I am really growing to love fig scents, and Belle Fleur Figue Noir is the one that made me pay attention. This post covers the brand description, the notes I could pick out, and how it burns.
Tantalizing and sexy, the twisting branches of the fig tree will expose your senses to the heady, earthy scent of fig wood and the sweet fleshy aroma of the exotic fruit it bears. With the subtle inclusion of vetiver and juniper berry, this ode to the fig groves found on the Turkish Aegean coast unites tree, fruit, earth, sky and sun together to elevate the fragrance to an inspired and provocative complexity.
I’m really growing to love fig candles, particularly Figue Noir by Belle Fleur with it’s complex balance of fragrances. The lineup is diverse – a little spicy cardamom, fruity rhubarb and strawberry, a touch of florals from cyclamen and geranium, earthy notes from juniper berries, oakmoss and vetyver, and (of course) fig.
The combination is brilliant and the most surprising thing is that even with wide variety of notes, they all have a voice. It’s clearly a fig fragrance, yet I can hear the juniper berries talking to me and luring me in with their piquant notes.
The florals mumble in the background and there is a whisper from the strawberries and rhubarb – like the sound of kids laughing in the yard outside. Oakmoss and vetyver sit on one shoulder lulling me to sleep while cardamom and bergamot sit on the other keeping me awake and interested. I like what you are saying, Belle Fleur Figue Noir. Don’t stop.
This fragrance is definitely tantalizing and sexy and a must try scent for any fig lover. What does it say to you?
Fragrance intensity 3.5/5. Burn quality 4/5.
Breaking down Figue Noir
The brand describes fig wood and the sweet flesh of the fruit, with vetiver and juniper berry and a nod to the fig groves of the Turkish Aegean coast. My own list is longer: cardamom, rhubarb and strawberry, cyclamen and geranium, juniper berries, oakmoss, vetyver, and of course fig.
What I find surprising is that all of those notes can be heard. It is clearly a fig fragrance, but you can still pick out the piquant juniper or the green moss if you pay attention.
That kind of balance is hard to pull off, and it is why this candle stays interesting in the room for longer.
In my review I described them as voices: the juniper luring you in, the florals murmuring in the background, and cardamom and bergamot keeping you awake while the oakmoss and vetyver lull you to sleep. That picture is why I keep going back to Figue Noir.
Put simply, Figue Noir is for people who want a fruit candle that does not smell like fruit juice. It is earthy, a bit green and a bit spicy, and the fig is always the star.
What the ratings mean
I gave it a fragrance intensity of 3.5 out of 5 and a burn quality of 4 out of 5. A 3.5 for intensity means it fills a normal room without pushing, so it works in a living room or bedroom but may be quiet in a very large open space.
A 4 for burn quality means it burned evenly for me. As always, trim the wick and let the wax melt across the top on the first burn to get the best result.
For comparison, fragrances with a lot of notes can feel muddled in a candle. Figue Noir avoids that, which helps explain the 3.5 for intensity: it is present but never loud.
Who should try a fig candle like this
Fig candles vary a lot. Some lean green like fig leaves, some lean sweet and fruity, and some go to the dark side. This one sits in the middle with an earthy, woody touch.
If you want to explore more, read our review of the Herve Gambs Essence de Figuier candle or the post on a sweet fig candle with honey. The fig itself has a long story, and Wikipedia’s page on the fig is a good short read.
The takeaway is simple: if you love fig or you like layered, woody-fruity scents, put Figue Noir on your list. What does it say to you?
Whether Figue Noir is your first fig candle or your tenth, it is worth smelling at least once.
Tips for burning a layered fragrance
Figue Noir works well in a bedroom or study, where a calm, woody scent makes sense. I would avoid the kitchen, where food smells will fight with it.
With a candle that has many notes, give it time. The first fifteen minutes can smell different from the first hour, and the heart of Figue Noir shows up once the wax pool is wide.
Keep it in a room where you can notice it without it being in your face, such as near a reading chair. Avoid placing it right next to strongly scented items, like a flower arrangement, which would compete with the juniper and moss.
Always trim the wick, and stop burning a candle when only about half an inch of wax is left in the jar. That keeps the glass safe and the scent clean.
