The Big Smoke

This is my first try of 4160 Tuesdays The Big Smoke, a dry smoky woody resinous blend that is big in terms of smoothness and well-blendedness but not overly loud or spicy or ashy. I get a bit more patchouli and birch and vetiver in the opening and more pure labdanum and frankincense in the dry down, but there are traces of all of these key notes throughout, with a sort of general muskiness during its lifespan, also. I instantly love it as a great option for cooler weather, especially, that is nonetheless not overwrought to the point of being unwearable on a mild summer evening, even. For those that like layering, I could see this being layered with a diverse array of floral, fruity, sweet, etc. fragrances, as Sarah herself suggested layering it with the rosy chypre Court of Ravens, for example, which I wore for the first time yesterday. The Big Smoke is sold via the UK house site and US retailers like Perfumology and Olfactif, in EDP concentration, priced at $190/130 for 100/50ml, and it performs quite well. I’d certainly recommend that everyone check this out, as I could see it working well for just about anyone. 8 out of 10

4160 Tuesdays sent me a sample of this along with an order of A Flame In Your Heart. The first time I tried it, it seemed a masculine scent and quite challenging. The more I tried it, the more I liked it and I'm now on my second bottle. It took me some time to "read" this scent and follow it through its evolutions over time. At first the wood and smoke overwhelmed the other notes. As I've got to know it, I can enjoy more of its facets such as the incense in the base. There's also a very subtle medicinal note early on that I really enjoy - it's almost like Germolene. Don't be put off by this; it's far from the most prominent note. I can't think of any other perfume quite like this. The sillage and longevity are both moderate. Even sprayed generously, people will need to be close to you to enjoy it. I have tried it layered with Tempest Rose, another 4160 Tuesdays perfume, and the floral notes blended beautifully with it but i I prefer it standing alone. I have marked this as good value because although it isn't cheap, it smells expensive. I would guess the ingredients are of a high quality. I am fickle when it comes to perfume. There are so many divine scents in the world that sticking to one signature perfume is a tragic waste, but I have been wearing The Big Smoke a lot. There's something about it that I find quite addictive.