Matiere Noire

Matiere Noire, inspired by Louis Vuitton Matière Noire (2016)

Matière Noire sets dark woods against white flowers. Agarwood, the resinous heartwood also sold as oud, and patchouli give it a deep, slightly smoky frame, while blackcurrant cuts through with a tart, green fruitiness. Narcissus is the flower that stands out, dry and hay-like, supported by sambac jasmine, rose centifolia and the watery freshness of cyclamen. There is very little sweetness, and the texture stays sheer for a scent with such dark materials.

About the original

Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud created Matière Noire as one of the first seven Louis Vuitton perfumes, launched in September 2016. That debut collection was presented as a women's line, but Louis Vuitton now sells it within its wider perfume range. The brand describes it as dark woods brightened by blackcurrant and white flowers, using agarwood from Laos. One detailed blog review at launch found the narcissus dominant, reading it more as a smoky green floral than a classic oud. It is sold only in Louis Vuitton stores and on the brand's website, in refillable bottles.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Louis Vuitton stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Wearers who like the idea of oud but not its dense, sugary versions are the clearest match. The narcissus gives it a dry, bitter edge that can read as austere, and it may seem lighter than expected to anyone hoping for a rich, resinous oud.

Related scents

• Louis Vuitton Turbulences
• Louis Vuitton Contre Moi

Notes of the original fragrance, as published by the brand.

Notes: Agarwood, Patchouli, Blackcurrant, Narcissus, Sambac Jasmine, Rose Centifolia, Cyclamen, Incense

Blackcurrant and narcissus come through first, tart and dry, with sambac jasmine behind them.

Rose centifolia and cyclamen soften the middle while the agarwood begins to show, faintly smoky.

Patchouli and incense carry the drydown, dark and woody but never heavy.

Is Matière Noire for women or unisex?

Louis Vuitton launched it in 2016 in a collection presented for women, but now sells it as part of its general perfume range. We list it in our women's section.

Does Matière Noire smell like oud?

Agarwood (oud) is part of the base, but narcissus, blackcurrant and patchouli shape the scent more. It reads as a dark, smoky floral rather than a classic oud perfume.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Louis Vuitton and Matiere Noire are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Louis Vuitton in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.