Incense Perfumum

Balenciaga's Incense Perfumum was an instant purchase for me the day after I first tried a collection of these large glossy old-world bottles in-store: a fizzy, lemony myrrh and frankincense to the nose with a beautiful resinous non-smoky note of Peru balsam detectable that's in between semi-fire roasted wood shavings and works well with amplifying one's heated skin musk but its more like black musk than the usual powdery white. What others haven't pointed out is there's no iso-e super or ambroxan detected here. To my nose, Incense Perfumum is thankfully smooth and not scratchy to my nose unlike Avignon by CdG. Bless the team responsible for a respectable wear to a communal-contemplative event with Incense Perfumum. You would think this fragrance would cut cost with its well-cut impression of a flacon, but its perfectly light enough and not barbecued or cooked meat at all (looking at Black by Comme des Garcons or Trudon's Revolution here.) Heavy enough to not fade into air either, Incense Perfumum is just right. Update: I love pairing the Perfumum with my Xerjoff Alexandria III, which gives a complete range of sweet soft buttery opera coat incensed musk to the Alexandria III rose-with-salted oud oil burner scent. Sadly, Alexandria III is becoming rarer and less produced and I sincerely hope they continue its production into the upcoming 2030s. The hyper-real evocations of fragrances in this post-IFRA era is what gives me hope for future olfactory art stuff. [FEB. 2026]

Incense Perfumum is my favourite from this new Balenciaga private collection. I bought a bottle right away, which is very unlike me. Firstly and most importantly, it’s not about incense (unlike the name suggests). So if a smouldering fume of church-like scent is what you’re expecting, don’t go for this. This is an antiqued bubble-bath that’s almost aldehydey and crystalline clean. In fact, the notes of Spanish labdanum with frankincense only add a resinous amber warmth to the fresh woody-green of the cedarwood. This is what The Dark Crystal would actually smell like as it’s precious, mysterious, powerful but translucent. At first sniff it reminded me of a bubble bath/shower gel which I buy in Spain called Classic MOUSSEL. It makes me wonder if Cristóbal himself has an olfactory memory of sinking into this same bath of blissful suds. Incense Perfumum is instantly classic, timeless, mature but clean. It was briefly my signature scent until the longevity of only a few hours got it bumped off my list.

Very beautiful frankincense perfume. Reminiscent of Comme Dea Garçons Incense Avignon but with less depth. In my opinion some aldehydes would go a long way in this perfume. I do love the classic church frankincense accompanied by the slight cedar to give off an authentic incense vibe, but I believe this could use some more depth.

yes, this is a smell of a church. but is it only the smell of a church? no. it is the scent that greets you when you step into a basement, or wander through the damp, stone corridors of an ancient palace or a mosque. so grateful to have a little pieces of this masterpiece.

Incense Perfumum calls to mind folded hands and beautiful whispered prayers, bathed in the glow and flicker of amber candlelight. Reverent and divine.