Incense Oud by Kilian and Preludio d'Oriente by Cale are my favorites in the category.
Dear All,
Come winter time, my thoughts turn towards incense. I've got Kyoto, had Zagorsk, thought the others in the series were ok but not spectacular.
Other, mainly niche, frags I've tried that have incense notes have failed to live up to Kyoto or Zagorsk.
I've tried Tauer, CB I hate perfume, Amouage, Parfums d'Empire, Lacroix, le labo, Sonoma Scent Studios and some others that I forget right now. I don't really want anything too 'churchy', a la Heeley's Cardinal.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to try next?
Incense Oud by Kilian and Preludio d'Oriente by Cale are my favorites in the category.
Current Top Favorites:
1) Portrait of a Lady original formula (EdP Frédéric Malle)
2) Giorgio for Men vintage/V.I.P. for Men (Giorgio Beverly Hills)
3) Dia Man vintage edt (Amouage)
4) Anat Fritz Original Formula and Classical (Anat Fritz) - tie
4) Lalfeorosa (O'driù) - tie
6) Les Nombres d'Or Vetyver (Mona di Orio)
7) Captain vintage (Molyneux)
8) Tzora (Anat Fritz)
9) Javanese Patchouli (Zegna) - tie
9) Monsieur de Givenchy vintage (Givenchy) - tie
9) Coeur de Vetiver Sacré (L'Artisan) - tie
9) Polo vintage (Ralph Lauren) - tie
9) Patou pour Homme Privé (Jean Patou) - tie
9) Oud Shamash (The Different Company) - tie
Montale Full Incense
What did you try by Amouage?
Do you want a dry, sandalwoody incense, a vanillic/myrrh type, or something else?
Visit my huge swap page: http://www.basenotes.net/threads/211...-ml-Gotham-etc
Or visit my Sales page: http://www.basenotes.net/threads/211...o-make-offers!
Samples, etc. for Sale at my Crystal Flacon page: http://flacon.ambaric.net/viewtopic.php?t=282
My fragrance blog: http://bigslyfragrance.wordpress.com/
In addition to the excellent suggestions, there's the woody-eastern temple like Timbuktu. Or the more straightforward Armani Bois d'encens. For something quirky, Encens et bubblegum by ELdO, which is as per name.
cacio
Have you tried Flower Orijental by Kenzo or Le Baiser Du Dragon ?
Visit my huge swap page: http://www.basenotes.net/threads/211...-ml-Gotham-etc
Or visit my Sales page: http://www.basenotes.net/threads/211...o-make-offers!
Samples, etc. for Sale at my Crystal Flacon page: http://flacon.ambaric.net/viewtopic.php?t=282
My fragrance blog: http://bigslyfragrance.wordpress.com/
For me, three scents:
CDG Avignon
Caron Parfum Sacre
By Killian Sweet Redemption
"The sunset is deeper and longer. The scent of the jasmine is stronger." Miracles. Pet Shop Boys
"Thick dome of jasmine
(Under the dense canopy where the white jasmine),
Blends with the rose,
(That blends with the rose),"
"The Flower Duet," Lakme by Leo Delibes, 1881
How about Rien by ELDO? Its an animalic, Leather, Incense combo that lats an eternity. The composition is stunning if you can restrain yourself to 1-2 sprays max. At times I really get that Nag Champa vibe from it, though its not identical. Really worth a try IMO!
Avignon, Full Incense and L'air du Desert Marocain
My current top twenty five
1. Oud Wood
2. Herod
3. Pardon
4. Santal 33
5. Tonka Imperial
6. Pure Malt
7. Straight to Heaven
8. L'air Du Desert Marocain
9. Envy
10. Terre D'Hermes
11. Colonia Oud
12. Jubilation XXV
13. Royal Oud
14. Bois d' Argent
15. Tobacco Vanille
16. Sycomore
17. Amber Absolute
18. 1270
19. Baroanda
20. Allure Homme Edition Blanche
21. Rose 31
22. Dior Homme Intense
23. Reflection Man
24. Grey Vetiver
25. Noir Extreme
Honestly, it sounds like the OP found what he's looking for, and further attempts at another, similar frag may just result in disappointment. However, the "pursuit of happiness" can vary from one person to another.
Visit my huge swap page: http://www.basenotes.net/threads/211...-ml-Gotham-etc
Or visit my Sales page: http://www.basenotes.net/threads/211...o-make-offers!
Samples, etc. for Sale at my Crystal Flacon page: http://flacon.ambaric.net/viewtopic.php?t=282
My fragrance blog: http://bigslyfragrance.wordpress.com/
I'll second Bois D'Encens, Perludio D'Oriente, Memoir Man and Jubilation XXV. Here are few more you might want to check...
Hindu Kush
Black Cashmere
Opus IV
On a side note, if you really liked Zagorsk, you shouldn't miss the chance to put your nose on L'Eau Du Governeur.
Last edited by alfarom; 13th October 2012 at 10:15 AM.
For a very smooth, soft, yet strong and long lasting incense fragrance that isn't too "churchy", try Guerlain Encens Mythique d'Orient.
Fille en Aiguilles by Serge Lutens
It's not niche, but when I think incense, Dirty English comes to mind
If you can find a bottle Norma Kamali Incense, if not you may want to try L'air du desert Marocain.
Some of my favorite Incense fragrances that you may think are too churchy:
by Kilian Incense Oud
CDG Avignon
Armani Bois d'Encens
Montale Full Incense
Here are some that I love, and don't think the incense would be categorized as churchy:
Tauer - L'Air Du Dessert Marociain
Loewe 7 Natural (Loewe 7 is great too, but slightly more churchy)
Tom Ford Bois Marocain (Very underrated fragrance IMO)
Amouage Jubilation XXV
Amouage Memoir Man
Finally, these are incense fragrances that many seem to love, but I think they smell like an ashtray (I list these because I think Kyoto falls in this category, but you seem to enjoy it):
Annick Goutal Encens Flamboyant
Tauer Incense Extreme
Current Winter Favorites:
1. House of Matriarch - Blackbird
2. Brückner - Aoud 1
3. Creed - Royal Oud
4. Stéphane Humbert Lucas 777 - Generation Man
5. Armani Privé - Oud Royal
6. by Kilian - Straight to Heaven
7. Stéphane Humbert Lucas 777 - Mortal Skin
8. Ormonde Jayne - Black Gold
9. Creed - Royal English Leather
10. by Kilian - Cruel Intentions
You might check out:
Aedes de Venustas Eau de Parfum (2008, the one made for L'Artisan)
Comme des Garçons 2 Man
Kouros
+Encens Flambouyant
Last edited by DuNezDeBuzier; 13th October 2012 at 08:51 PM. Reason: spelin
Wanna Shop? --> Buzier's Sales
MY TOP SHELF: Azzaro pH, Bel Ami, Blackbird, Blend 30, Cuba, Davidoff '84, Derby, Edition, Equipage, Jules, Knize Ten, Kouros, Leather Oud, Puredistance M, Santal Noble, Tribute Attar, Yatagan
Thank you, everyone. Some of the suggestions look really enticing.
I've tried LDDM (no incense at all on me), Encens Flamboyante (so weak I ciouldn't smell anything at all), Timbuktu and Dzongka.
I like the look of Preludio D'Oriente, Hindu Kush and L'Eau du Governeur.
A note to bigsly - I do know what you mean, the pursuit of an unattainable goal can be painful. Neverless, there's a prize, and a price!
You might want to try Messe de Minuit-Etro plus Norma Kamali-Incense. Its hard to find but its a knockout as was stated.
I've just been on Trip Advisor. There was no information on a cut knee.
Luke Graves
I'm a big fan of L'Artisan Passage d'Enfer - beautiful clean incense with an indolic lily.
My first thought here was also Serge Lutens Fille en Aiguilles. Past the sweet fruit and pine needle opening, a really lovely dry frankincense comes forward and the whole composition takes on a warm and smoldering feel.