Kyphi by Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes

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Kyphi Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes 2011

5.8 / 10 62 Ratings

A perfume by Olympic Orchids Artisan Perfumes for women and men, released in 2011. The scent is resinous-spicy. It is still in production.
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Main accords

Resinous

Spicy

Woody

Earthy

Oriental

Fragrance Notes

Calamus

Spices

Labdanum

Beeswax

Cassia

Cyperus

Frankincense

Lemon grass Saffron

Saffron

Spikenard

Wild orange Benzoin

Benzoin

Henna

Juniper berry Myrrh

Myrrh

Perfumer

Dr. Ellen Covey

Ratings

Scent

5.862 Ratings

Longevity

7.651 Ratings

Sillage

6.549 Ratings

Bottle

6.237 Ratings

Value for money

5.915 Ratings

Submitted by DeGe53 · last update on 11/13/2025.

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Reviews

5 in-depth fragrance descriptions

03/31/2016

5Scent 10Longevity 9Sillage

ScentFan
336 Reviews

ScentFan

Helpful Review 4

Ancient Egypt

I am thrilled to have found this recreation of a perfume from ancient Egypt. Kyphi is the latin version of a Greek translation of the Egyptian word, Kapet (incense). I first read about it as the perfumed unguent found in Tutankamen's tomb. Observers thought it had a smell similar to Valerian, an herb good for calming nerves or promoting sleep. It does. Now the main ingredient is thought to be its more expensive relative, Spikenard--not specifically listed among our notes, but I have a sample of Spikenard and the earthy, resinous smell is very close to this scent's dominant note. Coconut and frankincense were also thought to be present in the unguent from the tomb. Beeswax stands in for coconut here. The spices are aromatic and pungent. Kyphi was known to have been used as a temple incense. Various recipes for it exist in ancient Greek, Egyptian and Jewish texts. In the Bible, a version of it was used to anoint the feet of Jesus. Based on my research, this is a very well-done version of this scent, an "all-natural mix of resins, essential oils, and absolutes." Strangely, the first potent sniff took me straight to ancient Egypt as if I were standing in the temple, or in a crowd with cones of unguent melting on their heads. Labdanum, Myrrh and Frankincense are strong and Calamus (palm leaf) lends a bit of greenness. Perhaps, in combination, they mimic Spikenard's intensely organic aroma. Needless to say, Kyphi is an acquired taste. Not something most modern westerners would wear. Think of the complex and interesting Slumberhouse scents, multiplied by a thousand. I'll try it for meditation or perhaps in combination with a potent floral. Few may find it wearable, but it's worth smelling, if only to be among the pharaohs for a time.

06/04/2025

8Scent 6Longevity 5Sillage

kittea
65 Reviews

kittea

2

orange cola, as poured by Osiris

I know citrus really easily ends up in 'functional fragrance' territory for a lot of people. But while lemon has that association for me, orange never did, at least not until Kyphi. Something about the waxiness and woodiness in the background of this orange in particular hits right at my memory of polishing wooden furniture to help my mum get ready for company. It's not necessarily bad, just unusual.

I've never smelled kyphi incense before, but just based on this, it seems like ancient Egyptian temples must have smelled a lot like Coca-Cola. Resin is not present so much as spices are, and the particular blend of spices ends up smelling very drinkable. The waxiness in the background anchors it to keep it from going into straight-up soda territory, and what you get is a sort of fun little tension between ancient and modern, like some ancient Egyptian version of a Renaissance faire.

02/21/2025

4Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

LastWonder
489 Reviews

LastWonder

1

Bug Spray and Wood Polish had a Baby

This fragrance is a 100% natural mix of resins, oils, and absolutes to make a liquid version of the incense that was used in ancient Egypt. I found this fragrance reminds me of wood polish spray mixed with all natural bug spray. The beeswax is super heavy and the citrus notes make it super aromatic. So you get waxy bug spray for a fragrance. The wax will slowly ease up while the aromatic citrus and lemon grass will become more prominent but the wax will always remain the background weighing this fragrance down.

This fragrance is very aromatic, it has a strong projection where you will leave a scent trail behind you. This fragrance lasted about 7 hours on my skin. There are several sizes and prices available starting at 5ml for $18, 15ml for $35, 30ml for $65, and 100ml for $120.

11/18/2013

6Scent 7.5Longevity 5Sillage

Palonera
467 Reviews

Translated · Show original

Palonera

Top Review 25

"On Risks and Side Effects..."

I had been warned.
About mustard on chocolate cake, about burned nasal mucous membranes and headaches, about the fainting of socially endangered companions I had read, and about thought processes leading towards heroin.
I knew that Ellen Covey did not make it easy for her clientele with her fragrances, that surprises and unexpected twists were part of the concept, that the niche within the niche carefully chose its admirers.
And yet I had set my mind on testing "Kyphi" not in a quiet little room, not secretly and just for myself, but in the context of an annual general meeting with an outdoor program afterwards.
A long afternoon in the company of many people who might wrinkle their noses, who might strike me from their guest lists in the future and certify my nonexistent social competence.
I could not be entirely sane.

Small, inconspicuous, and already significantly emptied is the test tube with the light yellow liquid.
I know one should not judge solely by appearances; too much boldness has often backfired.
I am brave, I dare the obligatory three-drop dose on either side behind my ears and on my wrist, expecting it to sweep the ground from under my feet.
The ground stays where it is; instead, a medicinal, camphor-like scent wafts from my skin, immediately reminding me of cold balm and similar aromas - this is not unpleasant, but also not exactly what I expect from the top note of a perfume.
Shortly thereafter, dry spices mingle in, which I cannot clearly identify, paving the way for a semi-transparent, dark, yet not overly cool incense that now seeks to purposefully lead the character of the fragrance out of the pharmacy.
It does not fully succeed - like a red thread, an ethereal-menthol component runs through "Kyphi," which I cannot quite explain.
Could it be the calamus?

I have no idea who or what calamus might be, I consult Wikipedia for advice - and find enlightenment.
Calamus is described there as a type of marsh plant, whose fleshy root smells camphor-like and is considered a traditional medicinal plant in Asian medicine.
Its essential oil is also used in the production of bitter digestifs; even Coca-Cola reportedly contains calamus tincture according to Wikipedia.
That sounds healthy and explains my Vicks VapoRub association - but I better ignore what else Wikipedia has to say about calamus to avoid worrying about the legality of my actions.
"On risks and side effects..." - you know what I mean!

Instead, I welcome an old acquaintance on my skin, the "Coveyade," which has appeared in every tested fragrance from Olympic Orchids at a certain point and has made Ellen Covey's signature unmistakable for my nose: the slightly oily odor of a third-world shop, more atmospheric than olfactorily dominant.
On this basis, "Kyphi" shows a few unexpected facets, a citrus-like freshness flashes in the background for moments, a few woods are felled, and a honeycomb is carried past, its trace just barely perceptible.

All the while, "Kyphi" maintains its camphor-green, slightly resinous base on my skin - a scent that I find quite pleasant, although I would not readily label it as a perfume and can well imagine that it may require some getting used to for many noses and only elicits spontaneous sympathy in exceptional cases.
As incense or a room fragrance for meditative purposes, "Kyphi" might have better chances of gaining a larger circle of friends - but after a two-day test, I can happily state that no one has ended our friendship, my partner is still my partner, I do not create a radius of three meters around me on the bus, and nothing else has happened that would give serious cause for concern.
This may also be because "Kyphi," when applied in a dotted three-drop dosage at home, has a moderate sillage and is only very faintly perceptible close to the skin in the cold of a November afternoon.
While most fragrances from Ellen Covey remained with me without significant change and reduction until the following morning, "Kyphi" becomes noticeably airier and softer over the course of wear, until after a maximum of eight hours, only a very faint, ethereal trace remains.

10/14/2012

2Scent 10Longevity 7.5Sillage

Florblanca
1168 Reviews

Translated · Show original

Florblanca

8

Nature doesn't always smell good...

Olympic Orchids claims that Kyphi is a 100% natural fragrance. Well, nature - that may be true, but not in THIS combination! Kyphi nearly burns my nasal mucous membranes, and headaches are a given here.

The recommended dosage for Kyphi should be: Please apply one-hundredth of a drop and only leave the house after 4 hours to avoid the risk of fainting various people on the way!

The scent basically has no development, and the most pleasant part of it is still the top note. After that, something sweet and disgusting develops, as if one were (figuratively speaking) spreading mustard on chocolate cake. Kyphi is hardly bearable for me and is essentially no less terrible than Bay Rum.

It is very interesting how broad the spectrum of such fundamentally different scents Olympic Orchids has to offer. There really is something for every taste with this brand. However, Kyphi is likely to find very few enthusiasts...