First Impressions
The first spray of More Sex is a declaration, not a whisper. Black pepper crackles against your skin with the sharp bite of juniper berries, creating an opening that feels less like a traditional feminine fragrance and more like stepping into a dimly lit lounge where confidence is the dress code. There's an immediate edginess here—this isn't the kind of perfume that apologizes for taking up space. Within moments, the spice gives way to something deeper and more provocative: a wave of leather that announces itself with complete certainty. Charlotte Tilbury's 2024 release doesn't ease you into its world; it pulls you in with both hands.
The name feels almost redundant once you experience the scent. This is olfactory seduction rendered literal, a fragrance that wears its intentions on its sleeve—or rather, on your pulse points.
The Scent Profile
The opening act of black pepper and juniper berries is brief but essential, providing a fresh, spicy jolt that prevents the fragrance from feeling heavy-handed from the start. These top notes serve as the spark before the flame, lasting just long enough to intrigue before dissolving into the heart.
It's in the middle phase where More Sex reveals its true character. Leather dominates—and when we say dominates, we mean it claims a full 100% presence in the accord breakdown. This isn't the soft, suede-like leather of polite fragrances; it's assertive, slightly animalic, with a texture you can almost feel. Musk weaves through it at 86% intensity, adding warmth and skin-like intimacy, while ambroxan and aldron (a synthetic musk compound) contribute a modern, slightly salty-woody dimension that keeps the composition from feeling vintage or costumey.
The interplay between these elements creates something intriguingly complex: the leather provides structure and drama, the musks add sensuality, and those modern molecules give it an contemporary edge that distinguishes it from classic leather fragrances. There's an animalic quality (60%) that adds a whisper of wildness without crossing into challenging territory.
As More Sex settles into its base, sandalwood and amberwood join the persistent musk accord, softening the edges while maintaining the woody backbone (66% accord strength). The amber notes (57%) provide a resinous warmth that becomes more apparent hours into wear. This is a fragrance with impressive tenacity—the musky, woody leather impression lingers on skin and fabric long after application, creating that signature scent trail that turns heads.
Character & Occasion
The community has spoken clearly about when More Sex shines: this is emphatically a cold-weather, after-dark fragrance. With 92% fall suitability and 89% winter approval, it's designed for seasons when the air has bite and you're layered in textures—leather jackets, wool coats, cashmere scarves. The fragrance feels out of step with summer heat (only 11% approval) and only marginally appropriate for spring (18%).
More significantly, the day versus night breakdown tells you everything about this perfume's personality: 22% day, 100% night. This isn't a boardroom scent or a brunch fragrance. More Sex comes alive when the sun goes down, in settings where mood lighting and close conversation are the norm. Date nights, gallery openings, cocktail hours, late dinners—these are its natural habitats.
Who is this for? Someone who appreciates bold, unapologetic fragrances. Someone comfortable with a scent that announces rather than suggests. While marketed as feminine, the heavy leather and musk profile could easily appeal to those who prefer traditionally masculine or unisex compositions. This requires confidence to wear; it's not a safe choice, and that's precisely the point.
Community Verdict
With a rating of 3.02 out of 5 based on 685 votes, More Sex sits in interesting territory. This isn't a universally beloved crowd-pleaser, and that moderate rating likely reflects its polarizing nature. Leather-dominant fragrances tend to inspire strong reactions—people either embrace the intensity or find it overwhelming. The substantial number of votes suggests genuine interest and discussion around the fragrance, even if consensus hasn't crowned it a masterpiece.
For those who connect with its bold character, this is likely a much higher-rated fragrance. For those expecting something softer or more conventionally pretty from a Charlotte Tilbury product, the disappointment would be understandable. The rating suggests a fragrance worth exploring with realistic expectations about its intensity.
How It Compares
The similar fragrances list offers interesting context. Comparisons to Baccarat Rouge 540 likely stem from the ambroxan usage and modern construction, though More Sex skews significantly darker and more leather-focused. Not A Perfume by Juliette Has A Gun shares the ambroxan-centered approach but with minimalist restraint that More Sex doesn't attempt. By the Fireplace makes sense as a comparison point for the warm, enveloping quality, though it leans sweeter and smokier.
Within Charlotte Tilbury's own line, Love Frequency appears as a sister scent, suggesting a house style centered on modern musks and bold construction. The Kayali Vanilla | 28 reference is perhaps the most surprising, indicating that despite More Sex's leather dominance, there may be a creamy, sweet-adjacent quality some noses detect.
Where More Sex distinguishes itself is in its unflinching commitment to leather as the starring accord. While many fragrances feature leather as a supporting player, few contemporary feminine releases make it the overwhelming focus.
The Bottom Line
More Sex is a fragrance that delivers on its provocative promise—for better or worse, depending on your tolerance for olfactory boldness. The 3.02 rating reflects its niche appeal rather than any technical failure. This is a well-constructed, tenacious fragrance that knows exactly what it wants to be and executes that vision with commitment.
Should you try it? Absolutely, if you're drawn to leather fragrances, appreciate musky compositions, or want something that defies traditional feminine fragrance conventions. Sample first—this isn't a blind-buy candidate unless you're already confident in your love for dominant leather accords. For cold evenings when you want to make an impression, More Sex could become your signature power move. Just know that subtlety isn't part of the equation.
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