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Encounters 2023

6.8 / 10 114 Ratings
A perfume by Francesca Bianchi for women and men, released in 2023. The scent is powdery-woody. The longevity is above-average. It is still in production.
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Main accords

Powdery
Woody
Spicy
Sweet
Animal

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes Top Notes
BlackcurrantBlackcurrant CorianderCoriander OrangeOrange LavenderLavender BergamotBergamot
Heart Notes Heart Notes
Orris butterOrris butter RoseRose AngelicaAngelica CinnamonCinnamon
Base Notes Base Notes
CedarwoodCedarwood OudOud CastoreumCastoreum Peru balsamPeru balsam SandalwoodSandalwood AmbergrisAmbergris BenzoinBenzoin

Perfumer

Ratings
Scent
6.8114 Ratings
Longevity
8.191 Ratings
Sillage
7.592 Ratings
Bottle
7.287 Ratings
Value for money
6.662 Ratings
Submitted by Spl3xx · last update on 02/21/2026.
Source-backed & verified

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to
Freefall - Luxe Calme Volupté by Francesca Bianchi
Freefall - Luxe Calme Volupté
L'Insomnuit by Robert Piguet
L'Insomnuit
Dior Homme Parfum (2014) by Dior
Dior Homme Parfum (2014)
21 Felanilla by Pierre Guillaume
21 Felanilla
Divine Perversion by Hedonik
Divine Perversion
Sticky Lips by Francesca Bianchi
Sticky Lips

Reviews

11 in-depth fragrance descriptions
8.5Scent
Holscentbar

106 Reviews
Holscentbar
Holscentbar
7  
Perhaps one of the best of the brand
There are no fake praises or fake ideas, but what I really think.

This job is really well done and looks gorgeous on the skin.

It opens very buttery, with a light touch of citrus, lavender and slightly fruity.

After a very short time this warm and slightly dark oud note emerges, combined with some barely distinguishable spices.

The evolution is wonderful: creamy, buttery with a woody oud base and perhaps some animal notes.

I really find it like a pleasant meeting between two people who haven't seen each other for a while on an autumn day. Everything flows.

Commendable
1 Comment
ClaireV

969 Reviews
ClaireV
ClaireV
2  
Orris-y and violetty oud
So called because of the meeting of East (oud) and West (iris), Encounters is one of the most original takes on oud and one of the least original Francesca Bianchi perfumes that I have smelled. And I mean both of those things in the most positive way possible. Original because applying the very violety ionones of orris butter to the heady, sour woody thickness of oud produces an effect of freeze dried particles of oud dispersed in cold air. Filled with light, air, and tiny touches of flowers, the normally turgid brick of oud turns into a puff of fairy glitter. I find this magical and strange, a lovely new look at a material that has been done to death. It also occurs to me that this may be a perfect entry level scent for women drawn to the idea of oud’s exoticism but not to its sometimes sour or animalic heaviness as presented in many commercial or niche fragrances. It smells like oud, yes, but also like cosmetics.

On the other hand, the base of the scent, once the boudoir-ish, mica-like veil of iris and spice draws back, is the typically warm, resinous and slightly dirty, leathery iris-amber to which Francesca Bianchi often reverts. If you love perfumes such as the Dark Side and Under My Skin, then you will also love the drydown of Encounters for its familiar Bianchi hug lurking in the drydown. I personally love that musky, acidulated iris accord that she does so well and think that there are few things better smelling that the scent of that sharp, funky calcified-pee-scraped-off-a-rock castoreum note she seems to always pair with iris. But if you’re not a fan, the drydown of Encounters isn’t going to convert you, and if you are a fan but looking for something a little different in the base, then you might be disappointed.
0 Comments
LastWonder

492 Reviews
LastWonder
LastWonder
2  
Avoidance
The website says this is the creator exploring the East meeting the West, the Oud and Iris being explored together. I couldn't get the Iris, it was overpowered by the fruity notes. The berry sweetness was too strong, it wouldn't mellow out and everyone could smell it on me. It starts fairly nice, a fruity note with a hint of creaminess and spice. It became more floral on the skin but I could skin smell the berries projecting off of me and my coworkers said I smelled fruity all day. They enjoyed it, I did not. I couldn't enjoy the other notes in the fragrance because the berry sweetness was so strong. On my skin I could get the dry down and it was honestly my favorite part, its a strong oud making for a dark woody scent with some animal notes in there. They offer €108 for 30ml and €235 for 100ml and the scent did last on my skin for over 7 hours. I think conceptually this could be really good, if they made another version without the fruity notes and that way you could focus on the Oud and Iris, this could have been great.
Updated on 06/07/2024
0 Comments
Irisfauve

43 Reviews
Irisfauve
Irisfauve
1  
Lipsticky Iris Gem
Iris, my favorite floral note, derived from the orris root, is also the signature of Francesca Bianchi’s fragrances. What Francesca has achieved with orris butter is exceptional. Mysterious, sensual, and beautifully dark compositions.

Now, she brings us Encounters, a fragrance that perfectly reflects the eternal pull between East and West. From the first glance at its description and notes, I knew this was exactly my kind of scent.

In Encounters, iris meets a subtle oud that adds a delicate, woody nuance to the blend. Imagine Dior Homme Intense, but elevated, enhanced by fruity cassis that introduces a majestic purple hue. It’s smooth and sophisticated, with no harsh edges, and exudes a cozy yet enigmatic aura. The performance is truly outstanding, and if you’re someone who loves receiving compliments, this fragrance is a magnet.

If you appreciate opulent perfumes, this is a must-try.
0 Comments
6.5Scent
JBirb

14 Reviews
JBirb
JBirb
1  
Fleeting orris and lacklustre oud
Rather than an actual encounter between orris and oud, we get the orris fleeing the scene minutes after application as soon as oud makes an appearance. I was looking forward to an innovative combination, but that is not allowed to happen here. The orris note, while it remains detectable, is nice, more convincing than in some other perfumes by this house. But the oud is highly synthetic. Not unpleasant, but it doesn't make me want to come back for more either. If you would have told me this was a Montale perfume, I could have easily believed it.
0 Comments
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Statements

47 short views on the fragrance
2
Dusty moldy scent slowly transitioning to barnyardy oud
0 Comments
2
From a fizzy cassis into a woody-musky orris. A miraculous transition yes, but one with an unhappy ending
0 Comments
2
Interesting take on a well known DNA. In my opinion is an upgraded version of DHP with Francesca’s touch.
0 Comments
2
Pretty forgettable scent. Just spicy powdery.
0 Comments
4 months ago
1
I don't knwo how people find this powdery: on me, this is an animalic opening; then a smoky, woody oud with orris notes. Great!
0 Comments
1
orris heavy fragrance with a medicinal lavender & fresh citrus that falls on a bed of heavily ambery animalics that lean slightly barnyard
0 Comments
1
This complex fragrance layers aromatic notes of lavender and citrus with rich heart notes of iris and spice, resting on a warm, woody base.
0 Comments
1 year ago
1
Not sure this gets the love it deserves. Two divergent fragrances weaving a dance. Strong FB DNA. Strange and addictive candy iris oud.
0 Comments
Reminds me of Iris Silver Mist but warm and slightly buttery. I disagree, this is not Bianchi's best work. More mass-appealing, sure.
0 Comments
5 months ago
I kinda like it but the fruitiness was too dryer sheet for me
0 Comments
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