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

Comme des Garçons AVIGNON is an incredibly beautiful incense perfume. I am very pleasantly surprised, having been somewhat disappointed by a couple of the other members of this series I've tried. Why is this one so much better to my nose? I suppose because it's a full-fledged, complex perfumic composition, as opposed to a solution of finely ground incense...

Here are the notes I found at another site:
several kinds of incense, chamomile, vanilla, patchouli, rosewood and ambrette.

Small wonder I'm smitten! Ambrette probably puts this over the top from like to love for me. Who knew that a relatively linear incense perfume could be a serious wrist sniffer? For the record, this does not smell like a musty old Catholic church to me. No, on the contrary, AVIGNON smells like something which clearly belongs on my wish list: a gorgeous oriental woody perfume!

20th October, 2011.

I've changed my review to a thumbs up.
I tried numerous incense fragrances and kept getting drawn back to this one.
I loved Heeley's Cardinal, but it was too bright and subtle, althought utterly meditative and wonderful, I will own it one day.
Anyway, after previously giving this a neutral review as I found it sharp and non-churchy... I ended up getting a bottle after months of craving it once my sample ran out.
When sprayed it's so much better, beautiful, rich, comforting and well, everything has already been explained by everyone else. It's a fantastic incense and a perfect reference. I'm very happy to own it.

28th September, 2011. (Last Edited: 11th January, 2012.)

A major success from Duchafour. Avignon is exactly what I envision what a perfect pleasant smelling incense should smell like in real life. It has a very natural cedar and frankincense combo that is incredible smelling. The scent is quite linear, getting right down to business and staying there throughout. I can see some versatility issues with Avignon due to the nature of the scent, but the composition and smell are near-flawless. The only minor gripe I have is contrary to many of the other reviews, longevity on my skin is below average at about 5-6 hours. That said, Avignon is completely deserving of the high praise it has received here and elsewhere. Simply sublime.

9th September, 2011.

This fragrance to me is a masterpiece. Beautifully done! But it have a problem attached to it.

The problem is that this fragrance to me is a church in a bottle. Smells exactly the same as the myrrh used in masses. A very well done fragrance that lacks versatility.

In conclusion, it is very hard to pull this off, but it is a marvelous fragrance that must take part in the closet of every collector.

21st August, 2011.

I don't know about the similarity to a catholic church, since I've never been in one.
One of CDG's best in my opinion; high quality, realistic, and ultra-rich.
Beautiful murkiness, and a great way to set a mood.
I am amazed at just how wearable this is (gothic garb is not requisite).

20th July, 2011.

Burning incense and soporific candels.
Delightful, relaxing and peaceful, this fragrance is nothing else than bliss and peace. I don't perceive it as particularly gothic or appalling. It evokes the time of childwood in the catholic countries, the time when your family, may be wrongly, may be reasonably, used to draw you in a world of prayers and incense, midnight christmas masses and catechism, cribs and sacristies. You were a virgin child lacking of hate and suspicion that would never be able to forget the whiffs of mystic incense exhaling from the background of cathedrals. Avignon is incense infused by elements that finely flavour it without contaminating its aroma too much. Somebody smells it too linear and this is understandable. The drama is not stormy. The elements are creams (vanilla, ambrette), myrrh, chamomile tea, dried fruits, patchouli and woods. The patchouli is subdued and it penalizes the boldness. I smell a touch of bilberries. Woods imprint consistence and warmth to the ethereal incense while chamomila tea infuses an hint of fluidity and light to this otherworldly enigma. Very similar to Heeley's Cardinal this is not my favourite incense based fragrance, to focus on which you must deflect towards Norma Kamali Incense, Black Tourmaline, Wazamba, Jubilation XXV, Incense Aoud or Dzonghka, nevertheless Avignon is a lovely incensey fragrance with a powerful evocative temperament.

16th April, 2011. (Last Edited: 17th April, 2011.)