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Mark Eisen

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Signature Collection

Arabian Desert Dunhill 2019

7.6 / 10 25 Ratings

A popular perfume by Dunhill for men, released in 2019. The scent is oriental-woody. It was last marketed by Interparfums.
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Main accords

Oriental

Woody

Spicy

Floral

Resinous

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Saffron

Pink pepper

Bergamot

Heart Notes

Rose

Base Notes

Oud

Perfumer

Alexandra Monet

Ratings

Scent

7.625 Ratings

Longevity

7.423 Ratings

Sillage

6.724 Ratings

Bottle

8.635 Ratings

Value for money

7.121 Ratings

Submitted by Franfan20 · last update on 01/11/2026.

Source-backed & verified

Interesting Facts

The fragrance was part of the collection Signature Collection.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Aoud Exclusif

Oud Rosewood Eau de Parfum

Reviews

5 in-depth fragrance descriptions

09/06/2023

9Scent 9Longevity 8Sillage

NioNcELuBErc
28 Reviews

NioNcELuBErc

Helpful Review 3

A sleeper!

Absolutely delighted with this fragrance! It's like a journey through an exotic desert oasis. The scent is warm and inviting, wrapping you in a comforting embrace.

I love how long-lasting it is, as just a few spritzes in the morning keep me smelling fantastic all day. The bottle design is also elegant, making it a great addition to my fragrance collection.

The combination of notes is simply divine, creating a harmonious blend that's perfect for any occasion. It's like a secret weapon, boosting my confidence and leaving a trail of compliments wherever I go.

Overall, this fragrance is a true gem, and I can't recommend it enough. It's become my go-to scent, and I can't imagine my day without it. If you're looking for a scent that's both unique and captivating, this one is definitely worth trying.

11/05/2024

4.5Scent 6Longevity 5Sillage

Smirky
507 Reviews

Smirky

4

First dislike in the Signature Collection

Of the Signature Collection I've tried so far, Arabian Desert is the only one I dislike. The opening is quite nice - citrusy and spicy. That didn't last very long. Arabian Desert quickly dried down to a very smooth but synthetic, play doughy type of scent. I noticed something similar, but much subdued in Boss Bottled Elixir that made me dislike it. With Arabian Desert, however, that's all there is. Not an expert, but I'm guessing it must be the smooth, creamy and synthetic combo of oud, amber and incense. Whatever it is, I don't like it.

Arabian Desert's performance is pretty average. I expected better. Will pass on this one.

01/12/2026

6.5Scent

WoodPigeon
12 Reviews

WoodPigeon

1

Beautiful blazing saffron in the opening, but falls a little flat

Gorgeous opening. The two broad characters of this scent are a vivid, savoury, almost tobacco-touched saffron, and a dry, dusty western oud.

The saffron feels slightly salty, as if used in cooking; it’s a deep red, making me imagine a full basket of it in the light sun, powerful and blazing.

The oud facet is gentle, smooth, and reminds me of how ‘oud’ is used in Tom Ford’s Oud Wood—incredibly handsome, western, and subtle. The presence of saffron only adds to that similarity, only this one is redder, more bold, and more vibrant.

I also get an sweet old book effect, a dusty not of library deterioration, much like in Memoirs of a Trespasser (not as profound though).

An odd sweet note jumps out amidst all this, in a pleasant way. It’s a juicy, rindy, oily fruitiness, making me picture an orange peel saturated in rose water. It’s a gummy, smooth sweetness that adds a welcome freshness to the core.

The bergamot and pink pepper contribute to the gummy sweetness, adding a radiant tang to the saffron—that blazing characteristic I described.

As it dries, it becomes a little muddier and more confused. I would describe it as an oddly savoury amber in the uncanny valley of oriental ambers, trying to be like Ambre Sultan but failing.

It gets smooth, gummy, and slightly smoky in an unburned resin way.

The playdough description is valid too, albeit not too unpleasant. It just doesn’t follow up on that definitive profile it suggests from the start, and leaves us hanging. It’s a bit weird in the air, but in an intriguing way.

If anything, it even becomes a little chaotic/rugged, somewhat like the profile of Bentley for Men Intense. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it probably wasn’t on purpose.

Like Egyptian Smoke, it puts you in the scenery of ruins, tea ceremonies, and desert sunsets, so that wins it some bonus points for me (although Egyptian Smoke does a far better job).

Use cases:
Unisex, with masculine and feminine elements.

Interesting dance of freshness and depth, so while I lean to wearing this in the cooler weather for a bubble of warmth, I think it could do well even during the day, especially in transitional temps.

Comes off as handsome, yet rugged and rough around the edges. Playful and chaotic maybe.

03/13/2021

7Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

Rebirth2014
25 Reviews

Translated · Show original

Rebirth2014

Top Review 15

The Downfall of the House of Dunhill

Once, the brand "Dunhill" solely represented high-quality tobacco products. The tobacco pipes from the house of "Dunhill" still embody the craftsmanship and aura of British smoking culture today. It is worth noting that Alfred Dunhill opened his successful tobacco shop in 1907, at a time when the health risks of smoking were not discussed.

Since the founding of the company, societal health awareness has increasingly changed, and by 1968, the "Dunhill" company sold its tobacco licenses to "British American Tobacco." Only the high-quality tobacco pipes and corresponding accessories continue to be manufactured and offered by "Dunhill."

In the following development, the brand ventured into lifestyle products (e.g., Montblanc) and tried to establish itself in the fashion sector as well. The image of the "Gentleman" built around smoking has always remained a defining style element.

To be honest, "Dunhill" will predominantly be synonymous with high quality for former or still practicing male smokers. However, this target group has been alienated in recent years, as "Dunhill" (now under the management of the Swiss luxury group Richemont) decided in 2008 to completely withdraw from the production and distribution of tobacco products.

But where is the journey heading? Observing the brand - which, despite its orientation towards the zeitgeist, still exclusively targets men - it becomes apparent that the range in the "men's perfumes" sector is steadily increasing.

Although aimed at a broad market (mainstream), the brand has not really succeeded in offering its fragrances extensively in Germany. Niche perfumeries seem to find the marketing and pricing too entrenched in the mainstream sector (e.g., the "Icon" series) to include them in their assortment. Many perfume chains and drugstores, on the other hand, seem to see no potential buyers for "Dunhill" products within their target audience, preventing them from being permanently placed on their shelves. Thus, it can be somewhat difficult in Germany to test the scents locally, as they are often only available in online shops.

With the "Signature Collection," "Dunhill" has been expanding into the niche market since 2019 - not least due to its pricing. Due to the limited availability, there are currently only very few ratings on "Parfumo" (as of March 2021, just five ratings for "Arabian Desert"). These suggest that it must be an outstanding EDP (with a total rating of 8.3 points).

Unfortunately, I cannot agree with this impression. The bottle is indeed outstanding and exceptionally solidly designed. Almost like a trophy, I hold the hefty bottle (with just 100 ml of content) in my hands. However, the liquid inside visually resembles diluted cola; a bad omen.

The scent starts fresh and woody. In the further development, a bit of agarwood does emerge, but it only subtly shines through. This is by no means masculine, but clearly - not least due to the hinted rose in the heart note - absolutely unisex. In my perception, musk and cardamom also align with the base accord. Aside from the initial freshness, the scent progression remains very linear.

Nothing new is ventured here; rather, it relies on tried-and-true scent patterns. Aigner N°1 Oud or Armani Eau de Nuit Oud could have served as templates. This is not poorly executed and will appeal to Oud beginners, as well as to those who enjoy Oud as a delicate hint in a woody/floral perfume.

Corresponding to the gentle scent design, the sillage is moderate with good longevity. However, there are some brands in the niche that offer qualitatively significantly better gentle Oud scents in a similar price range (e.g., MK "Oud Satin Mood").

"Arabian Desert" appears visually elegant, but lacks any recognizability in the chosen scent structure. This aimlessness can also be found in the brands "Bentley" and "Aigner." Relying solely on a traditional name does not automatically lead to the upper echelons of the fragrance world. Thus, "Dunhill" will not be able to conquer a new segment and must even - in my personal assessment - fear being discounted in online shops in the foreseeable future.

I am almost inclined to counter the currently completely exaggerated high rating on Parfumo by giving it only a 5.0. However, even this rating would not be fair. It is indeed a fundamentally solid scent that, in my opinion (considering the far too high price of almost 140 euros in the "Dunhill Shop" and the uninspired scent design), deserves a realistic rating between 6.5 and 7.

In conclusion, I would like to quote Edgar Allan Poe with a wink regarding my chosen title and express my personal disappointment about the corporate policy of the Dunhill brand: "... my mind reeled as I now saw the mighty walls burst asunder; there followed a long, roaring crash like the thunder of a thousand waterfalls, and the deep and black pond at my feet closed darkly and silently over the ruins of the house ..." - Dunhill.

p.s.: Perhaps I am mistaken, and Dunhill will ultimately transform into a phoenix from the (tobacco) ashes with its future fragrances.
;-)

………………

05.03.2023 - an interesting addition/counterstatement that I received from "Weinbergmaus" via email and would like to include here:

"So you write - I quote:
In the following development, the brand ventured into lifestyle products (e.g., Montblanc) and tried to establish itself in the fashion sector as well. The image of the "Gentleman" built around smoking has always remained a defining style element.

Now, Dunhill has NEVER bought into Montblanc! The Hamburg-based fountain pen company Montblanc was, just like Dunhill, acquired by the luxury group RICHEMONT, which was originally founded in South Africa and is now based in Switzerland.

Both Dunhill and Montblanc were granted licenses for fragrance production (perfumes) by Richemont.

This is one of the major marketers for a range of fragrances for well-known brands. The name is INTER PARFUMS
The French subsidiary - referred to as Interparfums France - has 11 well-known perfume brands in its portfolio - Montblanc yes, but not Dunhill! >>> www.interparfums.fr/en/index-2/

In contrast, the US subsidiary INTER PARFUMS Inc. has 15 well-known perfume brands.
This includes Dunhill, but not Montblanc. >>> www.interparfumsinc.com/

Although Interparfums has well-known brands, they have never really succeeded in creating true "blockbusters" and bringing them to market."

Updated on 03/05/2023

02/16/2020

8.5Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

Parzival852
13 Reviews

Translated · Show original

Parzival852

Helpful Review 4

Oud-Rose Fragrance

I find the bottles from Dunhill very beautiful. I don't have them in front of me, but I know the bottles from the Icon Collection. They always remind me of my father's travel toiletry kit. Inside were cylindrical silver containers for shaving foam and razors. These bottles have that nostalgic touch, and I also find the scents very fitting to this association.

I would like to thank Schücha for sharing three fragrances from this series that I was able to test. Unfortunately, the British Leather from this series was not available for now.
One thing to mention: I find all three fragrances with their oriental-woody note very successful. I am still too inexperienced to recognize specific scent notes. I will try to describe the fragrance to the best of my ability.

Now, to the Arabian desert:
After spraying, it becomes musty - patchouli-like. However, I think it is Oud that initially smells musty.
After a while, the fragrance becomes fresher due to the pepper. And the rose unfolds its floral scent. However, it remains very integrated on the strong base of the Oud, which softens its dark mustiness but does not lose it initially. A slight smoky note is added.
Overall, the fragrance remains heavy and dark woody with the pleasant rose.
The sillage is initially pronounced. After a maximum of two hours, it is only close to the body but still well perceivable. On the skin, it lasts a few hours.

Overall, a beautiful Oud-Rose fragrance, warm, soft, woody, for winter, for cuddling.

Updated on 02/29/2020

Statements

9 short views on the fragrance

Ceesie

1 year ago

8.5Scent 9Longevity 7Sillage

2

Very smooth woody character. Class in a bottle.

Alishere

4 months ago

6Scent 7Longevity 6Sillage

1

It's oudh but not that sweet
It's ok
There's way better oud fragrance you well get better in term of scent
Try it first

Rebirth2014

4 years ago

7Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

6

1

Great bottle that looks impressive and elegant. Unfortunately, the scent is replaceable: soft oud-rose fragrance, like Aigner N°1 Oud or Armani EdN Oud.

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