The note of incense is an interesting fragrance note that’s actually used in many different fragrances. But what are the best incense fragrances for women?
What Is The Note Of Incense And How Does It Smell
The note of incense, otherwise known as frankincense or olibanum, is a smoky fragrance note that can add a lot to a fragrance and works especially well with certain other notes.
On its own, incense is already amazing. It’s rich, it’s warm, and it’s smoky. However, when you pair this note with some other fragrance note, preferably sweet or woody, you can create something truly magical.
However, incense will work well with pretty much any sort of fragrance, not just sweet fragrances. A smoky undertone will make any type of fragrance just a little bit richer. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the best incense fragrances for women, in no particular order!
1. Serge Lutens Serge Noire
Scent: Serge Lutens Serge Noire is an incredible fragrance that perfectly embodies the note of incense. This fragrance opens strong and rich. Hints of incense and spices immediately start to show themselves, giving the fragrance a warm feel. A little while after the opening, some woody notes start to appear, making the fragrance a little smoother. As this fragrance starts to dry down, a rich and slightly sweet scent of amber makes itself known, giving the fragrance a lovely finish.
Notes: The top notes of Serge Lutens Serge Noire are incense, ebony wood, woody notes, spices, amber, patchouli, cinnamon, and cloves.
Best for: Serge Lutens Serge Noire is an amazing fragrance with a rather strong and rich scent. This makes it perfect for the fall and winter, where a strong fragrance is what you’re looking for. During these colder months, this fragrance is best worn casually, either during the day or at night. Due to the heavy spices, this fragrance won’t really work well in the office, but it does serve as a nice fragrance to wear when you want to make a statement. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
2. Frederic Malle Portrait Of A Lady
Scent: Frederic Malle Portrait Of A Lady is a gorgeous fragrance with a warm and spicy scent of rose. This fragrance opens with an absolutely amazing scent of rose, starting the fragrance off with a fresh and luxurious scent. Shortly after the opening, some warm spices are added, giving the fragrance some depth. This is also the point where the note of incense starts to appear, giving off a warm and smoky scent that works perfectly with the rose and spices. As this fragrance starts to dry down, it becomes a little sweeter, leaving you with an overall stunning scent of rose, spices, and incense.
Notes: The top notes of Frederic Malle Portrait Of A Lady are raspberry, blackcurrant, rose, cinnamon, and cloves. The middle notes are incense, patchouli, and sandalwood. The base notes are benzoin, amber, and musk.
Best for: Frederic Malle Portrait Of A Lady is a truly amazing fragrance that’s best worn during the colder months. Even though this fragrance opens slightly fresh with rose, the remainder of it is warm, rich, and sweet. During the colder months, this would be an amazing fragrance for any formal setting. This fragrance portrays pure class, making it perfect for business meetings or fancy dinners. Of course, it also works great in a casual setting as well. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
3. Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille
Scent: Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille is a lovely fragrance with a sweet scent of vanilla. When you first spray this fragrance, you’re immediately greeted by a gorgeous scent of warm and sweet vanilla. Added to the vanilla is an almost boozy undertone, giving the fragrance an even richer feel. Shortly after the opening, a smoky touch of incense can be detected, adding to the richness of this fragrance. As it starts to dry down, the fragrance turns a little creamier and there’s even a subtle hint of cedarwood present.
Notes: The top notes of Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille are incense, bergamot, and pink pepper. The middle notes are rose, cedar, jasmine, and ylang ylang. The base notes are vanilla and benzoin.
Best for: Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille is an amazing fragrance with a stunning scent of vanilla. Due to the rich and sweet scent, this fragrance is best worn during the fall and winter. Here, you can wear this one all the time. It’s classy enough for the office or any other formal setting, alluring and seductive enough for nighttime wear, and it has enough character for casual daytime wear. There’s simply no going wrong with a masterpiece like this. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
4. Kenzo Amour Le Parfum
Scent: Kenzo Amour Le Parfum is a stunning fragrance with a sweet and balsamic scent. This fragrance opens with a warm and sweet scent of vanilla, supported by a rich and smoky touch of incense. Shortly after the opening, some sweet patchouli is added, blending in perfectly with the incense and vanilla. As this fragrance starts to dry down, a sweet and balsamic scent of benzoin and amber starts to appear, giving the fragrance a rich, warm, and sweet finish.
Notes: The top notes of Kenzo Amour Le Parfum are incense and rice. The middle notes are patchouli and frangipani. The base notes are benzoin, vanilla, and amber.
Best for: Kenzo Amour Le Parfum is an amazing fragrance with a rich and sweet scent. Such a scent is perfect for the colder months, where it provides you with a welcoming and cozy feel. During the colder months, you can easily wear this fragrance casually throughout the day, but it will work even better at night. And even though this fragrance has a smoky touch of incense, it manages to stay soft and subtle, making it perfect for any woman. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
5. Serge Lutens Chergui
Scent: Serge Lutens Chergui is a gorgeous fragrance with a sweet and powdery scent. This fragrance opens with a thick scent of honey, supported by some refreshing floral notes. A little while after the opening, a sweet scent of tobacco is added, accompanied by a smoky scent of incense. The tobacco and incense perfectly complement each other, making for a rich, yet soft scent. All the while, there are a few green smelling undertones present, balancing out the sweetness from the honey and tobacco.
Notes: The notes of Serge Lutens Chergui are amber, hay, incense, sandalwood, rose, iris, honey, musk, and tobacco leaves.
Best for: Serge Lutens Chergui is a lovely fragrance with a rather sweet scent. Such a scent would be a little out of place during the warmer months, but when it’s colder outside, it’s perfect. During the colder months, you can easily wear this fragrance casually throughout the day and it also works amazingly at night as well. You could also wear this formally if you’d like, but it might not be the best choice in an office environment. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
6. Etat Libre d’Orange Encens Et Bubblegum
Scent: Etat Libre d’Orange Encens Et Bubblegum is a lovely fragrance with a scent as interesting as its name. This fragrance opens with a sweet scent of fruits, immediately creating a bubblegummy feel. Shortly after the opening, a hint of smoky incense makes itself known, adding an interesting and unique layer to the sweet fruits. From here, the fragrance doesn’t really change too much anymore, leaving you with an interesting fragrance that actually smells great.
Notes: The notes of Etat Libre d’Orange Encens Et Bubblegum are peach, vanilla, incense, lily of the valley, raspberry, musk, and orange blossom.
Best for: Etat Libre d’Orange Encens Et Bubblegum is a unique fragrance that’s best worn during the fall and spring. Here, the scent of sweet and tropical fruits will come out the best. Because of the rather unusual scent of this fragrance, you’re best off wearing this one casually, either during the day or at night. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
7. Annayake Miyako
Scent: Annayake Miyako is a straightforward fragrance with a rich and smoky scent. This fragrance opens with a beautiful scent of spices, supported by some dry woody notes. Shortly after the opening, a nice touch of incense is added, blending in perfectly with the warm and dry feel of this fragrance. As this fragrance starts to dry down, it becomes a little sweeter, but the woods, spices, and incense stay the strongest.
Notes: The top notes of Annayake Miyako are cardamom, incense, and cinnamon. The middle notes are ylang ylang, jasmine, rose, Hinoki wood, cedar, patchouli, and sandalwood. The base notes are myrrh, benzoin, musk, and amber.
Best for: Annayake Miyako is a fantastic fragrance that’s best worn during the fall and winter. Here, you can either wear it casually throughout the day or at night. Due to the dry and slightly smoky scent, this fragrance would be a bit out of place in a formal setting, but casually, its actually amazing. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
8. Yves Saint Laurent Opium
Scent: Yves Saint Laurent Opium is a true classic with a rich and warm scent. This fragrance opens with a sharp and spicy scent of citruses, spices, and some herbal notes. Shortly after the opening, a warm scent of smoky incense starts to appear, although it stays relatively soft. As this fragrance starts to dry down, it becomes a little sweeter and woodier, making for a rich and warm dry down. Overall, this leaves you with a fantastic fragrance that has withstood the test of time.
Notes: The top notes of Yves Saint Laurent Opium are pepper, bergamot, mandarin, bay leaves, citruses, cloves, plum, jasmine, and coriander. The middle notes are orris root, cinnamon, rose, patchouli, lily of the valley, peach, sandalwood, and carnation. The base notes are musk, incense, amber, opoponax, vetiver, sandalwood, benzoin, castoreum, tolu balsam, vanilla, cedar, coconut, and labdanum
Best for: Yves Saint Laurent Opium is an amazing fragrance with a warm and spicy scent. This makes it perfect for the colder months, where this serves as a fantastic casual daytime fragrance. In fact, this could even be a signature scent, just know that this fragrance does have a more old-school feel to it, making it more mature. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
9. Mariah Carey M
Scent: Mariah Carey M is a fantastic fragrance with a unique combination of incense and marshmallow. When you first spray this fragrance, you’re greeted by a sweet and fluffy scent of marshmallow, supported by a sweet touch of amber. Shortly after the opening, a smoky scent of incense starts to appear, giving the fragrance a unique but incredibly nice undertone. All the while, there’s a salty feeling present, leaving you with a unique and fantastic-smelling fragrance.
Notes: The top notes of Mariah Carey M are seawater and marshmallow. The middle notes are gardenia and Tiare flower. The base notes are incense, patchouli, and amber.
Best for: Mariah Carey M is a lovely fragrance with a sweet scent, perfect for the fall and winter. During these months, a sweet, gourmand fragrance such as this is perfect for casual daytime wear, but even better to wear at night. This would be amazing for dates, dinners, or nights out. Because of the sweet marshmallow, this fragrance feels a bit out of place in a formal setting, but casually, it’s perfect. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
10. Hanae Mori Magical Moon
Scent: Hanae Mori Magical Moon is an incredible fragrance with a sweet and exotic scent. This fragrance opens with a burst of fresh and tropical fruits, creating a rich and fresh feel. Shortly after the opening, some floral notes are added, blending in nicely with the fruits. As the fragrance starts to dry down, hints of woody notes and incense can be detected, giving the fragrance a heavier feel. Overall, this is a stunning fragrance with a unique and heavy scent.
Notes: The top notes of Hanae Mori Magical Moon are star fruit, pink pepper, guava, litchi, and pineapple. The middle notes are rose, osmanthus, and orange blossom. The base notes are incense, cedar, sugar cane, coconut milk, vanilla, patchouli, red cedar, white musk, sandalwood, and cotton flower.
Best for: Hanae Mori Magical Moon is an amazing fragrance with a rather heavy scent. Due to the sheer strength of this fragrance, you’re better off wearing it during the colder months. Here, the lower temperatures will soften the scent a bit, making it much nicer. During the colder months, this fragrance will be perfect for casual daytime wear and it can even be worn on dates or fancy dinners. If you’re interested in this fragrance, you can check it out over here on Amazon!