Incenso

I’ve recently developed a fondness for incense scents, so I chose a sample of this to be included in my latest Santa Maria Novella (SMN) order and was very excited to try it! I wasn’t disappointed. It really is a beautiful light liturgical incense, very evocative of an old European church where the incense just seems to faintly hang in the air. There’s also a woodsy and slightly smoky backbone to the fragrance that reminds me of the smell of old wood. As for reach/potency, like other SMN fragrances, this one stays fairly light. It’s not super heavy and “beast mode.” Incenso sticks fairly close to your skin, so it’s more of a fragrance for personal enjoyment. That being said, I sprayed this on the back of my neck and in my hair and I was getting pleasant whiffs of it over the next couple of hours at least, so it does create a nice little scent bubble. It lasted for about 5-6 hours. My only real complaint with this one is honestly the price. Over the past few years, SMN has entered the “eau de parfum” game (their traditional lineup has always consisted of eau de cologne concentrations), and they are certainly beautiful fragrances. But in my experience sampling a few, the EdPs seem to retain the simplicity and light sillage of the colognes, but they’re going for a much higher asking price. Incenso is one of those. It’s only available in 100 ml and (at the time of this review) for $275. SMN has some beautiful fragrances and I generally love them as a house, but I’m not sure this is worth $275, frankly, and I also wish more sizes were available as I don’t necessarily want to commit right away to a 100 ml bottle. That being said, yes it is a beautiful incense and I agree that it is worth sampling even if this is a scent profile you’re unsure about.

out of all the incenses ive tried, this is peak incense to me. as much as i like room 1015's purple mantra, it's a bit stuffy and has a definitely "old" smell to it (which i like in its own way). SMN's incenso, to me, is clean, clear, and well-defined. it feels like it's floating in the air rather than clinging to your nostrils. unlike ambra which imo doesnt perform like an EDP, i would say incenso actually does and ive had people actually pick up on it in passing, something that hasnt happened yet with ambra (not that a lack of compliments would stop me anyway because i can still smell both on myself at least). 10/10 scent but that price ... good thing i found a decant on etsy

Makes me feel like a gentleman leaving church with my top hat, overcoat, and pocket watch. Luxurious, wealthy, prestige. I can definitely see how people compare this to church incense and I agree but there’s enough of a difference that’s it’s not straight up incense. Overall a masterful blend and one of my favorites.

I keep coming back to this one, my collection has grown to 40+ bottles now and something about this one keeps pulling me back, if I had to give up all of them and keep just one it would be this for the winter. So luxurious and rich mhmmm my secret jem lol.

smells like heaven on my partner. envelops him in a warm plume of frankincense. i personally have too many smoky/spicy/incense-based fragrances to wear it myself, but it's his first of this kind, and we're both bewitched.