Winter of '99

Pity we’re entering the fall in southern Arizona. I put Kerosene's Summer of ’84 back on the shelf yesterday. I wrote a farewell review to '84 this morning before taking down Winter of '99 from the same shelf. When I wear Winter of ’99, it smells exactly like the version of myself who stumbled out of college with a poli/sci degree, a beat-up Dodge, and absolutely no idea what came next. It’s that era when every day felt cold, unsure, and weirdly poetic when the world was bigger than my paycheck and smaller than my fear. The thick southern blackstrap molasses cool spices in the opening hit like the shock of stepping out into a Dallas winter with a thin coat because I couldn’t afford a better one. It has that sharp, metallic chill of early adulthood. It’s bracing, uncomfortable, almost medicinal in how honest it feels. It reminds me of waking up in an unheated apartment, seeing my breath hang in the air, and convincing myself I was “building character.” Then the perfume shifts, and the vanilla, amber, and resinous woods roll in smelling warm and slightly sweet, but still a bit rough around the edges. This part feels like those nights when I’d sit on a secondhand couch with a cheap blanket and even cheaper whiskey, telling myself things would eventually make sense. There’s a coziness here, but it’s earned, not given. It smells like messily and stubbornly trying to build a life with whatever scraps I had. The smoky undertone is the real nostalgia hook. On my skin, it smells like burned-out candles in an apartment I couldn’t keep clean, the faint char of over-toasted bagels that doubled as dinner, and the lingering smoke from friends who’d crowd around the kitchen table arguing about millennium dreams and debt in the same breath. It's the scent of uncertainty itself. It’s soft, hazy, and unresolved. Winter of ’99 is not a comforting scent. It’s a remember-this scent. It smells like survival mode disguised as ambition. It smells like wondering if I’d ever stop living paycheck to paycheck. It smells like the nights I questioned everything and the mornings I got up anyway. And somehow, wearing it now makes all of that feel beautiful in a way it never did at the time.

Winter of 99 is Kerosene's latest website-exclusive release (that is, it's not available through its other retailers) in fairly rapid succession following the release of Sacred Memory in late 2018. Winter of 99 is a cozy vanilla scent described simply on the website as a blend of smoldering vanilla, woods, molasses, and nutmeg. Its opening is a bit spicy, the nutmeg coming out and providing some contrast to what is a significant vanilla accord—not so much a bourbon or extra-sweet Madagascar vanilla but perhaps a more subdued version of a cakey, baking vanilla, almost like vanilla extract but without the bite of alcohol. As it dries down, it becomes more of a vanilla/woody/molasses mix. The vanilla in Winter of 99 definitely leans smoky, and it’s not “over the top” sweet while still being quite sweet and frankly, dense. My inclination is to say that the molasses factors in strongly as the fragrance dries down and really provides the character of the fragrance for most of its life. Molasses is sweet but not as sweet as vanilla, and I suspect it’s used heavy-handedly in Winter of 99 to help the vanilla seem more “smoldering.” I really cannot make a reasonable comparison to another vanilla-dominant fragrance I’ve tried, and I like that, as it’s often somewhat difficult for vanilla fragrances, of which there are so many, to stand out from the crowd, so to speak. It’s a strong performer, on par with most of the more winter-leaning offerings of the house. And with this second wearing, it’s won me over and I believe it to be full-bottle-worthy. Certainly at minimum I’d recommend trying a sample, but as usual, Kerosene offers great value at $140 for 100ml. 8 out of 10

Going back to the sweeter side of the house of Kerosene, I landed on Winter of ’99 in the 100ml EDP. The concept alone sets the mood. It feels like the late 90s in Detroit, a heavy snowstorm rolling in while Y2K anxiety lingers in the background. Instead of chaos, though, it leans into comfort. You are inside, warm, wrapped up, with something hot in your hands while the cold stays outside. The opening is a really beautiful blend of smoky woods and soft spice. The smoke comes across dry and delicate rather than heavy, which makes it feel smooth and easy to wear. There is a subtle gingerbread-like warmth early on, likely from nutmeg in the background, along with a light molasses sweetness that starts to peek through. After about 30 minutes to an hour, it softens and becomes a bit sweeter, but never overly so. The molasses and vanilla come forward more, adding warmth and depth without turning it into a sugary scent. It stays balanced, cozy, and slightly nostalgic the entire way through. This is a fantastic holiday fragrance in my opinion. It feels festive without trying too hard, and the sweetness is just enough to keep it inviting. It really shines in cooler weather and fits perfectly in fall and winter. If you have tried Memoirs of a Trespasser from Imaginary Authors, this sits in a similar space, just a touch sweeter with a bit more of that gingerbread and nutmeg spice. This is a beautiful, simple, and festive fragrance that captures the feeling of the holidays in a very natural way. It is cozy, slightly sweet, and easy to come back to. Really nice work from John Pegg.

WINTER OF '99 is a stunning sweater scent! It's spicy but soft, bold, cozy, and delightfully FUZZY! Interesting and comforting. I found it to be generally gourmand but only slightly sweet. It has a very dry quality that lends it to even more warmth than typical sweetness could achieve. A spiced vanilla over creamy woods with a single wisp of white smoke hanging in the air. It's unlike anything I've encountered before. This isn't your typical holiday scent that's sticky sweet and extra friendly. This isn't bending over backwards to please people or be joyful. This is you being warm in your own authentic way. Not seeking attention or compliments, just living your life thoughtfully, honestly, and with purpose. Not jumping on the crowded holiday train but finding your own path through the snowy wood. This is adult drinks and baking at home for yourself and a few select visitors. This isn't about mass appeal, you aren't trying to impress anyone. You wear what you like and naturally have incredible taste. If you are looking for a cold weather scent that is unique but still inviting, strangely welcoming, and different but familiar, WINTER OF '99 is the fragrance for you. Perfectly unisex. Unexpected and charming, just like you. This scent is a treasure. Sweetness with an edge speaks to my soul. I have found my fragrance house, it's Kerosene. P.S. Smelling this reminds me of someone with very dry humor who rarely laughs, but wow, when they do it just feels so special. A rare moment that you were happy/honored to be a part of and will remember fondly, for ages. Keep it close.

Initial blast smells like an eggnog with a heavy handed dose of nutmeg. It seems to fade on my skin right away, but leaves a mild, pleasant, and frothy vanilla scent. Like a whipped Winter drink. This is simple enough as a skin scent. Not much else I can say about it for now, further testing is needed. UPDATE: alright, so after a night and entire workday wearing this I can now say that this is a hidden masterpiece! It is basically the perfect Holiday fragrance, such simple note composition but such deep complexity. I don't know how Mr. Pegg did it but this is absolutely fantastic. At first sniff this is a pretty linear eggnog scent that faded quickly into a muted vanilla on my skin. So I tested this on my face buff that I wear to work. The entire car ride to the factory I was surrounded by a cloud of wonderful holiday spice and a deep sweet almost tobacco type scent. The first thing I thought of was a Christmas bowl, and by bowl, a well used wood tobacco pipe with a special holiday blend inside. Somehow the molasses and woods note dominate and are reminiscent of a sweet maple like pipe tobacco I used to smoke back in the day. This was my experience, I may have a weird nose to smell things that aren't there but I am grateful for it. I will be purchasing a full bottle of this immediately.

A gourmand by any other name would smell as sweet...... I think sometimes people lose sight of what a gourmand truly is, and it becomes associated with searingly sweet confections, cupcakes, gumdrops, and rainbows. But the house of Kerosene does a wonderful job of creating gourmands for those who don’t want to smell like a macaron. Winter of 99 is an example of the house of Kerosene’s fantastic ability to take warm, edible notes and combine them to create a cabin scent, similar to Unknown Pleasures, Follow, and Field of Rubus (which are some of the other fragrances from this house) .... I imagine that this is the scent a lumberjack would want to spritz on his flannel. This perfume is a toasty gourmand with a silencer on the sweetness to muffle it’s presence. It opens with a burst of nutmeg which settles quickly on a woodsy vanilla, and then everything is bonded by this smoky resinous molasses. Also I noted that moments before the drydown I could catch a quick waft of charred marshmallow which swiftly dissipates. I would say the final product after all the notes have melted into one another, smells like a mug of frothy eggnog that’s sitting a little too close to the fireplace. Perfume Realm on Insta 💙

This is the first time a fragrance has evoked memories so strong that it nearly brought me to tears. This is my grandparent’s house. This is their home nestled in the woods in the winter. The wood burning stove is providing the warmth in the tiny home. My grandfather has come in from the sugar shanty where he was making maple syrup. A smell that is smoky and warm and slightly sweet. My grandmother has made her famous molasses cookies, that I still lovingly make today. I ate one, still warm, and then climbed up into the bare wood attic where my father used to sleep. I’m looking through old books written in German, admiring the gorgeous illustrations, playing with old wooden toys made in the 1910’s. If ever I longed to return to that house in the woods, this fragrance instantly transported me. It’s like it was made specifically for me. It’s gorgeous and complex, yet unpretentious. It’s softly sweet, not cloying or artificial. It has spices, but they don’t assault you. It has woods, but it’s like an old sugar shanty or a bare wood attic. I couldn’t love this more. It’s perfection. Update: this is a criminally overlooked fragrance.

The ultimate Christmas fragrance. A delectable, rich, cup of holiday cheer (eggnog). Warm and sweet brown sugar/molasses. A very natural, heavy nutmeg. Creamy, frothy, smoky vanilla. Smoldering wood. I was initially drawn to Kerosene’s WINTER OF ‘99 because of the name. Losing someone very close to me that same December of ‘99; I wanted to find a fragrance that would replace the smell of hospitals in Winter with new scent memories... Which I’ve accomplished with this 10/10 Winter gourmand. WINTER OF ‘99 evokes feelings of a peaceful Christmas Eve. The house is full of the wonderful aroma of pecan pies and treats baked earlier in the day. The soft glow of the fireplace and twinkling lights from the tree light the room. You're wearing your new flannel pajamas, wrapped up in a blanket in front of a smoldering, crackling fireplace; stockings hung, enjoying a cup of rich, robust eggnog. All is right in the world, if only for this magical evening. How the perfumer John Pegg got all of this in my bottle, I’ll never know. I'm just glad I found Winter of 99. My favorite December fragrance. Rating: 10/10

This is a complex scent like most of Kerosenes offerings. What I get off the top is a spice like almost clove type of smell that is probably the nutmeg with an underbelly of this very "delicious" but transparent and light caramelized vanilla. The more this fragrance dries down and that spice note settles in the more I enjoy the fragrance. The dry down is this amazing almost gourmand smell without being too sweet or heavy.. It's a hard aroma to explain because it is transparent and light, yet somewhat appetizing of a smell. Probably my favorite vanilla type dry down that I have smelled thus far. I think this fragrance totally exemplifies the winter season and is very warming. It has spice, a little smoky, tobacco vibe, and a warming caramelized vanilla dry down that doesn't smell feminine like some vanillas do. This could def be worn by men or women. It has almost a holiday type vibe to it and would be great to wear for Christmas or Thanksgiving. It's original, unique, good performance and a quality fragrance. Another cool offering from the house of Kerosene.

I happened to be living in the Detroit area, New Year's Eve, 1999..the City was electric but the weather was inclement..many stayed home and waited for the end of the world? Computer crashes? Nothing happened. 😊 I was younger and quite brash, so I went out. There was a smokey tinge in the air that night, from firecrackers, some fireworks and a few house fires, which isn't unusual.... Cocktails , Limousine leathers, Frosty air and sweet trails of my vanilla perfume. This is a memory in a bottle for me. I go right back to that night..✨ But, I digress... This perfume, on my clothes, it's more spicy, and I detect a tiny bit of mint..?.. On my skin, a photorealistic burnt marshmallow scent. I admire the artistry. Not sure where I could wear this out. That said, I do love this and wear it in snowy stay-at-home weather, like today. I might try layering it with something else. John Pegg is a bit of a genius. He creates startlingly different and well performing perfumes. I hope he never stops.

I love this so much it will probably be the first full bottle of good perfume I spring for; I've already blown through half my sampler! My skin really emphasizes the sweetness in scents, so that should be taken into account with my review. On first spray it smells just like a chai latte -- very specifically it ties to my sense memory of the Chamba Chai powder you can get seasonally at Costco. The spice of it fades faster than the sweetness, but still lingers in the very back of it after hours of wear. The dry down is to me somewhere between a light corn syrup and a molasses with the way the vanilla and spices play together. It has enough body to keep the sweet interesting without tipping over into being cloying. It's absolutely a fall/winter scent (right there in the name), but no one can stop me from keeping fall with me year round. I simply must wear it to any potluck to announce myself as a home baker!

I really love this, bought the full bottle, but I don't seem to love it for the reasons a lot of other people do. I can believe the eggnog thing people are saying. If I close my eyes and try to picture it while wearing this, I can kind of taste it, but I didn't grow up with eggnog. I first tried it as an adult, and it isn't where my scent memory goes with this. I immediately smell incense, sweet and actively burning. It smells cold. Dry. Solmn. Reverent. Aloof. Lonely. This does not stir cozy, loving winter memories for me, though I agree that is the right season for it. My husband said I smelled like an old temple, in a good way. I think the nutmeg makes it kind of earthy. I like to have a perfume for moods, weather, and seasons, and this fills a place nothing else has ever touched. To me, it is almost gothically beautiful. It builds and sweetens, but still smells so solitary to me.

John Pegg, in my mind, has become the Magician of Maceration, the Prince of Perfume. I’ve never experienced such photorealism. This literally smells, to me, like the winter of 99. I was an adult by age, but still a kid in a lot of respects and trying to find my way. There was still a very magical feeling surrounding the holidays. This, in my mind, is the smells of Christmas / Winter - Christmas confections cooking, a mug of eggnog. I’ve been on the hunt for fragrances that remind me of Christmas. On one hand I seek out scents that have a piney Christmas tree scent. On the other hand, I seek out scents that remind me of the smells of Christmas confections, egg nog etc. this one knocks the ball out of the park with cozy, comfy scents of treats baking and sipping on some nog. Bravo. Next level photorealism rather than something that smells good and vaguely familiar.

sweet winter, thick pines... the dry down on this is beautiful. i picked up a good balance of wood and nutmeg, molasses notes; the scent lasts long, it is comforting. when i was a girl i did many things wrong in the unforgivable landscape of green new england. i created a door which only went one way and found myself on the wrong side of it. now everything gets away from me; but i must make do with what i have, my small allowance, my memories. i spent cold days and colder nights in the woods, surviving only by the necessary fear and ambition of a powerless creature which knows no other option only than to make it to tomorrow. nevertheless, as robert frost said, the woods were lovely, dark, and deep-- and this perfume definitely reminds me of their commanding love, their terrible beauty. you want to smell like the color dark green in winter? give this one a try.

This is like a dense masala chai. So good once it dries down! I’m by an old cabin in the woods. There’s a delectable spice cabinet with cloves and a spilled vial of vanilla extract, and over there is firewood as its just beginning to burn. It’s twilight so the sky is still lit but the environment is very dim. You have some desserts like s’mores or glazed rolls, and you put them over the fire and the sticky sugar oozes into the fire as it’s being scorched into molasses. On the same fire there is some chai being steamed in a kettle. It’s so EVOCATIVE and PALATABLE at the same time! Nutmeg, brown sugar, vanilla extract, star anise, cinnamon sticks, clove, some tea notes. Yes. JUST try a sample, so likeable and amazing performance. I can’t imagine anyone hating this. I believe this smell might bring some people to tears as well.

There are few fragrances that not only bring visceral nostalgia, but also are lovely and wearable. This is one of those few. Thank you John. You have brought me an olfactory memory of my grandmothers house during the holiday season. The smell of freshly baking molasses cookies (her favorite), a syrup-y vanilla sweetening the molasses note making it cookie like. The backing of a warm woodsy candle burning in the background with a healthy dose of nutmeg from the previous round of baking as Christmas music plays through the radio. This will be my first Christmas without her there and it will be hard for my extended family. I cannot wait to give this a wear on skin and update this review accordingly, but I really couldn't not smell this and word vomit my thoughts on here. I am ecstatic to smell the rest of the collection.

I pretty much just love everything from Kerosene. Consider me a fangirl. This is another top offering - a smoky, spicy blend of deep dark molasses and nutmeg. It's not too sweet or rich, but moreso cozy and comforting, like it really is Christmas of '99 and you're sitting by the fireplace watching the snow outside while something delicious is being baked in the kitchen. This drys down to the most lovely woody vanilla after the smoke settles and you're left wanting to bury your nose into your arm. This hits the mark for pretty much everything I love in a fragrance and likely will end up on my to-buy list, along with a bunch of other Kerosene things. As with all Kerosene fragrances, projection and longevity are top notch. Lasts forever, projects for miles. 9.5/10

I SWEAR this smells like winter of 99. We had a huge snow storm that came from out of nowhere in NC & left us under 18 inches of snow for 3 days, no power. I like this, but it's not something for everyday. I would def be diggin it on Christmas Eve & Christmas day tho! Or Christmas parties. Or maybe just to have a nostagic moment, remember laying on the couch watching the fire in the fireplace all night, scared the house would burn down. But we had to keep warm. Cozy. But I'd get tired of it using it regularly. It reminds me of the Cinnamon Cones you can get around Christmas time. I think this would be an excellent Layering perfume to play around with. Notes say Nutmeg. I smell Cinnamon & Nutmeg. It is so cozy. Maybe I like this a lot, lol.

Yeah, I was in Detroit, watching the snow come down, curled up in front of the fireplace with my new husband. This fragrance really does capture the feeling of those wonder filled months when it seemed that we were taking uncertain, but hopeful steps to the new millennium. It was only appropriate that my first baby was conceived at this time, when optimism was ripe and contagious. This scent has smoldering vanilla, wood, molasses, and a nutmeg that seems to turn more cinnamony on my skin. This is warmth and comfort with a real dash of spice Have a great day, everyone!! EDIT - I don't know how to aptly describe this, but the molasses seem to give it a warm, furry feel. This is a smoky, bold vanilla, and I'm loving it!

The opening unfurls with a charred vanillic smokiness. Singed and blackened just at the edges. Inviting, with a hint of danger. There is sweetness, but not cloying. It's a sweetness of a childhood memory: brown sugar just beginning to burn, slightly carbonized along the rim of a forgotten saucepan, rich and deep. Warm nutmeg asserts itself especially as the initial smoke mellows, weaving in with warm woods. This scent is named Winter of 99 for a reason. Memories of sterile chilled air, snow dusting the ground, but with intimacy and warmth. Gathered with your loved ones. A scent truly crafted for the depths of a December night. This is a cold-weather treasure.

When I sampled in store (thank you Sophie at Merz!) I got way more attic - dry, dusty, sunbathed-through-the-single-window wood. Spraying again at home, the molasses and vanilla shine through. Deep Christmas spices. Fireplace embers. Hard caramel candies (burnt, dark caramel, not overly sweet new-age caramel) in your grandma's crystal bowl. Cinnamon twig wreathes and potpourri. Cozy, beautifully concocted. Bought the FB, read the tag, thought what would this guy know about Detroit in '99. Turns out Pegg's from Michigan. Funny how you can smell a million things from a million perfumers who are based in a million places and still somehow end up at home.

Inspired by the perfumer's time in Detroit during the "Winter of 99," this fragrance offers a very particular take on winter themes and aesthetics. This is a nostalgic, Y2K winter fragrance. Wood is the most prominent note in the composition. Not "woods" in terms of a forest, but rather that of a closet or dresser. It also has a level of sweetness, giving it a festive quality. It's as if you and your friends are hanging out upstairs in your parent's attic on Christmas, listening to Slowdive and the Cocteau Twins and watching the snowfall outside. In fact, it reminds me of the song, "Snowfall" by Harold Budd and Robin Guthrie.

* * * "Smell unique." (slogan on Kerosene's website) Winter of '99 (launched 2019) lives up to Kerosene's slogan with this "unique" fragrance. With notes amplified to a satisfying degree, this eau de parfum exudes an intoxicating, slightly medicinal yet mellow molasses; a kitchen's spice cabinet and smoldering woodstove; and a hot buttered rum with freshly grated nutmeg and scraped vanilla bean, with whiffs lingering into the next day. A masterpiece for autumn and the holidays!✿ In my Top 5 Scent family: Gourmand Longevity on me: long-lasting

Scary smoky at first sniff. The sample smelled so much like a bonfire that I almost tossed it. BUT THEN, I was brave enough to spray just two sprays on my wrists. It’s a fire yes, but one that is dwindling down, glowing hypnotically in the fireplace on a crisp January 1st evening, you’ve thrown your Christmas gingerbread house into the tantalizing flames so the spices and burning sugar perfumes the air, memorializing the year past. Some things gone, but some things new awaiting you. This fragrance is transportive, just be brave.

Was looking for a woodsy vanilla and boy did I get it. A nice refreshing and different take on vanilla. I’m from around the same area where John is from, so his fragrances (the ones I’ve tried) really speak to me. Michigan being pretty frigid throughout the year promotes the use of this fragrance PERFECTLY. It’s a bit smoky and spicy but with a deep dark sweet richness. Not overly sweet at all, just right. I love the way this fragrance progresses and it’s unlike anything I have yet to smell. One of a kind, glad to own a bottle.

Winter of ‘99 transports you to a childhood winter, where you are inside, cozy and safe, watching the snowfall through the window as mom stirs molasses in the kitchen as the sweet anticipation of a gingerbread house fills the air. From another room, dad enters, bringing with him the scent of the attic; dusty cardboard, aged wood, and the faint mustiness of holiday decorations pulled from storage. It clings to his sweater as he stops and looks at you with a soft, familiar smile. This is how «Winter of ‘99» smells like.

when i wear this, i am a child. or maybe, we are in the same room, back-touching-back. my memories are all always near the oven of my childhood home. warm christmas tree light bulbs. too big turtleneck sweater, wool. sitting knees up at the family desktop computer. mother is measuring out the rum for a jam, a pie, a cookie. maybe toasting a marshmallow over a gas stove. father is out for cigarettes, even though everything is closed. the sort of nostalgia that sits in the back of your teeth.

My new baby... I got a sample of this in the fall, and was like yep, this smells like egg nog around a Christmas tree. So my roommate and I designated this our Christmas fragrance. But then... I craved it... I wanted more. Come January, I still wanted to smell like egg nog around a Christmas tree. So I bought a full bottle. Am I a deviant for wearing this after Christmas? We’ll see. If I’m still reaching for it after Winter is over, I may just be that naughty.

Winter of '99 – 8/10 I prefer Gingerbread by Pineward over this, but they’re about 90% similar. The biggest difference is the price: Winter of '99 gives you 100ml for around $150, while Gingerbread costs the same for just 32ml. Gingerbread might have double the concentration since it’s an extrait, and scent-wise, Winter of '99 is a bit simpler. Still, they’re both amazing, and I really recommend trying them if you’re into rich, sweet gourmands.

I've always thought By the Fireplace by MM had an interesting concept, although with sub-par execution. Every time I smell it, I pick up this strange, almost peppery scent. I think Winter of '99 lives up to the idea of By the Fireplace, and improves on it. It starts off with this very sweet molasses note, which slowly dies down into a warm vanilla woodsy scent, topped off with some nutmeg. Easy blind buy if you've ever smelled By the Fireplace.

This is the only vanilla perfume I like enough to wear. It’s sweet but also has a lot of complexity, a bit smoky and a bit spicy. The first time I wore it the nutmeg got to be too much but in subsequent wearing that hasn’t been a problem. Kerosene has a way with gourmands that makes them different and wearable for people who don’t like sugar sweet ethyl maltol bombs. A really nice, cozy, easy to wear fragrance.

Smells like your making a sugary sticky gingerbread house with your best friends at 8pm in the backyard of a cabin and you have a fire going and you can smell the embers. Have I ever experienced this, no? But the perfume transported me to this. Beautiful scent. The last phase of this smells like celery on me for some reason. Probably just my skin chemistry. Besides the beauty of the scent, longevity is 10/10.

This is what the house does the best. Whether you love them or hate the, long lasting one of a kind cold weather fragrances. This is no exception. Sweet,woody and smoky. It does give of an eggnog vibe but the undertones of smokiness balances it out well. The vanilla is a great compliment to the nutmeg and molasses that just gives off a comforting warm feeling. Nothing negative to say about this gem.5/5!

this smells like the calm after stressful, hectic, and loud holidays. It feels like curling up in a warm blanket in front of a fireplace as snow falls. There’s warm and smooth molasses, with a spiced nutmeg, and sweet woody vanilla. It’s spicy but comforting, sweet and warm, like a hug. Nothing here is overbearing, there’s a perfect amount of spice, of sweetness, of woodiness, it all blends beautifully.

JaelsFancy, you had me at chai latte. I just received a sample kit from Kerosene and this is the first one I tried. It really is deliciously spicy, Christmasy and cozy, like many people have said. Probably more suited for cool weather simply because it evokes a feeling of the holidays, but it's not overwhelmingly sweet or cloying so if you really like it, you could bask in those memories all year long.

UPDATE Just bought my 2nd bottle. I have a large, unisex, woody gourmand fragrance collection but WINTER OF '99 calls to me. It's just so deliciously different! My other bottles keep getting overlooked as I reach for those from the House of Kerosene, again and again. Might have to declutter some I've really liked to make room for those I truly love!

This smells like Type O Negatives' October Rust album. Cloves, rain to snow, cold breeze, end of autumn to winter, wearing a leather jacket drinking a coffee on your way to see a band with friends. Perfection. Clove oil forward but in the best way

This is a very unique and beautiful creation that smelled exactly like an old fashioned cocktail that was based on a veeeeeery smoky whiskey (with a touch of sugar and bitters, of course). Strikingly brilliant! My ig: scent.guide

This is winter in the forest, while sitting at a campfire roasting marshmallows. Layers amazingly with Tihota and Kyse marshmallow. It's cozy and warm. Smells nothing like Ginger Biscuit. This is so much better!

It's that time of year again. Working long hours/days/weeks/months far from home. Out past the edge of civilization, isolated in the rugged wilderness of the Arctic, and dreaming about home and this scent.

It smells like Christmas, in the best possible way. I love Kerosene gourmands and I want them all. After Unknown Pleasures and Sweetly Known, this will be the 3rd one in my collection.

I bought a lot of samples and this happened to be in there. The moment I smelled this I knew i was going to buy a full bottle. I have been told I smell like Christmas.

Egg Nog & Cloves. A true comfort scent & I am HERE for it. FS bottle time, before it gets reformulated to water. Kerosene, y'all better not mess up these masterpieces!

Sweet and dry woods radiating the scent of vanillic syrup. It's as if you've cozied up next to your fireplace with a cup of eggnog. Joyful.

a MORE niche By the Fireplace. A smokey hay like smell with a bit of molasses and woods. A mature scent but amazing.

still one of the best winter frags. truly beautiful ✌️ 9.6/10 tobac honey and pineward gingerbread barely beat this

This smells like the inside of a Michael’s craft store during Christmas time, in the best way possible

best fragrance oat. scent: 9.9/10 projection: 7/10 longevity: 9.5/10

This is a very nice fragrance, but I don't know how wearable this would be for me. Everything Kerosene makes is fantastic quality and this is no exception. It is sweet and resinous from the molasses, but balanced out by woody nutmeg. There is also a certain smokey quality that I find really nice, and the wood is quite realistic. This smells like a log cabin in a snow storm with a smoking chimney and a spiced pie in the oven. Great for cold weather. I will say I don't think this is something I could shell out $150 especially since I already own 3 full sizes from Kerosene. It smells great but doesn't necessarily offer anything that couldn't be found in some of Kerosene's even better fragrances such as Followed, Blackmail, or Sweetly Known. This is certainly very evocative and unusual, and does an excellent job occupying its niche. Great performance as always, I expect nothing less given Kerosene's reputation for excellently performing fragrances. I really don't have any gripes with this perfume. It's a little odd yet still comforting and evocative, and the only reason I don't absolutely love it is that I am not totally sold on nutmeg in general, I feel meh about that spice and that translates over to smelling it as well unfortunately. This would be killer during the holiday season. I would undoubtedly buy this if it were available in a smaller size, I think I'd have to be in a specific mood to want to smell like eggnog, molasses, and smoldering woods. Delicious frag tho!! 9/10 yummy

This fragrance is exactly what I wanted By the Fireplace to smell like--a spicy, smoky, sticky molasses reminiscent of freshly baked Christmas gingerbread and a smoldering wooden log crackling in the fireplace. It's much smokier than I anticipated, but the almost caramel-like molasses balances out the harsher edges of the smoke and spice. The deep dry-down reveals a smooth woody base drizzled in the sticky-sweet molasses that almost smells like maple syrup at times. After several hours, all I can smell is maple syrup. This fragrance is incredibly potent. Just a few drops last for hours and hours. To quote a few other reviewers, this fragrance has "spicy, caramelized sweetness with a burnt-smoky edge," is a shining representative for the "dark-sweet-and-spicy" fragrance category as a "smoky, spicy blend of deep dark molasses and nutmeg"--all apt descriptors for this gorgeous gem of a scent. It's sticky-sweet, spiced, and smoky with a smooth woody base. So gorgeous. It does feel a bit cloying to me in the summer (honestly, it's my fault for bringing it out this time of year), but I imagine that this fragrance would be the perfect olfactory backdrop for a frozen winter morning.