The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Kevin Schepis builds each fragrance around a concept instead of a composition, names that arrive like film titles, already carrying a story. Vampire Blood is the house's take on gothic desire: red fruit as the opening act, white florals as the lush, theatrical heart, vanilla and vetiver as the grounding finale. Released in 2023 as part of a catalog that includes Drakula, The Sinner, and From Hell, it fits squarely into the brand's dark romantic universe.
The structure is unusual. Pomegranate opens sharp and sour, not sweet fruit, but the kind with bite, before gardenia and jasmine take over and completely transform the composition. Those white florals can be overwhelming on their own, but here they're held in check by vetiver's dry, almost smoky earthiness. Vanilla adds warmth without making it dessert-sweet. It's a fragrance that refuses to choose sides.
The evolution
The opening doesn't retreat. It transforms. Pomegranate's tartness shifts into something warmer as the florals expand, gardenia and jasmine taking up space, creamy and insistent through the first hour. If you're sensitive to white florals, this is where Vampire Blood becomes a commitment. By hour two, vetiver arrives quietly, its dry green line pulling the composition back from pure sweetness. Vanilla threads through in soft warmth. The drydown settles into something quieter, vetiver's dry green and vanilla's warmth staying close to the skin, intimate and persistent. Vampire Blood earns its name in the final act. Lasts well past midnight on most skin types, and lingers on fabric into the next day.
Cultural impact
Kevin Schepis occupies a specific corner of the indie fragrance world, one built on gothic narrative rather than classical perfumery tradition. Vampire Blood has found its audience among wearers who want drama, not discretion. The house's catalog includes similarly themed releases like Drakula, The Sinner, and From Hell, each positioning the wearer within a specific atmospheric universe. Community discussions highlight the thematic coherence between the brand's visual identity and its scent profiles, fragrances that feel like stories rather than signatures. Reviews note above-average projection for the price point, making it a talked-about entry in the niche gothic market.
