Poltergeist (Eau de Parfum).

Poltergeist was born from Douglas Little’s fascination with the unseen, those fleeting, unsettling presences that linger after a door slams shut. The name evokes a mischievous spirit that haunts old houses, turning quiet corridors into smoky passages. Launched in 2016, the perfume captures that phantom energy with a blend of worm‑green absinthe, pine‑sharp juniper and resinous frankincense, setting the stage for a dark, woody haunt.

The heart revolves around a single champaca blossom, a rare floral note that cuts through the herbaceous haze, while the base anchors the specter with birch tar’s burnt‑wood intensity, cedar’s dry timber, and a veil of vanilla that softens the sting. Galbanum and labdanum add a green‑earthy edge, making the composition feel both wild and meticulously crafted, a true olfactory apparition.

The opening erupts like a cold fire, the sharp pine and juniper needles colliding with the bitter bite of absinthe wormwood and the incense‑rich frankincense. Within ten minutes the green, almost medicinal veil settles, and the lone champaca flower blooms, offering a fleeting floral lift that never overwhelms the smoky core. As the heart fades, the birch tar emerges, its charred wood scent thickening the air, while cedar and guaiac wood lay a dry, resinous foundation. Patchouli and galbanum weave an earthy undercurrent, and a whisper of vanilla softens the edges, leaving a lingering, smoky‑sweet trail that can be detected on skin for six to eight hours, fading only into a faint, ash‑kissed memory.

Since its 2016 debut, Poltergeist has become a cult favorite among niche collectors who prize its unapologetic smoke and forest‑darkness. Wearers often cite it as the go‑to scent for Halloween parties or late‑night gatherings, and its polarising wormwood has sparked lively debates on forums. Though not a daily staple, it’s celebrated as a daring statement piece that turns heads in cold‑weather settings.