La Fumee

La Fumee, inspired by Miller Harris La Fumée (2011)

Spice and resin arrive together: cardamom and coriander, a noticeable thread of cumin, and elemi, a tree resin with a lemony, peppery smell. Frankincense gives the opening its churchy, mineral lift. As it dries, cedar and sandalwood take over while birch adds a tarry darkness. By the end the scent reads as wood smoke and ash, dry and austere, with no sweetness to round it off.

About the original

Lyn Harris, founder of the London niche house Miller Harris, created La Fumée in 2011. It later became the starting point for a small La Fumée series, with Ottoman in 2013 and Maroc and Arabie in 2014, after which the first one was sold as La Fumée Classic. The only La Fumée the brand currently lists is La Fumée Alexandrie, a separate rose and oud scent by another perfumer. The 2011 original no longer appears in the house's range, and a retailer has said it is unlikely to receive more stock.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Miller Harris stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Incense devotees and wearers of smoky, resinous woods are its natural audience. It is dry and spicy from start to finish, and the cumin can read as sweaty to some noses, so anyone wanting a soft or sweet incense should look elsewhere.

Related scents

• Miller Harris Feuilles de Tabac
• Jo Malone Incense & Embers
• Comme des Garcons Odeur 53

Notes of the original fragrance, as listed in fragrance references.

Top notes: Elemi, Coriander, Cardamom, Olibanum, Cumin

Heart notes: Sandalwood, Birch, Atlas Cedar, Juniper Wood

Base notes: Labdanum, Amber, Smoke Accord

The opening mixes cardamom, coriander and cumin with elemi and olibanum (frankincense), giving a spiced, resinous and slightly peppery start.

Sandalwood, Atlas cedar, juniper wood and birch form the heart, a dry woodpile with a tarry, smoked edge.

Labdanum and amber add a little depth to the base, but the smoke accord dominates, finishing on charred wood and ash.

Is Miller Harris La Fumée discontinued?

The original 2011 La Fumée (later called La Fumée Classic) no longer appears in Miller Harris's range, and remaining stock at retailers has largely sold out.

Is this La Fumée Alexandrie?

No. This is inspired by the original 2011 La Fumée, a smoky incense. La Fumée Alexandrie is a different rose and oud scent that the brand still sells.

How smoky is it?

Very. Birch and the smoke accord grow stronger as it dries, ending on a scent close to wood smoke and ash.

Is Miller Harris La Fumee coming back?

So far, we have found no announcement from Miller Harris that it will return. Our version is an eau de parfum in 50 ml or 100 ml.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Miller Harris and La Fumée are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Miller Harris in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.