Key Takeaways
- Three fragrances in my collection have coffee in the notes: Kilian Black Phantom, Blndrgrphy Vanilla Mudslide, and Montale Ristretto Intense Cafe, ranked by how they wear on me.
- Montale lists coffee in the top and heart of Ristretto Intense Cafe, yet on my skin the rose and caramel arrive first and the coffee stays subtle.
- Black Phantom pairs a Martinique rum accord with coffee, vetiver, a bitter almond accord, sugar cane, and sandalwood.
National Coffee Day was September 29, so I picked three fragrances from my collection with coffee in the notes and paired them with a cocktail. I ranked them by how they wear on me, not by how much coffee each house lists in the notes.
My number one is Kilian Black Phantom. I love it, and I think it is among the best perfumes Kilian has made, a boozy gourmand with real depth. Kilian names rum, coffee, and sandalwood as the main notes, and Sidonie Lancesseur is the perfumer. The house story describes a Martinique rum accord that spikes the scent of strong coffee at the heart. Vetiver balances it, a cyanide accord adds a bitter almond bite, and sugar cane and creamy sandalwood close it out.
The other two bottles are Blndrgrphy Vanilla Mudslide and Montale Ristretto Intense Cafe. The Montale surprised me most. The house lists coffee in the top and the heart, but on my skin the rose and caramel arrive first and the coffee stays subtle.
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