Seamus Hammond
Basic Black by Bill Blass is a Chypre fragrance for women that was launched in 1991. It has top notes of carnation, plum, ylang-ylang, cardamom, peach, mandarin orange, and bergamot, and middle notes of carnation, honey, ylang-ylang, coriander, rose, tuberose, violet, and jasmine. The base notes are oakmoss, patchouli, civet, amber, musk, benzoin, sandalwood, styrax, vetiver, and coconut. The perfume has received mixed reviews, with some customers praising its subtle and alluring scent, while others have found it too strong. There are also some concerns about the authenticity and quality of the product being sold online. With regards to its discontinuation, one review mentions that they were shocked to find the fragrance available on Amazon after learning that it had been discontinued.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brand | Bill Blass |
| Fragrance | Chypre |
| Target | Women |
| Year of Launch | 1991 |
| Top Notes | Carnation, Plum, Ylang-Ylang, Cardamom, Peach, Mandarin Orange, Bergamot |
| Middle Notes | Carnation, Honey, Ylang-Ylang, Coriander, Rose, Tuberose, Violet, Jasmine |
| Base Notes | Oakmoss, Patchouli, Civet, Amber, Musk, Benzoin, Sandalwood, Styrax, Vetiver, Coconut |
| Longevity | 3.31 out of 5 |
| Sillage | 2.46 out of 4 |
| Availability | Discontinued |
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What You'll Learn
Bill Blass Basic Black is discontinued
Basic Black by Bill Blass is a Chypre fragrance for women that was launched in 1991. It has top notes of carnation, plum, ylang-ylang, cardamom, peach, mandarin orange, and bergamot. The middle notes are carnation, honey, ylang-ylang, coriander, rose, tuberose, violet, and jasmine, while the base notes are oakmoss, patchouli, civet, amber, musk, benzoin, sandalwood, styrax, vetiver, and coconut.
Bill Blass Basic Black is a sophisticated and glamorous fragrance that captures the spirit of the decadent and elegant era of the 1980s. It is described as having a soft and lingering scent that is subtle and alluring. The perfume is long-lasting, with a strong sillage, and is perfect for those who are allergic to many strong perfumes.
However, some customers have mentioned that the fragrance may have been discontinued at some point. One customer, Vaughn M. Gilbert, discovered the scent approximately 25 years ago and learned that it had been discontinued. They were surprised to find it available on Amazon, where they purchased it and confirmed its authenticity.
Another customer on Amazon mentioned that the bottle they received smelled terrible and old, indicating that it might have been an old batch. This customer also stated that the bottle was not as nicely made as a few years back and speculated that it might have come from China.
Despite these concerns, Basic Black by Bill Blass remains a beloved fragrance for many, evoking memories of elegance and sophistication.
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Basic Black's scent notes
Basic Black by Bill Blass is a Chypre or woody fragrance for women that was launched in 1991. It is described as "dirty, subversive prohibition in a bottle reminiscent of the 30s and 40s fragrances that were worn by those 'other women'". It is a sophisticated, elegant, and glamorous scent, capturing the spirit of the era with its notes of tobacco-scented leather, velvet, chrome, and garish florals.
The top notes of Basic Black include carnation, plum, ylang-ylang, cardamom, peach, mandarin orange, and bergamot. These initial scents create a fruity and floral impression, with a hint of spice from the cardamom. Moving into the middle notes, we find honey, coriander, carnation, tuberose, violet, jasmine, ylang-ylang, and rose. Here, the fragrance becomes sweeter and more floral, with the honey adding a touch of warmth.
The base notes of Basic Black are oakmoss, patchouli, civet, amber, musk, benzoin, sandalwood, styrax, vetiver, and coconut. These deep and earthy scents provide a strong foundation for the fragrance, with oakmoss and patchouli adding a hint of the forest floor, while the musk and amber bring a sensual, animalic quality. The result is a complex and intriguing scent that is both aromatic and sophisticated.
Overall, Basic Black by Bill Blass is a unique and memorable fragrance. It combines a variety of scent notes, from fruity and floral to earthy and woody, creating a sophisticated and glamorous aroma that captures the spirit of the 1990s.
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Customer reviews of Basic Black
One reviewer describes Basic Black as "the only scent I wear. It's subtle and has an alluring scent. I always have 1 or 2 on hand." Another wearer says, "I love this perfume, and I think the smell is fantastic. I'm not too fond of the packaging though." Similarly, another reviewer describes the scent as "fantastic" but gives the product a low rating due to a faulty spray bottle.
Other reviewers are less positive about the scent, with one describing it as "a fragrant chemical mix", and another saying that it "smells old".
Some reviewers feel that Basic Black captures the spirit of a particular era, with one wearer saying that it "takes me back! It captures the spirit of an era beautifully – an era of decadent drama, geometric elegance, tobacco-scented leather, velvet, Venetian blinds, cool chrome, garish florals, sensual sax poured over the analog synthesizer, and chiaroscuro moodiness." Another reviewer describes the scent as "dirty, subversive prohibition in a bottle reminiscent of the 30s and 40s fragrances that were worn by those 'other women', laden with animalic secretions and cigarette ashes."
Some wearers find Basic Black to be a sophisticated scent, with one reviewer saying that it is "not warm, cozy and inviting – this is sophisticated, Olympian exclusivity, unapproachable glamour and silent, surreptitious rebellion." Another wearer describes the scent as "classy and sexy, creating a sophisticated aura."
Basic Black is also described as "delicious" and "aromatic, elegant, sophisticated, and very beautiful."
Some wearers comment on the longevity of the scent, with one reviewer saying that it has a "long lifespan on the skin", and another describing it as having "great longevity".
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Bill Blass' other perfumes
Basic Black by Bill Blass is a Chypre fragrance for women that was launched in 1991. It is described as "sophisticated, Olympian exclusivity, unapproachable glamour and silent, surreptitious rebellion". The top notes are carnation, plum, ylang-ylang, cardamom, peach, mandarin orange and bergamot; middle notes are carnation, honey, ylang-ylang, coriander, rose, tuberose, violet and jasmine; base notes are oakmoss, patchouli, civet, amber, musk, benzoin, sandalwood, styrax, vetiver and coconut.
Bill Blass, the American fashion house established by William Blass in 1970, has launched 15 perfumes, including fragrances for men and women. The first perfume, eponymously named Bill Blass, was launched in 1978 in collaboration with Revlon. It is classified as a floral fragrance for women, with a green, fruity top, an exotic floral heart, and a sensual, powdery base. Other fragrances by the brand include Paris, Pour Femme, Angel, Blue, Tease, Gold, and Beautiful.
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The history of the perfume
Basic Black by Bill Blass is a Chypre fragrance for women that was launched in 1991. It was created by American fashion house Bill Blass, which was established by William Blass in 1970. The brand's first perfume, Bill Blass for Men, was launched in 1970, and the fashion house has since released 15 perfumes, with the newest edition launched in 2011.
Basic Black was released at a time when black was becoming increasingly popular in fashion. The 1980s saw the rise of oversized shoulder pads and big hair, which called for a more serious perfume to match the bold look. Bill Blass introduced a trio of fragrances to meet this need, with Basic Black being one of them.
The perfume has top notes of Carnation, Plum, Ylang-Ylang, Cardamom, Peach, Mandarin Orange, and Bergamot. The middle notes are Carnation, Honey, Ylang-Ylang, Coriander, Rose, Tuberose, Violet, and Jasmine, while the base notes include Oakmoss, Patchouli, Civet, Amber, Musk, Benzoin, Sandalwood, Styrax, Vetiver, and Coconut.
The fragrance has been described as "dirty, subversive prohibition in a bottle," reminiscent of the 1930s and 1940s fragrances worn by "those 'other women'." It captures the spirit of an era of "decadent drama, geometric elegance, tobacco-scented leather, velvet, Venetian blinds, cool chrome, garish florals, and sensual sax poured over an analog synthesizer."
While some customers have complained about the packaging, particularly the old-fashioned spray pump, the scent has received mixed to positive reviews, with some describing it as subtle, alluring, soft, and lingering, while others find it too strong.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the perfume has been discontinued. However, it is still available for purchase on Amazon.
The reviews for the perfume are mixed. Some people describe the scent as "soft and lingering", subtle, and alluring, while others say that it is too strong and terrible.
Basic Black is a Chypre fragrance with top notes of carnation, plum, ylang-ylang, cardamom, peach, mandarin orange, and bergamot. The middle notes are carnation, honey, ylang-ylang, coriander, rose, tuberose, violet, and jasmine. The base notes include oakmoss, patchouli, civet, amber, musk, benzoin, sandalwood, styrax, vetiver, and coconut.
