For a week, I practised the traditional process of perfuming clothes in Northern incense using a Kabbasa. Blending cultural nostalgia and irresistible scent trails, here is what I discovered.
Northern Nigerian perfume incense has always intrigued me. I am no stranger to fragrance obsessions from perfume oils, body mists, even oud, but nothing prepared me for the potency of perfume incense from Northern Nigeria. The experience transcends spraying scents from a bottle, this felt like a ritual.
I first encountered the Kabbasa, a traditional Northern basket used for infusing clothes with incense smoke, on TikTok. Women in beautifully draped veils were infusing their clothes in thick aromatic smoke, which apparently promises a long-lasting smell. The process appeared mysterious, intimate, and luxurious. So during my stay in Abuja, I decided to try it out.
I acquired a Kabbasa, sourced the best turaren wuta (perfume incense made from a mix of resins, oils, and wood), and I committed to a full week of using Northern perfume incense to smoke my clothes. My friend recommended Sandal Original, the most prized type of incense, known for its deep, woody aroma derived from pure sandalwood. What followed was a scent journey and a cultural experience intertwined with tradition and self-care.
The process of transforming your clothes with Northern perfume incense
The process of preparing a Kabbasa is sacred and requires deep commitment. First, you light the incense burner and place it underneath. Then you cover the top with a veil to protect your clothes from direct heat before arranging them neatly inside. Finally, you seal everything with a large covering, traditionally a thick wrapper or blanket, to trap the fragrant smoke.
This process is how Northern perfume incense seeps into your garments, giving them an unforgettable long-lasting scent.
From the first day, the difference was striking. My clothes smelt good, and carried a warm woody presence. Walking into rooms; I was constantly asked “What are you wearing?” The scent of the incense clinging to my clothes spoke volumes, subtle yet commanding.
A fragrant connection to culture and femininity
By the third day, the Kabbasa ritual had become part of my morning routine. While the smoke infused my clothes, I would practice slow skincare or spend time journalling. It gave me a required slow start in the mornings because the scent of Northern perfume incense has a grounding effect. It feels less like a beauty hack and more like tapping into the energy of generations of women who have passed this ritual down in Northern Nigerian homes.
The use of Sandal Original incense, often considered the gold standard, made every piece of clothing smell like it had a story. Even my casual kaftans felt elevated, touched by something deep and intentional. I understood why women have stayed loyal to this practice for decades. There is pride, softness and power in it.
Scent that stays and speaks for you
Unlike some store-bought perfumes that fade before lunchtime, Northern perfume stay on your pillow.
There is something deeply personal about that kind of scent memory—like you are wearing a signature that only the wise know how to apply. The compliments were consistent
Is Northern perfume incense worth the hype?
After one week of using Northern perfume incense with my Kabbasa, I realised it is not just about smelling good. It is about embodying tradition, taking pride in personal rituals, and embracing a scent that carries cultural weight. There is elegance in the smoke, softness in the scent, and power in how it makes you feel.
Personally, it’s absolutely worth the hype. I’m now taking my time to find scents that feel like me and help me stand out quietly and confidently. And if there’s something that using Northern perfume incense has taught me, it is that I never want to go without it. It feels like home, a rare find that’s soulful and unforgettable in its smokiness. Now, that scent and tradition is a permanent part of my story.
What started as curiosity has become a personal ritual—one that connects me to a lineage of beauty far richer than any bottle on a department store shelf. Northern perfume incense has found a permanent place in my wardrobe and in my heart.
