Founded by René-Jules Lalique in 1885, Lalique was originally a luxury jewellery and crystal glassware house, only moving into fragrance in 1992.
Recent partnerships with French perfumers Nathalie Lorson and Annick Menardo saw the release of the Lalique Encre collection of men’s scents.
With this in mind, I decided to pay a visit to the Lalique store in Bicester Village to get acquainted with the brand’s collection of luxury male fragrances.
6 Best Lalique Fragrances
Refined and timeless, yet with a retro vibe, here is my take on the best Lalique fragrances for men.
1. Encre Noire Eau de Toilette
Review
Encre Noire is a woody aromatic cologne; it’s dark, powerful, sophisticated, and unashamedly masculine.
The opening is forest fresh with sweet edges thanks to plenty of aromatic cypress that gave me a 70s Aramis retro vibe.
In the heart is a woody affair thanks to notes of Haitian and Bourbon vetiver; this slowly dries down to reveal a musky base.
Top Notes:
Cypress, Vetiver
Mid Notes:
Haitian Vetiver, Bourbon Vetiver
Base Notes:
Cashmere Wood, Musk
Seasons & Longevity
You won’t be shocked to hear Encre Noire is ideal for autumn, winter and spring. The classic scent will last you 5+ hours with moderate projection.
2. Encre Noire A L’Extreme Eau de Parfum
Review
Like Encre Noire, but want a little more oomph? Encre Noire A L’Extreme is a worthy contender. It’s bold and balanced, similar to Chanel Sycomore.
Cypress, elemi, and bergamot join forces to create a resinous, zesty start with a masculine heart of smoked vetiver.
Upon dry-down, sandalwood, patchouli, and benzoin emerge but never quite compete with the smoky vetiver and pine fresh cypress.
Top Notes:
Cypress, Elemi, Bergamot
Mid Notes:
Vetiver, Incense, Orris
Base Notes:
Benzoin, Sandalwood, Patchouli
Seasons & Longevity
Another cold-weather scent, this blend is robust enough to turn heads no matter the weather. It will give you 6+ hours of noticeable scent.
3. Encre Noire Sport Eau de Toilette
Review
Everyone needs a post-gym cologne on rotation. If you want a woody cologne, I recommend Encre Noire Sport as a fresh, clean option.
This scent opens with a blast of grapefruit, cypress, and lavender, settling into a heart of woody vetiver, nutmeg, and aquatic accord.
The base adds a little musk. Overall, Encre Noire Sport is clean, confident and complex.
Top Notes:
Grapefruit, Bergamot, Cypress, Lavender
Mid Notes:
Vetiver, Aquatic Accord, Nutmeg
Base Notes:
Cashmere Wood, Musk
Seasons & Longevity
Wear this zesty/woody freshie from spring to autumn to work or casual daytime events to put a spring in your step. It will last 5+ hours.
4. Encre Indigo Eau de Parfum
Review
Launched in 2023, Encre Indigo is a rich blend of herbs, spices and woody notes without the brand’s trademark cypress.
Encre Indigo opens with pepper-dusted bergamot and fresh juniper, soon joined by black tea and saffron.
Woody vetiver dominates from the base, with ambergris and patchouli creating an earthy, smoky finish.
Top Notes:
Juniper Berry Oil, Pink Pepper Extract, Bergamot Oil
Mid Notes:
Black Tea Accord, Saffron, Bay Leaf
Base Notes:
Vetiver, Patchouli, Ambergris
Seasons & Longevity
For me, this is an any-season scent ideal for daytime wear, running errands, post-gym, etc. It will last 6+ hours with decent projection.
5. Pour Homme Eau de Parfum
Review
As a classic woody aromatic scent, Lalique Pour Homme is sophisticated and masculine in a clean-cut barbershop way—almost a clone of Creed Bois du Portugal.
Citrus-soaked lavender and rosemary are joined by plenty of smooth woody cedar and powdery iris.
Oakmoss and sandalwood stand out most from the base. The overall result is a complex, confident and sexy masculine scent.
Top Notes:
Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lavender, Mandarin, Rosemary
Mid Notes:
Orris, Jasmine, Cedarwood
Base Notes:
Amber, Oak Moss, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vanilla
Seasons & Longevity
Wear Lalique Pour Homme during autumn, winter and spring like a cloak of male confidence that will stay with you from day to night.
6. White in Black Eau de Parfum
Review
Every guy needs a workhorse cologne that fits every occasion and keeps you feeling on top form -introducing Lalique White in Black.
A resinous opening with hints of citrus is sweetened by plenty of crowd-pleasing vanilla and smooth woods in the heart.
Cardamom dominates from the base, supported by lavender, more resin, and hints of pink pepper.
Top Notes:
Grapefruit
Mid Notes:
Patchouli Oil, Tolu Balsam, Ambroxan, Vanilla, White Cedarwood
Base Notes:
Cardamom, Elemi, Lavender, Pink Peppercorn
Seasons & Longevity
I found White in Black pretty versatile and would wear it from autumn all the way to spring. Expect 6+ hours of performance.
Andrew’s Top Pick
Encre Noire Sport Eau de Toilette
My top pick is Encre Noire Sport Eau de Toilette, as I found the fresh aquatic notes and lavender worked well with the cypress and vetiver.
Conclusion
Men’s fragrance can often be a world of extremes: classic vs modern, subtle vs bold.
Lalique carves a unique path by making complex scents that evolve as they dry, often giving the best of both worlds. That’s one good reason to give them a try.
Also read: 6 Best Lalique Perfumes For Women Of Style
