By Kilian Back to Black, hour by hour

How it opens, settles and lingers on skin.

Honey and tobacco soaking into an oak bar near closing.

Back to Black by By Kilian, bottle pictured with its key notes: Saffron, Nutmeg and Chamomile
  1. First spray0–15 min

  2. Heart15 min – 2 h

  3. Dry-down2 h – 7–12 h

Lasts
7–12 h
Long lasting
Sillage
Strong, 3 of 4
When to wear

SeasonWinter

Time of dayNight outEvening

Best forGoing out

What wearers say

Votes from fragrance communities, most-voted answers first.

  • Longevity

    Most voted: 44%Long lasting

  • Sillage

    Most voted: 48%Strong

  • Season

    Most voted: 55%Winter

  • Time of day

    Most voted: 50%Night out

See all votesHide votes

Longevity, 2,636 votes

  • Very weak1%28 votes
  • Weak2%55 votes
  • Moderate12%312 votes
  • Long lasting (Most voted)44%1,152 votes
  • Eternal41%1,089 votes

Sillage, 399 votes

  • Intimate6%24 votes
  • Moderate22%89 votes
  • Strong (Most voted)48%191 votes
  • Enormous24%95 votes

Season, 2,718 votes

  • Spring8%215 votes
  • Summer2%54 votes
  • Autumn35%961 votes
  • Winter (Most voted)55%1,488 votes

Time of day, 2,701 votes

  • Daytime8%205 votes
  • Office2%41 votes
  • Evening41%1,098 votes
  • Night out (Most voted)50%1,357 votes

Which size is right for you?

Every size is decanted from the same original bottle.

  • 3ml

    To discover it

    Price: Now €23.58Was €36.90SAVE 36%
    • Per ml: €7.86/ml
    • ≈60 sprays
    • 20 days of wear
  • Best value

    30ml

    To keep it

    Price: Now €181.17Was €402.90SAVE 55%
    • Per ml: €6.04/ml23% less per ml than 3ml
    • ≈600 sprays
    • 200 days of wear

Loved by 50,000+

Why scent lovers try it with us before they buy the bottle.

10ML decants in glass vials and a travel atomiser

10ML vs a blind buy

What a decant gives you that a bottle bought unsmelled can’t.

Why 10ML?
Blind buy
Authentic original perfume
Yes
Yes
Smell it on your skin before you buy
Yes
No
Try several scents for one bottle’s price
Yes
No
Travel-ready atomiser
Yes
No
No full bottle wasted if it’s not for you
Yes
No

If you like By Kilian Back to Black

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    Yves Saint Laurent Tuxedo Extrait decant

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    Lannosea

    3ml: was €25.50, now €21.68, 15% off

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Layer it with

By Kilian Back to Black + one of these

  • Save 35%
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    Zafferano

    3ml: was €18.90, now €12.24

    Adds cinnamon · leather

  • Acqua di Parma Oud & Spice decant

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    Oud & Spice

    3ml: was €17.90, now €11.61

    Adds cinnamon · agarwood (oud)

  • Guerlain Cherry Oud decant

    Guerlain

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    3ml: was €28.90, now €18.18

    Adds rose · leather

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    Mancera Red Tobacco Intense decant

    Mancera

    Red Tobacco Intense

    3ml: was €11.90, now €7.29

    Adds vetiver · sandalwood

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By Kilian started in France in 2007 with a clear taste for boozy, sweet, after-dark perfume.

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Frequently asked questions

What does By Kilian Back to Black smell like?

By Kilian Back to Black opens with Bergamot, Cardamom, Coriander and Nutmeg. The heart brings Chamomile, Honey and Olibanum. It dries down to Almond, Cedar, Labdanum and Oak.

Is By Kilian Back to Black long lasting?

Shoppers on fragrance communities most often rate its longevity as long lasting (44% of votes), and 85% rate it long lasting or eternal. They most often rate its sillage as strong (48% of votes). How long it lasts on you also depends on your skin and how much you apply.

Is By Kilian Back to Black good for summer?

Shoppers on fragrance communities rate it mainly for winter; summer takes only 2% of season votes.

Is By Kilian Back to Black good for winter?

Yes. Shoppers on fragrance communities vote winter its best season, with 55% of season votes.

Is By Kilian Back to Black for day or night?

Shoppers on fragrance communities mostly wear it after dark: 91% of time-of-day votes are for evenings and nights out, 9% for daytime or the office.

Can I wear By Kilian Back to Black to the office?

Shoppers on fragrance communities rarely pick it for the office: only 2% of time-of-day votes go to the office.

Who makes By Kilian Back to Black?

Back to Black is made by By Kilian. It was launched in 2009.

How many wears is a 10ml decant of By Kilian Back to Black?

A 10ml decant of By Kilian Back to Black holds about 200 sprays, roughly 67 days of wear. The 3ml decant holds about 60 sprays, around 20 days. The 30ml decant holds about 600 sprays, around 200 days.

Which other By Kilian perfumes can I try?

Besides By Kilian Back to Black, 10ML has Angels' Share, Love Don't Be Shy and Black Phantom from By Kilian, each decanted from the original bottle.

Is this By Kilian Back to Black decant the original perfume?

Yes. Every By Kilian Back to Black decant is filled by hand from an original By Kilian bottle, with nothing added or diluted, so it opens, dries down and lasts on your skin the way the bottle does. We sell only authentic originals.

What is a decant?

A small amount of a perfume, taken from its original bottle and put into a travel atomiser. You get the real fragrance in a size that lets you live with it for days before you decide on the full bottle.

How does the money-back guarantee work?

If a scent isn’t right for you, get in touch within 30 days of it arriving and we’ll arrange a refund. Terms apply. See our refund policy.