Incense N’ Fire

#1710 in my “Tour de Fragrance” Got this decant from scentsplit.com and I do love it. This scent reminds me of a couple of fragrances like Parfums Vintage “Sandal Amber”, Boadicea “Complex”, primarily because like this scent they also feature nuclear strength olibanum which always works for me. I like this a lot because so many fragrances like this also have an overpowering amber note this does not have, and the touch of fruitiness prevents the kind of dry vibe strong olibanum scents like this can give off. This is an all day scent that projects beyond arm’s length so it's sure to draw notice, but I think only people in tight spaces, like the car pool, the elevator, will find it annoying. For me this would primarily be evening date wear in cold weather. I already have a number of scents like this, but if I didn’t this would be on my list. But, I would say since Boadicea the Victorious “Complex” is a better scent, even more eternal in longevity, fills the room (I don’t do subtle), goes for $177 at Jomashop, and this Birkholz goes for 285 EUROS, $330 US, get the Complex! Not this. Good Luck and Good Hunting!

A gentle take on resinous orientals Birkholz as a house isn’t very familiar to me, though it’s certainly not new. I tried a few of their fragrances less than a year ago, and while the overall quality seemed solid, none of them truly stood out. I’ve spent proper time with two fragrances from the house: this one and Mornings in Milano. The latter is a well-executed take on a popular style - a creamy, tropical white floral with coconut - and it does its job very well. Incense N’Fire is a pleasant resinous and spicy frankincense fragrance. Although dried fruits are listed among the notes, I don’t perceive any fruitiness here. In many fragrances, a “dried fruits” accord can be distracting or even ruin the composition for me, but thankfully that isn’t the case here. The scent is straightforward and quite linear, remaining largely unchanged throughout its lifespan. This is by no means a unique fragrance. It feels more like a simplified, approachable interpretation of a well-established category that includes classics such as Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan and newer perfumes like Memo Paris Tiger’s Nest and Thameen The Hope. Those fragrances are bold, powerful, and often perceived as masculine. By comparison, Incense N’Fire is noticeably milder and more restrained. If you enjoy oriental, resinous, and spicy fragrances but find intense projection and boldness overwhelming, Incense N’Fire could be a comfortable choice. Its gentler character also makes it clearly unisex. As I’ve mentioned before, I can’t speak passionately about every fragrance, and this is one of them. While undeniably pleasant, it ultimately lacks a strong sense of personality. Thank you for reading, I hope my review was helpful. I would appreciate a lot if you want to follow me on IG and/or YouTube (English subtitles): @ninamariahperfumes It gives me a lot of motivation to write more.

Do you like smelling like a lumberyard? Then do I have a fragrance for you.

A spicy, pure resinous oriental woody incense scent with frankincense, cistus labdanum, sandalwood and pure patchouli extract with a sweet, fruity and creamy finish.