4160 Tuesdays is a niche, indie perfume brand founded by British perfumer Sarah McCartney in 2012. The name "4160 Tuesdays" is based on the idea that, if we live to be 80 years old, we experience 4,160 Tuesdays in our lifetime—so why not make each one smell amazing?
Sarah McCartney is known for her playful and experimental approach to fragrance creation, drawing inspiration from everyday life, cherished memories, and unusual experiences. Each perfume is crafted with a unique blend of notes, designed to evoke specific moments, places, or sensations, such as the scent of vintage makeup, a favourite cocktail, or a seaside holiday.
All of the perfumes are produced in small batches from the brand’s West London studio, using ethically sourced ingredients to minimise waste and reduce environmental impact. This hands-on approach ensures each fragrance is both personal and carefully crafted.
4160 Tuesdays offers perfume-making workshops and classes, along with a Patreon where Sarah shares her knowledge of perfumery. Subscribers are taught how to blend their own fragrances from scratch, making the art of perfumery more accessible. Sarah has also co-written a book, The Perfume Companion.
After reaching out to 4160 Tuesdays for an article I was writing about the UK’s best indie perfume brands, Sarah McCartney kindly offered to send me a selection of samples. Having never tried any of 4160 Tuesdays' fragrances before, I took some time to explore their extensive collection, selecting the scents that intrigued me the most.
The Taster Sets, priced at £30 each, include eight 2.25ml atomisers. You can choose from several pre-curated collections, which feature a range of scents—from fruity florals to confectionery gourmands—or opt to create your own personalised selection.
The brand’s packaging is playful and brightly coloured. Each of the eight samples came individually wrapped, organised by colour. Each one clearly labelled and accompanied by a small card detailing the fragrance and its ingredients. I used these as blotting papers!
In keeping with all my other perfume reviews, first impressions are done on paper and follow-up reviews are written after a full day of wearing each perfume. Each perfume is rated based on my personal preferences, 1 being "get this away from me" to 5 being "I'd wear this every day."
1 - I hate it and want to get rid of it
2 - I dislike it and I won't use the sample up
3 - I'm neutral; I neither love nor hate it
4 - I like it and will wear it
5 - I love it and would buy full size
4160 Tuesdays Perfume Reviews
Dancing With Strangers: 5/5
Notes:
- lipstick
- dusting powder
- rose
- violet
- jasmine
- iris
- lily
- bergamot
- honeysuckle
- vanilla
- musk
First impressions: This fragrance immediately evokes a sense of nostalgia with its sweet, powdery scent. It’s reminiscent of 80s toys—specifically, the smell of a plastic doll’s head or the toy "Keypers." There’s something distinctly comforting and familiar about it.
On the skin: It opens with a burst of powdery sweetness, like the smell of vintage lipstick—waxy, nostalgic, and undeniably feminine. As it develops, the rose and violet notes become more prominent, giving the fragrance a soft floral heart that feels both tender and timeless.
While it’s a fairly linear fragrance—remaining consistent from the first spray through to the dry down—that’s part of its appeal. It holds steady with moderate projection and longevity, lasting for +4 hours.
Freeway: 4/5
- Top Notes: orange groves, gasoline
- Middle Notes: jasmine, lilies, palm flowers
- Base Notes: hot tyres (tires), waffles with ice cream
First impressions: This fragrance is described as “flowers crushed under a rubber-soled sneaker,” and that description hits the mark. It’s reminiscent of Imaginary Authors’ Soft Lawn, but instead of lying on the grass by a tennis court, you’re sat in the parking lot of an overgrown gas station.
On the skin: There's a striking blend of rubber, orange, and jasmine. As the fragrance develops, the tobacco, brandy, and cannabis notes start to emerge, giving it a slightly boozy, woody edge. On the dry down, the rubbery note fades, giving way to a creamy sweetness. It starts to smell less like a hot freeway and more like the scent of an amusement park—warm, familiar, and somewhat nostalgic. The bold opening of this perfume may be polarising, but if you appreciate unconventional fragrances this is an intriguing choice.
Projection and longevity and moderate with this perfume lasting +4 hours.
Ealing Green: 4/5
- Top Notes: Cut grass, rose, thyme
- Heart Notes: Geranium, lavender, violet
- Base Notes: Patchouli, earth, oakmoss
First impressions: This is an uber-green, grassy, and herbal fragrance—fresh, aromatic, and slightly peppery. There’s an immediate hit of cut grass, dry herbs, and wildflowers that smells raw and realistic. It evokes the feeling of walking through a park on a warm day, with the scent of freshly cut grass and damp earth lingering in the air after a light rain.
On the skin: Once applied, this fragrance is lush and uplifting. The cut grass smell become even more prominent, becoming a vibrant, herbaceous scent with a bright green edge. The cannabis note, although subtle, adds a unique, almost medicinal smell, giving it a slightly balmy quality. It leans slightly soapy, but in a clean, comforting way.
Both projection and longevity are excellent with this perfume lasting +6 hours.
Hammersmith Tea & Biscuits: 4/5
Notes:
- tea
- biscuits
- vanilla
- hazelnut
- ginger
- wholemeal flour
- friendliness
- hope
First impressions: A warm, comforting fragrance that instantly evokes the scent of milky black tea paired with a slice of lemon cake. The subtle notes of lemon, ginger, and black tea add brightness, balancing the sweetness and preventing it from becoming too rich.
On the skin: It perfectly captures the essence of tea and biscuits, with soft, buttery oat milk and hints of nutty, dry-roasted hazelnuts. While the fragrance is fairly linear, this isn’t a drawback. It’s a soft, quiet scent, with the dry down delivering a warm, biscuity aroma that feels comforting and familiar.
Projection and longevity is good, with the fragrance being detectable for up to +4 hours.
Creamy Vanilla Crumble: 5/5
- Top Notes: custard, cream
- Heart Notes: vanilla, malt
- Base Notes: hay, tobacco, musk
First impressions: The initial scent is reminiscent of LUSH's Yummy Custard body wash, with a rich, whipped vanilla custard note taking centre stage. This creamy sweetness is blended with malt and hay, creating a delectable, pudding-like aroma.
On the skin: The sweet, creamy vanilla is beautifully contrasted by smoky tobacco and woody hay, giving the fragrance a depth that sets it apart from typical vanilla scents, which can sometimes be overly sweet. The earthy notes of hay, malt, and tobacco add a refined, sophisticated quality. The natural vanilla remains creamy, smooth, and malty, creating a warm, inviting, and perfectly balanced fragrance.
Both projection and longevity is excellent, with the fragrance remaining for +6 hours.
Rhubarb and Custard: 4/5
- Top Notes: rhubarb, grapefruit, lemon
- Middle Notes: biscuit, bergamot
- Base Notes: vanilla, hay
First impressions: The rhubarb note is strong and authentic smelling. It's tart yet sweet, with a tangy, vegetal undertone. It's so photorealistic it took me by surprise and wasn't sure if I liked it—but it's become one of my favourites.
On the skin: This is creamier and the rhubarb note is much less intense. It smells like stewed rhubarb and warm custard. The citrus keeps it bright, preventing the sweetness from becoming too much. It's an interesting and unique realistic rhubarb gourmand perfume that's very wearable.
Projectivity and longevity is moderate at around +4 hours.
Truth Beauty Freedom Love: 4/5
- Top Notes: honey, bergamot, apricot
- Middle Notes: hay, vanilla, iris, violets
- Base Notes: tobacco, musk, woods
First impressions: A blast of jammy apricot and powdery florals. It reminds me of wine gums, boozy and sweet. The combination of apricot and honey is intoxicating, in the best possible way.
On the skin: This is mouth-wateringly juicy with a distinct honeyed apricot smell. The tobacco and hay notes add a depth, preventing the jammy fruit from becoming sickly. The floral twist from the perky iris and powdery violet gives this perfume a distinctly vintage fragrance.
Projection and longevity is moderate with a good 4-5 hours before it almost disappears.
Captured by Candlelight: 3/5
- Top Notes: cognac, cinnamon, toffee
- Heart Notes: stewed fruits, toasted hazelnuts
- Base Notes: opoponax, candlewax, oakwood
First impressions: There is a burst of sweet, sticky fruits stewed with brandy. It’s rich and boozy but surprisingly light. It makes one think of the comforting, familiar smell of Christmas pudding eaten with friends in a cosy, oak-panelled dining room.
On the skin: It opens with bold and boozy stewed plums, followed by toffee and beeswax notes, transforming the fragrance into something rich and warming. The scent is sweet, waxy, and balmy, eventually drying down to a soft, woody skin scent.
Performance and longevity is unfortunately a letdown, hence the score. While it starts off strong, within minutes it fades into a subtle skin scent and becomes barely detectable.
Salt Rose: 4/5
Notes:
- sea salt
- driftwood
- rose
- sea breezes
- sea shells
First impressions: Finally, a marine scent I truly enjoy! It’s like being splashed with fresh, salty ocean water. The fragrance smells of sea water and sand, beautifully balanced with a musky floral note. I’ve never experienced rose used in this way before, and it’s stunning.
On the skin: The combination of sea salt, driftwood, and rose creates a unique fragrance. It evokes the feeling of being on holiday by the sea, with the clean marine notes blending wonderfully with the fresh, delicate rose. The result is a natural, refreshing marine scent that smells both original and memorable.
Final Thoughts on 4160 Tuesdays Perfume
Like many niche perfume brands, 4160 Tuesdays has its own distinct style that might not be for everyone—but I absolutely adore their playful and imaginative approach. They have a way of balancing traditional perfumery with modern blends, combining familiar notes in unexpected ways.
While some niche houses can go a bit overboard with boundary-pushing blends, 4160 Tuesdays strikes that perfect balance—creating scents that are innovative yet still wearable. Their sense of humour and playful spirit make the world of perfume feel a lot more approachable and fun, inviting people to explore and experiment without feeling overwhelmed.
With such a huge collection, it can be a bit tricky figuring out where to start, especially when the perfume names don’t always match how they actually smell. Checking the notes beforehand is a must as some scents might surprise you!
One thing I’ve noticed is that many of their perfumes share similar DNA, particularly in the heart notes. That can be a good or bad thing, depending on your taste. If one scent isn’t quite right for you, it’s possible others might not work either. But if you fall for one, there’s a good chance you’ll find more to love in their collection.
What I really appreciate about 4160 Tuesdays is their flexible sizing options. You can try a wide range of perfumes with their 2ml taster sets, and if you find something you love, you can go for the 15ml, 30ml, 50ml, or even the full 100ml bottles. It’s such a great way to sample without committing to a huge bottle right away—something I wish more perfume houses would do!