Basilica

I feel that Incense Perfumes are one of those olfactory families that suffer from dullness, and if you smell a few, you've smelled them all. Therefore, coming across a perfume like Milano Fragranze’s Basilica was a pleasant surprise for its different approach to the incense theme. To me, however, this is not first about frankincense, but rather about herbs, most importantly, thyme. I love thyme. Fresh in foods or smelling it dry. It is one of my favorite culinary herbs. This perfume makes such a strong use of it, next to rosemary. If you disagree with them, don’t even bother with Basilica. Thyme is a major component of this fragrance, followed by rosemary. I’d say they hint more to the dried herbs than the fresh ones. The second major part of the composition is the woods: cedar, sandalwood, and cypriol. They lay down a beautifully textured foundation for the herbs that push strongly throughout the life of the perfume. The smoky aspect only comes in as a third player for me, as a combination of frankincense and warm resins. It is rather meek, overshadowed by the first two; therefore, don’t stop by seeking strong fumes. The unusual suspect worth mentioning is the “milk accord,” which turns slightly sour when combined with the overwhelming herbaceous qualities, while the pairing of cypriol, thyme, and frankincense imbues an undeniable salty quality. So far, you can see how this can steer into rather “weird territory.” But the thing is, it works unexpectedly well. I say unexpectedly, as it might come across to many (as you can clearly read from others' impressions) as a “savory gourmand,” reminding them of Focaccia Bread or Pizza. And if I let my mind roam, or if it just happens that I am hungry, I can totally smell that. In fact, the first time I tried Basilica, I thought it smelled like the most delicious, warm Italian bread, served with some juicy olives and herbs, next to a Basilica on a Sunday Mass. But if one pays attention, it’s easy to break the fantasy into pieces and recognize it for what it is: a warm, woody, and smoky perfume seasoned with abundant herbs. Therefore, I like to think of it as an “accidental gourmand,” because I don’t think the creative direction intended for it to be one. Only the interplay of notes and accords, and perhaps too much wishful thinking about the mouthwatering Italian cuisine, turned it unofficially into one. Therefore, I believe the way it will be interpreted will very much depend on how hungry you are. All in all, it is a fun, cozy, and original spin on the monotonous incense accord. The pairing of smoky liturgical and “foody” nuances reminds me of another such interpretation, also of Italian heritage, the elusive NOUN from Bogue Profumo. I guess Italians like associating the two, or perhaps they hold their esteemed cuisine to a “Holy” status, and I don’t blame them. IG:@memory.of.scents

Milano Fragranze Basilica is the long-overdue start to my sampling of this line, established in 2020, that is under the same ownership/direction as the beloved Masque Milano, full of gems. Like Masque Milano, Milano Fragranze has uniformity in its bottle design, a sleek, blue semi-translucent cylinder. Basilica is a great start to my exploration of the line, as its deep, invigorating incense is right up my alley in terms of scent profile. The blend avoids being too sharp, smoky, or even animalic, instead surrounding the incense with other spicy elements—rosemary, thyme, cypriol—and woods—sandalwood, cedar. There’s something slightly savory about it, no doubt in part due to the rosemary and thyme, but its center is a medium-spicy incense, surrounded by delicately-used woods and spices. It’s a lovely expression of incense that manages not to be too dark, smoky, or “churchy” for lack of a better phrase, and it feels realistic, like walking into an older building where incense is burning. I love this entry, a great first full sampling, and highly recommended that fans of incense check it out. I don’t think that it reinvents the wheel but it has a different, non-ashy aspect that distances it from other superlative incense fragrances, such as Profumum Roma Olibanum, perhaps the best frankincense-forward fragrance that I’m familiar with. Overall, I’m very impressed with Basilica. The entire line is priced at $135 for 100ml, a bit more modest than for the Masque Milano line, which has similar pricing for 35ml bottles, and is sold at great boutiques like Perfumology, where I bought my sample set, which includes the first eight releases but not the two most recent, Panettone and Piazza Affari. Barely over $1/ml is really difficult to come by in this market, as well. I look forward to trying the rest of my samples of this line, and acquiring some new ones. 8 out of 10

How have I not reviewed this yet? It was the second bottle of perfume I ever purchased years ago. I got a sample of it as a freebie when I bought my first (sweet farewell) and immediately knew this is what I was looking for! When I got my bottle however it was different. The sample was warm and comforting but my full bottle overdosed on the herbs and came off cold and even metallic. Still enjoyable enough to wear it often though I felt disappointed. I eventually gave my bottle to a coworker I hold dear before she moved across the country, but I missed it. Someone I know online generously sent me theirs shortly after and when I sprayed it the scent I got from the sample erupted in the air. I was so happy. I must have gotten a bad batch with my first one but this second one reminded me why I fell for it in the first place. When I was little I had an aunt that showed me nothing but kindness and always had a good heart. when I would enter her house it smelt just like this. I always felt out of place around family and silently judged but not by her. That’s what this smell gives me. Unconditional open hearted understanding. Safety. Warmth. She was a cold woman but she made an effort to provide warmth to those who are misunderstood. and I guess that’s what I appreciate about this perfume. There’s an intentional kindness and warmth extending past its dry and cool nature

I wear this on a cool May night, window open with a breeze, nestled under a blanket, and comfort and nostalgia washed over me. This savory incense, punctuated by the dry, leathery-green of thyme and camphor pine of rosemary, presents a riveting juxtaposition. The olibanum shares a kindred link with the rosemary, much like what is experienced in Diptyque's L'Eau Trois. The milk accord is more a buttery malt to my nose, condensed and powdery, and it reveals a shared texture with that of granulated olibanum resin. A Maillard reaction like that of toasted bread overlaps the a white smoke of incense, feeling like the radiant heat of a hearth melting the night chill. A sweet cedar surfaces, gentle to the nose, as haunting as glowing embers and herbs grow drier and toastier, as if hung from the ceiling in pendulous bundles. A salty, rooty preparation is consumed with a bitter tonic, as the ghostly incense plumes continue to climb to the heavens. Is it possible for something to feel festive and solemn at the same time? I would argue so, as there are plenty of religious holidays and rituals of worship that are framed around such dichotomies, but do they ever smell as good as this? I feel the urge to fetch firewood down cellar, grab the inkwell, dip the quill, and write down some important questions to ask myself.

Hmmm. Very niche and I can see how the average person may not like this. Basilica is an architect style used in Roman times and churches but the opening is straight up strong tyme and clary sage. Very very strong. After that, it goes into a dark incense and cypriol. Do I get the milk note? I do, it'salmost like sandalwood, but I don't know if others would interpret that this way. Overall it's good, but you need to really like incense and dark scents. The cypriol isn't the kind that smells like paper at first, it's smells like resinoids, and paper. As it dries down and gets weaker (but not weak) it's a bit more pleasant and wearable. It sort of reminds me of a woody noir flanker of Tom Ford Fabulous without any vanilla, lavender or tonka, and replaced with lots of incense, aged woods, and cypriol. In fact if you told me this contains oud and leather or oud I'd believe you, because there's a leather and oud vibe that smells a bit like rubber. I need to tread lightly with this one because it's easily overwhelming. -------------------------------------------------------- Scent 7.8/10 Performance 8.5/10

Delicious folk magic in a bottle! Basilica transports you to a nonna's home in Italy. You've come to her in need of help, just as many others in your village have before. As soon as she greets you, the delicious aromas of fresh thyme and rosemary waft through the door. She invites you in and offers you a glass of milk fresh from the cow out in the pasture. You sit patiently on a wooden chair as she putters about the kitchen, gathering materials in her gnarled old hands. She lights a candle and mutters a prayer under her breath. The malocchio removal ritual is about to begin. Soft incense with lactonic and herbaceous qualities. This fragrance boosts my mood and brings me comfort every time I get a whiff. The first couple of wears I was disappointed in Basilica’s longevity, but overspraying just a touch corrected the issue. Worth mentioning: big round of applause to Milano Fragranze for not only creating a gorgeous scent but also producing striking blue bottles that are high quality and large volume at such a reasonable price point!

Saw this in a Youtube video and had to smell it - and when I did I bought a bottle immediately. I get mostly rosemary and thyme with a very realistic milk, and the insenciness is very mild but still there. It's not churchy like some insence fragrances, very wearable and easy to like for such a unique combination of notes. I think this suits all seasons but is perhaps at its finest in the transitional months of Autumn and Spring. I was picking my brain hard cos I thought the sweetest point of the drydown reminded me of something I used to wear and then it hit me: Clean Skin by Clean. I wore it a lot in winter 2012 or 2013. I'm not saying Basilica is LIKE Clean Skin, however this association goes to show that my experience with Basilica is that it's really wearable and definitely turns sweeter after like 20 mins from the more savory opening! I really liked La Prima from this line too and highly recommend people to check this brand out. Great value for money at 110GBP per 100ml (as per November 2023 at Harvey Nichs in London).

Okay - awesome blind buy. Did not expect the smell that the notes eluded too. I’m a big fan of Slumberhouse Norne and Profumum Arso and Unum Io Non Ho Mani Che Mi Accarezzino il Volto. This is despite the notes incredibly similar in the dry down to Arso minus the camphorous freshness. The difference which maybe is more interesting is in the opening where this dark ambery vinegary and smooth (again distinctly reminding me of the opening of Unum/Filipo Scorcinelli Io Non Ho Mani Che Mi Accarezzino il Volto) before the drydown turns it into a vegetative similarity to Arso. Again, the difference here is the smell is achieved more by the messy but pleasant milky lactonic mix with wood, herbs and incense giving the similar impression. If you like left field in the vain of the aforementioned this is 100% worthwhile putting on your list, if you had all that I mentioned I’m sure you’d have a tough time just picking one... sample first as this isn’t for everyone up front...

Oh, this is blissful! My next fave scent. It has a similar character to Amour Nocturne, although they actually smell different. When I have first smelled it, I've instantly recognised the milk note. Don't know how, because it is somewhere under other layers and it definitely shines later on, but I guess it is such a perfect milk note that I managed to detect it. First herbal blast is actually something I wouldn't think I will like, but I do! It is just the perfect amount of herbs that I still find it beautiful and the incense is crazy! It is long lasting, but not overpowering, it has so many layers and I find it really unique. Plus, the price is great. But the most beautiful thing is creamy, a little bit sweet milkiness that gives the scent something really warm and cozy, although the overall vibe is churchy. I am impressed with this perfume, it is pure poetry and goes with my skin and character perfectly! Love it, will definitely be my next purchase!

Oh, where do I even start? This has the most important element that imho you need to find in a fragrance - that is nostalgia, the ability to bring back memories. Forget the church incense, that's too easy. You're in the now abandoned house that belonged to your grandparents and you feel the smell of the old wooden furniture. There's silence. You close your eyes, you inhale, and the smell takes you back to the time when you were a child. Time itself did not exist back then, and your grandparents were still there. It's a memory that lasts for only a fraction of a second, but it's enough to bring every feeling back from 30-40 years ago - the feeling of being loved the way that a child is loved by his grandparents. All because of a furniture scent. That's Basilica by Milano Fragranze. That particular smell is especially there in the opening. Place your nose close to the skin and take a very deep breath. Can you see it? Enjoy this one, ladies and gents.

Okay, so this is literally a perfect fragrance. Very aromatic and fresh-spicy, with thyme, rosemary, and cipriol. It's all beautifully laid over a foresty, woody base. I would say the incense note comes across more as a smoky note (something similar to By the Fireplace). It sticks out slightly- I believe it could have been blended a bit better- but it's still great. Now, the milk note is something else. I wouldn't say it's very distinctive, as I didn't detect it before checking the note breakdown. I only noticed a soft warmth, and I believe that aspect comes from a really well-blended labdanum-and-milk accord. It rounds out the fragrance beautifully, making it feel even more serene and calming. It's like a church in a pine forest, but it's a warm fragrance rather than a cold one (compared to Relique, for example). It's happy and almost fantastical rather than distant and gloomy. Vibe-wise, it reminded me of Plain Jeu by Sorcinelli. I love it!!!

Basilica by Milano Fragranze is a true masterpiece—a distinctive and evocative fragrance that feels both nostalgic and deeply comforting. From the very first spray, the fresh, spicy burst of herbs, especially the mesmerizing thyme, sets the stage for something truly special. The herbal greenness feels natural and almost meditative, transporting you to an old-world apothecary or a serene monastery garden. As the scent develops, the incense note emerges, but rather than being smoky or heavy, it takes on a creamy, almost milky smoothness. This softens the transition into the warm, subtle woods in the dry down, creating a perfectly harmonious blend. The result is a fragrance that is both rich and airy, grounding yet uplifting. Basilica is an exquisite and unique fragrance that balances freshness, warmth, and depth effortlessly. For lovers of herbal, woody, and resinous perfumes, this is a must-try. Rating: 5/5

The first time I smelled it, I thought: "How is it possible to olfactory revive the motif of the Italian countryside, herbs and the lonely feeling of prayer in a small stone church, built who knows when?" The smell is amazing in its specificity, it encourages introspection and I agree with the many reviewers so far who say that it's addictive - you will literally bring it to your nose every now and then if you spray it on your wrist. Does it invite others to you? Maybe not, it encourages distance, both from others and to withdraw into yourself. Strong, strong note of incense, but wonderfully softened, poured in milk. A truly unique scent that will remind many of the interior of a church, nuns, an atmosphere of prayer and silence. For lovers of solitude, spice gardens, those of you inclined to nostalgia, philosophy and meditation. The packaging is wonderful, the bottle too. Value for money - fantastic.

A very good perfume and I can say that it is similar to Ex Nihil's Atlas Fever, but Basilico is better, more natural and lasts longer. I sprayed it on my arm and it keeps distracting me to smell it again every now and then. Beautiful perfume! Here the incense (which is in the base) is very nicely rounded with those lactonic notes and actually gives a nice creamy vibe. With Atlas Fever, I find a somewhat rubbery, milky version of this perfume, and that's why I still prefer Basilica. Durability is phenomenal, it's been on my hand since noon and now it's 7 pm. There is something enticing about this perfume. This perfume is definitely not for every day and requires a special occasion and dress code. I think winter, autumn and spring are ideal for this perfume. Full review soon on my frag_explorer profile

My absolute favorite scent right now! Spicy in all the right ways. I instantly pick up the thyme and rosemary sitting atop a base of cedarwood, which mellows into a beautiful, aromatic scent; incense and milk grow more poignant the longer you let it sit on your skin, a combination that I would've never expected would work, bound together by labdanum, like a floral bow tying the two scents together. Not necessarily a gourmand scent, but it is tastefully bready. To me, it smells like sitting outside, taking a flake bite out of freshly baked focaccia while a nearby forest blows fragrant winds toward you. Such a lovely scent, I ended up buying a full bottle after sampling.

Forget about the lactonic notes and most inferences, I mean the milks there, right but its an awesome lush alternative to Profumo Arso and Norne By Josh Lobb. Yeah, don’t know why people voted against those recommendations. It’s vegetative, woody and herbal at the same time. The only way I can get the lactonic suggestion is to flip it and say it smells like a sweet spoilt milk - a bit like those little healthy milk shots with gut bacteria. Awesome product and performance. I also own Arso and Norne - couldn’t live without them and this compliments them. It’s like a Ferrari V12, a Lamborghini V12 and an Aston V12 car - same but different...

Has a great staying power and complex journey throughout its wear. It's bright and energetic and kind of addicting and I want to douse myself in it. I love how it wears on my skin and it puts me in such a good mood. I rewatched Gladiator last night and am in the market for a perfume that smells like the final scene when Maximus crosses over to Elysium and meets his family in his home in the afterlife, among the rosemary and olive trees and wheat fields. This feels close to that. update: got a full bottle. literally can't stop spraying every time i look at the bottle. I love love love how this makes me feel.

So glad I blind bought this as it smells just how I expected from the scent pyramid, which is to say an interesting and creative fragrance, but still wearable. The coldness of the herbs and incense against the cozy milky/bread accord works for me. It’s not beastly so the combination will make probably make it into the rotation of bedtime scents. Not really an out on the town vibe. It is a bit savoury so if you don’t like herbal savoury scents it’s probably a pass. Side note, the bottle, sprayer and magnetic cap feel satisfyingly high quality

I'm so in love with this. It's aromatic, incensey and slightly gourmand at the same time. It makes me feel like I'm in the Italian countryside and I just baked cookies in my cottage, then I went to church and blessed myself with holy water, and then I picked rosemary to cook something delicious with later. That's how it smells. It's really evocative and transports you to a different place mentally. It's also very comforting, like a hug from your grandma. This is very special to me and I instantly want a full bottle.

Gosh this scent is so special to me. It is an experience, not just a scent. It is a misty early morning with crisp air, but not too cold. My cheeks are rosy because I'm in the Italian countryside going for a quiet walk before the Sun rises. Not too far away, an ancient monastery is still alive with devoted monks baking bread with aromatic rosemary and thyme. Incense is wafting in the air with the subtle smell of the woods and forest around me. I am barefoot in the earth, where I am meant to be.