I have to first preface that I have been using primarily Versacci, Prada, Armani, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein cologne for most of my life.
Rarely do I experiment with other brands but I have with a few such as Yves Saint Lauren L’Homme, LACOSTE – EAU DE LACOST L.12.12 ENERGIZED Edition – Eau De Toiulette Pour Homme and Creed’s Green Irish Tweed.
Recently, I received Michel Germain’s Sexual Noir Pour Homme.
Germain is from Canada and back in 2016, was rewarded with a lifetime achievement award.
The Sexual brand began with his women’s fragrance which was inspired by his wife Norma, who never wore much fragrance and back in 1989, a frustrated Germain told her that she wish she would wear more perfume and her reply, “If I could find one that would make me feel sexy and attractive” and her confidence in her reply and her expression led to Germain to create a fragrance that would be right for her and it was created out of love for his wife.
For men, it’s Sexual Noir which is meant to be mysterious, European and sexy.
Created with a masculine blend of Italian bergamot, crisp grapefruit with a blend of coriander and intoxicating lavender.
I received my Michel Germain Sexual Noir Pour Homme 3-Piece Gift Set for the holidays and it comes with a Eau de toilette spray (125ml/4.2 oz), aftershave (125 ml /4.2 oz) and alcohol-free deodorant (80g/2.8 oz).
For the cologne, the fragrance type is Fougere Woody with the top notes being Italian Bergamot, Crisp Grapefruit and Cardamom.
The middle notes are wild coriander, intoxicating lavender, orange blossom, musk and honey. While it’s base notes is Moss, Sweet Tobacco and Tonka Bean.
I noticed many who felt the cologne is very similar to Armani Code Ultimate but the ingredients are somewhat different. Both use grapefruit as its top note and tonka bean as a base note. But other than that, they are different. But it has more in common with Lanvin’s Avant Garde which is a woody fragrance that also features Italian Bergamot as a top note and tobacco as a base note.
If I had to compare to what I use that is similar, it’s like an under-powered L’Homme by Yves Saint Laurent, but again, this fragrance while similar, is very much different.
While it may not prevent me from going to it full-time, I do like the fragrance as it’s not overpowering and smells a bit fresh and woody.
I felt the lasting of the cologne is moderate, it’s not too poor and disappear within the first hour. Nor is it heavy in sillage, so it’s not too powerful that people would go crazy. But it’s not a break-through fragrance but more of playing it safe fragrance, especially if you are at a workplace with people who can’t take certain fragrances. I felt Michel Germain’s Sexual Noir is more of a fragrance that is quite safe.
Overall, a good fragrance and the gift set also includes an alcohol-free deodorant and aftershave.
But I do like this cologne for the colder season and for the entire set, it’s overall price is also quite affordable.
