The Irreverents by Ex Nihilo - Review

What’s good brotherhood?!

I’ll tell you what’s good… The Irreverents by Ex Nihilo.

I recently had the opportunity to get my hands on a few decants from the house, and today I’m testing out this rather pricey beauty. The Irreverents wich is an exclusive release to Harrods was launched in the COVID-rich year of 2020 so I imagine someone was filling their time wisely by crafting a fragrance.

This is my first experience with Ex Nihilo, so I went in with zero expectations. Consider this a newbie’s perspective, and I’m genuinely curious to hear what more experienced wearers think.

I started off bold with eight sprays, one on the top of each hand, one on the back of the neck, one on each shoulder under the shirt, one on each arm, and one on the center chest. My immediate impression was just how smooth this fragrance is, no harsh alcohol blast whatsoever. It applies silky and refined, and you can feel the quality right from the jump.

The opening delivers a powdery saffron and jasmine combo wrapped in a creamy tonka bean bubble, with a subtle brightness of pink pepper that really caught my attention. That said, I initially thought I might’ve under sprayed because it wasn’t projecting much or pumping off my skin, but I decided to give it time.

Just past the two-hour mark, the scent sat very close to the skin but remained consistent. It turned warm and spicy, with a smooth vanilla presence, while tonka bean took center stage anchoring the base. I’d catch gentle wafts as I moved around at my desk but it wasn’t loud, just a pleasant reminder it was there.

By five hours, it was still present but required intentional sniffing at the application points. Tonka and vanilla continued to dominate, creating a smooth, creamy, clean scent profile that I really was digging. At the eight-hour mark, it was still lingering faintly on my skin, and even then, the quality was undeniable.

Overall, I really like this one. I’m impressed by how consistently it clings to the skin. It’s smooth, warm, buttery, slightly powdery, and very well-blended. This is an intimate fragrance perfect for a date in close quarters or even a formal office setting. Longevity easily clears eight hours, with the first three offering a soft sillage in the 1–2 foot range.

That said, I personally don’t have many occasions where I’d reach for this, and at its retail price, it’s a little too rich for my blood. Now… if someone wanted to sell me a bottle for $150, I’d grab it without hesitation.

So let me ask the Brotherhood:

What’s been your experience with the Ex Nihilo house?

Do they generally specialize in close-sitting fragrances?

And do you feel the price point is truly justified?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Have a smeltastic day, everyone! Let’s keep smiling! 😁

Top: Saffron, Pink Pepper

Mid: Caramel, Jasmine

Base: Vanilla, Tonka Bean and Ambergris

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