We try to stay on topic around here. I did blather on about teas recently (see red & green, oolong post still to come), and today I'm going to blather on about yet another of my favorite addictions: chocolate. Dark chocolate, to be more precise, and dark chocolate with "stuff" added, to be even more precise. I like plain dark chocolate, but I like flavored dark chocolate even better. To keep this vaguely related to perfume, I've included a few "what to wear while you eat" recommendations.

One of my favorite brands for flavored dark chocolate is the Belgian company Dolfin. They've a wonderful selection. I recently sent March over at Perfume Posse some little Dolfin squares, including their Noir Cumin. March commented that "while we can’t decide whether we really like the cumin bar, it is strangely addictive", and that is entirely true. When the square of Noir Cumin hits my tongue, I'm initially horrified, then I'm torn between being intrigued and being nauseated, then I want to eat another. And another. Buy some and give it a shot, and if you hate them, send them on to me. Matching perfume: Cartier Declaration, of course. Knock yourself out.

Dolfin's Noir Cardamome is another matter; I'm charmed all the way through. Like the Cumin, it is only available in small squares, and I could easily down a bag of them without noticing. It has just the right balance: the cardamom is really strong, but it isn't so strong that you can't taste the chocolate. If you love cardamom, you have to try them, and if you know of an even better cardamom-laced chocolate, do tell! Matching perfume: The Different Company Jasmin de Nuit.

Moving on to Dolfin's larger chocolate bars, I highly recommend the Noir A L'Anis Vert (with green aniseed), the Noir Au Café Moulu (with ground coffee) and the Noir Aux Feuilles De Thé Earl Grey (with crunchy tea leaves scented with bergamot). Special mention must be made of their Noir Aux Feuilles de Menthe, which is about the only mint chocolate bar I've ever had that tastes like real, fresh-from-the-plant mint leaves as opposed to "peppermint candy". It's really marvelous. Matching perfume: Guerlain Herba Fresca.

For those of you keeping track of how many new perfumes feature a pink pepper note, you'll be charmed (or not) to know that Dolfin makes a Noir au Poivre Rose (with pink pepper). Like so many recent perfumes, it did not have enough bite for me. Matching perfume: Yves Saint Laurent Elle.

You can find Dolfin (and all sorts of other good chocolates) at chocosphere. If you want to try the small squares, you have to order one of the "assortment boxes", but if you look around you can find other sites that sell the individual flavors by the bag.

Part 2, when I get to it, will include Chocolove, Dagoba, Santander, Venchi, and whatever new chocolate bars I eat between now and then.

More chocolate & perfume: Desire in Sunlight Chocolat Jasmin