Encens Roi

What initially seems a fiery stoke from a raging pulpit, diverges to a smooth courtly gesture fit for coronation. Encens Roi opens with a spirited thrust of olibanum and pink pepper blessed in chamomile, channeling like a ginger root floral cola, fresh and zesty; parched heartily with strong pinches of saffron, pimento, and balsamic evergreen that simmer down for a base rounded by an interesting white cacao note that anchors the accord towards the woody ambery side of the throne; refining a dry ardent heart with an added sweet salty melt to an oriental leathery dry crest of cistus and oud, and merely distinguishing itself from its incense wheelhouse with a slight press. Thankfully, this HdP release is all regency in its presence and a gallant coating for one’s inner rex... Thumbs up!

A noble incense fragrance with olibanum as the major note, but it is not simply an eau de incense stick. Histoires de Parfums is a very good house that blends their fragrances masterfully and Encens Roi falls right in line. It is a modest performer, but I think this is a good thing for a fragrance like this. It envelopes you in a long-lasting, subtle, beautiful exotic smoke that dries down to a warm embrace. Echoes of an ancient liturgy, never preaching from the pulpit. If I had a criticism it would be that I am wanting the other listed notes to play a bigger role. I wonder what nuances more saffron could have contributed? A stronger dry cacao note would have been a compelling addition. Still, as it stands, this is a beautiful frankincense that I am glad to own.

~This surprised me as it was a successful blind buy and not quite what I was expecting! ~To me this is not really a true incense frag as I think the Oud accord and woody ambers are truly the main players. ~Here the spices are intense and warm really cutting through the subtle cold incense being offered. Saffron, pimento, pink pepper are equal in tenacity and intensity. Cacao is just ever so subtle in the background giving this comp more palatability. ~To me there really isn’t any church vibe being offered here! minimal smoke, no dustyness, no wooden pews. Just pure balsams - woods and spices! ~very underrated - masterfully blended and unique! Also a decent performer. My current favorite of the house P.S.- I got a 100ml bottle for $79 on Jomashop!

It seems that all of the popular olibanum-focused fragrances have their own take on the note. Profumum Roma's Olibanum presents with a deliciously zesty lemonyness, old standby Timbuktu opts for a medicinal and strangely cold, vegetal effect. CdG Zagorsk points out the pine-yness whereas Amouage's Incense Rori (also created by genius perfumer Julien Rasquinet) pairs it with oakmoss. Encens Roi feels a warmer affair, with a cozy amber blanket within its golden glow. The smokey basenotes in the outro make you feel as if you've actually burned some precious resin when you catch a pleasant whiff off of the clothing you wore the day before. Great for frankincense heads and one of the better offers in it's field.

I bought this for a very specific purpose. I fell in love with Amouage Purpose 50 but I couldn’t justify the price tag for a full bottle. I set off looking for something that would give me the same vibe without having to settle for a cheap dupe. The smooth yet smoky frankincense, the inimitable pimento, the light spice of the saffron, the gentle vanilla base. This fragrance did just that for me. It’s my first histories fragrance and was a blind buy. This is purely gorgeous. I am absolutely enamored with this scent. While I still enjoy purpose 50 more, this fragrance transports me to the same place, and at a fraction of the cost. If all histories fragrances are this good, this is a house I need to explore.

One of the most faithful renditions of smoking olibanum resin I have sampled. A peppery/gingery opening is followed by a rich procession of spicy and woody notes, with a regal, golden incense at its heart. This isn't a mild incense, wafting around a distant cathedral sanctuary. It is the incense burned in the king's private chambers, piled high with the choicest grains , so that a cloud of fragrance penetrates every fold of his rich robe of cloth of gold and red vermilion. Maybe I should get a job as copy writer to Histoires de Parfums. This purple prose comes naturally to any incense-lover once they have enjoyed such a triumphant celebration of the perfumer's art.

As a lover of incense perfumes, I've tried many of them, but this one definitely hooked me. It's a warm fragrance with obvious notes of pepper, quite warming, but the chamomile gives a subtle hint of apothecary shop. Somewhat reminiscent of ELDO's Rien, but much more wearable. It's very cozy, I can't explain it. It feels like it's hugging you (hopefully not like a Catholic priest in an orphanage). Definitely not for work or strict social events, so be careful. The performance isn't bad either, it lasts for a few hours on my skin. Overall, a great perfume for a reasonable price.

What a pleasant surprise A creation of the greatest quality that you can imagine It’s an achievement this house should be proud of It’s all about the olibanum and some chocolate and a touch of little oud The blast of olibanum in the opening is one of the best in the industry from my own experience Performance is good projection could’ve been better One of the few fragrances in my collection that i bought a small bottle off and I plan on upgrading to a bigger one in the closest time possible

The scent of a Catholic church (or any church that uses Frankincense). This beautiful, rich, and deep incense is smoky, highly resinous, oily, and downright dense. It's not "just incense." Celine Perdriel captures both the profane (the interior of the church) and the sacred (meditation, prayer, ritual) in this fragrance. Every time I apply it, I'm moved; Ences Roi touches me in a unique, profound way. I recommend it to anyone who finds themselves drawn to church notes.

Beautiful smokey spicy incense perfume. A church at the edge of a deep forest, a little damp after the rain. Grandpa's antique cabinet. Contemplation and comfort. Something holy yet close to nature. A shaman, or maybe a hermit. A fire gathering. A little heavy but in a tasteful and deep way, not bitter. Very good longevity, works better on skin than on clothes. In fact, on skin this scent is simply addictive. I love it, it's one of the best perfumes I've ever tried.

I'm a big fan of incense fragrances and Histoires de Parfums so Histoires de Parfums Encens Roi was an easy yes. The olibanum starts and ends this journey but it allows the other notes to shine a bit. This fragrance is a cameleon as it morphs from smoky to fresh almost instantaneous...amazing! I started with the travel size but after 1st sniff, a larger bottle was heading my way. Unisex but leans all but the slightest masculine.

There is something citrus on the blotter, not at all on my skin. At the very beginning, one can feel something really close to their second brand - Olibanum - rounded sweet olibanum, saffron and cedar. Then the perfume becomes cold, begins to smoke beautifully with incense. At the end, a slightly rough oud with balsamic notes remain on the skin. Just in love with it.

This is such a warm and comforting fragrance whilst also reminding me of the smell of a cathedral. I'd been looking for an incense fragrance that didn't smell like a head shop. It's sophisticated and spicy in a way that isn't too sweet or austere. This fragrance lasts a good 8 hours on me and with two sprays I can smell it on myself as I move throughout the day.

i'm currently smelling like a big church and living my oriental dad fantasy once again (i'd like to think jesus would've worn the same scent and probably Saint Lazarus would've come back to life just to appreciate those delicate notes of olibanum and mmmmmhhh wattpad beware i'm coming)

I think i found the ultimate holy grail of olibanum fragrances, work also well in layering with woody fragrance, it's not a complexe fragrance but more a one note focused so maybe a bit expensive for what it is, however if you love olibanum like me this is the one.

Wow! Just wow..very very realistic church smell! So realistic that I find it pretty challenging to wear, but i think it will fit really good in a cold rainy day.

Reminds me of a more natural-smelling version of Amouage Purpose. It's a very pure, in-your-face incense. I recommend it for incense lovers only. 9/10

I usually dont like spicy incense scent but this and purpose 50 are amazing, this is cheaper , both amazing, much better than purpose og

I've recently realized a strong desire to smell like an old European cathedral after mass has been completed. The vastness of those enclosed space, encapsulating centuries of prayer, hardship, hope, oppression, wealth and the yearning of spiritual transcendence while on this earthly plane is a powerful meditation on the nature of humanity itself. This is, without saying, not an everyday fragrance to aspire for, but one to wear on occasion with some thought behind it. Encens Roi is a large fragrance that suits its name, with a true frankincense at its heart that evokes the grandiosity of those living monuments. This gets me so, so close to my goal, but becomes challenging as the raw, resinous quality of the frankincense channels a more masculine air to the scent then I usually prefer as a woman. I bought a small bottle despite this, with the hopes that I could find something to pair with it that makes it into a true unisex fragrance for me. The cedar, pepper, dusty saffron and chamomile of this perfume come forward on my skin behind the frankincense, but the vanilla, labdanum and cocoa stay dormant for a long while, prohibiting a tempering sweetness while the sillage is still strong. Still, not since Passage d'Enfer have I come across a fragrance so evocative of those decadent, old world spiritual settings. Notes: I've begun experimenting on how to make this into more of a unisex fragrance for me. I've found that layering a sweetgrass oil after application is a good compliment, with its herbal, grassy vanilla complimenting the incense elements nicely. Santa Maria Novella's Melograno also serves to reign in the masculinity, working well with the incense notes to lighten the fragrance of the Encens Roi without obstructing it. I've also tried it with Goutal's Ambre Sauvage and found the result deliciously sensual.

Very reminiscent of Incense Avignon when it comes to the frankincense-chamomile combo. This is a very incense-forward fragrance. I can't really pick up much cacao or oud. There is definitely something woody in the base, but I wouldn't necessarily call it oud. It is quite peppery too. As it dries down, the labdanum starts to become more noticeable. Very well-blended but nothing too groundbreaking. If you already own Incense Avignon or other good incense fragrances, you don't necessarily need this. If not, you might want to get this one instead, as it looks like it performs a bit better and lasts longer (definitely not a beast though).

The first truly ‘incensy’ fragrance I’ve smelled. Smells exactly like the incense they burn during Anglican church services upon first spray. In the dry down it becomes woodier and you get the smell of the pews. It also gets sweeter, rounder. Invigorating and otherworldly. Only drawback: I can’t image where I’d wear this, I can’t think of an event formal enough.

I compared this side by side (left and right arms) with Eau Sacrée I found Encens Roi closer to the scent of frankincense as you would expect from a censer at a Catholic mass. I found Eau Sacrée to have some sort of additional scent of syrup, like a thick raspberry syrup, mixed in. Encens Roi lasted longer.

Normally I don't like the use of incense reminiscent of church, but I like this perfume. To put it simply, the olibanum is reminiscent of a perfume from the CdG incense series, but much bolder and stronger. There are many different spices in the background. The longevity is great, the projection is average.

If you spray on each wrist, you'll be set for the day, i've never seen a perfume with such good performance. Definitely an excentric take on incense/resins and I don't think it smells like a church incense either. Not for all occasions though: definitely not a gym, work and night appropriate scent.

Well balanced quality perfume. While the frankincense and cedar is dominating the scene, the labdanum prevents them from ending up too piercing, and the sprinkle of spices make it a bit more interesting so it's not just church smoke. A very good smoky staple, elegant in my book.

Encens Roi smells like a photorealistic burning encens stick. It’s a really sensual perfume with a spiritual quality. The smells is really dry with spices and a bite of amber. Longevity is really good too, on me it lasted about 10 hours. 8,5/10 Really good!!

I've been trying it for a few days now; the middle and final parts are very similar to fille en aiguilles, but everyone should smell the olibanum at the beginning for its beauty.

I think the perfumer was inspired by Dawn, and they've done a very successful job; it's a fantastic alternative to the very expensive Dawn

Someone swung the thurible in the wrong way down the cathedral aisle for me here - 'cause all I'm getting is super cold, super ashy church frankincense without the warmth or opulence to make it truly royal. Strong and distinctive no doubt - it definitely has a specific presence - but that presence seems to be frowning on and judging me rather than dressing me up in shimmering cloth of gold. Had anticipated a glowing, rich tapestry of luxey notes from this - and yes, the pepper tree tingle is there, and a distant echo of very dark cacao too - but for the overall effect adds up more to sackcloth, ashes and penitence. Thank goodness I won't have to atone (to my bank balance) for blind buying this - and you shouldn't either. Still, if you want a properly old church guilt trip it may do that for some. Definitely one for the incense fanatics only; can't think it would win over anyone olibanum-ambivalent. Oddly reminded me more of Orissa Legrand's almost-frigid Reve d'Ossian more than anything more rounded or friendly. To be fair: really respectable longevity and sillage for a reasonable price. Ok then. A cursory curtsey and crossing of the shoulders and I'm out of its not-so-sacred space.

I really get from this a softer oudy and dry leathery maturity than balances the seductiveness of some notes without going over the top. It's dry, familiar, a touch sensual and more approachable to me than others. What I appreciate about this house's take on fragrances with oud is their maturity. This is something I (and hopefully others) want to smell, rather than being forced on them. While it may have an initial strong opening it settles on the lower side of moderate and might just lean intimate depending on application. Testing blind and looking at the notes now, it's more the Labdanum and Oud with everything else sprinkled in, some more recognizable, others less so. I don't get any vanilla though. Sophisticated urban cowboys rejoice. I however am not one.

Not sure what the fella below is talking about this isn’t even in the same league as purpose 50, ill start with that so people don’t confuse things. This smells like a filippo sorcinelli which are very different incense that purpose’s omani frankincense, and if anything i wouldn’t even consider it incense tbh as for me someone who isn’t Christian the incense note in these “incensy” european perfumes doesn’t smell like incense And that how i would describe this perfume, a European church incense, especially in the dry down im note smelling anything besides that incense note

This is one part lemony incense, indeed not that different from Cardinal. But the other part is made of those bombastic woody ambers and oud chemicals that you have to tolerate to like this. They give beautiful woodiness and smokiness that support the incense, but sometimes they feel a bit too much.

Very olibanum-heavy, more so than incense. The scent overall smells austere, cold, crisp and kind of "thin", rather than rich, smoky incense. Recommended more for olibanum-lovers than incense lovers.

A warm and cozy take on olibanum, which can at times veer cold, mineralic, and citric. As others have accurately stated, this is just as much about the bombastic woody ambers and oud aromachemicals as it is about the frankincense. For that reason, it is almost tough to call this a frankincense centered fragrance, even if it is very evident in the opening and heart—it does drift away the longer it dries down and spends the majority of it's long lifespan as a warm and woody amber concoction. This lingers for almost 12+ hours and only 2 of those is there obvious incense. The spices here are nice, but do tickle the nose with a bit of a prickly sensation in the opening hours. Best to smell this one in the air in the opening half rather than sniff up close, as the potency does sting. There is a refined and balanced sweetness, but not syrupy or overpowering at all. Vanilla and cacao sound like this might veer gourmand, but it does not to my nose. I can't pick them out obviously. I can't stand an artificial or loud vanilla, and thankfully that is absent here. Overall Encens Roi is a solid pick for lovers of incense and resinous, woody, amber scents. I found a super deal on a 60ml bottle, and blind bought it. Turned out to be a great decision, but if you are sensitive to some of the amber and woody aromachemicals out there, definitely sample as they are the loudest and longest lasting notes here. Comparing to some woody incense scents in my collection this is less frank-forward then Montale Full Incense and less linear with more nuances. Miller Bertaux Newsletter 23 is a little closer in style, but weirder and a bit gentler, but both share a similar spiced, woody, warm take on frankincense. Happy to have all 3 in my collection, but if you want the most long lasting and faithful frankincense (with a warm, cedar/woody base) then Montale Full Incense is still the most faithful of the bunch. Update 12/24/24: sprayed with a light hand (1 full spray or a few "half" sprays) this smells gorgeous in the air to me, and fixes any issues with the woody base aromachemicals being prickly or overly aggressive. After a couple hours you can smell it up close without your nose hairs getting singed off. It makes an excellent winter holiday scent, with the spices, warmth, and holy nature of frankincense. Even if I am not a practising Christian, and don't fully condone the consumerism of Christmas, it's nice to join in the holiday spirit. Encens Roi fully helps me get there, but isn't boxed in as just a wintery scent.

Many have no idea what they are talking about and think they are experts in perfumery. First of all, this creation is by far among the most beautiful and well-crafted perfumes in the entire Histoires de Parfums collection. Secondly, it is not a common composition but one of oriental-western symbiosis. It is what you could want more from a liturgical resinous but which has some key elements, which differentiate it from the well-known CDG Incense Avignon, Heleey - Cardinal, etc. That ambery, patchy base, with interesting aspects of cocoa - which does not lead to anything food, nothing pastry, but has the fixed role of giving the composition an even more balsamic and opulent and heavy aspect. It is a complex perfume in which frankincense, sacred and ancient since the beginning of time, shines superlatively. Don't be fooled by the negative comments, they have no idea what they're talking about and don't understand truly creative compositions. I love it, from the first puff, it is a natural answer to the wishes of lovers of absolute resins.

As someone who likes incense and Ultra Niche I must say this is a hard wear. It is extremely strong and loud and harsh. On first wear, I like this scent but I don't love it. I feel like I need to give this more chance though plus it's a hot day which could be the wrong setting for this to shine. Liquid Imaginaires Sancti is a much more refined version of this, this is like her Bully big brother who is loud and likes to fight. Definitely not office/date friendly, I would only wear this in big open spaces because I know this would upset a lot of people. I think the pimento is ruining it, maybe the peppertree, it is leaning too much into that burnt plastic smell that I've noticed in cheaper middle eastern perfumes. Hmm. I'll come back once I've sat on this more.

This is a fairly sweet incense scent.. Beautiful opening of very very realistic and quality natural incense, which harmonizes with really nice pepper and saffron.. Too bad that as it evolves it looks a lot like Sancti di liquides imaginaires which I don't appreciate very much , evolution only in the first 30 minutes then it always remains the same except that it gets sweeter more and more due to the vanilla and cocoa, oud absolutely not biased to my nose. It's a pity that the opening incense lasts very little otherwise it would have been one of the best I've ever tried together with the "opening" of Encens Suave MP. However more performing and darker than the aforementioned Sancti. And personally I don't find similarities with Avignon..

Opens church, in a great way, somewhat like Encens Suave, minus the coffee. Then immediately goes in it's own direction, which is relatively greenish, probably the chamomile. It's beautiful ! It evolves as a distinguished one, especially with the oud & cacao in the base. Overall a gorgeous journey & I enjoy every bit of the wear. I'd say it does justice to the name roi, which translates to king. For an incense fragrance it's having decent performance on my skin. Happy to have it. Love ! IG : @scentclouds YouTube : @scentclouds

Not sure what else is in here but in the vial it is loud and screaming Spiky Woods. Horrible. Okay, have it on skin now. I’m not getting the scream: It’s a dark, peppery olibanum with a medicinal edge like true olibanum resin. There is a hint of scream in there, but so far it’s in the back a long way. Creamy vanilla feel in there, possibly with chocolate, but it’s lightly expressed, not really marked. Woody resins, hint of pudding, screamwood. It's like my favorite gothic shop, plus some shrieky harsh wood notes.

I have a complete opposite review of the one below me. I really wanted to like this and I was so sure I was so I blind bought it... it’s too sharp for me, very harsh on my nose. It’s a dry sharp incense, nothing cozy about it for me. I tried and tried but I couldn’t bear it. If you do enjoy this scent though the good news is it’s an excellent performer. Loud and long lasting. Well made, but not for me.

a stone cold masterpiece. Once it stops loudly singing with the spices and all, it starts to hum at the base of the scent, with that vanilla/cacao combo, that makes this an elite fragrance. I love this stuff. And for whatever reason, the 4 ouncer that I have is more affordable than many of the niche perfumes that are compared to ER.

Encens is the main player yes but with other players around that provides harmony. The cacao the ceder the labdanum the vanilla gives it a gourmand quality but not overpowering. We'll blended masculine woody scent.. gorgeous!!

Smells like Montale's Full incense, but definitely more wearable. Personally not my type of vibe but I can see why people like this fragrance.

I felt like I was assaulted by frankencense...in a good way. The drydown smells like Amouage Interlude-muted. Dangerously, heavy...whew.

Straight forward resinous stick incense, not the most unique in its genre. Good performance

Very nice frag, similar to Xerjoff Zefiro. Well blended and great quality 9/10