AS SOMEONE WHO spent large chunks of his early twenties driving around the country pretending to be Jack Kerouac (while acting more like Hunter S. Thompson), I’ve spent time in just about every contiguous U.S. state. Some, as you might imagine, are more interesting than others—and Indiana isn’t exactly topping the list. So when I discovered one of my new favorite fall colognes was inspired by Gary, Indiana, I began questioning my own reality. But Fulton & Roark Cathedral of Ruins Extrait de Parfum is that good.

The only thing I know about Gary, Indiana is that it’s where Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 were from—and they left. But after reading about the inspiration behind Fulton & Roark’s latest scent—and, more importantly, smelling it—I’m wondering if it might be worth a trip. Specifically, the fragrance is inspired by City Methodist Church in Gary, Indiana.

Built in the 1920s, the church is still admired for its grand Gothic architecture.…