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Top Review
Vicki-Lin is not my lover
2:57 AM shows the clock when the phone rings. Of course, I am already dressed, but I wait a bit before I pick up. I keep reminding myself: sound sleepy, be surprised. Is there a fire in the butcher shop? Oh, I’ll be right there, I love being at the fire department. And I really do, you have to believe me!
In the garage, I quickly take the empty gas can out of the trunk and set off leisurely. You don’t want to arrive too early, better to be inconspicuous, right in the middle. I can see the glow of the fire from afar, and the smell is in the air. Black smoke, biting and dense for some; full, spicy, and warm for me. You can almost hear the fat of half the cattle in the butcher shop sizzling. The smell hangs in the air like bacon, it makes you hungry right away.
As I get closer, I see that the fire has already spread to the forest. Some fir trees are ablaze like 30-meter-high torches. A treetop explodes, shooting up like a New Year’s rocket, spraying sparks from glowing needles and burning resin. A breathtaking sight, even more beautiful than the barn from last month.
Slowly, I get out of the car and walk over to my colleagues; putting out the fire is part of the job. On the way, I hum an old Swedish song, I think by Mickl Jaggelson.
Vicki-Lin is not my lover
she‘s just a girl who want‘s to burn down
all there is around
uh-huh-huuuhu…
-------------------
Vicki-Lin is a grand celebration for birch tar enthusiasts, a warm campfire or a major fire, depending on one’s level of personal resilience. For me personally, it’s more like a campfire; the smoke isn’t overwhelming, although it is certainly dark and dense. It is dominated by a very spicy, bacon-like birch tar, likely supported by juniper, Choya Loban (dirty incense), and a salty note from Choya Nakh (thankfully not also fishy). This smoke initially obscures my perception of other components, but fortunately, it clears a bit after a few minutes, allowing for some shy fresh notes to be detected (lemongrass, pine needles) as well as dry wood. The fresh notes do not improve the smoke; smoked bacon doesn’t necessarily get better with a splash of lemon either. A little later, one can even recognize something slightly green (probably the fern), although one should not get the wrong idea; all these ingredients (wood, needles, ferns) only serve as fuel for the flames, the smoke remains dominant. Only towards the base does the scent become a bit softer and gentler, with the resins coming more to the forefront, and one can at least hope that the entire forest hasn’t burned down.
One more note about the stink cabbage: I have no idea what it smells like, but I firmly believe it is included and perhaps even a central component of the fragrance. I can’t prove it.
So, if you like birch tar and have a dark, smoky soul, go for it! Because despite everything I personally don’t like about Vicki-Lin, it is still a fantastically composed campfire scent that you and the environment will enjoy for a long time.
-------------------
Unfortunately, there are no recordings of the Swedish song left. I only found an American cover, but the lyrics are silly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi_XLOBDo_Y
In the garage, I quickly take the empty gas can out of the trunk and set off leisurely. You don’t want to arrive too early, better to be inconspicuous, right in the middle. I can see the glow of the fire from afar, and the smell is in the air. Black smoke, biting and dense for some; full, spicy, and warm for me. You can almost hear the fat of half the cattle in the butcher shop sizzling. The smell hangs in the air like bacon, it makes you hungry right away.
As I get closer, I see that the fire has already spread to the forest. Some fir trees are ablaze like 30-meter-high torches. A treetop explodes, shooting up like a New Year’s rocket, spraying sparks from glowing needles and burning resin. A breathtaking sight, even more beautiful than the barn from last month.
Slowly, I get out of the car and walk over to my colleagues; putting out the fire is part of the job. On the way, I hum an old Swedish song, I think by Mickl Jaggelson.
Vicki-Lin is not my lover
she‘s just a girl who want‘s to burn down
all there is around
uh-huh-huuuhu…
-------------------
Vicki-Lin is a grand celebration for birch tar enthusiasts, a warm campfire or a major fire, depending on one’s level of personal resilience. For me personally, it’s more like a campfire; the smoke isn’t overwhelming, although it is certainly dark and dense. It is dominated by a very spicy, bacon-like birch tar, likely supported by juniper, Choya Loban (dirty incense), and a salty note from Choya Nakh (thankfully not also fishy). This smoke initially obscures my perception of other components, but fortunately, it clears a bit after a few minutes, allowing for some shy fresh notes to be detected (lemongrass, pine needles) as well as dry wood. The fresh notes do not improve the smoke; smoked bacon doesn’t necessarily get better with a splash of lemon either. A little later, one can even recognize something slightly green (probably the fern), although one should not get the wrong idea; all these ingredients (wood, needles, ferns) only serve as fuel for the flames, the smoke remains dominant. Only towards the base does the scent become a bit softer and gentler, with the resins coming more to the forefront, and one can at least hope that the entire forest hasn’t burned down.
One more note about the stink cabbage: I have no idea what it smells like, but I firmly believe it is included and perhaps even a central component of the fragrance. I can’t prove it.
So, if you like birch tar and have a dark, smoky soul, go for it! Because despite everything I personally don’t like about Vicki-Lin, it is still a fantastically composed campfire scent that you and the environment will enjoy for a long time.
-------------------
Unfortunately, there are no recordings of the Swedish song left. I only found an American cover, but the lyrics are silly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi_XLOBDo_Y
Translated · Show original
56 Comments
This theme seems to be quite popular right now.
Stink cabbage… 🤪
In the end, I might smell like Kieler Sprotte! 😂
I'm one of those who gets nervous at the slightest hint of smoke. I'd rather keep my distance. But it's definitely not boring.
I didn't have a routine with our oven at first, so I often smelled, involuntarily, like Vicki Lin (along with the living room and the rest of the family).
I've had my fair share of smoking experiences, and I'm happy to wave Vicki goodbye. She's not my lover either! (And the kid is not my son!)
I wish I could be like her ;)
Of course, the Vicki is nothing for your snow-white soul.
I'll whisper a secret to you... I have two leftover bottles of Billie Jean aka Vicki Lin.
Of course, I totally support you on the bottles! ;-)
I laughed a lot. By the way... there's a podcast now. Could you maybe sing something for it? Please! 🤣
And you can be sure, no one wants to hear that either...
But as you can read further down:
HERE!!! HERE!!! HERE!!! I'll gladly take that off your hands!
Evil fire 🥺