Anubis

Given that Lizzy (the nose behind this creation) has kept the any narrative details of her Anubis as mysterious as the pyramids themselves, we're left to our own highly imaginative devices. And, judging by the name, I'd say the Egyptians, those undisputed masters of decorating death, provided ample inspiration. So, what should you expect? Picture an extravagantly adorned funerary chamber, complete with freshly embalmed mummies and, for good measure, a few wafts of expensive incense. Surprisingly, though, this isn't some deep, dark, and brooding concoction. Anubis kicks off with a shimmering, almost effervescent resinous amber, given a gentle tinge of sweetness by an ever-so-slightly syrupy immortelle flower. A few extra balmy tendencies round out this rather opulent beginning, making it feel less like a crypt and more like a sun-drenched tomb opening. About half an hour in, as Anubis settles down, a non-animalic leather starts to emerge, presenting itself more as a soft, luxurious suede (a.k.a. saffron, based accord). You'll also catch a whisper of something herbaceous, almost like a freshly cut hay bale. Don't expect this leather to dominate the scene; instead, it acts as a sophisticated bridge to the next act. Fast forward a couple of hours, and a very dry sandalwood takes center stage, still accompanied by a ghost of that earlier herbaceousness. Overall, I'm quite impressed with the opening – it’s bright, it’s opulent, and it's quite unique. I'm generally not one for heavy ambers, but here, Anubis cleverly uses a chypre-esque floral touch to temper its resinous heft, making it surprisingly palatable (to me). Aside from perhaps the first fifteen minutes, I wouldn't call Anubis a particularly challenging wear. Once it dries down, it morphs into an intimate skin scent that will cling to you for a good long while. Just a final tip: Unless your personal style involves being wrapped head-to-toe in mummy parchment, I'd strongly advise against spraying this on clothes. You've been warned.

"Dark and enigmatic... beauty of two worlds in a perfume." Anubis is a 2014 fragrance from British niche fragrance house Papillon Artisan Perfumes by Liz Moores. This is yet another blind purchase for me, and the latest addition to my fragrance collection. I made a gamble by buying this without even trying once after understanding how my skin works, and it is certainly without any regrets. Anubis is the name of a legendary Egyptian god, and indeed the fragrance does invoke an image of the Egyptian deserts. On my skin, it opens with an intense notes of rich suede and a resinous combo of myrrh and olibanum (frankincense). The marriage of the trio conjures the scent that is a cross between a luxury leather bag and enigmatic incense smoke. The myrrh-olibanum is an intriguing fusion that reminds me of the scent of a Middle Eastern district, one with perfume oils and hookah, and a Christian church. Underneath the smoky leather veil lies the very subtle scent of lotus and jasmine, of which I have to be patient in order to notice it. My skin is partial towards heavy scents, and Anubis is a testament of it. It accentuates fragrances that has notes of leather and resins in particular, but it does drown floral notes a little. This fragrance is best enjoyed in cold climate (I imagine it to be beautiful in winter) or at least in cool environments. What I am surprised is, despite being heavy, the longevity and sillage is moderate. I was expecting this fragrance to be a powerhouse, but noticing how it stays close to the skin makes it very wearable to be worn daily. Even if one sprayed on himself/herself several times, it doesn't stand out as much as I thought (either that, or my skin just consumes fragrances). Although it is a unisex fragrance, I think it would appeal to the men more than the women (although there will be exceptions). It's dark, enigmatic and smoky as hell, and one has to be mentally prepared in order to pull this one off!

When I first tried Anubis, years ago, it was the first dark Oriental I’d ever smelled, so I didn’t have as much context as I do now. It’s a deep brown scent, ambered but not truly sweet, with some smoky nuances – and at the time I thought of myself as an amber-phobe, so it was a revelation. But there are lots of dark brown, not-too-sweet resinous scents out there fitting that description. What makes Anubis distinctive? It has a touch of bitter brightness from the orange peel; and its smoky facet is unusual, almost funky or damp-smelling, which is probably the pink lotus. Here that doesn’t refer to a fantasy note inspired by the lotus flower, but an actual extract from the plant’s root, which has a muddy, dense smell similar to oakmoss. Anubis is really a restrained, balanced scent. It’s got dark labdanum, but not as chewy or hefty as O Hira; it’s got some leather, but I wouldn’t outright call it a leather scent. The smoky incense and funky lotus are probably the dominant aspects, at least for me this time. The jasmine is definitely an accent, not the main event – it’s easy to miss altogether – but it creates a lovely, delicately shining interlude before the darkness takes over for good. There’s also an animalic phase when the castoreum takes center stage – dark-brown, satisfyingly furry, blending smoothly with the resin and smoke. The overall effect is a little somber, definitely dark and brooding, with subtle glints of brightness and surprising nuances along the way. It might actually be best to think of Anubis as a dark *incense* scent with other stuff balancing it, than a leather or amber “dark Oriental” where it’ll feel gloomy and severe next to richer fare. Anubis takes somber, smoky frankincense, which can often be too harsh for my taste, and blends it smoothly with similarly dark-toned adjacent scents until it becomes far more refined and wearable. Here, the God of the Dead is a gentleman.

Ordered a sample of Anubis by Papillon because it sounded good (I enjoy incense, leather and tobacco scents) and because not everyone is wearing it. Took a whiff from the sample vial and thought I’d definitely NOT be enjoying this. I did my usual test of a spritz on chest, neck and both wrists. And now, I am in LOVE! Incense. Leather. Tobacco. OMG! On my skin, this started out a very strong smoky delicious incense and then only got better. Some reviews I’ve read said there’s a hint of gasoline, and I can detect that at the heart, but it quickly gives way to jasmine to my nose. On me, the base settles into a very deep smoky, leathery incense with just a hint of powder, and the density of all that dark (dark in a mysterious, not evil kind of way) gets perfectly tempered with the sweetness of jasmine. There is enough leather and smoke in this to keep it masculine despite the jasmine IMHO. This is one of those that kept shifting on my skin, and I loved the journey from start to finish. I had to make myself stop sniffing myself! I was surprised that the sillage was fairly soft on this one, I could tell it was on me, but didn’t leave much of a scent trail according to my friends, and wish it projected just a bit more. Longevity isn’t bad, I’m getting about 6 hours of scent about a foot from my skin, then a soft skin scent after that, and on me near the end it becomes more powdery before vanishing completely. This has become a top 10 favorite in the incense/leather category for me. I would only wear this in the winter as it would be too cloying in heat I think, but also would wear it to the office since it stays fairly close to my skin. I personally experience this more on the masculine than feminine side, but can see its unisex value. I would use this for day or evening wear. This is definitely not inexpensive, so a sample first over a blind buy may be wise. As always, your results may vary!

A wonderfully dense and rewarding perfume of gasoline-tinged jasmine, animalic leathers and smoky resins. Truly one of a kind and perfectly attuned to the theme of Anubis. This perfume clearly falls into the broad category of a westernized nod to Egyptian culture, particularly the SHL 777/Tribute Attar school of thought running through the 2000s and into the 2010s with things like Guerlain’s Songe(which adorns the “smells like” section up above). This one however has a few big tricks up it’s sleeve that the others miss: namely an absolutely devastating earthy pink lotus absolute, a truly sweet and dirty castoreum and so much natural jasmine I’m surprised this one is IFRA compliant(is it still compliant? My nearly empty bottle is first batch and I have no idea if Ms. Moores has been forced to reform). Saffron, Jasmine and Myrhh seem to be the only common components between Songe and Anubis... No Oud here, no nutmeg, no cumin tinge, and the lightly present Immortelle is known as “curry flower” and not “cumin flower”... for better or for worse, Anubis is jammed with naturals, giving the thick liquid a prismatic, ever-changing quality of humid chewiness, compared to the primarily synthetic(and brilliant) fixed-in-place quality of Songe. It seems both Guerlain’s Thierry Wasser and Papillon’s Liz Moore were interested in this classic Egyptian mummification recipe around the same time(indeed, Ms. Moores started her business after handing out samples of this perfume years before the first bottle’s release date... marking Songe and Anubis as being composed with serious synchronicity). But we need not speculate at Liz Moores influence as she has been very open about her love of Homage Attar by Amouage. Still this is a case of the a perfumer transcending her influences and handing in a true masterpiece.

Phenomenal! This might sound strange, but I took the day off today and headed to my favorite Indian restaurant for lunch, with my sample of Anubis in tow. I figured in an Indian restaurant, nobody would notice I dabbed perfume on. When I applied it to my skin, the gorgeous scent immediately blended into the atmosphere. It smelled like it belonged there, almost like nag champa but exponentially finer. The listed notes throw me off. I don't know about the florals. Anubis is very well blended and has a syrupy texture. Imagine a sweet amber syrup with hints of saffron, yet surprisingly animalic too. This is right on the border of too animalic for me, it pushes the limits of what I can handle. But the other notes create such harmony that I find myself craving its note of sweaty horse hair. Sweet animalic syrup, like Arabian horse hooves dipped in ambrosia. So strange, but it's gorgeous! The base notes are like a ceremonial incense used in Ancient Egypt. It smells faintly of ancient stones. Anubis is from another time, another world! It is an extremely sophisticated work of art, yet it is so approachable. It is not quite transcendental. I think the word is SPIRITUAL. It is grounding, carnal, soulful. Edit: Anubis also reminds me of a Filipino sweet called pastillas. They are water-buffalo milk candy, covered with a thin layer of crunchy sugar. It is milky and sweet, but it tastes "game-y", as we say, and would not suit most Americans' palates unless they are a little more adventurous. I love the stuff, personally. Also, when I wrote my review I had no idea that the perfumer was trying to evoke Ancient Egypt, so I am amazed that I certainly picked up Ancient Egypt in this perfume. Liz Moores is a Master!

Here I go.. this perfume is Metaphysical to me! I kneel to Liz Moores for making this one. It is the most conceptual and mesmerizing perfume I've experienced of its kind. Fascination with ancient Egyptian civilization and magnificent Anubis is quite spread these days.. unfortunately it also brings much frivolity in interpretations and, at times, very superficial and entertaining use of images and ideas. Liz Moores, obviously, seriously studied and skillfully implemented the knowledge and spirit of that culture into her creation. The Balm and Incense, the scent of Jasmine that blooms at night, the Lotus flowers that float in quiet waters along the walls of the Hall of Ma'at where kind and just Anubis weighs the hearts.. I once had opportunity to speak with Indian Priest.. the scent of Jasmine, when appears to practitioner during meditation, serves as the sign of reaching the first level of ascension - as if you step through the curtain of current existence.. isn't that where the domain of Anubis is.. I buy Jasmine oil for years and treasure its aroma.. I know it well.. personally, I've found Jasmine to be a difficult aroma to intertwine with other scents. It often stands out or becomes dissonant.. but here it is perfect and pure, combined, not lost and not opposed, with smoke and balm. Black and gold are two favorite colors of Anubis - they symbolize the Light of Life germinating in the Depth of Death.. and those are the exact colors that this fragrance is reminiscing, if you accept such comparison. Overall the quality of ingredients, composition/proportions and "secrets" of formulation - are 10 out of 10 for me. It is beyond comforting, soothing, beautiful and ritualistic.

Whew-hoo! This is a fabulous Bentley of a perfume. Leathers are not at the top of my list but they're not at the bottom either, and until today I hadn't found one that quite suited me. This initially goes on with that birch leather note, slightly strong, animalic, with a whiff of urine, tanning-hides urine, but minutes later smoothes into suede. In the first 15 minutes it conjures up horses, horse sweat, saddles, saddle soap, and warm human skin. A sweet myrh emerges from this birch-safron opening, and a gentle amber floralcy suffuses the scent. It is no longer leather but well-used suede without the typical iris purse-compact accord I usually find. This radiates a golden tension for hours between the suede and what I'm guessing is the "pink lotus." Immortelle (one of my all-time favs of outdoor maple goodness) and jasmine, another heavy hitter are quietly held in check here. They never overwhelm the other notes but provide a very smooth wash to amplify the primary notes. It's more like a background color on canvass. When I first received this, I tried on my fiance' who has oily skin and holds scents really well, and seems to project true notes. It was HEAVEN on him, and truly unisex, both masculine and feminine and warmly sexy and inviting. On me and my dry scent-killing skin, it is equally fantastic. I adore Salome' which really goes straight to the sheets. This is more sophisticated seduction. I don't smell the incense and smoke,however, that other people are talking about. I adore incense and generally incense fragrances are in my top rotation. Perhaps while I don't sense it that's why I like this so much. To me this is just a warm, classy leather/suede.

Been wanting to try this for a while. The notes alone pulled me in — olibanum, myrrh, immortelle. The kind of materials that, paired with a name like that, promise something ancient — something almost ritualistic. And Anubis wears its name well. Named after the Egyptian god of embalming and mummification, this doesn’t just suggest ritual — it feels like the echo of one. This doesn’t smell like a fragrance so much as a space. A warm, dry chamber, heavy with dust and stillness. The air is thick with incense — not just the smoke of lit resins, but also the raw, slightly sharp scent of fresh, unlit resins waiting to be burned. There’s also that waxy haze of old candles slowly melting into the dark. The suede here dissolves into something else entirely — not quite leather, but parchment. Thin, fragile, timeworn. A faint inky, almost turpentine-like nuance lingers, like parchment and papyrus scrolls etched with symbols and forgotten words, rituals written and rewritten across centuries. A quiet, reverent sense of bibliosmia. Immortelle moves through it like a golden light — dry, slightly sweet, a strange warmth that feels both earthly and otherworldly. It feels calm and meditative, filled with whispers of rituals that have been and those still to come. Not dark for the sake of it — but ancient, sacred, and deeply atmospheric. As it settles, everything dissolves into a soft, resinous amber — grounded and meditative. The edges blur, the smoke thins, leaving behind a quiet warmth that feels both ancient and still. Mysterious, dry, and haunting, like the echo of another time — something that was, and in a way, still lingers

Yesterday finally I got a sample of Anubis. What a mesmerizing uniqeness, what a sublime exelence, right at first sniff you are surrounded by smokey leathers, bitter almonds, and sourish resins. After 10 minutes a different dimension kicks in, as a child of 80s I used to smell the outside of the helium baloons in the birthday parties of my schoolmates, it had that particular bakalite-alike signature smell on it, which I forgot how much I adored until now. And after 30 minutes a curious, desert dust smelling sand boy cocks his head behind the wall he was hiding to look at you , short after appears his mama saffron lady holding his hand covered by wild leaves dried by well meaning but still cannot help burning desert sun, right as the bitter sour milk is steaming through the aged pores of those scorching leaves.This is a masterpiece,but not of a parfumeur, rather of a tribe's healing shaman. While I cannot help sniffing over and over my wrist,I keep asking myself what makes me whorship this combination of otherwise one by one so bitter, sour, wild milky ,dry, dusty and weird smelling ingredients.I already ordered a full bottle. This ....this..I cannot work because of this in the office..cannot keep my mind straight....this is sorcery, should be forbidden. Bravo Liz Moores and the Papillon Parfums Team!! Nevertheless for that price (145€ 50ml EDP) I would expect better longevity and sillage And I agree with the comment that there isn't any hint of immortelle or other florals in the list.

Hot and salty leather, patchouli, ambergris. It must be the kind Liz mentioned in the interview. Anubis, named after the mummy protector of ancient Egyptian mythology, is a scent as mysterious as witchcraft to me. Anubis is magical, thick and powerful. I really appreciate Anubis, it's just as exciting, as Brendan Fraser's "The Mummy". The Anubis was on me, a constant low roar, like the knell of death. It smells of a mixture of balsamic oils that soaked the bandages and medicinal herbs used for antiseptic purposes during the mummification process. The exotic. Anubis is unlike any oriental classic I've ever smelled, is a gel-like resin that flows very slowly. A rich and powerful smoky scent that creates the illusion that Anubis contains ebony. Sticky, bitter tar that cools and solidifies after burning. The burning incense that guides the next life, the coolness of rosin and Immortelle, is in stark contrast to the warmth of a lot of sandalwood, red myrrh, and frankincense. When the fire lights up, you are amazed to see that the saffron painting on the coffin is still clear. The smell of Anubis was like a bandage, going round and round, wrapping me in a cocoon of smell. The tomb is collapsing, and the yellow sand above the head is falling. The boundless darkness extends to the entrance of the cave, the sunlight leaves, and in the long corridor there are only The rest is quiet. An excellent creation with a full score of narrative, unfathomable.

Oh my goodness what a beautiful scent, such a soft buttery sweet but not too sweet suede. But it’s more than that. I am not very good at describing fragrances. This one is a must buy. I bought bottles of all the other Papillon fragrances but not this one, I can kick myself coz now Max Aroma isn’t carrying it anymore. I need to buy this one and back ups of the others. Imho 50mls of a beautiful fragrance I love is not enough. I at least need 100mls. But I only have a 10ml decant of this Anubis beauty. I love how it reacts on my skin. I always wear at least two different fragrances every day. I work from home so I can wear 50 if i want. Today I wore Anubis on my right hand and Bortnikoff Triad on my left . Both are just amazing and both I only have 10ml decants of. I need to buy full bottles. I keep putting it off because I already own way too many fragrances. An embarrassing huge amount. Decants and full bottles and about a million samples...lol so for me to buy a full bottle at this point I have to really love the fragrance. And these two I do very much love. Ughhh I can hear my credit card screaming “noooooo more, use up what u got, this is how u got me in this debt mess “....lol am i the only one who’s credit card yells at her? Just me? Ok well good to know ..lol

Let’s analyze the so-called “Cons” listed on this page: Cons May not be suitable for those who dislike smoky/birch tar scents: False. If all you’re picking up is birch tar, then sorry, your sensitivity is shallow. You’re not catching the full range of nuances in the smoky profile, you’re basically missing the point. Not everyone may appreciate the scent: True. Some may find it too strong or overpowering: True. A divisive fragrance that might not appeal to everyone: Partially false. It’s a unique fragrance, yes, but the problem isn’t the fragrance, it’s the lack of experience or sensitivity in some people’s noses. Fragrance appreciation works just like music, some people can pick up subtle notes, others can’t. That’s life. Not ideal for everyday wear: Absolutely false. Totally wearable every day. In fact, it could easily be your signature scent. Expensive price tag: Are you kidding? You’re getting premium ingredients and a sophisticated, one-of-a-kind experience. Meanwhile, designer brands shamelessly slap a $300 tag on mass-market mediocrity. Some reviewers found it muddy or murky: Same issue as Cons 1 and 4. Sorry, not everyone has the same sensitivity. If your nose can’t keep up, that’s on you, not the fragrance. May not live up to the listed notes: See above.

I couldn’t believe I had this in a bag of samples marked ‘okay’ Anubis is far from okay it’s a brilliant fragrance with a very luxurious and evocative allure. The opening is a sheer onslaught of resinous goodness and heady saffron, then the leather accord develops and it’s unmistakable, slightly smoky and realistic. This is where my original appraisal comes back to haunt, because for all the beautifully smooth myrrh and benzoin notes, the lovely buttery and masculine suede/leather body, and the hints of spice and sandalwood, it’s not a very good performer and I wish it was heavier and more complex. The opening nurtures hope and gives the impression you are in for a epically, progressive scent but the disappointment comes around very quickly when Anubis becomes a linear and not as strong as I'd hpped. I love the ancient Egyptian thing and Anubis is especially cool if I was to weigh the heart of this fragrance it would be pretty lightweight in all honesty, vasnishing quickly after a big statement opening. Which is a shame, however I don't want to sound like some 'beastmode' performance obsessed idiot, because there's more to fragrance than that. I respect this perfume for what it is and it's definitely evocative of the name, if only at the beginning.

Swoon. No, really. This one makes me feel a bit odd. Puts me in a trance state. Hypnotic, narcotic, exotic. So extraordinarily good that it torpedoes way past excellent to something mystical. It makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. Yes it's smoky, woody, resinous, spicy, incensed, leathery - and all of those wonderful things to a beautiful, organic, richly complex degree. But it's also dry and dusty and mysterious and sacred-seeming. And there's a high, sweetish, herbal note in there too (?immortelle maybe?) which makes all the rest soar and swirl to the heavens. Surely sniffing an ancient papyrus, or the inside of some lady pharaoh's cosmetic jar, would be like this. Is it possible to describe perfumes as not just ancient, but archaic? Because I don't mean old-fashioned, or old, but rather the aura of millennia of perfumers' art, which drapes around this like a golden mantle. It smells of history (maybe even prehistory) and religion, in the best possible ways. God, (gods?) it's gorgeous. My only grief is that while it does last ages, my perception of it drifts in & out a bit and I want to keep smelling those divine wafts ALL THE TIME. Maybe for all eternity. All hail Anubis!

What can I even say. When I first got into frags, I bought 20 or 30 samples. This was the only one I loved, and it was head and shoulders above the rest. First FB I bought, and the only one for five or so years. Anubis showed me what this art can be. It's strong, uncompromising, complex - things that at the time I was not, but wanted to be. It showed me what that might look like. I held it very close. It wreathes you in smoke, it is a tool of the spirit, it speaks of dead things long past and your place in their lineage. It says you have everything you need, you always have had it, you who are half of this world and half of another. If I were to try and explain why I am "like this," I would typically cite a list of writings that have influenced me - I am a creature of words. But really, this fragrance is among the things that have made me who I am as much as any book might be. I think, to know me, you need to know this perfume. That is how much it has done for me. Below, e raw's review (please read it, I feel exactly the same. I am a scorpio rising fwiw.) reads: > This is what I wear to evoke the woman I want to become. I did this for years. It worked. What else can I say?

Not fond of resins personally, so didn't expect much. But picked up a sample of this regardless because it sounded interesting. And interesting it was! The resin is very vividly present, but it isn't overpowering. The suede and the florals settle it down into a curling smoke that wraps itself around you settled deep into the leather. After dry down the floral jasmine and lotus increase in intensity, making it a little softer and sweeter. This is stepping into an old, old vintage shop when it's rainy and cold outside and you can feel the dry air wrap around you, the temperature tick up, and your muscles sigh in relief. It's the perfect coat when it's a little cold out. It's getting an old book at a cafe and settling into a chair in a corner to read. So so cozy and so wonderful. edit: Anubis was one of the first scents i ever sampled and is now by FAR my favorite of all time. i could re-review all of this with much higher praise but i think coming back to say this is vocal enough. I am not a full bottle person but if i was disgustingly rich I'd probably buy a full bottle of this and flaunt it around like it's my hope diamond but less fucked up and substantially prettier.

Full-on spicy leather in a wildly medicinal way, initially bringing embalming fluid and dark-chambered healing practices to mind. But within a minute of first spraying this a mellow softness surges in to that medicinal chamber and it becomes beautiful. It's not harsh, it's a little bit tarry but soft, like suede. Within minutes the heart transforms into a soft, jasmine-infused smoky atmosphere. Frankincense and pink lotus create something I'd describe as shamanic. As time passes Anubis is redolent of mystical, fire-lit chambers with dancing shadows and a golden ambience. It's an olfactory chant to an ancient, spiritual history. This perfume has enormous depth. It vaguely reminded me of Ormonde Woman and Jubilation 25 but, side by side, they are nothing alike. Anubis is deeper and darker than either of those, although they are all exquisite. Others have mentioned gasoline and it could be interpreted in that way, although this is a floral-infused and deeply resinous gasoline more like bitumen than fuel. For me, it's shamanic in nature, fascinating and darkly beautiful in tone. Haiku of the day shamanic drumming a warm, fire-lit chamber Anubis awaits

So far (45 mins after I received my bottle and applied the perfume) it's a like, not a love. It's very strong, and the leather has a familiar feel to it. And it's leather, not suede. It has the slightly meaty, BBQ whiff of Spanish leather perfumes. The jasmine starts to push through the dense leather, resin and smoke (this is a smoke bomb for the ages), and if I squint I can feel the immortelle. I realize after 30 mins or so that the labdanum has drowned out the other notes. Then follows a dance battle between the labdanum and other notes, all jostling about to take the centre stage. I can't deny the quality and skill, but I'm withholding judgement until I've sat with it a bit longer. It definitely seems that the sillage is getting addictive, but I'm not so struck by the up close experience. Update after several full wears: This is an INCREDIBLE perfume. If you like this type of thing just get it. Enough said. Update: this is surely the best perfume ever (although perhaps I need to get acquainted with Salome, my flacon is on the way). Anubis is the most delicious, sexy, chewy leather, indescribable really, and utterly addictive, I'm obsessed.

This is so gorgeous! I know it is supposed to be inspired by ancient Egypt, but as soon as the liquid hits my skin, I get a flash of a peated Scotch, which quickly transforms into a mental image of a sunlit forest in fall, the forest floor thick with moss and last year's dead leaf and branch matter that exhales clouds of dust when trodden on. You are surrounded by wide dry tree trunks, and the sun filters down through leaves that are just turning brown. The air is thin and dry but not yet cold, in the way that early sun-drenched fall air can be. You look up to the vaulted forest ceiling - a cathedral of the natural world - and realize that you are now surrounded by a diaphanous, smoky incense wafting up to the sky, tinged with a warm-yet-cold spicy edge, cloves so freshly ground they are just verging on metallic. I don't really get any florals until the drydown, when they bring a hint of honeyed sweetness, as if you've found a small secret clearing in the forest, carpeted with soft springy clovers that have not yet succumbed to the change in season, upon which you lay down and allow mind and body to gently drift into forgetful oblivion.

After watching a nice lady named Tracey talk about this fragrance, I was moved to go find my bottle. Stored separately from the rest of my fragrances. I applied more than I usually do and realized as the fragrance reached the dry-down phase that I needed to reapply, not because it was getting thin. It felt like I hungered for the fragrance to start its journey again. The way I stop a song in the first third to replay the song, to savour the start. Saving the full ending for when I am satisfied. I realized why I had this stored separately; it is one of those fragrances that scares me. It feels like it can possess you and just make you an addict. I get the image of a lady I know that simply sprays the hell out of a certain fragrance. I went through some stages of amazement, slight annoyance, and currently simply enjoying it. I guess I don't want to be the person that is simply spamming Anubis, although it really begs to be? Ramsey described this as a special, grand celebration for a pharaoh, maybe on his birthday or his funeral? So the question that arisses as one reaches for this bottle: Are thy ready to be this Pharaoh for this trip?

I could have sworn I reviewed this, but must have not! Anyway, PLEASE, can someone PLEASE explain this to me? I fell in love with this, this was my Introduction to Liz's Papillon, and I immediately fell in love, and went on and bought Tobacco Rose followed by Bengal Rouge and currently debating whether to be bold and go for Spell 125 or for the tamer Dyred? Anyway, my PLEAS to you guys and gals is to explain this; I this one was my favourite of all, I absolutely loved it, then I started getting a bit of ash, like ashtray ash, and thought probably something I ate, or medicine or my mood or whatever, sometimes these things seem to have quiet a profound effect on how we perceive various smells. BUT, the ashtray smell wont leave at all, if I sniff the bottle, it's literally like im smelling one of those old smokeless ashtrays, you know the ones? And I smell nothing else, nothing, just ashtrays, and I am so upset as this was my favourite. I beg of you fraghead friends, if anyone knows why or something to remedy this please, as for me, this frag has just turned into an ashtray overnight, as if by magic :'(

Divine dark scent lingering on your tongue, clouding your mind and gracefully sliding down your throat. On the palate you feel a slightly sweet aftertaste of gasoline, turpentine, in the nose unchastely used polished dark suede, asphalt,...none of the mentioned substances here is in the industrial sense, everything is beautifully raw but not unpleasant... tempting like being in places where you shouldn't be, with the counterpart you desire, you consciously suppress all signs of risk for the vision of burning pleasure and expose yourself to danger. From the beginning there is an incredibly beautifully subdued amber, so you can indulge yourself for whole first 30 minutes. Then the typical acidic pungent over-amber note comes and starts to ruin it more and more...till the end. Potent, long lasting, hopefully sometimes someone finds a way to make the head last much much longer....and with substitute to amber. After whole night the scent shifts and now I have exclusive scent of walnut and walnut wood sitting intimately on my skin, cant stop sniffing...

This was the first niche perfume I ever tried, after many years of wearing nothing except deodorant. Now it's the bar I measure every other scent by. I didn't used to understand how a perfume could make someone write five-paragraph fanfiction about being a court jester in ancient Mesopotamia getting knifed by a beautiful twink prince while the palace's grain silos burned, or whatever, but then I smelled Anubis. The opening is a blast of paper and leather, a dusty tomb where someone's opened a spellbook. As it dries down, the inanimate skin of the opening cracks apart and something green shoots through. The lotus and jasmine take root in the sand, and the warm myrrh overtakes the leather as the corpses start to stir. Life from death. As a wearable scent, it's perfectly pleasant from a distance, and versatile enough for the office or the club. As a work of art, I love sniffing my wrist and experiencing the poetry all over again. My first full-bottle buy and I couldn't be happier.

This is not a challenging scent for me at all. We burn incenses in temples to pray for good luck before New Years and other important events. We burn incenses during tomb sweeps in memory of deceased loved ones. I am so used to this kind of strong smoky scent that the opening of Anubis instantly brings me back to those situations. It feels cold, emotionless, serious. I am pushed down the abyss of frankincense and labdanum, falling deeper and deeper. The wood is dry and not sweet, which smells almost a bit camphorous with the spicy and leathery notes. Then it dries down to a suede-floral combination, bitter, slightly medicine-like. It still feels dark, as one would expect inside the abyss, but something soft wraps me up and I am going to land safely. Liz Moores makes a perfume that is more wearable than it looks like while preserving the mysterious part. If you want to know more about this perfume, definitely check out the review from Kafkaesque, very detailed and informative.

A beautiful dark, smoky, spicy leather, perfect for colder weather. Inspired by the sacred ceremonies of ancient Egypt, it has a very serious and mighty mood to it, formed by the incense and sandalwood base. Think of a beautiful leather bag in the middle of an ancient ritual filled with incense and you get pretty close 😊 That is not to say that this is a super dark and difficult scent, because the saffron, lotus, and jasmine brightens up the composition and makes it a lot easier to approach. I think it's a great entry into more difficult scents for someone pretty new to fragrances. On fragrantica it says that there is myrrh in here and I am pretty sure I do pick up on the classic frankincense / myrrh combo, but that note is not on the official note list. Notes: Egyptian jasmine, pink lotus, suede, immortelle, frankincense, saffron, sandalwood, labdanum, (myrrh?)

Another beautiful fragrance from Liz . I’m a huge fan of her work. This one is dark, mysterious and i love it. Next to Salome, my favorite. It starts out a bit masculine but I don’t care, I love it all. From beginning to dry down . And oh my goodness the dry down is so so good . I got 3 bottles and two of Salome. I’m so afraid she will reformulate these masterpieces . It’s almost impossible now days to find perfume of this quality . I also love Francesca Bianchi. And I am just getting into Prin. Wow such animalic goodness. I’m wearing Anubis to bed, can’t wait to wake up to the dry down. I need to stop wearing this one so much . I was on a Salome kick a few months ago, almost finished a bottle .. I couldn’t get enough of it. It’s an absolute masterpiece. I love and have all of her perfumes. There are very few perfumers I can say that about.

You can't be irreverent about this, it is like a one-off master piece, like a rare, enamouring piece of art hanging on the wall in a room all by itself. A little goes a very long way - this does not need to be sprayed more than twice / thrice :-). This is a very deep, dark, layered, smokey fragrance. The sillage is warm, animalic, balsamic, musky, a hint of sweetness, and I really love the smokiness. It lasts for hours and hours - possibly through to the next day - after the night before. I think its remnants can even remain after a shower - by which time it has naturalised to your own scent. I would say this is primarily a winter night-time fragrance but really enjoyable when walking around on a cold winter day. Quite possibly can be worn in the early throws of summer as well. For me, I just spray it whenever I want to smell it!

Papillon Anubis (2014) - resinous leather - It is when I smell fragrances from #lizmoores that I know the world is fine and artisan perfumery is alive and kicking. To put it crudely, the perfume reminds me of Shalimar’s guerlinade, Amouage Interlude’s dark and brooding myrrh and olibanum and Chanel Cuir de Russie’s floral leather accord. I get a suede-like opening, then transitions to Smokey resins contrasted with florals. I also get a burnt sugar note from Immortelle. It develops for a long time with newer facets you can smell throughout the day and not meant to be judged too quickly or oversprayed (2 max!). Technically great with a beautiful balance across the resins, florals and leather with flawless transitions across notes - how could she do this without years of formal training astounds me! A fragrance I will treasure.

Anubis brings to life the shrouded darkness and mystery of ancient Egypt, using materials synonymous with mummification - a rather disturbing yet prestigious procedure. It speaks to the thick, humid air inside brazier-lit stone catacombs: burning incense, leather bindings and gold sarcophagi. The scent itself is outrageously smoky, yet never unpleasantly so, it is dense and shadowy conveying rich suedes and resins. The floral aspect as rather quiet, charged by the honeyed, slightly metallic facet of saffron which cuts through the darkness like a scythe. To think this was Liz Moores’ first commercial release is hard to believe, considering its technical brilliance is light-years ahead of what some formally educated perfumers are producing these days. This woman is the embodiment of what it means to be naturally talented.

This is an absolutely amazing fragrance that is mysterious and otherworldly beautiful, and awe- and fear-inspiring. It is also somehow immensely sad and comforting at the same time, as I imagine parting with this life and being enveloped by the eternal sleep would be. This is an artistic and spiritual piece of work. I have no problem wearing it day and night, at home and when I go outside because its projection is not enormous and it seems to smell like some kind of medicine from a small distance, but this is a VERY difficult fragrance to wear and won't make you sexy or expensive or any other superficial perceptions people chase after nowadays. This has emotional depth and complexity. Not a good idea to blind-buy but definitely worth it to try if you are looking for something unusual and inspiring.

You have entered the temple of an ancient god. Superbly named, evoking sombre ancient rites of cleansing fire and incense, Anubis is primarily a dry, smoky, brown myrrh-frankincense-saffron scent with a nuttiness and a little sulphurous match-head or charcoal. There’s an earthy, sandy quality from the saffron and immortelle, with the latter's spiciness also underscoring the dark myrrh and brown frankincense wafting through the temple air. The myrrh gives depth and warmth but with little balsamic sweetness. Labdanum is present, particularly in the opening, supporting the saffron. A little papery lotus? Maybe, maybe... but it's mostly myrrh, incense and suede-leather and after 20 minutes it settles and I get the main linear, dramatic accord. Fabulous. Take me to the underworld! I’m ready.

I recently bought the small sample set for this house and have decided that Anubis is my favourite, followed by Dryad and then Tobacco Rose. Anubis is a warm, spicy and smouldering concoction of sheer bliss. I am untrained in my description of notes so I can only tell you how this perfume makes me feel. This perfume is autumn/winter in a bottle. It has shades of Christmas day, a spiciness but not gourmand, a breeze of smouldering firewood and the smallest hint of leather. She is sweet, slightly vintage and deeply comforting. You can be sure that she will stay with you until you unceremoniously shower her off. Beautifully made perfume with top quality ingredients and impressive silage and staying power. I totally love this house for the sheer quality of the perfumes.

So freaking gorgeous & bewitching. Andy the Frenchy's description tracks with my experience "Suede, incense resins, creamy woods, saffron and immortelle, with other supporting florals. The base will unleash some more florals and immortelle.", but I hold it in much higher esteem than he does (and don't find it all that similar to Bois Mysterieux- which I also own and love). For many, (especially women) this will push boundaries and maybe take you as far as you want to go. But if you want to get weirder and more brash with this general theme I highly recommend Amber Kiso. It's sweeter and dirtier- a little rubbery. If this one is too much already and you want to tone it down (in both boldness and volume) go for Nanban. I find them all amazing and own all three.

The dried-out and scorched skin of something mummified by the sun in the deep desert. A dry leather and smoke scent, somewhat dark in mood, but very regal and appealing none the less. It's a little hard to explain why this perfume smells so good. The description above doesn't read as that appealing to me, but this is an extremely appealing and well-crafted scent--Papillon in general is pretty much unmatched when it comes to scents that evoke a story or an image, and Anubis is no exception. Starts off as smoke and leather, then as time goes on grows more and more spicy, eventually becoming outright sweet. I got pretty much nothing from this smelling it on a strip, but it's amazing on skin.

It is undoubtedly a great scent. Its rich and quite intense. Perhaps a touch masculine on my skin. The immortelle is hard to pick out. First and foremost it's about Myrhh and olibanum (frankincense) on me. The suede and saffron is present particularly in the first hour but the resins rule in this dark beauty. The sillage is good in the first half hour but then retracts to arm length and stays around for a good few hours. This is one to wear when you want to be dark and mysterious. Definitely unisex. It's certainly more wearable and not scary like Olympics Orchids Kyphi. Argh! The Mummy is coming. I appreciate Kyphi and think it's an amazing creation but not easy to wear.

No other smoky, herbal suede has ever surpassed Anubis in my heart. It’s entirely otherworldly. A herbal, hay-like leather accord unfolds; smooth, deep, never barnyardy. Saffron hums quietly in the background, adding warmth without dominance, while lotus 🪷 rises like still water, serene and sacred. Jasmine is there too, faint and ghostly, never floral; just an elegant detail woven into the tapestry. Mysterious, dark, and noble... Anubis feels like incense smoke curling through an ancient temple. It honors its namesake perfectly: the Egyptian god of the afterlife, wrapped in sacred resins and silent power. Tag(s): smoky herbal suede, sacred, dark, otherworldly

Dark and brooding. Perfect for wearing black on black. Reminds me of the smell of a fireplace hearth, the leather and wood from a hand bellows, glowing charred embers slowly dying. More of a charred smell than smokey. Hints of floral notes without distracting from the resinous accords. Not very sweet, but not overly dry either. Dry down is incredible, and lasts for hours and hours. Something about Anubis reminds me of the lingering scent of Epic Man after about 8 hours... The incense notes are completely different from Interlude Man / Journey Man. Overall, a very unique take on leather / amber, and one of my favorites of all time.

This perfume is a proper work of art. This fits the name and the idea perfectly. This opens up with very harsh but lovely suede and spices, hits you with a punch, then settles into very smoky suede leathery and earthy, very very dusty smell. There’s definitely a tobaccoyi smell to it, which is very dry but beautiful. This is very dark, very deadly, very dry and dusty perfume. I wish the longevity and projection were better but this works well for 6 hours max. The late late drydown is again dry hay, tobaccoyi, dusty suede leather. Bottle cap is very cheap if you care about it. Scent 9/10 Originality 10/10 Niche appeal 9/10

If your superficial interest is to get compliments from the ladies (seriously?) or for a date fragrance, then you shouldn't even be commenting on Liz Moores works of Olfactory Art. You should be consulting corporate meatheads and Eurotrash online reviewers on the best "panty droppers." God help us. If you're interested in Art, then Anubis is it. And since when were we so weak-minded that we'd restrict what we wear and how and when we wear it based on what we interpret to be popular opinion? By all means, if you're afraid to "offend" someone because you choose to wear Olfactory Art, then look elsewhere. Anubis is a God.

I love this. Old leather, lingering incense, tobacco and wood...instantly reminded me of the specific smell of classy antique shops, except somehow sexy and mysterious. The florals come through for me but do more to take the "edge" off the leather - nothing sharp or harsh here as some leather scents can get. i don't get gasoline at all from this - it's all warm, rich leather and smoke on my skin, and while it fades quickly on me that warm smoky suede lingers on my skin for quite a while. i'm a woman in my 20s and tend to prefer 'masculine' perfumes - this is definitely one i want to add to my collection.

I wouldn't call myself a big fan of leather fragrances but this really hits the spot for me. Smoky, rich and warm leather backed by these beautifully soft florals. Feels old and dusty and yet I can't get enough of it. I think leather fragrances don't do much for me because of their 'new car' smell that I find myself getting more and more tired of but the leather here doesn't read like that at all. It's surprisingly realistic to what I imagine a vintage leather satchel smelling like and I love it for that. The first ever Papillon Artisan fragrance made and it started the brand off with a bang 10/10

Anubis speaks to me on a primal and ancient level. At first sniff it shocked me, captivated me and I fell deeply in love – all in rapid succession. The opening is powerful, but not overpowering. The notes of the perfume don’t even begin to describe it - it's a perfume you must experience. Anubis is a gorgeous balance of darkness, smokiness and spiciness – woven together with pure artistry. This a case where the totality of the fragrance is what I feel, not the individual notes. It lasts 12+ hours on my skin and has moderate projection. I will always want to have a bottle of this in my life.

The most delicious suede. Leather in my experience is really hard to get right, but here the note is toned down enough to feel like a smooth, musky animalic element rather than a loud “money and luxury” element. I think of sandalwood, glossy black animal hair, and smoke-filled places of worship. The aromatic florals have a subtle menthol quality that makes my lungs feel full and powerful, while saffron lends a hint of intensely sexy edibility. Not sure I’d want to project this, as it's evocative enough to not feel like a perfume, but it’s like nothing else and makes a delectable skin scent.

I just cant get enough of this sensuous leather based scent. I find leather + smoke to be finicky, often times made far too sharp and strong to be enjoyable. But here these notes are soft, warm, intimate. Almost creamy, floral but not sweet. Reminds me a bit of when you step into a new, warm car with leather seats. Also reminiscent of incense, the powdery and musky notes bring forth an image of worship. I love how this sits, it's very close to the skin and melts into one's natural smell. Overall it's beautiful. Best for a late night soiree where you're the tall dark and handsome stranger.

Papillon perfumes each convey a powerful clear message. Anubis to my nose is a Shaolin temple with frankincense incense burning. It feels like spiritual armour. The perfume is complex and constantly shifting but the smoky frankincense leather is present for me throughout. It is powerful but stays close to the skin. It is introspective. Traditionally masculine notes, but as a woman I adore wearing it. Best in cooler weather. Interesting fact I learned on the kafkaesque post on Anubis: pink lotus absolute is actually an earthy, tarry substance that lends an oakmoss-like quality.

As an incense and tobacco lover....anubis hit home hard. The most true to form pipe tobacco I have ever had the pleasure to sample, which mellows out after around an hour into a tobacco with resin. Fit for a hazy victorian study setting. I would call it my holy grail too if not for two small things : Firstly the sillage is fairly poor...making Anubis a smooth skin scent. Secondly, my friends and family seems to agree that it is a fragrance far better suited for men of the 45-65 mark. A terrible shame since I fear it wont be around long enough for me to get even close to 30.

Perhaps the most sophisticated of leathers I've smelled yet. Balsamic, leather, smokey, sweet, just as described, but...I don't get much powder...maybe if left on longer, but I do get some lighter fruit notes, balancing out richness with a little brightness. This is an intriguing leather, not bitter or brooding at all, but well-crafted, emotive, and expressive. I thought Cuir Ottoman would be my ultimate leather for a while, but think less musk, slightly more leather, and a dash of some kind of sweet, but not syrupy sweet, fruit...et voilà. Love!

Hands down, my favorite niche perfume! Moderate projection and long lasting; this is a dark and almost sinister fragrance you could get away with at work, granted you apply modestly. The juice is a beautiful golden brown color. Upon application to my skin, suede and burning incense dominated with a hint of supporting florals. At first I was a little intimidated, but as the minutes passed, Anubis grabbed me and pulled me in headfirst. The fragrance's name is very appropriate; it made me feel like I was on a 1920's Egyptian expedition.

The bottle is gorgeous; the colour of the liquid is sublime; and the perfume is outrageous. I totally adore it. So animalic, in the most delicious way, and incense - beautiful olibanum and myrrh. I love the whole thing, from start to finish. It's very satisfying. Completely. Safe yet risqué. Wild and dangerous, yet comforting and enveloping, like you're having a mild grapple with a half-wild, warm and sensual beast, who loves you. And you he. She. Or it. Fabulous!!! The name sure is perfect.