Created by Dannielle Sergent in 2016, it is described by the perfumer as: "From inside an Incense filled private confessional, hopes of forgiveness are smothered by plumes of smoke that flick with discipline. Amplified by birch leaf the incense is sharp and focused. Yet the memory of the familiar scent of hay dampened by warm bodies consumes him. The natural and free spirited hay teases and taunts, dancing between the plumes of guilt. A golden trace of Immortelle creeps in beckoning him toward the light. Without hesitation he rides, to sin again in damp hay under an indulgent sun. The scent is warm, slightly wet, familiar, and round with a faint memory of discipline. Worn shamelessly by saints and sinners alike." With notes of hay, incense, birch leaf, immortelle, benzoin, oakwood, lavender, labdanum and vetiver. Hay Incense is an eau de parfum, edp.
Fragrantica: "Fans of Bulgari Black would be well advised to seek this out. It hits the same phenolic-sweet buttons, though its hay, immortelle, and incense accords keep it more in the realm of nature. Fabulous, and has one of the most stunning opening ten minutes in my recent tests."
Fragrantica: "mm what a temper! This is ... gothic nature! I have a freshly polished black leather, tons of oak, and later puffs of lavender. The incense, the bitter vetiver that intertwine with the labdanum in a sweet woody amber drydown, but still beautiful ... pissed off! On my skin the finish calms into licorice, immortelle and amber. If you love Prayer by trnp, Hoz by Mallo, Fumidus, Bvlgari leather with no vanillas around ... give it a try!"
Fragrantica: "This fragrance is so beautiful! On paper I liked it quite a lot; on my skin, this goes into the “absolute love” category. Leans a little masculine (for my partner who likes sweeter, flowery scents.) This is green sweet leather. If i were to paint/draw an impression: wash of deep amber with orange and yellow streaks, contrasting with waves of light green, and dark brownish red inked lines threaded through and over... tying those contrasts together. Starts off with the fresh bright green and yellow of hay, quickly followed by a large influx of ambery and sweet almost leather. In time that leather becomes much more prominent. There is this contrasting play of sweet freshness against the leather and warm sweet tones, eventually drying to an incense leather. Those fresh green/yellows pop up repeatedly against the deepening ambery leather. This fragrance is a journey. Occasions to wear: special workday to make a fresh, powerful, creative, but grounded impression on a boss. This is a scent to get a raise or promotion (if your organization is seeking leadership and independence.)"
Fragrantica: "Wow is this one amazing...I bought the sample pack for $40 off the Cogno-Scenti website which comes with seven different flavors to try, but this is hands down my favorite...will be buying a full bottle soon...the hay is so beautifully composed in this with the smoke...it's so well-blended and absolutely breathtaking..."
CaFleureBon: "No. 30, the newest perfume from Cognoscenti, is a robber bride who just who just tied up the groom and ransacked the church. While hay and incense get top billing in the opening credits, this is as much a rollicking tale of leather. The initial blast of sweet green hay is chased on its heels by the rough-and-tumble aroma of worn saddles and riding crops. Coming up close on their heels is the tobacco-like aroma of birch leaf something a little dirty and sweaty, which is most likely labdanum. But just wait till the incense gets here. Perfumer and owner Dannielle Sergent describes her inspiration for No. 3: “I started the journey of this fragrance a couple of years ago. The idea was to couple the rigorous and disciplined fragrance of church Incense with a soft and multi dimensional natural scent. Sin and salvation embodied in fragrance, but so intertwined they cannot free themselves from each other. It’s a risque roll in the hay with a devout sinner. It’s love, lust, regret, and ultimately a natural peace.” The leather and hay pull their weapons and fire back and forth. Just as they seem to be running out of bullets and settling into a partnership, woody incense arrives to stir things up again in a smoky cloud. Each note gets the upper hand in a dance that continues for some time; leather one moment, incense the next, then back to hay. When sweaty- sweet labdanum makes her entrance, shimmying like the showgirl she is, the incense, hay and leather follow her into the stables for a threesome. Sneaking into the background of this drama are dense but muted green notes. The charred ember of birch and petrol-root aroma of vetiver can overpower fragrances for me, but here these potent chords are held in check, providing an earthy canvas against which the leather, incense and hay stand out in relief. Where the opening is a leather and hay tussle, the dry down is the soft smolder of that last lick of flame, the linger of years of incense in wooden church pews. The incense used here is tickly, gingery and slightly spicy, and hovers around the sweetish tang of labdanum while vetiver continues to hum like a low string. By the dry down, No. 30 achieves a perfect tension between its leading notes. In the end, leather, hay and incense ride off together into the sunset."
