Black Phantom
A boozy, bittersweet gourmand subtitled 'Memento Mori,' built on rum, coffee, dark caramel, and a hint of almond. Black Phantom is one of By Kilian's most distinctive gourmands, balancing sweetness with a roasted, slightly bitter edge.
Black Phantom opens on Coffee and Rum, moves through Sugar Cane and Caramel, and dries down to Sandalwood and Dark Chocolate. At $245 - $395 it is firmly luxury pricing that demands you love the profile first, with moderate to long lasting (6h - 8h) on skin. Reasonably safe to blind buy if the note list appeals to you.
ADEGBE ANALYSIS SCORES
Scores are AdeGbe's editorial analysis based on composition, concentration and community-reported performance — not a single personal wear test.
Approx. $2.45/ml — Based on the lowest street price ($245) over an assumed 100ml bottle for this concentration.
OLFACTORY PYRAMID BREAKDOWN
- Coffee
- Rum
- Almond
- Sugar Cane
- Caramel
- Sandalwood
- Dark Chocolate
- Vanilla
EXPERT ANALYSIS — COMPOSITION & PERFORMANCE
Black Phantom is By Kilian's 2017 eau de parfum from perfumer Sidonie Lancesseur. Our analysis examines its three-phase structure, its longevity and projection profile, and the occasions it serves best.
The Opening
From the first spray, Coffee, Rum, Almond establish a sweet gourmand character that defines the top of the composition.
The Heart
Beneath the opening, a sweet gourmand heart of Sugar Cane, Caramel forms the signature most people will recognise.
The Dry-Down
The dry-down anchors on a dry woods and sweet gourmand base of Sandalwood, Dark Chocolate, Vanilla, the phase that clings closest to skin and lasts longest.
Who Should Buy Black Phantom
Black Phantom is genuinely unisex. Its season vector points strongest to autumn, and its day/night balance makes it best suited to evening wear and going out. If you gravitate toward dry woods and sweet gourmand compositions and want a more moderate, easy-going wear, it belongs on your shortlist.
No major red flags in the composition, but fragrance is personal — skin chemistry can shift the balance of notes, so a sample wear is always wiser than a blind purchase at this price.
PERFORMANCE INDEX & SUITABILITY VECTORS
PROJECTED PERFORMANCE TIMELINE
Projected from this fragrance's concentration, note structure and reported longevity — an analysis, not a single personal wear test.
Coffee and Rum lead the opening before the volatile top notes burn off.
Sugar Cane and Caramel take over as the core character of the fragrance.
Sandalwood and Dark Chocolate anchor the scent close to the skin.
A skin-scent of Sandalwood and Dark Chocolate is what typically remains by now.
Wear It
- ✓Autumn / Fall (40% seasonal fit)
- ✓Winter (35% seasonal fit)
- ✓Evenings, dinners and going out
Skip It
- ✗Spring — it underperforms here (15%)
- ✗Summer — it underperforms here (10%)
- ✗Hot daytime errands — it can read too heavy
Blind-Buy Risk
- • Strongly sweet/gourmand — can read as cloying to some wearers
- • Dense sweetness is love-it-or-hate-it and can fatigue the wearer over a long day.
INGREDIENT SAFETY SNAPSHOT
IFRA-restricted; coumarin sources carry a general pregnancy-caution flag.
Generally well-tolerated base/fixative materials with low sensitiser risk.
This snapshot is based on the published note list, not a full INCI ingredient breakdown. Always check the box for the official allergen declaration and patch-test if you have sensitive skin. See full ingredient-safety guides →
MOST COMPARED WITH
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does By Kilian Black Phantom smell like?
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INTERACTIVE FRAGRANCE TOOLS
Personalised calculators and scanners specific to Black Phantom.
INTERACTIVE FRAGRANCE TOOLS
Personalised calculators and scanners specific to Black Phantom.
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