From McDonald’s manicures to a whole lot of Wicked green, 2024 was the year of the beauty collab. Celebrities got in on the game—so did the snacks and sweets—and one of the most unexpected brands slid into the beauty scene just as the year wrapped.
Meet Miller High Life Dive Bar-Fume ($60), a premium fragrance released just in time for the holidays. Bottling “all the flavors and aromas that make your neighborhood dive bars special,” the unisex fragrance captures “every familiar dive-bar scent from the satisfying crack of a freshly opened beer to the comforting savory taste of classic bar snacks.”
While Miller High Life admits it’s an “unexpected” launch from the champagne of beers, this is no gag gift. The limited-edition blend marries the craft of fine fragrance with authentic dive bar notes, including sea salt, cedar wood, patchouli, tobacco, leather and Champaca blossom. And it’s a mix that is proving popular. Since the start of December, the site has done three separate restocks—and the scent has sold out during every drop.
I snagged a sample earlier this month and was blown away by how high-end it smelled. The light, smoky scent (think more cozy incense, less stale cigarettes) has unexpected sparkling pops and dries down to a sophisticated woody fragrance. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a dive bar—or a high-end cocktail lounge—that smells so good.
