SaffronOpens with
GrapefruitHeart
Agarwood (Oud)Dries down to
Olivier PescheuxThe nose · 82 fragrances · also made Herod (2012)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Ex Nihilo · Sold as unisex
Midnight Special
A dimly lit bar at midnight, where the scent of warm spices and dark woods lingers in the air, mingling with the soft hum of conversation.
Full bottle: Luxury tier, typically $250+. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
Midnight SpecialLuxury · $250+
52%Similar accords, often for lessDandy Me · RabanneMid-range tier, $40–100 · shares 5 of its 8 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
TopOpening
HeartThe Soul
BaseFoundation
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
The story behind the bottle.
Midnight Special by Ex Nihilo was launched in 2017 and is an Oriental Woody fragrance for both women and men, created by perfumer Olivier Pescheux. This composition opens with a striking combination of saffron, cinnamon, black pepper, and grapefruit, creating a warm spicy and fresh spicy tension that cuts through sweetness with sharp precision. The heart notes, featuring Turkish rose and vanilla, add depth and warmth, while the base of oud, patchouli, and leather provides an earthy, smoky finish.
Midnight Special projects best when applied to pulse points. The spicy top notes are fleeting but impactful, so layering a bit more on your wrists and neck will ensure they catch the attention. Let it settle for an hour before stepping out to fully appreciate its smoky base.
Fig. 01 — Midnight Special, Ex Nihilo
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
A decant costs a fraction of a bottle and tells you how it lasts on your skin.
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Olivier Pescheux
East meets WestOlivier Pescheux is a master perfumer at Givaudan whose work draws deeply from his extensive travels through the Middle East and Asia.
“The idea behind Eau Capitale was to illustrate the perfect perfume for a Parisien/Parisienne: chic and elegant, but also sensual and sexy, ready for a date at any time.”
Olivier Pescheux · fragroom, March 2020
Designer Ex Nihilo
More from the house · France
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Chosen from what wearers say it smells like, what its fans also love, and its notes
Love it, not the $250+ price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalMidnight SpecialEx Nihilo · Luxury · $250+Rabanne · 2021Dandy MeShares 5 of its 8 notes$40–100★ 3.69 (77)49%Match
Salvatore Ferragamo · 2017Emozione Rosa OrientaleShares 5 of its 9 notes$40–100★ 4.26 (38)50%Match
Lattafa PerfumesOud Al MamlikahShares 5 of its 9 notesunder $40★ 3.70 (23)
With Pierre Guillaume Paris Coze 02
Adds woody, patchouli and cannabis; shares patchouli.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Well loved by wearers: loved by 45%, disliked or hated by 12%.