Coco Noir by Chanel is an Amber Woody fragrance for women. The nose behind this fragrance is Chanel perfumer Jacques Polge and Christopher Sheldrake. Coco Noir was launched in 2012 as an Eau de Parfum.
It’s part of Chanel’s iconic Coco collection. It’s a flanker of the original Coco fragrance. It was a hit when it was released, and while it’s still pretty popular other flankers, such as Coco Mademoiselle, are still more in demand.
The keynotes of this Amber Woody fragrance are Orange, Rose, Geranium, Peach, Sandalwood, Tonka bean, Vanilla, and Musk.
From the perfumer:
“For Coco Noir, I thought of Coco and of Coco Mademoiselle too, because it’s also part of the history. I wanted to continue exploring an entire esthetic range of Chanel perfumery, a range that distinguishes itself from the Florals, one that is illustrated by Bois-des-Iles and Cuir de Russie. I took it up with Coco. It’s what I like to call the Chanel Coromandel culture, what you see and feel in her apartment. The night vision of the ‘Orient that starts and ends in Venice’ imposed itself upon me and that is where I wanted to go.”
| Perfume Name | Coco Noir |
| Brand | Chanel |
| Year Released | 2012 |
| Concentration | Eau de Parfum |
| Scent Family | Amber Woody |
| Gender | women |
Coco Noir is one of the samples I recently ordered from my local stockist. I tried it long ago when it was launched, but I decided it was time to spend some proper time with this incredible scent to see if I might want to add it to my collection.
What does Coco Noir by Chanel smell like?
Coco Noir smells citrusy with a hint of a peppery spice, followed by florals, sandalwood, vanilla, and musk.
It makes me think of an attractive woman in a sexy black dress and red lipstick that’s brimming with confidence. I see Coco Noir as a darker, more grown-up version of Coco Mademoiselle – sort of like an older sexier cousin.
The sandalwood, Cloves, and benzoin give this more depth and darken the bright, fresh Coco Mademoiselle framework. Although I can’t imagine someone not liking Coco Noir if they like Coco Mademoiselle.
It’s very similar to Coco Mademoiselle, except less sweet, more patchouli, and less citrus. It is slightly more masculine leaning but very lovely. Coco Noir definitely feels a lot more modern than the original Coco, and to be honest, it’s hard to detect much of the original Coco in this scent. The citrus opening and the peach notes also remind me of Chanel Allure.
| Top Notes | Grapefruit, Bergamot and Orange |
| Middle Notes | Rose, Geranium, Jasmine, Narcissus and Peach |
| Base Notes | Patchouli, Sandalwood, Olibanum, Tonka Bean, Vanille, White Musk, Cloves and Benzoin |
My Experience
Coco Noir opens as a clean and citrusy musk. My nose picks up more of the orange than grapefruit or bergamot. The opening makes me think of fancy fizzy champagne and fresh oranges. I can pick up a hint of a peppery spice in the opening, but it’s super subtle.
After a while, it feels like the fizziness dissipates, and the scent goes a bit darker. Here the florals and the sweet peach really start to come through. Of all the florals, the powdery rose, and the peppery geranium is the most evident.
The dry down is a sweet and fruity musk with the sandalwood rounding it out. Coco Noir definitely becomes sweeter at this stage, with the Tonka bean and vanilla becoming more prominent.
Although the opening is similar to Coco Mademoiselle, the citrus in Coco Noir is toned down and gives way to an elegant sweetness. There’s a hint of clove as a nod to the original Coco, which I don’t particularly like. I find it a bit out of place, but thankfully it’s really soft and only noticeable in the opening.
Sillage & Projection
On my skin, the sillage is intimate. It clings to my skin like warm silk, creating a distinctive but intimate aura. The projection of Coco Noir on me is also very soft.
Longevity & Versatility
The longevity of Coco Noir is moderate. It lasts about 3 hours on my skin.
This is definitely a fall and winter scent. It would feel completely out of place in the summer, for example. However, it’s a great fit for both day and nighttime wear. It’s definitely a safe scent, but it’s definitely not boring. You can wear it to the office, on a date, or really just anywhere. Coco Noir is definitely a win if you want to be low-key while smelling “tailored”.
Closing thoughts
Coco Noir will appeal to the woman who likes Coco Mademoiselle or more fruity-spicy scents. It could also be for some that love Coco Mademoiselle but want something a bit more unique as it’s less popular than Mademoiselle.
This is a very safe blind buy if you are buying for a Chanel woman, as the scent has that clear Chanel DNA otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend a blind buy. I’d recommend this fragrance to women in their 30s- late 50s as this fragrance has quite a mature vibe to it.