J’s image of StrangeLove AFireWithin 15ml

AFireWithin is the latest addition to the StrangeLove collection, with Firmenich Principal perfumer Hamid Merati-Kashani continuing on the brand’s journey into oud. AFireWithin sits beautifully alongside the five previous releases composed by Christophe Laudamiel, showcasing exquisite materials and luxurious ouds at its heart. Elizabeth Gaynes, the founder of StrangeLove and co-founder of GaiaOne, is at the forefront of transforming how raw materials are sourced for fragrances. In collaboration with Givaudan, GaiaOne are developing a 600-acre plantation in Borneo focused on cultivating organic crops for essential oils. These initiatives aim to foster sustainable and transparent practices that protect the region’s delicate ecosystem, while distilling stunning materials. When Elizabeth speaks about these materials, her profound love and respect for their origins, production and producers shines through. This same passion is evident in StrangeLove’s perfumes, which possess a depth and richness that sets them apart, beautifully highlighting oud in unique ways. Wearing StrangeLove fragrances is an event, they feel special, even when challenging you get this amazing experience for the duration of the wear. AFireWithin is no different and it’s a beautiful ride through a dark wild smoky opening, to a contemplative dry down.

Perfumer Hamid Merati-Kashani and StrangeLove AFireWithin

AFireWithin opens with a surge of thoughts and concepts breaking through a rich, dark oud haze, creating a sensation of absorbing a wealth of new information. The interplay of deep and vibrant notes weave together, while wisps of smoke ascends, giving life to these fresh ideas. Crunchy apple with an herbal slightly sour juice feels deliciously real, giving a fresh counter point to the darker woodiness and charred smoke. Imagine the rich aroma of dark wood smoke mixing with refreshing, fruity breeze as it all these elements simmer. Shimmering pink pepper embers dance softly in the air around you as you sit and ponder this new combination. That beautiful confusion of being challenged by new and different ways, I’m always excited for new experiences and for learning new things, AFireWithin had me wide eyed with its intense opening, it feels exciting with new fresh ideas bubbling and popping from the dark smoke. Chamomile and cypress bring an herbal green richness to this smoke, bridging the smoky oud and apple. Soft floral facets pick out almost fruity fig like aromas with a dash of honey which all seems to be intensifying the ouds natural facets. Spices seem to stew the apple tuning it into a golden sweetness with subtle rosy aromas softening the edges, as these ideas take form.

J’s image of StrangeLove AFireWithin 15ml

The oud gives a beautiful density to StrangeLove AFireWithin, its smoky and bitable letting those fresher notes pull you up as the darker ones return you to earth. The smoke texture also changes here, almost fizzing with spiced embers. It’s feels somewhere between that silk and velvet smooth sensation with just a hint of sensual tactility, a subliminal purr of oud giving a bodily spiced warmth. All these new ideas and elements are coming together as the new ideas and understandings form, you feel the smoke again turn slowly lighter in shade, closer to incense. Through these smoky thoughts a wild spiced rose bloom, its pulls you back into the middle while wrapping you in its soft velvet petals and smoky haze of thoughts and dreams. Vanilla picks up of the silky velvety carrot iris sensation, adding body and a lush richness to this herbal woody oud smoke.

 

Images for StrangeLove AFireWithin courtesy of the brand.

The smoky woody powdery vanilla dry down StrangeLove AFireWithin leaves you with is delicious, it feels like new fully formed thoughts to meditate on, refined after all the bubbling exciting ideas of the opening and middle section. Vanilla stars here, but this is far from an obvious gourmand. Fresh pops of greens and florals shimmer with a delicate spice up top, with cedar wood giving a density to the iris powdery feel from earlier. AFireWithin feels softer still with a carrot dry texture that’s crushed into a gentle woody powder, these a softness that hard to articulate, close to caressing a warm body through delicate cool silk. Apple’s freshness haunts this perfume it’s a ghostly freshness along with cypress and chamomile herbaceous feel and a just a whisper of wax keeps you aware of nature. Chamomile’s calming feeling emphasizes the rather meditative incense feel of this satisfying final thought, again leaning into its herbal feel, reconnecting us with nature as the velvety soft smoke drifts over your skin. Oud here brings in time, its depth and age woodiness paired with vanilla’s creamy woods give you this very satisfied sensation. It gives the vanilla a rich thickness, with some darker smoky balsamic facets, pushing  StrangeLove AFireWithin into a smoky powdery woods, with a creamy iris vanilla and oud amber feel. The usual combination of the notes, mirrors our own complex and unique understanding of how the world is and our ways of being in and as we grow. Just like the perfumes journey, some ideas are shed or merge, while others get expanded upon as we grow and age, like the time needed for oud to form, becoming our own unique self’s. Ludwig Wittgenstein wrote, “a simple thought can last a thousand years,” AFireWithin is more than a simple thought and one I’d like a lifetime to enjoy and contemplate.

Notes: Vanilla, Incense, Cedarwood, Cypress, Chamomile, Oud.

Discloser: A 15ml bottle StrangeLove AFireWithin was sent to J for review, his nose and thoughts are his own.

J’s image of StrangeLove AFireWithin 15ml

Thanks to the generosity of Strangelove, we have a 15ml bottle of StrangeLove AFireWithin for one registered reader in the US, EU and UK (you must register on our site or your comment will not count). To be eligible, please tell us what you enjoyed or found interesting about J’s review, if you have tried a Strangelove perfume before and where you live. Draw closes 2/7/2025

Please read Michelyn’s Profiles in American Perfumery with StrangeLove’s Founder Elizabeth Gaynes here. Our review of silenceTheSea, Ida’s review of lostInFlowers and review of fallIntoStars

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