You can’t imagine how much I missed smelling incense this Easter when I was watching all the celebrations transmitted live from church in Poland being locked down here in London.I used to hate this scent,because it made me suffocate,but it turned into nostalgic memory when I got older . There’s something about burning incense when it’s warm outside, the church is packed full and you can smell people’s (mostly ladies) perfumes as a they mingle with incense scent. To me it brings only two fragrances to my head .First one- Casbah Robert Piguet that has this specific warmth and coolness at the same time .Another one would be John Galliano edp (discontinued) that combines the scent of incense and violets from the ladies’ perfumes - but I’m not even sure if any of these notes are listed as the ingredients of the fragrance. Having said that, you will now wonder what is wrong with me after I will tell you that I find incense scent very sexy and Casbah is probably the only fragrance I call “sexy “- whatever it means. As much as I love the scent , I never owned any incense fragrance - I never aim for sexy and I was never sure if this type of scent would be something for me.I love smelling it on others though. Have a lovely day .I go back to your videos,because I am binge viewing your videos like a mad hatter for the last couple of days. Xo
Thank you so much for this: I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. And I agree that the ‘sexy’ descriptor can be problematic, but I think you’ve explained your reasons - in relation to the Piguet - very well indeed. Many thanks for watching 😊
Oh I loved reading this too! Piguet's Casbah kind of reminds me of Ensens Asakusa by L'Orchestre Parfums with a touch of Baiser de Florence by Ella K dropped into the mix. It has a slightly sour, fizzy airiness to it if memory serves correctly. There are so many varieties of incense fragrances out there, much like rose fragrances in that there's a 'character profile' to suit everybody. Amber too, come to think of it. And so on. A denser, sweeter incense is Gold Myrrh Absolute by Carolina Herrera Confidental. I like that type of incense fragrance too, very much. I look forward to coming across you in the comment section again. Evocative, emotionally open and wonderfully nostalgic. 💖
Hi Persolaise, thanks for a great presentation as usual. Serge Lutens L' Eau Froide is the one, of these 10, that I own & love. It's been utterly fascinating & I've been taking notes on the back of a A5 envelope... It is covered in scrawl which I hope will be legible.... So glad I watched every detail for all the evocative nuance in your comments. The culmination of these efforts (enjoyable albeit) was your final entry of the legendary Avignon by Monsieur Duchafour. The magic words being "smells most like the Catholic Church apres the mass. Now must find the right Avignon at the right price. You set the mood & gave us the info in your trademark style with that special skill of making all participants feel included. 🎉
Hi Persolaise! I just recently started to watch your videos and I have to say that since that moment I’ve seen already plenty of them. Love your interviews with the perfumers by the way! I’m a perfume enthusiast as well and frankincense is one of my favorite notes in perfume. Some of the perfumes you are presenting in this broadcast are among my favorite too. But a few others also come to my mind. I.e. if you are talking about mind expansion, I immediately think of Copal Azur from Aedes de Venustas. I love their perfume line but this one was at first a No-Go for me. Too much pine, too ozonic, metallic and aldehydic for my taste. It also made me think of detergents to be honest. I nearly washed the perfume of my wrist. But then, suddenly, I got some wafts of it maybe half an hour later and I started to feel very clear-minded and also got in a creative mood. I found it to be a perfect perfume to get some writing done (in French ;-)). That certainly was the potent incense effect. I still wouldn’t wear it but there are some perfumes I love to smell for their meditative effect they have on me or the inspiration they offer me. I call them « Kiss of a Muse » perfume. :-) There are 2 other incense based perfumes at least I’d like to mention to you. Also in regard to your question about older perfumes. Both are from the Oriza L. Legrand brand. The perfume house was founded in 1720 and revived in 2012. I confess I love this house! Rêve d’Ossian is my all time favorite! To me it’s one of the most gorgeous incense based perfumes I’ve ever smelled. It’s very intriguing, full of contrasts but yet so harmonious! It’s fresh yet warm at the same time. It’s spiritual and emotional. It enhances my dreamy facets and also makes me feel confident. It appeals to the intellectual part of my mind as well as the instinctive one. I could write a poem about it! ;-) Its fresh piny and slightly marine top notes make me think of an introspective, solitary walk near the coast, with stormy winds whipping through the rare pine trees growing at the cliffs. Later on, when the fragrance starts to warming up, I feel like I’m taking refuge in a little church, or a chapel where warm candles are diffusing a soft light and an ambery smell. In a nutshell, this perfume makes me dream and puts me into a creative writing mood. As for the second perfume, it’s called Relique d’Amour. This one is a very cold, humid, mineral incense perfume. It’s not my favorite because smelling it makes me kind of sad. It’s very melancholic. But worth mentioning if you like introspective incense fragrances. I would imagine a woman standing at the altar of a little old church, shedding tears over a long lost love she cannot forget. Her sorrow is so deep that the walls seem echoing her tears. A scent of lily flower is floating through the air as a silent but odorant witness to her pain. This is my first RU-vid comment ever, I’m not a big fan of social networks in general, but I really felt the urge to comment this time. :-) I enjoy your broadcasts very much! Greetings from a French perfume enthusiast in Paris aka Passionez! PS: sorry for my English!
Your English is absolutely fine. And wow - thank you so much for the wonderfully detailed comment. It’s kind of you to take the time to write down all your thoughts. I’ll definitely a keep a nose out for those perfumes 😊
Great list and video Persolaise. My favourites are Armani Bois d'Encens and CdG Avignon. L'Eau Froide from Serge Lutens is one of my favourite incense scents to wear in the summer. A real icy blast of incense.
Incense is my most recent discovery in notes I really adore. Of the ones mentioned I've only smelled and loved Avignon and (though not in your list, but mentioned) Kyoto. Avignon to me is the more interesting of the two. I love how it moves from such a realistic impression of Catholic church (which to me indeed feels cool, a scent that creates some distance and reverence) into something like quiet, tender solace in its camomile/ vanilla dry down and then goes full circle when suddenly the incense gets a second wind towards the end of its lasting time on skin. However, it's a very particular mood I need to be in in order to wear Avignon (plus, my partner tends to get scared of me when I wear it, which comes in handy at times, but is usually not what I am aiming for ;) so I tend to reach for Kyoto more often. I work in the performing arts and Kyoto has become my stage fright antidote. It calms me and helps me focus. I seem to remember an older episode in which you talk about a perfume you wear when your students enter exams because you feel it helps them stay calm and collected. Is there any chance you remember which one it was? Or is there another that immediately springs to mind? No worries if not, and as always: Thank you for your videos, they are such a treat!
Wearing Passage d’Enfer as I am watching this. Smells wonderful and so different. I also enjoy Guerlain Bois d’Armenie which I think is a great incense perfume too
This is pure Persolaise again, what an elaborated list! Being familiar with the majority it's a pleasure to learn from your take about commonalities and differences. I'm not fond of the churchy aspect of incense, but some of your favorites - especially the outliers - I will revisit as soon as I get the opportunity.
OH NO! The Tauer website informs me that Incense Rose has been shifted laterally to the 'vault/limited run' category! First they discontinue 14 Noontide Petals, then the Rose Chypree one and now my beloved unicorn, Incense Rose. There is NO DUPE for it. The only person who could offer me a substitute is Andy himself. I hope he's got big plans up his sleeve-- I'm counting on it. He's a genius (much like Rasei Fort, only Rasei needs to work on the technical side of his compositions as they're high priced and low on performance but all of them smell so gorgeous I almost wept the first time I sprayed each of his new offerings. What a hit rate! 🤩🤤). Incense Rose, to my nose, is a Mexican cola-filled bottle rocket powered by sherbet Dip-Dab powder, the fizziness blasting it to the far reaches of the Milky Way via my nasal cavity) 🚀. I may have to order a back up bottle. Aaaaaannnnnndyyyyyyyy!! How could you! I remain loyal to your channel and others of a similar calibre, hoping to be clued into wonderful new things to fall in love with and thus, ease the angst just a little ❤🩹. PS= Pineward fragrances? Rarely covered on RU-vid and I've never tried anything by them. The house focuses on pine needles and the aesthetics of a forest landscape, it seems to be the 'muse' if you will. Are they gorgeous forests in Elizabethan times, or are these compositions going to evoke awful household cleaning agents and car freshener strips? Cape Heartache by Imaginary Authors and Widian 1 are the two 'bathroom cleaning agent' major fails that spring to mind whenever I'm asked why I'm so gun shy about the pine, cypress and fir notes as handled in the niche fragrance world (let's not even mention Parfums Prissana's diabolical 'Haxxan'-- a forest in the tenth circle of Hell). I feel intrepid so may just take the gamble on ordering their 19-set discovery kit. I feel positive and am always open to genius! Thank you for your channel, much enjoyment. 😊
Couldn't make it to this live stream, but catching it later is just about as good. thanks for covering this genre. It is one of my favorites. I love Avignon and Kyoto. Another favorite of mine is Casbah. Jubilation XXV is wonderful, but unfortunately in it's current formulation, it doesn't last very long on my skin.
Dear Persolaise, I admire the way you deacribe perfumes, a different when you talk so much about feelings and character of the scent :) so I subscribed and waiting for every new film :) I am a non professional, freak perfume customer:) far from mainstream:) I love perfumes which are cold with some kind of sharpnes, a difficult to find i mainstream perfumes.
Oh loved this episode. Im in a fragrance rut!! ( current list: opium poison coco, chanel5 and leaus nirvana red and black ) im usually fine being in a rut !! but so many from this list that i want to try! especially the Hermes and the serge lutens ( honestly i want to try everything by them they fasicate from what ive learned so far!) and NO NO NO its not appropriation its appreciation!!! it all depends on the context
I have several vintage EDP, EDT and cologne of 22. The incense is what is missing from the exclusive version, I do love the current but that incense along with with metallic sparkle made it stand apart. Can you tell that 22 is my true love. I have a large collection of scents but nothing compares. I'm so happy to have found a fellow lover of this beauty.
Just revisited this years after its premiere, because I'm very into incense lately. The fragrances that got me hooked with incense are Rien Intense Incense and Black Afgano (your outlier word maybe would fit both of them). Have you tried any of them? Also would love your opinion as to which of the two are more similar to GPH: Garcons 2 Man, or Papyrus Oud?
Thanks very much indeed for watching. You can see a full list of my reviews here: persolaise.com/perfume-reviews Papyrus Oud is essentially the same as Gucci Pour Homme.
Possible answer to your question about why there was a trend of timeline when incenses came out. Many trends in fragrance aren't driven by consumer tastes, they're driven partly by creative directory looking to go counter-movement each decade, so the 90's were rather watery/acquatic so it may have been an intentional counter movement for shock value, or what I'd actually propose is trends are driven by Captives (patented molecules) on the back end at the labs, so maybe some lab came up with a few interesting usable incense accords and just started putting them in all their submissions to the brand houses.
I love frankincense, going to mass with my Polish friend set it off. I love Bois d'encens and Avignon along with Annick Goutals Encens flamboyant .I love to wear a beaded necklace which carries a cotton wool ball with the essential oil in.
Interesting list! I do love CdG 2 Man. I don't think of Un Jardin Sur Le Nil as an incense, I'd try next time. I wore it quite a bit last year when travelling in Bangkok, together with Dzongkha, which, IMO is amazing. I took a long time to warm up to it, but now I'm touched each time, and it could qualify as an incense, right? My favourites are Sahara Noir and Encens et Lavande. I wear a lot of Memoir Man, which I'd recommend as an "incense & more". P.S. Casbah is very nice, though some might find it overpowering.
Thanks very much for watching. Yes, I totally agree that it takes a while to fall in love with Dzongkha, and yes, I would absolutely count it as an incense scent. I’ll have to dig out my sample of Memoir again 😊
Hello! I’ve just discovered your channel today. I love the incense fragrances and Avignon is my fave for all collection but if you want something really nice please get a sample of Oriza L.Legrand Rêve D’osain. Top notch quality...
Have you done a review on Elizabeth Taylor's Passion? That has a great blend of intense, it resembles Youth Dew by Estee Lauder, but has a stronger incense base to it. I think you may like that - particularly since I remember you talking about Youth Dew and the aroma that is left when a bath is poured with the fragrance oil.
Hello Persolaise, as you mentioned olibanum as the oil linked to frankincense (I am not sure I understood completely because it was a comment you made in passing), I suddenly thought I have the newest Lush perfume called Shade, I think it goes more resinous and sweet, I don't know if it would qualify as an encense scent but I really like it.
Incense perfumes are tricky. Agreed. I'm on a search (again) for those that smell Eastern, Asian, Indian, not Catholic Churchy ones. I have Karma by Lush and Bogart Furyo and one ordered that is a clone of Interlude Man, called Supremacy Incense by Afnan I definitely have Jaisalmer and Kyoto on my radar for wanting to try and one by Tauer and I am "all ears" listening to your take on it. - Jim, from Arizona,
Hello, have you tried Versace Encens Suprême? For me it's absolutely stunning, I like it especially after half an hour is sprayed...but very expensive! Does it look like one of the Incense Perfumes you already tried? Thank you
Would you consider Gucci Intense Oud as an Incense Perfume? Its definitely more Incense than Oud in my opinion, a very user friendly version of Oud. I have noticed that it is mentioned only fleetingly in one of your videos - along the lines of "don't get me started on it";) Let me know your thoughts. I like to wear it when I want to smell like a roomrocker.
Somebody in the live chat said that he is wearing Guerlain Chamade and you replied the this person smells great(your reaction was magnificient! ). I am Just wondering what was the perfume, this person(male, I think) mention-was that really Guerlain Chamade? I can not oped tha live chat now, that's why I am asking.
Some mentiones... have you ever tried the L'Artisan Aedus de Venustas? Well worth checking out. Some overlap with Jubilation (same perfumer) but less juicy berry and more dry and less longevity, but it's interesting. Have you tried Norma Kamali's Incense? Kilian's Incense Oud? Did you consider Amouage's Memoir (a sort of green woody incense)?
Thanks for watching and writing. Yes, I do remember the original Aedes, but I haven’t tried it for ages. I haven’t tried Kamali’s; I’m not a fan of the Kilian 😊
I noticed that Armani has a lot of their private blend fragrances out which receive good reviews online but not many people talk about them on RU-vid. Leaves me wondering if I'm missing out on anything.
Frankincense is one of my favorites. Have yo u smelled Full Incense by Montale? It is 100% Catholic Church. Sorry if you comment on it through the video, I'm commenting as I watch.
Hi, mr Persolaise, let me challenge you.. In 2012 you made rather negative original review of L'eau Froide, but here it is one of the best incense perfumes. Could you explain? :)
Sotir, your comment put a smile on my face. Challenge accepted... but I'm not going to put up much of a fight, except to say that, over the years, I seem to have changed my mind about Froide. I think this is the problem with web-based reviews, as opposed to newspaper/magazine reviews. In the past, a journalist would write a review in a newspaper, and it would be read in that moment in time, but then it would fade away into the past. Internet-based reviews stick around for ages; potentially forever. Maybe, every now and then, I should revisit older, negative reviews to see if they need updating. I seem to remember doing something like that with Chambre Noire. But anyway, the short (but boring?) answer to your challenge is: I guess I changed my mind. How does that sound?
Hi, you should check out 'Parti Pris' by Terry de Gunzburg. A cleverly exucuted mix of Ylang Ylang, Rose, Tolu Balsam, Tobacco and Incense among other notes. Very unique to my nose
