Black Vines
Designed for gourmand rebels who reject standard vanilla scents, Black Vines brings heavy spice and resinous woods to freezing autumn nights. John Pegg blends dense star anise with bitter ivy and smoking incense for a dark profile. It projects aggressively, making it ideal for leather jackets and outdoor bonfires.
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Performance Metrics
1,165 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Longevity easily reaches 10 to 12 hours on skin, with fabrics retaining the scent for several days. Projection is heavy for the first three hours, extending four to six feet before softening to a steady two-foot bubble in cold winter weather.
Notes Pyramid
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Black Vines opens with a thick, syrupy texture dominated by black licorice and star anise. Crisp Canadian fir and bitter ivy add a sharp green contrast before settling into a warm, resinous base of Peru balsam, vanilla, and tonka bean.
Main Accords
10 MAPPEDThe soft spicy and anisic accords dominate the opening with an intense medicinal heat. Over the first hour, the balsamic resin and warm cinnamon soften the sharp herbal edges, letting a creamy vanilla underlying warmth simmer close to the skin as the fragrance matures.
Community Data
2,136 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in fall and winter. The vote picture leans most toward night.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Huge 10 to 12 hour longevity on skin
Heavy projection that cuts through freezing winter air
Authenic and unapologetic black licorice note
Resinous Peru balsam and incense base adds warmth
Sharp Canadian fir and ivy prevent flat sweetness
Balanced unisex appeal for bold fragrance wearers
Outstanding performance requires only one or two sprays
Sticks to wool coats and scarves for days
Distinct artisan composition by perfumer John Pegg
Ideal scent profile for cold autumn and winter nights
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Aggressive medicinal opening can feel sharp to some
Extremely polarizing star anise note turns off beginners
Challenging to scrub off if oversprayed on skin
Lacks versatility for warm spring or summer weather
Unsuitable for quiet office settings or enclosed spaces
Syrupy sweetness may feel overwhelming indoors
Not a safe blind buy for casual buyers
Harder to sample due to limited batch availability
Dense balsam base can feel heavy on warm skin
Top notes resemble medicinal cough syrup initially
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Kerosene Black Vines Review: A Dark Licorice Winter Powerhouse”
Black Vines opens with a punch. The first spray delivers an unapologetic blast of dark black licorice and sharp star anise that demands immediate attention. It smells medicinal, viscous, and intensely aromatic right out of the nozzle. There is no subtle ramp up here. If you dislike anisic accords or expect a light vanilla, this initial wave will shock your palate within seconds.
Give it fifteen minutes and green ivy cuts through the heavy syrup. Canadian fir injects a crisp, piney bite that keeps the spice from feeling static. As the mid notes emerge, a faint trace of fig adds subtle pulp fruitiness alongside dusty cinnamon. Smoky incense begins to simmer beneath the surface, transforming the clinical medicinal blast into a rich, resinous woods profile anchored by Peru balsam.
On skin, the soft spicy and balsamic elements move back and forth over several hours. Hot skin draws out the bittersweet tonka bean and creamy vanilla, turning the composition into a dark gourmand. Cold air keeps the star anise and ivy front and center, giving off an herbal, almost ink-like edge. My personal take: the fir note is what actually saves this fragrance from collapsing under its own heavy licorice syrup.
Performance is downright massive. Two sprays of star anise and balsam project easily four to six feet for the first three hours before settling into a dense two-foot aura. Expect 10 to 12 hours of total wear on skin, and days if it catches a coat collar. This is strictly a cold-weather scent. Wear it on freezing winter nights, autumn walks, or around an outdoor fire pit. Do not attempt this in high heat or humid summer afternoon sun unless you want to suffocate everyone nearby.
This bottle is tailored for niche fragrance enthusiasts who crave bold statements. It fits leather jackets, heavy wool coats, and dark aesthetics. Beginners accustomed to gentle designer gourmands will likely find the medicinal bite overwhelming. It is entirely unisex, balancing sugary spice with bitter green botanicals and resinous woods. However, it lacks the easy-going versatility required for quiet desk jobs or tight airplane cabins.
Black Vines remains one of the most distinctive releases from perfumer John Pegg. It takes a polarizing note like black licorice and builds a deep, resinous world around it. Sample it first to see how your skin handles the star anise opening. If you appreciate uncompromising, dark artisan perfumery that lasts all day, this belongs on your radar.
FAQs
What does Black Vines by Kerosene smell like?+
Black Vines opens with an intense blast of dark black licorice and sharp star anise. Green ivy and Canadian fir inject an herbal crispness, while Peru balsam, vanilla, and incense create a warm resinous base during drydown. It feels thick, dark, and slightly medicinal.
How does the opening of Black Vines differ from its dry-down?+
The opening hits hard with punchy star anise and medicinal licorice. As it settles over thirty minutes, the sharp herbal edge softens. The dry-down reveals a smooth, cozy base of Peru balsam, vanilla, and tonka bean while keeping faint traces of dark spice.
How long does Black Vines last on skin and clothes?+
Expect outstanding longevity of 10 to 12 hours on skin with just two sprays. On heavy fabrics like wool coats and scarves, the resinous Peru balsam and incense notes can easily linger for several days in cold weather.
What is the sillage and projection profile of Black Vines?+
Projection is heavy and assertive during the first three hours, filling a four-to-six-foot radius. As the star anise settles, it relaxes into a solid two-foot scent bubble that remains noticeable throughout a cold evening out.
What is the best season to wear Black Vines?+
Black Vines shines best in late autumn and freezing winter weather. Sub-zero temperatures tame the heavy licorice syrup, allowing the piney Canadian fir and warm balsam to project crisply without becoming cloying.
What occasions suit Black Vines by Kerosene?+
Wear Black Vines for evening bonfires, outdoor winter walks, pub nights, or casual cold-weather gatherings. Avoid wearing this dense licorice scent to tight corporate office spaces, medical facilities, or formal indoor dinners where sillage could overwhelm others.
Is Black Vines more masculine, feminine, or unisex?+
Black Vines is thoroughly unisex. Men appreciate its woody fir, incense, and herbal star anise, while women enjoy its sweet vanilla, tonka bean, and spicy licorice notes. Anyone who likes dark gourmands can pull it off.
Who is the ideal target audience for Black Vines?+
This fragrance targets niche perfume lovers, gourmand enthusiasts, and collectors who prefer bold statement scents over simple office florals. It appeals directly to wearers who enjoy dark aesthetics, heavy winter spices, and intense licorice notes.
Can you layer Black Vines with other fragrances?+
Layering Black Vines is tricky because its star anise note is so dominant. However, pairing one spray with a straightforward cedarwood or pure vanilla fragrance can soften the medicinal licorice opening and smooth out the balsamic dry-down.
How does Black Vines compare to Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin?+
While both feature prominent licorice, Au Masculin is much sweeter and lighter, incorporating violet and praline. Black Vines is far darker, richer, and more resinous, packing heavy doses of Canadian fir, star anise, and Peru balsam.
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Dupes & Alternatives
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If Black Vines feels too intense, test Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin for a sweeter violet-licorice vibe or L'Artisan Parfumeur Fou d'Absinthe for a lighter, pine-focused herbal alternative without the thick balsam syrup.
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