Incense samples as unisex

Incense is on record for 55 samples that are listed as unisex. This guide walks through 8 of them using only what is on record: names, concentrations, note lists and tags. We do not rank them, because the same perfume wears differently on every skin.

The selection

Diptyque Eau Duelle

Diptyque Eau Duelle is filed as an Eau de Parfum from Diptyque; the note list on record reads Vanilla, Pink peppercorn, Cypriol and Incense. It is tagged amber, spicy and oriental. Season on record: autumn and winter. What reads as sweet on one person can read as dry on another.

Ibraheem Al Qurashi French Tobacco

With Ibraheem Al Qurashi French Tobacco, Ibraheem Al Qurashi has an Eau de Parfum for which Mandarin, Blood Orange, Green Apple, Ginger, Neroli, Cinnamon and others are on record. By family it is filed as citrus, oriental and woody. It is listed for autumn and winter. One wearing shows a mood, several wearings show the perfume.

Byredo Gypsy Water

Byredo Gypsy Water is filed as an Eau de Parfum from Byredo; the note list on record reads Bergamot, Juniper Berries, Lemon, Pepper, Incense, Orris and others. Its family tags read woody, aromatic and citrus. For season the tags say spring and autumn. Try it on a normal day, not only on a special one, to see whether it fits your routine.

Fragrance Du Bois Cavort

Fragrance Du Bois Cavort by Fragrance Du Bois is an Extrait de Parfum with these recorded notes: Saffron, Davana, Geranium, Cinnamon, Rose Absolute, Orange Flower and others. It is tagged floral, woody and spicy. It is listed for autumn and winter. Smell it right after applying and again later in the day, because the first minutes rarely tell the whole story.

Fascent Red Flag

Fascent Red Flag is an Eau de Parfum by Fascent. The notes on record are Cardamom, Beetroot accord, Ginger, Iris, Frankincense, Tonka bean and others. The scent families on record: woody, spicy and oriental. It is listed for autumn and winter. Do not judge it next to other perfumes on the same arm, as they blur each other.

Gissah La Luna Valley

Gissah La Luna Valley is an Eau de Parfum by Gissah. The notes on record are Incense, Raspberry, Apricot, Guaiac Wood, Cotton Candy, Sandalwood and others. Its family tags read gourmand, oriental and woody. It is listed for autumn and winter. A paper strip shows the outline, skin shows the detail.

Maison Crivelli Musc Nurāsana

Maison Crivelli Musc Nurāsana is filed as an Extrait de Parfum from Maison Crivelli; the note list on record reads bergamot essential oil, olibanum incense resin, Damask rose essential oil, musks and tonka bean absolute. By family it is filed as musky, floral and fresh. For season the tags say spring and summer. Notes on a list are a map, and what you notice on your own skin is the territory.

Le Labo Rose 31

Le Labo Rose 31 is an Eau de Parfum by Le Labo. The notes on record are Centifolia rose, Cumin, Olibanum, Cedar, Amber, Gaïac wood and others. It is tagged floral, spicy, woody and amber. For season the tags say autumn and winter. Clothes hold a scent differently from skin, which makes a scarf or sleeve a useful second test.

Also in this selection: Bujairami Hectic, Fascent Crème Brûlante, French Avenue Aromatix Teas Me, Zoologist Camel, Pendora Scents Corazon Bourbon, Rayhaan Terra, Stéphane Humbert Lucas Black Gemstone, Rayhaan Vantage, Amouage Guidance, Zoologist Tyrannosaurus Rex.

How to test them

Keep the rest of the vial for a second and third try in other weather. Apply one or two sprays to clean skin, without other scented products nearby. Start light; you can always add a spray on the next wearing. Wear it on at least three different days before you decide.

A decant of 2, 5 or 10 ml lets you wear it on several days before you decide about a full bottle. Two or three samples at a time is plenty; more than that and the impressions blur. A decant gives you time with it, which a quick spray on a paper strip never does.

Where to go next

• Incense samples
• Unisex
• all samples
• all brands
• frequently asked questions
• sample sets
• Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum and Extrait
• what a decant is
• how to store perfume samples

Questions

How were these samples chosen?

By the tags and note lists on record for each perfume. Nothing was added from memory, the order is not a ranking, and perfumes without recorded notes are described without notes.

Why do some perfumes show no notes?

Because we only print notes we can trace to a source. Where no note list is on record, the page says so and leaves the judging to your own skin.

What is a decant?

Perfume moved from the original bottle into a smaller vial. Ours are filled by FragranceGems into glass spray vials and labelled by us, so you can wear a perfume before you decide on a bottle.