Back to Black

Back to Black by By Kilian is a highly concentrated, gourmand tobacco fragrance dominated by honey, cherry, and vanilla, with a dense, sweet, and linear profile that evolves into a warm, powdery, and slightly medicinal dry-down. It lingers for up to 24 hours, projecting moderately and remaining close to the skin for much of its duration. The opening is a bold crescendo of honeyed cherry and pipe tobacco, but many users report that the sweetness overwhelms all other notes, resulting in a dominant honeyovertone after the first hour. Some find the scent mouth-wateringly indulgent and intoxicatingly seductive, describing it as reminiscent of a vintage boudoir or a sumptuous dessert. Others cite it as too strong, overly sweet, and chunky, likening it to a heavy sinew of candy-lichen that lingers persistently. A notable subset of users report a distinct 'baby powder' or 'medicinal' quality, especially in the dry-down, which can feel generically sweet and unindividuated. While some users appreciate the complexity and warmth in cold weather, others find it cloying even in winter, and struggle to recommend it due to the saturation of sweetness. It is universally recognized as a long-lasting, unisex scent ideal for night wear or special occasions rather than everyday use.