Burning Ben
Created by perfumer Prin Lomros in 2018, Burning Ben caters to niche fragrance enthusiasts who prefer unapologetically dark, avant-garde scents over safe office florals. Thick notes of cognac, incense, and castoreum demand a confident wearer and a cold autumn evening. While the medicinal opening of burning rubber and booze offends some noses, the warm coffee and hazelnut dry-down rewards those who enjoy challenging, atmospheric perfumery.
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Performance Metrics
644 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Pushes strongly for 2 hours with arm's-length projection before dropping to a moderate 2-foot bubble. Longevity averages 7 to 9 hours on skin and over 24 hours on fabrics, thriving best in sub-zero winter temperatures.
Notes Pyramid
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A dark, resinous scent profile that opens with scorched birch tar, bitter espresso, and raw leather. The heart softens with dark chocolate, allspice, and plum, before drying down into a warm base of beeswax, amber, and roasted hazelnut.
Main Accords
10 MAPPEDThe leather and smoky accords dominate the opening with an intense burned-rubber quality. As the wear progresses, the warm spicy and coffee accords take control, smoothing out the animalic castoreum with sweet beeswax and chocolate undertones.
Community Data
508 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 winter and fall.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Extremely unique blend of dark roasted coffee, birch tar, and leather.
Excellent longevity lasting 7 to 9 hours on skin.
Rich, cozy dry-down of dark chocolate, hazelnut, and beeswax.
Stands out clearly in cold winter and late-night outdoor settings.
Complex note progression from harsh industrial smoke to warm gourmand.
Distinctive artistic creation by renowned perfumer Prin Lomros.
Strong performance without requiring more than two sprays.
Appeals strongly to collectors of dark, avant-garde niche fragrances.
Plum and allspice add a pleasant subtle sweetness in the mid-phase.
Clings to wool coats and winter scarves for multiple days.
Unisex appeal for anyone comfortable wearing heavy smoky scents.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Opening blast of burning rubber and birch tar can be polarizing.
Not suitable for warm weather or high summer humidity.
Animalic castoreum note may offend sensitive noses when oversprayed.
Completely unfit for conservative office settings or professional interviews.
Initial 20 minutes can feel overly harsh and unapproachable.
Requires patient skin testing rather than a quick paper blotter sniff.
Lacks fresh, clean, or uplifting top notes for casual daytime wear.
Bottle design and theme might feel overly dark for some buyers.
Limited availability compared to major designer perfume brands.
Coffee note leans dark and bitter rather than sweet and creamy.
Can easily overwhelm people sitting nearby in enclosed spaces.
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Strangers Parfumerie Burning Ben Review: Scorch, Smoke, and Espresso”
Strangers Parfumerie Burning Ben hits the skin with immediate, challenging force. Perfumer Prin Lomros opens the fragrance with an uncompromising blast of acrid birch tar, bitter espresso beans, and singed leather. It smells remarkably like a freshly struck match thrown onto a leather jacket soaked in spilled cognac. The immediate impression is raw, industrial, and deliberately jarring, offering zero apologies to fans of clean, easygoing designer releases.
Give the scent twenty minutes on warm skin, and the initial harshness begins a fascinating shift. Notes of dark chocolate, roasted hazelnut, and sticky beeswax start creeping through the dense smoke wall. The birch tar retreats slightly into the background, allowing a rich plum and allspice accord to sweeten the mid-phase. What initially felt like an industrial accident transforms into a warm, dark coffee house setting.
On skin, the animalic castoreum and smoky incense accords radiate with surprising depth. Rather than staying flatly burnt, the scent alternates between dry campfire ash and rich espresso foam. The labdanum and amber base provide a steady, resinous warmth beneath the bitter top notes, ensuring the fragrance never turns thin or chemical as the hours roll on.
Performance is stout without turning into an unwearable hazard. Two sprays project strongly past arm's length for roughly two hours before settling into a cozy two-foot aura. You will easily get 7 to 9 hours of reliable longevity on skin, and wool coats will hold the dark roasted coffee dry-down for days. Save this bottle for crisp autumn evenings, freezing winter nights, or outdoor winter gatherings.
This is certainly not a safe blind-buy candidate for beginners or lovers of fresh aquatic scents. It requires a confident wearer who appreciates artistic, storytelling perfumery and does not mind polarizing reactions from bystanders. Men and women who enjoy dark niche houses like BeauFort London, Kerosene, or Orto Parisi will find plenty to admire in its brooding character.
Burning Ben delivers on its dramatic theme with genuine perfumery skill. The transition from scorched timber and tar to a comforting chocolate espresso dry-down is satisfying and deeply memorable. If you want a subtle office scent, look elsewhere. If you want a moody, dark leather and coffee signature for cold weather, grab a sample bottle immediately.
FAQs
What does Burning Ben by Strangers Parfumerie smell like?+
It opens with a heavy burst of smoky birch tar, harsh leather, and bitter espresso beans. Within thirty minutes, sweet dark chocolate, beeswax, and plum emerge, transforming the aggressive smoky opening into a warm, roasted coffee and amber scent.
How does the opening of Burning Ben compare to its dry-down?+
The opening is industrial and aggressive, packed with burning rubber, cognac, and acrid birch tar. As it dries down over two hours, the smoke retreats, revealing a much softer gourmand mix of roasted hazelnut, dark chocolate, and incense.
How long does Burning Ben last on skin?+
You can expect 7 to 9 hours of solid wear on skin. On clothing, especially heavy wool winter coats and scarves, the dark coffee and beeswax notes will easily linger for several days after application.
How strong is the sillage and projection of Burning Ben?+
It projects past arm's length during the first two hours of wear. After three hours, the sillage softens into a cozy two-foot bubble around the wearer, keeping the smoky leather impression noticeable without choking an entire room.
What is the best season to wear Burning Ben?+
This fragrance is built exclusively for cold weather. It shines during freezing winter days and crisp late-autumn evenings. Heat and summer humidity will cause the dense birch tar and castoreum notes to feel overwhelming and heavy.
What occasions are best suited for wearing Burning Ben?+
Save this scent for casual evening outings, winter bonfires, leather jacket weather, or creative night events. Avoid wearing it in formal office environments, tight airplanes, or quiet medical settings where bold smoke can disturb others.
Is Burning Ben masculine, feminine, or unisex?+
It is marketed as unisex and worn by both men and women who love smoky, dark perfume. While the leather and birch tar give it a masculine edge initially, the chocolate and plum dry-down works beautifully on anyone.
Who is the ideal audience for Burning Ben?+
It is crafted for niche fragrance collectors, lovers of dark avant-garde scents, and fans of perfumer Prin Lomros. Beginners looking for light citrus or fresh aquatic fragrances should look elsewhere, as this scent demands an adventurous nose.
Can you layer Burning Ben with other fragrances?+
Yes, it layers exceptionally well with sweet vanilla or amber fragrances. Spraying a simple vanilla oil beneath Burning Ben softens the acrid birch tar opening and enhances the creamy espresso and dark chocolate notes in the dry-down.
How does Burning Ben compare to Serge Lutens Ecrin de Fumee?+
While both fragrances explore dark smoke and cacao, Ecrin de Fumee is sweeter and smoother with prominent rum and tobacco. Burning Ben is harsher, featuring a stronger birch tar opening and a distinct bitter espresso bean note.
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Dupes & Alternatives
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Consider Serge Lutens Ecrin de Fumee for a smoother tobacco-cacao blend, or BeauFort London Vi Et Armis if you want even harsher smoke without the sweet espresso dry-down.
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