Burning Ben.

Burning Ben emerged from Prin Lomros’s fascination with the South Korean film “Burning”, where the enigmatic Ben drifts between charm and secrecy. The perfume captures that paradox, translating the character’s smoky aura and hidden motives into scent. Launched in 2018 by Strangers Parfumerie, the Bangkok‑based house that began in 2017, the fragrance joins a line that treats each bottle as a portable narrative.

Few fragrances dare to pair coffee’s bitter edge with birch tar’s raw smokiness, then sweeten the mix with hazelnut and plum. Lomros layered dark chocolate, leather and tobacco to echo the film’s tension, while incense and castoreum add an animalic depth that feels like a secret whispered in a dim bar. The result is a scent as unpredictable as Ben himself.

Opening (0‑30 min) hits with a cloud of burnt birch tar and hot espresso, the coffee’s acidity cutting through the tar’s resinous bite. Hazelnut and plum soften the blaze, while cherry adds a fleeting fruit spark that fades quickly. The heart (30‑120 min) deepens into a gourmand‑leather accord: dark chocolate melts into supple leather, tobacco smoke curls around cognac warmth, incense and castoreum lend a smoky‑animalic veil, and labdanum and hay ground the mix with resinous earth. By the drydown (2‑8 hr) amber glows, patchouli roots the composition, honey drapes a thin sweetness, while javanol, saffron and allspice keep the wood‑spice edge alive. The birch tar linger persists as a subtle ember, giving the fragrance a lingering smoky trail that lasts well into the evening.

Since its 2018 debut, Burning Ben has become a cult favorite among fans of cinematic‑inspired scents, often cited in LGBTIQ collections for its ambiguous gender and mysterious aura. Wearers note its ability to evoke smoky lounges and midnight conversations, positioning it as a signature piece for those who enjoy bold, story‑rich fragrances.