03. Apr. 1968

I don't know why I love smelling like burned up bits of wood and play-doh so much. Oh well, I do. Sampled from a teeny little LuckyScent vial and yes, folks, I am buying the bottle. It wafts the way a perfume should. It intrigues and delights me the way a perfume should. It makes me feel like a woman, feminine and intriguing. For the price, I think it does its job admirably well. From dabbing from a 1ml vial, other people don't seem to smell it, which is fine with me. We'll see how it behaves when it is sprayed. I like that it is intimate and does a special bejeweled and jingling jangly dance for my nose and my nose only. I see it moving under beguiling and almost-transparent veils. I could smell it at the gym when I was whooshing my arms on the elliptical, I could smell it on the tennis court as I was whacking my whiffle ball. It lifts itself up to my darling nose as I sit and do homework. It is gone in the morning, but that's fine, I just apply some more. Resinous, thin white smoke of quietly burning olibanum. A pile of purple Play-Doh heliotrope. Fruity juicy fresh pinkness in your boba tea. Squish down, chew the lychee! A transparent veil lifting in the breeze.

A gloriously excessive perfume, it reminds me a bit of burning benzoin resin (incense fans will know the scent), but mixed with a kaleidoscopic fruit accord that spans fruit cake and juicy-fruit gum, while a darkly smoky frankincense explodes in the middle. Ye boi, this scent is over-the-top. The notes don't so much blend as bounce off each other in interesting new ways, altering your perception of them on each sniff. Though we're working with a different set of notes, there's a certain kinship with Arabie and its ilk, merging Christmassy gourmand smells with a classic oriental profile (in this case, an incense scent). A sometime thing, but there's nothing quite like it when it's "on". (For whatever it's worth, I don't see the comparisons with Norma Kamali Incense. Both great scents, but nothing alike apart from being frankincense heavy.)

This right here is it! Arturetto Landi is someone who understands what makes fragrances click, and this in my opinion is his best work! There is no complicated journey this creation will take You on, this is a linear, meditative dialogue between seemingly contrasting ingredients. They talk, they argue, they get mad at eachother, and essentially settle on a compromise of the most realistic aroma of burning incense there is. With just three main notes we get caleidoscopic fractures of honey, sandalwood, tar, cherry, tea, hot steam, cold stones, soil! The list goes on and on depending on who You ask! And the performance is just on point, lasts a whole day, projects for a meter and a half, and never lets the wearer forget it's presence. A true masterpiece.

I cruised through our local niche parfumerie this afternoon, on a mission, in need of a fragrance heavy on incense. Immediately, I found a new friend, when I tried this parfum. First encounter for me: Frankincense! A little loud, and possibly sharp to some, in the beginning, but it became a beautifully soft, yet full-bodied, scent as the afternoon progressed. I'm pretty sure it's not a fragrance for everyone, but it's wonderful. Certainly, one shouldn't get carried away in the dousing. Easy does it. A very special scent.

Truly extraordinary - in a way I smell only incense, but still, at the same time, this is very complicated. Took me a while to decide if I wanted to wear this (had a sample first). This makes me think of old Italian churches: old wood, old stone walls, secrets and times long gone. Also reminds me of old books... But I find this very inspiring and lifting!

This is ridiculously blissful. The dusty, lithurgical frankincense is pronounced and astonishingly intoxicating. Caressing and deeply engaging. Handle with extreme caution as it is a fragrance of mammoth proportions. 10/10

So great to see some other reviews of the special fragrance. I wore it today, with extreme pleasure. Heaven in a bottle.

The closest thing to the Orthodox church I grew up near. Not just a reminder, but literally the same smell. Amazing!

Each time I wear this fragrance, I love it more. Sillage and Longevity are both outstanding.

Earlier this year I came across this fragrance on Fragrantica and there were no reviews for it. Even though it has one of my most favorite note in the base I was skeptical about this fragrance. Months later I read Martindhunt's review but still I was not convinced. It is not his fault, it is just that I am a person who is not easily convinced and somewhat pessimistic. To my surprise I found out that I am able to order a sample of it from essenza-nobile so I said "what the heck, let me try a sample". For the passed months I came to the conclusion that I only seem to like fragrances which packed a lot of notes in it otherwise I would not enjoy it's complexity. So here I was not expecting much from this fragrance because it only had 3 notes, with Litchi on top. And also because it's from a fashion designer, even more reason for me to have my reserves about it. So came the moment I received my sample for me to try this fragrance out. And boy was I amazed! To all the incense lovers out there, YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS FRAGRANCE! On a side note I recently realized that many seem to compare incense fragrances with Avignon, and let me tell you, Avignon was a big let down for me. To me this is easily 10x better! But that is just my opinion. But why was I so blown away by this fragrance? This fragrance is rich, full body and dry at the same time. It is alive and kicking and powerful. The olibanum is so complex, and the litchi and Heliotrope just support it in just the right way. I compare it to the same way a pinch of salt in chocolate milk enhances the cacao flavor. This is really incense , incense and MORE incense. With just the right sweetness and amazing personality. When it came time to test it on a full wearing, boy was I more surprised! This lasts easily 3 days on my shirt. After one day you get more of the sweet aspects left yet with the olibanum still very much alive. The projection is amazing! Easily projects for 8 hours on a chilly day. Could have easily projected even more than that. But for as far as I can remember, during my full wearing, those 8 hours it was VERY alive! After that I had a change of wardrobe and a shower. I never expected 3 notes could have been so complex, projecting so much and lasting all those days on my clothes. This fragrance is easily a perfect 10 on my list! This is like wearing real concentrated burning incense. The only thing I take into consideration is that because it smells so much like real incense it may give people the impression that I am not wearing a fragrance but that I was just burning incense at home and the scent stuck to my clothes the entire day. And therefor I will be selective of the moments when I will choose to wear this gem. The price tag of around 105 euros for 50 Ml is so well worth it. This is the type of quality and complexity I look forward to having in my collection. With this fragrance Rundholz proved that 03. Apr. 1968 is not just a day in history, but an olfactory experience set on a high standard of quality and perfection.

Quite an odd perfume- dry dusty SMOKED (not just the resin or EO) frankincense with a bit of heliotrope (that adds more dryness to the blend) and just the barest whisper of fruit. It takes a while to love, and most people probably won't appreciate it- it's weird, and definitely not a crowd-pleaser. Regardless, I enjoy wearing this little gem, and anyone else who likes resins/incense/strange perfumes will too.

First impression: a warm Ambra, olibanum, intense, and a little sweetness of litchi. Unisex. Olibanum&intense gibes a church vibe, the old woody candley church in somewhere East Europe. Overall it smells good and mystery. It deserves to try if you like some intense frags such as Black Afghano Nasomatto, Dark Lord by Killian, or Cuoium by Orto Parisi. I personally like the name this date lol

@ Born For Shalimar: Luckyscents has it now. In case you are in Europe you can also order samples from ausliebezumduft.

I tired this fragrance to get out of my comfort zone. I generally really dislike lychee notes as I find they can be quite synthetic. Thankfully for this the lychee note is done really well and smells pretty authentic without it being too sweet. The very liturgical incense/lychee makes a really interesting combo but I find this frag gets a bit weird/screechy in the drydown. Pretty huge incense fragrance just like others I’ve tired in the lineup.

I don’t think there’s a hint of litchi in here, but I’m getting a strong incense—definitely olibanum—and a touch of tobacco, probably my imagination. It’s lighter than expected for such a mix, so maybe that’s this litchi? Either way, the performance is great, which makes it a pretty solid fragrance. That said, there’s not a whole lot more to it, to be honest.

I'm not digging this . I am all for the sept 21 1966 which is a way better identical black afghano. This scent reminds me of certain type of tea bag and smelling it up close. It definitely rings all that is incense as well but it's very dusty and different than any other type of incense, especially the comme de garcons of the world. I want to like this, but there's like one element that seems to be off. There's just to many fragrances out there so I'll never "settle" for a frag and spend my hard earned cash on it. I do reccomend the other offering of sept 21 though. It's a complete different scent and it's almost identical to black Afgano but you get 50ml instead of 30 and it's about 40$ less. Longevity and projection are just as good if not better with rundholtz. Even this fragrance is a beast when it comes to these categories. If you are in to incense, sweet, dry and "different " type of scents, give this a shot. It's great quality and price is good, it lasts forever. It's just not very versatile. It does have a love or hate type of vibe to it and I could see this evoking memories for the wearer.

no no no, it's not for me. I appreciate the effort to create something different from the usual incense ... but this is too much. my eyes water from the power of this perfume. but in a negative sense. imagine initially the church incense that runs through the wine. here this is the beginning. the heliotrope is annoying and disgusting. the notes do not mix, they feel distinctly. sour fruit, gummy candies, bonfires, litchi, red wine, Italian sweet sparkling wine, cough syrup, christmas, vomit, whiskey, these are just a few words that this scent evokes me. if I thought that the beaufort perfumes were not wearable, this is the perfection of the non-wearable perfume. nausea, disgust, maybe this is contemporary art of perfume? one could object that even the perfumes made da filippo sorcinelli and the perfumes of beaufort are perhaps borderline fragrances and contemporary art? but at least they evoke something ... they have a story they want to evoke. this is a mess and that's it . nausea and vomit. excellent performance. vote 0/0 ps: if sahara noir is similar, tell me that I avoid buying it.

I really wanted to love this one--the three-note concept was so interesting. But. I don't get lychee. I don't get flowers of any kind. I don't get smoke. What I do get is a strange industrial oil smell. There is most definitely nothing liturgical or traditional about this "incense." It smells purely chemical/artificial/oily to my nose, and is most reminiscent of something you'd use to lubricate a machine that operates at high temperatures.

It's been a while since I've found one that just doesn't work with me; this one smelled fantastic coming out of the bottle, with no hints of notes I already know don't work on me. Ten minutes later, all I smell is polymer modeling clay. If I concentrate, I get a tiny hint of frankincense. Overall, this just leaves me curious what it is that just doesn't work with my chemistry.

Niche Noses: I dive into this sample with high expectations. In certain circles, this is deemed a Demigod for those seeking some REAL smoke for the soul. Prior to sampling, my thoughts lied between "This better be good" to "This better be different." Different it is. Tropical and fruity accords go hand in hand here. Im no "Litchiologist" but i don't get that rosy-grape feature in the top. Instead I inherited something that smells closer to a perfumed date palm but only for 30 seconds. Who are we kidding here?!? This is a hippie fueled San Franciscan olibanum fragrance with a serious attitude problem. My Opinion: If i take out the emotion and add perspective, i'd say this is a well made fragrance. With that being said, I HATE this fragrance. Non-Niche Noses: This is the Willie Nelson of incenses; comfortably psychedelic and unapologetically murky. April 1968 is non diplomatic. The pungency given here has a "Take it or leave it" attitude. DO NOT purchase this with the intent of smelling tropical/fruity. The tropics here are unusual at best. Most people you encounter may have a non-niche nose. Keep that in mind when attempting to impress with April 1968. 3 notes created the magic; wimpy fragrance this is not. Absolutely not a blind buy, nor is it a sure-fire fragrance for incense lovers. If you don't care whom you may offend, then go for this.

This starts off as a promising liturgical incense with some boozy and gourmand facets. The resins are smooth and deep, and it’s more warm than smoky. It smells quite a bit like Sahara Noir, to me. However, there’s a floral note in it that builds fast and, before you know it, what appeared to be a balmy resinous foundation reveals itself to be an overload of heliotropin. So what started out as an intriguing savory incense falls back a little too hard on gourmand florals for my liking. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good scent, but it’s a tad cloying and I think I’d prefer Sahara Noir over this. If Calling All Angels was a bit too syrupy for you, then this might be a good alternate as it’s in a similar region. Well suited for cold weather, I’d imagine, but lacking the kind of monastic severity I enjoy in liturgical incense.

When Rundholz originally launched its first collection of clothing in 1993, it striked as a sort of Comme Des Garcons wannabe but, with time, the brand deservedly gained its own space and solid identity amongst the most avant-garde fashion brands. Just like most fashion brands, at one point Rundholz decided to launch its first fragrance which, unfortunately, has been undeservedly overlooked by many perfumisti. 03. Apr. 1968 is possibly the most bombastic incense-centered composition since the infamous Norma kamali's Incense. A mix of dark and smoky resins, slightly lightened up by a smooth heliotrope note. A minimalistic bomb which smells anything but minimalistic. Assertive, insanely potent, straight forward and undeservedly under the radars. Big thumbs up! Rating: 8/10

Mystical incense and lychee gloss. An almost piercing glossy lychee note with a sweet and slightly spicy incense. Neither notes overpower the other, they just intertwine in a fun playful swirl. I find this contrast fascinating because it’s unexpected, interesting and avant- guard. Hours later, both notes finally meld together into an almond playdoh afterthought. The Vibe: A vain but devout orthodox catholic during mass wearing cute Gentle Monster glasses, a Murakami Louis Vuitton bag and K-pop makeup whilst praying “Gracias Dios por hacerme bella”. * Another gloss fragrance that reminded me of this is Sweetie Aoud by Roja, that one has berry gloss with Oud and smoke. They don’t smell the same but if you like one, you will like the other.

April 3, 1968 is an interesting incense scent with an opening lychee accord. The lychee is only in the opening, like a shadow in the night, while the incense takes center stage right away. It reminds me of Prin's work, as it's deep and dark, at the same time quite pleasant. The combination with heliotrope was very nice, as it really highlights the great nuances of the incense used here. It's a very direct and honest representation of this beautiful olibanum that gives a deep, churchy vibe done elegantly. Highly suggested for people who enjoy honest, and moody olibanum. Arturetto really knew what he was doing here; this was extracted directly from an Orthodox church, a beautiful discovery.

This is how I wanted my Galliano Parfum to project but alas that was a let down and if truth be told, so is this. Don't get me wrong, this really has a kick to it and it's so very in your face that on the wrong day it would make your nose bleed, however, when push comes to shove, it's a "muddy" scent and not a polished one - thus, I weep :( This could have been signature stuff but to me it basically smells of hippie meets s&m latex queen meets old creepy church.

Wow! I randomly selected a sample of this fragrance from a bunch I have from Luckyscent. I wore it last night and I loved it. This is incense, pure incense in a bottle. It is balmy, yet sweet. It lasts a very long time. Sillage is outstanding! (After I put it on I went to the kitchen and left. My partner went to the kitchen 5 minutes later and asked "what is that wonderful smell?") Now that is excellent sillage. I am getting a full bottle for sure.

This fragrance certainly hits the sweet spot for me! It's classy, bold and multidimensional - the way I like it. I wouldn't be able to name any notes in it though - I agree with everyone saying there's no hint of litchi in it. I also don't get the incense here for some reason. No idea what it smells like, but I looove it. Very good longevity, the sillage could have been better, but it's not that bad. Definitely unisex. And so much personality!

@Lovetribe : This one is not even close to Sahara Noir. SN has nothing fruity, nothing sour, nothing floral in it. Just smoky, resinous, dry woods. The Tom Ford scent is only half as strong as this one in terms of sillage. Longevity great in both. Both are strong scents but this one is very avantgarde, admitted. I sold my bottle because it was not quite for me. I preferred Sahara Noir and kept that one in my collection.

Dark, misterious,churchy, dusty and deeply nostalgic. A masterpiece for incense lovers! (And all the others too). Everlasting flower is not on the list, but I guess it's what I smell in the composition. Unique! Sillage and projection are bombs. Makes me think of Black Casmere by Dona Karan, but much more powerful. I have tested "Cannibale" by Serge Lutens and it also has the same wibes.(but not the same price :) )

After the Robitussin opening, I was prepared to hate this fragrance. After about 15-minutes it dries down to a beautiful resinous/woody/dry-incense/smokey/floral place, which I suppose is the effect of the combination of heliotrope and oliban. Very unique and worth a sample. Also a big fan of the names - do they release any explanatory print? So many big world events in '68.

L'apertura di fatto dura poco e da spazio piuttosto ad un buonissimo fumo di olibano bruciato su carboncino . Uno dei più realistici, esattamente l'incenso da Chiesa di un tempo prima che miscelassero con Cashmeraan e mirra addolcendolo per i delicati cristiani di oggi....faceva piangere e purificare e questo profumo lo ricorda alla grande

That time you wandered into a dark ancient church from the foggy streets in your mossy asymmetrical woolen rundholz gear and proceeded to sit alone for the next few hours sneaking slugs of herbal cough medication while thinking about the poignancy of life and loss. Smells like that. AND I LOVE IT!!!

Lightly fruity opening but mostly incense- but not smoky- I get some spices and resins. This is like scent of handling loose incense on your fingers or grinding incense herbs in a mortar and pestle. Really pretty!

Very strong incense. Outstanding sillage/longevity. Not sure this is my kind of fragrance. I've also tested Rundholz Parfums - SEPT.21.1966 and it is a dead ringer for Black Afghano, they are identical.

This is exactly what an incense fragrance should smell like. Give this one time to manifest.

Any suggestions where i can buy this perfume.many thanks.

john and george were in india at that date. fun fact.