I have been a devotee of Strangelove for quite some time. Their scents are majestic, enigmatic, and seem almost timeless. I suspect this is partly because, as far as I know, they have never been absorbed into a large conglomerate. Their work still carries the depth, craft, and integrity that defined the designer fragrances I discovered as a teenager nearly forty years ago.
Much of that quality has vanished as once-great houses were gradually swallowed by large corporations, and Strangelove stands out precisely because it has refused to follow that path. I own most of the Strangelove collection, but it’s only recently that I’ve started experimenting with layering. My most successful pairing so far has been Dead of Night oil with Fall Into Stars EDP.
This pairing works because each fragrance completes what the other lacks, creating a full architectural structure instead of two overlapping scents. Dead of Night, as an oil, forms a warm, stable foundation on the skin. Its resinous oud, sandalwood, and amber unfold slowly, staying close and intimate. The oil’s low volatility prevents sharp edges and anchors the scent with a sacred, resinous depth that feels devotional and steady.
Fall Into Stars brings the opposite qualities: lift, movement, and radiance. Its volatile aromatic notes rise above the oil rather than sinking into it, creating the effect of warm resin below and incense-like brightness above. Both fragrances use a refined, polished oud profile, so they stay aligned tonally without clashing. Their contrast creates real dimension: Dead of Night is dark and contemplative, while Fall Into Stars is luminous and atmospheric.
Together, the skin’s warmth expands the oil while the alcohol-based spray projects outward, pulling the two layers into a unified aura. There are no competing citrus or sharp top notes, so the blend feels seamless and intentional. The resulting structure naturally evokes a sacred atmosphere: depth, calm, rising incense, space, and quiet intensity. In essence, the oil builds the sacred foundation, the EDP builds the church-like lift, and their ouds harmonise into a coherent, atmospheric whole.