Best Incense Scented Perfumes for Women

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Incense is such a familiar part of culture from across the globe, that for many people, it has become synonymous with comfort and spirituality. Beyond all of that good stuff, it can also be infused into fragrance to create that warm smokiness , that adds just a bit of an edge to a perfume. For this post, I have selected seven fragrances that have an incense element to them. Some will be more than others, but I wanted to get many options for differing tastes.

Incense Perfumes: What are the Top Smelling Fragrances?

Woody Resinous Incense

Full Incense by Montale– This one goes exactly as the name describes. It’s pretty much a linear fragrance with not too much depth. However, the resinous quality, woods, and the familiar smell of incense makes this one fantastic.

Full Incense does have a sweeter quality, not as smoky (it still is), as some might like. Fresh cedar with greenish aromas peaking through during the duration of the wear.

Great Guerlain

Guerlain Shalimar Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3 Ounce– An absolute classic fragrance. Again, this is one that isn’t a ‘pure’ incense perfume, though it is prominently featured. An absolute classic of a scent.

Shalimar is an exotic blend of vanilla, citrus, rose, jasmine, leather, and musk. It’s got a nice bit of citrus, that floats around in the smokiness of incense, and plays well off of the leather note.

The citrus is pretty strong up front, but then the smoky, vanilla, and leather trio will move in and push the fruits aside.

At times, you will get more of a powdery feel from Shalimar, then, the smoky and warmth with sweet vanilla. It’s been around forever, still appreciated, and still a great performer. There have been many flankers of Shalimar, that have been released over the years, but I have to give the original its due.

Citrus, Rose, and Incense

INCENSE ROSE 1.7 OZ. BY ANDY TAUER by Andy Tauer– Quite a dark perfume with the warmth of incense and sweetness of rose. But first there is the mandarin note which brings the citrus front and center. Very unique and performs well.

Incense Rose can be somewhat difficult to find, at least at a good price. Nonetheless, the opening act is less about the incense and more about the citrus and rose. That phase gives this perfume an attractive and bright aroma.

Later, the smokiness and spice will come through much more. Light spices, rose, and the incense note that we’re looking for.

Smoky Sweetness

Tom Ford Black Orchid By Tom Ford For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4-Ounces– Black Orchid is a complex blend that features a wonderful incense note which only increases the wonderful mysteriousness of this fragrance. Unisex scent that is dark and sweetened by chocolate and vanilla notes.

Dark, rich, and spicy. A loud and sensual gourmand fragrance featuring notes of black truffle, black orchid, plum, and patchouli. Bold and sexy wear that can sometimes be polarizing.

Black Orchid is not only a top level fragrance with its sillage, but it seemingly lasts forever. Yes, Tom Ford fragrances are priced on the higher end, but you get every penny’s worth with this perfume’s performance.

It’s sweet, it’s dark and dry, it’s smoky, and then powdered. Black Orchid is complex and deep, with plenty of personality.

Woody Incense

Giorgio Armani Prive Bois D’Encens Eau De Parfum Spray 100ml/3.4oz– A dry and more earthy take on incense. This Armani formulation is a pretty simple and straightforward one but it is still unique, if familiar at times.  This one is probably one of the most ‘pure’ on this list.

Dark, woody, resinous, with hints of spice and sweetness. All of which is wrapped up in a light incense haze. The pepper can be strong at first, but it will settle to a more gentle form within the composition.

This came out well over a decade ago, so, bottles are tougher to come by. Worth a try, at a decent price.

Cathedral Myrrh

Incense Avignon– This one was a part of Comme des Garcons series of incense inspired scents. Avignon is the classic Catholic church aroma of frankincense and myrrh.

It’s pretty tough to come by a bottle these days, but could be a go to for those looking for that old Cathedral scent. This one is quite a bit like Montale’s Pure Incense, except with the additional myrrh being a bit heavier in this one.

Complex High End Option

AMOUAGE Epic Woman’s Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 fl. oz.– Typical Amouage, a very loud and long lasting scent with the oriental flavor. This one feature caraway and rose, which creates a floral based incense perfume.

The opening act has a huge amount of spice, mainly from that caraway note and cinnamon. There is also a bit of fruity sweetness, floating around, but the incense note in the dry down is great.

It settles down into a smoky, lighter spiced, sweet vanilla and warm amber blend. Oh, and a big dash of oud, to really give it that woody smoke.

6 Colognes that Smell Like Alcohol (Liquor)

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Fragrances that smell like alcoholic beverages aren’t always appropriate to wear, so they can often be overlooked. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t great colognes which use boozy notes, as a part of their overall composition. In this post, I am going to give you my six favorites of this type, using different types of alcohol.

What are the Best Smelling Boozy (Alcohol) Scented Fragrances?

Vodka Mixed Scent

212 Vip by Carolina Herrera Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– This is a bold and intense fragrance full of booziness and has a unique aroma. 212 VIP has notes of vodka, amber, lime caviar, mint, pepper, and ginger among others.

Not a cologne for everyone, it has a limited use case, as it is mostly for going out or very casual situations. It opens with that smooth vodka and tonka bean, paired with the spice of black pepper. Mainly, this one is about vodka, but there’s also gin.

From there, 212 VIP, you get sweet vanilla, amber, the tonka bean, and ginger (which lightens the spice provided by pepper). There is also a dash of lime, apple, and mint which aids the feeling of it being a boozy mixed drink.

This one is quite alcoholic in its presentation, again not everyone will dig it, but is a really great example of that type of scent. I love wearing this, on the right evening. Read my full review.

212 VIP Herrera

Dark Rum and Spice

Bvlgari Man in Black Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– 

This is my favorite fragrance by Bvlgari. This one brings you an amazing spiced rum aroma with a dark and enveloping scent. Has really gotten me complements, when I’ve worn Man in Black in the past.

Another one that is built for the colder months. It’s got leather, cinnamon, tonka bean, and oud. Boozy, spicy, with a slight smoky undertone. Sharp spice at first, then, smooth and warm. Quite masculine, with decent performance. Man in Black Full Review

Whiskey, Fruity, Smoky 

Angel Men Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler Eau De Toilette Spray (Limited Edition) for Men, 3.40 Ounce– Pure Malt is like a fruity cask of whiskey. This is an amazing scent to wear in the wintertime, as the fruit blend and the boozy quality absolutely shines in the chilly air. 

It gets smokier as it moves along, but still plenty of sweetness underneath from vanilla and the opening notes. Later, it will feel a bit creamier and woody. Strong, but not overpowering with nice longevity. One of my favorite colognes from Mugler. Pure Malt Full Review

pure

A Different Take on Boozy

Kilian Apple Brandy 17 ml / 0.57 fl–  Apple Brandy is exactly as boozy as you’d expect it to be. Like a liquor soaked cask, with an apple aroma at the top, and vanilla sweetness in its heart. A sweet, warming cologne, for those colder days and nights of wintertime.

The opening is pretty juicy, then it’s a boozy sweetness, and finally it’s a liquored woody base. Very delicious, probably not one for everybody, but great nonetheless.

 

Gourmand Rum

Kilian Black Phantom- Memento Mori Perfume Refillable Spray 1.7 fl. oz– Another rum based fragrance, more sweet and unisex than Man in Black. The rum here isn’t heavily spiced and it’s paired with smooth coffee, caramel, and chocolate. Comes together as deliciously sweet.

When it dries down it’s more like a coffee aroma, with some rum poured into it. Not super heavy, but you get a long lasting scent that provides enough rum to get that liquor feeling, without it completely taking over the composition.

 

Bold Whiskey

Invictus Intense– Invictus Intense is a flanker to the original Invictus. It’s bold and has a sweet opening, soaked in amber, and a malt accord. Fresh with bay leaf and a sweet orange blossom note.

Dark, amber laden and a nice dose of whiskey to liven things up. It dries down with its woody notes, marine accord, and amber. The malt is strongest in the first half of the wear, but it’s still one of the better options for a good price.

Bvlgari Aqva vs Aqva Marine Cologne Comparison

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Alright, when dealing with flanker fragrances, there can often be a lot of overlap (by design) between two scents. Sometimes, a designer will go completely in another direction, and a new iteration of a scent will smell completely different than its predecessor. Bvlgari’s Aqva line, takes the former route.

This is especially true with Aqva Pour Homme and Aqva Marine, these two are very close relatives of one another. However, which one smells better? In this post, I am going to compare these Bvlgari fragrances and try to separate a winner.

Tale of the Tape: Aqva vs. Marine

Aqva

Notes include: mandarin, seaweed, cedar, orange, lavender, petitgrain

Click here to try Aqva: Aqua By Bvlgari Eau De Toilette Spray For Men 3.4 oz

Read my Full Review of Aqva Pour Homme

Aqva Marine

Notes include: grapefruit, seaweed, neroli, cedar, rosemary, mandarin

Click here to try Aqva Marine: Bvlgari Aqva Marine Pour Homme by Bvlgari 3.4oz 100ml EDT Spray

Opening

The opening of the original Aqva Pour Homme, is a mix of the orange, cedar, and seaweed notes. This is when you’re going to get the most citrus-y aroma of the bottle before it moves on into a more salty aquatic.

This period lasts for 10-15 minutes on my skin.  Aqva Marine, on the other hand, starts off with a citrus blend of orange and grapefruit. The seaweed note is ever present but the cedar doesn’t seem to be as strong in Aqva Marine.

It really comes down to which you prefer, more or less citrus, but neither opening aroma lasts long at all.

Edge: (Slight) Aqva

Projection

Both are about the same, in my opinion. These aren’t super strong colognes but do have strong starts and stay noticeable for a good amount of time. For much of the wear, they’re essentially lighter moderate fragrances.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Again, we are dealing with extremely similar creatures here. Five or maybe six hours is about all you should expect from either Aqva scent. Both are just okay, in this regard.

Edge: Push

Versatility

To me, they are both casual summertime fragrances, that I would prefer to wear out and about versus the office. These aquatics are good to wear when the heat and humidity is up during the summer or when you live in a year-round tropical climate. Not any distinction here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

There is really so much similarity between these two but there is just enough distinction to set them apart. Aqva will deliver a salty marine blend of lavender and cedar, with the orange notes eventually fading into the background.

You will get a strong orange opening which transitions into a much softer smooth marine/woody aroma.

Aqva Marine has a different citrus edge to it. It is much more oceanic in my opinion, with a watery saltiness to go along with the seaweed. The cedar is scaled back and there is a slight floral scent provided by the neroli.

If you want more of the oceanic scent, go with Aqva Marine.

I personally like the blend of the original Aqva Pour Homme a bit more than its flanker fragrance. The difference isn’t dramatic, but I do have a preference, and I go with that as the top dog.

Winner: Aqva Pour Homme

3 Colognes that Smell Similar to Tsar

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Tsar has been a popular enough fragrance for 30-plus years for it to have developed a fan base of adherents. As such, people want to find alternatives to this scent that can offer something similar but with a different feel or strike a close chord. In this post, I want to present 3 cologne options that smell similar Tsar by Van Cleef & Arpels.

Which Fragrances Smell Like Tsar by Van Cleef & Arpels?

Best Designer Option

Jazz by Yves Saint Laurent– Jazz is a YSL fragrance which dates back to the 1980s and strongly favors what you get with Tsar. It opens spicy, with notes of coriander and nutmeg, with some hints of basil early on.

Lavender is quite present here, along with drier and woodsy notes, when the initial spice fades. Tobacco, oakmoss, and a hint of leather. Once it gets to the floral heart, they are very similar, with artemisia, lavender, and geranium being big players in both.

With Jazz, I get 9-10 hours of performance, so if you want a near match with Tsar that gives you what you pay for…this is a great choice. My Full Review

Woodier Aroma from Cartier

Cartier Pasha De Cartier Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Fluid Ounce– This doesn’t have the same level of lavender (still plenty), when compared to something like Jazz, but it has the woodier notes that make up Tsar.

Pasha is a great performer and sits beautifully in the colder months of the years. Oakmoss and mint, give it a dry freshness, and then the caraway for some added spice. The scent warms up, while retaining its green outdoorsy depth, and the coolness of the mint.

The lavender is most noticeable in the latter stages, along with sandalwood and rosewood.

pasha

 

 

A Polo Classic

Safari by Ralph Lauren for Men, Eau De Toilette Natural Spray, 4.2 Ounce– Safari isn’t an exact copy of Tsar, but it is another option for those who enjoy this style of fragrance. It is also a delightfully masculine smell with a sweetness that many other fragrances lack. The main thrust of it is an outdoorsy, green herbal plant and woods mixture.

However, that’s only the beginning as Safari is a complex, and unique aroma. It’s masculine but tempered by citrus and floral notes. That’s the main difference, is Safari seems a bit brighter and not nearly as green and woodsy as Tsar. It still has plenty of that, just to a different amount.

Herod vs Tobacco Vanille Fragrance Comparison

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Herod and Tobacco Vanille are two popular high end fragrances for those who want a tobacco scented fragrance with some sweetness. Both have their strengths and admirers, but ultimately, which one is better? Which lasts longer? Which should you look to buy?

Tale of the Tape: Herod vs. Tobacco Vanille

Herod

Notes include: tobacco leaf, musk, cinnamon, vanilla, vetiver, cedar, patchouli, pepper, incense, and labdanum 

Click here to try: Parfums de Marly Herod Men’s EDP Spray, 4.2 oz.

Read my Review: Herod by PdM

Tobacco Vanille

Notes include: tobacco, vanilla, dried fruit accords, cocoa, tonka bean, wood sap, spices

Click here to try: Tom Ford Beauty Tobacco Vanille Private Blend Spray/3.4 oz.

Read my Review: Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford

Opening

Tobacco Vanille opens up with a sweet tobacco, as the main player. It is bold and joined by vanilla, cocoa, and creamy tonka bean. Also, there is a spiciness, which I take to be the cinnamon note. This can start off really powerfully and a bit overwhelming.

Herod also has a sweet tobacco note, but the profile is overall much spicier than the Tom Ford fragrance. Cinnamon and incense give it a different feeling. While these two get compared often, they have much different scents at times.

Herod takes on a aroma closer to something like B*Men or Burberry London. Not that they are exact, but I can definitely pick up the similarities.

Which is better? Honestly, Herod comes across much better in the opening. Darker, spicier, while still retaining a sweetness. 

Edge: Herod

Sillage

Tobacco Vanille comes across as stronger, at the start. I think that they are somewhat equal for a while, but the Tom Ford edges out the PdM fragrance overall. It’s not that much better at projecting, but it does have a bit of lead.

Edge: Tobacco Vanille

 

Longevity

Both of these lasts for over 10 hours, on my skin.  Really well beyond that, too. I don’t see one as being better here since they both go all day. Great performers.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Herod and Tobacco Vanille sort of occupy the same space. Both are cold weather wears all the way. They have enough personality to be worn out, but enough style to be worn in the office, more formal occasions, or casually.

There’s really no separation from my perspective.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I like Tobacco Vanille, particularly as it dries down and becomes less in your face. The tobacco is more of a greenish variety, not toasted or processed. Vanilla and cocoa still give it its sweetness and it comes across as very well put together. 

The performance also lives up to the price tag.

Herod is darker with more of spicy/sweet blend than Tobacco Vanille has. Also, the tobacco is smokier and cured, with a resinous aroma supporting the entire thing. It’s a close call between these two options, but I prefer the Parfums de Marly. The incense and resin is great and I love the tobacco note here. 

Winner: Herod