Eau de parfum

By Kilian Back to Black

Gender image: Unisex
Gender:
Unisex
Segment image
Segment:
Lux perfumes
Fragrance information:

Identity and Release History

Discover Back to Black – a seductive unisex fragrance by By Kilian, released in 2009.

This release immediately won the hearts of niche perfume enthusiasts with its languid and nostalgic character, becoming a benchmark in the collection The Smokes, dedicated to smoky and tobacco notes.

The perfume house By Kilian, founded in 2007 in Paris by Kilian Hennessy, an heir to the cognac dynasty, is renowned for its philosophy of luxury and artistic rebellion.

Back to Black perfectly reflects this DNA, offering a deep and multifaceted experience that transports you to a world of dark temptations and romantic memories.

Positioning and Wearability

As a unisex fragrance, Back to Black is designed for everyone seeking character and depth, whether a confident woman or a charismatic man.

Its medium trail envelops with a soft and intimate cloud, making it ideal for evening dates, special events, or cool seasons when you want to add a touch of warmth.

In the format of eau de parfum, the fragrance demonstrates excellent longevity and richness.

For optimal application, I recommend entering the cloud of spray on the skin – this allows the notes to unfold evenly, and on clothing – 1 to 2 sprays for a longer and more lasting effect.

Authors and Influence

Two outstanding perfumers worked on the creation of this masterpiece: Calice Becker and Kilian Hennessy.

Their partnership brought a unique combination of Eastern spice and woody warmth, defining the fragrance as part of the Oriental and Woody families.

Back to Black has had a significant influence on the perfume industry, popularizing tobacco and cherry notes in niche compositions.

If you are inspired by this fragrance, consider similar options: Tom Ford Lost Cherry for lovers of cherry sweetness, Serge Lutens Chergui with Eastern nuances, and Mugler A*Men Pure Havane with tobacco shades.

For detailed information, visit the official website: http://www.bykilian.com.

More than 84% of users recommend this fragrance!
4.0
(53)
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Key fragrance characteristics

Perfume information

Description of the composition

The Back to Black note pyramid is a harmonious blend of chords where it's difficult to distinguish clear levels, but each element contributes to a rich palette.

The core of the composition is built around juicy cherry and smoky tobacco, creating a seductive and nostalgic effect that is enhanced by sweet vanilla and balsamic benzoin.

Spicy accents such as saffron and nutmeg add depth and warmth, while the woody bases oak and patchouli provide stability and earthiness.

Fruity notes of raspberry and gourmet almond enrich the fragrance, making it multifaceted and memorable for any occasion.

Perfumers

Gender Unisex
Brand By Kilian
Segment Niche perfumery
Country France
Website http://www.bykilian.com
Year of production 2009
Status Produced
Concentration Eau de parfum
License holder Estée Lauder Companies

Families

Fragrance characteristics

based on 38 opinions
Chords
Relevance
Dosage
Perception
Appearance quality
Similar
Persistence
The persistence of a fragrance is determined by how long it can be felt. It is a characteristic associated with ingredients that evaporate slowly. Persistence depends on the physical properties of the perfume ingredients—mainly their volatility and environmental factors such as temperature and humidity.
Persistence
Medium (2 to 5 hours)
3
Sillage
Imagine a light cloud of fragrance that, like an aeroplane trail, remains in the air after your appearance. This is the sillage - a subtle or vivid imprint left by the most diffuse element of a perfume composition. The sillage can be almost invisible when it is felt only by you and those around you. Or it can be so expressive that its presence is noticed even long after you have left.
Sillage
Medium
3
Complexity and depth
The complexity of a fragrance is the number and variety of notes that create a unique composition. A complex fragrance contains many different notes that reveal themselves on the skin. The depth of a fragrance is the richness and intensity of the fragrance. Fragrances with a deep composition include heavy and powerful notes that stay on the skin longer and affect others over long distances.
Complexity and depth
Medium and varied
2
Gender
This scale depicts gender focus and demonstrates how the brand positions the fragrance - as masculine, feminine or universal.
Male
18%
Unisex
63%
Female
18%
What kind of event
Date
9%
Wedding
0%
Sport
0%
Sleep
9%
For party
27%
For every day
18%
Sex
18%
For Holiday
0%
Theatre
18%
Office
0%
For what time of year / season
Winter
Winter
40%
Spring
Spring
20%
Summer
Summer
14%
Autumn
Autumn
26%
For what style / mood
Casual
17%
Gala
17%
Classic
8%
Avant-garde
0%
Romantic
33%
Sporty
25%
For what age
under 18
21%
18-25 years old
0%
26-35 years old
32%
36-45 years
21%
46+ years old
14%
Any
11%
On the skin
The optimum amount of atomisation on the skin is the balance at which the fragrance reveals itself in its entirety and sounds its best.
Spot
21%
Enter the cloud
42%
1-2 atomisations
21%
2-3 atomisations
5%
3-4 atomisations
5%
4-5 sprays
5%
Where is the best place to apply the fragrance?
The best places to apply a fragrance are the areas where it will reveal itself most fully and create the most vivid impression.
On the chest
8%
On the wrist
25%
On the knees
0%
On the back of the neck
8%
Behind the ears
8%
On the elbow
8%
On the abdomen
8%
On the back of the hand
8%
On clothes
17%
Не могу оценить
8%
On clothing
The optimum amount of atomisation of the fragrance on clothes, at which it reveals the best quality of the fragrance.
Spot
5%
Enter the cloud
21%
1-2 atomisations
42%
2-3 atomisations
21%
3-4 atomisations
5%
4-5 sprays
5%
Associations
Perfume associations are the emotions and images that pop into the imagination when you perceive its unique notes and accents
Freshness
8%
Exoticism
4%
Luxury
31%
Euphoria
4%
Passion
27%
Joy
4%
Calm
15%
Excitement
4%
Sadness
0%
Despair
4%
Effect
Fragrances can attract attention and evoke positive emotions, others can leave neutral, and others can cause negative associations and repel people.
Effect
Attracts attention
4
Intensity
The intensity of a fragrance is like its ‘volume’, the degree of intensity and strength with which it is felt around you or on the surface.
Intensity
Moderate
2
Bottle
Bottle
High quality
4
Spray
Spray
High quality
4
Packaging quality
Perfume bottle packaging quality is about protection and aesthetic appeal, including strength, reliability, design and materials. High quality ensures the safety and security of the product, a good first impression and attractiveness
Packaging quality
High quality
4
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Fragrance trend

Reviews
Average rating
4.0
48 ratings
53 comments
5
42%
4
25%
3
23%
2
8%
1
2%
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Give a rating from 1 to 5
Give a rating from 1 to 5.
4/5
4
On me, it feels like pure tobacco, with a spicy bitterness and a sweetish syrup. It's really unusual, but that's exactly what's appealing. The scent is smoky, fragrant, and rich 🌟
4/5
4
At first, you feel a sharp, heavy oriental scent, a bit woody, and then frankincense, like in a church. If someone detects honey and tobacco here, it's clearly their imagination. The smell is distinctly masculine. I definitely wouldn't recommend it to young girls. The box, by the way, is well made, like black marble. An excellent gift for a high-status man. Although I bought it for myself, I'm unlikely to wear it. Only if I suddenly find myself in a close circle of connoisseurs of collectible wines or elite cognac, then this fragrance would be appropriate. It's no coincidence that on the official website of this brand, it's placed in the "Cellars" section (translated from English, could also be "wine cellar") 😒
5/5
5
The scent, alas, leaves bittersweet memories. The combination of tobacco, cherry pit, spices, and honey seems appealing, but at the same time evokes sadness. The longevity and sillage are, of course, impressive, but something in this fragrance gets lost, as if it's fading away forever
4/5
4
Honey with tobacco. The scent is just awful, so heavy and intrusive that it starts to give you a headache. Smoky, dense, like someone is smoking in the room. Its intensity is off the charts, and the sillage is so strong you could track someone. It's pure oriental, but for me, it's more suitable for men than for women
5/5
5
What an amazing scent for winter! It's simply perfect for cold days ❄️
3/5
3
Cherry hookahs are something else. The tobacco smoke is definitely present here, but it seems to drown in powdery, spicy, and honey notes. The smoky-woody base adds depth, binding all these elements into a whole. The honey feels very rich, and the powder resembles pollen, which gives the fragrance a special lightness. The tobacco is cherry, as expected, dense and thick. This fragrance definitely deserves attention, as it is truly multifaceted and capable of surprising 🍂
4/5
4
Cherry tobacco - that's exactly the smell associated with hookah, rich and bright. The fragrance creates a special atmosphere, with notes of oriental spices. Very unusual and interesting 🌟
5/5
5
The scent is warm and spicy, with a hint of bitterness and sourness, but what attracted me most was the combination of almond, baked goods, and resins. This perfume is truly worth attention 😌
5/5
5
Cognac, cherry with a slight tartness, bitter vanilla, and tobacco - that's what I feel. The scent just explodes, it's rich and with a bright bitterness, its sillage is huge. Longevity is top-notch, simply incredible! With such a perfume, it's impossible to stay in the shadows ✨
3/5
3
The opening just explodes - tobacco with honey, like right in your face. After half an hour, the tobacco almost disappears, leaving only honey, and it's too much, like someone poured a bucket. The cherry pit barely breaks through this honey mess. And closer to the base, a gingerbread appears, which is totally out of place. The scent is cozy, of course, but I don't like it - tobacco is definitely not my thing 😤
4/5
4
This fragrance absolutely doesn't live up to its name, and there's no talk of sexuality here. Perhaps it's because it doesn't unfold on my skin as it should. But for me, it's become a truly cozy relaxant 🌼

I imagine a small house somewhere in the forest, where the smell of honey, sweet and tart, wafts through the kitchen. Outside the window, a warm sunset glows, and someone nearby, squinting from the sun, smokes a pipe with cherry tobacco, releasing fragrant puffs of smoke 🍃 On the table, raspberry tea is brewing, and next to it are fresh and very tasty gingerbread cookies with ginger and almond! And I'm so comfortable that I'll probably linger here a little longer, sipping my tea with honey! 🍯
5/5
5
Honeyed cherry is simply gorgeous, you don't even want to break it down into individual notes, you just enjoy the scent. The tobacco accords here are incredibly beautiful, you feel the smoke from a smoldering tobacco leaf and imagine expensive cherry tobacco in a box. The spices are breathtaking. This is definitely worth trying, and more than once! 🌟
2/5
2
Someone, perhaps, was lucky enough to catch the real magic in the fragrance, the very one promised in the name. But for me, it's just pure herbal honey with a slight bitterness. It's so strong that you can't smell anything else for a whole day. Later, maybe some fruity and floral notes appear, but it doesn't matter anymore. It seems they didn't add any cherries at all. Although, maybe they were there, but got lost in this honey cloud
5/5
5
The fragrance I tried turned out to be quite dense and gourmand, but, alas, it didn't leave a pleasant impression. Its opening is woody-spicy, with the bitterness of oak and spicy saffron, but the sweetness of honey doesn't save the situation 😔 Further on, something like a thick cherry liqueur with frankincense unfolds, and then you start to feel how it presses on you, as if something from Khaltat Night Attar Collection and Opium by Yves Saint Laurent were mixed. In the base, of course, there's honey gingerbread with cherry jam, but even that doesn't bring joy. The cherry, though beautiful, reminds me of Lost Cherry by Tom Ford, but doesn't evoke delight. In the end, the fragrance leaves a bitter aftertaste, as if something important has slipped away 😞
5/5
5
Hello, dear perfume lovers. Today I want to tell you about the fragrance from "By Kilian" called "Back to Black". From the very first notes, it sounds very loud and expressive, as if announcing itself. Tobacco combined with woody accents of cedar and oak immediately shows its strength, and spicy cardamom with bergamot only confirms this.

This fragrance, in my opinion, possesses the magic of an aphrodisiac, awakening memories of the mysterious East and igniting the hearts of both men and women. At the same time, in the honey-tobacco notes, there is a nostalgia for the bygone era of Decadence - evoking images of emancipated ladies with cigarettes in long holders, who remained in the past )

Collections By Kilian

Even more options from this brand
15th Anniversary Edition (3)
Arabian Nights (4)
Asian Tales (3)
Hair Mist Collection (2)
L'œuvre Noire (4)
Miami Vice (2)
Middle East Exclusives (4)
My Kind of Love (10)
Solid Perfume Collection (10)
Sophie Matisse Art Edition (3)
The Art of Love (5)
The Cellars (9)
The Cocktails Collection (3)
The Fresh (7)
The Liquors Collection (11)
The Narcotics (20)
The Smokes (7)
Rose Oud Rose Oud
3.6
Amber Oud Amber Oud
4.0
Pure Oud Pure Oud
4.0
Incense Oud Incense Oud
3.9

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