Kerosene

Kerosene is an American indie perfume brand created by John Pegg, a former YouTube fragrance reviewer and automotive worker from the Detroit, Michigan area. Parfumstaaltjes notes that Pegg founded the brand in 2009, and Fragrantica records that his first released fragrance, R’oud Elements, appeared in 2011. According to Parfumo, Pegg designs not only the scents but also the packaging, hand-painting the metal bottles himself.

Multiple retailers and interviews highlight how his years around factories, motorcycles, and garages shaped the brand’s identity. Parfumo and Ministry of Scent describe how he draws on the smells of oil, gasoline, metal, and machinery alongside memories of Michigan’s forests and soil. This background feeds into a catalog that leans heavily toward woody, smoky, and sometimes “rusty” accords, as described by Parfumstaaltjes, with compositions that often feature dark, spicy, and leathery tones.

Over time, Kerosene has built a following among niche enthusiasts for perfumes that are unorthodox but wearable. Parfumstaaltjes cites Black Vial and Unknown Pleasures as representative creations, illustrating the brand’s preference for bold, sometimes abrasive materials contrasted with cozy or gourmand elements. The house remains independent and relatively small in scale, with Pegg still serving as the sole perfumer and creative director, keeping a tight link between his personal aesthetic and every release.