Essence Labdanum

I wonder why Donna Karan stopped making good perfumes and turned to the DKNY line of mediocre (at best) commercial fragrances. Labdanum is one of the older, good perfumes. It actually smells like labdanum - what a wonderful surprise! It also smells like smoky incense-infused leather. The scent starts out mostly as labdanum unadorned and stays that way for the better part of an hour, after which it transitions into a burnt wood and incense scent. I really like the combination of labdanum, wood smoke, and incense. This isn’t the very best labdanum I’ve ever smelled, but it’s pleasant and natural, softened with traces of other notes. I wonder how I would react to this perfume if I didn’t use pure labdanum in my own perfumes. I’d probably love it with a passion. As it is, the DK version seems quite tame, a labdanum for those who don’t like to get too far out there with their perfumes, but do want something out of the box and very different from the mainstream. In my experience, labdanum is a love-it-or hate-it note, so that’s how it likely will be for anyone who tries this creation. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes to avoid the usual florals, and especially to anyone who loves the scent of labdanum.

Donna Karan's Labdanum is just a perfect warm, leathery, semi sweet wrapping. It feels luxurious, and as a man, is one of my favorite scents I like to wear around the house. I cant imagine anyone wouldn't like this smell. To me it just rings all the bells for both comfort and subtly sexy. I hope I never run out of this. I wish someone would continue making a perfume this good.

Simply the most beautiful labdanum centric scent I’m yet to find. Cozy, sensual, labdanum with that sense of leather and musk. Feels slightly liturgical in its incense facets and sits kind of close, like a warm hug...gosh I love it. Have since I first smelled it. How it’s discontinued is beyond my means of comprehension really...

Why are masterpieces like DK Essence Labdanum and Wenge always D/C? Desert island bottles without a doubt! Unisex perfection that'll warm you up in a blizzard.

It is what it says it is: lovely (yet not quite legendary) labdanum-leather, all the way through and all the way down. A linear and one-note affair, then, but with a note this beautiful it's no sin to just hold and sustain the same old thing for a good long while. Smooth, warm, discreet, only the slightest possible tang of sourness from the leather, very little sweetness yet without ever losing its gentle, caressing feel. Labdanum that's on the polished and refined, understated side than going more punchy dusty/earthy. Nothing against simple scents per se, but I can't help missing the extra details of spice and warmth from DK Black Cashmere. To me this isn't robust enough to be a real substitute for that lost legend - but still, there is no denying that Essence Labdanum was made to be loved. Minimal, classy and classic. It would never ever be wrong to wear. Yet somehow it doesn't quite light my fire or make me want to hunt it down. Restrained, but reasonably robust, projection; longevity not brilliant, but not bad either. About as completely unisex as any scent could be, in my view, but definitely a gentle whisper rather than a seductive rumble.