SOTE - By The Fireplace by Maison Margiela

After a pleasant day of sporting A Whiff of Waffle Cone by Imaginary Authors, tonight I'm wearing By The Fireplace by Maison Margiela. Both fragrances are warming and friendly and scratch similar itches, but the Replica scent is more coded towards evening wear.

Top Notes: Clove, Pink Pepper, Orange Blossom Absolute

Heart Notes: Gaiac Wood, Chestnut, Cade Juniper

Base Notes: Vanilla, Cashmeran, Peru Balsam

It strikes quite hard from the off with a swirling but cosy smokiness from the clove-and-pepper combo. It's a warming scent, quite welcoming, and this is backed up by the developing chestnut and vanilla gourmand notes. These bring an opulent autumnal holiday vibe, backed with the delicate fir pine backing. It's a Christmas scent, a Christmas scene, a festive fragrance throughout.

At an EDT strength, you'd expect the performance to be of secondary importance, but there's nothing lacking here. It hangs around for a good long while, projecting at every step. Of course, it helps that it leans into the most strident of scent profiles, but promising isn't the same as achieving so it's good that it delivers. I particularly enjoy the personal bubble on this scent, as on me at least it hugs hard and lingers long.

I love this scent. It's my favourite Replica fragrance by a fair margin, and it's one I return to often as the nights start to lengthen. I had hoped that Jazz Club would also join it on the shelf, but as an ex-smoker that scent comes across more ashtray than speak-easy to my nose. I am currently enjoying the new Lost Eden by the house, maybe that'll be the second bottle I buy from these guys.

Rating: 8.5/10.

Would I rebuy? Yes.

What about you? Which Maison Margiela fragrances stand out in your collections?

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SOTE - By The Fireplace by Maison Margiela