Dark Lord

this is what prestige and the higher class smells like

In the opening of Dark Lord, I get synthetic grape. There's nothing redeeming in the drydown for me. This tipped the scale and convinced me to stop trying to love Killian.

I was recommended this perfume in search of dark gothic fragrances and this, surprisingly, was the complete opposite. It reminds me of picking honeysuckle and eating the nectar as a child, very flowery and bright and nostalgic. Although I am not searching for a floral scent (and tend to heavily dislike floral perfume), this one is really nice and one of the very few floral scents I enjoy.

Somehow feels like you smell each smell separately: first it's jasmine. Now it's pepper's turn. Oop here comes leather! There is an earthiness too, and an impression of burning plastic towards the end. Right now, neither like nor dislike. This scent could end up wearing you, if you're not careful.

On my skin, the jasmine comes out swinging, with its indolic character hanging around for the first few hours. Thankfully, the pepper and leather bring some order to the chaos. I finally get why it’s called Dark Lord, this perfume has absolutely no interest in being cheerful.

I truly liked the creation. Fresh and mysterious. I’m not that expert in fragrances but it reminds me of Dunhill Icon the silver bottle. A lot of similarities. When I saw the comparison, it was obvious most of the strong notes are common. If Icon doesn’t exist, definitely I would buy dark lord!

A strapping conditioned man is standing at the treeline relieving himself when he spots the wild bear shi***** in the woods. Startled, he steps back abruptly into the camp fire catching his pants leg. His buddy is holding a Mountain Dew bottle of Copenhagen spit, and douses the man's pants leg, successfully extinguishing the blaze. A couple drops of scrotum sweat are inevitable at this point. Oh. And in a good way.

A less harsh more aromatic rehash of something Alberto Morillas already did: Gucci Guilty Absolute. Dark Lord tips the leather into a bit of a rubbery direction while adding a healthy dose of peppery spices to the formula. It's certainly not a bad tweak, just wholly unoriginal. For my part, I prefer the harshness of Gucci Guilty Absolute. Dark Lord to me is just a massively overpriced clone of a designer fragrance that did it better. I still like the DNA, but if you're looking for something similar to Dark Lord & or Gucci Guilty Absolute, but for a way more reasonable price, check out Chopard Black Incense Malaki--it's a smokey, woody, amber spin on this DNA that I really enjoy.

Dark Lord is my most recent Kilian purchase. What can I say,in the store the scent caught my attention as it was so differnt to anything I own. I wore it for the first time on Saturday for a night out. It was a lovely spring evening and I thought perhaps a scent smelling of leather,wood and patchouli wasn’t my best choice for a spring night out with friends. By the time I went clubbing it seems the scent was acting as some sort of beacon. First two sisters who couldn’t stop stroking my top and commenting on my hair. They upped the anti by forming a circle to dance with me, hug me and crash their ample boobs into mine. One of the sisters went to the bar and came back with a young chap. Well the scent got him excited. The poor helpless boy grabbed me, kissed me and marched me out the door. So began a night of passion where the young buck couldn’t leave me to get any sleep. Here I am Monday morning….. battered, bruised, and my lady bits feel like a construction team with sandpaper visited and I may never walk again. Maybe I should stick to Angels Share…. Less likely to need a trip to A & E 😆😆

pure leather but a bit earthier too. like a dark romantasy novel male lead/bad boy/serial killer who's randomly very protective of the female lead doing something unscrupulous in the forest while wearing some ridiculous all-black outfit leaving this scent trail behind and definitely getting caught redhanded later but my gf likes this smell anyway

When I first apply this scent I often just want to head out to a biker festival and run wild for a few days. The leather is very realistic, well worn but loved leather jacket closely entwined with cypriol oil, rum, oakmoss and of course birch, offering that earthy tar note. It's somehow comforting and manifests like a reinforcement of my aura! A real confidence boosting, take no crap feeling! The ingredients just work together so well and are blended beautifully giving a distinctive and full bodied experience. There are no prisoners here! It's, as expected a dark and edgy fragrance that only appeals to the few despite being from the producer of angels share and the like! It shares little in common scent wise (except a boozy note), although construction wise it's clearly so well crafted and shares the performance, both for which Kilian is generally known and revered for. Although I lose the scent a little after a few hours I'm told by family and friends that it's easily detectable at arms length + for at least 6-7 hours and then some. This is reinforced by the fact that I can detect it clearly upon waking the following morning with refreshed senses. To that end I would have to say it's touching beast mode territory despite a little anosmia on my part! If Orto Parisi' Cuouim is too much (im a huge fan!) then this is a slightly lighter introduction to the niche leather genre. Still, it's fairly hardcore! Failing that, Kilian have a vaults collection that are similar but not quite as heavy as Dark Lord and the other smokes scents. Wearable almost all year I think and although other reviews only seem to recommend cooler temperatures, this product illuminates and projects very well with a little rise in temperature, not too much though. I wouldn't wear it on a very hot day, it'd be a little too cloying. Cold to warm days and certainly dark, cool and moderate nights are ideal, definitely wouldn't be great in high humidity. It's hard to describe who wears a scent like this, well I do for a start! I'm probably not a typical niche/indie fragrance lover though. I ride a V-twin motorcycle with the appropriate attire and weight train regularly so strong fragrances and a certain aesthetic suit my lifestyle, appearance and demeanour! Anyway, if I had to suggest a type, mostly male, possibly a darker female soul 😆 and any age that enjoys the heavy and darker, less generic things in life. Overall it's a great addition to my collection and one i wear regularly. Worth the price and highly recommend but try a sample first if you can.

This at first smells like someone was burning tires then like a forest full of leather couches it doesnt smell bad is a scent I plan on wearing it with leather & dark clothing Im planning to also mix it sometimes with ombre leather when I want to make it a little sweeter

If you wear this, you are one hell of a gentleman. This stuff smells like what I imagine Arthur Morgan from read dead redemption 2 to smell like. Like a gentleman that has got his stuff together but you wouldn’t think twice about testing. This fragrance is so damn gorgeous . Unfortunately I made the mistake of just buying a sample because of the cool name , and unfortunately I’m only 22 so I’m not rocking this one any time soon.

The use of leather with the other notes is unreal. A great winter leather fragrance. What makes it even greater is the story behind blending leather with the other notes, I believe jasmine is part of it, which made me even more addicted to this scent. 10/10

A mature, artistic fragrance that, in my opinion, lives up to its daring name. I find it suitably dark (go figure), but it comes across as a quality mix of leather, woods and florals. Aside from the leather being a highlight, the woody elements are very potent. I don't get "burnt tyre" from this, but I also can't quite say what it reminds me of specifically. As sophisticated as this smells, it's not versatile to me. This is either for special occasions, or for people in positions of power. It's unapologetically masculine, or at the very least, authoritative. So, the wrong kind of person might find themselves worn by this fragrance, rather than the preferrable alternative. Unsurprisingly, this is strictly a cold weather fragrance. Aside from wearing it at home or in some other personal capacity, I carefully choose when to wear this in the presence of others. It's beautiful, but not for everyone.

Dark Lord is a great leather scent and that's pretty much where its similarity to Guilty Absolute pour Homme ends. Dark Lord opens with a little whiff of the bergamot but the leather quickly makes its appearance and dominates for the majority of the life of the fragrance. I did not get any rum at any point after applying. Dark Lord's leather is dry and very realistic while Guilty has a leather scent that's also combined with other things that make it more than just a leather scent. Guilty has a more obvious gasoline component and Guilty overall, while not sweet (and neither is Dark Lord), is rounder - almost juicier, in a fruity way. Guilty also strikes me more animalic than Dark Lord. I applied Dark Lord to my neck and chest and a half spray of Guilty to my wrist. Guilty definitely was stronger and dominated, even with only a minimal spray. If you are looking for a nice, dry, masculine leather scent, Dark Lord will definitely fit. If something like Falcon Leather Extrait de Parfum (another superb leather) turns you off because of the touch of oud and smokiness, give Dark Lord a try. (Unfortunately, Dark Lord is even more expensive, ounce per ounce than Falcon Leather Extrait dP.) Performance-wise, projection was moderate, which was kinda disappointing. As I mentioned above, a small spray of Guilty Absolute was able to dominate Dark Lord. Longevity was long lasting - about 10 hours. As for my preference, I still rank Guilty Absolute on top. It's masculine, slightly animalic and quite rough around the edges - sorta fits me best. For a straightforward, high quality leather scent, Falcon Leather Extrait is above Dark Lord. Don't let my rating it #3 give the impression that it's subpar. It isn't. It's quite good. If you are looking for a good leather scent, be sure to give it a try.

Yikes! I personally like the smell, but it is very devisive. Couple that with the fact that it chokes out a room with its projection, and you get something unwearable. It reminds me of walking through a long abandoned haunted house.

You need to be standin on bidness to pull this off.

Crazy sexy cool. Maybe my new favorite fragrance !

I’ve owned this for over two years now, and with time it has matured into one of the most striking leather and jasmine compositions I’ve encountered. Dark Lord reveals itself as a study in dryness. The leather here is sharp, arid, and uncompromising, completely devoid of sweetness. Yet it never feels crude. Instead, it comes across as elegant, masculine, and quietly sophisticated. When I first purchased it, the infamous “burnt tire” accord that many people mention was far more pronounced and aggressive. With aging, that harshness has softened considerably. The fragrance has opened up, allowing the jasmine to emerge more clearly. What was once confrontational is now balanced. Floral, leathery, and surprisingly refined. This feels like a perfume that has learned restraint with time. The leather remains dry and commanding, but it now frames the jasmine rather than overpowering it. The experience of wearing it today is entirely different from when it was new, and far more rewarding. An ode to dry leather and jasmine lovers everywhere. 10/10

An an Encre Noir fan, I like it, but it smells like a hybrid of Encre Noir and Guilty parfum to me on dry down rather than Absolute.

I'm gonna be completely honest, this straight up smells like a goat in a tire. You should definitely try it before buying.

Became my signature unbeknownst to me. Months in, still discovering new facets as it's very weather dependant and though it projects, it plays hide and seek in a way that makes you never have enough. Not a beast mode like many on the net would have you think. A no brainer. Present very much but not disruptive. A back thought you have a hand up on everyone else for not forgetting

I remember testing Encre Noir a while ago and thinking that it would be the best fragrance for a vampire. In the same fashion, Dark Lord is a fragrance for exactly whom it names. It's what the devil himself would wear on a casual stroll through hell. Make whatever you want of this, but if you're into leather fragrances and you need something that smells more mature than Ombre Leather and more elegant/dressy than Tuscan Leather, this is what you're looking for. It's an absolute work of art. And here's an update because updates are great. After wearing this on a few occasions, I can say that its smell and power grows on you. I hope it will not be the perfume wearing me like someone pointed out in another review. This is the kind of smell that will offend people because they fucking love it. It's not the crowd pleaser that would make people call you a nice guy, but rather the panty dropper that gets women angry and sexually aroused (yes, I meant to write "wet") at the same time. Wear this at your class reunion's evening gala and thank me later.

Looking for the Vetiver in that by Kilian Dark Lord on the brisk outdoors stroll, pretty much hidden starts to mount up 45 mins in. Crazy good smoke simulation like canvas, perfect aboundant ballance, excellent dark scent, robust, got the warmth, got the humble, nonloud oversprayable, like the behaved Voice of the Snake, with the high degree of refinement to it.

To me there is a distinctive moss note with Dark Lord. The two closest frags listed above are Gucci Guilty Absolute for Men & Jo Malone Bronze Wood & Leather. If I layer either of them with Commodity Moss+ they would more accurately resemble Dark Lord.

“The Fragrance That Doesn’t Exist” For those who love what cannot be seen. The first time it touched my skin, I didn’t understand it. It whispered in smoke — quiet, distant, alive with shadows. A dark veil drifted between the known and the forgotten. Minutes passed. Ten… twenty. And then, it changed — unfolding like a secret that didn’t want to be told. Something deep, unwelcoming, beautiful in its defiance. It took me somewhere I’d never been — a memory that never happened, yet felt older than time itself. That was the moment I fell. And I began the hunt. And yes… I found it. This fragrance is too dark, too deep, too soft — it pulls you into a place that doesn’t exist. It’s a paradox — warmth wrapped in fear, serenity veiled in chaos. A calm so infinite it almost hums. I love it. But it’s not for everyone. It’s for the rare ones — the ones who understand the language of shadows, who find comfort in silence, and beauty in the dark.

Imagine you are walking in nature, you are on a stroll on a beaten path by others and you are thinking to yourself "what a nice walk" and you are breathing the air in, suddenly you encounter a foul smell. You are intrigued and you decide to investigate and look around as you walk. Suddenly, stricken with horror, disgust and repulsion you see a human turd in a bed of green leaves that has been sitting there for few days, all dried up. This perfume smells like the dried up human shit. I am equally as intrigued as repelled by it but I am afraid I will leave it only to a sample. I was going to keep the sample as archival piece but I think it belongs to the bin, its true love. Also my roomie said it smelled like really cheap perfume - he had no clue what Kilian is as brand.

what an absolute masterpiece imo, i am not a big fan of kilian fragrances but this fragrance made me change my mind about this brand. Did not know they released such bangers

The first sniff I had at a Kilian boutique was mesmerizing. On paper it transported me to a mossy dense forest full of deep aromas. I had to try it. Can't speak for anyone else but on my skin it was magic, intoxicating. Stepping out of the boutique into the open to test the scent I just could not stop smelling my forearm. My wife actually loved it on me (approved !), and indicated that she identified jasmine in it.... ?? So the secret seems to be an intense OVERDOSE of jasmine, not the subtle kind in most floral scents.... but an agressive slap of a 1000 jasmine flowers. This may appear to some as 'rubber' or 'gasoline', but I find it irresistible. Combined with a leather dry down that starts to peek out more as the skin warms the oils, the scent evolves magnificently into something mysterious, sure, but definitely a positive "mmm what is that?" showstopper scent (at least in my experience!). I disagree that this is a "smoky" scent. It is dark and spicy, but not smoky in the sense that it has no incense or "ash" notes. It is intense in both florals and earthy notes and this leads to some notion of "smoke", but it is not. Some people may find the opening "harsh", but the attack of the all the aromatics is sublime. Not sweet, not citrusy, not powdery..., different. Once you step over the threshold you will be wearing something unique. I am absolutely puzzled by negative reviews (specially those silly youtube's), so forget all those "old biker" comments... This fragrance is certainly not subtle, but it is sophisticated. This is something to wear pretty much anytime (perhaps not on a sunny beach day). It leans "cold" as a fragrance, so I would not wear it in winter... A temperate spring day, a rainy humid summer afternoon for Happy Hr will be just as appropriate as a black suit kind of evening for cocktails.