Sleeping with Ghosts
Designed by perfumer Mark Buxton in 2012, this unisex creation approaches fruity leather from an artistic angle. Sleeping with Ghosts pairs bright, tangy quince with fresh peony florals and an inviting, balsamic vanilla foundation. While the opening leans sweet and juicy, the steady emergence of woody vetiver and animalic leather adds a mature counterweight that keeps the scent truly unisex. It suits curious fragrance enthusiasts who want a distinctive twist on fruity floral perfumes without cloying sweetness. Daytime wear during mild spring weather allows the tart and aromatic facets to shine, while the comforting vanilla base maintains presence through cooler autumn afternoons.
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Performance Metrics
683 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Community votes place longevity primarily across moderate (34 votes for 3 to 6 hours) and long lasting (28 votes for 7 to 12 hours) bands, with a few reporting extended wear. Sillage is rated moderate by 40 wearers and intimate by 30, meaning it projects comfortably at an arm's length before settling into a soft, creamy skin scent.
Notes Pyramid
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Sleeping with Ghosts is a floral fruity scent defined by tart quince, bitter marigold, soft peony, and animalic leather over a warm base of vanilla and woody vetiver. It strikes a clever balance between sweet juiciness, aromatic freshness, and dry, leathery warmth.
Main Accords
10 MAPPEDThe fragrance opens with dominant fruity and sweet accords driven by juicy quince, sharply contrasted by aromatic, herbal marigold. In the mid development, floral peony notes blend with an animalic leather accord that adds unexpected texture. Over several hours, the scent dries down to creamy vanilla, balsamic warmth, and earthy woody vetiver, maintaining a soft, sweet trail.
Community Data
682 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 spring and summer. The vote picture leans most toward daytime.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Unique pairing of tart quince, herbal marigold, and leather
Versatile unisex profile that balances sweet fruit with dry woods
Solid moderate to long lasting wear across 6 to 10 hours
Smooth, creamy vanilla and vetiver dry-down
Excellent daytime option for mild spring and summer weather
Stands out from generic, sugary mass-market fruity florals
Moderate projection makes it polite in most social settings
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Polarizing opening with a bitter marigold note that can feel sharp
Animalic undertones in the leather may not please fruit lovers
Not a safe blind buy due to its unusual note combinations
Noticeably less effective in freezing winter weather
Can become overwhelming if sprayed heavily in confined spaces
Divisive scent profile with 42 community dislike votes
Hard to find in standard retail stores
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Mark Buxton Sleeping with Ghosts Fragrance Review”
The initial spray of Sleeping with Ghosts by Mark Buxton arrives with a bold burst of tart, juicy quince. Wearers compare the listed quince note to a bright mix of lemon and crisp pear, delivered with sweet, nectar-like intensity. Almost immediately, marigold enters with a dry, bitter, herbal edge that keeps the top layer from turning into an ordinary sweet fruit punch. Some wearers find this opening eccentric or even jarring during the first few minutes, but the sharp contrast gives the scent immediate character.
As the herbaceous marigold softens, the composition transitions into a fascinating heart of peony and leather. The peony provides a fresh, clean floral wash that cuts right through the opening sweetness. Beneath it, the leather begins to surface, presenting a soft jacket texture with slight animalic undertones. This unexpected pairing between light floral petals and dark hide prevents the perfume from feeling strictly feminine, steering it into balanced unisex territory.
Throughout the wear, the sweet and fruity notes never disappear completely, but they gradually step back to let the base take control. Woody vetiver brings a dry, rooty structure that cuts down the initial juiciness. Meanwhile, a fluffy, balsamic vanilla accord swells from the base, coating the leather in a gentle, warm creaminess. The dry-down settles into an intimate mix of sweet vanilla, earthy vetiver, and lingering leather remnants.
Performance is solid, with community votes mainly divided between moderate lasting power of three to six hours and long lasting endurance of seven to twelve hours. Projection is mostly moderate to intimate, floating about an arm's length before drawing closer to the skin, though a few wearers report massive sillage if applied heavily. It performs best during spring and summer daytime settings, where mild temperatures allow the tart quince and aromatic facets to project cleanly without becoming cloying.
This fragrance suits anyone who enjoys fruity profiles with an edgy, artistic twist. Lovers of offbeat leather perfumes and tart fruit will appreciate Buxton's clever note combinations. On the other hand, shoppers looking for a simple, sugary crowd-pleaser or a traditional masculine leather fragrance should steer clear. The bitter marigold top note and animalic leather mid-stage can feel challenging for perfume beginners who expect a standard floral fruity blend.
Sleeping with Ghosts is a creative, multifaceted release that rewards patient wearers. While its polarizing opening makes it a risky blind buy, its evolution into a creamy vanilla, vetiver, and leather dry-down is remarkably satisfying. Sampling first is highly recommended to see how the quince and marigold interact with your skin chemistry.
FAQs
What does Sleeping with Ghosts smell like?+
Sleeping with Ghosts smells like tart, juicy quince fruit paired with herbal marigold, soft peony, and supple leather over creamy vanilla. The opening delivers a sweet and tangy burst contrasted by dry marigold. As it settles, fresh peony floral tones merge with gentle animalic leather before drying down into warm vanilla and earthy vetiver.
How long does Sleeping with Ghosts last?+
Sleeping with Ghosts typically lasts between 5 and 9 hours on skin. Community longevity votes are led by moderate endurance (34 votes for 3 to 6 hours) and long lasting endurance (28 votes for 7 to 12 hours). Its creamy vanilla, leather, and vetiver base notes linger longest, ensuring it carries through a normal workday.
How strong is the projection of Sleeping with Ghosts?+
Sleeping with Ghosts produces a moderate sillage that radiates about an arm's length. Community votes show 40 wearers rating projection as moderate and 30 as intimate, though 22 rate it strong. It creates a noticeable personal bubble during the opening fruit stage before settling closer to the skin during the warm vanilla dry-down.
Is Sleeping with Ghosts for men or women?+
Sleeping with Ghosts is a unisex fragrance that works well for both men and women. Community gender appeal votes lean slightly toward women or unisex, with 12 votes for unisex and 16 leaning female. The sweet quince and peony add feminine brightness, while dry marigold, vetiver, and leather provide grounding masculine contrast.
What are the main notes in Sleeping with Ghosts?+
The listed notes in Sleeping with Ghosts are quince, marigold, leather, peony, vanilla, and vetiver. Quince and marigold form the tart, herbal top layer. Leather and peony create the contrasting heart, while rich vanilla and woody vetiver establish the warm, long lasting foundation of the fragrance.
What season is Sleeping with Ghosts best for?+
Sleeping with Ghosts is best suited for spring and summer wear. Community votes heavily favor spring with 100 votes and summer with 73 votes, compared to only 23 for winter. The tart quince and fresh floral accords thrive in mild temperatures, whereas cold winter temperatures suppress its delicate fruity nuances.
How does Sleeping with Ghosts develop over time?+
Sleeping with Ghosts transitions from a tart, herbal fruit punch into a smooth, creamy leather skin scent. The opening is dominated by sharp quince and dry marigold. Within an hour, fresh peony and soft animalic leather emerge, eventually settling into a comforting base of fluffy vanilla and woody vetiver.
What perfumes are similar to Sleeping with Ghosts?+
Sleeping with Ghosts is quite distinctive, but it shares elements with Hermès Galop d'Hermès and Byredo Pulp. Galop d'Hermès pairs quince with saddlery leather and rose, though it lacks the sweet vanilla base. Byredo Pulp shares a similarly tart, punchy fruit profile, but completely omits the dry leather and marigold notes.
Is Sleeping with Ghosts a safe blind buy?+
No, Sleeping with Ghosts is not a safe blind buy due to its unusual note combinations. With 42 community dislike votes and an unconventional opening that blends bitter marigold with sweet quince, it divides opinions. Sampling a decant first is strongly recommended so you can test how the leather and fruit develop on your skin.
Can you wear Sleeping with Ghosts to work or the office?+
Yes, Sleeping with Ghosts is wearable for office and daytime professional settings if sprayed lightly. Its moderate projection keeps it polite and contained to your personal space. The clean peony and subtle leather feel refined, provided you apply only one or two sprays so the initial tartness does not overwhelm coworkers.
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Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCOREBecause Sleeping with Ghosts blends tart quince with leather and sweet vanilla, close matches are rare. Wearers often look to Hermès Galop d'Hermès for a similar dialogue between quince and luxury leather, though that scent uses rose and lacks Buxton's sweet vanilla base. Byredo Pulp provides a similarly punchy, tart fruit opening, but it leans completely toward citrus and fig without the grounded leather and vetiver foundation found here.
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