The Challenge of the Ascetic

[zankoku_zen]

Sandalwood incense, frankincense, aloeswood, and ti leaf.

[starbrow]

I keep sniffing this one and feeling almost hypnotized, which has made it hard to write a review because I just want to smell it again and exhale deeply and bliss out. I can do this! I am strong!

 

Can we just talk about the bottle art for a second? The Challenge of the Ascetic is seriously one of the cutest, quirkiest Shunga labels ever and I am so here for it. That adorable tiny ascetic and his fleshly vigil. I didn't know I needed this in my life but I do.

 

Okay. Cap comes off. It's quiet. No surprise there. But an appealing soft incense nonetheless. Time to test. Ooooo. This...this is some good stuff. This is not your run-of-the-mill incense. I have sandalwood and frankincense essential oils, and neither one jump out at me from the blend here. Aloeswood (aka agarwood aka oud) is perhaps the creamy wood I am smelling? (Zero whiff of barnyard, thank the stars.) And the ti leaf is definitely the chilled-out, dark green peacefulness-of-the-garden vibe that permeates the gentle resins.

 

Put them all together, I'm inhaling the calmest, most bewitching woods and incense in the world. Where most have a warmth that brings to mind burning incense, The Challenge goes in the opposite direction; it suggests a cool, dark forest, meditating alone. The longer it dries down, the more the creaminess of the aloeswood resin does the thing that good oud does, and becomes absolutely heavenly. I am just fine with the quiet throw of this blend; it fits the mood perfectly, and it lasts for hours and hours. 

 

I want to slather in this and do yoga. I am in love. Knocked it out of the park, Ascetic!

[Rane.]

It's a unique one I will probably layer with. Smells like fragrant air, if that makes sense. Probably the Ti & Frankincense. Light, uplifting, kinda green. Very different from what I'm used to in a good way.

Edited March 14, 2020 by Rane.
added *from what I'm

[Janis]

I can identify sandalwood and sweet frankincense (the waxy, non-balsamic variety) if I really pay attention, but this scent is better described as an overall impression. Sweet, lightly green, and very lightly woody - it's not heavy or burning incense. In fact, I hesitate to describe it as incense at all. This is the skin-scent of the ascetic himself. It reminds me of a grown-up version of... the smell of a new-born baby.

[zankoku_zen]

Aloe, sweet frankincense and sandalwood. This is a light aloe and woodsy scent, with the frankincense adding some body and sweetness. Medium throw and wear length.

[Casablanca]

Ascetic is a soft, serene incense blend. Calming, and also quite understated. This could be a meditation chamber scent, and it would do so as a gentle ambiance that seems to rise off the room's natural materials rather than as a perfume additive.

 

This is mainly aloe on my skin, with sandalwood, frankincense, and a little dry ti leaf blending in. 

 

Upon drying, it softens further, and leans sweeter and more woody, but is otherwise similar.

 

[artisjok]

Challenge of the Ascetic is a breath of clear air in a calm fresh space.

On my skin, it’s a translucent pale green over the translucent gold of frankincense, like a multi-layered stained glass window.  It does go somewhat powdery for me pretty quickly, through retains its meditative tone. It’s unfortunate, because I can see the beauty and the calming effect, and I also don’t really like to wear powdery scents. Bummer... maybe aging will shift the effect. 
The label art is so sweet, and the notes sounded delightful, I was close to blind-bottling. Now that I got a tester, I’d only get a bottle if I find it discounted. A low partial bottle would be even better for me, so I can enjoy the picture and sniff the bottle.  
 

Definitely similar to the Monk RPG scent. 

Edited June 3, 2020 by artisjok

[RedPersimmon]

When first applied, there's this green, leafy note with the soft sandalwood and frankincense. On the drydown, it's waxy and warm, with a light woody-resinous base.

[HerbGirl]

Aging has smoothed this out nicely.

Edited March 4, 2021 by HerbGirl

[warriortwo]

I also get an indolic scent from this fragrance. (I love jasmine, but this isn't it.) The scent starts off almost fruity, but quickly turns to something resembling a creamy floral. It kind of reminds me of gardenia. I can smell the tea and the sandalwood and I think they're creating this artificial floral in combination together, but they're not vibing in a way that I enjoy.

[forspecial_plate]

Not as complex as I expected, I mainly smell sandalwood incense.  Reminds me a little of Cathedral except not as woody.  I like it.