Requiem

“Requiem by Aaron Terence Hughes, warm amber with a feral dry down”

Requiem arrives with a mood, and the community reaction is interesting because the name and tagline set expectations for full darkness. A common theme is surprise. Several wearers expected something much heavier, then found it more approachable, still a darker step from Aaron Terence Hughes’ fresher direction, but not the kind of scent you need to brace yourself for.

The opening is described as bright and spicy, with pink pepper reading almost citrusy for some. That lift can feel familiar in a modern designer way, a quick flash of clean brightness that fades fairly fast. Once it settles, Requiem leans into its main character, warm amber that feels cosy and enveloping rather than sharp. More than one wearer calls out a boozy, warm-blanket effect, especially where amber and vanilla start to interlock.

From there, Requiem earns the “Return to the Darkness” tagline in the way it wears rather than the way it opens. People talk about it getting carnal, dirty, animalic as it dries down. That aligns with its note list, where resins and civet sit in the base, and it explains why some find it sexy and intimate. One wearer even frames it as the kind of scent that gets noticed up close on skin, the sort of warm, slightly feral aura that reads best at neck distance.

The vanilla side is a key decision point. Many get a smoky, resinous vanilla that feels incensy and balsamic, especially as myrrh and benzoin come through. Others mention they do not pick up much vanilla, or they get a spicier, more animalic darkness, even an unwanted cumin-like nuance. That difference matters because it changes the whole vibe, from a plush amber-vanilla to something drier and more animalic. If you know you are sensitive to that sort of savory spice, sampling is the smart move.

Performance impressions are mostly confident, with plenty of people describing long wear and strong presence, including very loud projection in the opening. Still, there are notable caveats. A few report that it can feel like a gentle projector compared to other ATH releases, and one wearer says it has performed differently each time, with a “when I can smell it” kind of inconsistency that hints at nose-blindness. Practically, this is a fragrance where controlled spraying pays off, because you might go from big opening to a quieter phase, even while others still smell it.

Finally, the comparison conversation is loud. Some wearers claim it sits very close to YSL Babycat, and others mention a vibe that starts sweetly familiar then turns dirtier and more incense-led, with even a passing nod to Xerjoff Lira from one reviewer. Treat those as pointers, not guarantees. If you love the Babycat zone and wish it had more animalic bite, Requiem may land well. If you already own a signature amber-vanilla and want something clearly different, make Requiem a sample-first test, because the overlap is exactly what some people argue about.

Requiem is best for someone who enjoys warm amber, resins, and a sensual dry down that can turn a little feral. It reads most natural in cool weather and at night, and it can be very easy to like once you accept that the darkness is in the base, not the opening.