – You will Love the New You

Not much here. Spices, Rum, and Tobacco are used in opening notes.

But what they do together is amazing. Rum note is potent and in control. Spices and tobacco shoulder it to mystery, mesmerizing, and at times, for some, a put-off may be.

But it is the change that you will take you away from all the ordinary perfumes for winter.

The projection is decent in the initial phase. You will feel the whiffs of Rum notes coupled with sweet tobacco and spices.

Rum and tobacco notes are different in their characteristics. A coolness with the harshness of tobacco. But the ratio is so perfect that tobacco never overtakes Rum. And the warmth in winter that you need is provided by the spices. I feel a mix of coriander and Nutmeg alongside star anise, but it is not mentioned which spices notes are actually used.

However, to my disappointment, this phase is very short-lived. Maybe 20 minutes max before it settles down and sweet tobacco and spices start to overtake the Booziness.

Another perfume that i love for its rum note is Bentley For Men Intense.

Heart Notes – Unleash the earthy journey

The leather, Iris, and Tuberose are put into the heart notes of Bvlgari Man in Black perfume

The dominant note here is the leather. Leather is a very earthy scent note, which, when used right puts you in a trance. You want to smell it over and over again. Whereas the Iris note is all about the powdery lipstick scent which has a mysterious suede texture into it.

Well, the Iris note is not so much there. Iris is a very refined note which is extracted from the roots of the Iris Plant. And the process is very delicate and time-consuming. It is said that roots are dried for a minimum of six years before the perfect note can be extracted. It has an earthy, powdery, and suede texture. Normally this note is associated with feminine Scents but is used mostly for masculine perfumes as well.

This note is not up to my taste here but it does compliment the leathery note in a way that removes the harshness and brings in the subtleness of powdery and suede notes and adds depth to the perfume.

Overall this phase would last for an hour or so before the perfume goes into the dryness of woody and sweetness of tonka beans notes.

The Base Notes – A not so good dry down

Tonka Beans, Guaiac Wood, and Benzoin have been used in the base notes of Bvlgari Man in Black perfume.

The dry-down is not bad. It is just that I really have to smell it very close to even feel it. There is no projection whatsoever. It is a little animalic and synthetic in this phase. The rum, tobacco, and spices are all gone. What I smell is leather and wood with hints of the woody forest.

A not very good phase in my experience. I love the perfume for initial 3-4 hours only. And want to forget about the last hour. I normally re-apply this perfume after 4 hours if I have to.

But then being the evening scent, I don’t need the perfume for that long also. Evening and Nightwear perfume, do not need to go for more than 4 hours.

And Bvlgari Man in Black does tick the boxes with its opening and heart notes.

Bvlgari Man in Black Perfume Review – My Experience and Suggestions

To be fair. This perfume might not be for all. Or let me say Bvlgari man in Black should not be your first perfume. It is for the people who have used the usual perfumes and are now looking for a change.

Also, this is not the perfume for the people who want massive projection and a long scent trail.

Having said that, this Perfume is still my go-to perfume for winter and fall evenings. I love the boozy note alongside spices and leather and a little bit of not-so-refined Iris Note. The sweet tobacco remains in the background for a long time and that adds a good rawness.

Iris is one of my favorite notes due to my love for Dior Homme Intense which is all about the Iris.

I am not much satisfied with the longevity and the fact that it settles very close to the skin very rapidly. The change of initial phase notes from heart notes is very abrupt.

And you would only appreciate this fact if you know the theme and why a theme plays the role that it has to, in appreciating a perfume. And not everyone does that. It happens and comes into you after you spend some time with the perfumes.

If you are someone who wants projection, longevity and a winter masterpiece then go with Oud Ispahan by Dior. But then it is the usual oriental smell.

As said before, Bvlgari Man in Black is for the people who want a change and who are strong enough to try bold perfumes.

My other suggestion would be to try this perfume first, before making a purchase decision. And do purchase from authentic shops or reputable physical shops or online stores.

There is an upward trend in the counterfeit production of perfumes as we have discussed in our review of original vs fake Bleu De Chanel perfume.

Let us discuss in detail the longevity, projection, and sillage of Bvlgari Man in Black perfume.

Longevity, Projection and Sillage of Bvlgari Man in Black

Bvlgari Man in black only comes in one concentration. Which is Eau De Parfum. As per my experience and approximation, the concentration of oils is about 13-15 % max.

If I am outside in the evening for any occasion then there is a need for re-application. For this purpose, I always carry a refillable travel perfume atomizer with me. You will be needing one if you develop a love for this perfume.

Bvlgari stayed away from EDT, and Parfum variants. Maybe because it is difficult to handle the notes here. If you want to dig down the essence of different concentrations, then, must read the comparison article on the EDT vs EDP vs Parfum variant of Bleu De Chanel.

The Projection is not much and what so ever is there, you will notice it for initial 20-25 minutes only. You would get whiffs of spices, rum, and tobacco. There onwards it will settle close to your skin. It is not a mass appealing perfume either. It is for you and your close ones.

And the statement holds good for sillage as well. This perfume would not give headaches to people around you in close spaces. If you are on a date or in a club then this perfume is good for making a statement to close ones.

Dress and Occasion

A winter evening perfume that is good for clubbing, date night, or dinner in close spaces. The dress needs to be casual to go with the notes of this perfume. You should definitely not try this perfume in offices or meetings or definitely it is a big no for formal occasions.

You must wear a Black Leather Jacket with this perfume which would add to the theme of the perfume. The tobacco, leather, and Rum note alongside a hint of tuberose and dry-down of earthy and woody notes are a perfect match for a leather jacket.

Likeability and Compliments

Do not expect wonders here. It is a bold and different perfume that is not for all. And complement factor is directly related to usual notes and projection. Which this perfume is not. It is not your usual Sauvage EDP that is aimed at getting loads of compliments.

This perfume is for Introvert people. It is themed around the desire which remains inside and does not explode.

This perfume is not for compliments. You should not wear it everywhere. A perfume for dark, chilly winter nights and shines with dark clothes.

And if you want to flirt a little then wear it on dark red.

Age and Gender

In my opinion, it is raw and yet a mature perfume. I would say anyone over the age of 22-23 can wear it, provided you know how to carry this fragrance?

Definitely not for all occasions type perfume. And also this perfume is not for everyone either. You would only appreciate it if you know what is going on behind this perfume.

A perfect masculine, dark and mystical perfume.

Ladies, do not even try it!

Uniqueness and value for Money

For uniqueness, I would rate this perfume 9 out of 10. It is a perfect blend of Tobacco, Rum, Spices, and Iris. The leather and woody tones. It has so little and yet it has everything.

For me, this perfume has a price tag with which I am comfortable. Although in this price range you can get so many other designer perfumes those would be your usual things. And every other person would be wearing them.

I would suggest, going for a different thing and standing out in the crowd.

FAQs

Pros – Bvlgari Man in Black

1. An unusual and unique scent
2. The price point is sweet
3. A perfect Rum and tobacco note in opening
4. A good bottle design
5. A locking and unlocking spritz mechanism is good to prevent accidental spillage

Cons – Bvlgari Man in Black

1. Bvlgari Man in Black should not be your first perfume
2. Projection and sillage are not massive and very short-lived
3. A not-so-monstrous longevity
4. Not good mist from the sprayer

Parting Thoughts

Bvlgari Man in Black is not your usual perfume. It does not project or last much. And yet it is unique and a change that one needs from usual scents.

One must try this perfume to appreciate the things going on in the background. I liked this perfume instantly. And my recommendation for you would be, to get a sample first. Try it and then buy it.

Happy Perfuming!