Around Midnight
Designed for enthusiasts of brooding, smoky aromas, Around Midnight presents a contemplative twist on amber and woody themes. It appeals directly to wearers who prefer somber, resin-heavy profiles over sweet vanillas or commercial aquatic colognes. The pairing of bitter chamomile and biting pepper creates an austere initial presence, making it ideal for brisk fall days and chilly winter nights. In professional environments or intimate evening settings, the subtle floral heart of jasmine keeps the dark cedar and balsamic styrax from feeling overly dense. If you appreciate minimalist niche perfumery with a hint of vintage ceremony, this fragrance delivers a dignified, grounded aura that avoids current gourmand trends.
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Performance Metrics
179 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Community votes show moderate longevity as the leading experience, with six voters getting roughly 3 to 6 hours of wear. Projection is fairly balanced between intimate and moderate, with a slight tilt toward strong in the initial hour before it pulls closer to the skin. It performs most reliably in cool autumn and winter temperatures.
Notes Pyramid
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The scent profile is anchored by balsamic amber, dry cedar, and smoky styrax, lifted initially by cracked black pepper and bitter herbal chamomile. A soft touch of jasmine rests in the background, keeping the resinous woods and earthy patchouli from feeling completely barren. The overall feel is dry, aromatic, and reminiscent of unlit incense.
Main Accords
10 MAPPEDAround Midnight begins with fresh spicy and herbal accords that deliver an energetic, peppery bite. Within thirty minutes, these bright elements step back as amber, woody, and balsamic accords take over. The scent finishes as a warm spicy and patchouli-tinted skin scent, maintaining an unburnt incense vibe until it fades.
Community Data
318 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in winter and fall. The vote picture leans most toward night.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Evocative, authentic church incense and resinous atmosphere
Distinctive herbal opening combining chamomile and black pepper
Smooth, gentle dry-down dominated by styrax and French labdanum
Non-sweet profile that avoids trendy gourmand cliches
Courteous projection that remains polite in indoor spaces
Excellent seasonal fit for crisp fall and cold winter nights
Great artistic option for fans of minimalist woody scents
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Moderate longevity leaves some wearers wanting more staying power
Strong church incense vibe can feel solemn or unapproachable
Smells very similar to other Mark Buxton scents like CDG 2 Man
Lacks versatility for warm spring and summer weather
Top notes have a medicinal bitterness that may deter beginners
Subtle floral heart of jasmine is almost undetectable to some
Polarizing profile makes it risky as a blind buy
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Mark Buxton Around Midnight Editorial Review: Austere Resins and Cold Smoke”
Spraying Around Midnight brings an immediate shock of aromatic spices. Black pepper leads the charge, providing a dry, prickling heat that cuts through the air. Rather than following a standard citrus pathway, the opening brings in dried chamomile and green geranium. The chamomile feels medicinal and calming, like dried tea leaves crushed in your palms, while geranium adds an earthy, stem-like coolness. It establishes an introspective, chilly tone right from the opening moments.
As the prickly top notes recede, the scent softens briefly with jasmine in the heart. This is not a lush, sweet, or tropical white floral; instead, it behaves like a sheer veil that buffers the spicy introduction from the resinous woods below. Soon, the base takes total control. French labdanum introduces a leathery, balsamic sweetness, while styrax brings a distinctive smoky, tar-like incense tone. Supported by clean pencil-shaving cedar and a dash of dark patchouli, the dry-down turns dry, austere, and deeply grounded.
Throughout the day, the aromatic and fresh spicy accords gradually fade, allowing the amber, balsamic, and woody elements to dominate. What begins as an energizing, herbal blend evolves into a quiet church-like incense profile. The resinous styrax and labdanum retain their smoldering qualities, never turning overly sweet or sticky. The patchouli stays polite in the background, adding an earthy soil nuance without hijacking the composition. It is a slow, steady burn from crisp aromatic sharpness to dark resinous warmth.
Performance divides community wearers, but the data indicates moderate overall projection and longevity. Six voters report moderate staying power between 3 and 6 hours, while three report weak wear and two get long-lasting results. Projection starts noticeably with an arm's-length presence before dropping closer to the chest within two hours. Given its cool, meditative profile, it performs best in late autumn and winter. The dry resins project nicely in crisp night air, making it a fitting choice for intimate evening dinners, quiet walks, or casual indoor gatherings.
This fragrance suits anyone who loves austere woody resins, frankincense-style ambiance, and non-sweet niche perfumery. If you admire the dark, artistic aesthetic Mark Buxton developed for other houses, you will feel right at home here. On the other hand, shoppers looking for a bright, crowd-pleasing vanilla amber or an uplifting daily office citrus should definitely skip this bottle. Its cold, church-like mood and peppery bitterness can feel stark or solemn to those accustomed to modern designer trends.
Around Midnight is a disciplined, moody perfume that trades commercial flash for atmospheric depth. While it will not appeal to everyone and its longevity is moderate at best, its blend of chamomile, pepper, and smoky styrax offers a distinct personality. Sample this first if you appreciate quiet, contemplative resinous woods.
FAQs
What does Around Midnight smell like?+
Around Midnight smells like a dry, resinous blend of smoky incense, cracked pepper, and aromatic woods. The scent opens with black pepper, herbal chamomile, and green geranium before introducing a light jasmine middle. Its foundation relies heavily on smoky styrax, leathery French labdanum, cedar, and earthy patchouli, creating a dark, meditative aroma reminiscent of quiet historic sanctuaries.
How long does Around Midnight last?+
Around Midnight typically lasts between 3 and 6 hours on skin for most wearers. Community votes identify moderate longevity as the most common experience, backed by six votes, though three reviewers report weak wear and two report longer performance. Its resinous base of labdanum, styrax, and cedar carries the scent, while the aromatic top notes fade much sooner.
What is the projection and sillage of Around Midnight?+
Around Midnight delivers intimate to moderate projection, staying relatively close to the wearer. Community sillage ratings show five votes for intimate, five for moderate, and six for strong. It creates a noticeable arm's-length aroma during the first hour of wear before softening into a personal, resinous scent bubble that will not overwhelm shared indoor environments.
Is Around Midnight for men or women?+
Around Midnight is marketed as a unisex fragrance and wears comfortably on anyone who enjoys dry, woody resins. Although community votes show a slight male tilt with three votes for male and one for unisex, its lack of overt sweetness and reliance on cedar, pepper, chamomile, and styrax give it a balanced, genderless appeal.
What season is best to wear Around Midnight?+
Around Midnight performs best during the cold months of fall and winter. Community votes heavily endorse winter with 15 votes and autumn with 12 votes, compared to just 4 for spring and 3 for summer. The balsamic resins, smoky styrax, and warm amber accords cut through cold air without becoming cloying.
What perfumes are similar to Around Midnight?+
Around Midnight is frequently compared to Comme des Garcons 2 Man and Etro Messe de Minuit. Reviewers highlight strong shared traits with other Mark Buxton creations, especially MB 03 and 2 Man, due to their shared smoky, church-like incense signatures. Messe de Minuit shares a similar midnight mass ambiance but features brighter citrus accents.
Is Around Midnight a safe blind buy?+
Around Midnight is not recommended as a blind buy due to its stark, incense-heavy character. Reviewers describe a prominent Catholic church incense vibe that divides opinion, with some loving the cold, holy feeling and others disliking the smoky intensity. Testing a sample first ensures you enjoy bitter chamomile and medicinal styrax before committing.
How does the opening of Around Midnight compare to its dry-down?+
Around Midnight opens with sharp, bitter spice and dries down into a warm, smoky resinous base. The initial spray features pungent black pepper, herbal chamomile, and crisp geranium. Over several hours, those aromatic herbs yield to French labdanum, dry cedar, and dark styrax, shifting the fragrance from crisp and prickly to meditative and woody.
On what occasions should you wear Around Midnight?+
Around Midnight is best suited for relaxed evenings, quiet gatherings, and solitary, contemplative moments. Community data shows a clear preference for nighttime wear over daytime. Its austere incense and woody accords make it feel thoughtful and serious, fitting casual late autumn walks or cozy dinner dates far better than high-energy club nights.
Does Around Midnight actually smell like church incense?+
Multiple community reviewers explicitly compare Around Midnight to the smell of church incense burned during mass. Several wearers describe it as cold, holy frankincense, with one reviewer comparing the experience to visiting Stonehenge. The combination of smoky styrax, labdanum, and cedar naturally recreates the scent of old wooden benches and smoldering thuribles.
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Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCOREWearers frequently compare this scent to Comme des Garcons 2 Man, another Mark Buxton creation that shares a smoky incense signature but incorporates vetiver and aldehydes for a brighter finish. It also draws close comparisons to Etro Messe de Minuit, which provides a similar Catholic church incense atmosphere with extra citrus. For fans of Buxton's independent label, MB 03 offers a very similar dark resinous profile with subtle adjustments to the spice balance.
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