By the Fireplace Maison Margiela 2015

A bit of cardboard and a few small twigs for the nest of embers, then dry wood from the shed.
With a few trained hand movements, the small door of the fireplace and the air flow valve are properly adjusted and checked every few minutes and readjusted if necessary.
The wood, combined with a portion of ambition and the aforementioned hand movements, ignites a fire in my small but highly warming French fireplace in the secluded house by the lake.
The scent of smoke lingers in the air, but contrary to the habit of completely opening the garden-facing sliding door to let the smoke dissipate, today only a small crack remains open.

While I am busy stoking the fireplace, my wife prepares tea and brings a pan with chestnuts and sugar.
She treats herself to black tea with an intense vanilla note and a splash of milk. For me, as a fruit tea drinker, there is hot orange tea with the broken stem of a clove.
The scents of orange and vanilla blend with the aroma of the smoky wood.
Every half hour, two logs are added, finding their place next to the already charred wood.

The special feature of this small fireplace is that there is also a kind of "cooking plate" made of cast iron on the surface, which becomes hot from the heat of the burning wood below.
Thus, the fire smolders below, and above, the now caramelized chestnuts crackle - mhhh!
A blanket in front of the fireplace and a good book round off the experience perfectly.
The various scent notes merge into an unmistakable masterpiece with character, exuding a feeling of well-being and "being at home".

This is exactly how I perceive the perfume "By the fireplace" from the designer house Maison Martin Margiela!?

Fragrance directions:
The fragrance types range from smoky-woody, sweet (almost gourmand) to softly winter-spicy and resinous. The progression changes from initially dry-smoky to sweet-smoky. The vanilla note with a hint of smokiness is very noticeable over a period of 5-6 hours before it drifts into a skin-close scent.

Characteristics:
I would describe the scent with the following words:
cozy (almost sensual), warming, contemplative, tranquil, carefree

H&S:
The longevity and sillage are, in my opinion, above average.
From time to time, a smoky-sweet waft brushes past my nose, making me smile every time.

Bottle:
The glass bottle fits the scent it contains; it is simple with a nice thick base, and the white-wrapped cord below the sprayer gives the overall picture a slightly nostalgic touch. The label on the front includes a brief overview (What do I offer, who am I suitable for, where was I made). The color of the liquid is well chosen, although it could have also been in a dark red tone. The bottle does not have a cap.

My conclusion:
A unique scent that I definitely classify as an autumn or winter perfume.
Anyone who cannot do without smoky-woody and vanilla-like fragrances with good spice balance should definitely test this scent. The gentlemen should not be deterred by the aforementioned sweetness of this fragrance, as the smoky-woody note also lends a touch of masculinity to the scent - thus Unisex :)

Happy Valentine's Day to you all,
smoky greetings, René