I received the By Kilian Discovery Set for Christmas, and as grateful as I am, as bummed I also am, since I am having a hard time with these perfumes.
Why, you ask? Well, I can´t seem to find one to like. Yet. So no love at first sight, too bad when so many of them have the word love in their name 😉
I found one I really don´t like already, though. So, with a sad sigh, let me start with this one:
Back to Black I had the highest expectations for. It is called an Aphrodisiac. The notes sound delicious. I was waiting to be blown away. Just last week I encountered a surprise, this time around I was surprised as well, only in the other direction. Back to Black to me smells like a honey pot exploded. Sugar overload, honey overdose, it all makes me long for a good shot of insulin.
I have to accept the fact that my skin seems to be a sweetness amplifying canvas. Many perfumes turn sweet on me, and so does this one, but it does it so well, it is no longer wearable for me.
Created in 2009 by perfumer Calice Becker, Back to Black´s notes include: bergamot, blue chamomile, geranium, raspberry, cherry, honey absolute, cardamom, coriander, saffron, cedar, vanilla, almond, vetiver, labdanum, patchouli, oak moss, olibanum, patchouli, benzoin, tonka absolute, amber.
Aphrodisiac not for me, more like Hyperglycemiac 🙂 Also I am terribly afraid of bees…
For other, more reasonable and more informed takes on Back to Black see the following blogs:
Katie Puckrik Katie and I at least agree that it is “too much”, although she likes that (I like it too when it comes to cupcakes, but not perfume ;))
I am sure this is a great fragrance on many, just not for me 😦
That is why I want to find a better, more deserving home for Back to Black. I have a 7,5ml, 0.25 fl.oz luxury travel size flacon to give away (from the discovery set, without pump).
Please leave a comment why you think you would provide a good home for this perfume.
I will pick a winner from the comments using Random.org in a weeks time, on January 19, 8 am GMT +1. The draw is open for everyone, worldwide!
I hope many of you will participate! Good luck!
EDIT: The draw is closed now!
Picture sources: bykilian.com, disney.com, some rights reserved thank you!
Olfactoria's Travels 
🙂 Of all the perfumes in that coffret, Back to Black is the one that’s all sweet on you? I can’t believe it – well, I better believe it because now I get an option to win it. 🙂
So far, Back to Black for me comes straight after oudh from his line, I really like it a lot. That’s why it would get a nice loving home in my hands. 😉
You better believe it, 😉 Good luck, Ines!
Oooh a giveaway how exciting! I love Back to Black but I can see how many might find it overwhelming. I dare say it’s one of those love/hate fragrances. The reaction you describe is similar to the way I reacted to Serge Lutens Fumerie Turque, but I find Back to Black rather addictive. Definitely my fave cherry pipe tabacco scent. So please enter me in the draw, thanks!
P.S. Don’t be too sad at not getting on with the Kilians, think of all the money you’ll be saving 🙂
You are right, one line I probably won’t be subsidizing 😉
Good luck in the draw, Tara!
I’d make a loving home for Back to Black, because I’m made of sugar and spice and many things nice! 😛 And as a former pastry chef, I rather like the idea of inducing hyperglycaemia in other people…;-)
Seriously, though, I would like to try it. Kilian is a line I’ve missed (one of several), but you never know where the next love might be found, and I like to take a chance or two…
Sounds like an ideal home for Back to Black 😉 Good luck, T!
I thought some of the BKs were too sweet the first time I tried them, but I’ve developed a real soft spot for gourmands. I like this one AND the marshmallowy one (Love?), though this line is way too pricy for me — if I were going to splurge and buy one, it would definitely be Beyond Love. Such an amazing tuberose! Still, I’d certainly take the B2B off your hands. 🙂
Very kind of you to take it off my hands, Elisa 🙂 Good luck in the draw!
My home would be perfect for Back to Black! It has many notes which I love: Begamot, vanilla, almond, cherry, cardomom and saffron! I would love to adopt it as my own!
Thanks for the chance… 🙂
You are welcome, Alice! Good Luck!
Hmmm… well, a sample of B2B has been waiting patiently in my Luckyscent shopping cart for a few weeks now, so I think I’d be a good home because I’m already hankering for it 🙂
I love Katie Puckrik’s reviews, and her Queen of Sheba fragrances—I want to be a Queen of Sheba!
What a bummer that you aren’t loving any right off the bat! This surprised me more than a little, because from what I (thought I) knew of the line, I figured they were super-high-quality versions of easy-to-wear perfumes. This is an interesting twist!
I thought so too. But maybe I am to blame somehow???
I´m sure you would provide an excellent home for B2B, good luck to you, too, Dee!
To blame? Oh, I’ll never question your nose—especially after detecting the “imperfectly preserved” Shalimar unknowingly! 😉
But you know, your experience has made me even more curious about the line than I was before, so I think I’ll add a few more ‘flavors’ to my sample cart!
That is the funny part with us perfumistas – positive and negative reviews equally spur us on to enquire for ourselves. Be sure to let me know how they work for you! Thank you for still trusting my nose 🙂
No need to enter me, but I just want to say that I love Back to Black. It reminded me of fragrances like Habanita and Tabu, the oriental style at its most opulent. Very Mata Hari! Yet, I can see that it can be a tough one to love!
I was unable to get more than the incredible sweetness, I don’t know why. I am so sad I can’t appreciate B2B’s complexity 😦
Same here, no luck with most of them. The only one I used to like was Love. Now I like Rose Oud quite a lot. (no need to enter me :))
Oh thank you, Marina, I was already feeling like the odd one out. Well, we can’t all love everything, can we? 😉
I will try Rose Oud though.
B toB is in my “to be tested properly” box right now – hm, I should probably downgrade it into the “to be sniffed” box. Kilian Henessys’s parfumes have lovely names, so I get expectations the size of the Himalaya – and than I’m sooo disappointed (“Liaisons Dangereuses”, “Cruel Intentions”, etc.)
But B to B might work as an aphrodisiac for the bee queen ?
Lol, you could be right there, a queen bee would adore it! But don’t get discouraged by my experience, so many love it, maybe you do too. Let me know in which box B2B ends up 😉
I wouldn’t mind trying this, though I have not been lucky so far with By Kilians – the house seems to have its own special headache-inducing accord. I didn’t get that with Love and Tears, however, though it was pretty full on in a big white floral kind of a way. And I don’t amplify sweetness particularly, so I am guardedly curious.
Hi Vanessa,
I didn´t expect not getting along with the Kilians at all! Well, what can you do? 🙂 Good luck in the draw!
These rich, sweet fragrances are my guilty pleasure! And as I could never afford to buy Back to Black, I’d love to win some.
Good Luck to you, Nina!
I would keep it under my pillow and would use it to dream.
How sweet! (no pun intended) 🙂
oooh tobacco?? those notes sound delicious and I’ve never tried any By Kilians, so this would be a perfect introduction!
Good luck in the draw then, Jill! 🙂
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How sweet of you to offer this drawing! This is my first posting on your site…and lucky me to find this! I am a big fan of By Kilians and would just love love love to be the lucky girl to win this.
I have been enjoying your posting and blogs so much, by the way. Thanks for the good fun.
Best of luck to all!
Hi Linda, I am glad you enjoy the blog. I hope you are lucky in the draw for B2B!
When I see his packaging I forget about the scent inside 🙂
Hi Bellatrix,
Haha, that was my approach too! But sadly it didn’t work out 😉
I would love a chance to win Back to Black. Thank you so much for sharing.
You are welcome! Good luck in the draw, Eva!
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