Blackmail

Blackmail is an interesting interpretation on what it would be like to have a gourmand oud perfume. In that vein, John Pegg makes a very wise decision of placing oud in the company of dark purple and blue berry fruits and a vanillic sandalwood. The berries are lightly juicy, not syrupy sweet. But what makes this whole thing work is that the oud is steered clear of its rotted, funky, barnyard characters and allowed to project its woody and leathery facets. It’s unmistakably oud, but kept very well in check. The oud links the berries to wood smoke in the heart that is attention grabbing by most standards, certainly not an insipid little wallflower, but noticeably restrained and smooth for such a large and looming presence compared to a few other Kerosene perfumes that are far more wood-smoke-heavy. That characteristic style of there being breathable air and a lot of space in Pegg's perfumes for Kerosene is still very much present in Blackmail. In particular, the base is as beautiful as it simple. In Pegg’s hands the vanilla and sandalwood have a richness that does not translate into density or lumpiness. It is airy yet supple, mouthwatering yet satisfying, and it has a texture able to be felt in the nose and throat but it feels like a silk thread running across your hand. Lovely. The best of Pegg’s perfumes for his brand so far are usually full of high velocity and energy, a vortex of spices, smoke, woods, blacks, grays, browns, and deep copper reds in some spartan space lit only by orange moonlight. In their rustic and gung-ho behavior there is a very upfront confidence to them. Blackmail though - it holds back, concealing its energy and confidence behind a cheeky grin, and a relaxed gait. The perfume is highly diffusive and very long lasting, but at no point is it ever loud or forceful. It knows something you don’t know that it knows, and maybe you don’t even know yourself. It has the power, and feels no need to prove it; its presence is proof enough. Another fantastic piece of work from Kerosene and Pegg.

This was a blind buy for me, and upon the first spray I was a little nervous about the decision. Oddly, the very first impression was like a more wearable version of Toskovat's Age of Innocence. As fascinated as I am with that fragrance, it's not a scent I'd ever wear out, hence my initial apprehension when I first smelled similar notes in this. Fortunately, the initial rubbery pavement scent dissipated within 10-15 minutes and left a more pleasant, wearable smoke scent. As the first hour of wear went on, it developed nicely and the berry notes came forward. This fragrance is reminiscent of late summer camping trips to Teanaway River in Washington; campfire smoke, burnt wood, and forest berries on the verge of over-ripening in the summer heat. I appreciate this fragrance because so many similarly cozy scents have a sort of indoorsy feel, like they're formulated with blankets, candlelight, fireplaces and sweaters in mind. This fragrance takes the coziness outside and under the night sky. It's not quite a warm weather scent, but I can see it being appropriate for some late-night outing in August. I love this scent and can see it becoming my new go-to, in spite of whatever time or season it is. It's not a boring fragrance by any means, but the dry down is pretty simple, which might make it fun to play around with layering; I find that Blackmail smells fantastic layered with Lush's rose jam body spray. It's not a crowd pleaser in the traditional sense, but I think it's a versatile perfume that likely won't offend anyone unless you're overspraying. It's sexy in a cool, unexpected way. I don't think this perfume is something everyone would like to wear themselves, but on the right person, it's perfect. The price is reasonable for such an interesting fragrance. My only complaint is the bottle. It's awkward to spray due to it's large square shape. It doesn't fit in the hand nicely so it's hard to spray using just one hand. It looks very cool but it's not very functional.

I saved my 100th Fragrantica review for Kerosene’s Blackmail which I find deeply appealing for its unapologetic maturity, balance of grit and polish, and sense of lived-in sophistication that doesn’t pander to trends. Blackmail projects a bold, resinous darkness on me. It's a mix of smoky woods, leather, incense, and a faint metallic sweetness that feels both industrial and intimate. For a man who has spent half a lifetime cultivating taste and confidence, this is not a scent that tries too hard to impress. It commands attention quietly, with the kind of complexity that unfolds slowly reminiscent of a conversation over a Glenfiddich 26 Year Old Grande Couronne single-malt scotch. There’s also something nostalgic for me in Blackmail’s composition: the faint motor-oil grit and charred amber evoke the smell of old vinyl stores, vintage motorcycles, and worn leather jackets which I do find rather cliched. But it never veers into caricature with its elegance in its darkness. A man in his late forties might recognize that balance between edge and restraint, a fragrance that reflects both his experiences and his comfort in his own skin. What makes Blackmail particularly satisfying for me is its texture. It has weight and presence, yet feels refined like dark velvet rather than raw asphalt. It’s the kind of scent that doesn’t need to shout because it already has a story behind it. The wearer who chooses it isn’t trying to reinvent himself; he’s simply choosing something that matches his self-assured, quietly magnetic personality. Blackmail is for a man, such as myself, who’s traded impulse for intention. A man that has lived enough to appreciate the beauty in shadow, the allure of restraint, and the art of leaving a lingering impression long after he’s left the room. The sillage is sensual with a slightly threatening backbone making your absence the olfactory equivalent of a smirk and a lighter flick. Blackmail is a masterpiece.

Love this. Love love love this. First off, it does not smell like By The Fireplace, but they are in the same family. The is like the Halloween sibling and BTF is like the Christmas sibling. The smoke here is much more literal, like smouldering embers, campfire, burning wood. The smoke in BTF is more of the suggestion of smoke, the heat from a fire. Where BTF is boozy, this one has sweet berries (not too sweet, but sweet). Blackmail opens very smokey for me, very much burning campfire with a background of toasted marshmallow. All the notes are immediately present, but the volume is turned highest on smoke. The oud doesn't stand out as oud and melts into the smoke. I struggle with oud sometimes, when it goes very patchouli and old fashioned, but this is not that. It works very well here and I don't get that rotting patchouli quality at all. The smoke slowly fades from burning to smouldering and the berries come out more. The vanilla is present the whole way through but acte as support and doesn't overpower. The sandalwood and amber do the same, but in a much more subtle way. The smoke lingers the whole time, but becomes more and more gentle like a dying fire. I sprayed it once on my wrist, and that was enough to leave a pleasant trail around me. Good sillage, but not monsterous. It lasted overnight. I sprayed it on around 7pm and now. Around 11 am the next day, it is still there, though soft. Overall, really enjoyed this one. I love smoke scents but it is nigh on impossible to find a good one. You either get barbecue, ashtray, or pencil shavings. This one is none of that, but manages to be a nice niche perfume without ever veering into a cheesy indie Halloween themed one. I will definitely be picking up a full size of this one at some point. Being that the bottles are 100ml, I imagine it will last me forever, as I live somewhere that's warm most of the year, and I can't see wearing this in weather over 70F.

Blackmail is my favorite Kerosene fragrance to date, and really perfection for someone who both enjoys oud scents and loves gourmand/amber scents. I can understand why its extremes--a reasonably heavy-handed use of oud but still an abundance of sweetness, overall--could each be a bit overwhelming to fans of more modest fragrances, but I love these extremes, and find them to be worked well with each other, as it leans slightly sweeter than oud-intensive, as would generally be my preference. The sweetness is also interestingly a great mix of creamy amber, vanilla, and fruits—specifically, mixed berries that lean toward raspberries, mostly. It’s a solid blend, not too fruity or too heavily vanilla-only. And at least on my skin, it’s strong—very strong—I’d give it a perfect 10 out of 10 as far as performance though it might be a smidge weaker on my skin than, say, the dark Slumberhouse juices (Ore, Jeke, Norne, Sova) or perhaps a couple of Tom Ford Private Blends, but it’s basically perfectly strong. I really only used a modest few sprays from what remains of my original decant from a couple of years ago, considering I’m at work, and it’s still beastly. The Kerosene atomizers are fortunately pretty strong and consistent but not, say, as overwhelming as Creed atomizers. Blackmail has the peculiarity of only being sold via the boutique of the same name in Austin, TX, and it must be ordered over the phone, as the boutique does not have an online shop. Needless to say, a little added effort is worthwhile if you love the fragrance as much as I do. And $140 for 100ml remains a great price for what generally are pretty strong perfumes from the Kerosene line. This is a superlative fragrance, a nod to both gourmand- and oud-lovers, and a fun, bold expression that reminds me why I love fragrances so much. 10 out of 10

If Dracula wore a fragrance, this would be it. This is an absolutely gorgeous and romantic mix of dark sweet mulled berries mashed together with this deep, dark and sappy oud. The oud in this is mostly woody and smoky, it comes off sappy almost as it's very thick. I love the juxtaposition that this fragrance has. It's not as smoky to me as some other people are say it is, sure it's smokey but the smoke to my nose is co starring with the woods and berries. As it dries down the berries become less syrupy and the focus shifts to the oud. This is where the vanilla and sandalwood come in to support the best assets of the opening/majority of the fragrance, the sweetness and powder. I really really like this fragrance, bordering on a love, but it just doesn't my personality enough for me to buy. If you like the vibe of "Hermann a Mas Cotes" by Etat Libre D'Orange, you will probably dig this. To the comparisons to "A City on Fire" by Imaginary Authors: This is a completely different product, sure they share the concept of being a smoke focused fragrance, but this is sweet and much more mass appealing than city on fire is. City on Fire is how actual smoke smells, this is an almost romanticized version. To the comparisons to "By the Fireplace" by Maison Margiela: This is a bit more valid but still very different. This is smoky/sweet but focused on jammy and syrupy berries, BtF focus' on more baked goods spices and sweets like hazlenut and nutmeg. Great longevity and sillage as per usual from Kerosene. Fall/Winter nights would be the times I can see myself pulling this off, but I think it could work in the daytime if you really like the profile. 9/10 Edit: I have fallen in love with this fragrance. I’m getting it.

This perfume already has a bazillion reviews but god do I love it. It's my favorite scent ever, and what I'm known for amongst my friends who notice perfume. It's the perfect winter/fall scent and honestly I'm sad that spring is approaching because I won't be able to wear it as much. It's like eating a bowl of overripe blackberries by a campfire. So interesting, unique, and powerful. I sampled before I bought the full size and I instantly fell in love. There's no other perfume that comes close to this one, in my opinion. The price is so reasonable considering what you get for it! Edit: I take back what I said about it only being a fall/winter scent. While it works best in those seasons, Blackmail has become my year round signature scent and I constantly get complimented on it. Whether I'm in the office, at university, with my parents, or even friends who just wear Bath&Body Works, they always notice it. It's so incredibly versatile, I can lean into my vampiric, goth side or my sophisticated side with this. I nearly had a heart attack when I saw it was sold out on my fave perfume website (Ministry of Scent) but thankfully I've been able to find it elsewhere. Every time I try a new perfume it never compares to this. Especially other smoky scents, they all have an indoor quality whereas this is purely outdoors, with a leather jacket and a cigarette.

Love! The only oud I want to bathe in for the rest of my life. Year round! So (so!) smokey, so woody, a bit rubbery, a bit berry. Oh. My. God! It smells like sweet campfire smoke, with some burning tire in a wonderful, beautiful way. It isn't bug spray spicy fresh type oud smell, it is rubbery-woody, deep and mesmerizing. The berry accompanies it in a perfect balance. I love it from the very first second to the last. I misplaced my near empty samples I'd been sniffing every night, paralyzed by indecision, and I felt almost choked up over losing this one, especially. Very happy with my new bottle. Even one spritz from my little spray sample lasted just...forever. I'm talking through a hot day, even lightly through a shower at the end of the day after cooking a strongly scented meal; it just wanted to be known! I could smell it wafting up from my arm as I reached for things all day. Another time I put it on at 6pm, slept in it (and I sleep rolling around on my arms, where I put it) and it was still a noticable skin scent for all the next morning, and not just the base notes, the whole thing. It might be a little masculine leaning but I think it is so good everyone and their mother should own this--it's unisex in the best way, not because it lacks personality, but because it is so good, who could resist?

Instant delight for me! I'm a fan of scents that mix fruitiness with smoke, black tea, or mate, and while I enjoy lighter ones like Nest's Indigo, and especially Byredo's offerings (Black Saffron, and Mixed Emotions in particular), as well as spicier, gourmand-leaning scents like Perfumology's Sudu Te and Chris Collins' African Rooibos, this is hitting the spot for me in a way nothing else really has. I smelled MMM's By the Fireplace on paper and it was SO smoke forward that I didn't bother trying it on my skin. By contrast, Blackmail offers a smoke that is more reminiscent of dried leaves and stems rather than wood (more smoke bath than mesquite barbecue), in my mind. It's softer even than some of the leather and cashmeran scents I've tried that have a nutty smokiness. Personally, I think the scent does evolve slightly from the top notes -- within a couple of hours the amber and vanilla have dialed up. I can still get some smoke, but this isn't like wearing the sweater you had on by the campfire the night before, which I appreciate. I enjoy that smell when I come by it naturally, but I don't need it bottled! At any rate, I'm a huge fan - this sample has me wanting a full bottle for sure, which is a rarity for me.

This is the ultimate example of a perfect “what is my type” fragrance. A review below me reads “ This has to be the worst smelling thing EVER CREATED, my nose needed holy water afterwards and I think i've summoned an ancient demon by spraying this.” - while this one of my favorite colognes, he’s not exactly wrong. 2 years ago I would’ve agreed, and if I had Fragrantica would’ve wrote that too. Back when Acqua di gio Profumo was my ultimate fragrance, I had sampled this and thought it was absolutely rubbish. Disgustingly bad. A year later, I thought it was okay.. I picked out the sweet smoky savory aspects of it and picked up on almost a vanilla raspberry or fruity mix. Fast forward to now, this scent really speaks to me. It has this deep darkened tone to it, like an even deeper Replica By the fireplace. Keep in mind, by the fireplace is one of those that many find too polarizing and challenging in person, but is popularly complimented as a good smelling cologne. Same applies here. My fav kerosene. Vanilla in Promises promises is that the drydown here, with the smoky oud in the opening. It’s a sweet scent, one of my favorites for sure. This one is a great benchmark for seeing what you do and don’t like.

Finally bought this after many after-work trips to smell it at Scent Bar. I love this fragrance, especially the way it dries down. It's woody and smoky with the perfect amount of sweetness. This scent feels very mature and mysterious to me. When I first smelled it, Blackmail reminded me of several memories from my childhood: my grandparents' house during the holiday season (being surrounded by older women, who smell slightly of smoke, laughing and sipping red wine together), a dark wood-paneled, dimly lit winery, and being bundled in a thick sweater out in a cold forest (a burnt-out campfire in the background). I love how Blackmail projects in very cold air; it's both comforting and protective. The bottle itself is very nice, and it's a decent size and concentration for the price! It does last quite long and isn't super strong the whole time, which is good because too much of this is a bit intense. It's a great going-out scent and can be worn during the day when it's very cold out (I wouldn't wear this to work at all). I've also gotten a good amount of compliments while wearing this, all from very confident women. Blackmail is a spell - seductive, mysterious, nostalgic, and empowering.

This is truly one of the best perfumes I've smelled in my life. It smells like juicy, almost overripe berries and stone fruits soaked in baking Vanilla, along with velvety burning oud and incense, almost like a bakhoor scent. Blackmail is dark and mysterious, while still having a comforting sweetness to it that is irresistible. This is far and away the best oud i've smelled from a non-middle eastern fragrance house, and I believe the oud accord used here is on par, if not better than oud used in Maison Francis Kurkdijan's Oud Satin Mood. My mouth waters every time I smell this. This is also my most complimented fragrance ever, one of my friends saying it's the best thing they've ever smelled. It is long lasting and the sillage is great, but doesn't have the immense strength of some of Kerosene's other fragrances, such as Followed. One of the best fragrances on the market today, and a real steal for $140. Kerosene's high quality reputation is carried through in every aspect of this perfume, and it smells far more expensive than it is in my opinion. The house of Kerosene continues to make scents that are a world unto themselves, and Blackmail is no exception. 10/10 (my first 10 ever).

I am picky, especially hate oud, was not looking to buy a scent like this, and live where it is perpetually perfect weather But... I knew I had to buy this fragrance from the first sniff. To me it is dry, sweet, wildfire smoke with a base of something I could eat. I grew up and still live in Los Angeles and I have always loved the smell of wildfires, the way their scent is carried in the wind has always encapsulated me. I get the same airy, sweet smoke that I love about wildfires, but with a sweet vanilla and berry that I love about a lot of women’s perfumes (without the stickiness). And it combines to make a beautiful, interesting, unisex, and mass appealing fragrance that I am honored to wear. I am in my twenties and love wearing this at night to concerts, events, anywhere that I can admittedly dress cooler than I am and have a unique smell that goes with is that no one else has. It’s also relatively inexpensive, long lasting, and not obnoxiously loud. Hopefully this pairs with a great time in my life and I get to enjoy it for longer. Nothing bad to say about this fragrance, it has something greater than itself and checks off every box to the highest degree.

It took me a couple of tries but I'm to the point where I really enjoy this scent. The first time I tried this, all I got was smoke and it was intense and a little nauseating. But, now, I was able to distinguish and appreciate some of the other notes in this. At first spray, it's a strong, smoky and resinous oud with a slight fruitiness behind it. I mainly pick up on the raspberry, syrupy and sweet, but sadly couldn't detect the plum. This is largely how it remained for the rest of the wear. I got some peeks at the vanilla every now and again but the amber and musk were hiding from me. I didn't get any woodsiness from the sandalwood, only the oud. The strongest profile in this scent was the smokiness. As I said, I picked up on the raspberry, but it was mainly in the background and it faded about halfway through the wear. The rest was dominated by the smoke. This lasted for about ten hours on my skin. Overall, I really like this. It's perfect for cold and gray days—inviting, cozy, warm and sweet. It made me think of passing a jar of jam around the campfire on the last night of summer.

Blackmail is my first full bottle that luckily was gifted to me by my friend, knowing full well that I was obsessed with it. I first caught wind of the house through Followed, but I was always far more interested in Kerosene. My girlfriend bought me a sample of it and instantly I was in love. Blackmail is very smoky the same way a campfire is smoky. Its not so much industrial smoke, far more like natural woods being burned at night. I remember seeing someone describe it as "a campfire with red berries roasting above, their juices falling into the embers and caramelizing", and the description always stuck with me because of how accurate it was. The jammy red berries that accompany the smoke prevent it from being too similar to Broken Theories, while the smoke prevents it from being too juvenile. Personally I don't detect musk or vanilla. I don't think this is particularly suitable for hot weather wear, and I would stray away from it for day wear personally. My girlfriend loves when I wear it, though, especially for date nights.

This is a super interesting one. My girlfriend bought this for me on my 24th birthday. I haven't worn it a lot since because it is STRONG. There is a very imposing oud note in there that is not everyone's cup of tea : my brother for example hates this perfume. But my girlfriend and I both appreciate the spicyness, smokyness and even the slight "sourness" of this juice. When you spray this on your skin, it immediately smells like a barbecue. The smokyness is very strong BUT I have to say that the blend is very well made. There is a sweetness to it, with the plum and raspberry dancing together in the cloud of smoke and oud. The profile is very dark, sensual, manly and round. One of my friends say that I even smell like a bouddhist temple. If you're looking for something suitable for colder seasons and bold, go for this. Keep in mind that not everyone will love this, so don't blind buy this, and definitely don't wear it to the office, because the projection is pretty good too.

BLACKMAIL is the first and only oud I've ever loved. The smokiness is heavy with the tart berries just peaking through, framed in woods. This is a dark scent story with depth and scope for the imagination. Unlike anything I've experienced before. Edgy, dangerous, and compelling. Perfectly unisex. P.S. I think Kerosene is an underrated house because people do not expect fragrances to transform throughout the wear. Mass produced, generic scents that remain "stable" with only a brief hint of top notes that quickly burn off, have conditioned consumers to have a short attention span and limited understanding of how a carefully crafted fragrance can perform. Kerosene brings an entire scent story in a bottle. Each one is a journey that lasts hours. Just as you can't accurately judge a book by it's cover, you can't judge a Kerosene scent in a few moments by spritzing on a card. You must spray on skin and give them at least 4 hours to fully display development.

I really do enjoy the house of Kerosene. However, the bottle that I own is Blackmail. Regarding Blackmail, I've heard many comparisons, even to Tom Ford's Plum Japonais! In a nutshell, this is what I get from it: I get a campfire smoke scent mixed with a slightly sweet (sandalwood and vanilla) incense and a sour note (most likely the berries). Although this description sounds harsh; however, the mixture of the notes create a beautiful, mysterious, and alluring aroma that keeps you coming back for more! Although it is labeled as unisex, I definitely believe that it leans more towards the masculine side. I would say that this scent is more for the "daring" type of individual. Where people think you are arrogant because you remind them of their weaknesses. When I feel that I have zero desire to fit and conform to average, I wear Blackmail

My girlfriends nose has developed a lot since we started dating. It’s due to the fact that I’m constantly having her smell new stuff and her experiencing a lot of fragrance upon my person. However no matter what crazy niche frags she has smelled from me, she still thinks this smells like burning @$!hole. But she does admit that it gets pretty good when it dries down. I do think it’s a bit aggressive in the opening with all the smoke(still love it) but boy oh boy that drydown is AWESOME. Yet again another one from Kerosene I will always have in my collection. This may just be my favorite from the house. That smoky oudy vanillic berry drydown is gorgeous. I think a big reason why I like it so much is because I also love Mr.Bojnokopffs Purple Hat. They don’t smell the same but I suppose the structure is what reminds me of it.

A captivating, immediate blast of smoke and oud with an overhanging sweetness of dark berries. They're not a fresh from the vine type of berry though, this is like they've been simmering in a pot with some sugar to make a delicious jam. Deep & mysterious. A little churchy. A little witchy. The perfect October fragrance to wear with your leather jacket. This is totally different than By The Fireplace - I wouldn't even compare the two. BTF is a purely wood smoke and marshmallow/vanilla scent. Blackmail is more akin to incense and the heavy dose of oud and berries make it much darker and more moody. There are no berries or oud in BTF. Blackmail, like most Kerosene offerings, lasts for eternity and projects to the heavens. You will smell beautiful all day. 10/10!