Ink, iron, and a pulse: L’Entropiste’s Ensang Noir arrives

If your fragrances feel a little too polite lately, Ensang Noir just raised a brow at you. The newest launch from L’Entropiste, the personal playground of perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour, lands with a title that reads like a velvet threat. “Ensang” suggests blood, “Noir” seals the mood. It is unisex, which fits the vibe perfectly, because shadow and light do not pick a team.

Duchaufour is no stranger to making darkness feel weightless. Think of the mineral incense and airy smoke of Avignon, the spiced transparency of Timbuktu, the temple-cool hush of Dzongkha, the honeyed neroli heat of Seville à l’Aube, and the metallic tailoring of Sartorial. He is the rare perfumer who can sketch a cathedral with pencil, not oil paint, and still make it echo. That is why a name like Ensang Noir thrills me. I expect iron filings over resin, inky woods that read like an old fountain pen, maybe a mineral snap that pricks the skin then dries to velvet.

The name points to a modern gothic, not a sticky baroque. I am hoping for a clean-cut shadow, the kind you can wear with a white shirt and a red lip, or with black denim and a silver ring. Unisex done right is more about contour than gender, and Duchaufour draws contours that feel architectural and lived-in at the same time.

If your shelf leans niche and you live for contrasts, put Ensang Noir on your radar. Lovers of resin, vetiver, and that clever metallic glint will likely find something to obsess over. If you prefer soft florals and cuddly gourmands, this could be your turn to flirt with danger, gently. Sample first, obviously. But if the title is any clue, this one is meant to leave a mark, not a stain.

I will update once I get it on skin. Until then, tell me what you’re hoping to smell. Ink, iron, smoke, salt, or a little of each. If anyone can make it hum rather than howl, it is Bertrand Duchaufour at L’Entropiste.