Magie Noir by Gerard Goupie for Lancome 1978

/ australianperfumejunkiescom

Hello everyone Fume obsessed or otherwise,

I am a frag whore, slag, slut, it’s true. If you could see the crazy collection of bottles, decants, samples and paraphernalia that i have collected you would be aghast at my disgustingly hoarderish, greedy, spoiled brat ways. Even I suffer the odd pang of WTF sometimes when faced with the ridiculous enormity of my obsession and then something comes along that reminds me why I go to all this trouble and expense.

Magie Noir by Lancome

Photo Stolen Fragrantica

Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Bulgarian rose, galbanum (bitter, green, musky), hyacinth, cassia/cassis (blackcurrant buds and leaves), raspberry, bergamot
Heart: Ylang yland, orris, cedar, jasmine, narcissus, lily of the valley, tuberose, honey
Base: Patchouli, incense, musk, myrrh, vetiver, amber, sandalwood, oakmoss, civet, spices

Magie Noir (Mah-Zhee Nou-Ah) means Black Magic which frankly scares me to widdling my pants. I am reviewing the current formulation that I bought as a decant. The opening on my skin and to my nose is all old school perfume with a bitter, sexy, animal rush that is like a prelude, as if Magie noir wants to show you everything it’s capable of in a moment that lasts almost a minute before the leaves, stems and unripe fruit take their places at the head of the parade. I think it is the galbanum that already seems to have its base notes of wood, musk and civet on the sustaining chorus parts.

Photo Stolen lovespells-magicspells

Not too far further in and the flowers, spicy, honeyed rose and sensual white flowers with the siren call of narcissus all combine to explode upon your person and drift into the ether like the cartoon snakes of fragrance that reach out and capture peoples minds and hearts, all the while leading the inexorably to their doom. It’s hard to feel any less that a saucy seductress with a Salome like power when wearing this lovely and alluring wildcat of a fragrance. Magie Noir is only a loud, strong and pervasive scent for about an hour. After that it quiets down to some seriously sexy and lavishly luxurious accords that put me in mind of the way my imagination tells me that Scheherazade’s skin must have smelled, spicy, sensual, cool but inviting and slowly ripening as the night wore on. I can only imagine how outrageously naughty Magie Noir must have smelled originally and in extrait form. The mind sincerely boggles.

Unfortunately at around the 4 hour mark I become anosmic to Magie Noir but I still get compliments on it long after I have lost any sense of being perfumed. Maybe i am a little bit spicier that normal but really it’s the way I would expect me to smell always if I thought about it.
Definitely NSFW, no matter how scent OK your workplace is this will fuddle everyones brain’s, you could wear it to dinner if there was at least an hours window between spritz and sitting down, same with cinema but most other activities you would be good. Especially good for sexy rendevous, if this doesn’t work on them nothing will because Magie Noir could wake the dead and bring them back.

Dali-LaFemmeVisible Photo Stolen centaurgalleries

PerfumeSmellin’Things and PerfumeShrine for further, deeper reading
TradeServices are still offering what looks like an old 50ml EdT $54 (pictured at top)
FragranceX has the current 75ml EdT $63
MyPerfumeSamples start at $2/ml but I bought 5ml for $7 (CRAZY good value)

Hopefully your world’s magic will stay white but if it has to be black make it Lancome or Sarah Vaughan (below).

Have you tried Magie Noir? Do you remember the old formulations and what is different to you?
Till tomorrow, take care of yourselves,
Portia xx

22 thoughts on “Magie Noir by Gerard Goupie for Lancome 1978”

  1. I wore this in high school, and loved it so much, it was rich and delicious. I just got a used bottle on ebay, and I am not sure if it is off a bit, because quite a bit is missing, and something is not quite right. I still like it, but I may need an unopened bottle to see for sure.

    I wonder what the oil smells like. It is ridiculously expensive for half an ounce, that I may never find out.

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    • This is the problem isn’t it. Once they start messing with formula.
      I think we may be in for about a decade of crap frags until they get their inventing socks on and replicate the banned stuff properly.
      Is that retail or eBay oil?
      Portia xx

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      • The oils that I have seen, are on ebay. I have seen it range from $69- $179 per 1/2 ounce.
        That is not in my budget, especially since I have no way of smelling it before I buy.

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        • OMG!! I did buy a Vintage Bellodgia 1/2 ounce oil recently from eBay and it is so lavishly gorgeous but it wasn’t even nearly as pricey as that. I think it can stay there at that price, I have more urgent frag needs.
          He He He
          Portia x

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  2. Mmmm, Magie Noir. I have a mini in the black disc shaped bottle with the orange and red bands. I’m guessing it’s a slightly older version. Salome and Scheherazade are good analogies. I have to admit wearing this one seems to wash away the gray haired, middle-aged, frumpiness I sometimes feel.
    I love that etching! But I’m so dyslexic when I first read the caption I thought it said it came from “scent allergies” not centaurgalleries. Oops.

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    • Being Lyxdexic is hard Tatiana,
      I am not but my mind is lazy and sometimes if I’m not concentrating I read things funny. we are all thinking about scent allergies at the moment.
      Did you see on 1000Flowers that Chanel No 5 will cease production in 2013? I wonder if it’s true.
      Portia x

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      • I really wish they’d stop regulating everything to death. I have allergies, but I know how to handle them. I’m also allergic to cigarette smoke but no one seems to outlaw that, so I just take my allergy med and move on. I hope they don’t stop making Chanel’s. I am so in love with so many of the scents in the Exclusifs line. Then again, I love 19 and Coco and Cristalle, too. I love my chypres. Leave my oakmoss alone! Please?

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  4. Hey Portia,

    I haven’t tried old or new but what a fab post opening!!! Sitting here nodding my head and know all too well the WTF times :).

    Would you believe my only Lancôme fumes are the original Tresor and Miracle. I must get my hands on a sample of this and Poeme. I see my next phase is exploring Ineke and vintage dept store….

    Thank you for inspiring another phase on my journey!

    M xx

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  5. Magie Noir , oh yes ! What a beau – tay . I was searching for cuir de Lancôme not long ago but found this instead ! The bottle looked so vintage next to all that were shiny and new so I went straight for it ! It’s just lovely , there are just to many great fragrances out there , I don’t think I will own this one ! Hey Portia they have just released a new version of 1000 by Jean Pateau and it’s scrumptious , they were squirting it around myer and I had to slap my hand as I reached for my wallet ! It’s on my list ! Your crazy thoughts on it ?
    I think u should do a live walk through on the amazing collection you own ! It would make great viewing and your scent fridge is out of this world !!!!!
    Tim xx

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    • Hey Tim Tam,
      I have a Vintage 1000 EdT. It is ridiculously good. The juice looks like tea its gone so dark. Next time you’re over I’ll give you a go.
      I can’t do a walk through because I would have to let the world know how ridiculous my frag obsession is and they aren’t ready for that.
      Portia xx

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      • Ok ! We will leave it at that then 🙂 BUT!!! I don’t think there is anything wrong with an obsession if it’s not hurting anyone including yourself ! Is productive (APJ) and you are learning and educating yourself on your passion and interests ! Tick* plus my dear friend your are infulencing / inspiring others to talk and share their thoughts and opinions all around the world !!!! You are simply AWESOME , top shelf , a trail blazer ! Don’t ever stop you hear !!!!
        Thanks for your reply on 1000 , I might try and sneak some home next week ! Catch u again tomorrow !

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  7. I know that name almost all my life (since I was 8 or 9, I think) but I haven’t tried it on skin and I have no recollection of even smelling it. I don’t know why. First it wasn’t available where I lived (so it was only a name) but then… I just don’t remember why. Or maybe I did smell it and didn’t like back then? It might be. But now, having read your review and seen those notes (LOVE galbanum-hyacinth combination) I feel like I’m missing out… I need to find Magie Noir and try it.

    I’m not a No 5 fan but I feel bad about the upcoming changes… Boy, I didn’t need it right now: do I really have to run and buy a parfum version while it’s still available – just to have it in my collection? 😦

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