New Niche Fragrance Review: By Kilian Apple Brandy

kilian boutique

The New NYC By Kilian Boutique

One of the most successful niche fragrance lines of the last few years has been By Kilian. Ever since the first releases in 2007 I’ve admired the consistent aesthetic evident throughout the brand as it has forged ahead with different fragrances over the past seven years. One sign that this line has truly made it is the opening of their second stand-alone boutique in the Meatpacking District in New York City. To celebrate this milestone there is a city exclusive fragrance to go with the boutique called Apple Brandy.

apple_brandy_kilian

For this homage to The Big Apple owner, and creative director, Kilian Henessy turned to perfumer Sidonie Lancesseur. One of my favorite perfumes of the entire line is their first collaboration Cruel Intentions and Mme Lancesseur is one of those perfumers who always seems to resonate for me and Apple Brandy is no exception to that. Apple Brandy seems almost like a nod to M. Henessy’s cognac heritage and the location of the new store. It feels like a cask of brandy has been infused with fresh apples. Apple Brandy is simple in name and construction but I found it very enjoyable to wear.

casks

Apple Brandy is really a mix of three accords a cedar and oak wood accord, a baked apple accord and a boozy accord that seems a little closer to rum than brandy. Apple Brandy opens with the sweet concentrated baked apple accord which has a bit of vanilla to concentrate the sweetness. The gourmand nature is fairly rapidly framed by the woods and almost as quickly the boozy accord arrives. It is as if a fragrant brandy maker decided to add some apples before sealing the cask.

Apple Brandy has all-day longevity and moderate sillage.

When I visited the new boutique prior to the holidays I thought this city inspired fragrance matched the spare black and white décor of the boutique. Both Apple Brandy and the new boutique exhibit the sophistication that simplicity can sometimes impart. Apple Brandy has been a very happy winter companion for me.

Disclosure: This review was based on a sample provided by By Kilian.

–Mark Behnke, Managing Editor

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7 comments

  • mariotgomez says:

    I can’t wait to get my hands on a bottle. Cruel Intension was my first Kilian and the only one I have had to refilled.

  • Jeannie V says:

    I have never experienced Kilian perfumes since I live from the other side of the Atlantic ocean (in Europe, Greece) I would love to smell Apple Brandy since I love gourmand smells … also Cruel Intension because it has a really intriguing name 🙂
    I love the simplicity of the bottle and the minimalist design of their shop.

  • johnjd says:

    One of my absolute favorite lines. I started with “A Taste of Heaven” then could not resist “Cruel Intentions”, then I fell in love with “Straight to Heaven”. I have yet to try “Apple Brandy” but I like the sound of the booziness this exudes.

  • Sherri says:

    Oh, I loved this one–very simple, the name says it all, except there is a wonderful vanillal-wood dry down which sealed the deal for me. It’s perfect for autumn (wish it were released sooner and in greater distribution). I bought a 10 ml decant, but plan on a FB before next fall. Love the quality and wearability of this line!

  • tammy j says:

    Oh, I have a sample of this and it really is nice. The dry down is perfection!

    His perfumes sort of turned my comfort zone inside out; I am normally a floral person, and don’t care for woods and gourmands. I don’t care for any of his florals, but Pure Oud and Back to Black are in constant rotation for me to the point of nearly draining my bottle of the oud.