Midnight Special by Ex Nihilo bottle
Ex Nihilo

Midnight Special

4.1/5 · 347 votes Unisex 2017
Main accords
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Fragrance notes

Top notes
Heart notes
Base notes

Character

Longevity3.9/5
Sillage3.6/5
Day32
Night100
Fall100
Winter93
Spring48
Summer25
Our take

Midnight Special opens with a sharp slap of saffron and black pepper, cinnamon smoldering underneath like a blush that won’t quit. The grapefruit in the heart doesn’t brighten so much as it zings, a citrus jolt that cuts through the rose’s velvet before the Turkish rose and its blunter sibling settle into a plush, jammy duo. Then the base takes over: oud that feels polished, not barnyard, vanilla that sweetens the edges, and patchouli that grounds everything in a dark, almost leathery hum. It’s a scent that moves from fiery to floral to resinous without losing its nerve.

This is a black leather jacket worn over a silk rose print shirt, the collar popped against a cold night. The projection is polite rather than thunderous, and longevity hovers around moderate, which means you’ll need to reapply if you’re heading from dinner to a late bar. The warm spicy, oriental woody core fits autumn and winter like a glove, and the 100% night rating is no accident, this fragrance drinks moonlight.

It suits anyone who wants a rose-oud that feels wearable, not punishing, a niche hybrid that leans mainstream in its smoothness. But if you recoil from vanilla sweetness in an otherwise spicy composition, or if you expect your oud to bite, skip it, the grapefruit can feel a little synthetic on the climb, and the sillage never roars. Wear it to a dimly lit cocktail party or a long, slow evening walk.

Smells similar

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