Midnight Promise

This is a really neat perfume! I hadn't heard of it before, and noticed it on ebay. Looked it up here, and seemed like a safe blind buy, considering the price and that the notes are ones I like. Plus, the bottle looks cool. The pyramid is highly accurate here. It is a patchouli-rose perfume. The patchouli isn't too dirty, and even though it's dominant, it isn't overpowering. The rose is a black or dark red "potpourri" dried rose. Very Victorian, to me. I also smell the incense, a slightly astringent orange (but muted and mellow at the same time), a small amount of vetiver, prominent cinnamon (like freshly ground cinnamon, or cinnamon sticks, with a hint of a nutmeg/clove vibe, too. Not candy cinnamon). I think there's an unlisted plum note, too, but that could just be the interplay of the notes mixed with the power of suggestion due to the purple bottle. I'm funny about musk. Usually I find I don't like it, and it is definitely noticeable at the beginning, but I have to search for it now that it’s dried down for several hours. It's never unpleasant and it and the very noticeable sandalwood play off each other nicely. They round out the notes I mentioned already that can tend toward harshness and sharpness. To me this smells much nicer than the $12 I paid. I will be repurchasing. I think that the nose who made this had a limited budget, and she made up for it with a very well executed harmony of notes. Everything works together for the betterment of the composition. It isn't the most complex perfume I've encountered, but it is, technically speaking, pretty much perfect. The worst thing I can say is that the lid came off the bottle during transit and a bunch leaked out. Potential buyers, be aware that this could be a design flaw with regards to the bottle/lid. Edited to add: people who want to like Agent Provocateur, but who find it too harsh, might like this. It isn't really similar―spicier and fruitier and less earthy less metallic―and it flirts with gourmand territory, but some of the notes are similar and the price is definitely right!

So what other Sarah Horowitz creation can be had for under $10.00 USD for 2.5oz? If you know, please tell me so I can jump right on it. Until then I'll content myself with Midnight Promise. A dark patchouli fragrance, to be sure. But one that's got a zippy cinnamon note, a smooth, warm amber, a deep red rose and something that reminds me of grape juice. More balsamic than woody and it dries down to a marvelous churchy incense with a bit of a menthol tang. Not something I'd wear in warm or hot weather. I'm wearing it now but it's a very cool summer evening and I keep waving my arms around, smiling as I drink in this gorgeous purple elixir. The cap is metal, not plastic and the bottle is a heavy, solid purple glass, not just coated with a purple finish. Actually quite pretty. Excellent longevity and monster sillage so apply with caution. If I were to wear this to work I think one spray under my blouse/t-shirt would suffice for a 10 hour shift. Love it!

Midnight Promise opens with a bold hit of cinnamon wrapped in warm vanilla. It’s immediately nostalgic—affordable, comforting, and surprisingly charming. As it settles, the real beauty shows up in the dry-down. It reminds me of wandering through a vintage antique boutique or an old indoor market, passing a vendor wall stacked with homemade cinnamon candles and warm spices lingering in the air. This isn’t something I’d wear out in public, but I love spraying it on my arm just to sniff throughout the day. There’s something grounding and familiar about it—sweet and a tad strong in the beginning yet cozy without trying too hard. For the price, it’s a really enjoyable scent experience.

Oh my goodness! What a little jewel. This spicy dark purple bottle of goodness is such a surprise to me. How can this gorgeous perfume be available for such a great price. It's a gift. This puts me in the mind of Cartier Baiser Du Dragon. Of course not the same but in the same family. This spicy, dry, incensy vetiver and earthy patchouli is so unique and mysterious. Not sweet and a bit of rose comes out in the dry down. I just love this type of perfume. Unisex for sure and while some might reserve Midnight Promise for cooler weather, I'm the rebel who will wear it whenever.

This is completely unique and totally worth the price. It's not like any other frags I own. It starts out serious patchouli but still has this almost licorice/anise vibe to it. Herbal but sweet. Not fruity at all. Then the cinnamon storms in and takes over. The incense becomes apparent as the anise note swimming in there and sweetened by the cinnamon. There's some musk. A real spicy/balsamic fragrance. Soft not huge. Wish it didn't fade to the skin so fast. Great blind buy. The final drydown is all cinnamon with maybe a hint of sandalwood.

This is a soft unisex charmer. I'm going to make this short. I smell a mix of M'Eau Joe by Opus Oils in the beginning and sweetened Bois Farine by L'Artisan toward the middle. I get a cocoa note in this, though it isn't listed. Dries down to a slightly powdery sandalwood, patchouli, cocoa and amber comfort scent. I do wish the projection and longevity were better, but I'm loving this perfume.

My paternal grandma's wood smocked dryed prunes. Smoldering woodchips under a special tent (lozniță) in the middle of her garden. Instantly got me back in space and time. Serene and nostalgic. Returned to the store for a backup bottle.

This is a beautiful fragrance, a comfort scent. A bit fruity. The camphor smell at the beginning quickly fades. Cinnamon and incense is one of my favorite combinations. Enjoying this immensely.

I blind bought midnight promise for 9 dollars! I couldn't pass it up. I don't understand why it's so cheap and im afraid that once the word gets out the price will be jacked up. That's. What happened to some other lovely cheap finds. Any way.. This is stunning if you love incense! I do! I get very natural smelling cinnomin in the opening like when you smell a cinnamon stick. It's not sweet and it's slightly bitter. There is a lot of earthy dirty patch and tons of insence! I only get rose in the very first few seconds and it reminds me of Amber mystique. Within minutes it dries down to a church incense...very strong. Hours later I get incense and amber. It's a beautiful amber. This perfume is slightly masculine but omg it's amazing. It layers great with other perfumes. I layered it with lalique amethyst which is a sour musky black berry on me and it was stunning! It added so much character and depth to amethyst. Midnight promise lasted a good 8 hours on my skin. Sillage is massive. Don't expect a multi dimensional fragrance or to be as perfect as some higher end perfumes . it does compete with them though and for the price it's absolutely a great buy.

Four or five years ago, 2.5 oz of this Sarah Horowitz creation sold for about $100 US. Now it can be picked up for $12 - $18 on discount sites. If you are a patient eBayer, you might be able to win it for $5 or less. At $3.50 for 2.5oz on eBay, this is likely the cheapest bottle of Midnight Promise I'm going to find. First Impressions: 1. The bottle is smooth, heavy, amethyst glass with a butterfly shaped metal cap. It's a nice, heavy bottle but the butterfly cap looks juvenile. 2. The juice smells NOTHING like the bottle. At all. This is a bit of a mixed bag. It's quite masculine. The opening is medicinal but give it a few minutes. Once it settles it is a moderately dry, dirty, earthy, woody, rose-patchouli with dried orange rind and LOTS of dry vetiver. Cinnamon is prominent throughout. There is nothing sweet about this perfume. I'd consider this unisex but perhaps slightly more masculine due to the abundant vetiver. Sillage is incredible and longevity is relentless. One spritz is almost too much! For the price it's not bad at all. I've been wearing this on cool evenings and I am more than pleased with my $3.50 purchase!

I wanted to try a totally new fragrance outside of my comfort zone and this sure delivered on that expectation! To me this fragrance is extremely boozy on first spray and for about 10 mins after that. Think Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey. Lots of it! As it settles it's straight sandalwood incense, perhaps a very mild rose lingering in the background but the sandalwood incense is predominant, it really does smell like incense btw complete with a smokiness as if it's continually burning. This is one of the most unusual fragrances that I have ever smelled. Definitely a fall or winter cold weather scent although it would work equally well if you are outdoors around a campfire on a cooler summer night I guess. This fragrance is really interesting, a cheap thrill...dare I say it's a trip!

The drydown is everything and so is the lasting power. Midnight Promise is not an overly strong perfume so 4-5 sprays over my clothed body is what it took for me to achieve a nearly all-day sensation. In fall and winter I reach for this often. It's office safe yet sexy, warm, and alluring enough for evenings in and out. Edit 12/15/21: the opening note is quite smoky. However, it does settle and becomes coziness in a bottle. Edit 1/14/25: So, I'm finding it's best as a layering piece, and amber, rose, coffee, and sweet ouds go very, very well with it, such as EL Amber Mystique, Lattafa Raghba, and Black Opium. I enjoy MP much better as a component of the others.

I purchased this fragrance in the Spring and I've been waiting to wear it during cold weather. It is in my opinion a perfect Christmastime fragrance! Perfect for cold weather! The strong cinnamon and other spicy notes bloom in the cold and during the heat by the fireplace as well. I've been baking in a hot kitchen all day in preparation for Christmas dinner and it has been quite pleasant to smell whiffs of Midnight Promise among all the holiday smells. Beautiful bottle and stopper, it's going to be one that I reach for during the holidays from now on. Happy holidays to all of my fellow Fragranticans!

What is up with this frag? The bottle very classy, the scent so dark and unique. A truly patchouli lover's dream. The price, under $20; it doesn't make sense. But, I'm not here to question the price. Just grab a bottle if you are into ethnic, dirty patchouli scents. The longevity is pretty descent for the price range. As it dries, an incense, smoky scent lingers with you. You can easily layer this with other sweet or flowery scents to give them character and uniqueness.

this one starts with cinnamon, patchouli, amber and vetiver. very woody and spicy. soon after i get a hint of rose and something slightly animalic- maybe musk? overall it's mostly incense, patchouli and rose i think. has a vintage feel. perfect for cold nights.

I love this one, smells like if you were a milf who ran a bookshop/witchy goods store. Classic gothy scent. my only issue is it doesn't last very long at all, maybe 2 hrs if im lucky. The bottle and cap are gorg tho! a perfect fall/winter scent

Love it, blind bought. For me, it was a great blind-buy but I wouldn't recommend doing that because this is very different.

Also, wish I could smell the cinnamon which is my fave note next to vanilla. I don't smell it in this.

It's smoky, cinnamon-y with a little sweetness from the vanilla. I don't get rose or mandarin and it has a tiny metallic undertone on me. Good quality- sillage and longevity are very good. I don't like to wear it by itself but it's really good to layer with fruity/sweet fragrances, such as Viva La Juicy, to make my own 'intense' versions.

I've had trouble getting past the amount of smoke in this one. Today I tried to apply very lightly and I'm getting more of a tart note - the blood mandarin I guess. I think I'd prefer more sweetness to help bring out the spice and rose, it's very dry. Certainly different and interesting though. I have yet to get into layering, but as someone else mentioned this might be worth some experimentation in combination with sweeter fragrances! ------------------------------------------------------ I really wanted to like this but the acrid smoke is just too much for me. Marking as a dislike.