Encens & Bubblegum (2006)
by Etat Libre d'Orange

Why? I keep asking myself, Why?

Just because you "can," doesn't mean you "ought."

This inoffensive, sweet, little thing is clever without being good, distinctive without being memorable, and cute without being remarkable.

Olibanum, amber and a sweet candied note, reminiscent of Bazooka bubble gum (probably the raspberry and peach) make up the overall effect of this trifle.

Not awful, but why bother?

Genre: Fruity Floral

Encens et Bubblegum is the kind of wacky idea that Etat Libre d’Orange often comes up with, but doesn’t always execute successfully. In this case, they’ve nailed the bubblegum. Its lurid pink and proudly synthetic fruit is so accurate you can practically hear the bubbles smacking when they pop. Of course that’s not too surprising when the aromachemicals that flavor food and perfumes are synthesized at the same facilities.

No, it’s the incense that falls down in this case. The idea of the crass, synthetic, bubblegum fruit and loftily austere frankincense sounds terrific – as did the tuberose and animalic leather of Vierges & Toreros, or the smoke and white flowers of Jasmin et Cigarette. Unfortunately, I don’t smell the incense. In lieu of smoky, meditative resins I smell only powdery, sweet vanilla and clean musk base notes. Without the radical internal contrast frankincense, opoponax or myrrh might have offered, there’s nothing to distinguish Encens et Bubblegum from any of a hundred sticky sweet and fiercely synthetic fruity floral celebrity scents. A missed opportunity.

An incense light enough to wear in summer – breezy and sharp with a wood shavings base to it. Comes wrapped in a ditzy orange blossom and berry fruit embrace which makes me want to click my heels and shimmy. Alas, projection is pretty dismal and I find walking with my nose stuck in my cleavage somewhat difficult.

Unfortunately all bubbles n gum on me no incense trace at all. Very disappointing

just too sweet for me with the bubblegum overtaking the incense note. If you concentrate on one or the other you can get each note, but the sweet, scent of dubblebubble just overtakes it all. Really much more of a feminine scent and just doesn’t work at all on me