FRAGRANCE | Elixir EDT by Penhaligon's: How do you like your incense mentholated?

I nabbed this some time ago because I have a thing for incense fragrances (just as I have a thing for almost anything). Penhaligon's Elixir delivers right away with a very prominent incense, gorgeously mentholated with some eucalyptus. The result is instantly calming, as if putting you in some meditative trance. I don't find it churchy by any means, though, judging at least from the opening. That distinction I would have to give to my bottle of Jovoy's La Liturge des Heures.

The incense is light but not as light as the ethereal Dzongkha by L'Artisan Parfumeur. And no, it isn't a bad thing at all. Soon after, some florals come swirling in, along with some sweetness and a pinch or two of cinnamon. It's a really lovely mix, and I enjoy how the scent remains light and zen. Some 15 minutes in and the cinnamon grows stronger but never overpowers. Unlike Boucheron Jaipur Homme, where the cinnamon carries a powdery trait, this one in Elixir is projecting its spicy character instead.

The fragrance's woody aspect surfaces in the drydown. It's a light and dry kind of wood, gloriously caressed by the ever-present smoky incense, which by now has taken in all of those other notes with it. You get a bit of sweetness, a bit of spiciness, a bit of eucalyptus, all in this billowing smoke of serenity. And I'm now seeing the incense's churchy persona at this point. Beautiful!

Elixir comes in a standard Penhaligon's bottle, complete with its own tiny bow. The box is a work of art—ornate and regal with its black base, gold print, and fiery red accents. It's a fragrance that's light enough to be worn on hot summer days but would be just as apt in cold weather. As to occasion, however, I don't think it's as versatile. Nonetheless, performance is pretty decent. And while for me it's worth trying, it's a scent profile that is not for everybody.