By Kilian
8 fragrances
By Kilian, the Paris house launched in 2007 by Kilian Hennessy, is represented here by seven Eau de Parfums with a strong boozy streak: rum, absinthe, vodka, and the cognac-and-tobacco feel of Back to Black. Alongside them sit a lush white floral and a chocolate-coffee gourmand.
Best for people who want rich, sweet and warm fragrances with character, especially for evenings and cooler weather.
Where to start with By Kilian
- By Kilian Straight To Heaven: rum, nutmeg, dried fruit and vanilla with jasmine, patchouli and Virginia cedar. By Sidonie Lancesseur, 2007.
- By Kilian Back To Black: tobacco steeped in fruit and honey with an herbal chamomile edge; by Calice Becker.
- By Kilian Good Girl Gone Bad: May rose, jasmine and osmanthus, with narcissus and tuberose over cedar and amber. The house's floral pick.
- By Kilian Black Phantom: rum, dark chocolate and sugar cane, caramel, roasted coffee and almond, finished with sandalwood.
- By Kilian A Taste of Heaven Absinthe Verte: a green fougère with wormwood, lavender, geranium and orange flower over oakmoss, tonka and vanilla.
How to choose
For cold nights, Black Phantom and Back To Black are the densest and sweetest. If you like the rum idea but want it brighter, By Kilian Straight to Heaven Splash of Lemon adds lemon and bergamot to the same theme. For daytime or warmer weather, A Taste of Heaven Absinthe Verte and By Kilian Vodka On The Rocks (cardamom, coriander, aldehydes) are the fresher options. Good Girl Gone Bad is the one to try if you prefer flowers to spirits.
Questions about By Kilian
Which By Kilian is the freshest?
By Kilian Vodka On The Rocks and By Kilian A Taste of Heaven Absinthe Verte, built on cardamom and aldehydes or on wormwood and lavender rather than sweet resins.
How do Straight To Heaven and Splash of Lemon differ?
Both center on rum, nutmeg and cedar, but By Kilian Straight to Heaven Splash of Lemon opens with lemon and bergamot for a brighter start.
Is there a By Kilian floral?
By Kilian Good Girl Gone Bad, with rose, jasmine, osmanthus, narcissus and tuberose.