Encens Flamboyant
Goutal (2007)

Encens Flamboyant is a wonderfully rendered incense fragrance that is the olfactory embodiment of contemplation and meditation. Austere liturgical elements that can be attributed to frankincense and mastic with a distinct vibe of smoldering pine.

Contrary to its name, this is understated and elegant, and rather warm and enveloping to my nose. It makes me excited that Autumn is just around the corner, so that I can wear this on chilly nights.

[Rectangular Bottle]

Powdered incense of a nice variety. Fades pretty quickly and doesn't outlast four hours, but is very warm and lovely while it does. Not different enough for FB but still well executed.

The opening is a mix of brightness and white pepper - a pepper that is peppery but in a calmer and restrained fashion, but a pleasant spiciness is enhanced by a growing on a blanket of cardamom that gives is a different slant.

Soon a pine impression, with some for moved in, and after that a fruity note arises - rose berry with whiffs of redcurrant, with sage and nutmeg mixed in in small doses. The whole, together with the pepper and pine, takes in a nigh-metallic tone, that at times reminds me of some bathroom cleaners, but the pine in never in one face or very direct in me.

Towards the end a light lentisque note is added, that it very agreeable but never really with any ceremonial characteristics.

I get moderate sillage, very good projection and an excellent twelve hours of longevity on my skin.

As an incense creation this autumnal scent is unusually restrained, bright and light, and might be suitable as a day scent for those who dislike the heavier versions. The egregiously synthetic nature of most of the ingredients can be too much at times, but the lentisque is and exception. Overall 2.75/5.

Smells like a soft burning pine. I catch whiffs of smoke from afar, it's dry, herbal, spicy and without added sweetness; it's more about pine and incense. Not changing too much on my skin, just going softer with time. I like this one, it puts me in a calm mood.

Mild incense. Sweetened pepper. Cardamom seems as if its close to the skin. Light sage, nutmeg, and fir. These are first impressions, discoveries. Later, it's all incense and fir mixed. Not an overly aggressive scent, which is what I was hoping for here. I expected a bit more fir and a stronger incense smell. I'll give it 3 stars.

Haunting and mysterious -- as long as one doesn't think of it as an incense fragrance. When I first tested this, I was looking for straight frankincense frags like Montal Pure Incense, TF Sahara Noir, and Heely Cardinal. IF to my nose is nothing like these. I tossed my 5ml decant in a corner, dismissing the scent and wondering how it could have "encens" in its name. Yet it nagged at the back of my mind, because I really, really wanted to like it; it felt like something I "should" like.

Having retested it for the past few days, I'm suddenly and deeply infatuated with it. Just purchased a FB. To me - as I mentioned above and cannot stress enough -, the key to appreciating this fragrance is to understand that it is a pine/dark forest scent and NOT an incense perfume.

This has more in common with Imaginary Authors A City on Fire and Lutens Fille en Aguilles than with Avignon, Full Incense, Cardinal, and the like. It falls into the conifer and smoke category. Here, you're walking through a pine forest -- not going to church.

Yet this is not an "outdoor incense" scent either. Jovoy's Liturgie des Heures (one of my favorites, if not my favorite, fragrance) falls into that category, but IF is somehow different than that. Perhaps more raw, a bit more forest-y than LdH. I can't put it into words.

In a nutshell: If you're expecting an incense fragrance, you may be disappointed. But if you're looking for a piney, austere, mysterious yet somehow soothing scent, with maybe, just maybe, a tiny wisp of frankincense far above the treetops: this may be for you.