Papier d’Arménie Incense Papers – LA ROSE scent by Francis Kurkdjian
Savor the exquisite fragrance of these traditionally made Armenian Papers which release a pleasing fragrance when lit in the home.
French-Armenian perfumer and creator of La Rose Incense papers, Francis Kurkdjian was keen to pursue his journey eastward. The natural choice was a rose fragrance and this scent blends roses from Iran and Turkey to create a rich juxtaposition of fragrances driven by a voluptuous, fruity rose, like rose petal jam with notes of honey.
Papier d’Arménie incense paper was created more than 120 years ago and is a respected and much-treasured part of Parisian life. These are famous fragranced paper booklets that have been hand soaked in a process that takes more than 6 months. Each booklet contains 36 detachable strips of perfumed paper. To use, tear out a strip, fold it into a fan or concertina pattern, and place it in a burner or other container such as an ashtray. Light one end of the paper and it will begin to smolder, gently emitting an incredible fragrance that is based on a traditional recipe of resins, including benzoin. The smoke clears the space, it acts as a beautiful deodorizer and uplifts the mood. These strips have been a secret to maintaining an amazing atmosphere in French homes for more than a century. The booklet is convenient and very easy to use and one strip is enough to gently fragrance any indoor space in no time. People will ask you what it is.
To this day, Papier d’Arménie is produced in the same factory in Montrouge (France). Only traditional manufacturing methods are used. The formula and repipe from 1885 remain unchanged.
You may also be interested in another European heritage brand of incense papers from Italy. They are Aromatic and Blue Incense Papers of Eritrea, (Blu Carta Aromatica d’Eritrea – Essence du Touareg), which we also stock.
Please note – all of our Papier D’Arménie products are authentic and purchased directly from the company in Paris. There are a lot of counterfeit sellers online, please exercise caution. Occasionally there are slight delays in shipping because of the pandemic.
“HOW TO USE” (these instructions are included in the booklet in multiple languages)
The Papier d’Arménie is used by setting light to a single strip, detached from the booklet one at a time, folded concertina-style, and placed on a heat-proof surface (such as the matching étoile ceramic burners). Light one tip of the paper with a match. Allow the flame to die down and allow it to smolder away, it will completely burn itself out releasing the resins and oils in the paper. The Papier d’Arménie strip should turn into ash. It can also be used without being lit. Simply place one in a cupboard or drawer and it will slowly release a soft, sweet fragrance.
The wonderful scent then unfolds in the space as the paper glows. Enjoy the fine scents of exotic and soothing resins and in the ARMÉNIE booklet which was created by famed French- Armenian nose/perfumer Francis Kurkdjian. We carry all three scents (Arménie, Tradition, and La Rose) in original booklet form and also in 50-hour, soy wax candles.
The booklets make unique and thoughtful gifts and are available in three beautiful fragrances. Please check out my other listings for Papier d’Arménie candles, burners, and gift sets.
Below are some more details of the history and manufacture of Papier d’Arménie Incense papers
The principal ingredient in their making is Laotian benzoin. Held in high esteem for its sweet, vanilla, and balsamic notes, benzoin is used as a fixative in the perfume industry, an example being by Guerlain for Shalimar. Without benzoin, Papier d’Arménie would not have become what it is. This resin comes from styrax, a tree that grows in the forests of the Far East, especially in Laos. When the trees reach a diameter of around 15 cm (6 in.), notches are made in the bark so that the resin can trickle out. Six months later, the raw benzoin resin can be harvested in the form of “tears”. One tree produces from 1 to 3 kilograms of benzoin each year.
Natural ingredients
The absorbent paper used to make our Armenia paper is a fiber of natural origin. Its mahogany color comes from the bath in which the sheets soak up Papier d’Arménie’s complex blended scent. Some of its aromatic ingredients are trade secrets.
darmenie armenian papers Incense Booklets







