Hindu Kush

Incense has never made me hungry before, that is until Hindu Kush came along from Abdes Salaam Attars, the one man show of Dominique Dubrana now under the moniker La Via del Profumo. The spice blend behind this perfume is delectable and divine, something straight out of a fine Indian kitchen. Green, spicy, piquant, earthy citrusy ginger; waxy fruity, woody, and spicy black peppercorns; a warm and funky fennel-like note from caraway; sweet, earthy, and bitter carrot like facets of turmeric - oh my oh my oh my! - yummy! Then there is the incense, which is one of the most soulful frankincense notes I have ever smelled. But I don’t say soulful in the “meditative monk” or “holy temple” sense, this frankincense is muscular. It smokes and heaves with intensity, a conviction and determination. It's soulful like Otis Redding, B.B. King, Buddy Guy - it belts the blues, it does not hum a prayer. Seamlessly incorporated into the gaps of the frankincense accord is a pine resin note that gives it brightness, energy, and speed, but yet it doesn’t send the frankincense far off it’s natural course, instead seeming to add a more focused intensity not aloof energy. The final skin scent is a green smokey and aromatic yet still energetic cedar accord. I’m not pulling any perfumes to mind that I have encountered before that are anything like this. The perfect combination of spices combined with one of the most perfect incense accords I’ve ever smelled is hopelessly addictive. I must look like I have an OCD tick or something to public passers-by who are seeing me constantly raising my wrists to my nose for one more intoxicating hit. God I’m starving.

In the foothills of the Himalayas, there is a bazaar where a myriad of oriental spices greet you in the opening. Shortly after, a strong wind blows across pine trees, intertwining with wisps of incense smoke. Wafts of sillage are softly swirling around and you wish it would go on into the night, but the natural oils fade into the alpine air after several enchanting hours. It is a beautiful scent that transports you to a mountainous, far-off land.

the uniqueness of this scent is what i look for in all of my perfumes...definitely not sweet or floral...a fragrance full of spice to be worn by a strong personality male or female. I get a ton of wonderful woods and incense definitely pepper, lingers and opens to sandalwood in the end. wish it had more stay power but is nice b/c such a powerful scent may be too strong otherwise. not for everyday but my go to for special nights.

This is a very interesting scent - I rather like it. It seems to have more notes than is listed here, and definitely some fruit. It has a lovely calming effect on me. I feel refreshed and peaceful whenever I wear it, which is quite often, and it is perfect on days when I'm not feeling quite, up. It lifts my mood, into a more contented one. I like it a lot really.

Sour-vanillic and piney. Ponderosa with the sweetness turned up, the vanillic aspects polished by resinous basenotes. Captures the sun-warmed pine duff with its softly radiant lactones.

Perhaps the ginger and spices are fooling my nose, but I could swear that I detect a hint of citrus in this fragrance. It reminds me of Escale a Pondichery, without the soapy-clean notes of the latter. Hindu Kush both is and is not what I expected. The ginger, spices, sandalwood, pepper and incense are all things I associate with India, although I didn't anticipate the citrussy aspect, which is nevertheless pleasant and not domineering. Though neither is officially acknowledged, I did expect a big white floral - either tuberose or jasmine - to burst forth in the middle notes. That doesn't happen, and although I'm convinced that I do smell quiet hints of tuberose after the initial drydown, it is in perfect harmony with the rest of the notes. Hindu Kush is a fresh, yet very contemplative scent. Due to the range of notes and its lightness, this fragrance is, to me, a year-round scent. It is unobtrusive and personal, and would be perfect for office situations, weekends, and for meditation and yoga. I love that it's available in a smaller size bottle, and definitely plan to add it to my fragrance wardrobe.

After buying a couple from this brand which seem to have a common base and which gave me mixed feelings I decided to grab a sample of this too. Again,it seems to have the same balsamic and vinegary thread only with a muskiness. After reading the generous reviews here and on a number of alternate sites I was expecting a lot more from it. Not that it is awful but for the price it’s underwhelming in performance and unremarkable. It really does feel like they decided to bottle the experiments leading up to Milano Cafe and Tabac and just add a little something else. It’s like an extremely watered down Hindu Grass. I am grateful I didn’t go the FB. Meh from me...

Hindu Kush is the cheerier Eastern cousin of the gorgeous Norne by Slumberhouse. While Norne was Cypress absolute and incense, Hindu Kush is pine and incense with pepper and sandalwood. Beautifully composed and with moderate sillage and longevity (unlike the enormously projecting Norne), this is one forest evoking incense that can be safely worn to work. Fans of Norne looking for a lighter, cheerier version to wear to work, check this airy beauty out. It is a lilting and mystical composition that doesn't overpower, yet radiates the light amongst the Himalayan pines. Beautiful!

The opening is spicy with sweet smoke, a balsamic and meditative incense. It's rich and oriental having also a fresh/green aura like being in a coniferous pine forest. The more you enter in the forest the more you go back in time and more transparent and quiet the scent becomes. Towards the end, I get a dusty leathery feel that sticks with the coniferous pine and the spices. Scent: 6/10 Longevity: 7/10 Projection: 5/10

I agree with other reviewers that this scent has a meditative, calming effect. It's spicy, woody, incensy and feels like walking into a temple in the woods in winter. The soothing nature of this scent makes it perfect for days, where I'm not in the highest spirit or as a nighttime (not night out) fragrance. This might not be the strongest, or most complex scent but it surely makes me love it for taking my mind away.

A beautiful, warm, calming incense fragrance. Extremely intimate; this is for you and you alone. I can’t imagine a situation where you’d want to wear this out, even amongst like-minded people. When to wear: 1. Alone. 2. On the meditation cushion. 3. At the desk, pencil in hand, notebook or journal open to a blank page.

an earthy grassy sandalwoody incense-y scent..maybe even a little bit of cumin and leather? not exactly sure what the notes are, but that's what I smell. I bought this sample from the perfumed court,and I wouldn't mind maybe owning a small decant of this for when the mood strikes, but it's not fb worthy because it's definitely not an everyday scent to me. it's a little odd..nothing fabulous. plus, it seems like it's impossible to find in the US

Hush kindu hush, to drink your pea green essence, I am in a rush! (Actually, the image above is incorrect as it depicts their fragrance called "Oakmoss" while the colour of this fragrance leans towards gold. It would be helpful if there was a function to report oversights.)

floorboards, warming spices and traces of frankincense. quite a oriental/arabic scent that is potent. i detected traces of honey and tobacco in this, but i may be wrong...

This is pleasant, if somewhat monolithic. It's strong and long lasting with a kind of pine-y incense dominating. More on the masculine side of unisex.

spicy and nice, dries down into something with less character than i'd prefer

author Donna Tartt's favorite perfume, as she told Vanity Fair.