The Big Smoke is a rare amber with no vanillin as they wanted it to smell of dry smoked woods. It is one of London’s nicknames from the days before the Clean Air Act, when fog mixed with coal smoke was too dangerous to go out in. It feels like a film noire with its notes of tobacco, vetiver, a smidge of smoky white birch, a shed load of labdanum blended with frankincense, dark patchouli, Cashmeran velvet, Cedramber, Ambrox and two musks. There’s a flash of green: cardamon essential oil and aldehyde C10, for its waxy candle-like feel. The Big Smoke is an eau de parfum, edp.
4160 TUESDAYS THE BIG SMOKE REVIEWS
Noseprose: "I was instantly captivated by The Big Smoke, which wasn’t the first one I reached for as I wasn’t in the mood for a smoky fragrance for a while. I finally tried it on Guy Fawkes Day, though not on purpose as I was distracted by another major event on the same day this side of the pond in the United States… and realized the coincidence only later. However, it turned out bright rather than smoky to my nose. My “hint of absolution” feels like a blaring slogan on a blimp, because I get the frankincense in megadose, and it makes me imagine the whole scene as yellow. Sure, the liquid itself is yellow, but that’s not the reason. Frankincense is a note that took a while to grow on me, partly with the help of Amouage samples and their talks about the ancient resin. I love it now, and the way its lighter facets uplift a composition. The opening of The Big Smoke reminded me of a licorice root tea from Aveda that I discovered more than two decades ago—bright and juicy with a natural sweetness in the back of the palate. This was the olfactory equivalent. I could deduce how labdanum might contribute to this overall effect, and could detect the impression of tobacco but not the drier notes of vetiver or birch. I finally found them lurking very close to the skin, particularly shortly after a spray, along with the other supporting notes. A side note about the supporting notes: while the “candle wax,” meant to set the scene of “finding your way inside a candlelit wood-paneled library” (per the brand website), is not prominent, it appears to conspire with labdanum (the most likely culprit) to create a slightly sour effect, which could be found in such a library with bookshelves made of old wood. The frankincense is faithful throughout the wear. I haven’t smelled anything like The Big Smoke before, and I keep coming back to this creation by perfumer Sarah McCartney. All of this scene-setting makes me want to settle in front of a cozy mystery for some escapism, while glad that I don’t live in the times or places in which these stories are set."
Fragrantica: "4160 Tuesdays sent me a sample of this along with an order of A Flame In Your Heart. The first time I tried it, it seemed a masculine scent and quite challenging. The more I tried it, the more I liked it and I'm now on my second bottle. It took me some time to "read" this scent and follow it through its evolutions over time. At first the wood and smoke overwhelmed the other notes. As I've got to know it, I can enjoy more of its facets such as the incense in the base. There's also a very subtle medicinal note early on that I really enjoy - it's almost like Germolene. Don't be put off by this; it's far from the most prominent note. I can't think of any other perfume quite like this. The sillage and longevity are both moderate. Even sprayed generously, people will need to be close to you to enjoy it. I have tried it layered with Tempest Rose, another 4160 Tuesdays perfume, and the floral notes blended beautifully with it but I prefer it standing alone. I have marked this as good value because although it isn't cheap, it smells expensive. I would guess the ingredients are of a high quality. I am fickle when it comes to perfume. There are so many divine scents in the world that sticking to one signature perfume is a tragic waste, but I have been wearing The Big Smoke a lot. There's something about it that I find quite addictive."
Fragrantica: "This is my first try of 4160 Tuesdays The Big Smoke, a dry smoky woody resinous blend that is big in terms of smoothness and well-blendedness but not overly loud or spicy or ashy. I get a bit more patchouli and birch and vetiver in the opening and more pure labdanum and frankincense in the dry down, but there are traces of all of these key notes throughout, with a sort of general muskiness during its lifespan, also. I instantly love it as a great option for cooler weather, especially, that is nonetheless not overwrought to the point of being unwearable on a mild summer evening, even. For those that like layering, I could see this being layered with a diverse array of floral, fruity, sweet, etc. fragrances, as Sarah herself suggested layering it with the rosy chypre Court of Ravens, for example, which I wore for the first time yesterday. It performs quite well. I’d certainly recommend that everyone check this out, as I could see it working well for just about anyone. 8 out of 10"
