Korres
Korres
187 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Caramel hits immediately, warm and slightly burnt, almost buttery against skin. Heliotrope rises alongside it—that distinctive cherry-almond whisper—whilst Oriental lily adds a flash of spice, creating an initially dessert-like sweetness with unexpected complexity.
The rosewood emerges as a grounding force, its woody dryness rebalancing the sweetness into something more wearable and skin-like. Rose and black sugar crystallise the composition, the florals gaining prominence whilst remaining powdery, creating an almost cologne-like dryness that prevents the scent from feeling heavy or sticky.
Vanilla and tonka settle into a creamy, almost transparent base, with musk spreading the fragrance into a warm, intimate skin-scent. The amber adds a final caress of warmth, the entire composition becoming softer, more powder-dusted, fading into a gentle, skin-like whisper that lingers close rather than projects.
Black Sugar announces itself as unabashedly gourmand, yet with enough restraint to avoid cloying excess. The opening caramel-heliotrope marriage creates an almost creamy softness, reminiscent of burnt sugar dissolving into powdered skin—that particular sweetness that reads as slightly warm and intimate rather than confectionery. Brazilian rosewood enters the heart with a subtle woody dryness, preventing the composition from becoming saccharine; it's a pivoting point where florals (particularly the Oriental lily and rose) gain definition, their spice and slight indolic character cutting through the sugar's embrace.
What makes Black Sugar compelling is its restraint in the base. Vanilla and tonka bean could easily overwhelm here, but instead they form a creamy, almost skin-like foundation—the musk acts as a diffusing agent, softening edges rather than amplifying projection. The amber adds warmth without heaviness, creating a halo effect rather than a trail. This is a fragrance for those who understand that sweetness gains sophistication through balance: the powdery accord (76%) ensures it never feels sticky, instead settling into a soft, almost talc-like finish.
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essence
3.4/5 (132)