Nanban

Wow. Arquiste continues to impress me every time I try something new from them. Nanban opens a little bit sharp and strong, but not in an off-putting way—at least to my nose. It quickly mellows out into a dry, smoky, animalic incense but it doesn't smell like most of the perfumes that are usually described that way. The smoke is not of the fireplace variety. It is more pleasant, ashy, and earthy. It reminds me of walking around Kathmandu where juniper incense is burned all day, all over the city. It smells like a temple that contains hundreds of years worth of incense residue. If you've not been to a temple, you could compare it to the smell of an old Catholic church. The frankincense is there, but it is so well blended with the myrrh, juniper, and other resins that it doesn't stick out. I'm not getting any coffee or leather but I think that this, in combination with the resins, is what makes the animalic base. So, rather than getting a saddle shop leather, you get a little bit of vintage funk. It isn't an over the top castoreum or laundry detergent style musky scent. It's just a subtle hint of beautifully blended classic skin-like sexiness. I would recommend this to anybody who is into vintage fragrances. If you're looking for something animalic that isn't so heavy, this might be a nice choice. I would not suggest this for people who like to smell fresh and light. There is nothing sweet, airy, or fruity about this (much to my delight). 10/10 this is the best thing I've sampled in quite a while.

I heard so many deep dark legends about how good this was that I had to try it - dark spicy resiny woods being my home territory. At first spray I was a bit underwhelmed - yeah, it was in that ballpark, but not hitting any of the notes particularly heavily, very nice, very rich, very opulent, but really nothing stellar or unusual. Then it deepened and broadened for a couple of hours to become something really special, with really delicious frankincense. Then, about 4h in (on female skin in cool conditions, low humidity) most of the good stuff had died away and I was left only with a very bitter, sweaty afterwash... possibly the coffee and/or styrax, but in this phase, on me, it was acrid and not that great even for a lover of dark woody spice. I'd very happily try again and give it another go, but beware, this isn't for blind buying (especially at its steep retail price point.) ETA: tried again, this time with a completely different result: much warmer, lovelier spicy hardwoods, no coffee, no bitter dry down - but weaker on longevity than I remembered, and still just not quite beautiful enough to justify the price. Characterful and real, though maybe still a hair more butch than I'm comfortable with. Give it several test runs before making your decision on a full-bottle buy... ETA again: caved ... and bought. I think it performs very differently in different conditions - and is sweeter and warmer in mild, humid weather. Growing to love.

Board of director's steering committee at an old traditional company.... Leather chairs, robust resinous thick meeting table, coffee and tea and a couple of bouquets of flowers decorating the room. In the opening this feels peachy and sweet. Very soon coffee and leather are present, giving full body to this composition. To me the main player is the osmanthus reinforced by resins and spices with a touch of oriental incenses. It is dense, rich, opulent and very classy. It is sweet but very manageable. The picture that this brings to my mind is not something gourmand or edible, but more like a thick atmosphere that surrounds you like being in a high-class, refined, old-style and traditional indoor-location. Dry-down is kind of synthetic, very strong, but all special nuances are now blurred... which to me prevents this juice from being a completely master piece, but still very good and enjoyable. Uniqueness: medium-high Scent: 7.5/10 (first half is a 10/10) Performance: high Would I buy it: Yes

Oh my goodness, I think I just got a whiff of heaven. This came in a box of many samples which I have been patiently exploring. I scrambled to see which of the samples that I opened was so special. This is an incredible composition. We can go into all the tops to bases but to me the middle and base are so special. SPICES! Ancient spices...from somewhere Universal in Asia. Something that strikes a primal cord with you and subtly smashes your senses. A beautiful new flagship in my collection. I ordered the full bottle immediately, at a price of $190, you may wish to order a sample but I cannot imagine anyone not thoroughly liking this wonderful creation. I hope my sample lasts until the full bottle arrives as I will be wearing this all the time. Scent 10/10 (my only 10) Longevity 9/10 Silage 8/10 Price - Worth it, just do it!

Nanban is extremely complex and evolves over time. Warm spices, resins, leather, and coffee are all tied together by a ferocious animalic growl that gets louder in the late drydown. Wow. Arquiste really crammed a lot of notes into this bad boy, but it works. I can't help but picture a lioness, in all her strength and beauty, who is able to go from gently grooming her cub to rending her teeth through flesh in an instant. Nanban is not distinctly masculine or feminine and transcends gender stereotypes. This fragrance has a huge, commanding presence and its sillage shouts from across the room. Not for the meek. I'm looking forward to giving my sample a proper test run in colder temperatures. I have a feeling Nanban is going to be a stunner in my fall/winter rotation.

Very complex with layers upon layers of resins, spices and woods going on. This one requires patience to let it unfold on your skin. If you sprayed this on and someone walked by you they would definitely get a whiff of something interesting and sexy. This stuff will draw people to you. But with so much going on there is bound to be a note or two that might throw you off. Again be patient and let all the layers come together, it does take awhile. Rich and mysterious this one tells a story. Wear it out one night and see where it takes you.

An almost overwhelming resinous opening that drowns out everything. Soon after, warm spices peek their heads out. Does another 90 degree turn and becomes a very wood centric fragrance with juniper berry and leather. It's a very unique fragrance that I don't mind smelling at home. I'd imagine that it wouldn't sit well with fellow coffee shop patrons however.. In response to the posts below, I find it very interesting that some smell sweetness in this. This gets a strong like from me but not a love, for it did not steal my heart!

Thanks, Nemophilist...I've actually not yet gotten my nose on TF's London but was curious about it for a long time. I have to come back to Nanban when the weather cools a bit more because, while I do like it, I'm not LOVING it right now (glad I didnt pay full price). MIWBUTT and StellaDiverFlynn correctly picked up on the Oud quality, which I also picked up on immediately, but I find it curious how others are getting the coffee and tea notes because I'm not detecting even the slightest hint of those notes! =/

I'm going crazy trying to figure out what this reminds me of! On first wearing, I find it to be very leathery in the opening. After an hour or so, it begins to soften up and get much smoother/sweeter...quite nice at this stage, actually. Not really getting anything that resembles coffee or tea but am definitely getting something that reminds me of oud? hmmm. need to spend more time with this...

Good lord this juice is HEAVEN! Reminds me of Tauer #2 but darker/less sweet. A gorgeous Myrrh mixed with spices & a rough leather note = TOTAL BAD BOY SCENT! The sandalwood gives it this creamy smokey vibe in the dry down that DRIVES THIS HOME TO MAKE THIS ONE A MASTERPIECE! Way masculine & can't imagine a woman pulling this one off. Do yourself a favor and get your nose on this one.

New signature perfume. Had the pleasure of meeting Carlos and trying most of the range and Nanban really hit all the right notes. The only time I wouldn't wear it is if it is a very hot summers day. But for summer nights it is great. Very easy to wear, masterfully blended and extremely versatile for both men and woman. For me this is a 10/10

First Impression: Right off the bat I get the Olibanum, Coffee, and Leather. This is a really beautiful mix. Given about 10 minutes passed the black tea note is starting to surface. Excellent juice. This is fall and winter all the way. This is classified as a unisex fragrance but I see this as a total Men's fragrance. Very different.

Resiny incense and leather, like an old church. Heavy, dark, warm, and sweet. Longevity is extreme and projection is moderate. It sticks to and stays on anything it touches. I can spray it on my skin in the evening and still smell it on the clothing in the hamper the next day. I wear it for formal fall and winter events at night.

The hype is real and this is beautiful. There is something, however, that tickles my nose and gives some kind of dusty spice drawer vibe. But beyond that, and for the winter, just superb. Not sure where I would wear it though but don't let my boring life keep you from having this gem in your collection.

I do love this for its creativity. I also love the presentation and the bottle. This one has not fully grown on me yet, but I am awaiting the day it does!

WHAO! fantastique, unique chaud précieux ce parfum est beau. Il ne ressemble a rien de connut. je l'aime il est comme une seconde peau.9/10

An exquisite combination of marvellous resins, very classy, very evocative and fresh. It makes me feel so good right at first sniff.

The first two hours of Arquiste Nanban has its potential: a beautifully musky, subtly animalic leather emerging from unctuous myrrh resin. There was initially an abstract fruitiness, which could be the osmanthus seen from the shadow of the supple yet wild leather. The bitter coffee merges with the milky creaminess of sandalwood, as if the leather is placed beside a cup of delicious cappuccino. Incense smoke mingles with the styrax aspect of leather, while saffron and cumin are carefully sprinkled on top. The overall effect of Nanban is not too far from Papillon Anubis and Serge Lutens Cuir Mauresque on my skin, but Nanban is more streamlined and more modern than both while still managing to retain a quiet animalic whisper. Unfortunately, as the subtle nuances wear off with time, Nanban then devolves into a sharp, smoky woody fragrance with a flat amber background, and it remains so until the end. The smoky woody part is quite similar to a few "oud" fragrances, such as Nasomatto Duro and LM Parfums Hard Leather, albeit Nanban being less aggressive than most. The sillage is relatively soft and the longevity is around 10 hours. I firmly enjoyed the harmonious first two hours of Nanban, in which it managed to interpret sensual animalic leather with a modern fluidity, even though I prefer the more opulent and wild Anubis and Cuir Mauresque. However, its ubiquitous smoky dry down ultimately left me unsatisfied. If you happen to be looking for a smoky oud-y leather fragrance which is rather trendy among recent years' niche offering, but with a soft ambery warmth and sensuality, Nanban would fit perfectly. That being said, I do find the price a bit too steep compared to other similar options.

Nanban to me feels like if it were Ambre Sultan went to war and came back amputated and was pleading the nurse for euthanasia. It's got lift instead of density an array of spices it's got an elegance that won't offend anyone nor wow anyone. It does dry down to a sexy spicy skin scent it's just so intimate for anyone to really enjoy this it would have to catch them off guard after the act perhaps leaving a memory after cuddling. If someone today wants to put out a spicy amber/oriental it's got so much competition I would say think twice. Between Musc Ravageur, Ambre Sultan, Grand Soir, Ambre Nuit Espirit, Ambre Loup, Cartier's Oud & Ambre and possibly the crown jewel of the category Le Lion. It's for the repenting introvert trying to make an impression while true to themselves they aren't not confident enough to take charge and lead. Maybe suited for one of the guys in Mark Wahlberg's Entourage that you will never remember his name or that girl who's slightly quirky attractive and works in the same building but never piques enough interest for you to approach. The further into my writing I get the less disappointed I am with Nanban could be of further interest as I feel a brooding nature to it's carnality. This is a slow cooker probably will leave that impression over days rather than the instant attraction. I conclude with interesting with its' twists and turns. Some introverts can lure you in after all looks like the nurse I mentioned earlier just might have fallen into a honey trap.

Nanban is an interesting fragrance. Haven't smelled anything like it before. Opens spicy and has a bit of sweetness which it loses over time. Very dry, spicy, resinous and woody. With the sweetness gone, get occasional whiffs of something sour and then it disappears. The woody accord in this case is unique to my nose. It's not like being in a lumberyard, not like pungent cedar mulch and not like sandalwood either. Did not get much leather or coffee, or it's just blended well. Overall impression is a masculine, classy fragrance. While longevity is good, projection is more moderate so it would work as an understated scent for the office or a formal occasion. Although I've tested this in winter, I think it would be good year round and could be a guy's signature scent. Reading what I've written so far, I've been positive, and I do like the scent, but it really didn't wow me, to be honest. Given the price, I'll pass.

I don't think this is a bad boy scent at all. I think this is an "institutional" scent...meaning that the leather/woods in a 200-year old cafe/bookstore would smell somewhat akin to this. The scent definitely evokes its namesake...namely what the cargo hold of a spice vessel in the 1600s with many a voyage under her belt would smell like. Coffee, resins, bronzed woods, and leather all contribute to make this a sophisticated yet rugged scent. It has the vibe of being a classic. I personally dislike the smell of coffee, so my loving this scent is an anomaly. It is actually a compliment to Mr. Flores-Roux: He has created a masterful scent in which coffee contributes to the whole. Sillage and projection are excellent. It may be that I am sensitized to coffee smells, but I can still smell coffee on my skin after a full 8-hour workday.

On paper this was spice dominant, with notable pepper, myrrh, and resin. On skin the animalic styrax leads, heavy and strong, with an overdose of pepper in the opening. I thought there might be cumin in here, there's a savory spice element that I'm picking up. No noticeable coffee or tea. The real beauty of this is in the dry down for me, the resins are sticky sweet and the myrrh fuzziness bring this into a wonderful warm balance. It seems a little bit like a Zoologist fragrance with the heavy dose of styrax, and I mean this in a good way! I probably would like it more if it were - as it is, it feels a little like a cartoon from the colonial imagination. Edit: After sampling Anima Dulcis, I feel like Nanban makes more sense to me. It feels less like an outlier and more like an intentional profile.

This is definitely a shape shifter. The opening to me is somewhat harsh and animalic reminding me of Amouage Overture Man but it unfolds nicely into a exotic amber/incense/myrrh aromatic. Long lasting, on clothes a full day at least and that scent that lingers is very nice. Looking forward to wearing this in the cold weather. Summer isn’t the time to really get to know this one. 3.5/5 rating right now see again how it comes off in the cold weather . It’s funny after sampling overture man by Amouage which ended up turning me off I felt turned off by this also. Not saying there the same but a similarity stands out and put me off where at first I enjoyed it much more. Scents are a funny thing..

A boundary pushing Oriental gourmand, this warm resinous beauty combines many unusual notes with winning effect. The gourmand/spice elements include pepper, saffron, tea, coffee, juniper berries and myrhh. These are rounded off with leather, incense, styrax, sandalwood, and finally copaiba balm to achieve an amazing resinous effect. Probably one of the best unisex inoffensive fragrances created for wintry chills, this bright beauty radiates and glows on your skin without overwhelming or offending. The dry down is gorgeous with the initial leathery fruit/spice drying down to a beautiful woody resin on your skin. Exquisite Arquiste!

This fragrance begins as soft smoke; opening up to a fragrant, resinous and dry labdanum with a very slight black tea note. There seems to be a sweet leather that's very well blended into this to not dominate at all. To me, this is a sexy and dark feminine fragrance for women that want something smokey but not campfire smokey. This is more, incense-in-a-dark-room smokey. Perhaps a bit BDSM, with the slight sweet leather note. The closest comparison I would make is to Laudano Nero, but without the harshness and masculinity of that fragrance. Sample before buying, given the price tag.

Love this, nice woody great notes and blendedness I get a chocolate smell and no coffee, though I tend to get a chocolate note often when it's not there it may be my skin. I just wish I knew what Chinese Osmanthus smells like. Has anyone picked up this note anywhere ever? 0_o Lasts a few hours could be a bit longer. I have 100+ niche samples for swap within Europe - updated spreadsheet of samples on my profile, get in touch!

Heavy black pepper, sharp & smoky, almost like incense. No coffee, not very leathery. An impression of an old room/building with lots of wood furniture/floors, incense, dusty. Frankincense & myrrh next, & so much thick resin, making it “stickier” & a bit stinkier, also sweeter. Juniper cuts the sticky & makes it a bit more amber. Dry down is so so lovely. Not an everyday fragrance, not a safe blind, but a very beautiful one

Opens with a surprisingly sweet blend of resins and saffron. A very deep, dark resinous scent. The coffee note really shines through as it begins to dry down. It also becomes a bit more dry and woody with the olibanum sticking out a bit more. I really enjoyed this scent in the opening but the drydown is a little too masculine for my tastes. If you like resinous scents you really ought to try this. Beautifully blended.

Whoever said this was a less sweet LDDM was onto something. Smelled side by side very noticeable, probably the resins. The musks used in this are different, probably some of Givaudan’s captives at play as well. This smells great in the air. Resinous, woody, ambery, a little sweet, hinting at bitter. It unfurls itself but it takes time. It’s a long wear.

soooo intriguing . plays out a bit too masculine for me. weirdly picked up sea salt/ocean spray. maybe its the interplay between the denser scents (leather, resin notes) playing with some of the tea notes? What I wanted Jazz Club to be I think . Like I'm on an old spice boat wearing a suede jacket

This is a beautiful perfume, wonderfully balanced. On my skin, it is very masculine, so while I'm very impressed with it it's not one that I would wear while out and about. I would love to smell it on a man, though.

Sweet and spicy leather. A real treat whenever it wafts my way throughout the day. For such a rich fragrance, it has a real energizing feel for me. Highly recommend for leather amber lovers.

This is an odd one.... I’ve had every opinion you could have on it but I think I’ve settled on it being really good! I think what throws people off is that it’s very brash in its initial intensity then becomes very subtle and multilayered and deep as it progresses. And that first impression just sets people up to expect a raging beast like Olympic orchids dev 2. That’s what this reminds me of the most actually that final resinous dry down smells stunning. Previously I was bothered with that juniper opening bc it made the scent smell kinda generic which is weird bc when I first smelt this I thought the juniper is what made this great. So I’m a flip flopper on this one but right now as we speak I think it’s perfect Well I sold it. There’s something in it that reminds me of the kind of designer scent my brother has. This weird synthetic spicy sweetness that takes wayyyyy too long to wear off. The dry down is still great I just have too many drop dead gorgeous perfumes to put up with something that smells like a high school gym locker room for 3 hours

The opening stages of Nanban are undeniably intriguing to me: I am detecting woody, resinous materials and bases that I collected for my perfumer's organ a number of years ago. Dry, peppery, saturated, it stirs and wrinkles my nose all at once. Do I like this? Do I reject this? I can't decide if it's too harsh and pungent even for my adventurous taste. There is this dank, antique quality—dusty, ashy. I think I am getting into it. As it progresses, the blurring between organic and synthetic becomes more apparent, and I am left feeling challenged even more so. Unfortunately, I begin to realize it is a woody amber cortège that leads me out of stimulating bemusement to dread. Oh no, what an unfortunate turn of events. I could've stuck with this and maybe even fell in love if it were not for this corrosive and coarse coda. Why, Rodrigo, why? Ahhh well, I am at least thankful that he spared his formula for Sandor 70's of these irritating "tools" of perfumery.

So, this scent is NOT for me-- but that doesn't mean that it's awful. Nanban to me is among the dankest of the dank in the category of "Oriental" fragrances, and the colonial-nostalgic marketing collateral-- replete with old-timey Japanese print- seems to confirm this identity. I am not a fan of the whole colonial element in perfumes, so maybe this is a strike against Nanban right out of the gate, but it's ultimately a highly complex and pleasant scent, even if not for me. It's peppery, but it's not bright-peppery-- rather, it's pepper that melts into the olibanum (frankincense), a subtle sandalwood, benzoin, myrrh, and leather. Not really getting the coffee but I can smell how it would be a complementary note. And the cade (apparently a name for some kind of juniper) is also in this category of "implied" notes.

SWEET, warm and spicy amber balsamic scent with a dense fruity and oily note of animalic leather. Full of SWEET resins and darkened by the note of coffee in the early hours. Above all I take a lot of smoking myrrh, labdanum, saffron, sandalwood and olibanum. On the skin it feels classic, slightly more feminine, bold and sexy. Like a panther. I get a very long, linear dry finish starring the beautiful leather with a rough texture of spicy, dusty, comforting and still SWEETLEY medicinal. Gorgeous. Welcoming, SWEET and languid.

I am done buying perfumes that supposedly have a tea note. I just keep striking out — glad this is a sample size. My nose objects to the fresh spicy smell that comes through, maybe I can layer it to get through this. Or give it away if it just won’t work, I had hoped it would be a winter perfume. It probably does perform best in winter season, I just can’t stand this stuff.

Very very spicy and thick, resinous fragrance - reminiscent of a dusty old home with vintage and antique leather furniture and clothing inside. It’s a lovely aromatic incense fragrance, but not really for me. I prefer things a little sweeter. It does have a nice woody dry down though if you’re willing to sit through the heavy and quite dank opening. 5.5/10

This is not awful, but it is nothing I would personally wear. Dry, male leaning, woody, incense kinda spice .. and not a great deal else on me tbh. I don't get the coffee, tea, leather distinctly.. in fact I get nothing at all distinctly, though I'm pretty sure it is all in there. The phrase 'dusty blend' keeps coming to mind.

It’s vintagey and balsamic, dark with some sweetness and spices. It has this depth that you only get from perfume that has a lot of natural ingredients. I don’t smell leather, but on skin, in the drydown I can detect the oud accord, maybe it’s nagarmota (though not listed). Unisex in my opinion.

The juniper is what makes this fragrance interesting. Its working off the resins and sandalwood really well. But without it this would be a boring scent that smells like old people when balsam, resins and leather is combined

I don't like the opening, too animalic for me. It gets better over time, but nothing I would often reach for. Reminds me of Rhinoceros 2020 by Zoologist.

I was hoping for leathery chocolaty resins, but all I get is dirty, fecal insense with coffee undertones. Not a fan.

Opening of this is a spicy amber and pleasant but as it dries there is something about this one I find a bit nauseating. I think the mixture of coffee, leather and juniper is coming off as a bit strange and sickly as the juniper is slightly green and effervescent and the coffee and leather are warm, a little sour and mildy animalic. Imagine drinking gin and coffee mixed and served in a leather bound cup, it would be a bit odd wouldn't it? Along with those notes are the sweet resins which compound this weirdness to me. Not a scrubber but not one I'll move on from a sample from for sure!

Bought a small bottle 7.5ml sample. Not what I was expecting. Very elaborate reviews here for what is basically a very uncomplicated synthetic mix. The notes are there technically but realistically to me it smells like spilt wine and a sweet vinegar - so not really agreeable, refreshing or warming. If I were to put a positive spin it smells like a weak ambery whisky but then so many do a better job such as Frapin Speakeasy, Jules et Mad Mon Soul Desire or Jacques Fath Tempete D’Automne. For less too...

Smelling this perfume increases the risk of migraine!! I don't know how this combination of notes works like a headache capsule as soon as it spreads... In turn it is a masterpiece! بوییدن این عطر خطر ابتلا به میگرن رو افزایش میده!! نمیدونم این ترکیب روایحش چطوریه که به محض پخش شدن مثل یه کپسول سردردآور عمل میکنه... در نوع خودش شاهکاره!

I’m not sure what is in this that reminds me of bois pacifique by TF, it both are terrible to me. most definitely not a blind buy. 2/10. absolutely sample this before buying a full bottle. I wouldn’t give this away if i had a full bottle.

One of the best bitter resin fragrances on the market, opening is hypnotique with dark woody leathery resin.Don't get any expectations of any sweet resins after seeing Myrrh on the list.It's quite bitter actually, but an elegant bitterness like in double malt whisky , or in bitter almond or in pure cocoa powder. After half an hour it becomes more welcoming and humain, by spice-fruity juniper, by peaceful osmanthus and by velvety creamy sandal,but keeps the woody bitterish resinous basis with frankincense , copaibalm and stryrax to the end. Extreme good longevity, but almost zero silliage.What a conflict isn't it.I tried it 4 different times, each time in different stores, once in H.Nichols , once in G.Lafayette and twice in different parfum houses.Each time I sprayed it twice on neck each side, twice on my beard each side, once on my hair and and twice in my clothes, the front chest area.It stays there 24 hours, on textile even 2 days.But the following 2-3 hours after spraying it on myself I asked my friends whether they are smelling anything coming from me.Curiuosly they needed to incline quite close to me in order to be able to get anything.The same silliage blockage is happening to me on the other 2 close relatives to this scent as well, and they are also bitterish resinous parfums; namely Garuda by Jule et Mad and EL by the same house Arquiste, has it got something to do with resins? Is it difficult to carry the resin oils away from skin? Hmmmm.. I don't know.But this doesn't mitigate my worshipping to this masterpiece.

This is to me what I wanted Olympic Orchid's Cafe V to be - worn, luxurious leather - deep black coffee and tea - rich sludgy resins and spices - perhaps even a varnished wood of sorts - in short: the amazing coffeehouse/hole in the wall joint that you love visiting at 2AM after a rough day: the one where time passes without you being aware: the one so dimly lit and intoxicating once you leave you have to rub your eyes a few times before being capable of looking around. There is an 'oud' quality which hangs about, and upon the drydown it, alongside a few of the darker resins, hang around as if they were the foundation of a dark Eastern Oud fragrance. There is a sweetness that hides beneath all of the 'rougher' and more 'masculine' qualities of Nanban, although never does it stand up straight and demand attention. It could be the edge of the Saffron, or the milky sweetness of the sandalwood - either way it blends into the work just perfectly as the lights in the coffeehouse illuminating a pathway through the rest of the work. I was looking for wonderful leather fragrances, and shimmering coffee fragrances, and this fits both bills while simultaneously pursuing an awful lot more. 8.5/10 YT: Jess AndWesH

A good quality, long-lasting, complex incense with an emphasis on the exotic sweet and spicy feel of Morrocco as opposed to a Catholic Church. There are so many incense fragrances and this one doesn’t personally speak to me, however it is a competent one worth the price and worth a try. If you like Serge Lutens or Tauer or Nishane takes on incense and spice, this is a good one in that category. Actually, the perfume house this most reminds me of is Les Liquides Imaginaires. I love the intro and the baklava-like nutty sweetness of the heart phase. I agree with IndigoEye below. Nanban eventually does run out of steam and you’re left with that familiar, overused “cedar” (a personal pet peeve) but I really like alot of its’ development. That’s 5 out of 5 for me with Yann Vasnier compositions that I’ve tried. I will have to explore more of his work.