Kyphi

I had a high level of anticipation before I first smelled Kyphi. I was totally surprised by the oddness of the scent. Odd is a good word for this perfume, but there are many other modifiers that also could apply like curious, compelling, engaging...and beautiful. But wearable? On my first skin test, I wasn't certain that it could be worn in the living world. In fact, I'm still not certain Kyphi would be welcome in some company. A great deal would depend on the wearer. Would the incense perfume lover come to love Kyphi? It is not a typical incense/resin perfume. Yes, frankincense (warmed, not burned) with all its complexity is the dominant base followed by a chorus of velvety myrrh, sweet benzoin and slightly vegetal labdanum. Yes, it has the delightful warm, comfort quotient, but there are other components that are in accompaniment. And these keep the balmy concoction from settling on the wearer like a familiar soft blanket. There are new and strange and wonderful and lifting ingredients that draw you in and cause you to explore why you want to like a fragrance so unfamiliar. For Kyphi is absolutely greater than the sum of its parts. Honey flavored spices float above the resins. Cinnamon is present with a hint of cloves. Lemongrass injects its greenness and a gentle rasp of citrus. I sense rather than actually smell the juniper signature. Spikenard is an unfamiliar note to me, but based on the desciption, it could easily be the unidentifable resiny, sweet, vegetal that makes Kyphi so intriguing. It took three wearings (the most recent today) for me to come to feel comfortable in Kyphi. In fact, I believe I do feel like a FB is in my future. Who knew?

Surprised to find in this my bedtime perfume. Many people below talk about how dusty, cramped, even medicinal this feels but on me it is so bright, warm, and smooth. Smooth but spiky. After the lemongrass cools down we are brought to the heart of dry, spicy beeswax. No one does beeswax like this house. The only wetness I can find must come from the bitter orange (divine). Whole spices, rich brown, dry air, light head. Invokes the legend of the beauty perfuming the sails of her ships to alert her lovers ashore that she was coming from miles away. If African Orchid belongs to a fertility goddess, Kyphi belongs to a goddess of rest. Not sleep, but rest. My body relaxes when I smell Kyphi, the whole way through. I feel like I'm climbing into my tomb when I wear this and lay down. I would be buried in this. Kyphi is what the mummy is dressed with and Cryptical Envelopment might be the tomb it is laid in. Ordered this in the 30 mL size and wow what an atomizer, I have never seen one so large or effective at spraying.

The hate for this scent blows me.... It’s stunning I immediately need to have it and I wish I didn’t take this long to get into Olympic orchids bc there’s so much beauty in this house I’m almost overwhelmed. Frankincense is what got me into perfume since I’m Somali and my name is in the word olibanum so I’ve always had a very intimate relationship with it and I’m very prideful of the impact my homeland has had on fragrances of the world. So basically I’ve tried nearly a million frankincense perfumes and most pale in comparison to the divine stuff back home so there’s always a bit of disappointment. Not here though. This is it. This smells like something an ancestor traveled with to meet the Pharaoh. Ellen idk how you time traveled like this but I feel like people don’t connect with this because this smells like it belongs to a culture from a different time that has different sensibilities and standards of beauty. You have to have an ancient soul to get this

I only get strong frankincense and lemongrass. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. It's not bad, bu not the unique blend I was looking forward to. I will have to try this a few more times. --- After wearing this out, I find it to be a suitably unique blend for warm weather. The lemongrass-frankincense combo now smells a little deeper and more resinous, but still feels fresh, and even a bit nose-clearing. Very wearable, IMO. I may have under-applied( I'm using a dab sample) but it had little sillage; though, I smelled it wafting off my neck onto my face for ~7 hours. --- I am now smelling the spicier facets, in addition to the frankincense and lemongrass. A beautiful juxtaposition of deep resins and spices, and crisp citrus. Completely and wonderfully unique and wearable. Great longevity for a natural fragrance, as well, with ~8 hours in heat and humidity. Average throw, though. To those that dislike this- feel free to give me yours! ☺

This is more of an honest attempt at recreating the ancient incense in a fine perfume format than it is an attempt at a fine fragrance based on the incense. This is fine, since there are already many, many fine fragrances that are based on balsamic-resinous incense mixtures, the best being (in my opinion) Youth Dew. What this has that the others don't (besides a 100% natural composition) is an uncompromising position to transport you. It's not designed to be pretty (and it isn't), it's designed to be a spiritual link to the past. The thing I sense in this composition over all other components is calamus. Just under this is a frankincense and myrrh accord adorning a rich, waxy base with just a tinge of lemongrass. It is recommended for meditation, and I think that's pretty appropriate. The sillage isn't huge on this one, but longevity is great. This would be pretty difficult to pull off by all except the most absurdly goth individual.