By the Fireplace

By the Fireplace is a standout fragrance from Maison Margiela's "Replica" line, essentially scents that intend to mimic very niche and specific moments in time. This fragrance is among my favorites in my winter collection, striking a perfect balance of pungent and sensually approachable. This is a true nighttime fragrance, any time of year you want to smell cozy and inviting; especially during the fall and wintertime. The initial spray and dry down are flat out strong, there truthfully is no sugar coating the intense burnt wood smell that is instantly apparent. The intensity is brief however, quickly simmering down into a very appealing woody fragrance. I personally adore the smell of fireplaces, so the first ten minutes are my favorite for the duration of the scent due to how familiar it smells to cedarwood and maplewood bonfires. Regardless, after the dry down it becomes warmly spicy with a tinge of smokiness in the best way possible. Imagine sitting next to a fireplace that has begun to simmer into a small, yet tremendously warm fire. The smell of the embers mixed with the slight smoke from burning wood, and a tinge of sweet vanilla. You will smell for a good five hours without any lotion or showering beforehand, and in my experience it can stick on clothing for days at a time. The sillage is also quite intense for an EDT, projecting a good 3-6 feet depending on the time of day and your personal skin chemistry. This fragrance is probably not a daytime wear unless its quite chilly outside, as the scent profile can be quite overbearing in warmer conditions. The price point to me at least is quite reasonable, especially for the amount of fragrance you get and the fact that the 100 ml bottle is refillable for 20% off. As always though, get testers beforehand and test on skin before making the purchase. OVERALL: 9/10 (Scent: 9/10) (Longevity: 7/10) (Sillage: 10/10) (Price: 8/10)

this was my second ‘expensive perfume’ purchase back in 2018 when I was first discovering proper fragrances, and I fell in love at first spray! I’ve never been a huge fan of mainstream / designer fragrances because the majority of them smell incredibly similar and incredibly chemical-esque to me, so I didn’t expect to love this so much when I picked up the tester in Mecca (though I guess it was a bit more niche at the time) and was pleasantly surprised by the uniqueness, the intensity and the actual layers to this scent. None of that chemical nonsense - By the Fireplace truly lives up to its name, delivering a strong dose of smokey, woody, spicy goodness from the get-go, followed by a sweet, spicy and smokey warm vanilla dry down that is to die for! Very reminiscent of a vanilla chai with a kick to it! It’s been 8 years and I still love this perfume as much as I did when I first tried it, despite having tried so many more fragrances (designer, high end, niche, indie etc) since then and developing and maturing my scent profiles - which is a testament to this scents perfection! I will always have a bottle on hand and it remains my top winter / night out scent - it’s also inspired my personal taste in many of the new scents I’ve added to my collection, keeping within the Smokey/woody/sweet vanilla/spicy profiles! An all time favourite and absolutely recommended🫶🏻x

I definitely lean toward loving pink pepper in scents, and this one hits all the right notes for me. I love that it gives a cozy feeling, and that you can still smell it on your clothes as you pass by them in the closet. If you are a fan of this as a fragrance, you must try a line of natural home/cleaning products created by Courtney Cox called Homecourt. There are hand washes and dish soap and counter cleaning sprays as well as lotions and candles, etc. Her signature scent for products is called CeCe, which has a nice smoky vibe to it and is wonderful. However, once a year she releases a limited-edition scent called "Balsam Fireplace" that is so close to By The Fireplace it's uncanny. If you'd like your home and kitchen (and your cleaning products) smelling like By The Fireplace, I'd truly suggest checking it out. I know that every year around October/November when she releases the Balsam Fireplace line I stock up, so that I can spend the cooler months having my home smell just like this scent.

In a previous review, I detailed how I smelled this in the store, loved it, bought a travel size... and returned it a day later, because I felt it was unfortunately too strong for me to wear around on my person. I remember writing I wish it was a candle or something, so I could still enjoy it without it being ME. As an update... Earlier this year I went on a couple of dates with this guy from Hinge. On date 2 I noticed he smelled sooo good... By date 3 I was insisting he show me what fragrance he was wearing. Imagine my surprise when he brought over his bottle of By The Fireplace!!! Suddenly it all made sense. This was an option I had never considered before... It doesn’t have to be me, and it doesn’t even have to be a candle — it can be a nice man I have around!! So he’s my boyfriend now. My sweet, smoky, woody, spicy boyfriend. (And if you want it in a candle... scent 35 by the brand Ninety Six is pretty much there!! I got it at Marshall’s.)

As soon as you spray it, you can identify the wood, chestnut and vanilla, accompanied by a smoky note that lingers throughout the development. For an EDT, it has good longevity around 5 to 7 hours becoming more intimate as time passes. It's a cozy, you can perceive the sweetness at first, but over time it turns drier. The drydown on skin is very rich. If you enjoy wood that gradually burns and turns to ash, with smoke that expands around you, you'll likely appreciate this fragrance. The sillage is moderate. This is a unisex perfume, best suited for cold climates, especially in the afternoon or evening. The opening can be somewhat challenging, this type of aroma isn't for everyone. However, I believe it's an olfactory experience that will invite you to smell it again. It's not something I'd wear daily, but it's definitely different from what you'll find on the mainstream market.

Probably the most faithful execution to the concept of the Replica line, By the Fireplace is, to date, the most evocative scent profile I've ever had the pleasure of smelling. Summarised by the unapologetically beautiful dichotomy of ash and spice with warmth and gourmand, the balance shifts dramatically as it develops from opening to dry down going from about a 75/25 split in the opening, 55/45 in the mid phase, and 20/80 by dry down. Opening: Bold smoky woods & pepper, accompanied by subtle chestnuts and florals Mid phase: Roasted chestnuts, enveloped by florals and vanilla Dry down: Fluffy roasted marshmallows on a syrupy vanillic base My all time favourite vanilla, and my signature scent for fall and winter. Scent: 9/10 Longevity: 7.5/10 Sillage: 7/10

Maison Margiela Replica By the Fireplace is one of the most comforting and unique fragrances you can wear. It opens with smoky cloves and pink pepper, instantly recreating the feeling of sitting by a warm fireplace. As it develops, roasted chestnut and creamy vanilla become the stars of the fragrance, giving it a rich, cozy, and slightly sweet character. Performance is very good, lasting around 8–10 hours with moderate to strong projection. It shines during autumn and winter, making it perfect for cold evenings, holidays, or relaxing indoors. While it's not the most versatile fragrance, it does exactly what it sets out to do and does it exceptionally well. If you enjoy warm, smoky, and cozy scents, By the Fireplace is an easy recommendation. 9.3/10.

I read that if you like Atelier des Ors' Lune Feline, this has a similar vibe. Lune Feline is one of my favorite scents, band-aid accord and all. But this I cannot pull off. I have smelled this on other people and it smelled wonderful (it smells great on paper too) but unfortunately it is so bitter on my skin. The dry down is even worse than the opening on me. However, I know that this scent can be heavenly and I have smelled it myself. So I won't be unfair and rate this low because my body hates it. I can see the similarity with Lune Feline. I'm so SO sad that my skin hates this. Thankfully I only purchased the travel size and can pass it along to friends who do like it. I know this scent is popular but do not blind buy and sample before buying!

I finally finished a full bottle of this perfume. I love the scent, I don't understand why people say it smells like smoke or cigarettes, I would even say it's a bit sweet but not gourmand. It's inviting and appealing to everyone. My boyfriend loves it, my friends love it, everyone who smells it really likes it, but at the same time it manages to be unique and distinctive. It's a signature scent that's worth it, BUT my biggest problem is the projection and the wake. It's eau de toilette. People only notice the scent about an hour after you spray it, after that, even if someone hugs you, they won't notice the scent. I thought I had finally found my signature scent, but this last problem makes me not want to buy another bottle.

Perfumes that smell exactly like other perfumes. This keeps happening to me. And by the Fireplace was last weeks dupe for the long discontinued L de Lolita Lempicka. By the Fireplace is a bit stronger. But the smell I would say is extremely similar to L. Not sure I would be able to tell one from the other. Today I've bought Marly Exclusif. Only to find it smells the same as the now discontinued Si Fiori. The only good thing about these four perfumes... At least I like them all. If I didn't I think I would sit and cry. And then you have the fact that both Si Fiori and L have been discontinued. So I no longer have to worry about running out.

BTF really does smell like being by the fireplace. But it is so much more than that. It is a very comforting smell. Something you are already familiar with because you have been next to a bonfire or just out in the woods with friends with a fire burning. The vanilla is right there under that burning wood smell and it is gorgeous! I sprayed my favorite hoodie with it and was laying on the couch this morning and I felt so comforted by the smell that it was nearly indescribable how I felt. It was like a warm hug from your beloved. Whoever came up with the idea to make a scent like this is a genius!

By the Fireplace is one of my favorite scents. To me, it does not heavily evoke a fireplace. Although it is cozy, it reminds me more of the scents in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Walt Disney World, particularly the burning village scene. The ride is known for its "smellitizers" that enhance the immersive experience by pumping in scents as you go along on the ride. I love that smell so much and have been looking for a scent that remind me of it. To me, By the Fireplace captures it with its woody, smoky, vanilla rum scent. I always want to have a bottle of this on hand.

this is the perfect alone or layering fragrance with the other replica scents, i think alone its a very cold day fragrance but in the heat i feel a little gross with it alone on which is where the layering comes in to improve that. i personally like the "beach walk" or "when the rain stops" layering for this scent which those alone are super good scents alone but this adds a bit extra if you still want the by the fireplace scent but feel a bit uneasy with it in the heat. this scent is perfect and definitely worth keeping a bottle in a collection for frequent use

I REALLY like this scent, it’s the first high end one I was willing to spring for and I bought the sample first to make sure I’d like it, it’s a realistic fire that fades to an ashy vanilla, it’s warm and inviting and sexy. I wear it when I’m feeling a little fancy and this is a scent I would also love on a man, I am probably still going to wait for a sale to buy more but it’s VERY good and has a super comforting vibe. Probably best as a fall scent but I could also see wearing it on a hot spring night when you conceivably could build a fire but don’t want to.

I believe the Replica line has some of the best quality designer fragrances bar none. And by the fireplace is my favourite example. I have yet to smell any other that is like this, how accurately the burning wood comes across, mixed in with the pepper and chestnut is brilliant. I would actually say that around £110 for 100ML of this is a good deal, as the unique factor is strong, and the projection and longevity is good for an EDT. I do think however that such a good line still making largely only EDTs is ridiculous and they would benefit from changing this.

It is so innately human to have a connection with fire and burning wood. This is a fragrance that will truly transport you and ground you in the memories you have with fire. We all have this connection - this memory of sitting By the Fireplace. It's warm, sweet burning wood, sticky marshmallows, cloves, smoke and vanilla. It's so delicious. On a more personal note, this fragrance has helped me mend my relationship with fire after having lost my home in the California wildfires this past year. It truly is something special and a fragrance I admire and adore.

Smoky but not overdoing it, balanced with hints of sweetness. First worn at a kickback outdoors in the winter, reminds me of that moment after being outside roasting marshmallows over the fire. Transitions into feeling like crawling into a nice wooden cabin for the night. This is a staple winter fragrance for me, and my current personal favorite. It's what got me into fragrances, and finding those unique scents that evoke specific emotions. Not as optimal longevity on skin yet the smell of a hoodie after wearing this is always comforting.

if you are considering purchasing a bottle of this in any size, heed my warning: this is the smell a campfire leaves on your clothes in a bottle personally my favorite fragrance of all time. i've always left my jackets and shirts unwashed the day after a campfire, purely for the smell it left. and this is that exact scent but on demand. amazing fragrance to wear if you enjoy that, very comforting throughout the fall and winter. also the only perfume i've received a compliment wearing around somebody "allergic" to perfume

They should’ve called this by the bonfire because omgggg it smells exactly like roasting marshmallows at the bonfire pits on the beach during summer nights. Likeeeee, such a photorealistic recreation of that smell for me that it genuinely makes me emotional. Takes me back to nostalgic childhood memories. One of the best smoky woody vanilla fragrances out there. Smelling it right now for the first time in a WHILE and I’m falling in love with it all over again. It smells even better now than ever before like WOWWW !

Lataffa's AAOIO is my GOAT perfume, so I was thrilled to find a sample box with By The Fireplace in it so I could discover its source of inspiration. It was everything I could have expected, as Angel's Share is to Khamrah. Less strong and doesn't clobber you as hard with the main note, but makes up for it with a whole symphony of harmonies and grace notes that just aren't there in the dupes. I'll be wearing AAOIO outside, and By the Fireplace when I want to sniff and take my time with it like an expensive wine.