Messe de Minuit

After the second day of wearing Messe de Minuit in the heatwave we've had here lately, I feel ready to wax lyrical about this beauty. This is a review of the current version, and I have never tried the vintage one, although thanks to a wonderful Fragrantican, a decant is on its way to me right now. (THANKS A MILLION, L! X X X) Let's start with the fact that I am a sucker for incense, frankincense being my absolute favourite. I have been looking for the perfect frankincense for a long time and now I think I have found it. What is the perfect frankincense like in perfume? Well...not like a church. I adore the smoke of burnt frankincense in churches. I could write an essay on the different phases of the fragrance, from the moment its cast on the embers all the way to residue in the air of ancient churches, but Luca Turin did it already in the Guide. It is a smell to die for (and you get a lot once you die, in case you are Catholic), but I am neither a church, nor dead, so I am not keen on wearing that sort of scent on my person. My ideal frankincense perfume is the fragrance of the pearls or frankincense essential oil, well blended with other herbal aromatic resins like in this case myrrh and not in the pyramid, but I guess there is a little benzoin hiding somewhere in MdM too. My other favourite way to deal with frankincense is mixing it with herbs and/or pine resins as in the case of Fille en Aiguilles/Lutens and L'Eau Trois/Dyptique. Messe de Minuit offers a third alternative: so ridiculously obvious that you wonder why it is not done left, right and centre: frankincense and citrusses! Of course! Frankincense has a multitude of different citrus facets to it, so it seems the most natural thing to do to marry it off with bergamot, orange, lemon, citron and petigrain. The effect is uplifting, ethereal, light, like a watercolour, very wearable even in extremely hot weather, although I can very well imagine it being breathtakingly beautiful (and very different) in the autumn or winter. I love both Fille en Aiguilles and L'Eau Trois, but Messe de Minuit is so far the most wearable rendition of frankincense for me, totally full bottle worthy. The vintage version must be very different from the current, as at the moment I have no connotations of graveyard, coffin, bookshop, etc.. I will let you know when my decant arrives if there is indeed a big difference. 9/10

I received a sample of this beauty from a fellow fragrantician, and I have to say that I have never smelled anything like this! WOW! When I put it on my skin, I wasn't expecting what I got. The first note I perceived was lemon zest, real enough that it made my mouth water. It actually made me thirsty, it was so sharp. After about a minute of warming up on the skin, the myrrh overtakes the lemon. The myrrh adds a sweet dimension to the background of lemon. As the fragrance goes on, the myrrh lingers and the citrus fades. It doesn't last extremely long on my skin. It lasts about 3-4 hours. I've never been to a Catholic church or an orthodox church (I was raised Southern Baptist...we didn't use any incense in church at all), so I can't vouch for it smelling like a church. I could have only wished for our church to smell like that. WOW! I absolutely adore this scent! I wear myrrh essential oil sometimes, and this is very myrrh-y. I will have to test again soon to hunt out the patchouli and cinnamon. I definitely can recommend this! Edit: Upon subsequent applications of this, I can definitely spot the patchouli. It is not in the foreground, instead it sits subtly in the background...giving off a slight warmth after about 30 minutes on my skin. I absolutely adore this fragrance, but on warmer days it disappears even quicker than the 3-4 hours. If this were less expensive, or the lasting power longer, I would buy this in a heartbeat. One of the most beautiful and unusual perfumes I have encountered.

Messe de minuit è affascinante e misterioso,un pò cupo e anche amarognolo. Ne sono state fatte tre varianti dal suo lancio, nel 1994. La prima bottiglia aveva la scatola verde ,il tappo oro e l'etichetta rotonda. Il suo aroma è amaro,incensato,molto aromatico ma anche addolcito da miele,ma è quello che più racchiude l'odore di muffa e di catacomba suggestivo che rende il nome alla fragranza. Questa versione è quella che odora meglio di umidità e muffa. La seconda edizione aveva scatola rossa,tappo oro ed etichetta quadrata. E' la versione più amara e più cupa,si sente l'atmosfera umida e antica che ricorda sotterranei medievali,cupe segrete,antri delle streghe e cerimonie notturne dal fascino remoto ed è piu acre rispetto alla prima. Questa è la versione più amara. La terza edizione,cioè quella attuale,ha scatola bianca ,tappo argento e etichetta quadrata.E' una versione meno amara e meno scura ma ugualmente piacevole. Fra i profumi di incenso che ricreano sensazioni medievali e gotiche,questo è il mio preferito perchè amaro,acre e austero. Questa versione è dove l'incenso si sente di più ed è piu dolce. La messa di mezzanotte non è necessariamente una messa cattolica, è più un riferimento a una cerimonia magica medievale nei sotterranei di un antico castello,nelle cupe segrete,in una notte fredda e nebbiosa,in un'epoca remota.... Quello che evoca un profumo è del tutto soggettivo.

I got a sample of this and decided I had to get a full bottle. Located in the USA, I had a terrible time finding it and then - Essenza Nobile! This German etailer with an Italian name has a web site in English and will ship to the USA (a model of the international economy). They have a wide selection of niche fragrances including quite a few that I can't find anywhere in North America. Oh yes this is supposed to be about Etro Messe de Minuit. What an exhilarating scent. It is among the finest evokers of smoking incense I have smelled, paired with irresistably delicious candied mixed citrus, honey, and cinnamon top and middle notes. Later it has lots of frankincense (coniferous peppery balsamic lemony anisic) and myrrh (humus earthy bitter sweet musty) of course, together with a smoky note to evoke the burning, and some patchouli that blends in nicely. I have no Catholic Mass associations with this since I was raised vaguely Protestant and am now a confirmed atheist, so you might react differently if this reminds of something you love or hate or are bored by or feel guilty about. Even to me it smells devotional at the same time as being drop dead gorgeous. Cardinal Woolsey and Mother Superior meet Pretty Woman (Roberts and Roberts and Gere oh my).

Holy incense! This one is really perfect. Blend of citruses and incense really gives a Christmasy feel. I'm a lover of stronger perfumes. This one surprised me, because it is simultaneously smoky and joyful, heavy and light, serious and frivolous. I should note that I tried two versions of MdM: the second edition of EDC and EDT. There were some differences - EDC seems more fresh than EDT in the beginning. You get a citrusy blast at first sniff, whereas in EDT you can feel myrrh and patchouli at the beginning. EDT lasted a bit longer (~7 hrs) in comparison to EDC (~5.5 hrs). If I had to choose, I'd choose EDC - this is a very unique composition, as I mentioned earlier, with rich range of notes from sour to smoky and more complex development with plot twists. You wear it and it grabs your attention every 20 minutes. Also what I wanted to mention - this is completely a daytime perfume for me, I can't imagine wearing it at night, well maybe unless the Christmas Eve, the special night full of miracles and heavenly touch, though it's the longest night in the year. But for the rest of the year I'd prefer to wear it on sunny day in snowy winter - contrasting weather for contrasting perfume.

One of the most compelling fragrances I own, Messe de Minuit captures the essence of spaces that have seen so much through time and have the sediment of human presence and history. I imagine antiquity of all sorts; the somber sweetness of wooden spaces, curio cabinets, Saratoga trunks, literature from days of yore, faded memories and dreams. There is also an element of solemn beauty that comes from the interior of places of worship and the incenses that have enveloped enclosures and left their imprint for ages. The myrrh and labdanum certainly lend to these impressions. The much-needed contrast in Messe de Minuit is the light through a rose window, radiance of the stained glass, courtesy of the citrus and petitgrain, bringing a dimension that is usually absent in the far more brooding incense fragrances that are in abundance. Here is the hope, the exultation that is needed to bear the dark and uncertain. The beautiful duality of the spirit. Wear this for days where you want to be present, when you need a still point in life. 10/10

Mi dispiace che qualcuno resti deluso perché questo profumo non gli ricorda esattamente una messa di mezzanotte. Forse dovreste prima provare un profumo e poi lasciare andare la vostra fantasia e vedere cosa vi evoca. Credere che un profumo evochi la stessa immagine per tutti è una cosa molto infantile e sciocca. Messe de minuit è una scena, un'immagine,una ispirazione generale dalla quale la mente dovrebbe partire. Anche chi trova che alcuni profumi (tipo hypnotic poison eau de parfum) siano gotici e da vampiro è una visione del tutto personale e suggestionata,quando in realtà odora di uva fragolina e sciroppo per la tosse. Messe de minuit lo ho gia descritto precedentemente nei dettagli,e ribadisco che la sua edizione piu umida e insensata è la prima,del 94. Le successive sono lievemente piu secche e frizzanti e meno da catacombe. Inoltre la mia evocazione è piu da cupe segrete e sotterraneo di castello medievale che non una chiesa di natale. Nessuno ha detto che si tratta di una messa di natale.

It opens orange and cinnamon with woody smoke, than comes patchouly and honey. When dries down, I smell wood,patcouly,musk and cinnamon with a little bergamot. It's sharp and deep at the same time. I like it very much, but can not say for which occasions is the most suitable, depends on personal feelings. It can be winner on summer night or winter day.It's good when I feel shortage of energy! What I like at Etro , is that usually doesn't classify perfumes into womens and mens. In my opinion that should be a general rule. People are sometimes frustrated if wearing a perfume which is classified like opposite gender scent. That's something what I don't really understand, but that's how it is. What do you think guys, the most important after all is the smell itsef, isn't it ?! Bravo ETRO!

I love my spices and incense. This is one for wearing at night in the summer as its not heavy. I think it really comes alive with warmth. The citrus notes keep this a bright and welcoming fragrance all the way along its timeline. Yes, I get the myrhh but I also get plenty of warm spice. Particularly the cinnamon. The patch is not heavy and damp. I like the way the petitgrain gives a little bite. Its amazing how a smell can unlock memories for folk. I agree about the contemplative feel of this light, warm fragrance. The incense seems to be what is spoken of most. Tbh I dont find it a dominant note here at all. It is a very beautiful fragrance. Like most Etros I think they are at their best in warm weather. Moderate sillage and longevity.

I LOVE Messe de Minuit!! It does smell like incense, real good incense, frankincense, oliban, myrrhe, all the good stuff, very mysterious and spiritual and magic but not in an austère way. The citrus notes (pretty vague citrus smell, not in your face lemon, but we get the feeling) and especially petitgrain are brilliant as they make this scent really luminous, uplifting and surprisingly wearable. The cinnamon I don't get that much, on my skin it's not very obvious as it's really well blended with the incense. The incense. Mmmmmm... What I love the most about this incense is that it doesn't smell like smoke at all, just the resins. And also it's real incense but tamed. It's not scary to wear. I love to sleep in this one! Pretty magical.

I like. It's nice. But if, like me, you are after a smells and bells headspace capture of a wedding at Saint Bartholomew-the-Great (Comme des Garcons Incense: Avignon) or the first waft of 3000 years as Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvan breached the second sealed door on November 26, 1922 (Montale Paris Dark Aoud), this isn't it. Cheerful, comforting, and approachable but it's incense a la department store Santa Claus. This with the caveat I'm referencing the 2014 edit. And as I'm a completist, I'm stuck with a quest for a pre-reformulation version. I expect something richer, possibly more complex but not much deeper as I'm confident it will still be more frankincense pearls than the smoke I'm after.

Just got a sample of this in a swap, and I'm loving it! I don't get anything musty, depressing, or creepy from it, maybe because of not having all of the Catholic associations. It seems like a warm, cheerful scent to me. I can see how it could seem Christmas-y, but in a happy, not a cold way. At first I smell a little bit of citrus, a lot of cinnamon, sweet honey, and what I assume is ambrette. It dries down to a lovely spicy-honey-musky scent. There's not a lot of incense, especially compared to something like Avignon, which is pure incense (and one that I also love). I would wear Messe de Minuit any time. I think I would even spray it on myself, and that's saying a lot.

The opening transports me to a place, that in my mind, is a "Mediterranean Spa". The dry down is calming incense and honey (and citrus). Some days the honey leans almost towards cat piss. But it ́s just a very faint whisper and it doesn ́t occur every time I wear it. I love this one. Its both warm and cold at the same time. I find it calming an beautiful with a warm presence. I crave it mostly during summertime. I got it as a birthday-gift; asking for a perfume and handing my in-laws a really long list of suggestions (of which I hadn ́t tried a single one). This was the one they found on their trip to Italy. And I ́m really glad they did!

Warm, smokey. Reminds me of being a child hiding under my dad’s wooden work desk, his old books near by. Drawers full of old erasers, pencil shavings. Also reminds me of incense, the generic joss sticks my Buddhist family would burn; not the smell of them actually burning but rather walking to a room where the smoke has long settled into everything in it from hours before. I really enjoy layering it with a jasmine or ylang ylang perfume, it really gives the impression of an elder Cambodian’s home in the coziest way.

For about a month, I wore this almost every other day. I really enjoyed how this doesn't smell like a perfume at all, but like the clothes of a person who burns incense a lot. I could smell thick, slowly floating incense that was pretty impressive and true-to-life, but in the background I could smell something like an orange. Think: Attack of the Killer Oranges where they roll down the aisles of a Catholic church. Update: this is one of my favorite incense perfumes ever.

By reading the name, you can easily judge the scent. A "Midnight Mass" (translated from French), is warm spicy ambery fragrance. Opened with lemon and citrus blast, followed by strong spicy cinnamon with herbal style of patchouli and lot of myrrh. To create even more orthodox ambiance, incense is adding and veiling the altar. First launched in 1994, without nose listed, but definitely have very niche scent quality although released by a fashion house.

I love this fragrance. I don't get a churchy vibe per se, as much as I do a kind of old monastic library vibe. It feels like studying in a room that's a bit damp and dark and a bit austere but provides warmth from the dark and wet outdoors with the incense/myrrh and labdanum providing warmth and comfort and kind of meditative or contemplative feeling, like it retains like the library has absorbed the smells of masses over time. So good!

How I wish some of these beauties came in small bottles. Even as small as 15ml. This is so stunning and special, I feel it can't be just worn casually, but it's a special event sort of fragrance. When you need to make a statement and an entrance, this fragrance is your pick. The patchouli is heaviest, but the incense and resins and spices really support. The florals and musk come through with patience. A masterpiece for sure!

This is gorgeous. Smells like church after a particularly high-church service when the congregation has gathered in the vestry for tea and fruit cake afterwards, to fortify themselves for the chilly walk home. I bought a bottle of this in, I think, 2011, hoping it would make a good impression on this Catholic chap I had just met on Facebook. Reader, I married him, so that must have worked. :)

Latest reformulation: Step in one of the baroque Churches of the old town in Napoli, in an early evening of September. Then, you move to an inner Chapel, where recently, the old benches and the confessionals were polished with citrucy furniture wax. There's a gloomy, dusty stale air for centuries, in here...but the peaceful atmosphere warms up your soul

Roman Catholic Church Incense at MIdnight Mass!!! Messe de Minuit , just like it says on the label. I can't understand those who say otherwise, unless they have a fake or some kind of reformulation. Takes me back to Christmas eve in my Lovely Parish Church every time I inhale this beautiful concoction.

The beauty of magic is there is no definition for it. Easier to say what it is not: There is no burden, no guilt, no heaviness. There is light, air, history without regrets and maybe an infinite future, which is already here around us. Wonderful job to have put all this in a bottle.

Superb. Sublime. Adorable. I love this so much. It's unique and magical. Such gorgeous incense; it's so calming, soothing, warm, friendly, welcoming, comforting. A balm to the soul. Nothing jars, it's only soothing, and happy. Uplifting. Wonderful.

Myrrh, incense, labdanum and patchouli, what a beautiful combination. Messe de Minuit smells like a church right after the mass. There is some citrus but I get more of a woody, resinous smell. It is very warm and comforting. I love it!

I don't know anything that smells quite like this. Something about it reminds me of the incense in Shalimar or Anne Pliska but it's not as heavy. It's very unique and wearable imo if you love frankincense and myrrh which I do.

Musty-old-church smell. Gorgeous. I have a vintage bottle from the 1990s, which I find richer and rounder than the current (re?)formulation, which is a tad screechier.

The only thing I can say is.... While my eyes are busy rolling back ... If anyone has this and wants to swap, I'll make it worth your while. OMG I love this!!!

This opened a little boozy in the beginning for about two minutes and when that faded it's just myrrh full power ahead. I get no other notes.

I love it! I don't wear it around other people much. It's the BEST sleeping pill in the world! Very very unusual!

Full 100ml available in US. Well made fragrance but too resinous for me.

Sp glad that I finally mustered up the courage to post reviews here on Fragrantica, a website I love. I've referenced this site many times throughout the years and I value everyone's input! Of course, I've made sample choices and perfume buys based on the great reviews here on this website (and one other site-smile). Okay, so I am trying to expand my fragrance wardrobe AND I am trying to think "outside of the box" regarding my normal and usual fragrance comfort zone. Well, I love funeral and church like smells and aromas...so I thought I would give MdM a try! Anyone who doesn't envision Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox or Roman Catholic churches when wearing this fragrance has never been in one of the above churches, certainly not a Roman Catholic church during High Holy Mass or a funeral! Incense is what it is all about here...frankincense, myrrh, smoke, sap, some fern, musty, musky...that is what this scent is all about! After showering and spraying this on, I met up with my husband for an appointment and I asked him, "What do I smell like?" Husband promptly said, "CHURCH!" My husband and I both agree that we LOVE the "smell" of church in church. But my husband asked, "Do you really want to walk around all day smelling like that?" Good question...I DO like the smell...I like the idea of a fragrance so different and unique. In many ways, I find the aroma of Messe de Minuit comforting. But I found Comme des Garcons "Avignon" much more tolerable on me than Messe de Minuit...though I DO like the scent a lot :0)

Revisiting an old incense classic I first bought Messe de Minuit about ten years ago, when I was still exploring fragrances. At that time, I found it too unconventional for daily wear and eventually sold it. Recently, I found a good bargain and decided to give it another try. Nearly ten years after my original review in November 2016, this revisit feels like a completely different experience. The fragrance is built around a very prominent myrrh-labdanum incense accord , supported by a generous amount of cinnamon . The result is dark, resinous, and almost ceremonial, with a warmth that feels both ancient and contemplative. The citrus opening is much more restrained than the note list might suggest. A subtle citrus facet is present, but it remains largely hidden beneath the dense myrrh-labdanum incense structure. To my nose, it only becomes noticeable when the fragrance is sprayed on fabric rather than skin. Another thing I noticed is a faint lavender-like nuance . Lavender is not listed in the official notes, yet to my nose there is occasionally an aromatic facet reminiscent of lavender, briefly appearing before merging back into the myrrh-labdanum incense structure. Interestingly, a 2012 review mentioned the same impression as well. After ten years, I appreciate Messe de Minuit much more. It is still not an easy everyday fragrance, but its unusual character and old-world incense atmosphere are precisely what make it memorable. Rating: 8/10 (revisited after ten years)

Parishioners have completed their worship at Christmastime, departed, and left the essence of their incense lingering in their church at night. This is what Messe de Minuit or 'Midnight Mass' reminds me of. The scent smells beautiful on my skin; earthy, deep and resinous, tinged with a little spice. During the dry-down it starts to get more smoky and warm. I often struggle with patchouli so I'm very happy with how well-behaved it is here. I also like how this fragrance is well-blended and isn't too overwhelming. I think this would be best in cold weather. Sillage is quite soft on me; lasts for about 4-5 hours. I can definitely appreciate the art here and I do think that Messe de Minuit is a lovely fragrance, except that I just feel as though it doesn't fit my personal style which means that I would never wear it. The perfume brings to my mind a woman who wears a lot of black, dark purple, silver jewelry and who enjoys essential oils and burning candles. Perhaps it is because I am also reminded of such a woman who wears clothing tinged with the smell of incense. Nevertheless, it's a wonderful scent :)

Messe de Minuit is the culmination of warm, smoky amber and citrus. It opens with a juicy and refreshing burst of sharp, rindy orange, lemon and bergamot followed by a thick dose of myrrh. The myrrh here is very dry and dusty, heavy and almost chewy but overall smells high quality and unique. The citric side of the scent is intensified by a zesty note of bitter citron, whilst the warming aspects are elevated through a spicy cinnamon and leathery labdanum. The smoky resinous vibe from the myrrh is then magnified by a dry incense and earthy patchouli. You’ve got 3 separate scent profiles all vying for attention in this fragrance - rindy citrus, smoky myrrh and warming amber are all present and powerful and yet it does seem to work. This is fragrance embodies old, wooden antiques and archaic churchy incense in a brilliant way.

Too special to be a casual scent. Enormous myrhh with extremely aggressive cinnamon, but no trails of patchouli and citrus as far as I could tell... Well, I don't like the cinnamon even in a small dose. Not to mention that the huge dose of cinnamon which is throughtout all the longevity here. It just paralyzes my nose in the first shot, but the scent is still very attractive to me overall. I just found out this scent works quite extrodinary for me, after layering with Guerlain L'eau Boisee or some other green/grass vibe frags. This kind of vibe can smoothening the aggressive part that disturbs me. Longevity: almost average. 4-5 hrs with projection in first 2 hrs or so. Rating: 8.0/10

translation of merilu59's review "mentre molti profumi di incenso hanno tendenza a portare le associazioni delle chiese polverose scure antiche al punto che confina fra misterioso e deprimente, questo odora luminoso È messa di natale cattolica in una bottiglia. Adorabile, caldo, resinoso, delizioso." While many incense perfumes have the tendency to carry the associations of dusty dark churches to the point that they border between mysterious and depressing, this luminous odour is a Catholic Christmas Mass in a bottle. Adorable, warm, resinous, delicious.

this is not an easy to wear fragrance, but - oh! it's quite special)) For once, this is the truest frankincense representation in perfume I've ever came across (at least the type of incense burnt in most Orthodox churches): smokey, orange-zesty and woodsy; you have to be in a mood to wear this.

I sampled this today and it smells like a church but in a really wet way? I swear it smelled a little like cat urine to me but my friend insisted it didn't. She loved to smell it on me and would comment on it continuously throughout the day

This is more spicy (cinnamon) than resinous (myrhh), and the citrus feels more bitter (citron & petitgrain) than juicy (orange & lemon); overall a somewhat dry spicy amber--I find it more interesting than their Ambra.

The name easily pushes the imagination toward religious imagery, but to me this fragrance does not truly smell like a church. It feels more suited to the atmosphere of damp, slightly mildewed brick and stone buildings. If the goal is an authentic church impression, Velvet Incenso would be the reference point. The opening lists orange, lemon, and bergamot, which on paper suggests a bright citrus start. In practice, the citrus does not feel fresh. It resembles bitter peel suspended in cold, humid air, and very quickly it is overtaken by myrrh, patchouli, and resin. The direction turns almost immediately toward something darker, cooler, and more enclosed. The myrrh shows a clear resinous character with a faint medicinal bitterness. Patchouli introduces an impression of old wood and settled dust. The structure is unusual. It does not read as burning incense, nor does it produce heavy smoke. Instead, it evokes the interior of a building that has absorbed moisture over many years. The walls feel damp, the wooden doors slightly musty, and the air carries traces of cold dust, resin, worn floorboards, and rooms left closed for a long time. It can suggest a church, but just as easily an old monastery, a library basement, a stone house after rain, a castle corridor, or the neglected entrance of an abandoned building. The spatial effect is pronounced, with a faint edge of mildew that creates a sense of uncertainty. In the drydown, a gentle sweetness emerges naturally from the resins, preventing the composition from collapsing entirely into coldness. It is a selective fragrance, somewhat out of step with current mainstream preferences. The value lies more in its character than in daily wear. For collecting or study, it has interest. For regular use, it is less compelling.

I grieve to write this. I'm an incense nut, and was desperate to love this. I am sad to say, it was a failed blind buy - I'm gutted. I should have read the reviews more carefully. This scent is a scam, in a way. It really is not the incense of a midnight mass at all (at least, the 2019 batch I have). To save you a long read, Villoresi Ambra smells very much like this, but with no citrus, at less than half the price and twice the strength. Frankcrummit two reviews below this also thinks Messe de Minuit is a con, and points out that this is a citrus, not an incense. True. Kris 9191 highlights that, "Etro's take on a midnight mass scent has no incense in it that I can tell, and it smells sh$%%y." Preach. Dubbytuteaf says it smells like 18th-century America. Maybe. One thing's for sure, 18th-century America didn't smell of incense. So it's a plausible viewpoint. Fausto74 observes, "Unfortunately I have no imagination of church with this perfume. Don't even smell frankincense. All I got is some kind of of iced tea with lemon, very sweet." Yup. Compare these comments to those on, say, Gucci Pour Homme 1, Morabito Sultan Noir, Majd al Sultan, Avignon, Zagorsk, Cardinal, l'Orpheline, even ELDO's Rien... Even the dry down of Habit Rouge EdT in the Listerene bottle is more incensey than this. All is not lost. Villoresi Ambra is very similar in scent, and has zero citrus, but 25% of the cost, 300% more projection, and 400% duration. Buy that if you're interested in this scent profile, but want to be able to notice it.

Opens with less sugary orange sherbet with a touch of soft lemon, then after a few minutes the heart notes come forward that evokes an image of green jub-jubs and cola candy. If I try hard I can detect nuances of patchouli and myrrh but this scent sits very close to my skin. This scent does have a certain charm about it but there is no smoke or smokiness which IMO would lend well to an incense fragrance. I want to smell the incense but the sweetness becomes an obstacle and overwhelms the delicate incense note in the base. With the name Messe de Minuit (Midnight Mass), I expected much more. I'm Catholic and I'm well acquainted with incense and Holy Mass, however this scent IMO fails to capture that. It does capture a part of incense, which is a cool resinous vibe. However, with a lack of smoke, it falls short of what I was hoping for. Probably good to layer with...perhaps Interlude Man? Little projection but good longevity

I get a blast of orange in the opening. Then the orange tones down a bit (without ever leaving the stage), to introduce the co-star: cinnamon. This duo will be supported by a sour citrus note (citron?). In the drydown, the cinnamon will take the lead, with honey, patchouli and a shy powdery/vanillic myrrh in the background. Some noticeable similarities with LV Incensi (which is also a cinnamon-centered fragrance, not incense). I get the "old church furniture" effect they try to mimic, but the orange and powdery effect unbalances thing too sweetly and unrealistically. In a nutshell: it might fit the boxes for a woman who is looking for a "holidays" type of scent, and good taken on its own. That said, the name is misleading, and who is looking for an impression of "midnight mass" will definitely want to look elsewhere. Just ok in my book. Colder days, 30+ ⁝

Messe de Minuit conjures the image of 18th century colonial America, perhaps a mistress would be wearing this in a brothel? It -quickly- reached a warm, enveloping base note of myrhh and honey on my wrist, which is all I'm detecting at this point, 2 hours later. I don't hate it, nor do I love it... had to try based on these reviews.

I attended a Catholic liberal arts women’s college once upon a time. It was a small campus in the northeastern U.S. Beautiful architecture. Old buildings that held lots of stories within their walls. In winter, it was common to cut through campus using whatever shortcuts would keep you indoors in the warmth, and that often included the school’s chapel. This wasn’t any ordinary chapel, though. It was the type people would travel to see from all around the region. Think vaulted ceilings, stained glass rose windows, beautiful marble statues, artwork, ancient wood floors. Just a stunning and humbling sacred space. Today I tested Messe de Minuit (newest edition, I think), and it took me right back to college. I’ve tried my share of incense fragrances, and the reviews are right when they say this is church in a bottle. It totally reminded me of the lingering scent of incense in the chapel as I cut through to get from class to class, or to head back to my dorm room. It’s the smell of learning and books and old buildings and sacred spaces and memories with friends. For me, this smell is completely comforting. I think I’ll wear this inside my jacket where I could smell it quietly from time to time, as a security blanket, of sorts.

I've been sold a pup! Fragrantica member massimilianoinquieto in his review below suggests that the current formulation bears little resemblance to its forbears, shifting from an incense-heavy to a citrus-light mix. Given this shift, Messe de Minuit is misnamed: the incense note is NON-liturgical. (For a true rendition of Midnight Mass, head towards Lavs or Cardinal instead). 'Midday in Maytime' might be a better name for this version, as the sweet (and rather sickly) opening citrus note gives way to sweet (and equally sickly) cistus and honey in the dry down. The myrrh (usually a sobering influence) and incense itself (usually smoky and balsamic), seem to be bypassed altogether. The net result is a rather cloying confection, a million miles away from the candlelit interior of a cathedral. This EDT would make a great spring-into-summer spritz for a seaside holiday, but it's not for me.

Hmmmmm...damp concrete and limestone with a pinch of musty thrown in. Quite a recipe. I'm probably going to get in trouble for saying this, but it reminds of the musty, untiled church basement in which my childhood community would have its potlucks for the wakes. If you're into tombstone rubbings, this is the perfect scent for your day trip to the cemetery. You'll smell just like your environment. I had the original frag in my possession, gave it away, and kept a small decant for myself. It seemed to have a totally different effect on me than it did for most. Pair this under one ear with Demeter's Dirt under the other, and you could certainly have some fun catching people unaware of the tongue-in-cheek mischief you're deliberately setting out to do. The reactions could cause some puzzled looks and raised eyebrows. Priceless and worth a giggle.

I recently tried Sonoma Scent Studio’s Ambre Noir and was surprised to discover that it is quite similar to my reformulated version of Messe de Minuit. I know this frag is getting harder and harder to find. It’s worth noting that the SSS version is quite strong. One spray will fill a room. I have a travel spray and it will last me quite a while. I was not expecting a Messe de Minuit dupe when I tried it, but alas, here it is.

Someone pointed out this scent and some others by Etro to me. I usually like incense scents. I think I tested the complete Etro line that was in the shop and didn't like any. I don't know what Etro does to it's scents that they all are so very harsh and masculine. Nothing for me. Also my companion that day didn't like any of Etro. Sometimes I think there is a reason, why some brands are not spread so much.

no incense. only lemon-sweet citrus mix. horrible.