Nankun Kodō

I have a love/hate relationship with incense fragrances - and this one is a Love. It smells robust and nuanced. I'm not a fan of the CdG Incense Series (particularly not Avignon, which smells thin and sad to me), but this is complex as the first two reviews describe well, noting the sweet, spicy, bitter and salty qualities. Sultan Pasha has a knack for using strange herbal and bitter notes to his advantage - in this fragrance, it's the fenugreek and siam that give that pungent yet pleasant edge. Overall, a beautiful smoky, green and woodsy incense fragrance, not to be missed.

Whenever I need a zen moment, I will wear Nankun Kodo. It is a near exact representation of Shoyeido incense Nankun Kodo (Southern Wind). Traditional Japanese incense has five scents – sweet, spicy, bitter, salty and sour. I can detect the first four from this attar. It is very complex, powerful and yet serene. The sweetness is not sugary sweet but towards bitter sweet. There is a warmth in the scent that fits its name. The longevity and quality of material is exceptional. I am so glad Sultan Pasha's creations are finally in our database.

As someone who burns Oud chips somewhat regularly, I can say with confidence this is the first perfume I have experienced that accurately captures the fragrance of a gently heated sinking grade Oud chip. Added to that are savory/sweet spices, resins, and precious woods one would find in the finest of incenses from houses such as Shoyeido and Baieido. A centering, beautiful experience that is not to be missed for those that love exotic natural ingredients and above all, the scent of gently bubbling Oud chips.

Spicy yellow and red earth. Reminiscent of the remains of my Shoyeido incense, but this one is less floral and seductive than what I use. Nankun proposes an extremely contemplative route which is not the norm in perfumery where the aim is usually to seduce. Far from the world of scented gloves and boudoirs, this takes one back to sweet pungent trees and seeds of the earth. For monks and samurai.

Lovely use of cloves -- usually cloves are overdone, too spicy, too dense, too this, too that. They are tempered just PERFECTLY here. Also, hinoki and cypress are paired perfectly, there's also something green and herbaceous in the background, a bit of a resin too. I like this. I really like this...