The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Encens Suave Extrait began as a question: what happens when you push the original formula further? Aurélien Guichard had already built the EDP version around a single powerful accord, incense softened by coffee and vanilla. The Extrait took that foundation and intensified it, concentrating the perfume beyond what the original allowed. The incense note takes center stage here, rendered in a richer, more resinous form that speaks to its ancient roots. What emerges is a fragrance that feels both familiar and expanded, as if the original composition had been given more room to breathe and develop its character fully.
The structure is deceptively simple. Coffee arrives on the skin with presence, arriving and asserting itself before the other notes unfold. The heart belongs to frankincense and vanilla absolute, a pairing that sounds familiar until you notice how Guichard executes it: the incense surrounds rather than dominates, creating an enveloping warmth while the vanilla adds a complementary sweetness that balances the composition.
The evolution
The opening hits first, Venezuelan coffee, dark and immediate, almost bitter enough to taste. The frankincense makes its presence known shortly after, emerging as something substantial and aromatic. The incense is cushioned by vanilla absolute, creating a smooth transition between the coffee's intensity and the resinous heart. The benzoin and amber form a foundation that settles close to the skin, developing warmth over time. On fabric, the labdanum can linger, offering a faint, resinous trace that carries the memory of the fragrance forward.
Cultural impact
Encens Suave Extrait has found appreciation among those who seek a rich, resinous interpretation of incense in perfumery. The Extrait version offers a deeper, more concentrated experience compared to the EDP, with a focus on the raw, aromatic qualities of frankincense. The fragrance carries presence through its substantial use of incense, creating a scent that feels both grounded and elevated, connecting the tradition of resinous materials with a modern creative sensibility.
