Miller Harris La Fumée (the smoke) is a dry, woodsy incense fragrance. I don’t see La Fumée as smoky but more of a meditative “steamy” fragrance. This scent mellows me out in the way that Penhaligon’s Elixir does. This is a fragrance that I wear for myself.
La Fumée opens with this “evergreen filth” that isn’t as “clean” or “fresh” as most evergreen scents. It’s a mix of living evergreens and cool spices like cardamom (which I adore). There is a cool, citrusy, gummy resins with all of this too. This all sounds fresh, clean and cool. But, it’s not. Underneath this we have a faint, skanky cumin and smoky, warm cade-cedarwood coming through. The scent is very dry. Don’t let this heart scare you. It isn’t overwhelmingly dirty. It adds a subtle “sauna” element to this steamy fragrance. With time, it all smooths out into the creamiest Mysore sandalwood and acrid, churchy incense. La Fumée floats like steam and it takes my stress with it.
Notes listed include cistus, cardamom, coriander seed, Egyptian cumin, elemi, incense, cedarwood, Mysore sandalwood, cade and birch tar.
Give La Fumée a try if you like dry, woody scents, mass-like incense fragrances or perfumes like Penhaligon’s Elixir, Bond No.9 Andy Warhol Silver Factory, Le Labo Santal 33, Etro Messe de Minuit and/or Prada Infusion d’Homme. La Fumée is unisex. But, since it lacks florals and is dry, I’d say it leans towards the masculine end of the spectrum.
Projection is average with this one and I find longevity below average. I would usually complain about this, but La Fumée is a meditative scent. In this case, I like that it isn’t overwhelming. It’s one you apply in solace when you need to de-stress. And because of this, the tone of La Fumée is serious.
Miller Harris la Fumée comes in two sizes with prices ranging from £65-£95 at Miller Harris.
Victoria’s Final EauPINION –A very dry evergreen and incense steam. I really enjoy this fragrance as a “meditative”, invigorating and relaxing scent…one to wear for myself.
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You won me over right when you said “skanky, cumin and smoky”
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