The names suggest that Noir Extreme is simply a stronger Noir. It is not. The two share a bottle shape and a mood — warm, evening, grown-up — but they are built on different ideas, and people who love one do not always like the other.
Tom Ford Noir (2012): the notes
- Opens: violet, pink pepper, caraway, bergamot, verbena
- Heart: Tuscan iris, Bulgarian rose, black pepper, nutmeg, geranium, clary sage
- Dries down: patchouli, amber, vanilla, civet, leather, opoponax, benzoin, vetiver, styrax
Noir, by Olivier Gillotin, is the more classical of the two: peppery and herbal at the top, iris and rose in the heart, and a dark base of leather, resins and a touch of civet. It is spicy and a little old-school — closer to a traditional gentleman's fragrance than to anything sweet.
Tom Ford Noir Extreme (2015): the notes
- Opens: cardamom, nutmeg, saffron, mandarin orange
- Heart: kulfi, rose, mastic, orange blossom
- Dries down: vanilla, amber, woody notes, sandalwood
Noir Extreme drops the pepper and leather and goes gourmand. Its centre is kulfi — the Indian dessert of cardamom and reduced milk — which makes it creamy and gently sweet, with rose and orange blossom on top and vanilla, amber and sandalwood underneath.
Side by side
| Noir | Noir Extreme | |
|---|---|---|
| Character | Spicy, herbal, leathery | Creamy, sweet-spicy, woody |
| Sweetness | Low | Medium |
| Feel | Classic, dry, a little animalic | Modern, rich, comforting |
| Choose it if | You like pepper, iris and leather | You like vanilla, cardamom and warmth |
Which one to try
Noir Extreme is the one most people mean when they recommend "Tom Ford Noir", and it is the one we carry. If you want something darker still, with leather and suede in the base, its sibling Noir Extreme Parfum is the next step — we compare the two in Noir Extreme vs Noir Extreme Parfum.
If you like the dry, iris-and-leather side of the original Noir, look at Dior Homme Parfum, which takes iris in the same direction.
Questions
Is Noir Extreme stronger than Noir?
Not in the way the name suggests. It is a different fragrance: sweeter and creamier, built around kulfi and vanilla rather than pepper, iris and leather.
What does Tom Ford Noir Extreme smell like?
Cardamom, nutmeg and saffron over a creamy kulfi and rose heart, drying down to vanilla, amber and sandalwood.
Is Tom Ford Noir Extreme for winter or summer?
Winter, autumn and cool evenings. In Egyptian summer, wear it lightly and at night.
Are the decants original?
Yes. Noir Extreme and Noir Extreme Parfum are poured in Cairo from original Tom Ford bottles when you order.