Incense Water is a holy water of herbs, resins, incense smoke and amber. Top notes of bergamot and lavender fuse with middle notes of Roman chamomile, Egyptian geranium and saffron to gently rest on a base of Somalian frankincense and the soft woods of sandalwood, cedarwood and amber. It is an eau de parfum, edp.
It was created by classically trained British perfumer, Lyn Harris who trained in Paris and Robertet Grasse before starting her career working with many acclaimed brands. She was one of the first female master perfumers to break into the industry. Lyn Harris founded Miller Harris in 2000 as well as founding Perfumer H in 2015. The laboratory and shop of Perfumer H are located in Marylebone, London and here each person is able to see how the perfumer works and experience the working laboratory.
PERFUMER H INCENSE WATER REVIEWS
Fragrantica: "Passage d'Enfer but without that cloying, metallic pencil smell -excellent!"
Fragrantica: "I'll be honest, the name Incense Water made me sceptical. Incense and water together in one bottle? I thought, "That's not going to work." And yet, here I am, three wears in and obsessed. The first time I sprayed it, I didn't know what to think. You get this sharp, almost electric crackle of black pepper and cool cardamom that feels like something just switched on in your mind. Then, this "water" note comes through, but it's not your typical oceanic scent. There's no fake sea breeze or sporty nonsense here. It’s more like the scent of rain on old stone steps—cold and clean, but also a bit ancient. And the incense? It's there, but it's not smoky or churchy. It’s more like the faint scent of resin drifting across a frozen lake. The lavender and chamomile notes smooth everything out, making it feel incredibly calm and meditative. It’s the kind of scent that makes your brain unclench. Here's the thing: The first time I wore it, I was baffled. The second time, I found myself thinking about it hours later. By the third time, I was hooked. This is one of those fragrances that sneaks up on you, gets into your head, and stays there. When it comes to performance, this is a personal bubble kind of scent. If someone smells it on you, it’s because they're right in your space. But that's part of its charm—it’s intimate. I get the best results spraying it on my clothes, where it unfolds slowly and lingers for hours. It’s perfect for quiet days, rainy city walks, or when you’re at your desk and need to get into a deep focus zone. Yes, the price tag stings—£200 for 100ml is a big investment. But this isn't a fragrance you'll spray mindlessly every day. This is a scent you ration, saving it for special moments. Ultimately, Incense Water isn't a perfume in the traditional sense. It's more like bottling a mood, a specific headspace. It's not trying to seduce or impress; it's just quietly and beautifully itself. And if you're ready for that kind of slow-burn connection, it's absolutely worth it. Have you ever had a fragrance completely change your mind?"
Fragrantica: "Airy incense fragrance but has some depth and is really gorgeous. I am really picky about incense as I my skin chemistry amps this up more than any other note. Lavender makes the incense (which is not smoky) so smooth and relaxing. Meditative even. One of the best ones from the house if you like minimalist fragrances like I do. Only downsides are it's expensive and performance is pretty darn bad. Scent 97/100 / Performance 25/100"
Fragrantica: "I sampled this at the Chiltern St store in London and was recommended several perfumes by Lyn Harris herself who helped me while the store assistant was with another customer - felt very lucky with the timing of my visit. Incense water to me made me pause, even amongst all the beautiful scents in Perfumer H and caused me to take a l moment to think and enjoy: back to childhood, the scent of Catholic cathedral incense but also the care and love of being with family. Feeling enveloped and relaxed but at the same time full of promise for the future. It is more than a scent to me, it transported me to that feeling! I am saving up for a bottle so that I can wear it on special occasions. Lyn recommended this as a soft, but strengthening scent suitable for the office (I work in finance). And I can totally see why, because of the invigorating geranium and bergamot, mixed with calming lavender and chamomile underpinned by the woody, incense bass which gives it a confidence. Can see it working in this environment too but to me it is too special and to be reserved for truly sacred moments! Interested to hear others’ takes on this fragrance."
