Perfume Pen Pals: Lolita Lempicka Minuit Noir


Dan,

I wondered if Lolita Lempicka Minuit Noir might be one for you when I tried it yesterday at Nordstrom. It's much thicker licorice than the original, and much less sweet, though there is sweetness there. It's a limited edition in a black apple.

Katie





Katie,

Guess what I own? I smell like licorice, KP! And it's all because of you.

Minuit Noir comes on stronger than Kathleen Turner in Body Heat. And yet within the realm of my licorice/anise fragrances, it's different than the uncompromising Etro Anice, which seems almost directly from the plant, whereas Minuit Noir is licorice candy, still spicy and anise-like but sweeter and richer and slightly more floral. And it's somehow less gratingly artificial than I remember Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin, though I may be misremembering that one.


Minuit Noir is so gratifyingly bold for a department store perfume. And it's pretty masculine for a feminine. Though I think it would also be pretty feminine for a masculine. Which is another reason why it's great. And it's a flanker! What was the last flanker that excited either of us? (You can't count body butter.) It's just heartening all around, I love this stuff! Thanks for making me buy it. (That's called "transferring responsibility" and it's helped me out of a lot of jams.) I do have one problem with Minuit Noir, but it comes late enough that to even mention it may qualify as nitpicking. Around hour four, the licorice fades and the violet becomes more prominent. And I don't like the violet as much as I like the licorice. Still, it's not bad. Even at this late stage, it's merely violet, like almost every other violet: magnified, artificial, Choward's candy violet. Compared to hour four of most perfumes, I'll take it. Alright, I've got a second date tonight and I'm taking no chances with the violet: I showered and put on some Van Cleef & Arpels Cologne Noire. I hope she appreciates the gesture, if only subliminally. That is where my strength lies. Women adore me on a subliminal level. Dan

Minuit Noir via Choward's Violet via

24 comments:

  1. I saw Body Heat more times than I care to rememer, but it's been a while, and judging from this clip it seems to have a bit of trouble holding its own - Kathleen holding her breath seems not quite believable to me now, the tension being a postulate more than something that's apparent.

    However, the concept of the scene is appealing - to put it mildly, and if Minuit Noir will get me some of that I will hunt that one down instead of the regular Lolita Lempicka which I have been on the brink of ordering unsniffed several times (not in stores where I live). I love licorice in all shapes and forms! Dan, are you familiar with the regular LL for women version also, and if yes, what's your opinion on it? I seem to remember that Katie somehow appreciated it composition-wise although I also seem to remember a distaste for licorice in general.

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  2. Dan, don't diss subliminal. Women can tell when a man has made an effort and it is appreciated.

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  3. OMG, I'm laughing so hard on "coming on stronger that Kathleen Turner in Body Heat":) Now I'm curious about LL Minuit Noir, but don't know if I should dare to try... the licorice in the original one is already too much for me. But the violet drydown is so appealing to me...

    Hugs,

    S.

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  4. Dan - kudos for being loved subliminally. Serious. I have no idea of your age etc. - but if, like me, you're a man in your early 40's - subliminal is way better than the usual sledgehammer tactics guys in my demographic employ on the dating scene. Most guys I know my age who are single treat women as if they should clothe themselves in the golden light emanating from the guy's ass.

    A little is good, man. Trust me.

    As far as Lempicka - who knows? Have yet to try anything from the line.

    Stefush

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  5. Ah, Body Heat! My favorite scene is one of Turner's first lines: "You're not that bright, are you? I like that in a man."

    Dan, I'm sure I'm not your type but if I weren't married, I'd be stalking you by now. Subliminal indeed.

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  6. "Compared to hour four of most perfumes, I'll take it" -- A common lament when foraging through the landscape of mainstream commercial perfumery.

    But I've always loved the over the top kitsch of the Lempicka bottles, and how can any proper, cynical heart say no to a black apple? I'm not sure I'm on board with the licorice, but at least it's not a note that's overdone . . . right?

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  7. Junelady,

    Maybe Kathleen Turner's holding her breath because she doesn't like the smell of William Hurt's Minuit Noir. But she still appreciates him on a subliminal level.

    Even if you're only slightly interested in Minuit Noir, you'd better hustle to purchase it. It's a limited edition and seems to already be fading out of availability.

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  8. Denise,

    Oh yes, that's a great line, isn't it? And as far as Dan-stalking goes, I believe there's a queue.

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  9. Sabrina,

    I know you're goo-goo for violet, but if you don't like licorice, it's not worth you hacking through the licorice whip forest of Minuit Noir to reach its teensy violet meadow.


    Stefush,

    I've met a few of those guys, and whatever's emanating from their ass ain't golden light.

    For a bit more info on Dan Rolleri, readers are directed to click on the FAQ button at the top of the page and scroll down to "Who is Dan Rolleri?"

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  10. nathan,

    Love, love, LOVE those Lempicka bottles! And the Minuit Noir is particularly Tim Burtonesque in its goth whimsy.

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  11. Katie, you're right on availability. The only European site that seems to stock the darn thing is Debenham's - and they don't ship to Denmark. To Sweden. But not to Denmark. I have of course e-mailed Debenham's and encouraged them to change this unnecessary discriminatory practice. Meanwhile, I'll probably have to settle for the ordinary LL - if ordinary is a relevant term when it comes to a licorice perfurme.

    Nathan, the so-called niche pefurmes I've tried fare no better in the in infamous fourth hour than my mainstream darlings. Disappointment lurks around every corner. Hour four seems to be a difficult one and reapplication is to be considered.

    Katie, I hear you about the ass emissions! A bit of well-tempered modesty would make a nice change, but Dan and Stefush give me new hope in this matter.

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  12. Junelady,

    You might have to set up a Perfume Underground Railroad to safely ferry discriminated-against scents from Sweden to Denmark.

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  13. Junelady, I tried LL for women once and I only remember it being loud and licorice-y. Which isn't much help, I know, but I can't keep them all straight anymore. Have you noticed how many perfumes there are? (I think Minuit Noir is simply a headier, more floral version of the original LL.)

    And worry not, Stefush, nothing I do says "sledgehammer." I try to be as inconspicuous as possible. If I could date from a different dimension, I think I'd do quite well.

    And Denise, I've never been stalked because of my perfume collection, though I've experienced a good deal of blank stares. So thank you.

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  14. Junelady,

    Did you try ordering it direct from Lolita Lempicka? Click on the Minuit Noir link I provided under the post.

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  15. Ooh, this sounds intriguing! I find the original LL too sweet so this might be more up my road. Liquorice scents are on my perfume bucket list but I think I need to start small and work my way up. I hope there are still some bottles of Minuit Noir left in Paris for me to sniff. I'll let you know what I think if I find some.

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  16. Dan, "a headier, more floral version of the original" is quite helpful, thank you. Yes, I have noticed - there are quite a few scents to choose from. It's quite overwhelming.

    I think the blank stares are completely unwarranted - what's that about? I wouldn't hold a large perfume collection against an otherwise perfectly good man. Other types of collections could probably provoke a raised eyebrow or concern about possible character flaws. Obviously, a woman doesn't want to be out-gourgeoused perfume-wise (or otherwise) on a date and have her own choice of perfume seem tawdry, but you'd never do that, I'm sure - hence your change of frangrances for the date.

    Katie, no I haven't considered that possibility. That's because I'm a bit dense. Thank you. I seem to suffer from a WW2 mentality that holds that all good things come from the US and are therefore by definition unavailable. But LL is of course of European origin. Duh.

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  17. Okay I will rain on this parade. Midnite Noir smells like licorice rope candy, and IMAO it's flat, juvenile and unbecoming. I don't remember Kathleen Turner being flat, juvenile or unbecoming.

    Alls I'm sayins is that it's not licorice by way of anise like normal LL, LL au Masculin or the other Midnights in the LL stable. I would happily count this one as a scrubber. Sort of a LL version of Aquolina Pink Sugar? But to each their own. Just wanted to serve up some Haterade because I'm a LL fan and this was soooo disappointing to me when I sampled it last year.

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  18. N,

    I'll just help myself to a tiny sip of your proffered Haterade, thanks, only to be polite and also because licorice perfumes aren't my specialist subject. They can't be, because I thought the whole point with the original Lolita Lempicka was that it *was* juvenile, albeit sophisticatedly so (Dakota Fanning as opposed to Miley Cyrus?).

    Good to get an LL devotee's take.

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  19. hi Katie, I will take your advice on skipping the licorice on this one... it's not that I don't like it, I just don't care for licorice ATM, LOL:)

    Hugs,

    S.

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  20. OMG. I read the FAQ; what a mistake. I saw a picture of the adorable Dan and also learned that he likes baseball! Baseball and perfume! What are the odds?

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  21. Denise,

    Let the stalking officially commence!

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  22. I have to stop thinking I will like things because of how the bottle looks. It has patchouli and lichorice. I can't imagine something that will make me want to run away from myself more. Well except for Aromatics Elixir. I need to find a LL I love just so I can have the bottle.

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  23. Katie, I just want you to know that while the stalking has begun, it's YOU I adore! I love your blog so much; smart, sassy, and witty as hell. Even though I'm trapped in Chanel No. 5 for the rest of my days (I keep trying, but I can't find anything I love more than it), I thoroughly enjoy reading about and trying new scents, as if I'm on the hunt for perfection. You increase my enjoyment exponentially!

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  24. Denise,

    Wow - thanks for the glow job! So pleased KP Smells is putting a tiger in your tank.

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