Autumn in Lhoka

I was drawn not only to the Tibetan inspiration for Autumn in Lhoka, but also its barley accord and usage of bran absolute, and when I first smelled it I immediately fell for it. This has the texture of autumn, a chestnut brown warmth, as comforting as a bowl of porridge with molasses, with the melancholy of the waning days of harvest. Describing a fragrance as balanced comes with questions on what defines such an assessment. What does it really mean for one to be balanced? Yet I am compelled to express the feeling of balance here, where no element overpowers—rounded pepper and muted smoke, a creamy malt and smooth grain. Autumn in Lhoka is a fragrance that appeals to my desire to simply inhabit it rather than examine its components. It has that monolithic beauty of a grounding incense. In fact, it reminds me of a Shoyeido incense I used to burn a number of years ago. I can't exactly recall which one, but when burning it, its glowing ember and a couple of candles would be the only light, and I would listen to the album Tibetan Bells by Henry Wolff and Nancy Hennings. Like this incense, Autumn in Lhoka invites me to feel; it releases a pressure valve with its savory, earthy beauty. While there are 99% natural ingredients in the formula, it has a satisfying persistence.

Leathery opening with flecks of something that’s almost briny, similar to nori. Also spices, seems like cinnamon. 20 mins in, creamier, almost a custardy note. Spices more prominent. Indeterminate but nice woods in the background. Something keeps making me think “nutmeg.” Could be that or a combination of other spices and woods. Clove could be in the mix. Suitably autumnal. Evocative and interesting but cozy. Maintains its scent profile but becomes more soft-focus, powdery, smeary, warm, close as it dries down.

Beautiful woody bhutanese-temple incense. Reminds me of Dzongkha (interesting coincidence since Duchaufour crafted three scents for the same brand in an adjacent collection), but a Dzongkha that wouldn't have been botched up by the lychee note used by Duchaufour, which I really dislike. Perfectly balanced between woods and spices, warmth and smoke. Somwhat austere, but deeply poetic and meditative. Good performance too.

Projects really well for the first couple of hours then simmers down to a cream of wheat with sweet incense like fragrance. Really lovely, pretty, 'office' friendly and perfect if you're looking for a fragrance with incense and creamy warmth that you wear, and doesn't wear you. Absolutely perfect for Autumn days. Now I need to try Summer for the osmanthus note, and Winter for the anise note. Fantastic house.

Best one in the line of Himajomo, quite safe but also unique. A boozy smokey built around incense, if you don’t like overly sweet smoke ambery perfume, this one's for you. I think they do this justice in terms of the cultural concept aspect with this one, the others are difficult for me to understand. Worth the price, but definitely not cheap, blind buy safe if you are willing to pay for it.