Cardinal

I was simply looking for the scent of a church, the kind of smell you get from the Trudon Spiritus Sancti Candle. A quick try at a shop was enough for me to confirm my purchase. I see there are more offerings in the same style. But so far I can only compare with CDG Avignon which I owned some years ago. This one is just as good if not better. It just recreates an atmosphere, but it’s blended in such a way that it’s a really good wearable perfume, and not a conceptual room perfume presented as an EDP. I agree with other reviewers that it’s not very potent. But I come close to admitting that it’s probably how this kind of perfume should be. I’m not sure it’s meant to project an awful lot. Otherwise it might be unpleasant for the wearer, and I don’t think it’s the kind of perfume to make a statement to those around you. I see it as something very personal and comforting. I also got a sample of l’Eau sacrée. I wondered if I might not regret taking that one instead, since some people say it’s a stronger Cardinal. After one try, I’m not convinced because I get different vibes, at least in the opening. Cardinal is just perfect for me and was the good choice. To enjoy it through a full day at work, I use Encens Flamboyant from Goutal on skin, and Cardinal on my scarf. So I can enjoy it much better. If I use it on skin, I do it in the evening when I’m in the comfort of my home. A must try for those who like church scents.

The opening is absolutely brilliant: Aldehydes, soap, pink pepper, linen, and faint whiffs of yesterday's incense in the church. It does evoke the cold, stony, airiness of the nave of a gothic cathedral. In the mid, Cardinal becomes sweeter. I detect myrrh and frankincense in equal measure, but I think labdanum is as big a component. Sometimes the heart notes remind me of a fizzy cola; sometimes it's sort of a leather chypre. The base is a gentle vetiver, patchouli, amber combination which is quite long lasting, cozy, and attractive. Extremely sophisticated take on this scent profile. While almost every house tries their hand at a rose perfume, an oud perfume, an iris, etc... this genre of "liturgical incense" isn't really explored all that often - perhaps why this gets compared to Avignon ad nauseum. I don't know Avignon, but I think the closest thing in my collection to Cardinal is actually Bois D'Argent by Dior. The quality of the ingredients here is excellent. 3.5/5 (PS: It would be hard to get an accurate idea about this fragrance from one sampling. A lot of reviews below criticize the performance... This isn't ever going to be a loud perfume, and a couple squirts from a tiny sample is not going to do this fragrance justice. I get moderate projection and eternal longevity with 4 sprays from my full bottle.)

This is HEAVEN in a bottle. I feel like others have articulated how it smells better than I could, but I love this. It has a very realistic incense note, but it's neither too smoky, or heavy, nor too cool, like some incense scents sometimes get. I think the myrrh is quite prominent, which I LOVE. I was a bit afraid of the patchouli note, but after getting a sample I can confirm that it simply rounds out the fragrance, and it isn't overpowering even if you don't like that note. It's a beautifully blended and balanced perfume, and agree with people that it's super, super, sacrilegiously sexy. On paper I thought it was leaning slightly masculine first, but on skin it's truly unisex. I honestly feel like this is the perfume I've been looking for in the past few years after I parted ways with my beloved Meharées (due to wearing it too much and personal associations). That is supposed to be a dupe for Musc Ravageur but I always got a ton of myrrh from it. Cardinal doesn't smell like it, but I think people who like one might like the other. In any case, Cardinal has a high chance of becoming my new all time favorite. The longevity is great, and you only need a few sprays to surround yourself with the perfect scent bubble. I'm really impressed. Do I need it? No. Did I order a FB a few days after I got a sample? Yes.

Such a beauty! I absolutely love it. Out of all "church incenses" I've tried, I find this the most easy to wear. Clean and crisp are words that come to mind. It has a very natural smell of olibanum and just enough other notes to make it interesting. To me it has a lemony feel, which I find natural olibanum have. When wearing it I feel like I'm dressed in beautifully washed, pristine linen clothing, sitting on a wooden bench in a white stone church. It's not a very ceremonial, holy incense, but more like if a protestant church would have incense. I highly recommend it if you're looking for this type of scent but want something lighter. I also love CdG Avignon, but would not personally get much wear out of it, since it is quite on the heavier side. I also find Cardinal to be more genderless in comparison to Avignon, which I percieve as more traditionally masculine, not that it matters. Reve d'Ossian is also another love, but I find that one has a sense of history to it. It smells like another era, that I could never really know of. I feel performative when wearing it, even though I find that one somewhat wearable too. Cardinal is a blanc paper in comparison, it transcends time and individuality and just exists in a humble stone church somewhere.

Stunning! I find Cardinal to be very similar in many ways to Montale Full Incense, except where MFI punches you right in the nose with an evergreen laced churchy incense, this one will finesse you with light, starchy linen, honeyed amber and just a hint of rose, collectively bringing warmth and incredible roundness to all its incense edges. If MFI is a scotch-dipped burnt wood and unburnt incense, Cardinal is unburnt incense gently diluted in a puff of linen scented spray starch. It's a fresher take on a similar theme. Honestly, I love both and am glad I took the rather expensive chance on these gems. If you dig incense, you will probably like both. If you're kind of meh, you may find these to at very least be a bit redundant. But for me, they're not. I've only had this a short while, but Cardinal seems to me well-behaved enough (aka moderate reach and sillage) to wear just about anywhere - though I think I'd reserve it for evenings out with the better half. Longevity will be good at very least with any incense, and accordingly, this one will be closer to the lower end of that group, being a bit on the lighter side. But in no way does that take away from this masterpiece.

Sacred modernism at Vence Cardinal treats incense with an unusual sense of light, freshness, and architectural clarity. Pink pepper, black pepper, green notes, and the impression of pressed white cotton create an opening suspended between sacred ritual and contemporary refinement. Rather than evoking a dark cathedral, the fragrance recalls the atmosphere of the Matisse Chapel at Vence: luminous, minimalist, and quietly sensual. Frankincense, myrrh, vetiver, and patchouli gradually dry the composition into an elegant mineral incense whose austerity never becomes severe. Yet Cardinal’s real achievement lies in its cultural ambiguity. Sacred and secular, spiritual and materialistic, disciplined and seductive, the perfume feels culturally porous, almost faintly sinful, in the way it dissolves traditional boundaries between ritual, aesthetic culture, and urban life. Grey amber eventually softens the dry down into a warmer finish that can become slightly sweet in excessive heat or with overapplication. A remarkably modern incense perfume: bright, sensual, and spiritually unresolved.

Another "frankincentric" (my word for "revolving around frankincense") perfume that will appeal to those who seek a nearly literal version of Catholic incense that is burned in church. I have smelled a lot of other incense perfumes of this type but with massive projection, to the point of suffocation, as they are so intensely bitter and true to the resins. What I like about Cardinal is that it smells literal too, but it has an ethereal quality that makes it much more approachable/tolerable/acceptable to wear on ones body. And by ethereal I do not mean that I detect gobbs of Iso-E-Super, which I am grateful for, even though it is entirely possible that this is loaded with Iso-E-Super. This literal frankincense-and-myrrh style of perfume is not one that I would want to radiate from my body for all to notice, everywhere I go, all day long. This type is for my nostrils only. Thankfully, Cardinal stays close to the skin, yet it lasts a long time. I counted a solid 12 hours. Impressively it did not seem to fade and instead maintained its integrity all day long. Well done.

When I first smelled James Heeley’s Cardinal there was something so incredibly intriguing about it, but I could not quite put my finger on what it was. I did a little research and I discovered that initial sharp clean note in Cardinal was in fact white linen. As it dried down I began to smell the most luxuriously smoky incense and spicy black pepper. Images of Cistercian abbey’s came to mind with their stunning gothic architecture, pointed arches and flying buttresses. Religion aside, I find catholic churches to be very beautiful and I think the essence of that atmosphere was captured in this scent. It transports you back in time like a memory or a photograph belonging to a different era. I went back and forth trying to decide if I should buy a bottle of this or not. The final verdict was yes! There is an irresistible allure to this fragrance and I was not sure if I could get away with wearing Cardinal, but I think it will be perfect for fall when there is a cool breeze and a nip in the air.

This brought me right back to my days as an altar boy at Traditional Latin Mass, inhaling the jars of liturgical incense stocked in the sacristy cupboard. The myhrr isn't smoky, but fresh and lemony, which is an aspect of the resin before it's burned. The pepper and aldehydes give it a zinginess and the vetiver and amber provide a soft sophistication. However, things do get a little bit darker and muskier in the dry down, once the labdanum gets involved, which is a pity because the freshness is the best part for me. It is very similar to "Misiones" by Fueguia 1833, yet the latter manages to carry that fresh lemony myrrh note all the way through, so it's far better in my opinion. "Cardinal" will resonate with anyone who likes the smell of Churches. I think it is only a fragrance for nostalgic contemplation, to be worn alone, or when travelling, maybe. It's immensely comforting and spiritual to me. But it won't be for everyone.

This has to be one of the best incense perfumes I've found. Instead of a choking smoke, this burns airy, luminous, and soft. I think that linen note really pulls of something spectacular, making this a delicate incense perfume, rather than a harsh burning one (as is often the case). I'm curious how this would hold up on summer... I think it could do well because it isn't so suffocating. Unlike many incense perfumes, it also isn't a bomb, which makes it even more discrete and secretive... As far as longevity, I sprayed myself maybe four times throughout the day yesterday, showered, and still smelled it faintly, so it has lasted for me. Immediately upon spraying I was thinking of sex, sex, sex... It's so, so sexy, sensual, and perverse, due to the intimate softness of an otherwise unreachable liturgical scent. Romantic human sacrifice... The balance between sancity and sacrilège is absolute. A beautiful, hypnotic fragrance

#1784 in my “Tour de Fragrance” Got this decant from scentsplit.com. For me, combining myrrh and olibanum almost always produces a nice result, I have more than seventy scents that feature that combination. But overall what I love about this scent is I detect nothing artificial. I’m not an idiot. Of course something here came out of a chemistry set, but everything smells very natural, like stuff you could encounter in an open air market. It’s a moderate scent overall, but I don’t care much. It has a warmer feel than most of other cathedral fragrances I own. This is a churchy scent I’d wear to a suit and tie office, but it’s cuddly enough for date wear. Cold weather scent. Runs $165-185. eBay sellers are shameless enough to charge double that. As I said, I hae ore than sventy scwent sin this category already, so I’m not a buyer, but if I didn’t have a churchy scent this would be a top pick. Good Luck and Good Hunting!

I LOVE THE SMELL OF CHURCH IN THE MORNING This is it! this is the real thing. Forget the heavy, headache inducing incense / bbq / fuel-y smells you cannot realistically wear because you would risk to be alienated by all your acquaintances. This is like walking into a church, (not a dark gothic cathedral but a Mid-century red brick, teak pews and coloured glass widows) early in the morning during a holiday. It's the smell of incense, candles, wood ...yet it still maintains a fresh and festive quality. It's unique enough to be noticed ...but never overpowering. Wear it all day long, just don't get offended if someone shouts out "yo' altar boy!" ...just take it as a compliment! Thanks James! PS. Has this been reformulated?? I just bought a 2nd bottle from Liberty and it smells somewhat different and more linear than the first bottle I bought from Les Senteurs! I really hope it just needs time to oxydize.

Oh Cardinal how perfected you are. Where Avignon is the Three Kings Cathedral Blend of frankincense and myrrh, Cardinal is the Three Kings Pontifical Blend of frankincense, myrrh, benzoin and storax. Comparing it to both Avignon and Full Incense, Cardinal is the winning champion of them all. It's the biggest and boldest of the bunch in projection and longevity. Cardinal is as photo-realistic as it needs to be, blending in subtle deviations from the incense that are both elevating and illuminating, breathing new life into some of the oldest and most widely used fragrances on earth. It's brighter, more spicy, less cold or remorseful than other incense fragrances. It smells natural, no synthetic or cheap ingredients that plague it's competition. It is the Holy Grail of church incense in perfumery and worth every penny it demands. Highly recommended for incense connoisseurs and aficionados alike. 10/10

If I had to pick one perfume note that I never get tired of, incense would probably be the top contender, so Cardinal was a must-sample. It starts out just like a billowing cloud of Catholic-church incense, visibly pouring out of a swinging censer at a solemn religious function. To me it’s very similar to Comme des Garcons Avignon, dominated by the scent of burning frankincense and myrrh, but Cardinal seems a little sharper, brighter, and more woody, with an aromatic cedar-chest background to accompany the main attraction. After seeing that it contains floral and aldehyde notes, the sharp edge doesn't seem surprising. As it dries down it becomes a little earthier, with some vetiver making its appearance, but the incense theme carries straight through to the end. Oh, woe is me, my budget, and my storage space! Within the first 30 seconds I knew that this was another decant-worthy perfume.

I’m stubborn and I don’t like being converted, but I have to admit that this is superior to Avignon. Cardinal has a rich, palpable depth to it that is missing in CDG’s original. I’ve been comparing a couple of samples of Cardinal with my bottle of Avignon for a few weeks now, and the truth is plain to see. The original was brilliant, but like all of CDG’s products, it suffers from cheap, synthetic chemical ingredients. When my bottle of Avignon runs out, I’ll replace it with Cardinal without a second thought. Ezra Pound remarked that there are only three kinds of artists: Inventors, Masters, and Dilutors. Duchaufour gets the credit for inventing this composition, but Heeley deserves credit for mastering it. If Olivier Creed ever decides to have a go at this, I’ll probably have to fork out again for another upgrade. Scent: 10/10 Longevity: 6 hours Sillage: arm’s length Originality: 1/10

I want to reiterate the profound impact this perfumes had on me. To me, Cardinal is a fragrance of exquisite beauty, possessing a remarkably linear development. While its trajectory may be predictable, it radiates beauty through its simplicity and airiness. Though I recognize that it might not be a conventional choice, I personally find joy in embracing such incense-infused compositions during the summer. Their cool, church-like essence offers solace on warm days, creating an extraordinary, almost mystical ambiance around the wearer. Cardinal is frequently likened to Andy Tauer's Incense Extreme — an aroma I haven't encountered yet, but I'm already compelled to explore. Regardless, I wholeheartedly recommend it not only to enthusiasts of frankincense but to anyone in search of exceptional and unique fragrances. The Cardinal has truly enchanted me. My rating: Highly recommended! (7/7)

I am an incense lover. I love smokey, mysterious, religious and dark scents. I have used up several bottles of Avignon, but Heeley's Cardinal and Piguet's Casbah are my favourite incense fragrances at the moment. Yet, I should say I still have many more to go. To me, Cardinal is like matured version of CdG's Incense Avignon, without the sweetness of vanilla or the synthetic feel. Cardinal is more nuanced, natural and extremely addictive. If only the scent would last longer on my skin... When I compare this and Avignon, I find Avignon more woody than Cardinal. The rose note in the opening of Cardinal makes it sharper and fresher than Avignon. Someone new to the world of fragrances probably would not be able to tell these two apart. As a perfume, Cardinal is not original, but if you love Avignon or other church incense scents, you will love this one too.

A prince of the perfumed church, indeed. Strikingly lovely incense which to me has an unusually herbal, almost green tinge to it - I thought angelica, but maybe it's the "linen" mentioned here - amid the haze of sweet resins. Also very, very dry and airy, so unusually clean-feeling despite its luxury. Perfectly pitched somewhere between CDG Avignon and Piguet Casbah, which is a pretty heavenly space to occupy. Like most Heeley scents it's not a giant sillage monster and you might feel a dip in performance after 3-4h, but on me it did bounce back (?have a minor resurrection?) and make itself felt a little more, lasting up to 10h on skin as a discreet presence, and longer on your vestments. True unisex and deeply classy. Expensive for what it is, though, and not quite unique. Still deserves respect, from followers of any faith.

Your Eminence, You are a cruel lover indeed. At first, you seduced me with whiffs of childhood memories. I gave in within ten minutes of flirtations, falling, tumbling head over heels. But now you open with metallic aloofness, making me wait, quivering, full of expectations, for that moment that I’m searching for, that moment that I need. That moment where all your potential comes into bloom, develops, envelops me, makes me happy. Then it comes and goes, fleeting moment, leaving a hint of patchouli only perceptible to others but not to me, and you’re gone, off to do your Cardinal business I guess. I get that we have to keep our affair a secret, I understand that I cannot be the center of your life, and I will always love you, always be yours. I just wish you could spare a tiny little bit more time for me...

If this is what a Catholic church mass smells like then I want to go! Cardinal is medieval and captivating! Woody, smokey, memorable - as beautiful as a Gregorian chant . . . I can picture the soaring stone cathedrals with dark cool interiors filled with glints of gold and tapestry. Cedar is one of the strong notes and it has a powdery incense undertone. Unfortunately on my skin it disappears in under 10 minutes and the sillage is minimal. I have to continually reapply to smell this gorgeous fragrance. I am hoping that when the weather cools down in the fall, my skin will amplify and retain more of Cardinal. Update - cooler weather today and Cardinal is spectacular. Still close to the skin, and longevity still wanting, but it is so beautiful that I am ordering the FB.