A hymn to the resin of resins, Encens Roi explores the both the history and legend of incense. An olfactory prayer, a smoky celestial vault, this promethean fragrance completes a story from before history, capturing the perfume of the gods.
An offering burnt for nearly five millennia, incense is the bridge between matter and non-matter, the tenuous fragrant veil between the profane and the sacred, the purest and most quintessential expression of the vital thunder that holds the continents together. From the spice-laden shores of ancient India to the elaborate, smoke-filled naves of Gothic basilicas; from the coronation of Babylonian kings to the birth of Christ; from the summits of the Omani Hojar to the desert plains of Somalia; from Cleopatra to Alexander, from Ulysses to Salome, from the ancients to the centuries awaiting to be fulfilled.
Captivating, uplifting, soothing, clarifying… incense is the crossroads of peoples, the junction between civilisations and time, between people and gods.
NOTES
Top: Olibanum CO2, Roman Chamomile, Schinus Molle (Pink Pepper Plant)
Middle: Saffron, Pimento Berry CO2, Atlas Cedarwood
Base: White Cacao, Oud, Cistus, Vanilla
HOW IT WEARS
Encens Roi starts loud – we get the spicy, sharp notes of pimento, Schinus Molle and cedarwood first, but when the fragrance begins to settle, the gentler golden chamomile and saffron become apparent against a background of the mineral and zesty olibanum resin. The dry-down is where this fragrance really comes into its own – the decadent white cacao and rich vanilla meld with the animalic woody sweetness of oud and the balsamic warmth of cistus. The projection is incredible without being overbearing, which lasts throughout the duration of the scent’s wear, which can be up to 10 hours on the skin!
LORE LOVES
We love this fragrant ode to incense, the resin that birthed fragrance as we know it today. The word “perfume” literally means “from smoke”, likely referring to the smoke of incense! This scent is such a captivating exploration of incense – it’s anything but one dimensional. Each note has been purposefully selected to highlight a different facet of the resin – its brightness, its warmth, its smokiness, its richness, its sweetness. Encens Roi is truly complex fragrance with really impressive projection and lasting power – a stunning addition to the Histoires de Parfums collection.
ABOUT THE BRAND
From the incredible imagination of Gerald Ghislain, Histoires de Parfums is an olfactive library telling stories of famous characters, writers, poets and years throughout history. With this perfume library, Gerald Ghislain wanted to evoke stories through scent just as books are written with emotions. Each fragrance brings a story to life and each story is to be read on the skin.
