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.

Snabb jämförelse

Snabb jämförelse: Communityns röster

#	Parfym	Utmärkelse	Huvudnoter	Varaktighet	Sillage	Årstid	3 ml	10 ml	per milliliter
1	Encens SuaveMatière Première	Bäst överlag	Rökelse, Madagaskarvanilj	Långvarig	Stark	Vinter, Höst	13,86 €	39,33 €	3,93 €
2	Myrrhe MystereTom Ford		Labdanum, Myrra, Olibanum	Långvarig	Måttlig	Höst, Vinter	19,80 €	45,27 €	4,53 €
3	Crepuscule des AmesAtelier des Ors		Rökelse, Myrra, Ros	Långvarig	Måttlig	Höst, Vinter
4	Interlude 53 ManAmouage	Håller längst	Ambra, Rökelse, Labdanum	Evig	Enorm	Vinter	18,63 €	55,44 €	5,54 €
5	ImaginationLouis Vuitton		Ceylonkanel, Nigeriansk ingefära, Tunisisk neroli	Långvarig	Måttlig	Vår	16,92 €	42,84 €	4,28 €
6	Terre D'Hermes Eau Intense VetiverHermès	Bäst för dagen	Geranium, Szechuanpeppar	Långvarig	Måttlig	Vår	7,65 €	22,05 €	2,21 €
7	Comme des Garçons 2Comme des Garçons		Lagerblad, Kummin, Kanel	Långvarig	Stark	Höst, Vinter	7,83 €	23,67 €	2,37 €
8	Honour 43 WomanAmouage	Bästa blommiga valet	Nejlika, Jasmin, Liljekonvalj	Långvarig	Måttlig	Vår	18,36 €	54,45 €	5,45 €
9	Queen of SilkCreed		Agarträ (oud), Passionsfrukt, Patchouli	Långvarig	Stark	Höst, Vinter	14,85 €	42,21 €	4,22 €
10	Can't Stop Loving YouBy Kilian		Honung, Labdanum, Styrax	Måttlig	Måttlig	Höst	20,34 €	50,40 €	5,04 €
11	CappadociaMemo Paris		Bensoe, Rökelse, Jasmin	Långvarig	Måttlig	Höst, Vinter	16,20 €	49,32 €	4,93 €
12	Spiritueuse Double VanilleGuerlain		Bulgarisk ros, Ceder, Jasmin	Långvarig	Stark	Höst	19,35 €	52,38 €	5,24 €
13	WonderwoodComme des Garçons		Cypress, Rökelse, Vetiver	Långvarig	Stark	Vinter, Höst	7,11 €	22,23 €	2,22 €
14	SieneTiziana Terenzi	Mest prisvärd	Rökelse, Iris, Myrra	Långvarig	Måttlig	Vinter, Höst	7,38 €	20,07 €	2,01 €
15	Black LacquerTom Ford	Bäst för kvällen	Aprikos, Ebenholts, Elemi	Långvarig	Måttlig	Vinter	33,48 €	101,43 €	10,14 €

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Communityns röster

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.

1Bäst överlag

Encens Suave by Matière Première

Toppnoter

Kaffe

Hjärtnoter

Rökelse, Madagaskarvanilj

Basnoter

Bensoe, Labdanum

Tid på dagen

Kväll

Prova den: 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

Toppnoter

Bensoe, Kanel, Rosépeppar

Hjärtnoter

Labdanum, Myrra, Olibanum

Basnoter

Ambra, Mysk, Sandelträ, Vanilj

Tid på dagen

Kväll

Prova den: 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.

4Håller längst

Interlude 53 Man by Amouage

Toppnoter

Bergamott, Oregano, Kryddpeppar

Hjärtnoter

Ambra, Rökelse, Labdanum, Opoponax

Basnoter

Agarträ (oud), Läder, Patchouli, Sandelträ

Tid på dagen

Utekväll

Prova den: 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

Toppnoter

Kalabrisk bergamott, Cedrat, Siciliansk apelsin

Hjärtnoter

Ceylonkanel, Nigeriansk ingefära, Tunisisk neroli

Basnoter

Kinesiskt svart te, Guajakträ, Olibanum

Tid på dagen

Dagtid

Prova den: 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.

6Bäst för dagen

Terre d'Hermès Eau Intense Vétiver by Hermès

Toppnoter

Bergamott, Grapefrukt, Citron

Hjärtnoter

Geranium, Szechuanpeppar

Basnoter

Ambraträ, Olibanum, Patchouli, Vetiver

Tid på dagen

Dagtid

Prova den: 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.

8Bästa blommiga valet

Honour 43 Woman by Amouage

Toppnoter

Koriander, Peppar, Rabarberblad

Hjärtnoter

Nejlika, Jasmin, Liljekonvalj, Tuberosa

Basnoter

Labdanum, Läder, Olibanum, Opoponax

Tid på dagen

Kväll

Prova den: 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

Toppnoter

Magnolia, Osmanthus, Saffran

Hjärtnoter

Agarträ (oud), Passionsfrukt, Patchouli, Tuberosa

Basnoter

Cederträ, Rökelse, Madagaskarvanilj, Mysk

Tid på dagen

Utekväll

Prova den: 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

Toppnoter

Apelsinblom, Paradisone

Hjärtnoter

Honung, Labdanum, Styrax

Basnoter

Madagaskarvanilj, Ekmossa, Olibanum

Tid på dagen

Kväll

Prova den: 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

Toppnoter

Myrra, Saffran, Vanilj

Hjärtnoter

Bensoe, Rökelse, Jasmin, Mahonial

Tid på dagen

Kväll

Prova den: 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

Toppnoter

Bergamott, Pomerans, Rökelse, Rosépeppar

Hjärtnoter

Bulgarisk ros, Ceder, Jasmin, Ylang-ylang

Basnoter

Bensoe, Tonkaböna, Vanilj, Vit mysk

Tid på dagen

Utekväll

Prova den: 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.

14Mest prisvärd

Siene by Tiziana Terenzi

Toppnoter

Cypress, Enbär, Läder

Hjärtnoter

Rökelse, Iris, Myrra, Patchouli

Basnoter

Ambra, Honung, Mysk, Sandelträ

Tid på dagen

Utekväll

Prova den: 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.

15Bäst för kvällen

Black Lacquer by Tom Ford

Toppnoter

Svartpeppar, Bläck, Rom, Vinyl

Hjärtnoter

Aprikos, Ebenholts, Elemi, Pion

Basnoter

Olibanum

Tid på dagen

Utekväll

Prova den: 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.