INCENSE PERFUMES: MY TOP FAVORITES

incense perfumes

With Thanksgiving just a couple of weeks away and temperatures beginning to dip, I am starting think of some of my favorite incense perfumes.

There was a time not too long ago when I said absolutely no to any fragrances falling into this category. Even the word “incense” sent my mind running off to the 3 wise men showing up at the manger with frankincense, myrrh and gold or the scent inside of a Catholic Church. Though it’s a lovely scent it wasn’t something I particularly wanted to smell like.

The funny thing was that I’ve always loved candles, even candles that smell like incense. I guess it was just a matter of time before I’d open my mind up to giving incense perfumes a chance.

It didn’t happen overnight, but I’m finally embracing the allure and uniquely mesmerizing appeal of incense perfumes. The thing about so-called incense perfumes is that it’s a broad category which often gets tossed around as a blanket term. Just like with florals, there are subcategories: fresh, fruity, gourmand, etc. In other words, incense perfumes don’t smell just like any one thing. Incense perfumes tend to be longer-lasting and heavier in nature than most other perfumes and often contain notes of frankincense, myrrh, Dragon’s Blood, Nag Champa and amber, resin and wood.

Below are 7 sniff-worthy incense and incense accented perfumes :

 

incense perfumes - Demeter Myrhh

  • Demeter Myrhh – I love this warm, spicy and sensual straight up myrrh fragrance. It’s an uncomplicated evergreen winter scent that’s perfect for scenting your home or powder room. Priced at just $40 for a 3.4 oz bottle it delivers quite a bang for the buck.

incense perfumes -Black Cashmere by Donna Karan

  • Donna Karan Black Cashmere – A spicy – woody blend of saffron, carnation, red and white pepper mixed with patchouli, amber and vanilla. Alas I’m pretty sure it’s been discontinued but if you can manage to finagle a bottle for a decent price on eBay  you’re in for a treat. 

Incense perfumes - Dawn Spencer Hurwitz Cathedral/Holiday no.3

  • Dawn Spencer Hurwitz  Cathedral/Holiday no.3 – I only had a chance to smell this once on a DSH devotee but that one time left quite an impact. It’s a spot-on rendition of the churchiest of scents – olibanum incense. It’s a wonderfully cozy scent that uses all-natural ingredients. A 60 ml bottle costs around $145 on the DSH Perfumes website.
  • Incense perfume - Amouage Lyric WomanAmouage Lyric Woman – This might be one of the most interesting rose scents I’ve ever smelled. A velvety and powdery red rose is hidden within the shadows of burning incense. There’s also a lovely sandalwood accord that blends into a trail of cardamom and cinnamon. A 3.4 oz bottle costs around $150.

Incense perfumes - Armani Prive Bois d'Encens

  • Armani Privé Bois d’Encens – Bois d’Encens is a fragrance that Giorgio Armani reportedly developed for  his own use. I’ve read that the fragrance is based upon Armani’s childhood fascination with the incense burned when he attended church with his grandmother. The notes that stand out are vetiver, cedar, pepper and warm incense. A 3.4 oz. bottle is$270.

Incense perfumes - Tom ford Oud Wood

  • Tom Ford Oud Wood – I was VERY surprised to like this as much as I do because I generally stay away from fragrances featuring oud. There’s no denying that oud is present here but the earthy quality is sweetened with tonka and smoothed out by amber and vanilla. TF Oud Wood manages to smell ancient and modern at the same time. A 50 ml bottle is $230.

Incense perfumes -Jo Malone London Incense & Cedrat

  • Jo Malone London Incense & Cedrat – This understated spicy and woody cologne is wonderfully subtle and soft. Delicious lemony and peppery notes compliment the resinous incense notes. Listed ingredients show there’s elemi in the mix, which smells similar to frankincense but is softer and less intense. A 100 ml bottle is $180.

Poll: Do you have a favorite incense fragrance that I left off this list? If so, I apologize but please leave comment below describing what makes it so special.

 

Until the next time,

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8 comments

  1. meherbani says:

    One of my favorite fragrances is myrrh. Incense and perfumes can be overwhelming to me as I am super sensitive to smells that are not natural. However, myrrh is one that I totally love and can live with. Is there a special place where I can find these lovely fragrance online?