The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Myrrhae draws its name from the ancient resin that has perfumed sacred spaces and ancient trade routes for millennia. L'Erbolario, an Italian house in Lodi, looked to this most storied of materials as a starting point, not for spectacle, but for depth. Myrrh provides the anchoring presence, a resinous core that gives the fragrance its meditative weight. Frankincense adds a quiet veil of smoke, the ghost of temple ceremonies and candlelit chambers. These ancient materials could easily overwhelm, so the composition includes gentler counterparts: clary sage brightens with a clean, herbal lift that cuts through the density, while ginger sparks with a warm, spicy undertone that keeps things lively rather than heavy.
What makes Myrrhae interesting is how it handles the incense genre without becoming a caricature of it. The myrrh anchors the composition with its characteristic dried resin quality, lending a slightly medicinal undertone that grounds the fragrance. Frankincense arrives not as a wall of smoke but as a meditative presence, creating atmosphere rather than overwhelming it. The Florentine iris is the real differentiator: iris root has a powdery, violet-like quality that softens the density of the resins and keeps the composition from becoming heavy or one-dimensional.
The evolution
Clary sage and ginger arrive first, a bracing, almost medicinal opening that reads clean before the density builds. The benzoin adds a subtle sweetness, a hint of vanilla before vanilla arrives properly. This phase lasts perhaps 20 minutes. Then the heart takes over: frankincense and myrrh emerge together, smoke and resin forming a single atmosphere. The iris appears here too, adding a powdery softness that prevents the incense from feeling austere. Vanilla weaves through, sweetening the smoke. The drydown is where Myrrhae earns its longevity. Amber and cashmere wood settle close to the skin, white musk adding a clean finish. The myrrh persists longest, residual warmth that can still be detected the following morning on fabric.
Cultural impact
Myrrhae sits comfortably in the tradition of Italian incense fragrances, composed rather than performative, resinous without being aggressive. Users describe it as an entrancing incense experience with strong longevity. The moderate sillage makes it a personal fragrance rather than a room-filler. For those who appreciate frankincense and myrrh without the intensity of heavier oud compositions, this offers an accessible entry point into resin-forward perfumery.
