Midnight Fleur

This has been my absolute favorite perfume for so many years. I kept putting off writing a review because I know I just have SO MUCH to say, and I'd probably emotionally exhaust myself trying to put it all into words... So here we go. I started out as a gourmand / vanilla girl. This started with 'Warm Vanilla Sugar' from Bath and Body Works when I was a kid. (Fun side note: I learned that the nose behind a lot of those iconic B&BW scents is actually the husband of the woman behind Nest!!! How ironic, B&BW was my gateway to being an olfactory junkie, and Nest was my gateway to perfume.) At the time, I really didn't know much about perfume, other than the spritzes of Pink Sugar I would steal from my college roommate. I thought that was the pinnacle of vanilla back then... I got a small sample of this from a Sephora order, just as like "ho hum, might as well try this vanilla. the bottle looks pretty. I'm interested in how these blue flowers will translate into vanilla." and OH MY GOD when I got that first whiff... I was sucked right into the bottle. Into a dark, mysterious forest. Haunting, ethereal, untouchable, other-worldly. You just explored your way through the dark woods at night, only guided by the moon and some fireflies until you stumble upon a tiny clearing with night-blooming flowers to find a powerful, confident, but stoic woman. If a tree of a thousand lifetimes took the form of a beautiful young wood nymph. This is how I imagine a dark forest fairy or dark elf witch would smell. This is not a fluffy, cute vanilla. This is a sensual, warm, seductive vanilla. I don't even want to call it 'sexy' because it's not necessarily youthful or flirty. It's like a magical, psychological magnet that pulls you in. Every time I wear this, EVERY PERSON that gets close enough to me goes "OMG YOU SMELL AMAZING!" I inadvertently command the room whenever I wear this. There are other gourmand fragrances that smell 'good' but the notes are kind of working separately. Or alternatively, they all sort of blur together and read as flat and one-dimensional. But Midnight Fleur is wrapped up into the perfect, tidy package and topped with a bow. It is so deliberate and so complete. Nothing is missing, nothing is overdone. It is so deep with complex layers, yet it is so expertly and harmoniously blended. I would believe that there is a single, magical, fantastical flower out there that smells exactly like this. So... all that being said... While I love it enough to wear 24/7, 365 days a year... it is a SPECIAL perfume, and I feel it should be reserved for special moments. Wear this perfume wherever you want to bring magic. This juice is too precious to throw away on a trip to the grocery store (although, if I had more money... I would definitely be wearing this so the grocery store lol) And if you want this same magic to work in hotter / daytime weather, Nest also makes Midnight Fleur SOLEIL- which I cannot recommend enough. It is EXACTLY the 'daytime' version of this magical bottle. This perfume really was my gateway to fragrance. I learn so much just from researching Nest and Jerome Epinette's creations. This is art and magic and witchcraft in a bottle. And I'm determined to take fragrance training courses so that one day I can create / harness magic in a bottle as well. Midnight Fleur has to last forever! The day they discontinue this, I will organize protests in the street!

Well now I understand what the phrase "slept-on" means. I "slept on" this beautiful fragrance and now it's discontinued. I ordered a Nest discovery set a few years ago, and as so often happens in life, I was immediately distracted by Indigo, the one who wears her uniqueness on her sleeve. Dazzled by her bold combination of aromatic tea and fruit and spices, I bought a full bottle and made her my signature. Yes, I thought, sweet and tangy but still earthy and creative, a little bit undefinable, Indigo captures me and how I want to present myself to the world. Meanwhile my little mini rollerball of Midnight Fleur got pushed around in my drawer, opened periodically but not used, as I’ve stayed under Indigo’s spell. But last week, traveling for Thanksgiving to visit extended family with a couple of very nice dinners out planned, I brought along the little Midnight Fleur, feeling subtlety might be more fitting for the dynamics of this visit. At first “roll” Midnight Fleur was pleasant as I knew it would be. Softly floral and subtle and a little perfumey and totally appropriate. But ten minutes in... the warmth set in. The amber and spice. A dark little quiet mystery unfolded on my wrists and I was addicted. It’s absolutely elegant yet just enough sexy. I reapplied, and reapplied. I wore it to bed and fell asleep with my nose against my wrist. I adore Midnight Fleur and her layers and mystery. When I was in college, my good friend and roommate was petite, beautiful and hilarious. She was extroverted, unique, a little offbeat and unexpected, and a great dancer. She dazzled the guys at parties with her presence and humor and physicality. While I loved her and she was incredibly fun, I knew my quiet nature couldn’t compete with Michelle in that setting, and it was OK - she was in her element. She was Susannah Hoffs, and I was one of the other Bangles. She was Indigo. The cute party guys often didn’t see me, as they were captivated by Michelle’s outward sparkle. And now I realize I fell under a similar spell with Indigo's obvious charms. I’ll always love Indigo, don’t get me wrong - but something tells me Midnight Fleur just might be the one that got away.

I just started my perfume journey at 21 years of age and have always been intrigued by the NEST line since sephora started carrying them. Only now have I picked up a discovery set with MF, Indigo, and Citrine. Frankly, I came to love and appreciate Midnight Fleur rather than having a love-at-first-sniff. I initially took it for too unique and unfamiliar but I found myself idley and mildly intriguingly reapplying the rollerball on my wrist every evening as I studied, and by the 4th or 5th day I realized I love it. It is quite linear but within its linearity it possesses an identifiable depth of jasmine, vanilla orchid, and warm yet slightly spicy exotic woods and amber. I normally don't like scents with patchouli (an essential oil my nosebuds simply don't jive with) but in MF it just adds more of a foundation and longevity rather than punching my nose. MF smells almost gourmand to me! (Out of all the new perfumes i picked up the bf likes this the most and calls it the "cheesecake" scent.) It smells like the crust of a cheesecake: slightly spiced (apple pie-like spices), warm and delectably sweet. As the name suggests, it's a little "dark" but not too dark to wear during the day imo. Each note definitely support each other in such a wonderful way. Perfect amount of warmth, spice, floral and sweetness (from the amber and vanilla orchid). Yes, I'm 21 but this is not a youthful scent. Rather it's for any age and person of which wearing this makes them feel warm/cozy, sensual and perhaps slightly sexy. As I can only speak for the 4ml rollerball until I run out of it and buy a bottle, I'd say that longevity is moderate whereas sillage is more personal (softer side of moderate sillage). I wouldnt mind wearing this for all seasons; more so the cooler months and/or evenings... Perhaps not during the spring, and summer days as it just doesn't invoke the feeling of blooming florals, lush greenery, or solar heat. All in all, it's a keeper!

When I first smell the bottle, it’s all exotic woods to my nose: musky, sensuous, captivating. When I sprayed it, I was hit with something that smelled very tropical, almost fruity (maybe the jasmine?). Then it dries down to the amber and patchouli, and quickly. It’s pleasant to me, smells sophisticated, and maybe this is where people get the idea that it’s “old lady perfume” but Midnight Fleur isn’t the stuffy, outdated variety—it’s the accomplished woman who knows what she wants and who she is. The jasmine is still detectable but much more muted. After an hour or two, it simmers down quite a bit and almost becomes a skin scent on me; I started to regret my blind buy. I thought it was gone until about three hours later, I sniffed my wrist... voilà! The vanilla orchid that I had wanted so badly in this perfume came out to play, and sat on my skin until the scent disappeared altogether, around six hours after the first spray. It reminds me of sunset and dusk. The bright, sunny jasmine sinking into warm amber, and then the soft-spoken orchid, trailing into night. I think it works great as a day or night scent, but probably best reserved for the fall and winter. Cooler seasons. *Maybe* early spring, when it’s chilly and rainy... I am using it in the summer and the silage in the amber/patchouli phase is overpowering in the heat. I could see it becoming my signature or something I could wear for many occasions, but I do wish it lasted longer (particularly that orchid note), and that the woodsy note would show up on my skin. It’s a well-orchestrated masterpiece, overall.

The first blast of this is delicious juicy floral woody amber. While that might sound like an overload of scents, the effect is spectacular. The separate accords play with each other so incredibly well. In the beginning it is strong and uncompromising but so so intoxicating. As it settles, the juiciness calms down and it becomes a very warm, sensual floral-woody-amber, no longer as shouty but just as addicting. This has jumped to the top of my "to buy" list because it is just so intoxicating, sexy and delicious. Plus the bottle is absolutely stunning. If you like presence in your perfume, definitely give this one a try. You can get a free sample of it at Sephora, all you have to do is ask. Edit: I ended up getting samples of this and Alien at the same time, and I'm surprised at how similar they feel on my skin. The nuances are different but honestly, they're close enough that I would probably not buy both. Midnight Fleur is a bit more relaxed, more amber, but still has that feeling of addicting discord in the top notes, both almost juicy in its fruitiness yet not edible feeling, with a beautiful floral and amber background. Definitely very sweet and sexy, but a bit mysterious as well, as it's hard to put your finger on what you're smelling.

This was my first ever fragrance purchase. I went to a Sephora looking for the Harry Styles x Gucci collab (lol) and hated it. So I smelled around for something else. I personally think the masculine vs feminine discussion is unhelpful when discussing fragrance, but I guess you would say this is more feminine. That said, if a fragrance doesn't smell a little bit "feminine," you can keep it, sorry. As a man, I certainly do not want to smell like a man. I want to smell like this! Heartbroken it's discontinued. I went back to the store when I heard of its fate, and the clerk said someone had already come in and bought every last bit of it up. Alas. I still have some left, but live in Houston now, and it's not the best for the heat. I still wear it out at night though, on occasion. I'm not sure if I've went out wearing Midnight Fleur once without someone telling me I smell wonderful. Men, women, gay, straight, everyone. It is very sexy to me. Desperate for this combination of projection and intensity in all of my fragrances. I'm not great at describing fragrance yet, but I will learn.

The single most unique, emotive perfume I've ever smelled. It was the first scent that got me into fragrances, it just captivated me completely. Upon the first spray it's immediately like stepping into a forest grove lined with delicate flowers, the air is warm and sweet; the scent is of deep, luscious florals and fragrant earth. The patchouli and florals work harmoniously together, and the amber is like a soft landing beneath it all. The magic of this fragrance is that I do not detect one particular note at any given time, instead all notes combine for one unified experience. It's mysterious yet inviting, slightly familiar but always intriguing, fresh but warm; and the longer it wears on the skin the warmer it grows, but always maintaining that initial burst of dewy florals. OH, and it lasts FOREVER and projects so beautifully. I cannot praise this fragrance enough, it is the foundation of my interest in fragrances and remains the one scent I have never found anything close to. It is worth every dollar if you find it second hand. Long live Midnight Fleur :')

Well. I'll be damned if this beauty doesn't smell just like its bottle looks. :) "Enchanted forest at night" comes to mind. First spritz somehow contains the same sweet syrupy orange blast that Angel does, for me, but that (fortunately) exits almost immediately. The next act pleases for hours... The orchid is dewy, floral and vanillic all at once, and with the patchouli and woods gives the impression that the scent is "alive". I can feel wet leaves and moonlight reflecting off of them, a carpet of green beneath my feet, a comfortably warm, balmy breeze. There is a sense of the tropics, without the usual mango or coconut or pikake. This is the deep, dark rain forest tropics... fairy tale edition. :) The black amber, present all along, really shines in the dry-down... though I hesitate to even call this a dry-down, as most of the composition stays loud and proud throught the whole experience, which, for me, lasts hours and hours and hours. Just absolutely gorgeous, and transporting.

I didn’t really like this when I first tried it, so it sat in my Tupperware box, dedicated to travel sprays and minis. However a couple of months later, I was slightly bored with my collection and decided to give it another try. I liked it a lot more than my initial try, but still just a like. Midnight Fleur has a uniqueness that you are unsure of at first, but something keeps pulling you to her until she captivates you. Slightly sweet, spicy, floral, warm and comforting, and yet intimidating and sultry. Needless to say, I fell in love with her and when I went to repurchase, she was already on clearance at Sephora, travel sprays were sold out and I couldn’t afford a full size that day. Of course, a few days later on payday, I went to snatch a full size and she was gone. That’s when I went to the Nest website and found out she was gone for good. The same thing happened with Vanille Insensee, although that one just can’t be purchased in the good ole USofA.

The beauty of Midnight Fleur leaves me speechless, I find it hard to put into words how mesmerizing and intoxicating this scent is but I will try. First, the bottle is a work of art but the juice inside is an even bigger masterpiece. The blend of notes is done so well that there is nothing blaring, only a beautiful intermingling creating a harmonious blast of aroma. The potency is very much welcome which eventually mellows down to a soft yet still alluring aura around you. It's a sweet and warm floral, a glorious floriental to my nose. The vanilla orchid, amber and patchouli impart this luscious character that has more complexity and depth than what I could imagine with just a handful of notes. This is not a fragrance to be described by each note but by the sensation the entity renders to the wearer. Deep, rich and haunting ... it's easy to get lost in the luxurious embrace of Midnight Fleur.

This is my ultimate 'comfort' scent (clearly, as I have two bottles, a travel vial and two roller balls) and if NEST ever deigns to discontinue this fragrance, I will pitch a fit. It's extremely linear on my skin, which I'm thankful for. I somehow get the amber, the jasmine, and the orchid within the first few minutes of application, and it's all there for the long haul. I'm a gourmand fiend, on top of being an actual sugar addict, so maybe I'm desensitized when it comes to sweetness, but this is 100% dark floral in my book - I don't get so much as a whiff of vanilla, frosting, cake, or any of the gourmand notes called out in other reviews. It smells like the most extravagant, expensive scented candle, and I can burn it all night long.

This was my signature fragrance in the latter half of college. I went through bottles of this stuff, dousing myself before heading out, complimented by strangers and friends alike. I believed everything about the fragrance, including the blue-flower-on-black artwork, was utterly "me." I recently got my hands on it again, and I can see why I was enamored with it. It's sweet, rich, and dark with heavy amber, some spice, and vanilla. There is a lighter, fruity top note that comes and goes—I don't get much jasmine. Now that I live in a warmer, sunnier climate, I would use this sparingly, and likely at night. I do still love it, possibly even more now that my sense of smell has developed and I can appreciate the individual notes.

this was the first fragrance that i was ever exposed to that really truly evoked something for me; like many, i'm devastated it's been discontinued. as someone who isn't a fan of florals, this captures something so sensual and intimate that it reminds me of how the skin of a partner smells when you're in love, even though of course that's far from what's in the notes and what was intended by the perfumer. i'm sure it cannot and will not smell like that to everyone, but it just flips some sort of switch in my brain every time i smell it. the florals and patchouli are done in such a deep and rich way that i haven't found in any other fragrance so far. hopes and past desires - rafael anton irisarri, danny norbury

Fall evenings, cashmere sweaters, cozying up by the fire with your man and a cup of something hot. That's what Midnight Fleur evokes. The sultry amber includes just a hint of creamy vanilla. The jasmine is hiding in the background, letting the warm woods and amber take center stage. I tried something out of my comfort zone by dabbing a bit of this on, then I was hooked. This is now my signature scent for the colder months. Update: After months of wearing this, it is my absolute favorite, even in warmer weather. Nowadays I pick up a pineapple accord right out of the bottle; it also gets more of a smoky feel if I spray it on my hair (the "black" amber). Sillage is soft, but longevity is pretty good.

this was my first ever perfume purchase and i still wear it all the time! it's sexy, warm, and addicting. every time i wear it i find myself going back to smell myself. the patchouli, woody smells start out strong, but eventually fades and you get the sweet amber smell. i'm not kidding when i say this lasts forever! i can put it on in the morning and still smell it throughout my 9hr shifts where i'm constantly washing my hands. would overall say this is a more mature leaning perfume. it gives me the vibe of a sexy feminine wood nymph and it's very enticing. definitely recommend trying a sample first, but i think it's incredibly easy to fall in love with <3

This scent is absolutely gorgeous. When I first apply it; I smell a touch of floral, with heavy amber, vanilla orchid, and patchouli. As it progresses, I get more floral and woods. It's a perfect going out fragrance, or it would be good on a cold day. Longevity was excellent. Sillage started out strong, but then faded to a scent that people can only smell up close. For me, that's perfect. If you like scents such as Shiseido Zen Secret Bloom, and Thierry Mugler Alien, this is another good one to try. I will definitely be purchasing a full bottle and the matching body cream, but I may wait until Fall because I can't see wearing this in summer.

This is fantastic, took a while for me to fall in love, but it was well worth the wait. The best way to describe this is an enchanted forest at night; deep and rich woods, complimented by a rich amber, earthy patchouli, and a persistently sweet vanilla orchid accord. All around you, mysterious, and surprisingly evocative. It's a bit dry but resinous, sweet but spicy, soft but pervasive. Perfect for cooler weather, I found this off-putting when I tried in warmer weather, which I imagine is why it took so long for me to like this. A wonderful offering from Nest, my favorite is still Dahlia & Vines. I'll be trying out more from this line.

I'm wearing this as I type this and I do want to say that to me this scent is very unique and a mile apart from any other department store fragrance. When I wear this I can't help but think of elegant long dresses, a cocktail in hand, but behind a mask to add a bit of mystery. I had signed up for a Scentbird subscription and this is the first perfume I had lined up in my que to try and I'm very pleased by it. It's not a name that I have heard anywhere else but now I am intrigued to try any others that Scentbird might offer. This perfume could easily become an every day scent for me. My boyfriend really approves of this scent too!

I won an Ebay auction for the body cream, BNIB and I was thrilled to get it. It's a little hard to describe this scent; it reminds me of a cross between Reb'l Fleur and Japanese Cherry Blossom. The top notes smell tropical to me, but that could be the vanilla orchid; I don't smell much jasmine. Then as it's settling, the woods and black amber come out for a sexy, sultry aroma. Even though I only have the body cream, I get excellent longevity out of it; all day and into the next so I can only imagine how strong the perfume might be. A really, really nice exotic scent that's different and beautiful at the same time. Just lovely!

Is it wrong I got pineapple and coconut in the opening? It is juicy, tempting, and luscious. Almost bought the full sized bottle after the first ten minutes of wearing it. However, I found the amazing 5 scent mini pack of all the main Nest frags at Sephora. Five hours later this fragrance is woody, spicy, and exotic. I generally despise any kind of orchid as it turns to powder on my skin but this is smooth. This is totally yummy. Edit: The orchid is making this difficult to wear. It's so powdery all of a sudden :( Will give it another whirl-- but this one might be up for swap.