I'm Not A Vampire.

Sixteen92’s fascination with the macabre and literary mythos inspired Claire Baxter to imagine a scent that refuses the vampire trope. Rather than blood‑soaked romance, the perfume declares a human’s defiant edge, ‘I’m Not A Vampire.’ Launched in 2024 as an extrait, the composition was conceived in Fort Worth, where the house hand‑fills limited batches. Baxter drew on the image of a nocturnal scholar, surrounded by leather‑bound tomes and a glass of whiskey, to capture the feeling of staying awake while the world sleeps.

The trio of black pepper, ginger and punch creates an opening that feels like a sudden spark in a quiet library, a jolt that awakens the senses before the paper heart settles. Using paper as a heart note is unusual, giving the fragrance a tactile, archival quality. The base’s leather, tobacco and whiskey echo the scent of an old study, while amber adds a lingering warmth that bridges the sharp spice with the smoky depth, making the drydown feel both comforting and slightly unsettling.

The first ten minutes are dominated by a peppery crackle, the ginger’s clean heat, and a citrusy punch that feels like a sudden flash of lantern light. As the initial sting fades, the scent settles into a quiet library atmosphere; the paper note unfurls, dry and slightly fibrous, as if a page is being turned in a dim room. Around the half‑hour mark, leather emerges, soft yet commanding, intertwining with sweet tobacco that adds a smoky sweetness. By the one‑hour point, whiskey and amber blend, thickening the composition into a warm, animalic amber that clings to the skin. The drydown lingers for another three to four hours, leaving a faint trace of leather and amber that whispers rather than shouts, perfect for a night that stretches into dawn.

Since its 2024 debut, wearers have described I'm Not A Vampire as the scent of a late‑night writer hunched over a manuscript, whiskey in hand. The paper heart draws a niche crowd that appreciates literary references, while the smoky leather base resonates with fans of dark, narrative‑driven fragrances. It’s often mentioned alongside Sixteen92’s earlier occult‑themed releases, reinforcing the house’s reputation for turning stories into scent.