Woody
Noteschamomilecistuselemiincenselabdanummyrrhpalisandervanilla
Tags
#beast
#clean
Style
unisex
Perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour sought to recreate the smell of the inside of an ancient Catholic cathedral: “It’s a mix of something strongly incense-y together with a mineral-like note and wet flagstone, which adds something fresh and chilly.” Avignon is indeed chilly, but also radiant, with its aromatic halo of balsamic myrrh, lemony elemi and punchy patchouli.
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
A quiet afternoon when conversation stays low and your presence feels composed rather than sociable. Avignon’s cold-stone impression keeps its incense solemn, while the luminous resins suggest warmth beneath a dark wool coat.
How to wear
Cool weather suits the contrast between chilly mineral effects and balsamic warmth. Start with one or two sprays on skin beneath clothing, allowing the incense to emerge gradually rather than surrounding yourself with it at once. In warmer conditions or close quarters, apply more lightly.
Who it’s for
For those who enjoy incense as the main subject rather than a decorative accent. Its austere woods, lemony resin and mineral coolness will appeal to tastes drawn toward atmospheric, architectural fragrances rather than overt sweetness.
Release year
2002 (or 2003)
The nose
Bertrand Duchaufour is known for layered compositions that bring incense, woods and resins into tension with airy, transparent effects. His work includes L’Artisan Parfumeur’s Timbuktu and Dzongkha, both notable for their evocative sense of place. In Avignon, he gives incense architectural depth, pairing its resinous warmth with the cool impression of stone.
Comme Des Garcons’s story
Comme des Garçons treats perfume as an experimental medium rather than a conventional accessory. Its fragrances explore unexpected materials, places and sensory associations, prioritising stimulation and personal experience over familiar ideas of seduction. Avignon expresses that approach through a wearable portrait of ritual and memory.
Series 3: Incense | Avignon’s concept
Avignon translates the atmosphere of French Catholic Mass into scent. Duchaufour drew on memories of the churches of his childhood, placing incense at the centre of the composition rather than using it as a background accent. The cathedral-like contrast between rising resinous warmth and cold stone connects it to the Incense collection’s imagined spiritual journey.
Extra info
Avignon is one of five fragrances in Series 3: Incense, alongside Jaisalmer, Kyoto, Ouarzazate and Zagorsk. It was also one of ten fragrances featured in Somerset House’s 2017 Perfume exhibition.
Featured in edits and sample packs
Incense across eras and lands
Also featured in
Gifts Under £100
Noteschamomilecistuselemiincenselabdanummyrrhpalisandervanilla
Tags
#beast
#clean
Style
unisex
Perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour sought to recreate the smell of the inside of an ancient Catholic cathedral: “It’s a mix of something strongly incense-y together with a mineral-like note and wet flagstone, which adds something fresh and chilly.” Avignon is indeed chilly, but also radiant, with its aromatic halo of balsamic myrrh, lemony elemi and punchy patchouli.
All about this fragrance
Vibe check
A quiet afternoon when conversation stays low and your presence feels composed rather than sociable. Avignon’s cold-stone impression keeps its incense solemn, while the luminous resins suggest warmth beneath a dark wool coat.
How to wear
Cool weather suits the contrast between chilly mineral effects and balsamic warmth. Start with one or two sprays on skin beneath clothing, allowing the incense to emerge gradually rather than surrounding yourself with it at once. In warmer conditions or close quarters, apply more lightly.
Who it’s for
For those who enjoy incense as the main subject rather than a decorative accent. Its austere woods, lemony resin and mineral coolness will appeal to tastes drawn toward atmospheric, architectural fragrances rather than overt sweetness.
Release year
2002 (or 2003)
The nose
Bertrand Duchaufour is known for layered compositions that bring incense, woods and resins into tension with airy, transparent effects. His work includes L’Artisan Parfumeur’s Timbuktu and Dzongkha, both notable for their evocative sense of place. In Avignon, he gives incense architectural depth, pairing its resinous warmth with the cool impression of stone.
Comme Des Garcons’s story
Comme des Garçons treats perfume as an experimental medium rather than a conventional accessory. Its fragrances explore unexpected materials, places and sensory associations, prioritising stimulation and personal experience over familiar ideas of seduction. Avignon expresses that approach through a wearable portrait of ritual and memory.
Series 3: Incense | Avignon’s concept
Avignon translates the atmosphere of French Catholic Mass into scent. Duchaufour drew on memories of the churches of his childhood, placing incense at the centre of the composition rather than using it as a background accent. The cathedral-like contrast between rising resinous warmth and cold stone connects it to the Incense collection’s imagined spiritual journey.
Extra info
Avignon is one of five fragrances in Series 3: Incense, alongside Jaisalmer, Kyoto, Ouarzazate and Zagorsk. It was also one of ten fragrances featured in Somerset House’s 2017 Perfume exhibition.
Featured in edits and sample packs
Incense across eras and lands
Also featured in
Gifts Under £100