Oriental

Frankincense smells like walking into an ancient temple during incense ceremony—warm, slightly woody, with a subtle sweetness reminiscent of honey and old paper. There's a peppery, almost medicinal sharpness underneath, like the smell of a spice bazaar, combined with a dry, resinous warmth comparable to burning cedar wood. It's slightly creamy and balsamic, with whispers of citrus and pine. Imagine inhaling the aroma from inside a leather-bound antique book left in sunshine—that complexity and depth.

Woody

Imagine walking through damp earth after rain, then crushing dried autumn leaves in your hands. That's patchouli's essence: earthy, almost animalic, with a subtle sweetness lurking underneath. It smells vaguely like rich soil mixed with dried tobacco and a whisper of chocolate. There's a dark, slightly musty quality—think opening an antique wooden chest. It's grounding and intensely aromatic, never delicate. Fresh patchouli has peppery brightness; aged patchouli becomes deeper, warmer, almost leather-like.