I just got Al Areeq Gold as a gift alongside my blind buy of
Khamrah Qahwa. Didn't get to properly test it out and I won't get to properly test it out for a while, as it seems that maceration is essential here, so these are my initial impressions.
The first spray was pretty harsh, with a very clear gasoline-like smell to it, and also kind of rubbery. But I kind of expected it as it is a known fact that Lattafa fragrances tend to benefit massively if you leave them to macerate for a few months, and I've also seen other reviews pointing out the gasoline and rubbery smell you initially get. However, after I waited a while, the sprays I sprayed on my skin settled down and brought up that leathery, smoky vibe, which is a pretty interesting scent. It's also the first leather fragrance that I smell, so I guess that also adds to my surprise. And I can see this having potential, as the more I smell it, the more I like it. But currently, pretty much all I'm smelling is that leather and incense after the initial terrible opening, so I'm guessing that some maceration is just about what it needs. I'm not expecting it to change dramatically after I let it mature a bit, as I've seen many other people agree on the rubbery and gasoline-like opening, so maybe that's just the way the fragrance opens, and not necessarily a fact that points towards the need for maceration. But I'll let it sit for about 2-3 months just in case. So back to the box it goes, and I'll make sure to write a "proper" review in a couple of months.
One thing is certain, I wouldn't classify this as a safe blind buy, or any other leather fragrances.
All right, so after a bit over two months of maceration, I finally have a conclusion and final thoughts.
First of all, I'm glad to say that the initial repulsive gasoline and rubber-like smell that I got when I first sprayed the fragrance is gone. Maceration did a pretty decent job here. And although for the first five minutes after you spray it you still might get a bit of that synthetic, gasoline/rubber smell, it's nowhere near as bad as before.
Right from the start, I get a pretty predominant leather with incense following up close, while somewhere in the back I can also smell the black tea accord, but I wouldn't blame you if you wouldn't smell tea at all. It's not very high quality smelling, no wonder, since it's a $40 or so fragrance. And it's also not really a mass appealing fragrance, as is the case with most leather fragrances. So definitely don't blind buy this.
After five minutes, the fragrance settles nicely on my skin and smoothens out quite nicely, giving it sort of a soothing effect. As time passes, the vanilla note takes over, which does make it lean a bit more feminine in combination with the other notes. For the first two or so hours, it projects decently, maybe at around 2 feet of projection. But entering the 3-5 hour mark, it settles down quite substantially, becoming a skin scent which lasts me for about two days. So I would easily go with about 5 sprays here.
As for the occasions where I'd wear Al Areeq Gold, it would mostly be at church or at a dressed-up event, funeral or even a wedding (quite a contrast of situations there, I know). I would mostly wear it in slightly cooler weather; I don't see myself (or anyone else, really) using it in the summer.
Overall, I like it, but I don't love it. It's definitely a more niche-scenario fragrance, even though quality-wise, it doesn't really smell niche-level. Not to me, at least. And projection, at least on my skin, leaves to be desired.
Overall Rating: 6.6/10
Top Notes 
Saffron
Black tea
Heart Notes 
Leather
Suede
Frankincense
Base Notes 
Vanilla
Musk
Amberwood
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Rossie
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