Ghost Deep Night

I've been purchasing Deep Night for so long now because the overall vibe of the fragrance suited my Gothic attire. However, the last time it got reformulated was in 2021 where production moved from Paris to the UK and it hasn't smelt as "deep / dark" as it used to. For me, this was the closest I could get to a gothic perfume that didn't require me to take a chance on spending an arm and a leg on an indie product that will likely stop production a few years after its release. But post reformulation it got more sweeter, more feminine, the first stage of the dry down started smelling more weird, and the initial spray changed like night and day. I miss how unisex it used to smell. For instance, something small i noticed is that the peach was barely detectable, which i preferred since it's not an ingredient i like, however, now it's coming through more which is probably what contributes to that more sweeter scent. Previously, I would say the initial spray hits you with a full sense of that woody and fresh dark fruit (even if it didn't contain any) where one wasn't more prominent than the other; it was a balanced blend which made the fragrance come across powerful and strong which I prefer. Now, I would say it smells primarily fresh with a hint of that peach smell which reminds me of W5 glasses wipes / disinfecting paper wipes. This initial scent doesn't matter to me as it is not the main scent we will smell the majority of the time but this change did make it feel like the quality of the product dropped. As the scent dries down, the previous formulation would get darker and richer which is where the title of the fragrance really came in — sensual night time scent. Any amount of sweetness that did come through gave a more natural result because it smelt as if the sweet element was a result of ingredients truly blending. Now the sweetness comes in like a switch as if it's done to forcibly achieve the final desired scent asap, rather than it developing throughout all stages of the fragrance existing. Thus it inevitably comes across plastic-y as if it's being used to cover up the lack other other ingredients being used or properly infused. Since I don't like sweetness, the presence of it in this perfume is almost syrupy which gives off that artifical scent and becomes too pungent if I don't pair it with a fragrance that can counteract that. Objectively the sweetness is not as intense as other genuinely sweet perfumes yet it's still too much for my nose. So if you are used to sensual scents that primarily land sweet like Scandal, Olympea, Good Girl etc. then this may actually be ideal. If I put my head in the mind of someone who likes young, sweet, feminine fragrances who wants to find an affordable dark/date night perfume then this may actually do the job. This is not a bad scent by any mainstream standard but it overall feels more cheap to me now. To me, I wouldn't say there is a fruity blend to this anymore. If you are one who is looking for a deep, dark scent then this is not an immediate go to. It may still be "deep" in terms of sensual to some, but this is no longer "dark" and "mysterious" like it used to be. This is not unisex at all for those who prefer unisex products but this possibly teeters on unisex for those who prefer feminine products. While feminine fragrance lovers may dislike this for being too masculine, my unisex palette would say this is too feminine. Since I can't find anything like how it used to smell I will typically pair it with Superdrug's Blossom Body Mist (inspired by Mugler's Alien) in order to "unfeminise" it and add back in ingredients that smell like they don't even exist in the production of this perfume. Or Givenchy's L'Interdit Absolu to deliver that punch I like. I still remain disappointed in the change. You can even go to sites like Parfumo where you see reviews from 2013 detailing the slight unisex appeal then 2023 reviews expressing their disappointment. It wasn't all that unisex before but it is even less so now. I just personally feel sad about the trajectory of my favourite scent. Nevertheless, I can't find an affordable fragrance like it and ultimately I've been able to make it work. I wouldn't wear it if I disliked it. It really is still a unique and beautiful scent to me seeing as a semblance of the old formula is still there. Once the fragrance properly dries down I am somewhat left with that dark vibe I'm used to. I no longer wear this on my skin as it does not mesh well with my skin chemistry any more so I find it better left sprayed on clothes. Especially since the longevity of the fragrance is not as much as it used be (when applied on the skin) since the perfume is not as strong as before. At the end of the day, this remains my signature scent for a reason. Of all the affordable products on the market this current formula still intends to create a deep scent. To me, this fragrance smells best when I smell it on my jacket the next day after I've worn it. It's easy to become nose blind to this so be careful when applying it on your attire. And when I do smell this the next day I'm reminded once again why I had loved this perfume: I don't reach for my handbag for a long time and when I finally go to pick it up there is that standout scent I prefer to go back to. Someone has in fact told me my fragrance gave a strong impression which is what I go for — clarifying that it wasn't overpowering or cloying. So I think if you want to try something different and see if this can work for you, 100% get a sample / small bottle first. I'm also the kind of person who enjoyed the pre-reformulated version of Alien by Thierry Mulger, eventhough current shoppers tend to enjoy the less intense formula of L'oreal's modern reformulation. So you can get an idea of what type of individual this fragrance particularly appeals to.

Despite being a scent lover, I am quite difficult to really please. There are many perfumes that I like but only a small handful that I truly love. Ghost Deep Night is one of my loves. It is deep, mysterious and complex. I agree with other reviewers that it has a masculine edge to it, particularly in the opening. However, I wouldn't call it unisex although perhaps some men could pull it off. Sweeter notes enter after about half an hour. The peach is not what one might expect- it is certainly peachy but not sickly sweet. The same goes for the vanilla- it is smooth and holds down the other notes but is not a gourmand-type vanilla. The peach and vanilla smell natural which is unusual, especially for a fragrance with this price tag! These notes often feature in cheap perfumes but always smell so plasticy and fake. Deep night smells expensive and to me has something Dioresque about it. It is reminiscent, although not similar, to Pure Poison. The rose is powdery, and again, does not smell synthetic (although i'm sure it is). I have not come across night blooming cerus before so I cannot really comment on that note, but there is certainly something indolic and intoxicating in there, which I presume is this. lastly, the woody notes. These are prominent. This is a woody perfume, and I feel it is in the wrong category as 'floral fruity'. This category belies the overall character of this beauty. Yes, there is peach, and I also get blackcurrent which isn't listed, and yes it is floral, but 'floral fruity' says 'pretty and fun'; Deep Night is 'Beautiful and deep'.

If any of you really like the bottle design of this one, do yourself a favour and get the miniature version - I'm not one to gush over 'cutesy' stuff normally, but seriously - I want to give this tiny treasure a glass of milk, tuck it up in bed and read it a story. I had this a couple of years ago, and was just never that into it, though it was my boyfriend's absolute favourite, and it ALWAYS drew compliments, with folk often seeming surprised when I told them it was Ghost. I wore it rarely and ended up giving it away, but lately I've been hankering after it - hence the purchase of the mini. Look, I'm a novice when it comes to 'fumes, but I really think this ought to be classed as an oriental vanilla, or at least a Woody floral musk. I just don't see it a regular fruity floral. The opening is quite intense, a little masculine, and yes, 'noirish'. I actually think it would have been better named 'Before Dawn', as just as you think it will continue to develop in this fairly heavy vein, the orange and apricot make their presence felt, and just bloom and bloom, along with the florals, until any hint of darkness disappears and the ensemble slowly mellows down into a warm and creamy vanilla base. I actually like it this time around. It's different. Probably more of an evening scent, but I'd wear it during the day. Sillage and longevity could be better, but, yeah....... welcome home, old friend!

For a moment there (around 6 years ago) I very nearly went off this scent. It got onto the sleeve of a woolen sweater I had been wearing and left the most rancid woody stink behind. I was afraid that this was what others might be smelling when I wore this scent. It temporarily tainted my view, but thankfully I got over that. I think it was simply a nasty chemical reaction. This is a peachy vanillic, musky, woody (cedar & vetiver) white floral. It suits being in a dark purple bottle. It's at once warm, fuzzy, well rounded, refined, and at the same time rugged. Feels like an evening scent most of all, for me. Though I do wear it of a day, right through into the night. Lasts well. As noted by other reviewers, this scent absolutely blossoms in heat. I agree wholeheartedly that it works best in warmer weathers. Have a sort of obsession with this perfume and feel it wouldn't be amiss as a Givenchy or a Dior. It sits nicely between the likes of Givenchy's Ange ou Demon and Dior Addict in style. Even has hints of Chanel's Allure EDP... Sells for less than it smells like it's worth.

There is something about Ghosts' deep night that I cannot resist, It is so well balanced, so simple yet so indescribable to the senses. It is dark yet in my opinion fits any time of day and any occasion, it is slightly masculine yet so sultry and feminine. The woodiness of the fragrance is what lasts on me which I love! That in combination with the apricot is devine, I only seem to detect the most delicate dab of vanilla that drives the potion into a serene, mysterious presense that is continually teasing the senses. The bottle definately fits the perfume! very classy deep blue crescent moon that looks adorable on the dressing table. This is a fantastic fragrance for any time as it is not overpowering but you are acutely aware of it, personally to me it is because it is so hard to describe which is maybe why i find this long lasting whereas many people stop being able to smell it at all after just a few hours. I would suggest trying this on skin rather than on card for a while for anyone to really 'get' Deep Night, but once you do you'll be hooked.