CENTAURI
Dendera

2019

PERFUMER
Peter Carter

Myrrh
vietnamese Oud
Nutmeg
Frankincense
Cinnamon
white Ambergris
Labdanum
orris
Haitian Vetiver
Indian Sandalwood
Rose absolute
Vanilla absolute

Dendera was my second experience with Centauri, after the much more mass appealing and modern Proxima. I also wore it alongside Antheia. In smelling just those few, you can clearly tell the different lines (past, present & future) from the Centauri concept and Dendera is a vastly different style of fragrance.

Unfortunately, it’s also the one that I could not get along with. Dendera is a strong, for lack of a better word ‘indie’ perfume with a focus on darker and harsher materials. While the brand’s description speaks of a dichotomy between those and a creamier base, with orris, sandalwood and a sweeter frankincense and vanilla, the harsher woods completely dominate this composition on my skin.

I mostly get a mix of charred woodiness, dry and diery and a (burnt) grassy, hay-like vibe. It smells rooty and earthy in a very natural way. The biggest ‘relief’ is the iris on my first wearing, but it never goes as creamy or as sweet as I need it to be to be wearable for me personally. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get along with Dendera, which even after a shower about 8-10 hours after applying left an earthy lasting impression.