Unum Lavs was originally a room spray L.A.V.S designed to perfume the eccelesiastical robes worn by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, as well as others. Worked over to become a perfume, it is the definitive liturgical fragrance. Notes of Jasmine, Cardamom, Black Pepper, Elemi, Coriander, Clove, Labdanum, Opoponax, Palisander Rosewood, Amber, Oakmoss, Tonka Bean make up this perfect churchy scent. The moment I sprayed it on, it is Catholic High Mass in all the best ways. Not just the censor's fragrance, but the bones of where you are, the humanity that surrounds you, some of the outdoors brought in. Deeply meditative, the incense in this is cooled, woody, resinous.
This is the extrait de parfum.
Nero Profumo - "It's not a secret I'm a frankincense freak but, honestly, LAVS is a concrete step forward in its genre and a very substantial one for countless reasons. For starters, it's tremendously striking for its incredible evocative power. Its uniqueness, its ability to get so close to the main theme while skipping being too simplistically literal and, last but not least, the quality of the ingredients involved. Boatloads of resins that range from elemi to frankincense via labdanum, myrrh and opoponax concocted around what's one of the best woody bases I've experienced since Bois D'Ascese. Cloves enhances a certain medicinal vibe before settling down and give birth to a clean undertone that gets more and more remarkable as the fragrance evolves into an endless, pure-incense driven drydown which also relies on the most solid woody-ambery (as opposed to *woodyamber*) foundation I've smelt in a while. Forget the usual cedarwood, forget the typical mono-dimensionality of most incense-soliflores, forget those exhausting woodyambers. LAVS is incredibly alive, vibrating and vivid as only this biblical resin can get. Addictive, introspective, dark and deep as well as spacious, airy and yes, even epic. Saying this fragrance is compelling would honestly be reductive. My personal standout in this line and something I'll never want to be without."
Basenotes -"This scent makes me physically uncomfortable. The scene it sets is unpleasant, at best. I feel like I am chin deep in cold, murky water at the bottom of a well, waiting to die alone. This is what Buffalo Bill's basement smelled like in Silence of the Lambs. Any scent that can evoke such repulsion is an A+ in my book!"
Basenotes - " Overall smells about Catholicism, midnight masses and Eucharist, all is hyper-realistic, all is properly true and melancholically childish, the note of frankincense is straight to the point (un-floral, un-gourmant, un-rooty, un-herbal, un-affected), spiritual, dense and smooth (never particularly smouldering or burning), basically far from the waxy/boise (resins from the forests) colder orthodox type of frankincense. I still detect a rosey-laundry-soapy background and this is the measure of how much the note of "un-treated/un-affected" frankincense is really central, being woods, musks, amber and impalpable floral notes just a "surrounding olfactory background". I can say at this point that Lavs is all about frankincense and fresh-liquid spices, a vivid, penetrating, crisp, aromatic piece of sacramental liquid with a surprisingly measured "implementation" of resins, woods and musks, namely a frankincense-oriented freshly/aromatic potion (while Loence -one of the last frankincense-based potions I've tried- was smooth, warm, balsams veined and suede-like velvety. Thumbs up with no hesitation."
Basenotes -"Maybe because LAVS is an extrait de parfum and therefore is also deeper and richer in nuances than Eau de Parfums, or maybe because Sorcinelli and his team know what they're talking about when they talk spirituality ... but LAVS goes just deeper and further than any other, with a passionate, balanced craft work around the nuances of incense. Spices, amber, musk, aromatic woods, flowers, they all discreetly enhance them and they all help to define and deepen incense, like participants in a ritual. Not a thick scent, though, and above all, not heavy as you may expect: it's deep and enveloping, but as regards of its substance, it's incredibly balanced, really “spacious. Totally pleasant to wear, even effortless. And well, all that aside since we're talking about a perfume... the fragrance itself smells great, sophisticated, with a cozy and spiritual mood and a quiet feel of sacred austerity. If you've a penchant for meditative fragrances with a refined look, this may easily sit among your holy grails. Total quality."
The fragrance I perceived was that of frankincense. It is how I imagine St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City would smell like. It's a rich and cool incense fragrance that conjures images of cathedrals and holy shrines where prayer and meditation is done. It is a novel scent. I am not worthy to wear such a scent even though I give it 5 stars.
Churchy incense. Big Gothic church with marble surroundings. It's cool and contemplative. I would love it as a room scent. The price is a bit prohibitive and it didn't last very long on me (like 2 hours) but maybe longer if sprayed. A definite must-try for incense lovers.
The fragrance I perceived was that of frankincense. It is how I imagine St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City would smell like. It's a rich and cool incense fragrance that conjures images of cathedrals and holy shrines where prayer and meditation is done. It is a novel scent. I am not worthy to wear such a scent even though I give it 5 stars.
Churchy incense. Big Gothic church with marble surroundings. It's cool and contemplative. I would love it as a room scent. The price is a bit prohibitive and it didn't last very long on me (like 2 hours) but maybe longer if sprayed. A definite must-try for incense lovers.
This is the consummate perfume. The fragrance is truly an olfactory experience of a human having heaven on earth. i cannot describe the scents. I can only tell you the feeling I experience when wearing it. My husband also loved the fragrance and did not at first determine he was experiencing my perfume. Sadly, as a human here on earth, this fragrance is beyond my discretionary income at this time. I will remain a purchaser of the rollerball when Surrender to Chance has specials.
I was excited to get my sample and I was not disappointed. The smell of rich incense with a floral lift makes you see your own vision of heaven. The fragrance is long lasting, with a moderate sillage. Two popes have used this fragrance for their vestments, how wrong could you possibly go?
