Midnight Shimmer

Midnight Shimmer, inspired by Michael Kors Midnight Shimmer (2016)

Midnight Shimmer starts on quince, a fruit with an apple-and-pear perfume, set among jasmine and freesia. The flowers settle quickly into vanilla, which becomes the main thread. Blond woods and amberwood (a dry, woody amber material) give that vanilla structure so it never feels like a pastry note. Peru balsam, a resin with a cinnamon-vanilla tone, joins moss and musk at the end for a rich but smooth finish.

About the original

Michael Kors introduced Midnight Shimmer as a women's eau de parfum in 2016, presenting it as a sparkling scent for a glamorous night out. Launch material named soft musk, jasmine petals and vanilla and described the result as rich and woody. It was the first of the brand's Shimmer editions, followed by Twilight Shimmer in 2018, Starlight Shimmer in 2019 and Mystique Shimmer in 2020. Each of those is a different fragrance. Michael Kors no longer lists it among its current fragrances.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Michael Kors stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Michael Kors pitched it at evenings out, and one retailer places it in autumn and winter. The vanilla and amber make it noticeably sweet, though the woods stop it from turning sugary. Lovers of fresh, green florals may find it too dense.

Related scents

• Michael Kors Twilight Shimmer
• Michael Kors Sexy Amber
• Michael Kors 24K Brilliant Gold

Notes of the original fragrance, as listed in fragrance references.

Top notes: Quince, Jasmine, Freesia

Heart notes: Vanilla, Blond Woods, Amberwood

Base notes: Peru Balsam, Moss, Musk

Quince opens with a fragrant, slightly tart fruitiness, carried on jasmine and the clean, peppery lift of freesia.

Vanilla moves to the centre, wrapped in blond woods and amberwood so it reads as polished rather than edible.

The drydown brings Peru balsam, moss and musk, resinous and warm with a slightly earthy undertone.

Is Michael Kors Midnight Shimmer discontinued?

It no longer appears in Michael Kors' current fragrance range, and several retailers show it as unavailable. We have not seen an official statement from the brand.

Is this Midnight Shimmer or Twilight Shimmer?

Midnight Shimmer, the 2016 original of the series. Twilight Shimmer (2018) is a separate scent, which we also make.

How sweet is Midnight Shimmer?

Fairly sweet. Vanilla and amber lead the heart, balanced by blond woods and a mossy, musky base.

Is Michael Kors Midnight Shimmer coming back?

So far, we have found no announcement from Michael Kors that it will return. Our version is an eau de parfum in 50 ml or 100 ml.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Michael Kors and Midnight Shimmer are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Michael Kors in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.