Incense perfume is considered the beginning of perfumery, so below we take a look at four top beloved perfumes with incense scent.
The inception of perfumery is believed to have originated from the burning of incense, which was initially intended to be a scent used for sorcery.
In the centuries since the initial inception of incense as a fragrance used for spiritual and religious practices, this has changed, as perfumes are now used by everybody.
As a result of this, there are incense perfumes that have become staples for anyone who is trying to build an incense perfume collection.
In our list, we have an all-time favourite incense perfume that has stood the test of time as an honorary mention, and four other popular incense perfumes.
The origins of incense perfumes detailed
As highlighted before, the origin of perfumery is linked to sorcery. Initially believed to have been associated with keeping to the right side of Unseen Beings, the word perfume is derived from the Latin word per fumum, which means “through smoke.”
However, the practice was not lateral, as the history of incense has also been associated with countries like China, India, Japan, and Arabia, who all used incense in their religious and spiritual practices.
Slowly, religious and spiritual leaders started using incense as scents, before the practice became common and everyone started using perfume, as they do now.
Top perfumes with incense scent
Incense was created primarily through the burning of scent woods, plant-derived gums, and resins like myrrh, poonac, frankincense, copal, and benzoin, to name a few.
As part of the olfactory of fragrances, incense is defined by its woody profile which leans towards oriental notes.
1. Guerlain Shalimar Eau De Parfum
Therefore, the scent is familiar and nostalgic, the same characteristics for which our honorary mention is lauded, and it is Guerlain’s Shalimar Eau De Parfum (EDP).
Regarded as the first oriental fragrance introduced to the market, the fragrance has stood the test of time. The amber fragrance for men’s nose design was credited to perfumer Jacques Guerlain, in 1925.
The fragrance is still considered the best incense fragrance on the market, despite the influx of other popular incense fragrances.
Therefore, the Guerlain Shalimar (EDP) is a staple in any fragrance collection. Other details about the EDP include the following:
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Guerlain Shalimar |
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| Description | “Guerlain’s legendary fragrance, Shalimar, is a hauntingly sensual, timeless scent in an iconic bottle symbolizing a mythical, incandescent love story. The first Oriental fragrance in perfumery, it embodies intoxicating femininity and a hint of the forbidden.” |
| Main accords | Vanilla, floral, powdery, and citrus |
| Top notes | Bergamot and floral notes |
| Middle notes | Iris, rose, and jasmine |
| Base notes | Vanilla and tonka bean |
| Price | Currently unavailable on Amazon |
2. Tom Ford Black Orchid
Probably one of Tom Ford’s best fragrances, Black Orchid was the first fragrance Tom Ford released in 2006, though, the amber floral fragrance for men and women was subsequently officially launched in 2020.
The incense perfume is a nostalgic fragrance for many, considering its popularity in the 2010s. Hence, even without knowing the name of the fragrance, its scent profile may be familiar to you.
Other details about Black Orchid include:
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Black Orchid |
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| Description | “Tom Ford Black Orchid Parfum emphasizes the iconic sensuality of the original and its aphrodisiac effect of the black orchid with a new, potent seductive accords…” |
| Main accords | Earthy, sweet, woody, and yellow floral |
| Top notes | Truffle and plum |
| Middle notes | Rum, ylang-ylang, and black orchid |
| Base notes | Patchouli |
| Price | From $140 for a 100ml bottle on Amazon |
3. Un Jardin Sur Le Nil by Hermès
Despite the fact that the Un Jardin Sur Le Nil by Hermès is described as a floral fruity fragrance for men and women, the fragrance has an incense scent, with details of cinnamon, which add spicy scent profiles.
First released in 2005, the nose design of the fragrance was by Jean-Claude Ellena. Other details include:
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Un Jardin Sur Le Nil |
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| Description | “A stroll in the garden islands of the Nile at Assouan is the starting point for this new olfactory voyage. Green mango, lotus, incense, calamus and sycamore wood are at the heart of this refreshing ode.” |
| Main accords | Citrus, aromatic, floral, and fresh spicy |
| Top notes | Grapefruit, green mango, tomato, and carrot |
| Middle note | Lotus, bulrush, orange, hyacinth, and peony |
| Base notes | Musk, iris, incense, labdanum, and cinnamon |
| Price | From $96.17 for a 100ml bottle on Amazon |
4. Siwa by Memo Paris
Siwa by Memo Paris is in the high-end price range when it comes to perfumes, as the eau de toilette fragrance is from the Paris-based niche fragrance house.
While Memo is widely regarded for their leather fragrances, they struck gold with this amber fragrance for women. Other details of the fragrance include:
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Siwa |
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| Description | “The sweetness of love, under the burning sun of the world’s largest sand desert, a touch of vanilla slips into the comforting embrace of a cereal. In the distant oasis of Siwa, anyone can consult the oracles, just as Alexander the Great and Cleopatra once did, to discover what their destiny holds and make it come true. Cries rise up to the heavens like incantations and Siwa attracts the night.” |
| Main accords | Whisky, vanilla, woody, and yellow floral |
| Top notes | Aldehydes and violet leaf |
| Middle notes | Whiskey, narcissus, and cinnamon |
| Base notes | Vanilla, popcorn, and ,usk |
| Price |
From $204.95 for a 100ml bottle on Amazon |
