The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Franck Boclet launched his first fragrance in 2013, with Melanie Leroux composing Incense as part of an early collection. The other fragrances in the line included Tobacco and Leather, each telling its own story. Leroux structured the composition around four top notes, cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper, and pink pepper, that build intensity before the fragrance settles into a sparse, intentional middle section where benzoin takes center stage as the only heart note. Its warm, sticky sweetness anchors the entire piece before the drydown arrives. The incense concept carries a sense of ritual and warmth, fitting for a fragrance that aims to evoke contemplation and atmosphere.
The minimal heart construction relies on benzoin as a single heart note. The four-part top accord, cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper, and pink pepper, forms a complex opening that reads as fresh and aromatic rather than sweet, with the peppers creating lift and the cinnamon providing warmth. The real foundation sits in the base: sandalwood and guaiac wood together create a creamy, smoky wood accord while ebony adds an extra layer of aromatic woodiness. The incense note in the name manifests through the combination of benzoin and guaiac wood rather than actual frankincense.
The evolution
The opening hits sharp and bright, cardamom and cinnamon warm up immediately while the two peppers tingle and lift everything upward. About 20 minutes in, the structure shifts: the spices settle and benzoin arrives, bringing a sticky, vanillic sweetness that feels warm and resinous. The heart is brief, with benzoin taking center stage before the base begins to emerge. Within the first hour, the base notes arrive as the true foundation: sandalwood and guaiac wood create a creamy, smoky wood accord while ebony adds an extra layer of aromatic depth. The incense note in the name manifests through the combination of benzoin and guaiac wood rather than actual frankincense. By the end, the fragrance settles into a warm, slightly sweet woody trail that carries through its final hours on skin.
Cultural impact
The fragrance occupies a specific niche within the warm spicy-woody category. Community comparisons place it alongside Tom Ford Oud Wood and Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540, though Incense takes a different path with its prominent cinnamon and benzoin combination. The opening spices provide aromatic warmth while the pepper notes create brightness and lift. As the fragrance develops, benzoin brings sticky, vanillic sweetness with warm, resinous depth. The base settles into sandalwood and guaiac wood creating a creamy, smoky wood accord while ebony adds aromatic depth.
