Incense Pure by Sonoma Scent Studio, 2010

I agree with virtually everyone else. This is the incense fume I've been waiting for. INCENSE incense incense; no fapping around with peekaboo florientalisms, tarry assaults or burning newsprint (a la Avignon- what a po-faced eyeroller that was). CdG Jaisalmer has a similarly purist tone that I really enjoy but it dies after 20 mins and that's a dealbreaker for me. IP holds like a mofo and when it finally starts to go does not collapse into rankness; I can see what Flathorn is saying about the almost-oud tail and there is some wood funk there, but in the best possible way. I own Ambre Noire from the same house and it has such an odd silage- one moment, an intensely personal skin scent, the next, a breathy little dragon coiling round the person next to you. IP is the same- had anyone else noticed this? Reminds me always of my great grandmother's blackened brass censer. 9/10.

I'm having problems with this fragrance. I love every single note listed - I have most of them as essential oils because I love the smell of roots, resins, and woods in their natural state. The drydown though, is so distinctly, solidly labdanum that I'm having a problem getting past it. Though I said I loved it, it's not my favorite as a stand-alone. Labdanum has that amber/high note that is reminiscent of oud, and predominates at the end. I really liked the top and middle of this fragrance, and thought I was in love, but it is the drydown that endures and endures. Not bad - I'm not offended, but I was mistaken about it being my incense love.

One of the best true to life Incenses i've ever tried. It's clear you need to love incense to love this, because it is what it is. The name suits perfectly Thumbs up for sure!

Meditative. Sensual. Simply stated, Incense Pure is a breathtakingly beautiful fragrance. It's a one-trick pony to be sure but don't let its linear nature fool you: When it's this well-done, it doesn't need to develop into anything else. While the difference can be subtle, Incense Pure is subtle where other incense fragrances are bold. Avignon (Commes des Garcons) and Full Incense (Montale) are both outstanding incense fragrances, but they have a snap and crackle to them that Incense Pure bypasses altogether. It's as if Avignon and Full Incense command your attention while Incense Pure simply sits back patiently awaiting your inevitable discovery. All three are excellent, but Incense Pure simply takes a different approach to beguiling you. Amazing frankincense, undertones of amber, and hints of citrus. If you like incense, you're likely to love this.

Have you ever tried incense-inspired fragrances only to find them falling a little short? Too dry perhaps? Or too sweet? Too shortlived? Too safe? Too much going on, etc? Well your search for that elusive incense holy grail may very well end with Sonoma Scent Studio's uplifting, almost transcendent offering - INCENSE PURE. Might as well call it 'Incense Perfection' for this is Laurie Erickson at her finest. If I could only have one incense fragrance for the rest of my life, this would be it. It is THAT good.