Cognac After Midnight: First Look at M.Micallef Notorious XO by Daniela Marty

I like my boozy perfumes like I like my nightcaps, slow, warm, and just a little bit dangerous. M.Micallef Notorious XO arrives as the house’s cognac whisper, and under the hand of Daniela Marty it feels less cocktail and more cellar, the hush of oak staves and the glow of amber glass.

The opening reads like a glass just poured, volatile and luminous. There is a spirituous lift that flashes across the skin, an echo of candied citrus and peppery warmth that hints at the first inhale over a top shelf XO. It is not a sugar rush, it is the shimmer of alcohol rising, that soft prickle you feel before the first sip.

Give it a minute and the heart slides into plush territory. Think polished wood and dried fruits, the roundness of prune and raisin softened by honeyed resins. A suggestion of leather comes through, smooth and glove like, more opera balcony than biker jacket. The booze never disappears, it just melts into the grain of the wood, like cognac absorbed by an old cask. If you expect a bakery, you will be disappointed. This is an amber gourmand for people who prefer velvet to frosting.

The base holds its line with warm woods, a balsamic glow, and a dusting of bitter cocoa that keeps the sweetness grown. The finish feels unhurried, a slow fade that leaves a soft, cashmere trail and a memory of the glass you set down an hour ago. On skin, Notorious XO reads intimate at first then opens, the kind of sillage that turns heads without shouting.

Wear it when the lights are low and the dress code is simple, dark fabric and a good mood. It leans evening, yet it is quietly confident in daytime if you like your perfume to purr rather than roar. If you think boozy fragrances are all dessert carts, prepare to recalibrate.

As a 2025 chapter for M. Micallef, Notorious XO feels aptly named. It is sultry without stickiness, refined without boredom, and just naughty enough to keep you reaching for the bottle when the clock says you should head home.