Incarnate

bought this second hand because I dont care to support the brand, though I do think it's stupid to review bomb the fragrance because not only does it do the actual perfumer Yann Vassnier who created the fragrance a disservice, but it's dishonest to the audience. I dislike the brand, but still think this fragrance is fantastic. Two things can be true at once. One of the better incense fragrances I've tried, with a sort of unique vanilla that twists into a very subtle bubble-gummy sweetness for a brief part of the experience and dries down into an incredible amber/incense finish that lasts overnight. Buy this one second hand if you absolutely must have it. However, if the sweetness and vanilla isn't your jam, I highly suggest picking up Giardinodiercole from Agatho instead. I like that one a lot better as it has a more mysterious vibe. It's twice as expensive as Incarnate at retail price, but can be found at a steep discount at discounters. Another rec I have that isn't exactly the same kind of scent profile, but rather just adjacent to this style would be Flaming Creature from Marissa Zappas at around the same price. If you want a MUCH drier incense, you can't go wrong with L'air du Desert Marocain from Tauer, which is very highly praised by the community.

I'll start off by saying after getting my sample and this being the one I was the most excited about I was SO let down. It just fell flat. Now 2 weeks later and the temps have dropped into fall leaf weather I decided to try it out again and OH MY GOD. Yes the first time I smelt it, it did give wood varnish vibes like mentioned below but I think letting it sit did wonders. I also do believe this is meant for 65 degrees and below temps. I do get the violet leaf in the very beginning and I think that is what gave the varnish note. There is very little vanilla, it is used to round out all the heavy resins and I think makes it begin to get sweeter as it dries down. I was raised Episcopalian, but it truly reminds me of sitting in an old church pew on a fall day and all the old mens spicy aftershave is permeating through the air and the resins that have been lit over the years have started to seep into the wood beams above us. It's warm, smokey, peppery, and like the resins left over in a church. This is what I wanted TF Oud Wood to be. It's unisex in the best way, sexy as hell and yet comforting like a cashmere scarf. *sighs and adds to cart*

Off the bottle I swear this smells just like a haunted house attraction. Synthetic sweet fog pumped from a machine, skin warmed latex masks, body heat and fear. On first spray it is so sticky and resinous. Like a palm pulled away sappy from leaking pine bark. It's final notes are dry pine needles, and a yummy, vanillic, smoky incense. Another winner from the line up. Not quite the "fucking in a church" fragrance I've been needing in my life but delicious and alluring all the same. I can see this being a daily wear throughout the year. I'd be thrilled if this was my natural scent. God it's good. Edit: Won't be deleting these reviews but I do want to say, like in my other edits, the actions and words of this brands creator are fucking repulsive. Would never have bought any of this had I known of her hatred toward women and other marginalized groups.

Asked for Coney Island Baby for christmas and my mom accidentally got me this instead. Couldn’t be more happy she did though, it’s my favorite perfume of 2024 and I wear it almost everyday now. When I first started wearing it, it was this warm smokey spicy incense scent that managed to be wearable but still edgy and fun. But the more I wore it the more I started to get this sweet bubblegummy tang under all the smoke and spice and something just clicked and now I’m obsessed. It’s everything I look for in a perfume, something that smells good but also has character. And this one in particular is so enveloping and warm. Usually perfumes that those around me compliment me for are basic and nice but they never scratch that itch of being something I find totally satisfying and excited to have on, but this one checks all those boxes for me 🥰🥰🥰

The controversy set aside, this fragrance is stunning. If you're a fan of amber, incense, patchouli, and/or vanilla, you will more than likely love this. I do get the whiff of bubblegum sweetness another user described, but I do recommend not putting this too close to the chest, as the scent can get a *little* cloying as the day goes on. Overall, I adore this scent, and every time I wear it, I get asked the infamous "WHAT are you wearing??". I did recenty get a sample of Phlur's "Vanilla Smoke" which was very similar, just a little more sweet. On another note, fragrance, just like all things we do in life, IS political.