Don’t get me wrong—I love a perfume that can be taken from day to night as much as the next person. Many scents work for all hours of the day, and I love that kind of versatility.
When I’m getting ready for a big night out or a special occasion, however, I want a perfume that has a little extra oomph. When a fragrance is best worn at night, it’s typically a little more potent, a little deeper, a little more mysterious. Out of my massive perfume collection, these are the 15 that I reserve for after dark. Keep scrolling to find your perfect nighttime match.
Key notes: juniper berry, jasmine, cedar, tonka bean. A dark bar, a stiff drink, a flickering candle, live jazz—these are all the images conjured by a spritz of this warm fragrance. Inspired by a Parisian bar of the same name, Orphéon is something special.
Key notes: leather, tonka bean, sage. If we’re talking scents that fit squarely into the “seductive” scent category, Tom Ford’s Fucking Fabulous should be first on on the list. The name says it all: This scent smells fucking fabulous. It’s a gourmand leather that screams pure decadence—the kind of smell that draws people to you.
Key notes: freesia, plum, amber, cashmere woods, vanilla bean, cistus oil. I have a confession to make: I wear this perfume during the day, even though it has all the qualities of an after-dark scent. Vanille Antique is part of Byredo’s Night Veils line, which is a collection of scents imbued with the “ritual of the night.” This smoky sent turns vanilla as you know it on its head and into something downright hypnotic.
Key notes: petitgrain, black pepper, frankincense, cumin, cedar, sandalwood, vetiver. Smelling Aesop’s new scent is nothing less than an experience. It opens with a soft, semi-sweet, almost milkiness that swiftly transforms into a mellow earthiness.
Key notes: iris, myrrh. Uniquely, this scent is heavy on iris, which is a bit less heady and more woodsy than other florals. What really brings this fragrance to life, though, is myrrh. It gives the scent a deep, mind-numbing, almost menthol-like quality. Overall, this scent has an electrical charge to it, like the Festa della Luce in Puglia that it’s modeled after.
Key notes: palo santo wood accord, ebony wood accord, rose. A burst of rose helps cut through this deep, woodsy scent to take it to the next level. With notes of palo santo, this fragrance has a mystical, ethereal quality to it.
Key notes: patchouli, nutmeg, cedar. If there’s one thing Kilian Paris does really well, it’s seductive scents. This is the perfect spicy gourmand that you won’t want to stop smelling.
Key notes: green grass, freesia, vetiver, patchouli, vanilla bean. Don’t let the ominous name fool you—Dark Is Night is an extremely inviting perfume. Woods and vanilla round out this scent, while bursts of freshness keep it interesting.
Key notes: jasmine absolute, bourbon vanilla, rose absolute. Consider this the goth version of Coco Mademoiselle. An amber base and a classic floral composition make this fragrance intimate but still extremely wearable.
Key notes: black coffee, white flowers, vanilla. Coffee is an unusual note to find in a fragrance. In this one, it works seamlessly, creating the most interesting gourmand that’s electrifying to smell.
Key notes: saffron, juniper berries, cardamom, soft suede, bourbon, violet, praline, guaiac wood, labdanum, musk, vanilla, patchouli, cedarwood, sandalwood. To me, this scent is the encapsulation of drinking a bourbon-infused drink by a fireplace. It warms you up immediately.
Key notes: blackcurrant nectar, Isparta rose and davana, patchouli, benzoin resin. Blackcurrant brings an intense depth to this scent that makes it a more robust floral than most. Patchouli gives more complexity.
Key notes: patchouli, vanilla, amber, musk, red fruit. Even if you don’t think you like patchouli, this perfume is almost sure to change your mind. It’s reminiscent of Old Hollywood glamour. Not only that, but it’s also the exact fragrance Jackie Kennedy wore.
Key notes: bitter orange, iris, tonka bean. If you’re going for a sweet floral fragrance with a citrus twist for a night out, Prada’s got you covered. It combines bright bitter orange with iris and tonka bean for an irresistible smell that will hypnotize anyone you cross paths with.
Key notes: violet leaf absolute, white lavender, musks. This aptly named bold and sensual fragrance offers aromatic florals with an unexpected edge. Fresh lavender takes center stage for this one, with musks providing layers of warmth and a hint of mystery.
