By Kilian Kissing Burns 6.4 Calories A Minute Wanna Workout Review: A Sweet, Playful Gourmand
Is this provocative, dessert-like fragrance worth the calories? We break down the performance, price, and personality of Kilian's playful scent.
Launched in 2017, By Kilian's 'Kissing Burns 6.4 Calories A Minute Wanna Workout?' is a fragrance that demands attention before you even smell it. The name itself, a playful and provocative statement, sets the tone for a scent that is unapologetically fun, sweet, and flirtatious. It arrived as part of Kilian Hennessy's 'The Liquors' collection, a line that reimagines classic cocktail and dessert inspirations as wearable perfumes. This particular scent sits firmly in the gourmand category, designed to evoke the sensation of a decadent, calorie-rich dessert rather than a traditional perfume.
In the broader By Kilian lineup, 'Kissing Burns' (often shortened by fans) occupies a unique space. While the brand is renowned for its dark, opulent, and often sensual creations like 'Black Phantom' and 'Angels' Share', this fragrance leans into pure, sugary delight. Its market positioning is for the individual who doesn't take fragrance too seriously and embraces a sense of humor and indulgence. It's a counterpoint to the brand's more solemn and complex offerings, proving that luxury can also be playful.
The inspiration is directly culinary: a whipped cream-topped dessert with a hint of boozy sophistication. The concept is to smell delicious, edible, and inviting. It's the olfactory equivalent of wearing your dessert, a scent that promises sweetness and comfort. Kilian Hennessy has often spoken about creating fragrances that tell stories and evoke emotions, and this one tells a story of a cheeky, joyful indulgence.
Within the fragrance community, 'Kissing Burns' has a dedicated, if niche, following. It's often praised for its realistic and delightful gourmand character but can be polarizing due to its extreme sweetness. It's not a crowd-pleaser in the traditional sense but a signature scent for gourmand lovers. Its reputation is that of a high-quality, well-crafted scent that is best used sparingly and for specific occasions. It has become a cult favorite for those seeking a pure, unadulterated sweet fragrance from a luxury house, often cited as one of the best 'true gourmands' available.
The Nose Behind the Scent
Calice Becker. A legendary perfumer and Vice President of Perfumery at Givaudan, Becker is renowned for her iconic creations like Tom Ford's 'Black Orchid', By Kilian's 'Good Girl Gone Bad', and 'Flowerbomb' for Viktor&Rolf. Her expertise in crafting complex, emotive, and often bold feminine fragrances is evident in the balanced sweetness of 'Kissing Burns'.
Accords
Notes Pyramid
Scent Journey
The fragrance opens with an immediate, photorealistic burst of pure cane sugar, like the top of a crème brûlée. A faint, bright flicker of bergamot provides a subtle citrus lift that prevents the sweetness from being cloying. It's a direct, mouth-watering, and surprisingly airy sweet introduction.
Within the first hour, the heart of the fragrance emerges: rich, airy whipped cream. The vanilla note becomes more pronounced, blending with the cream to create a smooth, dessert-like accord. The sugary top note integrates, becoming less sharp and more blended into the creamy heart. This is the signature phase—a warm, comforting, and edible cloud.
After several hours, the drydown reveals a soft, skin-scent foundation. The sweet and creamy notes remain but are significantly tempered by a clean, creamy sandalwood and a soft, white musk. It becomes a gentle, powdery, and slightly woody vanilla-sugar scent that lingers close to the skin, offering a comforting and intimate finish.
Performance Dashboard
Lasts a solid 8-9 hours on skin. The strong opening persists for 2-3 hours before transitioning to a softer, skin-scent drydown that remains detectable for the remainder of its wear.
Projects moderately for the first 2-3 hours, creating a noticeable sweet bubble around the wearer of about an arm's length. It then settles into a more intimate aura.
Leaves a light to moderate trail, especially in the first few hours. It's not a room-filling scent but will be noticed by those who come close.
When to Wear
Community Verdict
Receives frequent compliments, especially in close quarters or cool settings. People often comment on how 'delicious' or 'yummy' the wearer smells. It's a scent that invites comment due to its distinctive character.
Pros & Cons
- ✅ Incredibly realistic and delightful gourmand accord
- ✅ High-quality ingredients with no synthetic aftertaste
- ✅ Good longevity for a sweet fragrance
- ✅ Unique and memorable scent profile in the luxury space
- ✅ Beautiful, collectible bottle and presentation
- ❌ Can be too sweet and cloying for some tastes
- ❌ Limited versatility; not suitable for all occasions or seasons
- ❌ Very high price point for a novelty-style scent
- ❌ Sillage and projection are moderate, not beast-mode
Price & Value
“The price is steep and is a significant investment for a scent with a specific profile. It's worth it only for true gourmand enthusiasts and Kilian collectors who value the brand's artistry and presentation. For the casual buyer, the value proposition is low.”
📜 Reformulation History
No significant, widely reported batch variations or reformulations have been noted for this fragrance since its 2017 launch. Consistency appears to be maintained.
Who It's For
✅ Ideal For
- Women and men (unisex) who love sweet, gourmand fragrances
- Individuals with a playful, confident personality
- Those aged 25-45 seeking a unique, non-traditional scent
- Fragrance collectors looking for a standout gourmand
⚠️ Not Recommended For
- People who dislike sweet or foodie scents
- Those seeking a fresh, clean, or woody fragrance
- Office environments where subtlety is key
- Very hot and humid climates
Explore More
🔍 Similar Fragrances
Shares a dominant cotton candy and burnt sugar sweetness, though Pink Sugar is more candied and less creamy.
Another Kilian gourmand with a marshmallow and orange blossom sweetness, though it's more floral and powdery.
A vanilla and cocoa-heavy gourmand with a similar dessert-like, comforting vibe at a lower price point.
A citrus caramel gourmand that, while different, occupies the same luxurious, edible fragrance space.
💡 Clone Alternatives
A popular clone house offering a interpretation of the sweet, creamy gourmand profile at a fraction of the cost.
The 'Cheirosa 71' body mist offers a similar sweet, gourmand, dessert-like aroma for a very budget-friendly price, though it's a mist, not a perfume.
❤️ You May Also Enjoy
For those who enjoy the comforting, vanilla-heavy drydown of Kilian but want something deeper and more sensual.
A bold, fruity-berry scent that shares Kilian's playful and attention-grabbing DNA, though in a different direction.
Offers a sophisticated vanilla and lavender blend for those who like the sweetness of 'Kissing Burns' but desire more elegance and versatility.
More from By Kilian
🧪 Layering Ideas
- A clean, white musk fragrance to add depth and soften the sweetness
- A citrus-forward cologne (like Atelier Cologne's Orange Sanguine) to brighten the top notes
- A woody scent like Santal 33 to ground the creamy sweetness with an earthy base
🏆 Final Verdict
By Kilian's Kissing Burns 6.4 Calories A Minute Wanna Workout? is not a fragrance for the faint of heart or the minimalist. It is a statement piece, a wearable dessert, and a testament to the joy of indulgence. You should buy it if you are a dedicated gourmand lover who has been searching for a high-quality, realistic sweet scent and money is no object. The craftsmanship from perfumer Calice Becker is impeccable, transforming simple notes of sugar and cream into a surprisingly wearable and long-lasting fragrance.
It excels as a mood-lifter and a scent for creating intimate, cozy memories. However, approach with caution. Its very specific character means it won't be your daily driver. It's a fragrance for cool evenings, festive occasions, and moments when you want to smell uniquely delightful. If your fragrance wardrobe needs a shot of pure, unadulterated sweetness and you appreciate Kilian's luxurious aesthetic, this is a worthy, if expensive, addition. Just remember: a little goes a very long way.