There is quite of lot of excitement surrounding Crabtree & Evelyn Black Absinthe at the moment, it recently won Bronze at the Pure Beauty Awards and it was also a finalist at the Beauty Magazine Awards. Maybe it was the buzz, or maybe it was intrigue for the name, I’m not sure, but I knew I wanted to try this fragrance for myself!
Inspiration
Absinthe began life as an herbal tincture before transforming into the muse of the French bohemian crowd in what became known as the “green hour”. It was drunk as a way to relax and thought by some to increase creativity.
Notes
Top Notes: Absinthe, Star Anise, Fennel Flower, Cardamom, Bergamot
Heart Notes: Artemisia, Liquorice, French Lavender, Orange Blossom
Base Notes: Tonka Bean, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Oakwood, Musk
My Thoughts
Black Absinthe is a brave fragrance, especially for a brand like Crabtree & Evelyn who are known for their quality and tradition. This fragrance contains quite a few love-or-hate notes like anise, fennel, liquorice and of course, absinthe. It won’t appeal to everyone, but then, the best things in life don’t! At the top of this fragrance you catch a nice heavy hit of warm and spicy Anise, Fennel and Cardamom. At the heart, I can smell the liquorice, vetiver and artemisia. The base is heavy and complex; lots of wood, powdery notes, incense, smoke and a touch of sweetness. Technically Black Absinthe is for men, but I really love it on my skin. I gave the bottle to my boyfriend to wear and he also loves it, he instantly picked up on the liquorice and anise and he commented on how warm and complex it is. This fragrance feels like reading an old book about vagabonds and bohemians boozing in New Orleans or Montmartre, Paris. It’s late nights in an old bar, it’s complex yet carefree, it settles into a warm, sweet, woody anise scent. My boyfriend quickly squirrelled this one away, I’m happy he likes it, it’s pretty darn good!
