Incense perfume: 16 to try, from soft resin to smoky and dark

What incense smells like in perfume

Incense is an aromatic material that gives off fragrant smoke when it burns. The word comes from the Latin for "to burn", and the word perfume itself traces back to a Latin verb meaning "to smoke through". Fire and smoke sit at the root of both words.

Two tree resins, used in both incense and perfume, stand behind the note. Frankincense, also called olibanum, is an aromatic resin from Boswellia trees, and its name comes from the Old French for "true incense". Myrrh is a gum-resin from small, thorny Commiphora trees, and its name goes back to a Semitic root meaning "bitter". On a perfume's note list, the resin appears as incense, olibanum, frankincense or myrrh.

Across the 16 perfumes below, amber and woody are the accords that come up most often, and six list a smoky accord. What sits beside the resin sets the style: vanilla and benzoin for the soft and sweet ones, citrus and tea for the fresh ones, tuberose or orange blossom for the floral ones, and vetiver, leather or dark woods for the dark ones.

That gives five styles, and the sections below follow them. Our incense note page lists every perfume we stock with incense among its notes. This guide picks 16, sets out what each is built from and how community voters wear it, in the order we would suggest trying them.

Бързо сравнение

Бързо сравнение: Гласове на общността

#	Парфюм	Отличие	Основни нотки	Трайност	Шлейф	Сезон	3 ml	10 ml	на ml
1	Encens SuaveMatière Première	Най-добър като цяло	Тамян, Мадагаскарска ванилия	Дълготрайна	Силен	Зима, Есен	13,86 €	39,33 €	3,93 €
2	Myrrhe MystereTom Ford		Лабданум, Смирна, Олибанум	Дълготрайна	Умерен	Есен, Зима	19,80 €	45,27 €	4,53 €
3	Crepuscule des AmesAtelier des Ors		Тамян, Смирна, Роза	Дълготрайна	Умерен	Есен, Зима
4	Interlude 53 ManAmouage	Най-траен	Амбра, Тамян, Лабданум	Вечна	Огромен	Зима	18,63 €	55,44 €	5,54 €
5	ImaginationLouis Vuitton		Цейлонска канела, Нигерийски джинджифил, Тунизийски нероли	Дълготрайна	Умерен	Пролет	16,92 €	42,84 €	4,28 €
6	Terre D'Hermes Eau Intense VetiverHermès	Най-добър за през деня	Здравец, Сичуански пипер	Дълготрайна	Умерен	Пролет	7,65 €	22,05 €	2,21 €
7	Comme des Garçons 2Comme des Garçons		Дафинов лист, Ким, Канела	Дълготрайна	Силен	Есен, Зима	7,83 €	23,67 €	2,37 €
8	Honour 43 WomanAmouage	Най-добър цветен избор	Карамфил, Жасмин, Момина сълза	Дълготрайна	Умерен	Пролет	18,36 €	54,45 €	5,45 €
9	Queen of SilkCreed		Агарово дърво (оуд), Маракуя, Пачули	Дълготрайна	Силен	Есен, Зима	14,85 €	42,21 €	4,22 €
10	Can't Stop Loving YouBy Kilian		Мед, Лабданум, Styrax	Умерена	Умерен	Есен	20,34 €	50,40 €	5,04 €
11	CappadociaMemo Paris		Бензоин, Тамян, Жасмин	Дълготрайна	Умерен	Есен, Зима	16,20 €	49,32 €	4,93 €
12	Spiritueuse Double VanilleGuerlain		Българска роза, Кедър, Жасмин	Дълготрайна	Силен	Есен	19,35 €	52,38 €	5,24 €
13	WonderwoodComme des Garçons		Кипарис, Тамян, Ветивер	Дълготрайна	Силен	Зима, Есен	7,11 €	22,23 €	2,22 €
14	SieneTiziana Terenzi	Най-добра стойност	Тамян, Ирис, Смирна	Дълготрайна	Умерен	Зима, Есен	7,38 €	20,07 €	2,01 €
15	Black LacquerTom Ford	Най-добър за вечер	Кайсия, Абаносово дърво, елеми	Дълготрайна	Умерен	Зима	33,48 €	101,43 €	10,14 €

Покажете всичките 15 избора

Гласове на общността

Resin and smoke: incense at the centre

These four put the resin in the heart of the perfume. Start here if you want to meet the note itself before anything else.

1Най-добър като цяло

Encens Suave by Matière Première

Връхни нотки

Кафе

Средни нотки

Тамян, Мадагаскарска ванилия

Базови нотки

Бензоин, Лабданум

Час от деня

Вечер

Опитайте: 3 ml 13,86 €10 ml 39,33 €

The French word encens means incense, and here it sits in the heart next to Madagascar vanilla, under an opening of coffee. The base is benzoin and labdanum. It is a unisex Eau de Parfum from 2019, with an oriental spicy accord. On staying power, most community voters rate it long lasting. Votes on projection lean strong. Season votes point to winter and fall, and the hours voters name are evenings and nights.

2

Myrrhe Mystère by Tom Ford

Връхни нотки

Бензоин, Канела, Розов пипер

Средни нотки

Лабданум, Смирна, Олибанум

Базови нотки

Амбра, Мускус, Сандалово дърво, Ванилия

Час от деня

Вечер

Опитайте: 3 ml 19,80 €10 ml 45,27 €

Launched in 2023, Myrrhe Mystère opens with benzoin, cinnamon and pink pepper, then moves to a heart of myrrh, olibanum and labdanum. Sandalwood, amber, musk and vanilla close it, and its accords read balsamic, resinous, warm spicy and sweet. It is unisex. Most community voters call the lasting power long lasting. Its projection, in the votes, leans moderate. Voters tie it to fall and winter, and to evening and day wear.

Crépuscule des Âmes by Atelier des Ors

Marie Salamagne composed Crépuscule des Âmes, a 2015 unisex perfume that opens with bergamot and orange. The heart holds incense, myrrh and rose, and amber, oud, musk and benzoin close it. Its accords run from warm spicy and aromatic to amber, musky and smoky. Most community voters rate its longevity long lasting, and most rate the sillage moderate. Voters tie it to fall and winter, and to evening and day wear.

4Най-траен

Interlude 53 Man by Amouage

Връхни нотки

Бергамот, Риган, Пимент

Средни нотки

Амбра, Тамян, Лабданум, Опопонакс

Базови нотки

Агарово дърво (оуд), Кожа, Пачули, Сандалово дърво

Час от деня

Нощно излизане

Опитайте: 3 ml 18,63 €10 ml 55,44 €

Amouage says this one rests for six months in Muscat before release. It opens with oregano, pimento and bergamot, then the heart holds incense, opoponax, amber and labdanum. Smoke, leather, agarwood, patchouli and sandalwood sit underneath: it is the only pick here that lists smoke as a note. If oud is the note you came for, our guide to oud perfumes goes further. Interlude 53 Man is presented for men, for going out. On lasting power, most community voters choose eternal, and most pick enormous for projection. Winter and fall draw the most season votes, with night and evening as the favoured hours. Readers who like this style can also see the best Amouage clones, where seven clones are judged against originals such as Interlude Man and Decision.

Fresh and dry: citrus, tea and ink

Here the resin sits in the base, under citrus, tea or ink. Two of the three draw daytime votes, so this is the group to try when a heavy incense feels like too much.

5

Imagination by Louis Vuitton

Връхни нотки

Калабрийски бергамот, Цитрон, Сицилиански портокал

Средни нотки

Цейлонска канела, Нигерийски джинджифил, Тунизийски нероли

Базови нотки

Китайски черен чай, Гваяково дърво, Олибанум

Час от деня

През деня

Опитайте: 3 ml 16,92 €10 ml 42,84 €

Citron, Calabrian bergamot and Sicilian orange start Imagination, followed by Tunisian neroli, Nigerian ginger and Ceylon cinnamon. The base turns to Chinese black tea, Ambroxan, guaiac wood and olibanum, so the resin arrives last, beside the tea. It was launched in 2021 for men. Most voters rate its longevity long lasting and its sillage moderate. It spans three seasons in the votes (spring, fall and winter), and voters pick it for day, office and evening.

6Най-добър за през деня

Terre d'Hermès Eau Intense Vétiver by Hermès

Връхни нотки

Бергамот, Грейпфрут, Лимон

Средни нотки

Здравец, Сичуански пипер

Базови нотки

Амброво дърво, Олибанум, Пачули, Ветивер

Час от деня

През деня

Опитайте: 3 ml 7,65 €10 ml 22,05 €

Terre d'Hermès Eau Intense Vétiver launched in 2018 for men, with work as its listed occasion. Bergamot, grapefruit and lemon open it, Sichuan pepper and geranium form the heart, and the base brings olibanum, patchouli, amberwood and vetiver. Its accords lead with citrus, aromatic and fresh spicy, with woody and earthy below. Votes on longevity lean long lasting, then moderate. Most voters rate the sillage moderate. It is the one pick voters place in spring and summer, for daytime.

Comme des Garçons 2 by Comme des Garçons

Mark Buxton composed Comme des Garçons 2, a 1999 unisex perfume, and its pyramid of eighteen notes is the longest of the 16. The opening stacks aldehydes, angelica, tea, mandarin orange and mate. The heart adds ink, magnolia, nutmeg, bay leaf, coriander, caraway and cinnamon. Only then do incense, patchouli, vetiver, cedar, amber and labdanum arrive. Votes on its longevity go to long lasting, then eternal. Sillage votes go to strong, then moderate. Fall, winter and evenings are where voters place it.

Incense with white flowers

Each of these three pairs the resin with tuberose or orange blossom, and all three are presented for women.

8Най-добър цветен избор

Honour 43 Woman by Amouage

Връхни нотки

Кориандър, Пипер, Лист от ревен

Средни нотки

Карамфил, Жасмин, Момина сълза, Тубероза

Базови нотки

Лабданум, Кожа, Олибанум, Опопонакс

Час от деня

Вечер

Опитайте: 3 ml 18,36 €10 ml 54,45 €

Rhubarb leaf, pepper and coriander open Honour 43 Woman, and the heart is a bouquet of tuberose, jasmine, lily-of-the-valley and carnation. Under that sit labdanum, olibanum, leather, sandalwood, vetiver and opoponax. It dates from 2021 and is presented for women, for going out. Most voters put its longevity at long lasting. Sillage votes lean moderate, then strong. Spring is its season in the votes, worn in the evening or at night.

9

Queen of Silk by Creed

Връхни нотки

Магнолия, Османтус, Шафран

Средни нотки

Агарово дърво (оуд), Маракуя, Пачули, Тубероза

Базови нотки

Кедрово дърво, Тамян, Мадагаскарска ванилия, Мускус

Час от деня

Нощно излизане

Опитайте: 3 ml 14,85 €10 ml 42,21 €

Saffron, osmanthus and magnolia open Queen of Silk, a 2024 perfume for women. Passionfruit, tuberose, patchouli and agarwood form the heart, and the base holds Madagascar vanilla, Ambroxan, myrrh, musk, incense and cedarwood. Here the resin is one of six base notes, under a heart of fruit and flowers. Longevity: most voters say long lasting. Sillage: votes lean strong, then moderate. Fall and winter are its seasons in the votes, and night and evening its hours.

10

Can't Stop Loving You by By Kilian

Връхни нотки

Портокалов цвят, Paradisone

Средни нотки

Мед, Лабданум, Styrax

Базови нотки

Мадагаскарска ванилия, Дъбов мъх, Олибанум

Час от деня

Вечер

Опитайте: 3 ml 20,34 €10 ml 50,40 €

Orange blossom and paradisone start Can't Stop Loving You. Honey, labdanum and styrax follow in the heart, then oakmoss, Madagascar vanilla and olibanum. It came out in 2023 for women, and its listed occasion is work. Longevity votes lean moderate, then long lasting. Most voters call the sillage moderate. Voters name fall and spring, with evenings and nights.

Sweet incense: vanilla, honey and tobacco

Here vanilla, honey or tobacco leaf sit beside the resin. If you already like gourmand or ambery perfumes, start here, and see our guide to amber perfumes for that wider family.

Chergui by Serge Lutens

Serge Lutens names Chergui after a hot, dry Eastern wind and describes it in terms of sap, resin and elixir. The notes agree: tobacco leaf, honey and amber lead, and the base mixes hay, incense, sandalwood, iris, musk and rose. It is unisex. Votes lean long lasting for longevity and strong for projection. Fall and winter draw the most season votes, and voters wear it at night, in the evening and by day.

11

Cappadocia by Memo Paris

Връхни нотки

Смирна, Шафран, Ванилия

Средни нотки

Бензоин, Тамян, Жасмин, Mahonial

Час от деня

Вечер

Опитайте: 3 ml 16,20 €10 ml 49,32 €

Cappadocia launched in 2023 as a unisex perfume for work. Vanilla, myrrh and saffron open it, and the heart holds benzoin, sandalwood, frankincense, orris root, musk, mahonial, rose and jasmine. Frankincense is the only place on this list where the note is spelled that way. Lasting power leans long lasting in the votes. Most voters rate its reach moderate. Fall, winter and the after-dark hours are what they name.

12

Spiritueuse Double Vanille by Guerlain

Връхни нотки

Бергамот, Горчив портокал, Тамян, Розов пипер

Средни нотки

Българска роза, Кедър, Жасмин, Иланг-иланг

Базови нотки

Бензоин, Тонка, Ванилия, Бял мускус

Час от деня

Нощно излизане

Опитайте: 3 ml 19,35 €10 ml 52,38 €

Guerlain says the excess of vanilla in Spiritueuse Double Vanille brings out a smoky, woody side, and the notes explain how: incense sits in the top beside bergamot, pink pepper and bitter orange, while the heart adds Bulgarian rose, cedar, jasmine and ylang-ylang. Vanilla rules the base with benzoin, tonka bean and white musk. This one is unisex. On staying power the votes lean long lasting; on projection, strong, then moderate. Voters pick it for fall and winter, through the evening, the night or the day.

Dark incense: vetiver, resin and wood

These three pair the resin with vetiver, leather or dark woods, and voters pick all three for fall and winter. Beyond the 16, Toskovat's Inexcusable Evil takes the dark side further: its incense sits with concrete, rain notes and sandalwood in the base, after an opening of gunpowder and iodine. Our Toskovat' samples guide reads the four Toskovat' perfumes in our range note by note, Inexcusable Evil among them, and gives a sampling order from the most wearable to the most challenging.

Wonderwood by Comme des Garçons

Antoine Lie composed Wonderwood, a 2010 perfume for men. Bergamot, Madagascar pepper, caraway and nutmeg open it, then cypress, Virginia cedar, incense and vetiver take the heart. Sandalwood, guaiac wood, agarwood, cashmeran and patchouli finish it. Its accords lead with woody, fresh spicy and aromatic. On projection, most voters say strong. Votes on longevity lean long lasting. Its season votes go to winter and fall, and its time votes to evening and night.

14Най-добра стойност

Siene by Tiziana Terenzi

Връхни нотки

Кипарис, Хвойна, Кожа

Средни нотки

Тамян, Ирис, Смирна, Пачули

Базови нотки

Амбра, Мед, Мускус, Сандалово дърво

Час от деня

Нощно излизане

Опитайте: 3 ml 7,38 €10 ml 20,07 €

Leather, cypress and juniper open Siene, a 2019 perfume for men, and the heart holds incense, iris, myrrh and patchouli. Amber, sandalwood, musk and honey close it. Leather is the first note on its list, and our guide to leather perfumes covers that family on its own. Siene is listed for going out. Votes on longevity lean long lasting. Votes on sillage lean moderate. Voters reach for it in winter and fall, at night and in the evening.

15Най-добър за вечер

Black Lacquer by Tom Ford

Връхни нотки

Черен пипер, Мастило, Ром, Винил

Средни нотки

Кайсия, Абаносово дърво, елеми, Божур

Базови нотки

Олибанум

Час от деня

Нощно излизане

Опитайте: 3 ml 33,48 €10 ml 101,43 €

Rum, ink, vinyl and black pepper open Black Lacquer, a 2024 perfume for men, and the heart holds ebony wood, peony, elemi and apricot. Olibanum alone forms the base, so here the resin has the last word rather than the first. On longevity, votes lean long lasting. On sillage, most voters say moderate. Winter and fall are the seasons voters name, for night and evening.

The 16 at a glance

Our order puts the resin-first perfumes ahead because they show the note most plainly. Your skin and your taste may well reorder the rest.

Try a soft and a dark incense first

Incense reads very differently from one perfume to the next, so test it before a bottle. Our suggestion: one soft, one dark, both in 3ml. A 3ml of Encens Suave is 13,86 €, and a 3ml of Wonderwood is 7,11 €. Try them on separate days and notice which resin you reach for again.

A 3ml decant gives around 60 sprays, enough for several wears. A 10ml decant gives around 200 sprays and suits the one you wear for weeks; Encens Suave's 10ml decant is 39,33 €. Read more about what a decant is, or how to choose a perfume without smelling it.

Seven of these are unisex, and our unisex perfume page lists more. To place incense among the wider groups, read our guide to fragrance families.