Perfume Review: Pomegranate Noir by Jo Malone
August 21st, 2006
I’m in the noir mood this week. Maybe it’s because fall is coming, and my nose inadvertently is seeking out scents that are redolent of harvested goods, especially those from the trees. I grew up around apple, pear, plum trees of any kind, and August was usually the prime picking time, and I would literally hang out in the garden and on said trees consuming large quantities of what they had to offer (and paying for it later, obviously). I really miss that, and, while on the subject, I’d like to mention something that I’ve wondered many times since I came to the U.S. - why is it so uncommon to grow apple/pear/plum trees in your yard? I’m not speaking for the whole country, of course. I’ve lived in the Midwest, and I’ve traveled around a bit, and never did I notice such a thing. But back to the noirness. Pomegranate Noir is my choice for today, and it’s not just for the reasons mentioned above. I first smelled it last year when it came out and acquired a bottle but ended up not wearing it enough, so it was promptly disposed of. Just last week, however, I was in a store, and was immersed in a most gorgeous incensy sillage coming from the sales lady. “Passage D’Enfer! No doubt!” thought I. “What perfume are you wearing?” was my next verbal question to which I thought I already knew the answer but thought I’d seize the opportunity to show off my perfume knowledge. Busted! Pomegranate Noir. No. Way. Within 24 hours, a bottle was on my dresser.
Pomegranate Noir is a cologne by Jo Malone, a British perfumer. While I adore the scent, everything about it (except the smell) just seems odd. First of all, I’d never call it a cologne. It has all the attributes of eau de parfum. Second, it’s listed under the Fruity category on Jo Malone web site when fruit is the last thing I smell here. Third, it does not smell like a pomegranate. It smells like potpourri, pine trees (co-worker’s comment today), incense, dried fruit, patchouli - leather, if you will! Fourth, it’s supposed to be “inspired by the allure of a scarlet-coloured silk dress”. Silk? Scarlet-coloured? How about a heavy black brocade drape? Please don’t get me wrong. My intention is not to question/mock anything. I just couldn’t help but notice these discrepancies. My mistaking it for Passage D’Enfer wasn’t accidental. Both scents are heavy on frankincense, except Pomegranate Noir delivers on the noir promise by adding patchouli and plum while The Passage Through Hell is marked by so much musk it takes me straight into the bathtub filled with soap bubbles.
Pomegranate Noir can be found at Saks and Neiman Marcus stores and online, as well as directly from the Jo Malone online shop.
Image source: www.jomalone.co.uk
Entry Filed under: Perfume Reviews
21 Comments Add your own
1. Shifts | August 22nd, 2006 at 6:39 am
For some reason you always seem to either write reviews of fragrances I love or am curious about. I still haven’t tried Pomegranate Noir and my curiousity got more intense after reading this review. Thanks a lot!
2. Elle | August 22nd, 2006 at 7:09 am
OK…uncle…I may have to fork over for Pom Noir. Great review! When I first tried it it reminded me of Harissa or Piment Brulant, but when I retried it recently it no longer did - bizarre skin chemistry.
3. March | August 22nd, 2006 at 7:18 am
Heh heh!!! You and I will have to agree to disagree on this one. Although I feel very, very sorry that PdeE takes you to the 5th circle of soap hell, one of my least favorite places (slightly above play-doh hell.) Sariah said PdeE smells like liver to her, and I don’t think she meant that in a GOOD way…
But the Pom Noir!!! I think that’s JM’s love-it-or-hate-it. I actually think it would be okay on/to me if all I got was the Noir. But the Pom… ugh, it is the precise smell of uncorking a bottle of red you opened the day before, and realizing it’s gone off. I do agree it is much, much stronger than most of the rest (French Lime Blossom is pretty strong too.)
4. Marina | August 22nd, 2006 at 7:55 am
“Within 24 hours, a bottle was on my dresser.” Funny how those bottles just appear in our homes. I think they grow out of our perfume cabinets.
I love this one. Have loved for ages. There rerally is no sane explanation of I still don’t own a bottle and live on decants! I am going to sit back now and wait for a bottle to appear on my dresser.
5. Ina | August 22nd, 2006 at 8:25 am
Shifts, I’m psychic!
Do try PN soon. You won’t regret it.
6. Ina | August 22nd, 2006 at 8:26 am
Elle-uncle, I can see the similarity with Harissa more than Piment Brulant (a majorly watered down version, if at all).
7. Ina | August 22nd, 2006 at 8:27 am
March, liver?? LOL! As in cooked liver, I hope? Still not good. What a great observation, though, about wine! Never thought of it but can totally see how PN can be characterized as a wine scent.
8. Ina | August 22nd, 2006 at 8:28 am
Marina, a total mystery, isn’t it? I just wish it worked on Serge Lutens non-exports and all those shmancy Guerlains…
9. Judith | August 22nd, 2006 at 8:55 am
Well, I probably should retry this. I didn’t smell a similarity to PdE (which I love), and as March says, the Noir was fine, but the Pom–my nose registered it as too fruity for me, but perhaps it was only old wine.
(It’s worth noting, though, that “too fruity for me” includes pretty much all fruits in fragrances save for the peach in Mitsouko and similar:)
10. Ina | August 22nd, 2006 at 9:05 am
Judith, it’s not similar to PdE when you smell it from the bottle but on a person, it really does smell incensey.Do retry it and let me know.
11. chaya ruchama | August 22nd, 2006 at 9:45 am
Smelled it, liked it, didn’t buy it…
I was all hot and bothered to test it, after reading rave reviews, but I guess it wasn’t quite Noir enough, nor Pom enough.
Good thing, though- the LAST thing I need is more bottles!
I’d like to be like you and Marina, and wait for my bureau to spontaneously generate my favorite jus…
Love you-
12. Ina | August 22nd, 2006 at 10:03 am
Chaya, I suggest you try it again.
13. greeneyes | August 22nd, 2006 at 11:59 am
I had dismissed this because it was, as you point out, listed under fruit on the Jo Malone site. It sounds perfect for fall. I’m trying to get through floral samples before Labor Day…even though I kid myself, it stays warm here for so long, I just want to switch over to more incense and woods. Yum. I can just go ahead with fall in my mind, even if nature won’t cooperate!
14. March | August 22nd, 2006 at 12:06 pm
Ina — I don’t actually know what liver smells like, so I’m not sure. It just sounds like something that smells bad! I smelled it on her and admit it did smell rather peculiar — sort of musty.
15. Ina | August 22nd, 2006 at 12:14 pm
Greeneyes, do try it when you get a chance! I’m switching to incense and woods no matter what the weather tells me.
16. Ina | August 22nd, 2006 at 12:15 pm
March, fried liver smells awesome!
Fresh liver, though, a whole other story.
17. Patty | August 22nd, 2006 at 1:35 pm
Oh, dear, how can we disagree so strongly on this one!?!? I put it on, wanted to love it, and all I could smell was patchouli, it was hideous on me. A bottle of that gets anywhere near me, I call the exorcist. But I’m glad it has fans.
18. Ina | August 22nd, 2006 at 2:00 pm
Patty, are you serious? That’s a bummer. I truly adore it.
19. KJBishop.net » Blog&hellip | March 11th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
[…] Thanks to Geoff for letting me post this. I love coincidences and am inclined to look for messages in them. The obvious one here is that I should get around to seeing Laputa. I checked out a review of the Pom (actually Pomegranate) Noir fragrance, in which the reviewer likens it to one of my favourite scents, Passage D’Enfer. Here’s the online shop. I probably won’t be buying a bottle as the exchange rate from pounds to other currency makes it rather expensive, but it does sound nice. […]
20. Joey Gonzalez | July 6th, 2007 at 1:23 am
Pomegranate is a Fruit, thusfore it’s naturally under the Fruity Section, yet the Mystery is that it has the Woodsy mix very exquisitely of Patchouli very undertoned. From Someone here who mixes essential oils for many reasons, Aromatherapy, massage, or just fragrance. This Scent captivates a mystery that lingers, It’s Essence it’s both Alluring and Mystical and spiritual
by far it’s absolutely outstanding, and I believe Jo Malone is Irish, regardless she’s someone I admire. as in my creation and talent to mix several scents. It takes a tactful nose to create such Generous Essences. I would only hope that it get’s fabricated to last longer.
21. melissa | December 2nd, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Hi there - I actually just picked up PN this week! I tried a few samples of her other fragrances, but the unusual woodsy undertone was so unique, I couldn’t help but pick up a bottle.
I’m not sure I’d wear this come spring or summer, but going into the holidays, it’s a great deep and rich scent!
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