Dead of Night is a gorgeously regal and sophisticated yet dark and animalic oud fragrance. Straight away I notice the sweet metallic tang of violet leaf, which contrasts beautifully with soft rose, jasmine and tuberose. The florals in here are not overpowering at all - the rose doesn’t come across jammy and the white florals don’t come across like thick soap, they’re perfectly balanced. In the base, a dark and brooding, smoky oud takes the stage supported by a touch of sweetness from a subtle vanillic amber. I would argue this is actually one of the safer options from Strangelove. This isn’t an unusual array of notes and it’s not particularly challenging, but nonetheless the high quality of ingredients and masterful perfumery is obvious. This is a fantastic fragrance and even though I’d still choose Fall into Stars over this, I definitely want a bottle of Dead of Night.
I've had two batches and they were totally different. The first was nuclear and eternal, the more recent a mere ghost of the former, while still smelling good; faint and fleeting. I'm not normally one to wank on about bathes, but when it's this expensive it's worth knowing. As for the scent in my old bottle, it's the most incredible perfume I've come across. Never the same on any two days, complex, dynamic and majestic, it never fails to make me frequently pause for thought while I'm wearing it. Magic.
Someone has emptied a freshly filled baby's nappy and a few drops of vanilla essence into your rose garden. Nourished, the roses respond by blooming briefly and intensely before dying back to an airy, transparent scent that hangs in the still air.
Once past the shitty oud opening, this is very much a refined rose scent that clings close to the skin. Best suited to cooler weather, in the evening. You will need invest in a second mortgage before being able to purchase a full-sized bottle.