Lalique – Encre Noire Sport: Overview, Smell, Notes & More!

Encre Noire Sport (sometimes misspelled Encre Noir Sport) is a woody and citrusy masculine fragrance by the French company Lalique.

It is a lighter version of the original Encre Noire. 

This approachable scent, with its woody base and cypress and lavender ozone, is the most citrusy in the Encre Noire series. 

Overview

• Brand: Lalique
• Fragrance: Encre Noire Sport
• Release: 2013
• Gender: Men
• Perfumer: Nathalie Lorson

Fragrance Notes

• Top Notes: Grapefruit, Bergamot, Nutmeg
• Heart Notes: Cypress, Watery Notes, Lavender
• Base Notes: Bourbon Vetiver, Haitian Vetiver, Cashmere Wood, Musk

What Does Encre Noire Sport Smell Like?

Classified as a woody, aquatic fragrance, Encre Noire Sport’s main accords are woody, aromatic, and citrus. 

This Lalique perfume uses two vetiver fragrances: Bourbon and Haitian.

(Note: This bourbon is not the same as Bourbon whisky and does not smell the same).

These inky vetiver roots help to give this eau de toilette its woody and spicy scents. 

The aquatic notes add a fresh and airy smell to this cologne which complements the other earthy scents to give it a broadly natural feel. 

How Long Does Encre Noire Sport Last For?

Lalique’s wonderful fragrance is long-lasting and will continue to smell for about seven to eight hours.

Those within a few feet of you will be able to detect it for around five to six hours, with the skin scent remaining for another hour or two. 

You can get more out of this essence if you also use the perfumed shower gel. 

Keep in mind that a scent will linger longer if you keep out of the sun and do not sweat. 

When Should You Wear It?

Sport’s citrus tones make it an excellent choice for spring and summer.

Fall is also acceptable because of its woody notes. 

Encre Noire is also a good option for nighttime because woody scents have a captivating essence that suits romantic settings. 

You’ll be pressed to find a more functional scent in your entire fragrance collection. 

Where Should You Wear It?

This cologne’s earthy tones make it very versatile.

It can easily become a person’s signature scent. 

The light, natural smell makes it great for events as diverse as a backyard barbeque to a day at work.

It is also a good choice for hot days spent outdoors because aquatic fragrances tend to last longer than other fragrances when you’re sweating. 

A perfume with a fresher aromatic form than the original Encre Noir, it elicits nostalgic memories of the outdoors. 

Presentation and Value For Money

Sport comes in a square black bottle.

The front reads “Encre Noire” in white and “Sport” in red.

The top is black with a design that mimics bark to remind buyers of its woody notes. 

The outside box is gray with a black band around it that has the brand and perfume name.

It calls itself an “eau de toilette pour homme.” 

This EDT is typically about $25 for a 3.3-ounce bottle.

It’s a reasonable price considering many similar colognes can run into the $50-$100+ range.

The shower gel is a bit more expensive at about $30 for a 150ml container. 

It runs about $5 – $10 cheaper than its À L’extrême counterpart and $10 – $15 than its original version.

So, overall, Sport is the best value for money in the line. 

The Bottom Line

Encre Noire is a versatile and long-lasting perfume.

Encre Noire Sport takes a lighter approach than many other men’s colognes, making it ideal for casual events. 

It’s got quite a funky smell that takes some time to get used to, but it’s a great scent for those willing to try something a bit out of the ordinary.

Overall, even if you dislike Encre Noire Sport, it is an excellent option for quality cologne on the cheap. 

Perfumes that Smell Like Encre Noire Sport

Encre Noire À L’extrême: Part of the same Lalique series, À L’extrême contains cypress, sandalwood, and other woody notes.

It’s another vetiver bomb with added middle notes of incense and orris. 

Zara Gold: This limited edition men’s fragrance contains a mixture of lemon and cinnamon to give this scent a spiced citrus waft.

A 1.02oz bottle sells for about $25. 

Grey Vetiver by Tom Ford: This woody, spicy fragrance released in 2009 employs a woody signature base albeit with grapefruit and orange blossom top notes.

An expensive choice, this EDP is priced between $150 and $200 for 3.4 ounces.