Bvlgari Man in Black – Sweet Tobacco (Alberto Morillas, 2014)

Scentrack: Heather Nova – Gloomy Sunday

Source: Bvlgari

Bvlgari is mostly known by for clean and fresh fragrances, but when they launch a darker composition one could expect something to remember. Bvlgari Black was an iconic release, and it is so sad to see this gem discontinued. In 2014 Bvlgari launched Man in Black. It was created by Alberto Morillas, the perfumer that has defined most of Bvlgari’s fragrance portfolio. Master Morillas is famous for his fresh creations, but somehow I more prefer his darker side.

By the note list of Man in Black, one could expect a very dark, dense and niche-like creation. However, Man in Black is not so black. To my nose, it is more like burgundy. Man in Black is an extremely balanced creation. Dark, yet partly fresh. Full bodied, and again, not overpowering. Sexy, but also office friendly. It opens with a solid amount of spices. Easily recognizable for every nose, but hard to isolate a particular note. To my nose this complex and mellow spicy kick is made of pepper, cardamom, nutmeg and with just a touch of cinnamon. The boozy character is also present, and again hard to define is it a rum, Cognac, whiskey or schnaps. Tobacco is one of the main players in this composition. It is very mature, warm  and dark. In the heart is accompanied by almost a feminine touch of flowers – iris and tuberose, and soft suede. The base is woody with some resinous accords. Very nice. Sexy and again easy to wear. In fact, the whole composition is extremely easy to wear, although it is dark in its nature. In flanker of this creation – Man Black Orient, the whole composition is more niche like, with a strong kick of feminine tuberose and leather. Oriental to the bone. Other similar fragrance; there are some. Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb, but Man in Black is far superior. I also find some similarities with a hidden gem – Lalique pour Homme Equus. Equus is woodsier and transparent, but possesses similar sweet vibe (I cannot wait to review Equus).

To conclude, Man in Black is a very offering from Bvlgari. It has some mysterious character, and yet suitable for every occasion (except gym). Extremely balanced and likeable. Unfortunately with spotty performance. A perfect gift for your dad or husband. Nothing to dislike here.   

Longevity/ Projection

Solid (6-9 hours) / Below Average

Suggested Wearing

Days (even office) or nights/ Autumn, winter or spring

Alternatives

Viktor & Rolf Spicebomb – rather loud and unsophisticated compared to Man in Black

Bvlgari Man Black Orient – a more niche take in the theme

Lalique Pour Homme Equus – transparent and woodsier

Burberry London – less sweet and more green
YSL M7 - similar drydown

Pros

All-around player

Easy to wear and easy to like

Sexy

Nice bottle

Cons

Too polished and polite

Performance issues

Rating

7/10