parfums*PARFUMS Series 3 Incense: Avignon (2002)
by Comme des Garçons

Avignon: opening to mid notes, this has one of most INTENSE "Frankinsence" note. its as if i was put inside a chest filled with Frankinsence for over the last century or so, its very very very intense. it takes almost an hour for this rustic note ot wear off; then revealing the altar surroung it with massive ceilings and aged stone which has absorbed the soot from this incense for as long as mankind. the coldness of the stone is to be sniffed to be believed. by the time i reached the base i encountered the infamous "dust" notes giving the basenotes a very ambery, dry feel with hints of burnt woods. A priest would defintiely find this interesting. wearable? well, couple of wears will tell me if it i could wear to it work, i dont wanna end up conducting a Mass..
This one is potent, exciting and unlike any other scent i have sniffed before, however, the smell is not unfamiliar, every christian knows this smell. if one would like to know how this smells, please go to the nearest church

CDG incense series:

The incense series in general, startled me at first. kyoto and Jaisalmer would probably be the two which would come across embracing you immediately, saying that it doesnt mean it doesnt have substance, only that the other two, Avignon and Zagorsk, are pretty bold, no holds barred, really intense scents but, couple of wears in to it and one would appreciate all of these for their respective qualities.

Incense series is dark, woody, smoky, mysterious, resinous, earthy, dusty and loaded with incense in general. though they all have the same characters, they smell poles apart from each other in their approach. a definite for someone who is looking for an adventure, a spiritual and meditative adventure in perfumery.

During my teenage years, I spent a lot of my free time as a senior altar boy. I still don’t know why I bothered volunteering for such work, as I actually disliked attending church. However, if I had to be honest with myself, it was probably a better alternative to being bored rigid amongst the congregation.

Yes, I much preferred being active at mass than passive, and enjoyed serving at benedictions and high mass. Avignon strongly reminds me of this period in my life but, while I consider it to be the best from the Incense line, it’s certainly something that I really can’t see myself wearing on a regular basis.

Its conventional frankincense, myrrh and cedar composition works extremely well, and I have yet to come across anything else that surpasses it. Unfortunately, its longevity and sillage is not as strong as I would like it to be.

Apart from Goths, those who have some fascination (or perversion) with churches and the extremely avant-garde, Avignon will not provide the level of versatility that one is usually used to. However, if your interests lie within its artistry, rather than in its potential accessibility, it’s definitely worth going for.

You could really imagine yourself sitting in a cathedral wearing this. The whiff of incense, the ancient wooden pews, the musty smell of old Bibles and tapestries, the cold stone floors. Yup, it's all there. But as beautiful as it is, I could not wear this on a regular basis - too somber.

This review is under revision.

An earlier reviewer used the term "cerebral" and I realized that he chose precisely the correct description. This is a fragrance that demands a measure of maturity and sophistication. Perhaps one might begin by noting that it is reminiscent of a high mass but that barely scratches the surface. As the scent matures on the body, it discloses a broad range of tantalizing elements just below the surface. In this regard, it differs from Messe de Minuit in that the latter (which I like very much) just takes you to mass and leaves you there. As with most well crafted fragrances, a list of ingredients tells you relatively little about the total effect. I can fault it only in that as it slowly fades out it becomes simplified and sweetish. Not the fragrance for the man who has to be right up to the minute with the latest and greatest, Avignon is refined and elegant. I cannot imagine it being worn successfully by anyone under thirty. Truly, young guys, you'll smell like you're wearing your rich and urbane uncle's clothing.

I have to agree with phibess - "I would like Avignon much more if it didn't smell exactly like instant cola drink I remember."

I want to like it because I burn church incense at home for the smell, but Avignon smells like cola 'Pop Rocks' on me. I bought the gift set of 5 so am hoping that the others smell better.