Shaghaf Oud

The original of the line, and the best known. Three movements, not one more: saffron, rose, praline.

— The saffron opens on that slightly metallic leather-and-hay note that signs Gulf fragrances.

— The rose arrives right behind it, full and candied.

— Then the praline and the vanilla close the whole thing on a base of caramelised almond where the oud is sensed rather than imposed.

This is the house's entry reference: the least expensive of the Shaghaf series and the one that best explains what an oud-rose-gourmand is to someone who has never worn one. If you only try one to understand the style, this is it.

Worth knowing: the saffron-rose-praline construction appears several times elsewhere in the catalogue, at very different prices. That is not a flaw, it is a classic register of oriental perfumery — but do not expect a scent you have never come across.

Long wear, strong projection in the first hour. Cold season.

The notes

Top — Saffron
Heart — Rose
Base — Praline, vanilla, oud

Olfactive family

Gourmand, praline and sweet

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A fruit and a caramel, separated by an iris. That is the right way to sum this fragrance up, and it is also what makes it interesting.

— The apple and the grape open on a note of fresh juice, almost of pressed grapes.

— The iris arrives and changes the temperature: powdery, a little cool, a little cosmetic in the good sense of the word — the kind of note that gives an impression of quality straight away. The white woods and the patchouli hold the structure.

— The base is the real reward: caramel, suede and Peru balsam. Suede is a soft leather, that of a new glove; Peru balsam brings a smell of smoked vanilla. The whole thing becomes warm and comfortable without ever falling into pure sugar, thanks to the iris that keeps pulling upward.

Register: autumn and winter, and rather in the evening. Mostly worn by women, but nothing in the formula forbids it to a man who likes caramel-leather bases.

Long wear, moderate projection.

The notes

Top — Apple, grape
Heart — White woods, iris, patchouli
Base — Caramel, amber, suede, musk, Peru balsam

Olfactive family

Red and ripe fruits

For hygiene reasons, this product cannot be returned once it has been unsealed after delivery. Your 14-day right of withdrawal applies in full to items whose original packaging has not been opened.

— An almond in the opening, crisp and milky, frankly announcing the dessert.

— The heart is a surprise: the cinnamon and the African orange blossom pull towards oriental pastry, and the Turkish rose keeps the whole thing from turning syrupy.

— Then the tonka bean, the vanilla and the amberwood settle in for the evening — toasted almond, warm sugar, soft wood.

No aggressive oud despite the name: it is there to give the base body, not to cut through. Anyone buying this bottle is buying an almond-vanilla, and they will not be disappointed.

Register: autumn, winter, evenings.

Long wear, sustained projection. This is a fragrance that leaves a trace in a room — go easy.

The notes

Top — Almond
Heart — Cinnamon, African orange blossom, Turkish rose
Base — Tonka bean, vanilla, amberwood

Olfactive family

Rose

For hygiene reasons, this product cannot be returned once it has been unsealed after delivery. Your 14-day right of withdrawal applies in full to items whose original packaging has not been opened.