Leonis I

The Verdict

Leonis I, released in 2024 as part of Tiziana Terenzi's Assoluto collection, draws its name and inspiration from the star Delta Leonis in the constellation Leo. Created by Paolo Terenzi and offered as an Extrait de Parfum at around $315 for 100 ml, it positions itself as a premium incense-oud composition with historical ambitions -- the brand describes it as tracing the path of frankincense from the Roman Empire to the present day. The Fragrantica community has responded with cautious appreciation: those who have tried it praise the craftsmanship and performance, but several note that similar scent profiles are available at significantly lower prices. The fragrance is too new for a deep community consensus, but early signals suggest a solid if not groundbreaking addition to an already sprawling house.

What It Smells Like

The opening is an aromatic explosion of spice and warmth. Saffron leads prominently, its metallic golden character immediately recognizable, supported by black pepper's sharp bite, davana's rich herbal sweetness, and bright Brazilian orange peel that adds necessary lift. The heart is where Leonis I stakes its claim: frankincense from Oman dominates, casting a smoky, churchy quality over everything, while myrrh adds a bitter, resinous depth. Cambodian oud and nagarmotha (cypriol) provide an earthy funk that is present but restrained -- one reviewer described this as "a good introduction to funk/oud" rather than a full-bore animalic assault. Texas cedar and nutmeg add woody-spicy structure, while sambac jasmine contributes a creamy, slightly indolic floral note that softens the smoke. The base resolves into Australian sandalwood, benzoin, and bourbon vanilla -- a powdery, sweet landing that rounds everything out with ambergris providing subtle marine warmth. The overall impression is churchy incense tempered by sweetness and spice.

When to Wear It

This is a cold weather fragrance with a slight masculine lean, though the community rates it fairly balanced between day and night. The smoky-incense character makes it most appropriate for evening occasions -- dinners, cultural events, nights out -- during fall and winter. It has enough presence to command attention but enough sweetness in the base to avoid coming across as austere. Summer is out of the question; this would be oppressive in heat.

Longevity & Projection

As an Extrait de Parfum, Leonis I delivers strong performance. Parfumo rates both projection and longevity as above-average. One Fragrantica reviewer described it as having "pronounced sillage and very good longevity" that makes for "a confident, majestic wear." However, opinions are not unanimous -- another tester found it to be "a poof and then it was gone kind of fragrance unless nose to skin." This discrepancy likely comes down to skin chemistry, as the heavy resin and wood notes tend to behave differently across different bodies. On average, expect 8-12 hours of wear with moderate to strong projection in the opening hours. Two to three sprays should suffice given the Extrait concentration.

The Community Says

Community discussion is still building for this 2024 release. On Fragrantica, the most detailed review praises the composition as a "lovely woody aromatic with a powdery spicy feel" but adds a critical caveat: "there are much cheaper alternatives of scents with this profile out there," specifically mentioning Mandala as a comparable fragrance at a fraction of the cost. Another reviewer appreciates it as an accessible entry point to the oud and incense genre. Parfumo has yet to accumulate written reviews, though the broader Tiziana Terenzi brand averages a respectable 7.7 out of 10 across its catalog. The house itself carries some baggage in the community -- while some praise the quality as "much better than Montale/Mancera" with gorgeous packaging, others criticize Tiziana Terenzi as "a copycat house" that frequently draws from popular existing fragrances.

Who Should Buy This

Leonis I is for the incense and oud lover who values high-quality ingredients and wants an Extrait concentration that will last through the evening. If you already own and enjoy fragrances like Amouage Interlude, Xerjoff Alexandria II, or Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Satin Mood, Leonis I offers a worthy addition with its particular emphasis on frankincense and myrrh over pure oud. Skip it if you are price-sensitive -- at $315, the value proposition is questionable when cheaper alternatives deliver a similar experience. Skip it if smoky, resinous, or churchy fragrances are not your style. And skip it if you need extensive community validation before committing, because at this point you will be among the early adopters.

The Bottom Line

Tiziana Terenzi Leonis I is a well-crafted incense-oud Extrait that delivers on its promise of a "stylistic journey through frankincense and myrrh." The composition is layered, the performance is generally strong, and the concept has genuine depth. What holds it back from a higher rating is the value question -- similar profiles exist at lower prices, and the early community consensus, while positive, is not enthusiastic enough to justify a premium over established alternatives. For the right buyer who connects with the specific saffron-incense-oud signature and appreciates the Assoluto collection's celestial branding, it is a satisfying purchase. For everyone else, sample first and compare widely.