Comme des Garcons Series 3 Incense: Jaisalmer

The first time around, I found this to be the best balanced, and least of an "outlier" among the incense series. (Hopefully that doesn't mean boring). It's more of a straightforward, sweet wood in the top notes, with just a hint of spice to begin with, but that will grow. Cinnamon like in Maharadjah starts to appear pretty quickly, and gets very strong but doesn't completely overshadow the initial wood note, something that I find happens too often in spicy wood scents. The spices here are very "warm", or even hot, but it's not spicy in terms of burning or being peppery. It has the garam masala spice blend of chai tea, but in spite of the "incense" label, it blends them almost solely with wood, not with smoke. I honestly prefer this, when I consider how Tea for Two is almost ruined for me by too much smokiness. Later the ardent fire of the spices cools down, and the smooth, middle-of-the-road sweet wood returns, and it ends up resembling Sequoia somewhat, but with a more polished rather than raw wood aspect. There's still enough creamy sandalwood along with that slight crayon-waxiness to show that it's Indian-inspired, but like Ouarzazate it's not over-the-top, not trying too hard to be exotic. Another balanced, sophisticated winner from the Incense series!

This is so nice! However, two minuses. One, the performance and the sillage are veeeeery weak. Almost non-existent. The projection is so intimate I almost can't smell it unless I put my wrist directly to my nose. Two, unfortunately I don't recognise this smell as anything related to Hinduism which is a shame because Avignon, Zagorsk and Kyoto are all true to their concept and smell exactly like religious places they are affiliated with. I expected this perfume to smell more like Rien Intense Incense from ELDO, which gives me Hinduism feel from the first spray. But to me Jaisalmer mostly smells like cloves and wine (mulled wine?). A little sweet, a little bitter, very pleasant and interesting. I like it a lot and I wish so much it was a stronger smell, I would wear it all year around. The incense in it is still very distinct and enjoyable, it's a very unique take on it. I am glad Jaisalmer is in my incense collection and it's definitely not the worst one in the Series 3 (I am looking at you, Ouarzazate...) but yeah, the performance is a major flaw and probably will be the only reason I might not repurchase the bottle in the future.

Speaking solely about the smell, for me, this is one of the nicest perfumes ever. Like, if Indian marketplace really smells this way, I'll have to move to India someday. It has that trademark incense note of CdG and, especially, Series 3, but, other than that, there's a whole new world around. The incense backbone is surrounded by an abundance of spices in the opening - mostly cardamom and pepper, but with a dash of cinnamon as well, and later there is a fine mixture of ebony and oriental resins as well. This simplified picture, though, can't describe how divine the smell is, through the top, heart and base notes, all the time. Unfortunately, the longevity is abysmal on my skin. I can't get more than an hour or two out of this one, and that's really a shame. It also doesn't project well while it's present, and that doesn't help either. To make things even worse, this is as wearable and as unique as any CdG, so that just makes all this more sad. This is an one-of-a-kind smell, aura and atmosphere but, unfortunately, with very, very short life. 10/10 for the smell 7/10 for the perfume

As others have mentioned, this has a very strong pine note at the opening, that lasts for at least 30 minutes. In fact, it's so loud that it smothers pretty much anything else for a while. And then it fades away (never completely though) and the incense shines trough. And how it shines! It's calming, warming, comforting AND not the least bit churchy. While I love Avignon, I find it hard to wear because of the strong churchy connotations; no such fear with Jaisalmer. This is not a meditating fragrance like Avignon or Kyoto, this is an incense to wear when out clubbing. IMO, it's the most wearable of the Incense series (along with Quarzazate but that lacks any lasting power). The spices (cardammon & pepper) warm this up, making it perfect for colder weather. In fact, I find this much more 'flamboyant' than Encens Flamboyant which I also own and although I like to layer my incense scents with other perfumes, I think is too rich to need any 'embelishment'. After 4 samples, I finally invested in a FB and I can see myself wearing it quite often. A must try for incense lovers!

Indiaaaaaaaah! Sweet powdery cinnamon bliss. Like diving into a giant 50-metre vat of the stuff, except it's not at all choking, nor overdone; somehow, though dry as dust, it strokes rather than suffocating. The rest of the spice is soft and subtle, all arid no acrid. Beautiful gaiacwood so sweet and gentle I took it for sandalwood, only an especially classy and upmarket version. On me, not many of the darker notes (pepper, incense, ebony) come through very strongly; it's just light, terracotta-pink, pillowy soft yet never cloying, all around. That gorgeous dusty-pinkish-red of Mughal palaces and Indian cotton prints. They named it well and made a scent with similar beauty. The drawback - sillage is over-shy, and longevity's not amazing (as with the rest of this series on me), though sprayed on with the abandon it deserves, it'll survive up to 6-7h as a faint but gorgeous aura on the body. Sadly not much longer on fabrics, my usual tactic for lovely heartbreakers like this. Reasonably priced IF your skin lets it endure.

Could it be that people who don't smell spices and only smell pine sap got this mixed up with Avignon or zagorsk? To me this scent is extremely spicy with cardamom and cinnamon and some clear your nostrils strong herbal incense then rich balsamic woods. I am a woman with a low skin temperature and don't sweat so this perfume lasts me for half the day and lingers on my clothes for days after, so I am very careful not to apply more than two or three sprays max. This is the most well blended and balanced scent of the four, Kyoto is a bit too tannic and dry and Avignon is very overpoweringly one dimensional, the Moroccan one is a bit nondescript, but this scent is both spiritual and earthly at the same time. The sombering vaporousness of the camphorous notes and the biting almost painful heat of the cinnamon gives an almost mind cleansing sensation. Then the rich warm incense and sweet mysterious cardamom really grounds you. Love!

When I was a student in Amsterdam in the early 2000's I used to go to this little store that sold CDG clothes and perfume just to get a whiff of Jaisalmer and 2Man. I thought they were the best perfumes in the universe. I never actually bought them. Finally I got a bottle as a birthday present! And I realized that you should not wait 20 years for something you love... not only because you should get the things you like, and not settle for less, but also because you change and things change in respect to you and to time. I am not as overwhelmed with this perfume as I used to be, just as I won't be overwhelmed with a shirt I used to love 20 years ago. Not everything is a classic. Having said that, I still like it very much, it has the signature CDG incense scent, and it reminds me now a lot of Yogi Tea (especially the strong scents it used to produce in the past... when I was still a student in Amsterdam...).

Initially Jaisalmer is a dry and austere balsamic incense loaded with fresh pine sap. If it contains spices, they’re not much in evidence. I’m not sure what the Indian connection is, because it doesn’t smell at all like typical Indian incense. What it smells like is church incense accompanied by one of the best pine resin notes I’ve ever smelled in a perfume. A couple of hours into the drydown, I imagine that I smell a little patchouli, but it may have been left over from something I was working with earlier. The scent remains mostly linear, just the lovely warm pine balsam that reminds me of the rosin that’s used on violin bows. After the initial phase there’s not a lot of sillage, but the skin scent lasts all day. Jaisalmer is a unique take on incense. I really enjoyed testing it, and will surely end up using all of my sample, then possibly going back for more.

One of the very few fragrances where it follows the pyramid truly and exactly. Fresh, warm, spicy, uplifting. An easygoing exotic scent with intimate projection, so there’s no fear of clearing out a room with this. At a distance it shows a pleasant dewy greenness, and the harmonious blend of spices and wood appear as you get closer. I personally think it’s the best of the whole line, which may be an unpopular opinion. It is the black sheep of the CdG incense line, maybe because the concept of incense plays such a minor role in the greater atmosphere of this scent. If you’re looking for showstopping and beastly performance, this is not it. If you like intimate strength and like to have the option of a couple extra sprays without taking a major risk, then this is perfect.

I feel cloves & cinnamon, and some very sweet wood. It's quite lineal, but gets less spicy/aggressive with time, the cloves that make you sneeze fly away leaving some sweet creamy woody base, that still has incense to it. What i wanted to mention, is that it's actually pretty long lasting. I apply it in the morning, and next day still hear the last notes it from my clothes and my phone case. People claim it's one of the weakest in the series, but it doesn't mean it's weak. Overall, i like catching it throughout the day, makes me feel very comfy and "on my own wavelength". Office safe, because it feels like you're carrying your household's smell on you throughout the day, and doesn't read much like perfume.

What a comforting scent! Picture yourself as a child playing with the spice rack and opening the jar of nutmeg. I’m amazed at how this effect is produced though a combination of smokey incense and cardamom notes. I was late to sample Jaisalmer, but I’m glad I did. I would rank it equal to Avignon in quality, originality, and universal appeal. Like the other Series 3 offerings, it stays close to the wearer, which is plus consider the pungency of incense fragrances. The scent lasts about 2-3 hours, which is fine if you don’t mind carrying a small atomizer. Scent 10/10 Originality: 10/10 Sillage: 1-2 feet Longevity: 2-3 hours

Holy Yet Human (Evelyne Boulanger, 2002) If you like incense, but can't handle Avignon maybe Jaisalmer is the solution. In Jaisalmer, the incense is perfectly balanced with spices, amber and transparent woodiness. It possess the internal primordial duality: archaic by incense and contemporary by high concentrations of Iso E Super. Holy yet human. Those seeking for hedonism will enjoy in Oriental spiciness of bazaar, while those seeking for internal peace will enjoy the clarity of incense. Jaisalmer represents the duality of live, perfectly represented by Evelyne Boulanger. Rating: 8/10

Like others have said, this is a novel and pleasantly spicy twist on incense that would be fbw if it lasted longer on skin. I get the slightest fruity tinge from red berries in the opening along with a fresh zesty/spicy woody incense. As the incense fades to the back a lovely cardamom milk tea scent develops, very cozy and yummy. Since these have been around for a very long time now, I wonder what else has been made in a similar vein that might have a stronger presence. 3.5 out of 5.

324 Slight similarity to Zefiro at opening to mid; however, no medicinal note like Zefiro has at dry-down. It’s peppery fresh, a touch of sweet spices, incense. I love this but it has poor projection and longevity. Sprayed generously, it becomes so quiet immediately. It’s a shame. I’ll use it up in warm weather. 9/10-for composition 0/10-extremely weak Would not repurchase.

I agree with samuel.martin.1 that this is a lot like masala chai. On me it starts out more like the dry tea leaves and spices before brewing, then the dry down mellows to a chai latte. On me, the dry down smells kind of like Tibetan Mountain Temple by Pacifica, but more peppery. Delicious!

This one turned out to be my favourite one of the series it was Kyoto at first and I went to start saving that one and using this one more to save the other then fell in love with this one way more. it’s a strange sent to me. I like weird earthy smelling perfumes

Adding to my collection of Comme des Garçons fragrances, Jaisalmer is the second of Series 3: Incense I have bought (Avignon being the first, duh). Jaisalmer is a beautiful warm piquant fragrance with clear notes of cinnamon, pine, and cardamom. As it dries down, you get a constant throb of pepper and wood. It's as if you're walking into a South-East Asian spice market and perusing through all the different jars of spices. It does lean more on the sweeter side than other spicier fragrances, but it is by no means saccharine. Overall it is really just such a pretty scent and I don't tire of smelling it on me, much like the rest of Series 3: Incense. It's also a very flexible unisex scent, being able to be worn throughout the day and into the evening. Th only downside is its projection and longevity. Jaisalmer's sillage is mediocre at best and that's after a very liberal spraying. It's longevity is weak, lasting at most a couple of hours on my skin. Then again, these are just my experiences with the fragrance, others may fare better depending on your skin type.

A woody/spicy scent which is also fresh can hardly get more pleasant than this, BUT: longevity and sillage are both so minimalistic that the scent is never enjoyable for any length of time that I would deem acceptable. Gone in an hour. And this from the company that was capable of making their “2” scent one of the biggest beast-mode bruisers ever. But still, the scent itself is so nice: the incense is never church-like (big plus), but rather nicely spiced with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and cedar. Should’ve been 9/10, but only deserves 5/10.

Great scent this one...reminds me of lots of things but I still can't quite place what? It's a spicy and oriental, right out of the gate the cardamom and dry pepper are there with a clean pure incense which feels somehow cleansing. Something slightly tiger balmy in the opening but settles to a very subtle scent. 2 down 3 to go and the series is a total hit with me so far let's hope one of the next ones I try is an absolute knockout!

warm, spicy, smells like your local Indian shop – in a good way. the opening is very cardamom/cinnamon heavy. it has a slight sweetness to it, so the main incense note is not as in-your-face. great in theory, but the lasting power and sillage is almost criminal. i sprayed this fragrance on my wrist around 15 minutes ago and it's almost gone. keep that in mind when making a purchase.

The entire CDG incense series is a must own for incense lovers. This one is a spicy incense offering with notes of cinnamon (prominent), cardamom and chili peppers added. Woody notes, berries, cardamom and amber add to the exotic feel. Moderate in sillage and projection this one is the not the best in the series but still very good. Enjoy!

This is the safest of the series. It smells nice and adds a bit of spiciness but not overdone. Can be worn year round and does not have many bad things about it. Of course most will go for Avignon if they are searching for an incense scent and are new to these types, but most vets will at least sample this and take it for what it is worth.

In common with all the CdG incense scents, this is beautiful but hardly lasts out of the bottle (I've been really lucky to get 2hrs out of them). This is less to my tastes than Avignon or Ouarzazate, there's a lot of cinnamon in there which I have no strong feelings towards, but the woodiness is like opening an old trinket box- lovely.

Really enjoy it, but another CDG perfume that smells like a nice smelling room rather than a nice smelling person. It's personal preference though. Friends who grew up going to church complain I smell like church when I wear this. I think it's a nice spicy incense smell.

Opens with warming spice notes. There's pepper for sure, but to my nose a clove note stands out rather sharply although its not listed in the notes above. Drys down quickly to a woody incense that has the least projection of any of the CDG incense series that I've tried.

Really nice, warm, spicy incense with strong notes of cinnamon, clove, pepper, and some kind of a pine-y woody note. It's like a strong spiced tea perfect in autumn and wintertime. I like this one alot.

This smells like a homemade CHai latte, I still prefer Kyoto but I could wear this in the fall or on a warm winer day. If you love the smell of a fresh Chai tea give it a try. 7/10

Huge cinnamon, some sweetness and pungent dark woods with incense. I dont have anything more to add, its just great, like all the other ones from the same line.

More spice than 'cense with little projection and longevity - a good choice for a day when you want to mingle rather than dominate or impress.

When I think of "incense" perfumes, I don't typically imagine something that can be worn in an office setting without others taking notice (and, possibly, taking sides). However, if you are seeking the calm/meditative state and comfort that many associate with incense -- while avoiding any potential complaints about your fragrance from co-workers -- Jaisalmer may be perfect for you. Upon first spray, I definitely noticed a tart "red berry" note with a discreet dusting of cinnamon. Before long, the cedar made an appearance -- it smelled very similar to a small cedar "treasure chest" I'd picked up as a vacation souvenir as a child. (This was a welcome development, as perfumes with cedar listed as a note sometimes turn sour on my skin... I was glad to find one that truly smelled like cedar wood!) It felt warm, inviting, and alive. The overall impression was one of a cedar chest in which spices had once been stored. I found myself liking it, even though I had originally started out in search of a power perfume that screamed "smoky incense!!" (This isn't that. It whispers, and it isn't smoky.) It didn't remind me of incense, per se, but that may simply be the result of my culture and life experiences. Yours may differ. (Maybe this *is* what incense smells like in this city. If so... I want to visit!) As for projection and longevity... both are minimal. (If I had to make a direct comparison between completely unrelated perfumes based solely on longevity and projection, I'd say... Jaisalmer is "less than 4711" minimal. And 4711 is pretty close-sitting and short-lived... so, you get the idea.) Jaisalmer flies under the radar of most people. This is the type of perfume you wear for yourself. In my experience, no one will smell this on you unless they are within hugging distance (though this did result in compliments, so that's a plus). It does require frequent reapplication -- and that makes me wear it less often than I'd like to, given the cost of the fragrance -- but if you like it and it resonates with you, it's worth having in your collection.

I liked this in the bottle but unfortunately it did not perform well for me. It's a warm, cozy, resinous woody fragrance with a little bit of incense. I was wearing Memoirs of a Trespasser by Imaginary Authors yesterday and I find Jaisalmer so similar that I thought I might be smelling my perfume from yesterday over this one. I tested both on some paper and found that Jaisalmer is basically what Memoirs would smell like if you took the vanilla out. So, this might be good for people who wanted to like Memoirs but don't like vanilla. For me, the projection and sillage of Jaisalmer is so poor that I'll just keep wearing the stronger of the two. I do like a more powerful fragrance though, so somebody who likes subtlety might enjoy this.

There wasn't much to this one on me at all. It was a very strong pine note opening that faded back to a soft light incense skin scent. Lots of notes listed here, but I can't isolate or pinpoint any of them given how strong the pine tar note was, and how soft everything else is after. Doesn't last long, 1-2 hrs, no real projection or sillage.

damn idk about this one, kinda smells like a smoke shop or an indian grocery store. not that i don’t enjoy that smell but i don’t want it as a perfume

I didn't like it. The pine note on my skin had a strong dill edge, freshly cut dill. This was so dominant I could not get any other notes. After this faded away, I don't know how to put it, but what I got was some very chemical and nasty smell like some anti-insect poison. Seemed weird to me. I don't recommend a blind buy.

Jaisalmer is a combination of sweetness(guaiac wood, cinnamon, benzoin), incense and spices. Out of all five incenses, I'd call this one the most oriental, I guess. Don't know why - to me it's just oriental-smoky scent. Longevity is poor/medium - 3-6 hours on me. It makes me wanna test it more :)

Resinous, peppery and piney. Smells like a very old book. The weakest one in the incense series.

Horrible cloying, saccharine cardamom and sandalwood note, verging on milky fig. It's pretty stomach churning and I can't wait to scrub it off.

I adore incense-based fragrances although it wasn't a scent I was familiar with until I dated one man that was a meditation fanatic, and then after that, a man who sees himself as one of those new-age hippies. I had tried Heeley's Cardinal and Comme Des Garcons Avignon, both of them being rather similar, and believed that I had experienced everything that an incense-based fragrance could possibly achieve. I have since found Jaisalmer which has taken my love of incense to new heights. I agree with Scorpiosheep that this fragrance is not so 'churchy'. It's more resinous, like the sweet, smokey scent of burning wood in a pine forest. It tends to smell very masculine, however on my skin it turns quite feminine and sensual. Delightfully mysterious actually. The cinnamon is fairly heavy in the opening, as is the pepper which together create an interesting, spicy blend. The woodsy notes are strong contenders through to the heart where Jaisalmer gives me that outdoorsy type of sensation. Like wandering through the wilderness and not knowing what you'll discover. This fragrance is indeed pungent, so I spray with caution and allow it to settle before leaving the house. Too much could easily be offensive, however I do believe compliments will be in order when I next wear this in public. The longevity is extremely good, as reviewers have previously mentioned. I think Jaisalmer is one of those fragrances that will either be loved or hated. For those that like incense, amber, cinnamon, pepper or pine, or all of them combined, Jaisalmer is sure to impress. I'll just re-instate for those men looking at this page, wondering why it's listed for women, do keep in mind that Jaisalmer is intended to be unisex.

Smelling the members of the Comme des Garçons Incense series blind is an excellent way to come to terms with the reality that the human capacity for scent discrimination is highly relative. It is very difficult even to figure out which of these perfumes is which except in side-by-side comparisons. Why? Because they all smell like incense, of course! There are lots of incense perfumes around, and this set of sleekly packaged blends includes some of the best. In the case of Jaisalmer, I am struck immediately by the fresh tree scent. No fir trees or conifers or any evergreens are listed in the note pyramid, but my very first impression is of that sort of tree. Other reviewers (including a perfumer) have identified the responsible ingredient as "pine sap". That sounds right to me, though I cannot claim ever to have smelled neat pine sap! The overall effect is very church-y, notwithstanding the intention to evoke the atmosphere of hinduism. I'm unclear as to what hinduism would smell like, given the tenets of that religion, but maybe there is a sense of the mysticism of nature here? Or perhaps the point here is to promote ecumenicalism, and that's why there is so much overlap between the various members of this series?

Upon first sniff I'm hit with a direct reminder of a certain candy: atomic fireballs. Those round, red, spicy, candies that were reasonably popular in the early '90s. They were spicy almost to the point of novelty. Anyway, it's surely the cinnamon and red hot chilly pepper in Jaisalmer's opening that brings back this memory. And quite a spicy opening it is indeed. Too much for my taste, but a general fan of spicy fragrances should be really pleased with this one. I enjoy it more when the spice starts to calm. More akin to a colorful Indian spice market than a Hindu temple, Jaisalmer almost becomes edible as it softens up, and the cardamom is really a beautiful addition. Unfortunately by that point it's nothing more than a faint whisper, as Jaisalmer's longevity is simply abysmal on my skin. It's a shame that the scent is gone before it has a chance to really develop, because this is probably the most wearable and most uplifting of the entire incense series. Perhaps it works better on clothing.

Comme des Garcons Jaisalmer is from the same incense series as Kyoto and Avignon, but whereas I really adore those two and connected with them right away, this one is a bit slippery in terms of getting a handle on it. If it were a person, it would be reserved to an uncomfortable degree (and I am fairly reserved, but I think this person is ten times worse than me) and with a sense of humor so dry, no one can ever figure out if they’re joking or not. And then they disappear and you’re not even sure if they were ever in the room with you, to begin with, or maybe you imagined the whole thing. Jaisalmer is a tremendously peppery affair, with transparent woody notes, and fleeting dusty cardamom aspects that are marvelously charming but also quite fleeting. As a matter of fact, overall, it’s a fragrance fairly it’s ephemeral in nature, so I would encourage one to spritz with abandon and get to know it, if it will ever allow itself to become known.

This one isn't anywhere near as smoky as Avignon and Kyoto, and for me, was mostly about the spices and woods -- I still like it, but it isn't as compelling as the aforementioneds and, as such, I don't see myself looking for it. I have always had a soft spot for this line, and I own Avignon, Kyoto and Zagorsk, and I harboured intentions of eventually getting this one and Ouarzazate and completing the set, but I won't be doing this, I think. There is something liberating about NOT wanting something and the relief of being fully aware of it. This scent is still very well put together, the cardamom behaves (occasionally it can come across bitter and / or metallic), and for this reason, I'm usually suspicious of scents where cardamom is so prevalent -- but this is not the case. It was indeed a super smooth, woodsy incense (as opposed to incense woodsy), but for me it didn't stand out enough -- I didn't mind it, I just didn't love it...

If you mention "woods" or "incense", this will definitely get my attention. If you say both in one sentence - I'll be hooked up =) I remember sampling CDG Avignon and Zagorsk at the store, trying to decide which one I want, but somewhere at the back of my mind it screamed "Too much church! Are you 100% sure you'll be wearing this?" And then my hand reached for the bottle standing nearby, which happened to be Jaisalmer, and ...oh! This was it, I found it! Yes, this one is full of masculine tones, but somehow I love it, and some time after the application and settles to become very cozy. Many incense fragrances are often accompanied by patchouli, which I don't always appreciate. This fragrance, deprived of dreadful patchouli and rounded up by amber, woods and spices, has development and lasts very long, and I love it in cold winter weather. I guess, it's my favourite among the CDG Incense series))

Superbly crafted bitter incense with lashings of aromatic pepper. Delightful spice market mix which stays top end all the way through, this never seems to "bottom out" to base notes, they all come through together at once from start to finish. It'r rather like opening the door to your favourite vintage/hippie store with spiky spices, incense and old furs all clamouring for attention at once. It doesn't project far from the skin, and doesn't have the longest longevity in the world, but, wow! I got fairly bored with incenses (and I love incense) until this came along. This is what I've been waiting for, a brave incense, a soprano incense in a world full of Alto incenses... Queen of the Night with stars in her hair, snapping and crackling like Diwali all year long.

Yum! Fresh cedar shavings with a sweet and spicy edge. I know cedar isn't in the notes listed, but like others who mentioned pencil shavings, this smells to me like fresh, sweet, shaved cedar. It is such a gentle, natural sweetness, not a knock-you-down, rich, heavy sweetness. The cinnamon is a beautiful pairing for the cedar. It's as though you can't tell where the wood ends and the cinnamon begins. I'm not sure about the cardamom, but I guess that could be part of that sweet quality too. The frag evaporated so quickly it was kind of hard to spot all its elements before it was gone. Like others, I was a bit sad that this had a life of about 10 minutes if that. You'd need to dump a cupful right over your head for this to be more than a moment's pleasure.

The CdG Incense series have a problem with this whole line. They've done a sensational job of replicating various incenses but they've done it quite literally. To me, this is a failure for perfume because while the chemist in me admires turning birch tar into leather, the artist in me needs evocation as much as replication. Everyone has commented on the pininess of this scent. I see the connection but I think this is actually the ebony. I find this deficient in spice and the pepper missing. My summary: a neat magician's trick but not much of a perfume. Sillage: fairly close 1-3 ft Duration: 3 hours and counting Fabulosity: He's a lumberjack and he's okay Value to Price ratio: poor 2/10 as a perfume; 9/10 as a special effect

Warm spicy incense The spice in this one is used in its realistic natural form that gives it a rough texture. Imagine the texture of the cinnamon bark (not powder), this is the texture of this fragrance. I also tested Ourzazate, another one from the CDG incense series, that one was fresh spicy but this one is warm spicy. To me, Ourzazate and Jaisalmer are like two sketches from one concept while one (Ourzazate) goes into the aromatic fresh direction and the this one (Jaisalmer) in the warmer direction. The backbone of both fragrances is solid woody. I like this one and it's masterfully created but I am not excited enough to put it into my buying list. 6.5/10

This is a light, warm and pleasant scent, but it is also very austere. If you demand sweetness in your perfumes, this is not for you. The opening notes are extremely heavily dominated by pinesap and woodiness, and they soften over time to something milder and perhaps more incense-like. It is nothing like as heavy as many scents that are described as "incense", maybe because of the blessed absence of patchouli. Personally I do not find this a spicy fragrance at all, and it certainly doesn't smell like my idea of India; it is far too simple, linear and restrained. Genuinely unisex, but also sadly short-lived.

What's interesting here is that this "Hindu" fragrance smells just like Russian Orthodox incense. I say so because it has benzoin in it, which is a major component of Russian Orthodox incense; powdered frankincense and benzoin make up the base, and other oils are added to it. In fact, Hermitage of the Holy Cross sells an incense called "Old Church" that smells exactly like Jaisalmer. This is a great fragrance, and it's definitely the crowd-pleaser of the CdG incense series. Although I consider Avignon and Zagorsk more interesting and unique, this one is more likely to appeal to the toiling masses.

It has a touch of mystery, a touch of moss, outdoors, swamps... Something in it makes me think about vetiver some time after the application? Perhaps not, but some wonderful incense burning, dry, soft, like a lovely aura embracing me delightfully. It developes beautifully. I love the earthy warmness, with those spice and incense facets and Orient. This fragrance has a great character, I'm so tired with those fragrances for women - fortunately there are some exceptions, my all time favorite being Balenciaga Talisman, for special occasions. Jaisalmer is for everyday.