Fields at Nightfall

How it Smells

Fields at Nightfall opens with a jarring collision of notes. The mandarin and grapefruit, while listed, present with a harsh, almost cleaning-product astringency, veering into lemon floor cleaner territory. The pink pepper attempts to inject a needed spark, but instead adds a grating, sinus-clearing sharpness, not found in the smoother inspiration.

The heart struggles to coalesce. The incense note is a vague, ashy whisper, rather than a rich, resinous presence. The tobacco accord lacks depth, coming across as dried, shredded paper with a hint of stale cigarette smoke. Saffron is noticeable, yet muted, lending a metallic tang that feels disconnected from the other elements.

The drydown fares slightly better. The oud is a synthetic approximation – more like pencil shavings than true agarwood. The leather is a vinyl-esque, plasticky approximation, and the amber, while present, smells of cloying, sweet, artificial vanilla, detracting from the expected warmth and depth. This clone fails to capture the nuance of the original, presenting a simplified, and unfortunately, synthetic facsimile.

Bottom Line

If this scent were a character in a movie, it would be an understudy forced to perform a role they are woefully unprepared for – technically present, but lacking the artistry and depth to truly convince.

Longevity & Projection

Longevity is surprisingly robust, clocking in at around 7 hours. Projection is moderate for the first hour, reaching about an arm’s length, before settling closer to the skin for the duration. Tested indoors in a climate-controlled office.