Burning Leaves

I too, grew up in "The Woods"...and this scent is the smell of fall; warm, comforting and very natural smelling. This is the first CB I Hate Perfume scent I have tried, and if they are all this well done, I am going to have to start collecting them all! Having only two notes (smoke, maple leaves), this scent is pretty much what the name promises. It is smoky; but nowhere near as smoky as "cumming" by Alan Cumming. There is a sweet mapley spiciness here, just like the fallen leaves of the sugar maple itself, along with a very comforting "fireside" feeling. Subtle woody notes give the "dry leaf" and "smoky" accords some depth. BL is not "stinky" smoky but more like the scent of an actual campfire (warmth, burning wood, and some smoke). This does really remind me of camping out in the forest, in the warmer early days of Autumn, more than anything else. Therefore, it is truly a comfort scent for me. The perfumed oil is divine! (Thanks, Pitbull Friend!) It's thick and full but not overly powerful. It lasts a good long time, as well. I applied some last night before bed...and this morning it was still on my skin (faintly) 8 hours later; so I am wearing it again today! Great for something to warm up a cool rainy spring day...without heavy spices or too much sweetness. Sillage: closer Longevity: very good Overall: 3.75/5 Coming from a House called I Hate Perfume; I was skeptical to say the very least, but the Nose who started this company is truly amazing...and I am intruiged to try more of them very, very soon. This is definitely a linear scent, but one that is quite different and truly amazing in how it catches exactly what it says it is: Burning Leaves! Kudos...

A heartbreaker (in water perfume form) for me. On the positive side, because it's the wonderful, spirit-lifting, nose-opening, adenoid-tickling smell of real burning leaves, a bonfire of carefully-curated hand-gathered leaves from only the classiest trees. I definitely don't get any meat, barbecue, leather, spices or anything else but woody smoke out of this - and that's just fine. It is a delicious conflagration, among the very finest of the "pyre perfumes" I'm always seeking out (current favourites: Perfumer H Charcoal, Imaginary Authors' City on Fire). But on the negative side: like an ill-constructed campfire, it peters out all too soon and leaves little of note behind it. On me this was imperceptible within less than 3hrs, which was unexpected for something with such a clear and apparently confident identity. So: thank you, Ferminadaza - now I know that I love how this smells, but not the price point it sells at, it's over to straight Bonfire from now on!

Love this scent so much I created a profile to write a review! I’ve worn it nearly every day for years, often as a base under other fragrances (CB At The Beach 1969 or molecule 01, for instance). I have the roll on absolute, and have gone through several bottles. It’s not only one of my favorite fragrances, it’s one of my favorite smells, period. Smokey, earthy, natural, warm, comforting, and just a bit sweet. It brings a lovely sensory memory for me of raking (and sometimes burning) fall leaves as a kid. Or if you’ve ever burnt a maple leaf with a magnifying glass in the sun, this is that smell. It’s not a traditional perfume- it stays close to the skin and doesn’t last more than a few hours. This is a smell for you and maybe someone that hugs you. It is a work of art.

This is burning leaves, but it so gracefully done and I am fine with it being a bit short lived on my skin. I wore this last fall and loved it, and found it sticks around on my sweater more. I spray it on when I am in the mood for that cozy autumn hygge vibe. After being disappointed with Replica/By The Fireplace, this one was the right fit for me. It's what it says it is (that autumn burning leaf pile smell) - but gracefully done. CB is not for the usual perfume fan. I find these perfumes to be more like art installations. I love them. PS I have Demeter's Bonfire like a previous reviewer mentioned and I saw zero similarity. Bonfire was harsh and synthetic (Demeter doesn't pretend otherwise) but CBihp's Burning Leaves is more subtle and...better.

This is the definitive autumn scent for me - This scent is cozy, close and skin-friendly. Smoky like actual lovely leaves burning. A slight sweet edge, like actual spiced things in the oven. Another reviewer used the term "photo realistic" and I think that is spot on - but you aren't next to a bonfire, here, you are on a hike passing buy a maple farm as they burn their fallen leaves and trimmed branches in the mid-distance. The air is still fresh - just sweet from the smoke. If you don't like "perfumey" scents, this maker is for you!

Name of the fragrance sums up what you are going to get quite nicely - the smell of burning leaves. Imagine walking through a path in Autumn, dead leaves on the ground with more falling through the air, while someone is getting a BBQ ready nearby. That's what I get throughout the life of the fragrance. I wish it lasted longer, but this is one of about three fragrances that is truly, "Fall in a bottle" for me. Tough to wear everyday or in a work setting, but for those cool Fall days, this is wonderful.

having grown up in the woods.. this is a very reminiscent and nostalgic scent for me. It definitely smells of bonfires, like walking on the trails on a damp fall morning... and the scent that is left on your hands after playing all day climbing trees and digging through piles of leaves. Love it. On my skin it feels romantic as if I am a candle flame, carefully burning papers in a dark room.

As a California native, I don't think I've ever actually smelled burnt leaves, but I love this scent none the less. It's sweet and a little complex. I don't get any fake smoke or sausage smell from it. It is very simple, though, so I like to layer it with a dark musk to make it last longer.

I've tested it, it's pure magic, just a portal into the golden autumn. Mabon's time ;) And i feel this perfume to remind real burning leaves. The only disadvantage is an oily texture of aromatic liquid, so you should be careful with you clothes while spraying this perfume.

Truly an autumn scent for me: dried fruits: raisins, prunes and dried apples. Also some fallen leaves (but freshly fallen ones))) with a bit of wet wood and some smokiness. Beautiful! Follow me on IG: scent.guide

love this layered with cb's under the arbor as daily scent. will sometimes add in the library too for evening.

I’d been eager to get my hands on this fragrance for some time, and recently managed to obtain a partial bottle. This is a rather vivid approximation of the smell of burning maple leaves mixing with cool, dry air. But if “Burning Leaves” gets top marks for authenticity and uniqueness, it ultimately disappoints due to its poor performance and limited range. As a native of the upper Midwest, I’ve always been enchanted by the smell of bonfires and other rites of autumn. Maples and oaks were plentiful in the areas around my childhood home, and fall was always punctuated by the aroma of family and neighbors burning leaves that would otherwise coat the yards, sidewalks, and streets. That smoky, slightly sweet scent of twigs and leaves smoldering in backyards and fire pits was unmistakable – and Chris Brosius has done an admirable job of recreating it. The overall effect is so novel that it’s difficult to discern the components at work. You get the smell of liquid smoke and an earthiness that recalls damp forest undergrowth. There is a very slight sweetness to the fragrance - a clever nod to the sap/syrup that is also associated with northern Maple trees. But when to wear this fragrance? It probably goes without saying that this is a fall scent, but likely makes little sense throughout the other seasons. Moreover, this is most appropriate for weekends and holidays. You might catch a few sideways glances if you wear this one to the office.... More likely – no one will notice. Sadly, “Burning Leaves” has very limited projection and poor longevity. I’m referring to the water perfume and not the absolute. I’ve now tried several of the CB water perfumes, and all seem to have underwhelming performance. As much as I admire Chris Brosius and several of the avant-garde perfumes he has created, the fragrances just don’t have any tenacity. If I could get more than 2-3 hours out of this one, I’d purchase a full bottle. Still, I’m glad to have about 30 ml of "Burning Leaves" – it really does conjure the nostalgia of an October bonfire with family and friends.

I have to say it's not what I expected. It does smell like a campfire and a sweet one at that. But somehow, I was under the impression that it would smell more smoky -in a tobacco or incense way- and a little more spicy. It's very flat on me. It's not bad, but it's a little bit weird to wear. All in all, I liked In the Library much better. Lasting power for the water is not that bad; around 4 hours. But I realized that the spray is not the one found usually in perfume bottles: this is the kind met in body mists and this is obviously meant to be used as such. No spraying behind the ear with this one, since your whole hair/face will get wet. I think I'll go for the absolute next time. Update: After wearing it a couple of weeks, I'm liking this more and more. It is in essence a body mist; I just didn't expect that at first and was surprised. But now I'm used to it and really, really like it. I love how my skin smells for hours after this, I like the warm, snuggly feeling I get of it, I love how long it lasts on my skin -with no sillage but still that special someone can smell it- and how wearable this is even in the heat. There are not many sweet perfumes I can wear during the hot Greek summer but this one fits like a charm! Update 2: My husband told me I smelled like a chain smoker yesterday after I put it on and asked me never to wear it in his presence again:( He claims it smells exactly like cigarette smoke; not the effect I was looking for obviously.

CB I Hate Perfume Burning Leaves is only perhaps the third of the line that I've tested on skin and it does not disappoint in terms of scent but has the characteristic performance issues of the line. I don't get much sweetness (so no maple itself) but some green notes, some resin/amber, some smoke, and some spicy pepper. There's not much evolution to it. It is a semi-dark, smoky, spicy mix that strikes me mostly as a slightly weaker version of A City on Fire by Imaginary Authors, and this a compliment, given how much I like the IA scent a lot. However, it puts the cost perspective, and while it's certainly nice that Burning Leaves (at $100 for 100ml) is cheaper than, say, 7 Billion Hearts (at $265 for 100ml) perhaps simply due to the fact that the latter is newer, I might still stick with the much stronger A City on Fire at twice the price but twice the potency (ACOF is now $95 for 50ml). 7 out of 10

A little alarming at first--fire alarming! Intense smoke and ashes is what I get on opening of the Absolute. But then somehow the ashes seem to fall into a harmonious step and begin to dance as the smoke spirals... and spirals... and spirals. Hypnotic, narcotic with an earthy, sweet undertone--rich cured maplewood. I feel like I'm laying prone on a luxurious, heavy, hand carved wood floor in a gothic, incensed church, inhaling deeply the dark, woody sweetness. As Burning Leaves continues to develop, I detect a little clove or something subtley spicy with a tobacco undertone and am reminded of burning Gudang Guram (an Indonesian clove cigarette). Comforting and sensual, although I'm not sure where and when would be an appropriate place and time to wear Burning Leaves. Perhaps one to indulge in when alone, at home when it's raining outside.

If I hadn't smelled (and fallen in love with) CB's Fire From Heaven before I tried out Burning Leaves, I think I'd have been more impressed with it. Which isn't to say I was not impressed, because I was. This is burning maple leaves - for sure - with all the wonder and fury of a fall bonfire. Much respect for this stuff! That said, I think with Fire From Heaven CB was able to take this concept to another level, with far more complexity and richness in it. I consider Burning Leaves to be a truly impressive representation of a specific time/emotion/activity. I consider Fire From Heaven to be an exceptional perfume. YMMV, of course! UPDATE: Mix equal parts of Burning Leaves and Wild Hunt on your bod. FANTASTIC!

Where's the fire? I like this but I was expecting a more intense fragrance. This is a very watered down sort of Encens Flamboyant to my nose. As a big Type O Negative fan, I wanted to try this and was hoping to be blown away. Don't get me wrong, this is a very nice burning leaves' scent, but it is very gentle and mild, the remnants of a forest fire the morning after, not the intense scent of burning leaves on a cold night in a forest that I was hoping for. I'm going to have to try the Sonoma as their 'fumes are pure essential oils and I suspect it would be a truer rendition of the vivd image I have in my head of crisp yellow and orange autumnal leaves burning on a chilly night.

Ok. This does not smell like burning leaves. It smells more like a leather jacket after a night with loads of booze, smoking and standing in front of the fire, cooking meat, potatoes and so on. This is the scent that reminds me of summer morning, I wake up in a tent with some random people, I have terrible headache, all my clothes smell like campfire and tobacoe. This is the smell of hangover and shame. P.S. I'm not saying I don't like it, so we are clear.

I'm a fan of these sorts of isolated scents. Burning leaves is nice, but less burning leaves and more burning things in general, there is especially a meaty scent to this. Reminds me of the liquid smoke you can add to your cooking when you can't go out and BBQ. Nice for layering, but thanks for the heads up Ferminadaza! I had no idea about him being the co-founder of Demeter, but doesn't that make a whole lot of sense now. I think that's sound advice.

Bruning leaves is perhaps my favorite sent. By which I mean the real burning of leaves in the autumn. This fragrance is evocative of this but doesn't capture the complexity of the true scent. But to be fair I'm not sure if any perfume could. It is a very subtle wearing scent, does not last on the skin as such there is not really time for other notes to mature. But is pleasant and has a slight whiff of fall.

Sweet smoky smell. This does smell like burning leaves to me, and I love this smell, but it triggered a strong allergic reaction within two minutes -- can't breath right -- had to get it out of the house.

Really good quality smoke here, burning and not incense. A bit more actual maple would have put it into the 'buy" category for me.

I really love this, it does smell like a pile of burning leaves. On a cold day it's super cosy and nostalgic for me.

Smells great in the bottle but it kinds of becomes ketchupy once the woody notes fade away.

In some climates this does smell a lot like ketchup on the drydown, which is a massive turn-off for me, but in a hot, dry climate that doesn't seem to come through as much (at least in my experience). Not particularly sure if it actually smells like burnt maple leaves as I have no experience of doing so, but it smells a tad too idealized and sweet to me. 5.5/10

Picked up a bottle of this from the infamous Blackbird store in Ballard, Seattle, back when the neighborhood still had character. The sales guy was an idiot and told me some fanciful story about all CB fragrances being produced through some fungal filter. An intelligent-sounding sales pitch that was super outrageous and entirely unnecessary. I laugh about it to this day because the entire purchase experience at Blackbird was so absurd, but I'm not reviewing that dearly missed shop. Burning Leaves Bottom Line: oxidized quickly in the months following purchase and produced a vinegar/ketchup note that was unpleasant, particularly considering the price paid. Maybe the sales guy wasn't entirely off base and Mr. CB I Hate Perfume was using kombucha mother juice to make this odd concoction. I see others here have had similar red umami sauce experiences with Falling Leaves. I threw out my bottle mostly unused. Waste of money.

This fragrance was supposed to smell like leaves burning, but it missed the mark. I tried this in both the absolute and water perfume concentration. The water perfume smells a little bit more like burning leaves than the absolute, but overall it smells a bit like maple syrup and liquid smoke, and it has no staying power. The absolute has weak sillage as well, and smells like honeyed ham or hot dogs on the grill. Not burning leaves.

I wish I could express how obsessed I was with this scent--finally, a photorealistic woodsy bonfire!--until I read a review below admitting it smells like ketchup. It does. On the dry-down it really, really does. And listen, I think ketchup is an underrated condiment that suffers undue hate from the masses, but I don't want to smell like it when I'm trying to smell like a sexy pile of leaves.

This one blew my mind. Not in a good way nor in a bad. It was so intense it just took my mind an hour or so to calm down and get used to it. Although it's rich and complex, there is something quite oldish and feminine in this one. Not for me.

I bought a sample from a decanter in Uk, hope the perfume went off cause I don't get any of what other people say about this perfume to me it smells off, like an old soap that was rubbed on a leather jacket

If you have not tried this: Don't get fooled by your romantic imagination about how it must be. Burning Leaves has no mercy, and smells just like burning stuff. Not perfumy at all

Water perfume: To me it smells smoky. A bit reminiscent of a scent of a smoked sausage. Even if they paid me, I wouldn't wear it. Blah! ;)

Burnt iron pot with a plastic handle. I hate it. Literally.

This was designed to capture the smell of burning maple leaves - which admittedly, I don't think I've ever burnt or consciously smelt, so don't have that specific scent memory to judge this on; but this does instantly conjure a recognisable & very realistic burnt leaf smell - although I'd say perhaps a slightly more gracefully done version of the aftermath, with some of the grit removed - as it doesn't quite have that harsh depth & thick meatiness that stings the eyes & gets stuck up your nose, like the bonfires I'm accustomed to, but perhaps this is really how burning maple leaves smell? For me, this is like a romanticised version, waking up on clean white sheets, wide eyed & messy haired, smudged eyeliner that would make Courtney Love proud - and catching the gentle wafts of soft sweet, diluted smoke imprinted onto my skin, that awakens the hazy memories of the night before: my pet man raking leaves on to the fire, whilst I dance around the flames, the ashes in the breeze & the nights chill flaming my fiery heart; Invoking the spirits of Autumn with each whispering hiss & sizzling pop This isn't quite the smell of the active roaring bonfire I was semi hoping for, of flickering flames, bittered smoke, smouldering embers & vegetation, to sooth my inner pyromaniac, but I've never felt disappointed - as it is rather lovely, especially for a brief autumn fix.

I tried a sample of this perfume and well...let's keep it real: This entire line was created by the co-founder of Demeter. Demeter is basically a line of functional fragrant oils purchased from the wholesale corporations that make them, then shaken up with some perfumers alcohol and re-packaged with a cutesy concept. Hasn't anyone come to the realization that I Hate Perfume is nothing more than Demeter re-packaged for more money? This smells like Demeter's Bonfire. Most importantly, there are wholesale companies open to the consumer who sell these same types of scents--functional fragrances--- things that are formulated to resemble a seaside bonfire, a trek through the woods, a creamsicle, a roast beef dinner and which are usually intended to be added to candles or bath & body products as fragrance. They are used by both artisans on Etsy as well as commercial sellers. Some people throw them in a roll on and use them as perfume as well. These are basically those same fragrant oils with a heck of a markup. The same oils that are also sold along many an urban street with much less fanfare. How do I know all of this? I use to sell these types of things. I'm just saying...go buy Demeter's Bonfire and save yourself some coins. Even better hit up the guy with the oil stand on the corner, he'll even throw in the matching incense.

People don't seem to burn piles of leaves in the fall like they used to. It's always been one of my favorite smells, a strong scent memory from childhood. The fire/burning leaves smell always touched something in me that deeply craved the wild and primal. I think this perfume is perceived as a novelty by some, but I have found it very wearable. I ordered a sample of this and Byredo's Gypsy Water, and I've been wearing one on each arm. I have to say, I think they work well together, as GW is very light, and though I really like it, I feel it needs a touch of something dirty or a bit harsh. BL, at first whiff, was a bit of a shock, really bluntly smelling of, well, burning leaves. As you wear it, it becomes sweeter, and I detect clove, but absolutely no meat. I repeat: this is not a weenie roast. It's warm, close, comforting, slightly spicy-slightly sweet with a touch of smolder, and it's something I will totally wear as a real (not novelty) scent, not surprisingly, in the fall.

This perfume was a bit of a disappointment for me! I've been obsessed with finding a scent as described by Peter Steele in the Type O Negative song 'Black No. 1' ("Her perfume smells like burning leaves, every day is halloween" - you get the picture ;]). I imagined a beautiful smoky, deep, forest-like, autumnal smell perhaps with a hint of clove or moss. What you get with this is, don't get me wrong, an absolutely amazing scent, but not one to wear on your wrist or neck. It does smell exactly like a campfire with a very strong waft of sausages! Which is definitely a very nostalgic and realistic smell, just not what I thought this scent would be like. Perhaps it smells different to other people - but I definitely got a big meaty note!

Ohh wow, it definitely has a strong note of burning leaves, but I found it dissipates fairly quickly and you're left with a sticky sweetness that to me feels a little smothering. It blows my mind how he's able to capture the scent of burning leaves so well, but it's just far to sweet for my taste! All I can sense in this is burning leaves (for a short period of time, like a top note) followed by nothing but a dominating super saccharin sticky sweetness. It feels more like a novelty thing to me than an every day thing, but I'm frankly amazed how he gets that smell in there. Wouldn't wear it due to excessive sweetness.

Definitely the scent of autumn burning leaves! It is smoky but not in an overpowering way, or at least not in the bad overpowering way. It's nostalgic actually: if you every lived in a suburban neighbourhood where people burn leaves, this is the smell of autumn and early winter. I like it! Fairly "light" scent - as if you had spent some time at your neighbour's house who happened to be burning leaves. Mixed with some resin and powder, very airy though. Definitely not the bomb matchstick that is city on fire and the like.

The meat smell is caused by the Maple notes. For those who are going for the Type O negative smell, what he was really referring to was Patchouli. Two great Patchouli based perfumes are Jo Malones Amber and Patchouli or their Pomegranate Noir fragrance. This will give you a nice patchouli based smell, without being too overwhelming. Of course if you want the real Black No 1 effect, just get some pure Patchouli oil from a local head shop.

A few months back, this was gifted to me [via a sample vial] by the lovely pitbull friend...This is another fragrance that is an acquired taste...All I get is deep, dark smokiness...Firewood...Then, a bit of a vinegar-y note wafts in, and it smells like a bonfire complete with burning weenies on a stick! Oh, well...But, hey...I love a toasty weenie on a stick!

It really does smell like Honey Baked Ham. A nice scent, just not one id like to wear. Ha, I feel like ive heard that alot when it comes to CB I hate perfume. Edit: I solidified the oil in some paraffin and vitamin E oil. Toned down this really is a beautiful scent and I find myself reapplying it throughout the day.

Smells like you've been to a bonfire. Smoky, a bit cinnamon-y, a tiny bit sweet. Much more tolerable and pleasant than A City on Fire. Smells like a Yankee Candle. Perfect for autumn.

This one is not for me! I tried a sample of the water perfume and smelled like a barbecue until I scrubbed the perfume off. Not quite the effect I was going for.