WHAT I SMELL: Encens Mythique D’Orient opens with an aldehyde and astringent pop, followed by bitter green.   It’s initial opening is rather uninspired and kind of meh.  So far this doesn’t feel “Guerlainy” to me.  After about five long minutes I start to detect some incense, albeit ever so light and discreet.  Encens Mythique D’Orient then become a bit sweeter, but sweeter with a sour tinge.  Overall its very translucent.  So much so, that I can barely smell it when I bring my wrist to my nose.  Very strange…after around 10 minutes, I get what smells like a pencil.  Actually, it’s not pencil shavings, but instead the smell of a pencil and its lead after you just finished sharpening it.  After a couple more minutes, add a light sugar on top of the pencil.  Thankfully at this point, the fragrance starts to blossom with the advent of some rose.  Again, it’s restrained, but seems to have a bit more projection.  After around what seems to be along 20 minutes I actually start to like this.  The mix of rose and incense becomes intoxicating and is warm and full-bodied when I lift my wrist to my nose.  Behind the sheer is some wonderful musky beef, but somehow with the beef Encens Mythique D’Orient manages to remain translucent.  By now, it does feel “Guerlainy.”  I like that.

From the Guerlain website:

Notes: rose, aldehydes, saffron, pink pepper, vetiver, patchouli, notes of undergrowth, ambergris, incense

WHAT IT SMELLS LIKE TO ME:  A veil.  You want it to reveal itself, but it  keeps you somewhat at bay.

THREE ADJECTIVES THAT DESCRIBE ENCENS MYTHIQUE D’ORIENT:  translucent, warming, mysterious

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ENCENS MYTHIQUE D’ORIENT: Kafkaesque, Smellythoughts, The Alembicated Genie

BOTTOM LINE:   I like this, but don’t love it as much as the wonderful Rose Nacree, one of the other fragrances in the Les Deserts d’Orient collection.  But that won’t keep me from spritzing some more on.

CONFESSION:  I was going through my mess of samples and I believe that this came from the wonderful Undina.  Thanks Undina.  If it did not come from Undina, whoever sent me this with love, I am so sorry for such sloppy housekeeping!  New Years resolution number 1013:  organize and track my samples!

• Bone Rating: 3.5 out of 5 possible bones
• Scent:  Oriental Woody
• Nose:  Thierry Wasser
• Classification:  Unisex
• Expense:  $190 Euros from the Guerlain website for 75ml EdP