Ex Nihilo 2017 EDP

U ££££ Acquired

Midnight Special

by Olivier Pescheux

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Ex Nihilo Midnight Special is an Eau de Parfum launched in 2017, created by Olivier Pescheux. Midnight Special opens with Pepper, Cinnamon, and Saffron, settles into a heart of Grapefruit and Rose, and dries down to a base of Oud, Patchouli, and Vanilla. Ex Nihilo's Midnight Special carries an Acquired verdict, a woody-led wear.

A love-it-or-hate-it rose-oud that's anything but ordinary. It's a bold, sensual statement, though some find it a bit too much or too familiar. Not a blind buy, but a must-try for fans of dark, luxurious scents.
What our verdicts mean →
  • Bold
  • Sensual
  • Luxurious
  • Mysterious
  • Sophisticated
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Midnight Special Eau de Parfum bottle

Scent Profile

Composition

Timeline

Showing: Overall Blend

Top, heart and base are the brand's own listing, not a timing claim - the industry classifies a note by its character as much as by how fast it fades. Each curve here is modelled from that material's own volatility, so groups can overlap when a house lists long-lasting materials in its heart.

ScentArt

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Performance & Mood

Performance

Longevity
Long (6-10h)
Projection
Strong
Intensity
Strong

Mood

Mood Energising
Calming
Character Playful
Serious
Sentiment Uplifting
Brooding

When To Wear

Best Seasons

Best For:
Fall Winter

A cold-weather scent - best worn in autumn and winter.

Best Occasions

Best For:
Date Formal

With eternal longevity and strong sillage, this fragrance is a room-filler, making it less suitable for office or casual wear. Its dark, sensual rose-oud profile is perfectly suited for special evenings, dates, and formal events where you want to make a bold impression.

Declarable allergens

We derive these from the materials behind this fragrance's notes, not from the bottle. Each one is likely, not confirmed. The list is partial - the box can name others.

In standard patch-test panels

Other declarable allergens

The large name is the everyday one. The small name is the INCI form on the box, so you can compare the two. Reactions differ between people. A patch-test panel is not a ranking of risk. How we derive this

About

Midnight Special opens with a dynamic flourish of spicy black pepper, warm cinnamon, and an almost leathery saffron. This potent introduction soon yields to a rich, jammy rose heart, brightened unexpectedly by a zesty grapefruit that keeps the sweetness from becoming cloying. The base settles into a sophisticated blend of earthy patchouli, deep, non-animalic oud, and a hint of vanilla, adding a creamy, luxurious depth that lingers with impressive longevity.

Similar

Compare & Pair

Layer

Wear two at once: the blends worth trying, how each one scores and where to spray See what layers well

Complement

Two people, two scents: what sits well beside it when you each wear your own See what pairs well

Where to buy

Prices for the United States ·

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Drawn from community reviews and editor-reviewed before publishing on . See our methodology and disclosure policy.