Spicy

Star anise smells like liquorice meets warm spice—imagine biting into a fennel seed but sweeter, with peppery heat underneath. There's an almost medicinal clarity to it, reminiscent of pastis or ouzo, that sharp anise character paired with subtle warmth. It's simultaneously cooling and warming: fresh like a winter morning, yet with creeping heat that builds gently on your skin. Not cloying or artificial, but deeply aromatic and slightly narcotic—the sort of scent that makes you want to breathe deeper.

Smoky & Earthy

Tobacco smells like a warm, slightly sweet haze—imagine walking past a cigar lounge on a cool evening. It's earthy and rich, with subtle leather undertones and a hint of dried hay. There's an almost vanilla-like sweetness beneath the initial smoky harshness, reminiscent of opening a tin of premium pipe tobacco or the interior of a well-aged leather armchair. It's neither acrid nor unpleasant; rather, it's a sophisticated, slightly intoxicating warmth that lingers on your skin like memory.