Balmain has launched Carbone de Balmain, a new fragrance for men:
A modern and luminous fragrance, both spicy and woody, Carbone de Balmain is an enduring scent, worked around the black fig that is tinted with dark and sensual accents. A fragrance dedicated to a modern and urban man who has a passion for new technologies, performance, resistance and lightness.
The notes for the spicy fragrance include black fig, bourbon pepper, elemi resins, ivy, violet leaf, incense, benzoin, vetiver and musk.
Carbone de Balmain is available in 40 and 100 ml Eau de Toilette, and can be found now at Selfridges in the UK. (via selfridges)
Update: see a review of Carbone de Balmain.
I like all the notes except violet leaf and ivy….seems like violet leaf shows up a lot in “men’s” fragrances …the masculine pink pepper. And my previous experience with ivy is that it was a little bitter…I don’t like bitter.
On the other hand: Black fig, bourbon pepper, incense, benzoin, etc etc….mmmmm.
I’m with ya. It sounded so good, but violet leaf and ivy are certainly cause for concern.
And I’m not a modern and urban man with a passion for performance and resistance, so it must not be for me.
and what’s this about “resistance”? For guys who are political insurgents? Or is it code for “pain in the a** “? hmm? Maybe it’s a translation thing.
I am very fortunate not to have a PITA for a husband, so therefore I will not shake it up by trying to get him a sample of this.
I don’t mind bitter. But violet leaf is one of those notes that has started to make all men’s fragrances smell the same — just like pink pepper in women’s.
What a pretty bottle
The juice also sounds nice, but lists of notes aren’t always a good indication of the actual smell, as I’m quickly learning.
Agree on the bottle, looks nice & hefty.
I don’t like fig *leaf* (I find it really unpleasantly bitter), but if they’re saying “black fig” – well, that implies fruit only, no leaf, to me. I might like to sniff this.
I like the bottle: substantial, subdued, hefty. Nice.
Honesty don’t know if there is any difference at all in the chemicals they use to make “fig leaf” as opposed to “fig”. Maybe there is, I don’t know!
I don’t know either. I do know I absolutely hated… make that HATED… Premier Figuier’s cacky green stuff, while the fruity component was rather nice and have liked fig-fruit notes in other stuff (I can’t remember what, now).
Looks like the 40ml runs about $57 USD. The CEO has a birthday coming up – but there’s absolutely no point in buying him something unsniffed… especially as he’s clinging to the dregs of his Acqua di Gio. (“I like this! Why do I have to try something new? I’m still wearing the same kind of Levi’s and khakis and oxford shirts I was wearing in high school!”)
Selfridges has that Naughty Alice scent too. I think that’s grounds for a quick hop across the pond to sniff in person, don’t you?
Absolutely! I want to smell both. And the John Galliano things, although haven’t heard anything much good about them. And want to go try the teas at Miller Harris. Yeah, I can think of a few good reasons.
Road trip….er, boat trip? to the UK woohooo!
Let’s go!
Oh wait… I have work. And children. Dang.
party pooper!
WOW! this sounds Powerful! Must Smell!
It took their last women’s scent AGES to get officially distributed in the US — hope this is quicker.
I love me some Amber Gris. Looks like this one will be a must-sniff too.
I’ll have a black fig on ice please. Splash of vetiver, drop of incense. Hold the rest.
Black fig-yes. Incense-definitely. Pink pepper?- Nye!
Worth looking at, if only for the fig and incense and I do like many Balmain fragrances.
I loved all notes, except for the violet leaf. It’s a dull note that to me makes all masculines looks cheap and the same. I hope that this fig theme goes more on the green side than on the milky side.
What i don’t undestand is why Balmain relaunched Ebene but you cannot find it anywhere to be ordered? Their distribution chanel is odd. Here in Brazil, though, you find almost all Lalique scents without difficulty at shops. Flora Bella is one of my favorites, followed by Lalique Le Parfum, Encre Noire and Eau de Lalique.
Oh please let this be good, it sounds wonderful!
I have been watching out for the Ebene relaunch too, where is it?!
I can’t get past the name. All I can think of is that somewhere in my memory is a character in a movie called “Frankie Carbone.” Help me out, people – what am I thinking about?
Style Spy- That rings a bell w/ me also. Ugh!!!! The Godfather? Maybe Goodfellas? Can’t bring myself to watch that again. Once was enough, thanks.
Sounds positively delightful. I’m a sucker for fig, and add ivy, violet leaf and benzoin in the correct proportions and you’ve got me sold.
I have tried and love this cologne, not to strong and not to faint.