Black Phantom by By Kilian is an Amber Vanilla fragrance for women and men launched in 2017 as an Eau de Parfum. The nose behind this fragrance is Sidonie Lancesseur.
Black Phantom is part of By Kilian’s “The Cellars” collection. Ever since its release, this fragrance has just continued to grow in popularity. The keynotes of this Amber Vanilla fragrance are Rum, Coffee, and Cyanide.
A description by the brand:
Rum accord from Martinique, akin to ‘pirates water’, spikes the scent of strong coffee at its heart, balanced by vetiver essence. A deadly bite of cyanide accord hides menacingly, like the smile from death itself. Smile back as sugar cane and dark, creamy sandalwood assures a trying journey holds a sweet reward.
| Perfume Name | Black Phantom |
| Brand | By Kilian |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Concentration | Eau de Parfum |
| Scent Family | Amber Vanilla |
| Gender | unisex |
I feel like I’ve been waiting years to try this fragrance, and a few weeks ago, I finally managed to track down a stockist that I could order a sample from. I’ve been experimenting with it for a few weeks now. This is my impression of Black Phantom by Kilian.
What does Black Phantom By Kilian smell like?
There’s a sweet coffee liqueur in Black Phantom’s opening, followed by a powdery caramel and rum dry down. This is a pure gourmand, nothing more, nothing less.
The best way I can describe this fragrance is that it’s an almond covered in chocolate and caramel, soaked in rum-spiked coffee. It definitely makes me think of Thierry Mugler’s Pure Tonka as it shares that coffee, sweet and spicy notes. It’s not entirely the same, but it bears enough resemblance to make it worth mentioning.
Closing my eyes and smelling it, I envision that I am sitting in a warm and cozy bar with a hot date and sipping on sweet coffee liqueur as a nightcap. To me, this is very sensual and sexy. I think the name Black Phantom is perfect as it has a real darkness to it.
| Top Notes | Dark Chocolate, Rum |
| Middle Notes | Caramel, Coffee, Sugar Cane |
| Base Notes | Almond, Sandalwood, Heliotrope |
My Experience
The opening of this fragrance is all chocolate, silky smooth caramel. It smells like a luxurious and sweet coffee liqueur. The notes are very clear, detectable and masterfully blended.
After some time, the sandalwood and almond make their appearance – pure bliss. At the same time, the rest of the notes don’t entirely disappear. I find this scent to be very linear, without any dramatic changes from the opening to the dry-down.
Initial projection and sillage are on the low end, and this is not a loud fragrance, it seats close to the skin, but it is strong.
Sillage & Projection
The projection on my skin is low, about a foot or less, and the fragrance seats close to the skin. Similarly, the sillage is also low. Although, the first time I wore it, the sillage was more moderate. It could be the more I experiment with it that my opinion might change a little. However, it’s safe to say there’s no beast mode sillage and projection with this fragrance.
Longevity & Versatility
The longevity is pretty good, and I get about six hours on my skin. This is absolutely a winter and fall scent. I don’t think this would work in the summer and spring at all. This will be cloying in warm weather.
I don’t feel this is a very versatile scent. I’d wear it on dates for sure, at dinner parties, or going out with friends in the evening. I think this is not a scent for the office or brunch dates.
Closing thoughts
If you are someone that’s looking for a purely wood-based scent – move along. If you are looking for a coffee-dominant scent or an ultra-masculine one, then again, this isn’t for you. This is for people who love almond, coffee, and caramel. It’s for someone that wants something sweet, boozy, and dense.
Personally, I think it’s one of those fragrances that you need to invest in because you enjoy it. This isn’t a fragrance for the crowds but instead one for those that appreciate these unique notes.
Overall, given the hefty price tag and that it’s not super versatile, I’d recommend someone to try and get their hands on a sample first. A sample will last a while and really give you time to decide if it’s worth the hefty price tag. I would happily wear it if someone gifts it to me, but I wouldn’t buy a full bottle for myself.