Once again, cherry. A note that I really like and is quite hyped and well-received. It feels like every brand has a cherry scent, of course also in the Arab world. There, the sales figures are considered for the dupes, and the concept is based on "Lost Cherry (Eau de Parfum) | Tom Ford." Great alternatives are of course warmly welcomed at these prices for the rather moderate longevity. There are really good alternatives on the market, even cheaper than this Afnan, e.g. the dupe from Maison Alhambra,
Zukhruf Cherry or "Madame Chérie | Câline." I own several cherry scents, and my favorites are
Duchessa and "Melting Lust | Emil Élise," which are a bit more expensive and have a different twist. I can recommend all the cheapies mentioned above. This Afnan also has a lot to offer and provides a great gourmand cherry.
The recommended retail price is around €40 according to the Afnan website. In German shops, this Cherry Bouquet is available for between €30 and €40 for 80ml. It's a bit higher priced compared to the other dupes, but still affordable. Again labeled as a women's fragrance, men can also go for it if they are fans of the Lost Cherry DNA. Otherwise, this cherry sweetness is of course more feminine than masculine.
The bottle and packaging are really good. The beautiful packaging somewhat resembles niche fragrances, and the bottle is also really nice with this red-gold combination. You have to press a bit harder to spray, but otherwise, I have nothing to complain about.
In terms of scent, this fragrance is a bit more gourmand. The complex cherry note at the start is really lovely. The notes of the top note are very well detectable: a slightly darker black cherry, a sour cherry, a gourmand almond note, and a soft cherry liqueur note. The liqueur is not very boozy, but this note has a slight touch. The cherry combo is harmonious with these fruity-sweet cherries. It doesn't have that typical shisha tobacco style that some dupes of this TF exhibit. The gourmand almond keeps it soft & pleasant. Other red fruits like raspberry and a slight plum touch follow. However, the cherries clearly take center stage for the first 2-3 hours. Vanilla provides a great gourmand note throughout. I would have also guessed tonka for this sweet creaminess, but it's not listed in the pyramid. In the drydown, woody notes come in, gently fading the scent away. Overall, it's very harmonious, modern, and also sensual. This is wearable in everyday life, leisure, and all other occasions.
The performance is already in the medium range. The sillage during the first cherry hours is really good, but then it pulls back a bit. However, it remains somewhat close to the skin. Longevity should be around 6-7 hours.
Overall, a really great fragrance and a wonderful alternative to Lost Cherry. Even though this is a bit more expensive for a dupe, this small extra cost is worth it.