Black Phantom - ( DX029657 )

Its full name is Black Phantom "Memento Mori", Latin for remember that you will die, and the story is a pirate's one. Released in 2017 and composed by Sidonie Lancesseur, it opens with Shin Shin, a fiery drink of strong coffee laced with Caribbean rum. What smells like almond is described by Kilian as a cyanide accord, the deadly secret in the cup. Underneath, it is a coffee, rum and almond gourmand over Java vetiver, sugar cane and creamy sandalwood. It belongs to The Cellars family. carries the Kilian Black Phantom decant in Bangladesh.

Fragrance Notes

Top: Coffee, Rum

Heart: Bitter Almond, Vetiver

Base: Sugar Cane, Sandalwood

Full note breakdown on the Kilian site.

The Scent

The opening is strong coffee and rum. The coffee is dark and bitter, and the rum adds a warm, sweet booziness. On first spray it is rich and a little fiery, very much in line with the drink Kilian describes.

The heart is bitter almond and vetiver. The almond is the note Kilian dramatises as cyanide, and on skin it reads as a smooth, nutty, marzipan-like bitterness. Java vetiver adds an earthy warmth that sharpens the coffee. This is the most distinctive stage.

The base is sugar cane and sandalwood. Sugar cane echoes the sweetness of the rum, and creamy sandalwood makes the drydown soft and milky. Kilian's own text keeps the list short, but reviewers also pick up caramel, dark chocolate and heliotrope, which appear in the wider note lists.

On many skins, the caramel and chocolate side comes through more than the coffee. A Fragrantica review calls it a crowd-pleaser, with milky sandalwood and powdery heliotrope around the gourmand heart. Opinions do vary. Many find it gorgeous and well blended, while some call it pleasant but forgettable. Those sensitive to powdery heliotrope should know it is quite present.

In 2022 Kilian released a Black Phantom Anniversary Edition, which reviewers describe as woodier and spicier. That is a separate scent. This page is for the 2017 original.

When to Wear

Black Phantom is a cool-weather, evening scent. Its coffee, rum and caramel feel right on winter nights, dates and dinners. In Dhaka's warmer months, keep it for air-conditioned evenings, as the sweetness can feel heavy in heat. More sweet picks are in the Gourmand and Sweet collection.

Who Is It For

It suits people who love coffee, almond and boozy gourmands, and anyone after a rich dessert-style Kilian. It is unisex and wears well on anyone who likes sweet scents. If you want a dry, woody coffee, this is sweeter than that. It is also one of the easier Kilians to like on first wear, which makes it a popular starting point for people new to the house. The skull-topped box adds drama, but the scent inside is friendly.

For another coffee Kilian, compare Intoxicated, and for cognac and cinnamon, Angels' Share. Browse the full Kilian collection.

Available as an authentic decant in Bangladesh at in 3ml, 5ml, 9ml, and 15ml.

Specifications

• Brand: Kilian
• Type: Fragrances
• Options: 3ML Decant (45+ sprays), 5ML Decant (75+ sprays), 9ML Decant (135+ sprays), 15ML Decant (225+ sprays)