A (happy) blue Monday: Incense on ice — Comme des Garcons Blue Encens

With the big holiday almost upon us, I was really in the mood for something different. And Comme des Garcons Blue Encens delivered. It just sounded so cool, pardon the pun, that I had to try it.

I admit, I did have my doubts. After all, doesn’t it seem as if most every iteration of incense has been done already? But I was pleasantly surprised. It really did have that hot/cold dynamic going on, with the warm incense and the chilly spice of cardamom, pepper, and something else in the notes lending a bright sheen (the artemisia, perhaps?). It did have a trace of “fresh” running through it as well, but not as in aquatic, thankfully, and seemed to work well with the general flow of the scent.

To my nose at least, Blue Encens doesn’t hew much to the almost ashy, traditional-ish aspect of incenses like Avignon and Cardinal, and has no real smoke to speak of. It doesn’t have the Indian-style spice bomb fest of Neela Vermeire’s Trayee. But its incense on ice kept me sniffing my wrist for the whole day, so I think this blend really struck a chord.

And blessedly (for me, at least), it doesn’t have undertones of oud, or go tripping too near the big-amber cliff off which so many other fragrances seem to fall. Even when the chill wears off, it still stays smooth, smooth, smooth, all the way, drying down to the softest haze of incense and a hint of amber; not earth-shattering, but more than nice enough. Especially since that opening salvo lasts a pretty good while; that alone is enough to keep me coming back for more.

I think Blue Encens is a great addition to the incense family: a lovely, contradictory scent that’s interesting enough to hold your attention, but not so odd as to be polarizing, and would work equally well on men and women. Victoria over at Bois de Jasmin noted, “It crosses peppery incense with a gin and tonic, which seems incongruous but is exciting,” and I agree.

After wearing it awhile, I thought: “Wow! I might be able to wear this one year-round.” Well, maybe not quite on those killer 95-plus-degree days, but still, that’s pretty good.

Have you tried this? Would love to hear what you think of it, or about your favorite incense in the CdG stable. Its Blue series also includes a cedar scent and a sandalwood number; I’ve not tried those, but if you have, please do weigh in.

Notes for Blue Encens from LuckyScent: Artemisia, Indian cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, mystical(?) incense, mineral amber crystals (Fragrantica lists mineral crystal amber).

Wishing a very happy and blessed Christmas to all who celebrate it!!