Afnan 9PM Elixir Full Review and Comparison with Afnan Series

Afnan’s 9PM Elixir is a new unisex extrait de parfum that positions itself as an evening-ready, seductive fragrance. According to the brand, it’s “richer, deeper, and more magnetic” – a powerful scent profile “designed to last long into the night, leaving behind a trail of confidence and warmth”. In practice, the fragrance opens with bold spices and gradually settles into a warm, creamy drydown. It’s clearly crafted for impact rather than subtlety. In this review we’ll break down its notes, how it evolves on skin, its projection and longevity, and how it stacks up against other Afnan releases. We’ll also cover bottle design, pricing, and scenarios (office vs party, summer vs winter), plus tips for maximizing its performance.

Composition & Scent Notes

9PM Elixir is built around spicy, resinous, and gourmand accords. The official notes list reveals a bright, aromatic opening: top notes of nutmeg, elemi resin, and cardamom kick things off with a warm, peppery sweetness. In practice, that means the very first blast (and the first minute on skin) smells of spiced tea and holiday baking. It’s lively and slightly sweet out of the gate, not unlike some other spicy-oriental fragrances.

After a few minutes, the heart of the fragrance blooms. The key heart notes are pimento (allspice), lavandin (a camphorous lavender), and leather. The pimento adds a cassia-like cinnamon-warmth, while lavandin brings a herbal-lavender freshness (though stronger and more medicinal than typical lavender). Leather lends a suave, rich background – you can imagine it as the scent of fine black leather with a hint of smoke. At this stage, 9PM Elixir feels sophisticatedly spicy and slightly smoky, with a clear lavender undertone.

Finally, the base notes provide the lasting warmth and sweetness. The drydown anchors on rock rose (ciste), labdanum, patchouli, and vanilla. The labdanum and vanilla give it a creamy, amber-like sweetness (somewhat reminiscent of honey and candy), while patchouli adds earthiness. Cistus adds a balsamic resin note. Together, the base leaves a warm, sweet, and resinous trail. In summary, 9PM Elixir opens with zesty spices and ends on a cozy vanilla-amber finish.

Bottle and packaging: The 9PM Elixir bottle has a sleek, modern design. It’s a tall white rectangle with black edges and a glossy black spherical cap. The front label is a bold amber-orange square with “9pm” in large gold lettering. The look conveys warmth and luxury.

In fact, Afnan’s own marketing copy emphasizes the evening elegance of this scent: “9PM Elixir is the next chapter in Afnan’s iconic 9 series – a richer, deeper, and more magnetic interpretation of evening elegance”. It’s explicitly positioned for confident night-time wear: “Perfect for evenings, special occasions, or anyone who moves through the night with confidence and elegance”. The amber and black bottle hints at this nocturnal, sophisticated vibe.

Scent Evolution (Dry-Down Journey)

On skin, 9PM Elixir evolves over time as the notes unfold. In the first few minutes, you’ll notice the spicy opening most strongly – cardamom and nutmeg dominate initially. There’s also a sharp fresh note from elemi (similar to pine/lemon) and a peppery kick from the pimento (allspice) even in the top phase. This opening is often described as “sweet, spicy, fruity-ambery”. It may remind some people of other cardamom-vanilla blends (more on that later).

Within the first half hour, the spike of spice begins to soften. The lavandin-lavender warms up and the leather note becomes more evident. The fragrance then rests in the heart phase: a warm-spicy-leather accord. In this mid phase, it’s less of a sharp vanilla boozy blast and more of a rich amber-spice. The vanilla only becomes noticeable as it starts to dry down further. By 1-2 hours in, the smoky leather is more subtle and the sweet gourmand facets from labdanum and vanilla rise.

By the end of the development (3+ hours), 9PM Elixir is mostly a warm, sweet, lightly resinous scent on skin. The lavender turns almost woodsy, and the lingering spices (cardamom/pimento) are mild. What lingers the longest is the creamy vanilla-amber and a faint patchouli/rock-rose trail. Overall, it evolves from a vibrant spice-leather opening into a smooth, sweet amber-vanilla finish. One reviewer noted that while it doesn’t smell exactly like the JPG Le Male Elixir Absolu all the way through, it settles into a similar sweet-spice vibe in the drydown.

Projection and Longevity

In line with its extrait concentration, projection is initially quite strong. Wearers report a bold sillage for the first couple of hours. During this phase, people around you will definitely notice the scent without effort. However, 9PM Elixir does eventually pull back closer to skin. After ~2–3 hours the projection becomes more intimate and the scent turns into a skin-hugger.

Longevity on skin is moderate to good. In testing, I found it lasted on skin roughly 6–8 hours before fading to a soft presence. This matches community reports: one user said their bottle lasted a good 6–8 hours and still smelled on clothes the next morning. Another long-term tester noted that after the initial blast, the scent radiance drops after an hour or two, but the drydown continues as a faint scent for up to around 7–8 hours. In practical terms, expect most of the daytime to have at least some trace of fragrance, with the more distant projection waning after a few hours.

As an extrait, 9PM Elixir can be a bit overpowering if you apply too much. A little goes a long way. I recommend 2–3 spritzes to cover chest and throat, and maybe one on each wrist. The rest can be absorbed on clothing if desired (textiles will hold the scent even longer than skin). If you need a boost later in the day, a touch-up spray or reapplication can extend the life, but many users simply enjoy the quieter base. Keep in mind that performance can vary by skin chemistry and even by batch.

Performance in Different Weather

This is not a light summer scent. Its heavy spices, amber, and vanilla make it perfect for cooler weather (fall and winter). In warm or humid conditions it may feel too cloying or may not project as well (spice notes often become sharper and can turn unpleasant in heat). Many fans recommend reserving 9PM Elixir for evenings, night-outs, or colder months. In my experience, it really shines on a cool night or a cool day — it envelops you in a cozy, spicy warmth. In summer daytime heat, it’s probably too rich; if worn in summer it works best in air-conditioning or after sundown.

Bottle & Packaging Design

The bottle design is modern and upscale. It’s a tall rectangular opaque white bottle with glossy black edges, topped by a large glossy black orb cap. The front sports a geometric amber-orange panel with the bold gold “9pm” logo. Overall it looks sleek and masculine. I particularly like the contrast of the white/black glass with the warm amber label — it visually suggests the sweet-spicy contrast of the scent. The atomizer sprays a fine mist. The packaging feels high-quality; reviewers note the cap is hefty and the sprayer reliable. In short, the bottle is eye-catching and befitting a luxury fragrance.

Price and Value

As an extrait de parfum, 9PM Elixir comes in a 100 mL format at a fraction of what a designer brand might charge. For example, it’s often available around ~₹3250 INR per 100 mL, which is very budget-friendly. By comparison, Jean Paul Gaultier’s Le Male Elixir Absolu (a commonly cited analog) sells for well over ₹9900 INR. per 125ML 9PM Elixir is roughly three times cheaper than JPG’s version, yet offers a somewhat similar profile. In other words, if price is a concern, 9PM Elixir delivers “massive bang for your buck”. The juice quality feels solid; for the money, longevity and projection are quite impressive (if a bit inconsistent batch-to-batch, as some users note). Overall it’s excellent value for those who want an intense, long-lasting spicy leather scent without spending boutique prices.

Who Should Wear 9PM Elixir?

9PM Elixir is unisex in theory, but in practice it skews masculine due to its leathery and spicy facets. In one detailed review, the owner described it as “not really unisex… more of a masculine fragrance (M80/W20%) suitable for colder days”. That said, any gender that loves deep spices, vanilla, and leather can enjoy it. It tends to appeal to mature tastes — maybe late 20s and up — because of its richness and formality. Younger wearers could still rock it, but it isn’t a light crowd-pleaser; it’s bold and makes a statement.

In terms of lifestyle, 9PM Elixir suits someone confident and outgoing, who likes to stand out in the evening. It’s perfect for night owls, club-goers, and those who appreciate Middle-Eastern style gourmand-oriental scents. If you normally gravitate to fragrances like black pepper-vanilla blends or spiced oud scents, you’ll probably enjoy 9PM Elixir. It might be too much for a casual office environment (unless it’s a creative, fashion-forward setting), but it’s great for nightlife, dinners, or date nights. In summary: if you like rich, sweetly spicy fragrances and want a high-impact signature scent, 9PM Elixir is a strong match.

Comparison with Other Afnan Scents

• Afnan 9PM (Original): The original 9PM (launched 2020) is more of a bright oriental vanilla. Its opening is fruity (apple, lavender) and sweet-cinnamon, evolving to a smooth vanilla/tonka finish. In contrast, 9PM Elixir is much spicier and deeper from the outset. They share the same family name but smell quite different – Elixir is heavier, smokier, and richer, while the original is more bubblegum-like and lighter. If you know the original 9PM, think of Elixir as its darker, more masculine sibling.

• Afnan Supremacy Not Only Intense: This is a saffron-amber fragrance with berry/green top notes (bergamot, apple, black currant) and a patchouli-oakmoss base. Supremacy NOI is fruitier and more chypre-like, with a saffron/musk drydown. By comparison, 9PM Elixir has no fruitiness or oakmoss; it’s pure spice and leather. NOI projects hard and wears long (it’s also an extrait), and so does Elixir, but NOI leans sweet-cool (ambergris/musk) whereas Elixir stays warm-sweet (vanilla, amber).

• Afnan Supremacy in Oud: This unisex extrait centers on real oud (agarwood) and saffron. Its top notes are saffron, lavender, nutmeg; heart is dark oud; base is musk and patchouli. 9PM Elixir shares the saffron/nutmeg spice idea, but instead of oud it uses leather and labdanum. Both are dense and long-lasting, but in-oud is more about resinous oud and incense vibe, whereas 9PM Elixir is more gourmand (vanilla) and less “foresty”. If you’re looking for oud intensity, go In Oud. If you want a sweeter spicy leather vibe, pick Elixir.

• Afnan Turathi Series (Electric, Blue, etc.): These Turathi flankades (Blue, Electric, Brown) are mostly daytime, citrusy/ambery scents. Turathi Electric, for example, is a fresh summer blend (bergamot, grapefruit, pear, vanilla/amber base). Turathi Blue is an aquatic citrus-amber (bergamot, mandarin, amber). All Turathis are light, breezy and summery, whereas 9PM Elixir is its polar opposite – heavy, oriental, and night-ready. If you like the clean crispness of Turathi Electric, 9PM Elixir will feel much thicker and sweeter. They live on different ends of the spectrum.

Clones and Inspirations

Many fragrance fans quickly noticed that 9PM Elixir strongly resembles Jean Paul Gaultier’s Le Mâle Elixir Absolu (Parfum) – a designer scent released a few years ago. Reviewers have called 9PM Elixir a “very close and great clone” of JPG El Male Elixir Absolu. In the opening and mid phases, they share a similar sweet-vs-spice profile: cardamom, vanilla, spices, etc. The key differences are that the Afnan version is generally sweeter and “louder” (more pungent) while JPG’s original is smoother and more refined. Longevity and projection are comparable, but 9PM Elixir is far more budget-friendly.

Beyond Le Male Elixir, other references include Lattafa or Al Haramain oud/spice blends, but none are a direct match. In practice, if you’ve smelled the JPG Elixir Absolu or other cardamom-vanilla gourmands (even Memo African Leather’s leatheriness), you’ll catch familiar vibes. But 9PM Elixir stands on its own with a distinct twist of rock rose and labdanum. In summary, think “sweet spicy oriental” – it’s essentially the affordable dupe of a niche-designer blend.

Best Occasions & Tips

When to wear: 9PM Elixir is definitely an evening/date-night scent. Its warmth and sweetness feel sexy and luxurious after dark. It’s ideal for parties, clubs, romantic dinners, or formal events in fall/winter. It can also work in a cozy office if applied very sparingly, but be mindful – in tight spaces people will smell it. Daytime summer or office wear is generally not recommended, as it can be overwhelming. The brand itself markets it as “perfect for evenings, special occasions”, and that suits it well.

Season: Fall, winter, and cool spring nights. Avoid hot humid weather.

Layering/Maximizing: To make it last even longer, apply on well-moisturized skin or even a drop of unscented body oil first. Spraying on pulse points (wrists, neck, chest) is fine, but also consider a light spray on your clothing or hair – the sweet vanilla drydown clings well to fabric and can linger an extra day. Don’t rub it in (that can break down the notes); just let it air dry. A little really goes a long way, so start with 2–3 sprays. If you want even bigger projection, 9PM Elixir plays well with complementary oils (warm spices, or amber oils) on the neck or behind the ears.

Fragrance Evolution Tip: Give it at least 10–15 minutes before fully judging. The top spices are very dominant right after spraying, but they soften as it dries. Patience reveals the smoother leathery-sweet heart and base.

Where to Buy: Always purchase Afnan fragrances from trusted retailers to avoid counterfeits. FridayCharm.com is an authorized seller of Afnan perfumes on discounted price, ensuring you get the genuine 9PM Elixir parfum.

Click here to buy: Afnan 9PM Elixir Parfum

In conclusion, Afnan 9PM Elixir is a bold and addictive spicy-oriental suitable for confident wearers who love warm vanilla and leather accords. It delivers excellent value and performance for its price point, and while it may not be for everyone’s everyday use, it shines as a striking signature scent for the night. If you enjoy sweetly spicy, amber-leather perfumes and are looking for a heavy-hitting, crowd-pleasing extrait, 9PM Elixir is well worth trying.