Millesime Imperial vs Love in Black
Side by side. Scored honestly.
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Side by side
Comparing the originals — price, breadth, listed-note depth.
Opens with a bright, slightly tart burst of lemon and mandarin that fades quickly into a saline, mineral heart — the sea salt reads as genuinely oceanic rather than synthetic, grounded by a subtle watermelon sweetness that keeps it from smelling like sunscreen. Projection is moderate and well-mannered; this isn't a room-filler. The dry-down settles into a clean, skin-close musk with just enough salt lingering to maintain character. Sillage is soft but persistent, lasting several hours without demanding attention — Warm-weather days, professional or social settings, suits anyone who wants a polished aquatic without the aggressiveness of most of the genre.
Blackcurrant opens with a tart, almost inky sharpness before rose and iris take over in the heart — cool, powdery, and serious rather than soft or romantic. The floral core leans more gray than pink, the iris adding a rooty, slightly metallic edge that keeps it from reading as conventional. Cedar and vetiver anchor the dry-down into something dry and woody, while sandalwood and musk bring just enough warmth to smooth the edges. Projection is moderate; sillage stays close but leaves a clean, sophisticated trail — best worn in fall and winter by someone who wants a dark floral with real backbone, not sweetness.
How they overlap
Millesime Imperial and Love in Black share exactly one note (musk). The overlap is real but narrow — most of the wear experience will diverge.
The buying decision
Love in Black is the cheaper original at $310 compared to $525 for Millesime Imperial — about 41% less. Millesime Imperial is built for spring/summer; Love in Black for fall/winter. Pick by when you'd actually wear it. They sit in different families — Millesime Imperial is aquatic+fresh, Love in Black is floral+woody. Comparison is more about preference than tradeoff.
Recommendation
If you're price-sensitive, Love in Black delivers comparable territory at $215 less than Millesime Imperial. If you want the specific character of Millesime Imperial — the prose above is the better guide than the price — the premium is what you're paying for.