Luxury “niche” house By Kilian is releasing a third perfume in the Asian Tales line (there are also the L’Oeuvre Noire, Arabian Nights and In The Garden Of Good And Evil collections).
The first two releases have been the greatest disappointment in 2012 for me. Insipid, sheer and – dare I say it – generic, the first two Asian Tales did not capture my attention, but rather raised my ire.
So what will the third one bring?
Flowers of Immortality was created by Calice Becker, notes include white peach, carrot, iris, blackcurrant buds, rose, tonka bean and vanilla.
So far, so good. Sounds quite yummy. But I’m trying not to get my hopes to high, to avoid falling flat on my face again.
The thing with Kilian and me is this: I adore the bottles and the boxes, I can’t say I mind the look of the creator himself, but I haven’t found a perfume that is absolutely perfect for me. I like many of them, but for that kind of money, it should damn well be a perfect one, a true love.
So every time Kilian brings out something new, I get very excited and hope that this will finally be my bottle. (I do own a refill of Amber Oud, but that was a mistake, because I know I should have splurged for the regular bottle, since the refill just doesn’t strike my packaging fancy and therefore is hardly ever used. Stupid, I know.)
Completely gratuitous photo of Kilian Hennessy for your viewing pleasure.
What do you think of the line? Have you found your Kilian yet? Are you excited about this newest addition set to be released in April?
Here are some Kilian reviews to get you in the mood.
Olfactoria's Travels 
I am complete agreement with you on the first two Asian Tales scents, quite the disappointment. This one sounds interesting and I will certainly give it a try. I have yet to buy one of the actual gorgeous bottles although I have refills of Beyond Love and Liasons Dangereouses and the Incense Oud Travel Set. Until I have unlimited cash I make due with the fact that the little travel cases are gorgeous and so nicely fit all of the discovery set atomoizers. They help me use the refill bottle juice without feeling disappointed that I don’t have the original bottle. I have one of each color (black, gold and silver) and can’t wait for the white one (gotta have a full set!). Oh, and I also agree that Kilian is not hard on the eyes, he was very charming in person when he visited Dubai recently.
Oh, you met Kilian AND have the silver atomizer? You are one lucky gal indeed! 🙂
Another thing I love about Kilian’s line is the choice of packaging options and the discovery set, now I only need the perfect scent. 😉
That mirrors my thoughts exactly. I really want to find *the one* for me amongst these beautiful and amazingly well-made perfumes, but it just hasn’t happened. Could it be that they are too perfect? That I miss that tiny imperfection which makes it come alive to me?i don’t know, but I will keep looking and half hope half fret that I find it 😉
Good thought, Asali, maybe they are a bit too smooth and polished.
I’m not sure there is much point my commenting either – I am basically going to repeat what you wrote…
I have really enjoyed both the ‘L’Oeuvre Noire’ and ‘Arabian Nights’ line, and while Amber Oud is also the only perfume I own (and I love the gold travel atomiser – so luxurious!), I find myself returning to them all time and again. In fact Amber Oud has been a staple this winter.
But I was also seriously under-whelmed by the next two collections: the ‘Asian Tales’ were just dull and the ‘In The Garden Of Good And Evil’, while having wonderful packaging (oh my I did like the clutch bag/box thingy), just smelt plasticky to me (sorry) and my life they are expensive. I will stop and sniff this if I ever pass it by, but I have no interest in seeking it out – besides I am too busy seeking the new Serge Lutens and wondering about the new Tom Ford!
Happy Friday Birgit! x
I wanted to love the white line too, that cluch, that bottle! But Like you, I was not impressed.
The new Tom Ford sounds quite like it could be your thing, Alex!
“for that kind of money, it should damn well be a perfect one, a true love”. Amen sister. That sums it up right there. I haven’t found a Killian that is a true love yet. I also haven’t explored too many from the line because of the price. I did try the Good and Evil scents and they didn’t thrill me. Liaisons Dangereouses started off okay but turned to the faint rosy scent of deodorant panty liners on me. Not awful, but really not something I want to smell like. He is nice to look at isn’t he?
Many of us seem to be of the same opinion here. I’ve tried them all and I only hate one (Straight to Heaven), but love? Hmmm, not happened yet.
I was really disappointed with the latest collections, I really really wanted to love and own good girl gone bad as I loved the title (and that is a little bit of me) BUT I didn’t like them at all and agree with another comment that they smelt quite plastiky.
I prefer the original line up and own travel sprays of B2B and Sweet Redemption, I just didn’t see me ever using up more than the travel sprays to warrant the price of the beautiful bottles.
I will sniff this one out as I am ever hopeful that the next By Kilian one might just be the one. 🙂
Let’s hope it is!!! 🙂
I love that you feel the same regarding By Kilian, Andrea!
My mother taught me to say nothing if I had nothing nice to say, but she’s not here, so…
This line reminds me of Tom Ford’s Private Blends with better packaging. There are too many of both of them and of the ones I’ve sampled, they are ridiculously overpriced. (I will interject to say that I quite like several of TF’s regular, mainstream line.) As you say, Birgit, for that kind of money, it should damn well be perfect.
l know what you mean, although I believe that a LOT more thought went into the Kilian line, I believe it is a labor if love for him, whereas for Tom Ford… well, he has several other fish to fry than thinking about perfume. 😉
I love the ine but continually spend on others and don’t yet have a by Killian FB in the collection. I will one day, SweetvRedemption probably, or Back to Black.
Portia xx
Eventually I’d like a FB too, but it hasn’t been launched yet. 😉
How’s Korea, P? xo
Korea has been a lovely surprise. Oodles of solid family time and I think we are accepted. The whole family has been very welcoming and I’ve been exposed to many new foods, some delicious! Jin has been incredible and supportive to both sides. I am VERY lucky. We have seen some amazing temples, Jin’s childhood and young adult memory sites, a museum and geography. I was hoping to buy some Annick Goutal because they are now Korean owned but am yet to find some.
BUSSIS,
Portia xx
That is so lovely to hear, Portia! I’m glad it went so well. But on the other hand I was never worried, because how could they ever resist your charms??? 😉
Big hug, and another one for Jin! xxx
I totally agree , it’s the price point that does it. I like Back to Black and love Rose Oud and Amber Oud but I just can’t yet part with that amount of cash for that amount of mls (even though the packaging is gorgeous). I also think you want something with complexity for your money rather than something watery, bland or generic.
I’ll still wait in hope for the new one though!
It is that hope that keeps us going. 😉
As I think I may have mentioned earlier on your blog, I am currently involved in a monogamous relationship with Sweet Redemption. I am making my way through the travel set, and if I still feel committed, I will purchase a full bottle. I have imposed (because he really couldn’t care less) the same restriction on my husband with ‘Back to Black’, which to my mind is the sexiest, most masculine, scent ever. So he has a travel set..I definitely see a full bottle of that ahead.
Having said all that, I am curious, but not salivating at the idea of a new release from this house. I was much more excited about the new Chanel.
Glad to hear you are still faithful to Sweet Redemption. This perfume plays tricks on me. Most of the time it’s almost perfect, but sometimes it turns to plastic on my skin… I wish I knew why…
I can detect what you’re talking about. This fascination with SR is a complete mystery to me. I can’t even tell you why I’m so drawn to it. Something about the sweetness and incense combination. Oh well, if I’m going to have an obsession, I guess this is relatively harmless (if not the cheapest).
BTW – I’ll be in Vienna in April, do you have some perfume haunts that you can recommend?
Enjoy your obsession, Sara! 🙂
If you look on the right side there is a link called Shopping in the Categories, there are short articles about most Viennese perfume shops. The newest one is called Le Dix-Neuf (Seilergasse 19), I’ll write about it soon, it’s exquisite!
I want to update this a bit. I’ve been able to snag a sample of this, and I am thoroughly enjoying it.
It’s basically peach and powder. Happy, optimistic, springtime, this stuff comes close to laughter in a bottle for me.
It has no projection, no sillage and no longevity. Spray it and 20 minutes later, spray it again. Maybe lotion would allow you to catch this tinkerbell for more than an hour or so, it’s certainly worth trying.
Kilian Hennessy is going to be visiting the Sak’s in my town the week after next. I may purchase a bottle of this and have him sign it. I will DEFINITELY try to get a picture with him, even if he’s wearing that snake.
Peach and powder sounds lovely, but the very short life of the perfume is a bit disappointing.
Thank you very much for updating us, I will certainly try to test this soon!
Right, this stuff is beautiful, graceful, sweet and gentle. But calling it Immortal is quite a stretch.
🙂
I agree with you here. There is so much to love, but when it comes to the scent itself, I have been disappointed with what I have tried. Most are WAY too sweet on me.
They do veer into the sweet direction, Arline. Maybe this new one will be “it”…
fingers crossed!!!
One more thing… I totally love the photo caption. Feel free to post more of these, please!
Okay, noted. 😀
I wore my Forbidden Games this week and do love the honey note in it that reminds me of the honey in Back to Black. I admit that the white box with snake packaging was certainly part of reason I coughed up the money to buy it. Also, I was with Dubaiscents (in Dubai) where Killian was signing bottles if you purchased. He is certainly a great face and spokesman for his brand and the “gratuitious picture” you posted of him reminded me how charming he is. He does look the same in person as in the promotional shots you see.
If he were here to sell me one personally, I have no doubt I had the entire collection (and be deeply in debt!) 😉
I love each and every fragrance in the Arabian Nights collection, but only Pure Oud and Incense Oud have any staying power on my skin. (And not much at that – 3 hours, tops) I don’t allow myself to be swayed by beautiful packaging, and considering the price and lack of longevity, I doubt I will buy a full bottle. But I’ll keep on sniffin’ the new ones!
I enjoyed the Asian Tales samples as “fun beach colognes”. But I have quite a few beach colognes, just as nice and much less expensive. And I like to make colognes, also, so…that was that. I really like the Amber Oud, but not enough to spring for a bottle. I mean, I could get another Laz-Y-Boy chair for the same price! 😉
Lol, really? Those Laz-y-boys are a bargain apparently! 😀
I agree, the Asian Tales are entirely too expensive to be a fun beach cologne.
We live near the factory showroom, great deals on those Laz-y Boys! And yes, to be a true “fun beach cologne”, you can’t be uber-cher. I smell a lot of J-Lo’s perfumes on the beach in Florida, that makes sense, though I usually wear Patou’s Sira des Indes myself, or home-made Bay Rum cologne.
No, there has been no Kilian for me yet. I’m quite proud of myself that there is at least one luxury parfum house I didn’t fall for… (so there is more left for me to buy Amytis…)
Hehe, fallen for Amytis, I see… 😉
I am in the minority here, but I love many of his perfumes. I have too many full bottles and love each and every one of them. The best line of his in my opinion is Arabian Nights. I was not impressed with Asian Tales and have not had the opportunity to smell Good Girl Gone Bad series. I will always smell his creations when I can.
The Arabian Nights is also the most expensive line – true to form, Sandra! 😉
I really like Rose Oud too (not enough to buy a FB, but I split a travel set).
I have tried a few (Sweet Redemption, Back to Black, Straight to Heaven, Dangerous Liasons,
Water calligraphy, Bamboo Harmony and others whose names escape me now). They were all pleasant to me but nothing moved me. there was one that I did enjoy more that the others, heavy on the orange blossom with a Heaven in the name- was it Straight to Heaven? I am not sure. But they are a bit out of my perfume budget so perhaps it is best I am not obsessed with owning a full bottle 🙂 !!
Money saved! 🙂
I’m still torn between In the City of Sin and Forbidden Games but I’ll make a decision and will buy a bottle once Kilian comes to San Francisco (I heard he should be here in Fall): if I were to pay that price for a perfume I want the “whole package”! with his signature 😉
As to the Asian Collection, unlike most of your readers, I really liked Bamboo Harmony. But with my usage pattern, size of my collection and my budget I just cannot justify paying that much for a cologne – no matter how nice it is. I’m not saying it’s not worth is but it’s not worth it for me.
Oh, and yes – I’m excited about the new release.
Yay, me too!
I say I’d be able to make a decision quickly with Kilian right under my nose. 😉
So far I’ve only one favorite By Killian-Sweet Redemtion, and I might get a FB when I’ve used up my decant. The others of L’Oevre Noir didn’t move me much, perhaps because they’re too polished?
Sweet Redemption is the one I’d pick as well, if I had to. 🙂
Have to say the Pure Oud and Rose Oud are, respectively, the only straight oud and the only rose scent that I’ve ever really fallen for. Lush and elegantStill saving for Rose Oud and if cost were no object I’d buy the Pure Oud for DH. It annoys me that I’d be paying for the packaging, but having sampled left right and centre (incl Amouage, Malle etc) I haven’t found anything to match.
Beyond love is pretty gorgeous too.
You are the perfect candidate for the refill bottle then! It saves a lot.
I think you’re right. Still needs to be saved for, but as you say, losing the lacquer makes it a much more achievable goal!
If you love the juice, it is a very good option indeed!
I had a big problem with the early By Kilians, which overwhelmed me with what I can best describe as a sort of “house migraine accord” – a synthetic fug that quite literally made me nauseous. I was delighted to find that Love & Tears, Sweet Redemption and Rose Oud had shed this common trait and I enjoy all three of those, Sweet Redemption in particular.
House migraine accord is hilarious (and awful of course!).
Sweet Redemption gets a lot of good rep.
It seems I am. Kilian hoe 😀 I love and own a few of the line such as the travel set of amber oud and straight to heaven,and a bottle of back to black (yes with box and key) coming my way! 🙂
And I know exactly what your saying about the refill bottle,I love my bottles.
Good for you! The lock and key box adds such a feeling of luxury, enjoy it!
I wonder what people in Asia think of the Asian Tales releases? It seems that they like very subtle fragrances in Japan, China, Singapore and Hong Kong. Are these markets working for him? If not I guess he could always put a snake around his neck for marketing purposes and still look completely at ease.
I’ve wondered too how the fragrances are received in Asia…
Lol, nothing much seems to faze Mr Hennessy. 🙂
I couldn’t agree more about the Asian tales but this one does sound more promising.
And I have the same problem with the line (Amouage is another one I have the same issue with) – they are perfectly lovely but all leave me pretty much cold, I don’t feel the need to own any.
We are once more in agreement, dear Ines. And like the eternal optimists that we are we hope for this latest one to wow us. 🙂
Ooh, he’s such a beautiful man. Eye candy personified. Thank you Birgit. But despite his good looks, I resisted trying any of his perfumes for the longest time. I thought the bottles were way over the top, and I resented the astronomical prices as much as his blatant pedigree. But eventually I relented and ordered some samples from the website. They arrived very quickly in the middle of the Christmas rush. And I fell hard and fast for Amber Oud. To be honest it was and is the most delectable thing I’ve smelled so far in my short career as a perfumista. I knew I had to have it. And despite the insane price tag (299€) I decided that I wanted the ostentatious bottle after all, I wanted the golden box with its embossed K and I wanted the key on a tassle. Because sometimes the only right thing is to indulge. Now my only worry is that I won’t be able to stay away from him in the future. So I hope this latest Asian Tale won’t be any better than the other two. There can only be one Kilian for me (and my wallet).
I understand your hope that the next one is not for you. Enjoy your precious Amber Oud, my dear Åsa!
I have tried most of the Kilians and my favourites are Back to Black, Amber Oud, Sweet Redemption and Prelude to Love. I haven’t bought a full bottle though. I do find the Kilian line to very democratic in that they show you what you pay for that beautiful bottle but don’t make you spend the money for it if you don’t want to.
I agree, that is a wonderful trait of the line, I wish more companies would do it.
I haven’t really connected with the Asian Tales Collection either. But as you know, I am coveting that white clutch from the Garden of Good and Evil Series. One day, it will be mine! And I’ll consider the fragrance and awesome freebie 🙂
And thank you for the gratuitous Kilian Hennessy eye candy 🙂
I want that stuffed rhino too. What fragrance does that come with? 🙂
Hahaha, maybe that is up next? Perfumes of the wild? I can already see Mr Hennessy posing with lions and tigers…
A $250+ bottle plus stuffed rhino? Yes, please 🙂
I didn’t know he looked like that! My goodness. And the bottles look good too (the bottle is really, really important). Never tried the perfumes, but will do the next time I get the chance….
I’m very glad the picture of Kilian Hennessy is not gratuitous then, but educational. 😉
Have fun exploring the line, Alice!