The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Gothic II arrived in 2013 as the second chapter in Loree Rodkin's Gothic collection, an extension of her jewelry philosophy into wearable art. Rodkin built her name on medieval-inspired, nonconformist design, creating pieces for Cher, Madonna, and Michelle Obama. The Gothic collection let her translate that aesthetic into scent: dark, resinous, deliberately anti-mainstream. Each numbered fragrance in the series offers a distinct interpretation of the same dark romanticism, with Gothic II specifically targeting warmth and intimacy over austerity.
The note structure makes Gothic II distinctive: tropical frangipani softened by Madagascar vanilla, grounded by Indian patchouli, lifted by incense and clove. It's a study in opposites, sweet and smoky, floral and resinous, warm and monastic. The patchouli doesn't read earthy in the traditional sense. Instead, it carries a powdery, almost creamy quality that makes the fragrance feel closer to a monastery library than a forest floor. The vanilla anchors everything, preventing the incense from overwhelming while adding a honeyed sweetness that keeps the composition inviting rather than austere.
The evolution
The opening hits like incense and clove, resinous, immediate, taking up space without apology. Within 20 minutes, frangipani arrives, tropical and sweet, threading through the smoke like sunlight through a stained-glass window. This is the fragrance's heart: warm florals over dark base notes, honeyed but not cloying. By hour two, sandalwood and vanilla take over, and the incense settles into the background, present but no longer dominant. The drydown becomes something skin-close, intimate, almost meditative. Users report it holds for a full workday, some into the evening. The next morning, a ghost of that warm, slightly sweet patchouli remains, enough to make you reach for the bottle again.
Cultural impact
Gothic II has found its audience among those who appreciate incense-forward compositions and Gothic aesthetics. LuckyScent's social media has featured it in scent roundups, drawing new wearers to its warm, resinous character. Community reviews consistently mention the Nag Champa association and the honey-vanilla drydown, descriptors that have become shorthand for its appeal. It sits alongside fragrances like Tom Ford Black Orchid and Chanel Coromandel as a warm, dark option for those who want something distinctive. One reviewer captured it as the intersection of "celibate clergyman and hot goth girl", an unexpected tension that makes it memorable.
