Mysore Incenza

Firstly, I've never smelled any other perfumes by Russian Adam, although I'd love to, so I'm happy to say I can circumvent all the talk of this not living up to his others etc etc. When I first got into perfume, I found that the common incense note (such as that found in Avignon, and countless others) - the sort of churchey, dry incense, didn't resemble any incense I'd ever experienced. But over time I assimilated that smell into my cognitive bank so it's what I now recognize broadly as incense. When I smelled this perfume, I remembered what incense had actually smelled like to me during my university days when I used to visit a lot of hippy shops and use a lot of joss sticks. At first it wasn't necessarily a great association, as I've moved far past those days and associate that smell with crusty student digs and the lazy stoner/raver student types who were in the periphery, the type of people who sit around getting drunk and high and talking about what's wrong with the world whilst failing to see the profound irony of the situation. Lucky for me this visceral reaction, and almost revulsion, passed quickly as I was distracted by a strange, salty sort of ever-so-slighly bilgey waft coming from my arm..... then jasmine, roses, oh my god, then I realised this was ambergris, which was softly diffusing with the florals from among some citric elemi-esque olibanum. The more I focused the more complex it got. Then I left and went to work, and during the day the perfume really dried down and I was graced by the mysore sandlewood, brooding and ebbing from my skin, close to the skin but seemingly everlasting. Today in Paris it's been snowing and windy all day, and I've been out and about between meetings being blasted with soggy, horizontal sleet, snow and rain, but the perfume endured through it all. I got home at 9pm and while I could still smell it, I couldn't resist another spritz on each wrist, so I'm not sure exactly how long it lasts, seemingly eternally. This is an incredible perfume that I percieve as at once familiar and completely original. It's like coming home to something I love, but I've never actually known it until now.

I find this fragrance far more evocative than many of the previous commentators. For those who know Russian Adam's work over the years, this does not measure up to a not insignificant number. I do think his recent interview posted on Fragrantica earned him a number of critiques, since he is far far far from being modest. In any case, I smell the mysore sandalwood and this itself is a rare treat It is a rare and expensive note. It is stronger to me than the rose note. It has moderate silage and longevity. I am not sure I am going to get a full bottle but I do love what this one does on my skin. It may be my Christmas gift to myself. Sample and try and I think more who love this one will appear.

I can't believe the tepid reviews this beauty is receiving. It is a breathtakingly beautiful mysore sandalwood scent. I think it leans more on the feminine side which may account for some of the critiques because it seems to be mostly men leaving comments so far. Full bottle worthy for this gal in any case. I imagine this is the fragrance trail on Ginger Rogers as she dances cheek to cheek with Fred Astaire in the most iconic scene from Top Hat. Blissful and decadent. Long lasting with moderate silage. The bottle is also gorgeous. Take my money, Russian Adam. TAKE MY MONEY.

Samsara EDT redone by niche standards. Amazing intro that gives me a hint of sweet cherry liquor, but disappears in a flash. Then rose and jasmine appear over the base of sandalwood. At first, rose will be dominant, later on submitting to jasmine. eventually they will even out to a perfect balance. From there on - it smells like a higher quality Samsara, better than the good ol' vintages with their slightly plastic/rubbery facets. No smoke that i was able to detect, no olibanum. Fresh and easy to wear.

@solankia75 you are so right. I'm wearing this beauty again tonight because she called out to me. It is absolutely authentic Mysore sandalwood at its greatest. I am bewitched. It's not even the right time of year to wear this, but Miss Incenza doesn't care a jot and neither do I. This perfume is pastel pink satin sheets and satin pyjamas luxury. Good god. Yes to the thank you.