Christine NagelThe nose · 168 fragrances · also made Terre d'Hermès Eau Givree Hermès (2022)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Jo Malone London · Sold as masculine
Birch & Black Pepper
A sharply-dressed gentleman stepping out of a dimly lit barbershop, where the air is filled with the scent of freshly cut wood and a hint of ink.
Full bottle: Premium tier, typically $100–250. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
Birch & Black PepperPremium · $100–250
44%Similar accords, often for lessChallenge Re/Fresh · Lacoste FragrancesMid-range tier, $40–100 · shares cardamom and birch8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
NotesAs listed
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
The story behind the bottle.
Christine Nagel's Birch & Black Pepper, launched by Jo Malone London in 2018, is a scent that embodies the subtle contrasts of modern Britain. The composition opens with the sharp freshness of black pepper and cardamom, creating an immediate sense of energy and vibrancy. This gives way to a deeper layer of smoky birch and magnetic ink, adding warmth and sophistication. The result is a fragrance that balances rebellious roots with traditional elegance, much like the brand's collaboration with Huntsman Savile Row.
Apply Birch & Black Pepper with one to two sprays; its fresh spicy top notes will fade within an hour but leave behind a warm leather and woody base that lasts through the day. It is best suited for daytime when it can blend seamlessly into any professional setting.
Fig. 01 — Birch & Black Pepper, Jo Malone London
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
A decant costs a fraction of a bottle and tells you how it lasts on your skin.
Live prices aren't shown yet. Each link opens that seller's own search; we may earn a commission.
Not sure it's you?
Five questions, about a minute, no account. You get a shortlist that fits how you actually wear fragrance.
Christine Nagel
The poet of HermèsChristine Nagel is the in-house perfumer at Hermès, succeeding the legendary Jean-Claude Ellena in 2016. A graduate of ISIPCA and trained at Charabot in Grasse, she brings decades of experience to one of perfumery's most prestigious creative positions.
“I accentuate lines, force the materials. My fragrances are never linear.”
Christine Nagel · Contributor Magazine ('The Physicality of Perfume', by Philippe Pourhashemi), c. 2021
Designer Jo Malone London
More from the house · founded 1990 · United Kingdom
You Might Also Like
Chosen from what wearers say it smells like, what its fans also love, and its notes
Love it, not the $100–250 price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalBirch & Black PepperJo Malone London · Premium · $100–250Lacoste Fragrances · 2011Challenge Re/FreshShares Cardamom and Birch$40–100★ 3.67 (216)37%Match
Dolce&Gabbana · 2009D&G Anthology L'Amoureux 6Shares Cardamom and Birch$40–100★ 4.09 (956)36%Match
Zara · 2025Surfing CloudbreakShares Cardamomunder $40★ 4.16 (25)36%Match
ALREHAB PERFUMES · 2026Avenue HommeShares Cardamom and Birchunder $40★ 4.40 (5)
With Nicolai Parfumeur Createur Riviera Verbena
Adds citrus, green and fresh; shares three accords.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers