Broken Theories by Kerosene

Photosource: The Perfumery Barcelona

What initially opens with a blast of green notes instantly turns into a bonfire gone cold. Broken Theories smells like waking up early on a summer morning in a cabin. You walk outside while everyone else is still asleep after a night at the bonfire, the fire has gone out, but the morning dew reawakens the smell of burning wood just slightly. 

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Kerosene fragrances often have a dark element that evokes memories or visions of fire or smoke, very fitting to the house' name. Broken Theories isn't as strong as Blackmail though, but it doesn't have a sweet undertone either making it more realistic. After dry down, the fragrance remains much the same on paper, but vanilla peaks through and the initial scent of bonfire turns into that of incense. 

The story of Broken Theories on my skin is different, however. After dry down, even five hours in, the blend of tobacco, incense and oud imitates the most realistic scent of smoke. The fragrance does not change like it did on paper, during the day I got whiffs of smelling like a bonfire, Broken Theories imitates the smell of how clothes smell after sitting next to a fire impeccably.

The realistic imitation and lack of any other note to break that vision make Broken Theories a more quirky experience rather than a wearable fragrance, that is on my skin at least.

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I adore Kerosene and John Peggs creations, but Broken Theories isn't one of my favourite, the fragrance reminds me far too much of Blackmail by Kerosene, which despite its stronger character was much more wearable as a fragrance.