Smoky & Earthy

Birch tar smells like charred wood smoke mingled with burnt rubber and leather—think of a blacksmith's workshop or a bonfire that's been smouldering for hours. It carries an almost medicinal, slightly acrid quality, with whispers of earthiness and creosote (that distinctive smell of old railway sleepers). Rather than pleasant alone, it's an arresting, austere scent that commands attention—smoky, slightly dry, with an undertone of something both ancient and industrial. It's undeniably masculine and rather forbidding.

Woody

Gaiac wood smells like the interior of a old wooden chest that's been storing precious things for decades—dry, slightly smoky, with an almost medicinal warmth. There's a peculiar sweetness beneath, reminiscent of burnt sugar or caramelised honey, but grounded in something earthy and austere. Imagine standing in a timber-built sauna after the coals have cooled, mixed with the scent of a smouldering cigar stub. It's woody without being fresh; instead, it feels ancient, weathered, and deeply masculine.