Back To Black Eau de Parfum – By Kilian (Aphrodisiac)

A Rich Honey-Tobacco Gourmand Swathed in Smoky Incense & Dark Fruity Desires

Launched around 2009 by By Kilian (perfumer Calice Becker), Back To Black Aphrodisiac is a lavish, sensual perfume that fuses thick honeyed sweetness with smoky tobacco and dark fruits. It’s unashamedly bold a fragrance that leans into gourmand-oriental richness and dramatic depth. Designed for evening wear, colder weather, or moments when you want your scent to make a statement.

Fragrance Notes

• Top & Heart Notes: Honey, Blue Chamomile, Raspberry, Cherry, Bergamot, Cardamom, Coriander Seed, Saffron, Almond, Vanilla

  • Sweet, jam-like fruits mingled with warm spice, syrupy honey, creamy almond, and floral & herbal touches.

• Base Notes: Tobacco, Sandalwood, Labdanum / Cistus, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Vetiver, Oakmoss, Benzoin

  • Underlying woods, resin, smoky and leathery tobacco tones with warmth from labdanum & vanilla.

Performance & Scent Profile

• Opening: Immediately rich and thick honeyed sweetness hits first, with a dark-fruit jam (raspberry / cherry) and warm spices peeking through. Slight bitterness from almond + tang from berries.

• Heart: Moves deeper into tobacco and woods. The sweetness softens as resin, vanilla, and almond glue things together. Some users detect subtle smokiness or incense.

• Dry Down: Warm woods (sandalwood, cedar), tobacco, labdanum / cistus resins, and lingering honey-vanilla. It becomes more gourmand but still retains a smoky backbone. Often described as cozy, indulgent, enveloping.

Longevity & Projection:

• Strong performance. Lasts many hours; often reports of it still being noticeable in the dry down.

• Projection is solid in early hours; later becomes more intimate but still present.

When & Where to Wear

• Seasons: Fall, Winter, Evenings (colder weather really brings out the depth and waxy sweetness)

• Occasions: Evening outings, romantic dates, dinner parties, special nights out it’s bold and dramatic, perhaps less suited for office or hot climates

Why You’ll Love It

• Because if you like honey-tobacco combos + rich dark fruits, this is one of the most well-blended examples sweetness balanced by smoky, resinous woods.

• It feels luxurious and indulgent “statement-worthy.”

• Offers warmth and comfort with character.

• It has an evolving personality: fruit + honey → tobacco + woods → sweet & smoky woods, which keeps it interesting during wear.