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Trade Routes

Cairo Penhaligon's 2018

7.7 / 10 217 Ratings

A popular perfume by Penhaligon's for women and men, released in 2018. The scent is oriental-floral. It was last marketed by Puig.
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Main accords

Oriental

Floral

Sweet

Woody

Spicy

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Damask rose

Frankincense Saffron

Saffron

Heart Notes

Labdanum

Nagarmotha

Base Notes

Ceylonese sandalwood

Patchouli

Atlas cedar Vanilla

Vanilla

Perfumer

Christophe Raynaud

Videos

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Ratings

Scent

7.7217 Ratings

Longevity

7.9185 Ratings

Sillage

7.5185 Ratings

Bottle

8.3180 Ratings

Value for money

6.4109 Ratings

Submitted by Franfan20, last update on 10/17/2025.

Interesting Facts

The fragrance was part of the collection Trade Routes.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Oud Satin Mood Eau de Parfum

Tabac Rose

Royal Amber

Rouge Nocturne

Salim Bagh 1619

Layla

Reviews

12 in-depth fragrance descriptions

05/18/2024

8.5Scent 7Longevity 8Sillage

Tracershy
126 Reviews

Tracershy

2

Sensual Cairo

My sister wanted something stronger, evening with rose. After testing in the perfumery, Cairo seemed to be the perfect choice, so she bought it. After a few uses, she began to regret her choice. First of all, the strong, Middle Eastern character did not seem to suit her, her blonde hair, her delicate figure, her delicate character, she felt bad in this perfume. Secondly, she thought that Cairo was too masculine and that's how the bottle ended up in my hands.
I don't know what Cairo smells like, I haven't been there, but Cairo is indeed dominated by rose, vanilla and lively saffron, which creates an extremely strong perfume and very overwhelming in the initial moments after spraying. And I must admit that the rose in Cairo is masculine - dark, dark, dense. Surrounded by spices, vanilla and slightly smoky notes, it is balsamic.
I like strong, expressive perfumes, but I don't like it when rose dominates them, even if it is a masculine rose like in Cairo. There are a few exceptions, but the rose in Cairo is too strong for me, but it is a really very good perfume and if it goes to the right person, it will shine on her.

06/27/2024

7Scent 9Longevity 9Sillage

Ninamariah
296 Reviews

Ninamariah

2

Great Rose-Saffron-Patchouli but you need to love leather as well

When thinking about popular notes combined with Rose you find all of them in this scent except Oud.

In Cairo - there are Saffron and Rose, Cypriol Oil, Patchouli and Labdanum blended nicely with Vanilla in a woody base. This is very balanced scent what comes to those notes and none of them is actually dominant. This is not overly sweet, it’s not so “jammy” like those ones with just Rose with Vanilla. It’s not dark scent either. Cairo is as well somewhat restrained if thinking the performance and comparing for example with gorgeous beast Radical Rose which fills the room immediately (I love it a lot). It’s not weak, don’t get me wrong, but it just doesn’t scream to get attention and the notes are in a perfect harmony with each others.

Different combinations of the notes mentioned above has been done hundreds of times and considering uniqueness, it’s not found here. Anyway while searching the scent with all these notes in one I found this one being the best. The blend is not complex, nor difficult to understand which makes it very versatile and safe to wear. The longevity is great.

Wonderful scent for everyday wear during autumn and winter. I can wear even a dense ouds during summertime but I think it’s leather which makes this too heavy for hot days imo.

08/23/2023

6.5Scent 7Longevity 8Sillage

Shemsmeller
207 Reviews

Shemsmeller

1

Caribbean pirate

tested in May of this year during my visit to the Printemps Boulevard Haussmann in Paris at the brand's stand.

it was one of the references that intrigued me the most with Constantinople .

after discovering it, the findings are mixed, I feel the rum intrusively, however, much less aggressively than kilian straight to the heaven or in a sospiro laylati. we smell a really worked perfume, even if rum is not my cup of tea, its discretion could one day make this perfume join my collection.

It is a warming and comforting perfume to be preferred for winter. It is not a perfume that I recommend for men under 45 years old.

the price is not totally justified with this background of rum and the average age to wear it will have encouraged me not to buy it for the moment.

hope this review helps you.

05/22/2025

ClaireV
969 Reviews

ClaireV

1

A less good, far synthier Oud Satin Mood

If I were to guess at what's lurking behind the wall of piercing woody-ambery aromachemicals, it might be something like Oud Satin Mood or one of the Lancôme 'ouds' - soft, creamy yet insistently syrupy roses over patchouli or wood. I am amazed by some of Penhaligon's more niche output beyond the incredible but brief Duchaufour period as the in-house perfumer. Some of it is ok, most of it is not great, and absolutely none of it is original. Stuff like Cairo and Paithani seem designed to fit neatly into power-bro niche slots that have been blessed by the newer, younger perfume-wearing masses, and I don't know at which point the taste for powerfully radiant aromachemicals that obliterate the scent of musk or amber or wood they are supposedly gunning for took over, but it seems to be the sole demand pull for this once traditional house. The Portraits line is slightly better because it is a bit quirky, but the line inspired by vaguely 'oriental' (Middle Eastern, Indian, or North African) tropes takes itself way too seriously and thus misses the mark entirely.

Cairo is a sad, sullen example of what the masses think exotic smells like - immediately, boldly rosy-exotic, but painfully synthy and thin thereafter.

04/04/2025

8Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

Mohashim
140 Reviews

Mohashim

1

A Royal Dance of Spice and Rose

This Penhaligon's creation opens with a bold, spicy cypriol punch, immediately commanding attention. The heart reveals a rich, sandalwood-esque depth, reminiscent of Guerlain's Santal Royal. As it settles, a captivating dance of rose and earthy patchouli unfolds, with whispers of cumin, incense, pepper, and cinnamon woven throughout, creating a majestic and complex blend. Expect heavy projection for the first couple of hours, followed by moderate sillage and impressive longevity. A spectacular fragrance, easily within my top three Penhaligon's picks. While the retail price is steep, patient buyers may find it at a discount later.

More reviews

Statements

36 short views on the fragrance

Merlotsupern

1 month ago

5Scent 5Longevity 6Sillage

11

Trite oriental memeparisesque recipe of saffron+rose w/ mild smoke on vanillic wood. Monumentally bad performance.

Ceesie

6 months ago

7Scent 4Longevity 6Sillage

3

Pretty nice dose of spicy incense. Not much else though. Doesn’t last at all on my skin, 5 hours and it’s gone completely.

bouffant

7 months ago

6Scent

3

A bit disappointed by this, there is some sharpness there that irritates my nose but overall it's just ok, a subtle rose over a woody base.

Sflyte

4 years ago

6Scent

3

There is a sour note in there that I detest. I get it both on paper and skin. Was excited to try this but it is not for me.

DDinh007

7 months ago

2

Great smell initially, smells like a rose turkish delight. However, to my nose there is some sort of sour maybe bitter offputting note.

Dullrain

8 months ago

5Scent 3Longevity 5Sillage

2

Smells like a less fruity version of Byredo Bibliotheque, which I also found underwhelming.

EscentrikDom

1 month ago

10Scent 8Longevity 8Sillage

1

This is one of my favourite scents lately, great for a man tbh

Hyperion09

2 months ago

1

Gave me a strong headache

SchatzSucher

6 years ago

5Scent 8Longevity 8Sillage

14

9

Rose-saffron instead of rose-oud. In the end, it’s the same result - a combination that has become quite worn out by now.

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Friedariecht

5 years ago

13

just a bunch of spoiled bags here.. this one is really good.. fruity, juicy, full-bodied.. exceptionally different.. underrated, great.. bottle design

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