Incense Water

#15MFJ Perfumer H Incense Water: A Scent That Sneaks Up on You I'll be honest, the name Incense Water made me sceptical. Incense and water together in one bottle? I thought, "That's not going to work." And yet, here I am, three wears in and obsessed. The first time I sprayed it, I didn't know what to think. You get this sharp, almost electric crackle of black pepper and cool cardamom that feels like something just switched on in your mind. Then, this "water" note comes through, but it's not your typical oceanic scent. There's no fake sea breeze or sporty nonsense here. It’s more like the scent of rain on old stone steps—cold and clean, but also a bit ancient. And the incense? It's there, but it's not smoky or churchy. It’s more like the faint scent of resin drifting across a frozen lake. The lavender and chamomile notes smooth everything out, making it feel incredibly calm and meditative. It’s the kind of scent that makes your brain unclench. Here's the thing: The first time I wore it, I was baffled. The second time, I found myself thinking about it hours later. By the third time, I was hooked. This is one of those fragrances that sneaks up on you, gets into your head, and stays there. When it comes to performance, this is a personal bubble kind of scent. If someone smells it on you, it’s because they're right in your space. But that's part of its charm—it’s intimate. I get the best results spraying it on my clothes, where it unfolds slowly and lingers for hours. It’s perfect for quiet days, rainy city walks, or when you’re at your desk and need to get into a deep focus zone. Yes, the price tag stings—£200 for 100ml is a big investment. But this isn't a fragrance you'll spray mindlessly every day. This is a scent you ration, saving it for special moments. Ultimately, Incense Water isn't a perfume in the traditional sense. It's more like bottling a mood, a specific headspace. It's not trying to seduce or impress; it's just quietly and beautifully itself. And if you're ready for that kind of slow-burn connection, it's absolutely worth it. Have you ever had a fragrance completely change your mind?

I sampled this at the Chiltern St store in London and was recommended several perfumes by Lyn Harris herself who helped me while the store assistant was with another customer - felt very lucky with the timing of my visit. Incense water to me made me pause, even amongst all the beautiful scents in PerfumerH and caused me to take a l moment to think and enjoy: back to childhood, the scent of Catholic cathedral incense but also the care and love of being with family. Feeling enveloped and relaxed but at the same time full of promise for the future. It is more than a scent to me, it transported me to that feeling! I am saving up for a bottle so that I can wear it on special occasions. Lyn recommended this as a soft, but strengthening scent suitable for the office (I work in finance). And I can totally see why, because of the invigorating geranium and bergamot, mixed with calming lavender and chamomile underpinned by the woody, incense bass which gives it a confidence. Can see it working in this environment too but to me it is too special and to be reserved for truly sacred moments! Interested to hear others’ takes on this fragrance

I absolutely adore this perfume. The top notes are a bit jarring to me for like 10 seconds, and I can't really put my finger on it: there's something slightly animalistic that quickly fades. But oh, the drydown. I have no words. After a few minutes only, it is just magnificent. It is reminiscent of a Japanese sort of incense: subtle, woody, dry, vertical if that speaks to you (not churchy with frankincense and benzoin), a bit ambery, with an added tanginess that makes it delicious. The sandalwood is very clean here, there's no hint of the usual milkiness/creaminess that my nose strongly disagrees with. Sadly, it is rather weak as has been noted by others. But I don't care. I've tried it 3 times and decided I need a bottle and I will bathe myself in it if need be. This drydown is the scent I would have created for myself, had I been a perfumer.

Airy then wet incense fragrance that has some woody depth. I am really picky about incense as I my skin chemistry amps this up more than any other note. Lavender makes the incense (which is not smokey) so smooth and relaxing. Meditative even. One of the best ones from the house if you like minimalist fragrances like I do. Only downsides are it's expensive and performance isn't great. Scent 99/100 Performance 20/100

I've been wearing this scent regularly for years and still haven't gotten bored of it. Opens a little sharp with the lavender and bergamot, but quickly settles into a warm and woody skin scent. Very unisex and not at all sweet.

Take everything I hate out of Gypsy Water and leave behind only the ghostly trail.

passage d'enfer but without that cloying, metallic pencil smell -excellent! 🧑🍳

Describing this feels like trying to explain what color eyes an invisible person has. There's nothing here! Thank God I bought a decant first because if I spent this kind of money on a fragrance with no smell id be furious! I don't understand how anyone can try to sell this & sleep at night. What a rip off!

The inside of a crystal shop but in the best way possible. Meditative and rejuvenating, Aesop’esque but far more interesting. I enjoy wearing this to do yoga or when I have to wake up a little too early and don’t want something that will upset me. As with all of the offerings from Perfumer H longevity isn’t ideal but it’s beautiful nonetheless - 7/10

slightly powdery. it smells similar to unburnt incense. the box of that held the incense. but not as strong. its nice but maybe too weak