Fans of Arabians Tonka finally have an affordable alternative here. This is now my second AT "twin" that I have tested, and I must say it is the one that is most similar to the original. There are certainly differences, yet the AT DNA is clearly recognizable.
About the scent: It opens very sweet, with a hefty dose of saffron as known from Instant Crush, BR540, etc., but of course sweeter. Shortly after, you perceive a very woody, dark rose, which somehow becomes more leathery over time.
For me, the most prominent notes in the dry down are saffron and rose. The woodiness slightly reminds one of oud and gives the fragrance an oriental touch. In the air, you also notice a hint of tonka bean. I would have liked to perceive the chocolate, as I find chocolate in fragrances very lovely, but that note is totally lost on my nose here. Also, the fruity notes are not present to my perception. Nevertheless, the scent is quite sweet; I just can't explain what smells so sweet here, except for the tonka bean, of course.
The performance is surprisingly good for such a cheapie. On my skin, Secret Musk lasts at least 12 hours before it becomes so faint that you have to search for it. Even after one wash, I could still faintly smell it on my skin after 20 hours. The longevity is definitely top-notch; Secret Musk doesn't need to hide from the original. In terms of projection, however, the original has advantages. Not that SM is weak, but the original is simply a beast; only a few fragrances can keep up with it. It should also be noted that many become nose-blind to the note of saffron, which could be the case for me as well. Because after 3 hours of good projection, I can hardly perceive it anymore, although the longevity, as mentioned, is top. But my batch is only 3 months old; it probably needs more time to mature, and then I am sure it will be a beast. Because even now, you can tell that the projection is above average strong.
Secret Musk is unisex just like Arabians Tonka, but I would argue that it is likely to appeal more to men than to women. Some women might find it a bit too masculine. I also see it more on a man than on a woman, but as I said, it’s still unisex.
When and where? The where is something everyone has to decide for themselves; I just wouldn't wear it at the gym xD But the when is easy to answer. SM is more suited for colder temperatures. In summer, it’s simply way too sweet for temperatures above the 20-degree mark.
My conclusion: A solid alternative to one of the most popular niche fragrances ever, thus worth every cent. Although Arabians Tonka is so popular, I wouldn't say that this DNA is safe and mass-appealing. Therefore, it's better to test Khadlaj first before buying it blindly. You just have to look for where to get it. There is a site that sells it for €70+. I paid much less and am happy with it.
