Incense Pure Incense Pure is a resinous woodsy incense scent composed with indulgent amounts of wonderful natural oils. A lovely frankincense CO2 extract makes this a soothing and meditative choice for frankincense lovers. A dusky labdanum absolute and an incensy cistus fraction combine to form a delicious resinous ambery note, while a beautiful sandalwood helps ground the scent. Myrrh, patchouli, natural oakmoss, angelica root, orris, vanilla absolute, and elemi complement the natural incense theme.

Vintage Asian Temple Incense Burner

Perfumer's Comments: I didn't experience incense in church while growing up, so I didn't discover my love for incense notes until I began to sample essential oils. The first time I smelled olibanum essential oil (frankincense), I was truly enchanted. I loved it at first sniff, which was interesting since I had no prior association with it as so many people do. I wanted this fragrance to be a very natural-smelling scent that highlighted olibanum, enhanced by resinous notes, sandalwood, and labdanum/cistus. Incense Pure is the 2010 successor to the previous Encens Tranquille but is quite different. Many people find it to be a dry and outdoorsy type of incense but with some fresh and airy aspects as well (see blog reviews for these comments).

Fragrance Notes: frankincense CO2, myrrh EO, labdanum absolute, cistus oil, natural oakmoss absolute, aged Indian patchouli heartnote fraction, sandalwood, cedar, ambergris, orris, angelica root absolute, elemi EO, vanilla absolute. Encens Tranquille was released August 2007 and was discontinued when it no longer met IFRA regulations. Incense Pure was released March 2010.

Blog Reviews of Incense Pure: Katie's review on the Katie Puckrik Smells blog Robin's review on Now Smell This Abigail's review on I Smell Therefore I Am Suzanne's review on Suzanne’s Perfume Journal of Eiderdown Press Nathan's review on Nathan Branch blog Mark's review on Cafleurebon

sap is collected from gnarled incense trees

Frankincense and myrrh are two of the first materials that come to mind when thinking about incense, but labdanum, agarwood, cedar, pine, sandal, copal and other woods and resins are often components of incense too. I’ve used a wonderful frankincense oil for this fragrance; it is a CO2 extract rather than a steam distilled oil and is especially long-lasting on the skin. The myrrh oil has a warm, sweet drydown that adds richness to the base.

Labdanum absolute and cistus essential oil both come from the rockrose or Cistus ladaniferus plant. Most cistus oil smells quite different than labdanum, being less amber-like and more herbal. I've used a special cistus fraction in this, however, that smells more like labdanum than regular cistus does; this cistus fraction has a wonderful incensy character and a light smoky undertone. The cistus combines with the warm, sweet labdanum absolute to make a delicious and lasting resinous base accord. A note on oakmoss: Many people think that natural oakmoss is no longer used, but it is allowed as long as it is the kind that has had the allergen atranol removed and as long as it is below the IFRA percentage limits in the formula. The low-atranol natural oakmoss smells very nearly the same as regular natural moss -- it has a lovely scent and is what I use whenever I want a natural oakmoss note.

frankincense resin tears

Photo at left shows 34 ml bottle with box. To purchase Incense Pure bottles or samples, please return to the Fragrance page. Photo below shows 17 ml bottles with optional splash caps (they come with spray pumps too).