Oriental

Benzoin smells like sweetened vanilla cream kissed with caramel and a whisper of incense smoke. Imagine walking into a bakery where warm pastries have just emerged from the oven, then stepping into a Buddhist temple where resin smoulders on hot coals. It's honeyed and slightly powdery, with an almost medicinal undertone—like comforting cough sweets wrapped in silk. There's a subtle almond note too, creamy rather than sharp. It's deeply gourmand yet spiritual, simultaneously cosy and exotic.

Oriental

Frankincense absolute smells like sacred incense smoke given flesh—warm, slightly sweet, and deeply woody with whispered spice underneath. Imagine walking into an ancient temple where resin has been smouldering for centuries; there's honeyed amber, dry papery warmth, and a subtle peppery bite. It's not harsh like fresh incense smoke, but rather soft and creamy, like amber-tinged smoke that's settled into fabric. There's an almost medicinal cleanliness beneath the sweetness, reminiscent of aged leather, myrrh's cousin, with hints of citrus peel and warm honey.