Smoke of Desert

Smoke of God

Simone Andreoli 2018

A problem with the "smoky" accord is that can mean quite different smells. There's the smoke of burning wood and, like Smoke of Desert, it can mean the smell of burning incense. That's what Smoke of Desert is, an incense fragrance - the same type of incense smell at a Catholic Mass. What I found most interesting about it is that it's fresh, although I could hardly imagine that being said of a smoky fragrance before I tried it. The opening immediately has the smell of incense but there's something more there that is not indicated by the notes. It's something cold, almost citrusy. This freshness subsides a bit during the dry down but never goes away. There's also a dry leathery-woody base underneath that's subtle and only supports the incense.

Longevity was quite good for me with a noticeable skin scent still there after about 11 hours. Projection is moderate - you won't choke out the room with this one - maybe about a 6 foot scent bubble that quickly reduced to about 3' after an hour. Makes it very versatile. It's not heavy incense, like Signature Extrême and because of the lightness, I think it would work most any time of the year and for all occasions. Very masculine fragrance. What's not to like!

I say your name
in dark nights,
whenever I see the stars,
on the dark horizon.
But this night is starless.
Only the moon hangs low over the city.
Illuminating the night as if it were day.
Do you remember when we walked in the moonlight?
We guided each other closely through the night.
From the mystique of the moon,
we both wanted to drink the sap of life.

The night hangs deep in all the shadows,
occult creatures wander about.
And I feel so indescribably empty,
to walk through this night without you.
Music and passion have always bound us.
But this night remains deaf, mute, and empty.

Lost in thought, I walk through a spicy fog.
Everything feels so harsh, nowhere is warmth to be felt.
A crackle in the distance. Crickets chirping nearby.
The inner clock within me rings,
shaking all the dead hours awake with you.

Thick smoke holds me captive,
accompanying me through the dark alleys.
I drink some absinthe on the way,
piercing the bad thoughts from my mind.
All the feelings still stand aside,
but the moon does not want to illuminate them.
I think of you so often,
but tonight my heart is broken.
My pain lays down like a cold rain,
on the dirty street.

Tonight I wear the garment of "Smoke Of Desert / Smoke Of God | Simone Andreoli," layered with all its darkest facets.
Strictly wrapped in cold incense.
It takes my breath away,
so cool is this perfume.
Leather whips crack wildly around,
resinous streams give a hard emphasis to the entire scent profile.
Here, nothing is sweet, nothing is empathetic.
In this scent, there is only the cold, rough silence.
Sacked in incense. A bestial incense that buzzes so violently in my head, as if it would completely swallow me.
But one needs such things when one is sad.
For I do not want to laugh there, I simply want to leave my feelings to the bad part of life.
Just lean into the depression. Close myself off.
The scent is just right for heartbreak in the shadow of the moon.

-*

For hardcore incense lovers, an absolute must!
A porn star of sorts, among incense fragrances.
But do not expect warmth or tenderness.
It is driven only by cool feelings.
This perfume is made for hard, unhappy hours.
For it opens the night and the moon.
Lets everything suffocate in its coolness at the bud.
Strong longevity and murderous sillage round everything off.
A formidable candidate that one cannot always handle, even though one thinks one somehow loves the scent.

In a quirky way.

Smoke of the Desert - Simone Andreoli

Smoke of the Desert is for me one of the most authentic church incense fragrances I have had the pleasure of smelling so far. If you are looking for true, sacred incense and not a modern interpretation or watered-down version, you are in the right place.

The scent starts off with dominant incense, accompanied by a slightly spicy note. Nothing sweet, nothing creamy - the incense is uncompromisingly at the center and remains the clear main actor throughout the entire duration. The initial spiciness gradually recedes, making the scent calmer and even clearer.

In the background, a dark leather emerges: dry, serious, neither soft nor animalistic. It perfectly supports the incense without ever overshadowing it. Overall, the fragrance feels very mystical, cool, and almost sacred, yet still possesses a certain wearability and appeal.

Particularly noteworthy is the constant coolness that the fragrance radiates. Presumably, absinthe is responsible for this. However, I do not perceive a typical absinthe smell - rather, it provides a slightly metallic, fresh coldness that accompanies the scent from the start to the drydown. It is precisely this coolness that prevents Smoke of the Desert from feeling heavy or overwhelming.

The performance is extremely strong. Longevity is easily until the next day, and the scent remains present the entire time without one quickly becoming nose-blind. The sillage is noticeably perceptible but controlled - the fragrance subtly fills the room without being overpowering. More than four sprays are definitely not needed here. In warmer temperatures, two to three are completely sufficient. If the altar boy forgets to heat the thurible during the mass, you know: There were too many sprays!

In terms of versatility, Smoke of the Desert is surprisingly adaptable. Wearable year-round, although I would be a bit more cautious with the dosage in extreme heat. It is definitely signature-worthy, provided you love incense and appreciate a certain seriousness in a fragrance.

The bottle is typical of Simone Andreoli: simple, functional, good spray head, nothing spectacular - but absolutely fitting for the very fair price-performance ratio.

Conclusion:
An uncompromising, authentic church incense fragrance with strong performance, cool radiance, and high individuality. Dark, mystical, and special - without feeling heavy. For me, a true signature candidate and already the third fragrance from Simone Andreoli in my collection where everything just works. This scent will accompany me often - even as an atheist!
Suggestion for layering: Smoke in the Dessert + Reflection 45. A brilliant combo!

... green fairy sitting at a table and enjoying the aroma. My warm cashmere sweater and leather jacket make everything somehow seductive. It’s a small smoky, wicked pub. I’m waiting for Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Ernest Hemingway, or Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec to walk through the door.

Upon applying this perfume, the first thing you notice is the alcoholic scent of absinthe. This is accompanied by cashmere and leather. A little later, the fragrance becomes smoky and resinous, but it does not overshadow the absinthe, which remains present.

As always, it is a unisex fragrance that, in my opinion, suits men slightly better than women.

The longevity is strong, and the sillage is also strong and persistent.

If you like it alcoholic, smoky, and resinous, you are in the right place.

It’s definitely worth recommending and is a true niche fragrance with some edges.

Smoke of Desert is a truly pleasant incense scent.
It showcases the incense note wonderfully, but in a really pleasant and appealing way. The incense note has a slightly "fresh" quality to it.
I think this comes a bit from the absinthe accord.
It may sound strange, but that's my guess.

Over time, the incense note becomes a bit milder, but it remains present until the end. Very slight leathery nuances are added, and otherwise, it gradually shifts more towards a resinous character.
This spicy, resinous aspect then becomes noticeably prominent.

The scent is suitable for unisex use.
Personally, I tend to see it more as a masculine fragrance.
On my skin, the scent lasts about eight hours and the sillage is completely solid to good.