Top Notes 
Honey
Saffron
Fig
Sage
Violet
Heart Notes 
Rose
Osmanthus
Geranium
Jasmine
Nutmeg
Base Notes 
Amber
Cedarwood
Cinnamon
Gurjum balsam
Leather
Oud
Vanilla
Whisky
StinkSultan
79 Reviews
StinkSultan
Very helpful Review
5
A Pricey Ticket and High Expectations for an Underwhelming Show
Retailing for €555 for 50ml, Nefs is the most expensive fragrance I have come across yet, and along with that high price tag there's also high expectations. Generally, the more you pay, the more premium the product is. But is that actually the case? With an average 8.8/10 rating at the time of this writing and hundreds glazing the fragrance as a "masterpiece" and "showstopper", you can nearly be certain that what you're getting with Nefs is nothing short of unique and truly sensational. But guess what? All I found Nefs to be is disappointing, underwhelming and nothing more than bait, for there's nothing here to justify buying it.
The show begins immediately (very) sweet with fruity nuances of fig, which is paired nicely with a minty and subtly fresh sage. The saffron is definitely detectable too, but it is hardly overpowering or as strong as I'd like. It brings these slightly leathery and spicy undertones, all whilst being drowned in thick, warm honey sweetness. There's also a very soft powdery edge from the violet. This is arguably the best part of Nefs. Really like the fig + sage combo. But it's all also made very clear right from the start that Nefs will be taking a rather sweet direction.
As the fig, sage, and saffron fade away, Nefs introduces a couple of floral notes into the bowl of honey sweetness. They're all blended quite well, so it's hard to pinpoint them all on their own. Mainly, I get a sweet and warm rose with slight herbaceous qualities, reminiscent of the rose you'd find in Shem but milder, and a complex osmanthus with fruity-floral attributes. I don't get much jasmine, at best just a mild white floral smoothness polishing the sweeter and fruitier osmanthus-rose combo. As for the nutmeg, it is easily overpowered by the floral bouquet at play here, so you won't be getting much more than some of its warmth.
Once at the final stage of the show, I'm left hanging, expecting a finale with a bang, for that's what the notes pyramid would technically dictate. Instead, Nefs continues with its sweet-for-the-sake-of-it and complex-for-the-sake-of-it direction. A boozy sweetness envelops the whole base, while some warm cinnamon spice is sprinkled on top of a richly warm and sweet amber, with a little bit of vanilla on the side. The (still quite sweet) balsamic tones in the back keep things somewhat more interesting, while some dry and faint woodiness tries its best to be present as well. There's not a whole lot of leather warmth either, and there's definitely no oud in here to be found. The latter could have been arguably the "hero" note if it was integrated properly, saving me from all the sweetness I'm drowned in. But nada, no oud. And so, one thing is made very clear all across the wearing: Nefs is a sweet fragrance fan's dream and my diabetic grandpa's nightmare. I've smelt sweeter stuff, though, where the sweetness was quite literally blown out of proportion and lacking any balance. Here, there's still a clear blend quality and balance (there better be for that price).
For performance, Nefs tapped out around hour 9, and it delivered good, but not excellent projection throughout. The first two hours, it kept a consistent 2-3 feet of projection. Afterwards, it would take a hit to a tamer 1 foot up until around hour 6 where it would largely turn into a skin scent.
Unless you plan wearing Nefs in warmer weather, which I advise not to, you shouldn't find it a hard scent to wear, apart from the fact that each spray is like over €1. Not that it's something you should worry about if you've got €500 to throw on a fragrance, though. From formal/special events to clubbing or as a cold-weather daily, Nefs is fairly versatile as long as you and those around you can stand very sweet fragrances.
Apart from the fact that it's a little too sweet for my taste, the primary issue that I see with Nefs is how it tricks you into thinking that paying the extra premium price will get you so much more. But let me tell you that if Armani was to make a Stronger With You Oriental flanker where they would turn down the nutty creaminess, add some florals and more spiciness, then you'd get something largely in the same ballpark. And yet, you've got Nishane here asking for €555 retail for a composition that is acclaimed for being complex, yet all of this complexity is there just for the sake of being complex, and it all sits under a blanket of sweetness which filters out any note that could be potentially challenging (interesting) to the less-experienced nose (e.g. oud, saffron, leather). Hence, apart from the blending and material quality (which even those aren't the absolute best), there's not much that makes Nefs deserving of the "niche" title. It is made with a clear intention to be as mass-appealing and pleasant as possible, which is NOT how it should work when asking for half a grand.
Hard to hate the scent itself, but is it showstopper material? Unfortunately not. The show must go on...
Overall Rating: 6.3/10
The show begins immediately (very) sweet with fruity nuances of fig, which is paired nicely with a minty and subtly fresh sage. The saffron is definitely detectable too, but it is hardly overpowering or as strong as I'd like. It brings these slightly leathery and spicy undertones, all whilst being drowned in thick, warm honey sweetness. There's also a very soft powdery edge from the violet. This is arguably the best part of Nefs. Really like the fig + sage combo. But it's all also made very clear right from the start that Nefs will be taking a rather sweet direction.
As the fig, sage, and saffron fade away, Nefs introduces a couple of floral notes into the bowl of honey sweetness. They're all blended quite well, so it's hard to pinpoint them all on their own. Mainly, I get a sweet and warm rose with slight herbaceous qualities, reminiscent of the rose you'd find in Shem but milder, and a complex osmanthus with fruity-floral attributes. I don't get much jasmine, at best just a mild white floral smoothness polishing the sweeter and fruitier osmanthus-rose combo. As for the nutmeg, it is easily overpowered by the floral bouquet at play here, so you won't be getting much more than some of its warmth.
Once at the final stage of the show, I'm left hanging, expecting a finale with a bang, for that's what the notes pyramid would technically dictate. Instead, Nefs continues with its sweet-for-the-sake-of-it and complex-for-the-sake-of-it direction. A boozy sweetness envelops the whole base, while some warm cinnamon spice is sprinkled on top of a richly warm and sweet amber, with a little bit of vanilla on the side. The (still quite sweet) balsamic tones in the back keep things somewhat more interesting, while some dry and faint woodiness tries its best to be present as well. There's not a whole lot of leather warmth either, and there's definitely no oud in here to be found. The latter could have been arguably the "hero" note if it was integrated properly, saving me from all the sweetness I'm drowned in. But nada, no oud. And so, one thing is made very clear all across the wearing: Nefs is a sweet fragrance fan's dream and my diabetic grandpa's nightmare. I've smelt sweeter stuff, though, where the sweetness was quite literally blown out of proportion and lacking any balance. Here, there's still a clear blend quality and balance (there better be for that price).
For performance, Nefs tapped out around hour 9, and it delivered good, but not excellent projection throughout. The first two hours, it kept a consistent 2-3 feet of projection. Afterwards, it would take a hit to a tamer 1 foot up until around hour 6 where it would largely turn into a skin scent.
Unless you plan wearing Nefs in warmer weather, which I advise not to, you shouldn't find it a hard scent to wear, apart from the fact that each spray is like over €1. Not that it's something you should worry about if you've got €500 to throw on a fragrance, though. From formal/special events to clubbing or as a cold-weather daily, Nefs is fairly versatile as long as you and those around you can stand very sweet fragrances.
Apart from the fact that it's a little too sweet for my taste, the primary issue that I see with Nefs is how it tricks you into thinking that paying the extra premium price will get you so much more. But let me tell you that if Armani was to make a Stronger With You Oriental flanker where they would turn down the nutty creaminess, add some florals and more spiciness, then you'd get something largely in the same ballpark. And yet, you've got Nishane here asking for €555 retail for a composition that is acclaimed for being complex, yet all of this complexity is there just for the sake of being complex, and it all sits under a blanket of sweetness which filters out any note that could be potentially challenging (interesting) to the less-experienced nose (e.g. oud, saffron, leather). Hence, apart from the blending and material quality (which even those aren't the absolute best), there's not much that makes Nefs deserving of the "niche" title. It is made with a clear intention to be as mass-appealing and pleasant as possible, which is NOT how it should work when asking for half a grand.
Hard to hate the scent itself, but is it showstopper material? Unfortunately not. The show must go on...
Overall Rating: 6.3/10
Updated on 11/04/2025
2 Comments
Moshikoko
StinkSultan
Micko
Arjan
SeoulBrough
Estbienla
MrLawman
MariaS
BertolucciK
DarkWinterCS
