ATEEZ PERFUME REVIEW: KILIAN — DARK LORD
disclaimer: this is not meant to be a serious perfume review; this is something fun for me to do as I love perfume. each and every one of us have different tastes and preferences when it comes to fragrances. what works for me might not work for you, vice versa. I’ll try my best to describe the scents, but I will always suggest for you to go and smell them yourself before purchase. if you want to try these perfumes, please test or get a sample before committing to the bottle. picture credits to all owners.
ateez member: San
fragrance family: woody
notes:
top — pepper, bergamot
heart — jasmine, rum
base — vetiver, leather accord
my scent experience:
the fragrance opening is very citrusy but also spicy from the bergamot and pepper. right from the start, there’s a dark vibe to the fragrance already from the spice which is very fitting for the name. as it settles, the jasmine completely takes over with their light and floral scent but you can still smell the bergamot hidden underneath the jasmine. once the scent dries down, it straight up leather. I can’t smell the rum and the vetiver which would elevate the fragrance in my opinion. overall, this smells like a man wearing a leather jacket and he gave you a bouquet of jasmines.
this fragrance had moderate projection and it softened in the dry down which is ideal for me as I prefer a softer projection for leather scents. this fragrance lasted around 9 hours on my skin and that’s what I expected for a leathery scent. I don’t mind this fragrance and it’s nice but for me, there has to be a certain time and place for me to wear this and I’m not one to gravitate towards a leather scent so I’ll have to pass on this one. you need to like the scent of leather to enjoy this one.
additional notes from me:
this fragrance is part of The Smokes Collection - inspired by Kilian’s travel to the Middle East and captures the scent of bakhoor, incense, and tobacco. I know they’re most known for their Liquors Collection but do explore their other lines as they do have a couple of gems hidden there (I have a few faves). they’ve described this perfume as the gentleman of the night which perfectly describes San. we all know he’s a gentleman and his preferences in perfume as of recently adds this seductive touch to him (see Celine’s Nightclubbing). it looks like he does like his fragrances with a smoky or woody element to it so I wonder what other fragrances he uses.
who would I recommend this to?
anyone who likes the scent of leather.
those who want a fragrance for the colder months.
anyone who wants to try out Kilian’s fragrances.
if you’ve made it to the end, thank you for reading this review!! I know it’s summer for some of you and I really gave you a review that is ideal for autumn/winter. I think you can wear this anytime and in any season but it’s a leather scent so spray responsibly when wearing this fragrance. I hope you enjoyed reading this and let me know what your fave fragrances are!!
review written by librarisxng 2026













