Sain No More

Sain No More takes its name from the old Hogmanay tradition of saining, in which a Scottish home is blessed and purified with juniper smoke before the doors and windows are opened to welcome the New Year. The brand describes it as ceremony, simplified. The opening is an intense cloud of juniper smoke and incense, with bergamot and aldehydes lifting it. Blue hemlock, cistus, sage and cedar form the heart, herbal and resinous, and the base is vetiver, juniper tar and amber, the lingering smell of smouldering branches. Reviewers say the juniper tar is dosed gently, so the smoke reads as extinguished incense and burning wood rather than barbecue. Wearers describe a bonfire, a balsamic resinous amber and warm woods; a few find it harsh, compact or a witchy herbal brew. Reports of wear are few, and the one longevity vote calls it moderate. Projection is moderate to strong and the smoke is dense. It owns autumn and winter evenings, though one wearer finds it works all year. The brand sells the 50 ml bottle at 130 pounds, or 149 with its abstract lid. It suits wearers who love incense and smoke and want a real sense of ritual, and less those who prefer light, fresh scents.