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Shamuelski – :
miller harris house has a very very unique “form” .in general, miller harris “form” is lush and at the same time its thoughtful . Its posh but at the same time its very social .
I believe la fumee from MH is a revolution in spicy and incense genre . An incensed and spicy fragrance that can control these two difficult elements fantastically and turns the oriental spicy genre which can be too much sometimes , to a very lush ,gorgeous,classy ،moderate and sociable scent !
Each word and scene of la fumee keeps the “form” And harmony . thoughtful timing and changes , never looses its balance , and whispers the journey , A beautiful autumn or winter journey.
Remember , when fire goes off ..then , La fumee starts ! sharp ,incensed woody ,cardamom and labdanun race ,in a semi sweet field. For about half hour ..then slowly changes ,after all that heavy incense now you can see lavender more clearly and la fumee Incensed face changes to kind of smoky and mid spicy .this smoke is coming from cedar , from far away .you can see the view and there is a lovely silence in the scent , absolutely beautiful landscape . As la fumee goes ,it gets more and more smoky , birch ,smoked woods and amber .. and goes on ..
On my skin , La fumee has a great longevity and also good sillage which suits the scent very well .
Completely unisex,
And I must point it out , La fumee belongs to the cold weather ,i mean not even spring , its a completely different fragrance in colder seasons , then you’ll see how beautiful she is .
Sex-Bomba – :
Without a doubt this has shades of L’air Du Rien but is more of a masculine old boys club perfume.
I see a dimly lit room, Chesterfield in the corner and books floor to ceiling on oak wood bookshelves.
This perfume is slightly smoky, has a pinch of dust and almost certainly a pot pourri, powdery, incense note.
It dries down sweetly, projecting a lovely aroma which smells nicer than it does on my skin. There is definitely Cumin in this and it has turned my skin slightly sweaty but in a good way.
This is a very sexy, come to bed fragrance and in my humble opinion, is another MH masterpiece, (L’air being another one)
Fabulous projection which smells differently than when worn and if you love sweet but masculine perfumes, this will thrill you as it did me. Try before you buy.
demis_grek – :
Unlike the reviewer below, I do not sense cumin. This is a straight-up “churchy” incense with a bit of lavender (love it) but more of a cologne style. I always feel a bit off wearing an incense-style scent during the heat of the summer, but this is so sheer and light, a mere veil of elemi and labdanum. I wish–dearly wish that the cardamom was more perceptible–but on me it’s perhaps in the first notes, the fresh smell of ground cardamom that has a citrusy, lemon-wood smell that all-too-soon dissipates. The geranium adds a peppery, biting crunch in the top notes.
Overall, I quite like it and appreciate it’s more “bank friendly aspects.” I’m definitely picking up a bottle because it’s affordable and well done, smooth and not heavy.
For those who want a change from the rich, heavy and resinous “winter” incenses, I think the lavender/geranium and “soft” cardamom does the trick, moves it away from sweater weather into something lighter, more effervescent. The other notes listed, I sense very little of, e.g. the birch–this isn’t leather on my skin. At times, I almost feel like I’m not wearing a scent at all it’s so light. Just when I thought it was gone, a lady near me said “You smell so good–your perfume–what are you wearing?” So, there you go. I never get compliments, and when I do, it’s often for these sheer, almost imperceptible, now you smell it, now you don’t types of scents. Good “entry level” incense as well. Moderate longevity.
zolik – :
Ruination by cumin.
A very light citrusy incense with a flimsy base and a dominant touch of the notoriously armpitty cumin. Don’t expect any significant smokiness. In some cases cumin actually works, but here it doesn’t (might be a skin chemistry issue). An overdose of BO and not much else. I’m gonna pass.
Average longevity, relatively quiet sillage.
stiven – :
Gorgeous fragrance! It smells neither feminine or masculine to me, so perfectly unisex.
Such a warm, spicy, but not overpowering scent. I’m glad I didn’t look at the notes before buying a decant or I never would have, as cumin in fragrance rarely turns out well for me. I cannot smell it here so I’m happy.
The amber in the drydown is so beautiful. I think this is a sensual/sexy scent.
mitek – :
Lately, someone complained to me that La Fumée is not a real incense fragrance but on my skin, it develops a very beautiful incense smoke/woody scent with just the right subtle amount of spices with a very good longevity(close to skin). Sillage is moderate. This is a very natural and not too sweet scent at all (on my dry to normal skin). Everything here is elegant: it´s not warm, it´s not loud, it´s not too quiet, not too dry, not too sweet and and it is not boring at all! It is a very beautiful perfume. As the gentle sweetness coming from laudanum begins to disappear, a subtle “grim”, “colder” aura starts surrounding this scent without completely enclosing it. When I wear La Fumée, I feel somewhat like coming back from a walk in the forest, in a cloudy winter with no snow, after the rain ceased to fall. I´m wearing a long hooded cape, swinging a censer as I walk, in silence, alone, as I reach my cabin and stop to catch some wood to burn inside. There´s some herbs drying in a dark corner and some spice on a small old , beautifully hand carved wood table. I just want to sit down and read.
Soldatbt – :
File under: a cut above.
Gorgeous, lush, opulent, oozing sensual spice in every direction. An absolute diva of a perfume that’s somehow also interesting enough to wear without cloying, and magnetically rich and complex when you give it time. Its floral qualities are actually a little too forward for me (female, tending to prefer masculine-tending woodsy unisex stuff) and the smoke is exceedingly perfumed – this isn’t bonfire or charcoal, but gentler and more soothing. So it is both girlier and less smoky than you might expect, but it’s still damn fine perfume.
It may not be the most outre or experimental smoky/spicy out there, but it is certainly leagues ahead of 80% at least of the competition at any price, and the best value by miles if you can find it discounted. Wearable in any weather other than really sweltering heat, and more adaptable than you may think. I’d really urge anyone to give it a try, but do test before going for the FB … it has a decided character and definitely is no wallflower.r
Shevachen – :
One of if not the best incense based fragrance out there. I thoroughly enjoy this. Sometimes I’ll spray a little on my hand just so I can enjoy it again. I put this up there with Amouage Epic Man.
9.5/10 –
nzj593JeomiWogkig – :
I bought this blind after reading the reviews and decided to take the risk and omg am I glad I did. I’ll start by saying I really like the simplicity of the bottle and the sketched flowers on it. It’s very lovely but the juice that is contained within is AMAZING!
This was truly a spiritual experience. Initially you get almost drunk with frankincense. There is no denying that this is strong at first and you’ll definitely not need to spray a lot. After a few minutes you get this hint of beautiful lavender and then the citrus notes. They are soft and in the background. You then get thrown into a Catholic mass; it smells like the moment of communion. You are quietly entwined by the incense and smoke as it starts to give way to the spices and woods. Wow! My head is spinning. The smoke, the spices and the woods. The experience is incredible and the notes are all played in their proper sequence. The dry down is a solemn prayer. The sandalwood remains sweetened by the amber. Quiet, gentle yet ever present in the air that surrounds you for hours. In my opinion this is a totally unisex fragrance. I feel it’s slightly more feminine than masculine although it’s not too sweet which is perfect to me. This is my new favorite. It’ll be great moving into Fall and Winter. Highly recommended if you love spicy and smoky scents. Six hours later and I’m still sniffing my arm.
Btw this is my first experience with Miller Harris and it was great. I’ll definitely be trying Terre D’Iris next as I love iris. ❤️
andrewa3 – :
A very well-balanced blend of incense, woods and resins with just enough smokiness and culinary spices to lend intrigue without overpowering. I don’t generally gravitate towards this genre of scent, but I really enjoy this. Maybe it’s the change of season towards cooler autumn weather, or maybe my tastes have changed. Or maybe my senses have been beaten into submission by the dear friend who gave me this sample. Any which way, I’m glad to have tried this. I can’t wait to give it a full wear on a crisp autumn morning.
Exareeinvoino – :
La Fumee is an oriental woody spicy perfume of exceptional quality. Now, this is not a genre I normally gravitate towards, since experience has taught me that I tend to wear my woody spicy perfumes only once in a while. But this is so well done, I am actually debating a full bottle purchase.
I get lots of incense, woods and spices and all these components are balanced beautifully and meld into your skin to sing in harmony. Definitely unisex and the drydown is gorgeous and stays with you for a long time. Now I am really curious to explore other offerings from this house.
Deroxambwa – :
Two FB and 2 sample vials arrived in today’s mail, along with a half dozen freebies. Out of this lot, La Fumee (unsolicited sample) was The STANDOUT!
Revolutions per minute (RPM) is a measure of the frequency of mechanical rotation, around a fixed axis, in one minute. After spraying the aforementioned 10 frags all over both arms, the # of SPM (Sniffs per Minute) skyrocketed, gravitating almost entirely on this Miller Harris gem. Why are we humans limited to 2 arms, when an Octopus can sample so many more scents at once? Life is not fair.
Never in a million years, would I have sampled this on my own, given aversion to labdanum-cistus and amber. Clearly, the gestalt is much greater than the sum of its parts. This is reminiscent of Serge Lutens’ Chergui, without the sweetness.
Tested on a 72 degree, non-humid autumn day.
critredsrek – :
Got a sample of it, its very smooth a bit earthy, warm and gentle, but I dont see a woman wearing it, its pleasant but masculine skin scent
Hoottfember – :
This was a blind buy, so I was quite suspicious when the unpretentious little box came in the mail… Then I gathered courage, opened it and sprayed.An explosive opening ! Smoke, incense, lemon, resin, all at once like fireworks !Then a little pause and tar came in, alone, close to the skin.Stayed a while, then smoke and incense sneaked back in for the dry down.And I suddenly realised that it reminded me strongly of Shiseido´s Feminite du Bois, as it smelled on fabrics and never on my own skin.
I couldn´t detect the smallest whiff of sandalwood, but then again, it doesn´t come out on my skin even from heavy sandalwood perfumes, like Samsara…
I think La Fumee is a gorgeous, warm, feminine (at least with my own chemistry) perfume, very well composed and a joy for all those who love resinous, incensy, smoky perfumes which rather whisper in your ear and seduce you stealthily rather than shout their sexiness from the rooftops !
Flooletealm – :
I tried it once, I was enchanted by its charme.
Do anyone think it is good on women? I’d like to wear it.
I really like Chergui too, do anyone think that they’re similar frangrances?
Thanks. 🙂
vab309JeomiWogkig – :
I think i must have a poor sample, as i detect nothing in this that would lead me to assume its name is correct.
i get no incense, no smoky vibe, and im dissapointed.
Ill not make judgement until i try it properly
KISELEVANATALIA – :
I´ve already have two scents by Miller Harris a was very satisfied with them. La Fumée is the third one and it was blind buy – just after reading a reviews here on Fragrantica. I´m soooo happy for that decision.
La Fumee is beautiful fragrance, very strong in first few minutes. But his true beauty comes later. It´s woody, spicey but not in a strong and disturbung way. It has a beautiful powdery layer what embraces whole scent.Also has pretty good longevity. Altough I stopped smell the fragrance after hour, my friend said she smells it everytime when I move my hand or turn the head. But not like a punch but in very tender a soft way.
Basson – :
moderate duration and sillage… oily smoky incense.. perfect to be layered with heavy duty oud!
anton_kac – :
My goodness me, this is sexy! Very smokey and warm with great sillage. The frankincense is stunning. getting more and more impressed with Miller Harris.
avgan1977 – :
A really very beautiful… smoky, creamy and evocative scent.
La Fumée has really really impressed me. I love the note of Amber generally in fragrances, I think it smells amazing on skin. I also love Sandalwood for the same reasons. La Fumée has both in great quantities. The result here is nothing short of sublime.
The fragrance is centred around incense, the main note from which it derives it’s name meaning “the smoke”. In fact, knowing that the word “perfume” itself comes from the Latin “per fumare” or “through the smoke”. I find the naming of this perfume incredibly apt and very fitting.
The central note of Frankincense is joined by dry Papyrus and sweet Elemi Resin, backed up by Coriander, Caraway and Cardamom. It’s incredibly exotic and very evocative. The other main player here is the Labdanum, which is a component of Amber in most fragrances, and this is a soft, sweet smell which combines with creamy Indian Sandalwood to create a gorgeous effect on warm skin. This fragrance is dry but sweet, and this is a great combination, as it is not cloying like most other perfumes. It’s very wearable and at almost any time of year.
I see this as a fantastic creation from perfumer Lyn Harris. Warm, dry and soft, yet sweet at the same time. It has an Eastern vibe which recalls the incense used in spiritual rituals but also the sweet amber and herbs which play really well on skin to make it very warm and inviting. I think the person wearing this would be very approachable, mysterious and sensual.
In short, I cannot recommend this highly enough. A highly well made creation and one certainly worthy of it’s price.
venema – :
Miller Harris – La Fumée
When we see upfront the notes listed “Incense, Sandalwood, Labdanum”, we would think about a powerful fragrance. It is NOT…
Here Miller Harris works these strong notes through their details and minimalistic facets, harmoniously doing a great job right there.
The cozy citrus and resinous opening shows spiced aspects as well but the Sandalwood is quite more detectable than the other notes.
Frankincense here is balanced with the other notes, we do not feel tired about it, it is resinous and sweet, translucent and smooth. The smokey facet comes from the Labdanum, little bit leathery, but everything here is soft and mild.
The drydown consists of dry woody aspect, mostly from cedarwood note plus the soft sandalwood that remains.
It is a beautiful fragrance and creation. It is not easy to elaborate a subtle and gentle perfume with strong notes like that. The fresh clean aspect and d.n.a. that belong from English parfumerie since centuries show traces right here as well
😀
vps126 – :
I wear La Fumee. My partner loves the smell on me, musky and warm with a very sexy smokiness. Like a fragrant wood fire, I find that thus lasts subtly – others can smell it on me long after I’ve ceased to smell it.
soccersale – :
Smoky incense with woods and birch make this smell very masculine and smoky. Some spices and a citrus like aroma add to the smoky masculine character of this fragrance.
The incense gives the scent a slight sweet sour sweat like note. Add this to the smoky spicy woods and you have a scent for a man’s man.
Very good scent for a man to wear. Thumbs up from me!
ALF_Kott – :
My second Miller Harris fragrance and I’m not sure what to make of it? This should tread familiar territory balsamic/resinous and judging by the name smokey. I don’t know if I expect masses of smoke now because I’ve tried some smoke bomb fragarances of late but La Fumee seems a bit tame.
The opening is a bit unsettled and I wasn’t sure it was balanced enough for my liking.
It’s soft sandalwood, elemi and labdanum which conspire to make a warming woody, incense type perfume which has a very subtle smoke to it.
The drydown is sublime though, really lovely a classy sandalwood/herbal mixture and worth considering.
Great drydown but didn’t grab me to begin with, good longevity though.
I like it, my girlfriend commented she wasn’t that impressed.
Fanta1128 – :
I feel it more suitable for a women then a man.
A very soft, gentle, sweet, resinouse (and smokey of course) perfume.
On me it opens with an interesting herbnote – but fade quickly.
It is a perfume that can be worn on any occation but to spice it up for a big party or event I would layer it with some bigger and bolder fume.
Think over all this is the kind of perfume that is perfect to layer.
A wonderful little number.
Macroence – :
Thanx smellME for the sample
I call this one a unisex. I wear it now and its smooth, gentle, skinclose, warm and fresh. Not typical male’ish at all. this scent is like a whisper, you have to hug the person who wears it and then you take a deep breath. Lovely!
Tack smellME for provet.
Jag kallar denna unisex. jag bär den nu och den är mjuk, hudnära, varm och fräsch. Inte typiskt manlig alls. En doft som är som en viskning, du måste krama personen som bär denna och då tar du ett djupt andetag och känner den.. superfin!
xx00xx – :
got a sample of this from the perfumed court, very nice warm spicy scent, gorgeous scent trail. liking this one very much.
some smoky quality to it, it is interesting. A nice scent cloud with this one,
first scent I have tried from this house, makes me curious on others..
excellent quality..i am ordering some more samples of their various scents from the perfumed court as well as on ebay.
the more time I spend with this the more I love this one, my wife seems to really like this , she does think it is a perfect cuddle scent.. sexy and alluring , not loud at all if you don’t go crazy with it, I find it a very seductive type of fragrance. sneaky… it will announce you as sensuous ..
Zzzz – :
First impressions; syrupy almost liquorice tar and a touch of medicinal cardamom. The beautiful layers pass leaving a “wood shop” momento. Not my orchestral Comme des gacons inscence range; a backyard bonfire versus High Church holiday.
Messer – :
This is Gorgeous! I LOVE it!
gxi284InsuffBooni – :
Twins with Chene by Serge Lutens. Enough said…. I’ll come back with more later. Until then, I have this on one wrist and Chene on the other one ( from a decant) . Chene is stronger and spicier, this is a little softer but still deep. They are still twins. La Fumee is the shy twin, Chene the more agressive one. La Fumee is the introvert while Chene is the extrovert. Both are asexual. I cannot say if they are male or female. But both are stunning, gorgeous, a little weird yet seductive. The misunderstood creatures of a world not yet discovered.
karapuzec99 – :
I’ve now got my big bottle of this.
Church/medicinal incense and sandalwood with a subtle slice of citrus.
Beautiful, and totally natural-smelling.
adelaida2879 – :
Beautiful, unforgiving and making no excuses with a super hit of genuine mysore – and you can really tell,.. I sprayed a tiny amount of this at 3 pm today, I’m still getting gorgeous little wafts of a soft drydown even now at 12.15 am.. I could wear this without hesitation. *update… couldn’t resist it in the end and have succumbed with a 100ml bottle : ) love it!
any8003 – :
I really like La Fumee and find it cozy and original. I am a woman and find it works well on me (I tend to prefer unisex scents, but I will go floral when in the mood). This scent is rich and exotic, with a good earthy and smoky/woody body and it lasts nicely (and stays authentic to itself) for hours. It may be “too much” to wear to work every day, but I enjoy it as a personal treat in the evenings or on week-ends. I would love to try La Fumee Arabie, but that is very pricey and I was unable to find a sample. If anybody has a sample (or is willing to sell me a sample from their actual bottle), I would be interested.
dem4ik – :
This one didn’t work for me.It went on as a strong, sharp, invasive woody with overpowering notes of cumin that read as sweat. I couldn’t get if off fast enough. The cumin note was actually offensive. Perhaps my skin amps that note, but if you dislike cumin, sample this with caution. If you like wood, sample it anyway, but again, with caution.
vladimir.laylkov – :
This is absolutely lovely. I really enjoyed Le Labo’s ‘patchouli 24’ and this shares a similar Autumn bonfire scent which I LOVE. I bought feuilles de tabac for my husband, but I will be coming back to buy this one for me…!!
Liereeton – :
Miller Harris LA FUMEE is a beautiful, complex, woody oriental perfume. There are lots of characteristically strong components in this composition, but they are blended together most harmoniously. I would definitely call this a unisex creation, as there is no reason to restrict it to men! True, this is not sweet or floral, but it’s also not particularly masculine, it seems to me.
The incense is dominant, but there is so much more going on here, including labdanum and elemi, which impart a richness, and spices such as cardamom, which embellish the incense and woods. Because LA FUMEE is multilayered and nonlinear, I find it difficult to describe. But it is gorgeous and a pleasure to wear. This creation is relatively dark, but not in a heavy, oppressive way. It does seems best suited for cooler weather.
I am very impressed with the potency of this Miller Harris perfume, which I’ve managed to wear several times from a 1.6 ml manufacturer’s carded sample. I have loved every single wear, and this compelling creation is now on my wish list!
IzSerg – :
Intensely evocative fragrance, makes me travel from an autumnal garden where leaves are burnt to a High Church service mystically shrouded in clouds of incense smoke. A hint of the Orient somewhere, balmy and warm.
Smoke is captured well and it does stay from beginning till the end. Sensual and festive, almost Proustian, if you replace the Madelaines with a smoking fireplace.
It is something I would wear in the afternoon or evening, more masculine than feminine, more holy and outdoorsy than boudoir. Synaesthesia at work every time I sniff it, it is definitely takes me on a journey.
pargkjm – :
Not sure about this – in the shop this came over as a lighter, sweeter scent but now, at home, I can definitely smell the incense and woody fragrances which I hadn’t noticed before. I like the middle and base notes.
Update: have now worn this for a couple of days and have decided I really like it. The top is a bit flat (resin?) which quickly gives way to smoky incense followed by lovely sweet cedar note (or perhaps it’s sandalwood) which lasts for hours. My husband commented on how nice I smelt today and I’m pleased I bought it now. I hadn’t realised it was supposed to be a men’s fragrance when I did, but personally I think it you like it, it really doesn’t matter.
qaan – :
I really like this and I’ll wear it, for men or no! It’s warm, easy, comforting. There’s a very slight ‘spicy’ edge to it – wonder if it’s elemi? I don’t know what elemi smells like – but it’s tolerable.
My husband really likes it too, he says it smells like sandalwood oil which is one of his favourite essential oils.
kuzma – :
I have been looking a LONG time for a smokey, woodsy scent like Feu de Bois candles by Dyptique. This one ALMOST(!) made the grade… Unfortunately, after an hour or so, it turned too sweet. Nice for women, though.
ЗМВ – :
Definitely unisex. Sexy and smokey. Incense, labdanum and sandalwood are the main notes I detect. I smelled a bit like a bonfire crossed with a church mass to begin with (in a very good way), but later it sweetened up. Lovely for cold weather. Slightly austere but also warming and a bit festive.