By Kilian Sweet Redemption or “The End” is the final perfume in the L’Œuvre Noire Collection. Looking back at this collection, especially after seeing where the line has went, it was a really solid collection. When Sweet Redemption was first launched, I wasn’t immediately drawn in. My notes actually said “pedestrian”. Trying Sweet Redemption years later, my opinions have changed. It may be due to the amount of drivel the line has launched post 2011 and how my expectations have been lowered. But, really I think I’m trying this perfume now without any real expectations.
Sweet Redemption opens with fizzy grape soda and a heady, indolic orange blossom over vanilla custard. The acrid incenses peak through. It smells like raw myrrh but it also reminds me of waxy black licorice. It mixes with heady white florals and balsamic cocktail bitters. In the heart grape soda turns to root beer (more molasses and spices but still fizzy). The dry-down is smoldering, primordial incense resins and a balsamic vanilla bean pod.
Sweet Redemption is unusual. It’s sweet yet acrid. Floral but balsamic. It’s unusual but completely wearable. I can’t believe that I ever thought of this one as “pedestrian”. Now the newer launches from the line, yeah, those could be called that.
Notes listed include orange blossom, vanilla, myrrh, opopanax, benzoin, and incense. Launched 2011. PERFUMER – Calice Becker
Give Sweet Redemption a try if you are looking for a “different” orange blossom. Or if you like perfumes like Phoenix Botanicals Night Bloom, L’Artisan Parfumeur Seville a l’Aube, Smell Bent Sunshine and/or ABL Brands Crush’d. Sweet Redemption is unisex. I find it to be one of the few orange blossoms that I like to wear in both cool and warm weather.
Projection and longevity are above average. And baby, it has sillage.
The 1.7 oz retails for $260 at Saks. Samples are also available for purchase.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION – Acrid, balsamic orange blossom in a root beer float. It’s unusual but enjoyable. I really like it. Sadly, I do see this one as “The End” for the line. It was the last interesting one that they produced, as if they knew they would dumb down the future launches…hopefully I’m wrong.
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This scent has captured my heart for about a year now. I find it totally enchanting.
I can’t believe that I dismissed this one when I first tried it. This is why it is wise to revisit. I think it’s delightful, really stands out.
The other By Kilian I really like. This and Liaisons Dangereuses. Still have not been able to part with the money. Maybe the refill someday or the travel spray. I sorta, kinda like a couple of the Ouds but there are others just as nice and less expensive.
Like the Ava Gardener photo. I’m not they make them like her anymore.
In my opinion, those are the two best ones from the line. I like them but haven’t parted with my money for them.
And yeah, I like a few of the Ouds but they are only “nice” and way too expensive for me. I mean, if I loved them that would be one thing but paying that much for something I consider as “nice” – it’s not going to happen.
I love her. She had a butt chin. Growing up, I needed butt chin role models. And she was mine. Now I have Adele, lol.
My favorite By Kilian and one of my special occasion perfumes. Wore it to my wedding.
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It’s awesome. I’m bad at myself for dismissing it but I’m also happy that I tried it again. I can admit my wrong-doings 🙂
I love this thing and am slightly ashamed that I do: it’s riDICulously expensive, and it smells like floral candy with a side of grape soda. Something that floofy should be a cheap thrill, not a mortgage payment…
Oh well. I bought a travel size off ebay anyway – it’s one of the few orange blossom scents I can wear without it smelling completely soapy. Seville a l’Aube is another (and I do very well with both the Serge Lutens Fd’O and the Houbigant orange blossom, but those are more mixed white florals). Everything else? SOAP. I think it’s a pecularity of my skin.
My complaint with all of the Kilians. Nice but very expensive. I would say that the closest that I’ve tried to Sweet Redemption is Seville a l’Aube “acrid orange blossoms”.
I think many orange blossom scents go for that soapy thing, like they want to smell like Spanish soaps or something.
[…] summer of 2012 on a hot day in NYC, I was disappointed. It smelled like an even sweeter version of By Kilian Sweet Redemption. All I got was vanilla orange cream pop with Saturday morning cartoon breakfast cereal. It was […]