Incense City.

Incense City was conceived as the flagship of AllSaints’ 2018 unisex trio, aiming to translate the label’s urban, gender‑fluid attitude into scent. The name evokes the gritty streets where incense smoke drifts from hidden cafés, while the lone cypress note references the city’s evergreen parks that cut through concrete. The brief from DSM‑Firmenich asked for a calming, fresh opening that would clash with a deep woody‑musk base, delivering the contrast AllSaints lives by.

Choosing cypress as the sole top note was a deliberate move, its sharp, green needle‑tone offers an immediate sense of space, a breath of air in a dense metropolis. Pairing it with cedar grounds the composition, while incense and musk add a resinous, almost ritualistic finish that feels like a quiet moment after a night of city noise. The blend sidesteps typical citrus‑floral openings, opting for a raw, aromatic profile that mirrors the brand’s minimalist aesthetic.

The opening bursts with a clean cypress that feels like a freshly cut pine sapling, instantly bright and a touch austere. Within ten minutes the cedar emerges, softening the edge and introducing a warm, resinous wood that feels like stepping into a timber‑lined hallway. As the heart settles, incense rises, wrapping the skin in a subtle, smoky veil that whispers of incense sticks burning in a dim bar. By the drydown, the musk settles deep, adding an animalic softness that lingers on clothing for the remainder of the day, keeping the scent present without overwhelming. The overall arc lasts roughly six to eight hours, with the smoky‑musk trail lingering longest on the inner wrist.

Since its 2018 debut, Incense City has become a quiet staple among fans of minimalist, incense‑driven scents. Wearers note its ability to sit close yet command attention, making it a go‑to for city dwellers who favor understated drama. Compared with peers like Nudo and Black Calamus, it stands out for the singular cypress launch, earning a reputation as the scent of the modern urban explorer.