Neil Morris Midnight Shadows: Fragrance in 3-D – Dark, Dirty, Delicious

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-zjFp70esY

 

 

 

 

Seven is a lucky number.

 

At least, I think it is.

And Midnight Shadows is the seventh scent in Neil’s Midnight series, already comprising Midnight Flower, Midnight Forest, Midnight Moon, Midnight Sea, Midnight Star, and Midnight Tryst.

Many midnights!

 

 

 

 

What better, as we approach a Full Moon- and a blue moon, as well

To introduce a new, deliciously dark fragrance to wear while howling at the moon???

 

 

 

 

Neil sought a name, and a jus- with a touch of menace, and I think he’s spot on.

 

 

 

 

“A bittersweet dark gourmand with a distinctly malicious streak” might be a good description.

 

Neil has culled many of his favorite materials, and made them his own.

 

 

 

Cade provides a smoky, slightly medicinal, burnt edge to the caramel, obliterating any trace of cloying.

Black agar, labdanum, oakmoss absolute and civet elongate the smoky filthiness that we both so dearly love; a golden musk softens rough edges just enough.

 

A lovely tuberose winds her way through all this darkness, where she encounters IFF’s Tobacarol – depicted as a “dry, woody amber-spice with a cigar-box nuance “, per their website.

 

 

 

One good whiff of Tobacarol immediately alerted me to the presence of an

Ambroxan-related  aromachemical looming in there somewhere, but not in massive amounts.

 

[Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m suffering from Ambrox-overkill.

If I catch wind of it, I’m done for.]

 

OK.

 

 

 

Despite the threat of Ambrox analog, this scent bewitches with amazing tenacity, and  an immortelle-like burnt caramel [ like that which surrounds a flan !] waltzing with tuberose in the forest primaeval.

Smokin’.

 

 

 

Pray there aren’t any wolves about.

They’ll sniff you out…

 

 

 

 

 

Neil Morris has graciously offered a generous sample to a lucky commenter!

 

Photo Credits:

 

Midnight shadows- midnight-shadows.org

Sevens- treehugger.com

Midnight eye- midnight-investigations.com

Howling at the blue moon- layoutcodez.net

Neil Morris- courtesy of Neil Morris

Label image- courtesy of Neil Morris

Cade- usa.loccitane.com

Oakmoss – aromatherapy4soul.com

Tuberose- candleco.co.uk

Flan- tangocafepgh.com

Dancing in the forest- flickr.com

Night forest- picsdigger.com

Red Riding Hood and wolves- galedarling.com

 

Ida Meister, Senior Editor

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12 comments

  • Oooohh …I'm finding the idea of menace, darkness, dirt and filth married to tuberose – which I carried in my bridal bouquet  as a tender 21 year old so many years ago – quite the most alluring thing.

  • Great review and beautiful pictures, Ida.
    I'd love to try this Midnight shadows. Non-cloying, smoky caramel sounds right up my alley 🙂
    Thank you for the draw!

  • mariotgomez says:

    Swoon has been my favorite from Neil Morris and now I am looking forward to these new ones.  Great article and loving the pictures.

  • Dearest Chaya – Thank you SO MUCH for your great review. I think all here would agree that you have a tremendous gift for molding words that speak directly to the heart. I'm blessed to know you.
     
    And thanks to all of you who've commented. I look forward to sending one of you a 1/4 oz. spray parfum of Midnight Shadows. Those of you who said you love the idea of a dirty Tuberose married to a burnt Caramel won't be disappointed!
     
    Fragrant Dreams to all!
     
    Neil

  • This sounds really interesting. I love caramels that don't turn cloying. And of course I'm also really curious about the tuberose that emerges.