Bloody Smoke

Lorenzo Pazzaglia has accustomed us to the extreme pleasure of his fragrances, a feature that is bringing him great success in Italy and beyond. This characteristic of being very popular perfumes is slightly less in Bloody Smoke, but this is not a negative side indeed. Bloody Smoke by Lorenzo Pazzaglia is a less immediate perfume, which must be tried several times over a period of time before being fully appreciated. The perfume opens with cold, mineral, resinous notes. The incense contained inside is not smoky / ecclesiastical rather it tends to evoke the smell of a sacred place where a religious function has recently been held. The smell of woods and stones imbued with years of celebrations and years of "fumigation" of incense that remains soaked in the environment. This is why I consider Bloody Smoke an excellent fragrance to begin the journey within incensed perfumes, as this fragrance in particular does not have too ecclesiastical scents (characteristics that may or may not please). However, the scent is dominated by these balsamic, cold and incensed notes which are further accompanied by a pinch of sweetness thanks to vanilla and tonka bean which among other things I tend not to notice since on my skin it tends to remain a cold, non-smoky and "marble" incense. I don't know if I have properly described this fragrance but I tried it anyway, since I am passionate about incense in perfumery and for this reason I thought it appropriate to try and review this too. Ah, of course it has a good shelf life like all Lorenzo's fragrances, but in this case I perceive a lesser projection (you won't fill the rooms like with Black Sea, Carbonara and Pax,) as this tends to remain on the skin for many hours ( 8 quietly) but a little more intimately (people closer to you might warn it). After all, for me it remains a beautiful perfume that still deserves to be heard and tried!

Bloody Smoke isn’t a fragrance that plays it safe—it’s dark, dramatic, and utterly captivating. From the very first spray, it instantly transported me back to walking through the Vatican in Rome. There’s something about the incense-like smoke, ancient woods, and resinous warmth that perfectly captures the feeling of centuries-old stone halls, flickering candles, sacred silence, and the quiet reverence that fills the air. It’s one of the few fragrances that doesn’t just smell incredible—it evokes a place, a memory, and an emotion. As it develops, the fragrance reveals even more depth. The smoky opening softens into a luxurious blend of rich woods, warm resins, and a subtle sweetness that keeps everything perfectly balanced. It’s bold without being overwhelming, mysterious without becoming too dark, and sophisticated from start to finish. Every stage feels intentional and beautifully crafted. Performance is exactly what you’d expect from Lorenzo Pazzaglia—nothing short of exceptional. Expect 10–14+ hours of longevity with powerful projection that gradually settles into an elegant scent bubble that lingers well into the next day. Bloody Smoke isn’t simply a perfume; it’s an experience. It tells a story with every wear, surrounding you in an atmosphere of history, mystery, and timeless elegance. If you appreciate bold, artistic niche fragrances that leave a lasting impression, this is an absolute masterpiece. Rating: 10/10 – A hauntingly beautiful fragrance that feels like walking through the Vatican in Rome, where centuries of incense, history, and sacred beauty have been captured in a bottle. One of Lorenzo Pazzaglia’s most unforgettable creations.

Here in Italy Pazzaglia's fragrances have become kind of synonimous with "fragrance that lasts an eternity", thanks to their persistence. Yes, I'm serious, but this one is an exception, lasting "just" 8-9 hours on my skin, compared to the crazy performances of the others, where we're talking about, give or take, 20 to 30 hours. That said, what this fragrances loses in power (but again, we're talking about 8 hours at least), it gains in character. Bloody smoke is a resinous fragrance with the texture of a sweet/acid syrup that opens with a blast of metallic notes, note wich go away in some 10-20 minutes, giving space to an astounding incense, slightly acrid, sour and full bodied. The sweet notes in the base go hand in hand with the olibanum and the elemi, creating an accord that is alluring and reassuring at the same time. One of my favourites from Pazzaglia's work.

A fragrance that enhances one of my favorite notes: incense. The opening is cold, pungent, icy, and then brings out an incense that is not ecclesiastical but which I would define as majestic, as if it were a giant to be contemplated, a magnificent knight clad in metallic armour. It almost seems like you can taste the ferrous taste in your mouth, almost bloody. In my opinion, the use of ambergris amplifies all this scent which gradually subsides thanks to the woody background. More than a fragrance, I would define it as an olfactory experience. It certainly makes itself felt and has an excellent persistence, but I consider it very intimate and personal to wear, for me during cold winter days or summer nights with the breeze that amplifies it even more. plus the aroma. Truly wonderful.

I’m picky about incense fragrances and have owned and tried many of the top-rated ones but sold them because they were super liturgical. I was looking for something minimalist, in the vein of Czech & Speake Frankincense & Myrrh Cologne, but with a nighttime edge.Bloody Smoke delivers. It opens with a mineral ambergris incense and elemi that works, and works well. A spectrum of resins, with a subtle green-minty heart from elemi. I appreciate that it shows all the facets of incense without being severely interrupted by LOTV or tonka. There’s a fair dose of sandalwood in the base. A scent perfectly made for Halloween 🎃 ××××××××××××××××××××× Scent: 90/100 Performance: 60/100 ×××××××××××××××××××××