A City On Fire

very profound smokey scent initially, becomes more layered as it dries down with some hints of sweetness. definitely a campfire vibe. could see this used both in fall/winter nights but also summer nights due to the campfire resemblance. reminds me a lot of pineward's cotswold except much more tolerable for me (i hated cotswold), but ymmv

This perfume made me hungry. It smells like grilled sausages 😭

A very interesting fragrance that I quite like. I have owned a single bottle since 2016, and I still have half of it left. This is not a fragrance for daily wear. It is best suited for chilly fall nights or bitterly cold winter days when you are heading out on an adventure, or at least want to feel as though you are. Upon the initial spray, you are surrounded by a strong, rounded, and full-bodied combination of campfire smoke and burnt matches. Behind the smoke are subtle hints of tart, dark berries. As it dries down, it develops into an almost sweet, smoky scent, with prominent dark berries blending beautifully with soft, spicy notes. One full spray is more than enough to enjoy the fragrance’s complete scent profile for six to eight hours. However, traces of it can remain on your clothing for days. It is one of my favorite fragrances to show off to friends who are fragrance enthusiasts because it is so unusual and distinctive. I would recommend owning it if you enjoy novel and unconventional fragrances.

Burning match is so accurate - it’s an intense smell of fire and smoke, not like a cigarette or a bonfire, but something more edgy. An urban fire, man made structures smoking and smoke curling in the air. The smell of this on your clothes is *amazing* Perfect for those of us whose teenage passions were urban exploration and amateur pyromania. The smell of my clothes after a night of lighting random shit on fire. Waking up in a tent with a fire still smoldering. In the drydown I pick up the juniper berries which makes me love it even more! Makes me think of film noir, people who drink scotch, wandering the city at night, this memory I have of watching a giant wooden mansion burn down and the billowing smoke and heat hitting me from across the street, cyberpunk/post apocalyptic vibes, The Road By Cormac McCarthy, the Torso graphic novel, leather jackets and piercings, mysteries, controlled burns, Sin City, speakeasies and 24 hour coffee shops.

I may dislike it but to be fair it was a blind buy - VERY sharp/peppery with a faint sweet undertone, it is pretty strong and lasted me 12 hours, and I was able to taste it (thats how strong for me 😭). Wouldn't be for regular use but more or so to tell a story or to be ren faire dragon lovers best friend

i like the smokiness of it, but it also kind of smells like antiseptic throat numbing spray

Interesting. Definitely not an every day, wearable scent - but I couldn't stop smelling it. I think it reminds me of some of the war scenes from fantasy novels somehow and I don't know why. Definitely has a BBQ smoking on a charcoal grill smell as well

Kind of wild: I smelled this and thought of "smoked meats" (like, you're in a smokehouse...). What's wild is my dog -- who is days from death (he's pretty out of it, sweet old man) -- woke WAY up, and he started sniffing the air and trying to get out of his bed. It's a bold, fatty, smoked meats smell. It's hypnotic.

Very realistic gunpowder smell, like something my grandpa owned for 50 years.

opening smells like Mumbai caught on fire

Definitely a winter/autumn scent, one of the most definitive smokey fragrances that I have ever tested. Smells like a more aromatic, almost herbal version of Memoirs of a Tresspasser by Imaginary Authors (for those that have tried this incredible masterpiece). Not a particularly complex fragrance to say the least. To me, this smells like what my leather jacket and favourite pair of jeans smells like after I've been sitting around a fireplace with the smoke trail billowing in my direction for quite some time. Nonetheless, it makes for a very interesting scent that might not suit everyone. Personally, it would be nice as a novelty to my collection with its basic smokey accords, but I would still continue to choose Memoirs of a Tresspasser by Imaginary Authors 10 times out of 10 for the complexity of the scent and the layering of accords that make it so excellent

this fragrance made me regret having a nose

my signature scent. great performance. amazing smell. if u have smelled scents that were meant to be smoky and u felt disappointed dont worry i did too till i smelled this and i acc took a step back and smelled again and realised wow. thats acc smoke. theres not much to say, the smoke is balanced out with the juniper and berries. and it creates my dream signature scent, thats it man.

Smells like wood and smoke. Like an arsonist or a scout. Probably best for sommer or autumn, but would be hard to find a suitable setting to wear it for.

Smoked sausages and burnt matches, very unpleasant

It smells like BBQ. When it dries down it smells like coal. I don't particularly like it but my boyfriend loves it, so there's that.

I ordered a 1ml tester of this scent and it made my boyfriend and my roommate gag. It was definitely not for me it reeks of barbeque not like a delicious one but a disgusting one.

I haven't posted a review on this site in years, but testing this perfume left an impression on me, which is how I classify a good perfume. A well executed scent evokes a reaction and makes you feel. I am not going to talk about the notes but rather the images and textures that this perfume brought to mind. This scent is not necessarily my cup of tea, but I commend its execution. The name "City on Fire" could not be more perfect, as this scent does depict a fire, but one that is purely urban. There is nothing natural or botanical in the overall presentation of this perfume. I get melted tar, burning tire tracks on hot asphalt, cars on fire, and black choking smoke billowing into an urban sky surrounded by concrete and glass buildings. There is something in this perfume that unsettles me. It is raging, aggressive, and brash. This perfume feels apocalyptic, and almost political. It encapsulates a sense of dread, like coming across a disaster, a blazing catastrophe that cannot be stopped and you have no choice but to breathe in the fumes and watch it burn. For me, this perfume highlights the fragility of humanity, and how everything we know can be gone in an instant. There is also a sense of resignation, a bitter realization that nothing can be done to stop this catastrophe since the damage has already been done. Even though this perfume was launched in 2014, it feels more topical than ever today. And it shrieks as it burns.

this perfume reminds me of growing up in the woods of NH. it reminds me HEAVILY of the bonfires in the backyard every other night, with the woods surrounding me. the soft floral undertones really bring this perfume to light, you gotta search for them but my god. when you smell them you fall in love with the memories of wood stoves, bonfires, and living in the country

Rubber dog toys! 😢

this opens with the smell of a burnt olive, and slowly transforms into something acrid. it's not pleasant at all.

Smells like a barbecue after the BBQ. Not very good.

Nothing but a burning smell. Like burning skin? To me it smells like burnt bacon. I was surprised to see any other notes besides burning match. Yuck

Honestly kinda just smells like someone threw a rubber tire into a bonfire. Not as grand as some of the reviews I've seen but also not a bad scent if you love smoky, masculine scents.

Tame and unremarkable. This brand really needs to stop half assing it and commit to their aesthetic more fully. It feels like they are always holding back and trying to stay somewhat mass appealing. This ain’t smoky enough

oh my GOD the smell of burning flesh and melting plastic is so strong in this one. photorealistic scent of a house fire. nearly gagged. props to imaginary authors for the most realistic fire scent ive ever smelled.

nostalgic for something i dont remember

More "spent last night around a campfire" than "oh god something's burning," more sexy than cute. Smoky of course, but woodsy too. Dries a little acrid. Might be a strange choice for a warm day, but very fun for an evening. Instant favorite for me!

Imagine you work all day in a mechanic shop, chain smoking lucky strikes all shift. You go straight to a bonfire after work deep in the woods. You are burning things you are not supposed to burn, plastic and tires. You go home and take a big whiff of your jacket - that’s what this smells like. First sniff, I hated this, which is saying a lot because I love an insane fragrance, but it has absolutely grown on me. I wouldn’t consider this an everyday wearable, but I love wearing this out to the club or any outdoor event

🔥 Smoky Sweater and Guitar 🎸 This scent is a faithful recreation of the clothes you wore all night by the campfire. It all begins with the authentic aroma of a struck match, which quickly settles into thick smoke. You get the vibe of hanging out with friends and strumming the guitar, where the smoke stings your eyes, yet no one wants to move away from the heat. Juniper plays the lead here: it smells exactly like fresh branches tossed into the glowing embers. It’s resinous, sharp, and raw. Even though there are no sausages in the notes, the smoky aura makes you subconsciously feel the atmosphere of shared meals and conversations stretching until dawn. When you wake up in your tent the next morning, this scent is the first thing that hits you. Your hoodie and sleeping bag are completely saturated with it. It’s no longer the biting smoke from before, but warm labdanum and cardamom settled into the fabric. They remind you of last night, right before you unzip the tent and step out into the crisp forest air. Visual archive on TikTok / IG: @the.scent.files