Back to Black, Aphrodisiac Kilian

Bergamot and cardamom ignite immediately with crisp, peppery brightness, whilst nutmeg adds a dusky spice that catches in the throat pleasantly. Raspberry lends a tart fruitiness that sparks against the warmth, and chamomile softens the edges into something almost medicinal, like a spiced herbal tea catching afternoon light.

The composition settles into its true character as honey and cedarwood emerge, the sweetness now properly anchored by woody depth and oakmoss's mineral green quality. Frankincense clouds the middle stages with resinous incense, whilst patchouli adds an earthy undertone that prevents the fragrance from floating away into pure gourmand territory—it becomes almost contemplative here, drawing inward rather than projecting outward.

Bitter almond and vanilla absolute dominate, but they read as marzipan rather than confection, kept sharp by the ambergris and labdanum's warm, almost leathery amber base. The fragrance becomes increasingly intimate and whispered, fading to skin warmth within hours—a deliberately fleeting experience that encourages reapplication.