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Eau de parfum
By Kilian Midnight Espresso
Gender:
Unisex
Segment:
Lux perfumes
Fragrance information:
By Kilian Midnight Espresso — the fragrance of 2026
By Kilian Midnight Espresso is a new unisex fragrance for 2026, created for those who love rich gourmand compositions with the effect of a late-night cocktail.
The fragrance is released as an eau de parfum and has joined The Cocktails Collection — a line where perfume formulas evoke the atmosphere of bar culture, seduction and luxurious ingredients.
The release continues the signature aesthetic of By Kilian: the house, founded in Paris in 2007 by Kilian Hennessy, combines the idea of exceptional luxury with artistic rebellion.
Midnight Espresso feels like an evening ritual — dark, sensual and enveloping, yet versatile enough to be worn by both women and men.
The fragrance pyramid and composition
The olfactory journey opens with a duo of coffee and rum.
The opening is dense and expressive: coffee’s bitterness meets a warm alcoholic nuance, creating the impression of freshly prepared espresso in the dim light of a stylish bar.
Chocolate and hazelnut unfold at the heart of the composition. The sweetness does not feel flat here: the chocolate facet adds creamy depth, while hazelnut brings a soft, slightly roasted nuance.
As a result, the fragrance gradually becomes rounder, cozier and more seductive.
At the base, benzoin and vanilla create a warm, balsamic and long-lasting finish.
The full composition combines balsamic, drink-inspired, fruity, gourmand and sweet accents, with gourmand as its dominant family.
As a result, Midnight Espresso comes across as a rich dessert accord with a coffee-and-alcohol character rather than simply a sweet fragrance.
Development on the skin and sillage
On the skin, By Kilian Midnight Espresso develops from an energetic coffee opening into a softer chocolate-and-nut heart, then settles into a dense vanilla-balsamic cloud.
The composition is designed to make a noticeable impression: according to the release information, its sillage is very strong, allowing the fragrance to announce itself quickly and leave a recognizable trail for a long time.
It performs best in cool weather, in the evening, on a date, at dinner, at a party or in any other setting where expressive perfume is appropriate.
For the office and small enclosed spaces, especially cautious application is recommended.
The exact amount to apply to skin and clothing is not specified in the available information, so its intensity is best adjusted gradually, taking the powerful sillage into account.
The perfumers and its place in the brand’s DNA
Midnight Espresso was created by Kilian Hennessy and Mathieu Nardin.
Their artistic concept can be read in the contrast between bitter coffee, dark rum, dessert-like nuances and a warm resinous base: the fragrance is provocative, comforting and unmistakably evening-oriented at the same time.
This release naturally supports By Kilian’s direction, in which perfumery becomes part of a lifestyle and a personal performance.
Midnight Espresso will appeal to fans of powerful gourmand fragrances, those who love coffee in perfumery and anyone looking for a rich unisex composition with impressive sillage.
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