Top Notes 
Frankincense absolute
Drawing ink
Elemi resin
Heart Notes 
Damask rose water
Suederal®
Base Notes 
Sandalwood
Cedarwood
Myrrh
Vanilla
04/28/2025
DAVID043329
37 Reviews
DAVID043329
Top Review
6
Enchanting Elegance
Rose. Probably the most famous flower in the world. The most iconic and easy-to-spot. Everyone knows how roses look like. Yet, seeing one up close still feels like discovering a treasure - delicate velvet petals spiraling outward in a near-perfect, blushing bloom, each one catching the light as if it were spun from silk and sunlight. Unmistakable. Same goes for their scent. Although most rose-based fragrances tend to lean more feminine, Opus XII - Rose Incense does a near-flawless job (in my opinion) at creating a perfectly unisex combination of rose with trails of incense.
In the opening, the frankincense is the first note I detect. A warm and bright, but not too potent smokiness, with a more prominent balsamic edge. The drawing ink accord adds a little to that smokiness, but mainly it presents itself as a medicinal scent and, expectedly, inky. It seems to fade rather fast, however. The elemi resin adds a very interesting, slightly lemony resinous twist which pretty much takes over and keeps the other accords - smoky, floral - at bay. But it's hardly overwhelming. As a guy who isn't particularly pleased with very resinous fragrances, it's perfectly manageable and pleasant here.
Certainly enough, the protagonist of the show joins in after such a lovely introduction - the rose. With an alluring blend of sweetness, even some mild bitterness, and potent flowery accord, it's exactly what was needed to give Opus XII - Rose Incense a touch of delicacy and romantism. It doesn't overpower the previously-dominating resinous character - it blends in masterfully and creates a perfect balance between its floral sweetness and the balsamic, lemony accords of the elemi resin. Apparently, there's also a suederal note in here too, supposed to bring a faint leathery tone. But I don't get it at all.
Hitting base, the myrrh keeps the rich, balsamic, and resinous aura alive and the most prominent. The rose is still very much present. Then, a slight woody undertone appears out of nowhere, warm and subtly spicy. Sandalwood and cedarwood are listed, but the cedarwood, with its additional balsamic aroma, seems to stick out less, as it blends in with the rest of the already-balsamic composition. As for the vanilla, it makes its presence felt about two hours or so after spraying, when the rest of the notes start dimming in intensity.
The scent has me pleased, but the performance has me impressed. Opus XII - Rose Incense held onto my skin for about 10-12 hours, with mostly hints of rose and vanilla detectable by that mark. The projection is also praiseworthy; had a very solid two-two and a half feet of projection for the first two hours, then it would settle for about a one foot bubble for the next couple of hours. However, the trail it left behind across most of the wearing stunned me most. In one occasion, I wore Opus XII - Rose Incense at a casual volleyball match with some friends. And as me and my team would rotate and change places, I would always leave a faint, but noticeable trail of rose in the air. I asked a couple of them afterwards if they could sense the fragrance, and they affirmed it was perceptible. So genuinely, I wouldn't go with more than 3-5 sprays.
Now, for occasions, I admit, volleyball matches are not exactly the situations in which you'd want to wear Opus XII - Rose Incense. If anything, weddings, dates and more dressed-up contexts fit it best. I think it's a little too 'elegant' (and expensive) to wear leisurely or at work/school. Also, I'd stay away from it in the high-heat too; it could become too strong and even cloying for some.
For me, Opus XII - Rose Incense feels like a love story. Two souls, seemingly from different worlds, meeting under an ancient sun. One of them - fiery and balsamic, cloaked in the smoke of temples and marks made with drawing ink; imposing and daring, but never cruel or disrespectful. The other - delicate and luminous, and as graceful as a rose spun from silk and first light. They dance cautiously at first, each guarding their nature, but both proud of their spirit. The walls slowly crumble, however - the fire softens, the rose leans in, and the sun sets gloriously on the horizon. They create a bond so tender and intricate, so harmonious and composed, it feels inevitable. And soon, they're both gliding through the air, waltzing to a timeless melody of strength and softness... The rose's delicate petals softly igniting and flickering in the distance, higher and higher in the sky, until you cannot discern them from the stars.
Overall Rating: 8.1/10
In the opening, the frankincense is the first note I detect. A warm and bright, but not too potent smokiness, with a more prominent balsamic edge. The drawing ink accord adds a little to that smokiness, but mainly it presents itself as a medicinal scent and, expectedly, inky. It seems to fade rather fast, however. The elemi resin adds a very interesting, slightly lemony resinous twist which pretty much takes over and keeps the other accords - smoky, floral - at bay. But it's hardly overwhelming. As a guy who isn't particularly pleased with very resinous fragrances, it's perfectly manageable and pleasant here.
Certainly enough, the protagonist of the show joins in after such a lovely introduction - the rose. With an alluring blend of sweetness, even some mild bitterness, and potent flowery accord, it's exactly what was needed to give Opus XII - Rose Incense a touch of delicacy and romantism. It doesn't overpower the previously-dominating resinous character - it blends in masterfully and creates a perfect balance between its floral sweetness and the balsamic, lemony accords of the elemi resin. Apparently, there's also a suederal note in here too, supposed to bring a faint leathery tone. But I don't get it at all.
Hitting base, the myrrh keeps the rich, balsamic, and resinous aura alive and the most prominent. The rose is still very much present. Then, a slight woody undertone appears out of nowhere, warm and subtly spicy. Sandalwood and cedarwood are listed, but the cedarwood, with its additional balsamic aroma, seems to stick out less, as it blends in with the rest of the already-balsamic composition. As for the vanilla, it makes its presence felt about two hours or so after spraying, when the rest of the notes start dimming in intensity.
The scent has me pleased, but the performance has me impressed. Opus XII - Rose Incense held onto my skin for about 10-12 hours, with mostly hints of rose and vanilla detectable by that mark. The projection is also praiseworthy; had a very solid two-two and a half feet of projection for the first two hours, then it would settle for about a one foot bubble for the next couple of hours. However, the trail it left behind across most of the wearing stunned me most. In one occasion, I wore Opus XII - Rose Incense at a casual volleyball match with some friends. And as me and my team would rotate and change places, I would always leave a faint, but noticeable trail of rose in the air. I asked a couple of them afterwards if they could sense the fragrance, and they affirmed it was perceptible. So genuinely, I wouldn't go with more than 3-5 sprays.
Now, for occasions, I admit, volleyball matches are not exactly the situations in which you'd want to wear Opus XII - Rose Incense. If anything, weddings, dates and more dressed-up contexts fit it best. I think it's a little too 'elegant' (and expensive) to wear leisurely or at work/school. Also, I'd stay away from it in the high-heat too; it could become too strong and even cloying for some.
For me, Opus XII - Rose Incense feels like a love story. Two souls, seemingly from different worlds, meeting under an ancient sun. One of them - fiery and balsamic, cloaked in the smoke of temples and marks made with drawing ink; imposing and daring, but never cruel or disrespectful. The other - delicate and luminous, and as graceful as a rose spun from silk and first light. They dance cautiously at first, each guarding their nature, but both proud of their spirit. The walls slowly crumble, however - the fire softens, the rose leans in, and the sun sets gloriously on the horizon. They create a bond so tender and intricate, so harmonious and composed, it feels inevitable. And soon, they're both gliding through the air, waltzing to a timeless melody of strength and softness... The rose's delicate petals softly igniting and flickering in the distance, higher and higher in the sky, until you cannot discern them from the stars.
Overall Rating: 8.1/10
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