Question:
The place that has smelled most like CdG Avignon to my nose was St. Mary's in Kraków, Poland. But I'm neither Catholic nor Orthodox, but an ex-Lutheran.

Answer:
Glad you agree Elf.
I love the smell of ecclesiastical orthodox incense.
The crypts and catacombs, yes, they're a different matter....They do have a cooler and more musty note.
BTW: Another interesting incense scent: Essence of John Galliano by Diptyque. It's worth checking out (room spray actually, but you can get away with spraying on hands). Close to Messe de Minuit.

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Donna Karan Cashmere

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Another fellow Orthodox here!
To me, Parfum Sacre evokes the smell inside an Orthodox Church!

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Originally Posted by restlessoul To me, Parfum Sacre evokes the smell inside an Orthodox Church! To me Parfum Sacré smells like an old theater diva's dressing room: rose talc, powders and other theatre cosmetics, exotic paraphernalia, dried roses hanging from the ceiling...

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This is very interesting. I only knew about MDM. So, the subtle differences in the resin actually make a difference from church to church? I shall have to look into some of these other suggestions. Thanks, people.

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Another Orthodox here. I agree with Helg that Avignon. If I think of Orthodox incense, it is what I think about.
The smell of Messe de Minuit is close to the scent of incense burnt in Kievo-Pecherskaja Lavra, but it needs a sweeter note to be perfect. Zagorsk is too piney to resemble incense I grew up with, but it is good too. I brought some incense from Lavra, and although I have not burned it, I can smell its scent. My favourite incense fragrance is Bois d'Encens, but it is too dry.

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Originally Posted by Twolf To quote my crush: CDG OMG! Zagorsk that is! I am sampling Zagorsk for the first time tonight and I am in LOVE!!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE, did I mention LOVE?!

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Yes, all this talk about incense and I finally broke down and ordered a bottle of Zagorsk! And I'm layering Crazy Libellule Encens Mystic (a solid that smells very much like Avignon) with Gucci PH and it's really nice! I think I'll be on this incense kick for at least a month, now....

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Originally Posted by helg Orthodox here and I can tell you it's Avignon that's closest to the black incense we brun here :-) Helg:
Do you know the name of the black resin?
In the Greek Orthodox Church of North America, we burn the little yellow beads of frankincense, which in Greek is called "livani."