Kashaf Lattafa

First of all, I have never tested "La Capitale | XerJoff".
So I can't say if this is really a dupe.
However, I had a nice conversation with a perfume enthusiast who raved about Kashaf.
She had a sample of La Capitale and told me that both are damn similar.
So I thought, well, you can't go wrong with that.
Especially at the price of 14 euros and a few cents.

As you can see from the reviews here, it seems to be not a bad scent, but unfortunately, I personally don't like it at all.

The scent starts off synthetic, which is not surprising given the low price.
But the synthetic aspect here is a bit too much for me.
This is that kind of synthetic where you know the quality is really bad.
Sorry for those who love the scent, but that's just how I feel.
There's also something inexplicable that smells somewhat fruity, it could be blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries.

Unfortunately, it doesn't get much better in the dry down.
The berry notes remain subtle, but so does the synthetic aspect.
Something floral also makes itself known, but only very lightly in the background, it never becomes truly floral.
Sweet is Kashaf, by the way, but in a pleasant way.
The scent gives me shampoo vibes.
I'm not saying it smells exactly like shampoo.
But if I didn't know it was a perfume and smelled it blind, one of my first thoughts would be "shampoo".
Because that's how the fruity notes smell, just synthetic and not distinct enough.
With some fragrances, you immediately notice that you're wearing bergamot, pineapple, etc., but that's not the case here.
Others may see it differently, but that's just what I perceive.

Only after about an hour or so does it become somewhat more bearable.
At that point, it's just an "ok" scent, it's simply not a "wow".
The synthetic aspect fades a bit, what remains is a creamy, berry, pleasantly sweet, feminine scent.
However, I don't want to wait that long.
I want to spray on a fragrance and enjoy it right away, not just in the late dry down.
The creaminess here slightly reminds me of "Affection | Lattafa / لطافة", only that Affection is definitely creamier.

The performance is mediocre.
Feel free to overspray, it's not a room filler and I couldn't achieve a strong projection even after 6 sprays.
The longevity is okay.
The next day, I could still perceive the scent on my top without having to search for it with my nose.

What’s also important to mention is that Kashaf definitely smells way too feminine for a unisex fragrance.
I do like it a bit feminine sometimes, but this one is just a bit too feminine for me.

My review of Kashaf sounds very negative, but tastes are simply different, and that’s something to keep in mind while reading.
What I don't like can totally appeal to someone else and vice versa.
I just try to honestly express my opinion, and I hope I won't deter anyone with my review.
It's best to test the scent yourself, a small decant should cost almost nothing and just make your own judgment about Kashaf.

Affordable fragrances from the Orient are generally known to be of good to high quality based on experience, and they always have the potential for a pleasant surprise. Some cases from the house of Lattafa are quite well-known. The Kashaf is not as widely recognized as a unisex fragrance, even here in the forum, as can be inferred from the reviews. With a price of a ridiculous 10 bucks, I decided to take the plunge. For many other Orientals, I have always had guidance through the "similar fragrances" section.

The Kashaf comes in a beautiful cylindrical glass bottle, adorned with golden lettering and a gold "chromed" cap. The bottle's surface is pleasantly patterned, and in cross-section, one might imagine a stop sign with what feels like 20 instead of 8 corners. Thus, the cylindrical surface is not completely smooth, making it very comfortable to hold. I also find the dark blue color visually appealing.

How can one describe the scent now? There are no fragrance notes or a fragrance pyramid provided here. Lattafa itself does not list individual components on its homepage, only fragrance directions. Top note floral, heart fruity-spicy, and the base musky woody. In the top note, there is indeed a very floral freshness that reminds one of freshly washed laundry. In my opinion, the scent resembles Kenzo Power. A fruitiness quickly comes in, with a very distinct raspberry note. Together with the floral accord from the top note, the fresh laundry experience is complete. In the base, musky and very sweet notes dominate. The woody aspect of the fragrance is only subtle, if at all. The base immerses the freshly washed laundry in syrup. A sweet pot of flowers and creamy raspberry. Raspberry galore. Not sharp, quite pleasing. Overall, in the beginning, it definitely gives off Kenzo Power vibes (without being a dupe), but it clearly drifts into raspberry sweetness with the base.

The longevity is good to very good (that's Lattafa for you), and the sillage is above average to medium strong. I would recommend applying it lightly on the skin at first and then possibly adjusting. For 10 euros, you get something quite decent here. Definitely unisex, if not slightly more feminine. One should definitely dare to wear it. It won't hurt the wallet.

Curiosity won...
La Capitale is unbelievably beautiful... can it even be duped? And then for so little money?

Before I answer that, let me share my impression:

The bottle arrived here, very large, heavy, blue... well, quite okay.
Then I sprayed it on with honestly very low expectations.
"Oh my goodness... no way" was my first thought.
Somehow it made me very sad... "creepy how close it comes to the OG"
BUT
A few days later I sprayed La Capitale... then the direct comparison
Kashaf is indeed a good bit weaker.
The leather stands out more distinctly, especially on the skin and it is a ... yes... not so noble leather, a bit biting...
The oud, also a different one, is noticeable... it doesn't feel as... yes just not as noble.
Yes, for the money it's already crazy...

But my conclusion:
Whoever truly loves La Capitale will leave Kashaf behind...
I'm sorry, you just can't compete with the tango-dancing Italian woman... at least not for me. You can even smell the difference quite clearly afterwards.
Longevity and sillage don't match either.

Of course, for those who want the vibe for little money, Kashaf will surely suffice.
But it simply can't give me the same feeling as this noble scent that always brings a smile to my face.
Nice try Lattafa... but you're no substitute for me!

Phew, I really don't know how there have been so few responses to this so far.
This fragrance deserves so much more attention!
Recently, I was able to test "La Capitale | XerJoff" in a decant through a lovely Parfumo user. & I was truly shocked in love. Rarely have I smelled something so beautiful. So I knew I needed it. Now I was aware that I would have to save up for such a bottle for the time being. But I saw the "Kashaf | Lattafa / لطافة" among similar fragrances. No notes listed, hardly any reviews. Hmmm, so first I need to get a bit smarter about what this should smell like. According to the manufacturer, it breaks down as follows -
Top note: Rose
Heart note: black currant, raspberry & saffron
Base note: sandalwood, oud & musk

With the first spray, you immediately perceive a juicy raspberry that smells beautifully fruity fresh. Additionally, there’s a slight hairspray note that makes it seem a bit synthetic for a moment. However, I don’t find this note very long-lasting. It remains permanently fruity & sweet, but then becomes a bit sharper due to the saffron. Such a lovely combination. The musk adds a slightly powdery quality to the whole thing. You can definitely smell the woodiness, which makes the fragrance more suitable for men than, in my opinion, "La Capitale | XerJoff". It is therefore significantly less feminine & really great for all genders. I’m unfortunately not really the type for very oriental scents, but that’s really not an issue here. I think after an hour, for example, you won’t notice any difference between the two fragrances. Even when I sniff the spray nozzle, I really can’t detect any difference. So it’s amazing how close Lattafa has come to the original.

The bottle is beautifully designed & feels good in hand despite its size. Longevity & sillage are truly excellent. For €15, this is an absolutely incredible deal.
So anyone who likes "La Capitale | XerJoff" will also like this one. If you’re looking for an affordable alternative - go for it. It’s worth it!

the scent is really something special but let's first get to the basics

the packaging is nothing special, looks just like the bottle
not heavy, nothing special, so don't expect anything crazy, but we are talking about a 10 Euro fragrance
let's talk about the bottle, it is quite large, nice blue but also nothing special, the cap is honestly poorly made, it sits loosely and that could be dangerous since sometimes you just lift the fragrance by the cap or something
but the cap is heavy
the spray head, however, is really good and a lot comes out
now let's get to the scent
it's really a strawberry explosion, it smells almost not like alcohol, very sweet and fruity, an absolute recommendation to buy and for 10 Euros actually a must-have for every perfume lover
I perceive it as a unisex scent, but if I had to choose, it is a bit more feminine

in my opinion, the scent should get way more attention