Taa' Rasasi 2017

Over a year ago I asked somebody if they knew of any fragrances similar to Gucci Guilty and this was the fragrance they recommended. It was really a blind buy for me and having this plus Hawas around the same time made me an instant fan of Rasasi. It's extremely close to the original Gucci Guilty Pour Homme, maybe a little more floral. One of the biggest complaints about that fragrance is its performance, only lasting like 3 hours. This however is immediately stronger, and lasts much longer. Even though this DNA might be considered a little bit dated, this cologne and the Guilty DNA in general has a soft spot in my heart as it was one of my first colognes and probably my most complimented fragrance. I'd love to see if Rasasi could re-invent this DNA and make it a bit more modern since they've already solved the performance issue, so hopefully this fragrance can get a little more love so Rasasi can work on something new. Anyways, if you're looking to get Gucci Guilty this is hands down the better alternative, much cheaper and will perform much better.

I received "Sotoor - Taa' | Rasasi" as part of a swap (thank you, my good friend!).

I had never heard of the brand before, but the mix of "floral notes" and "marine notes" piqued my curiosity. Another "test subject" for me!

Well, somehow I can't quite figure out the scent.

The initial scent was really very sweet when I sniffed it, and brutal sweetness is actually not my thing. Anyway, let's put it on my wrist!

The fragrance starts off very floral and sweet. There’s a certain creaminess to it, almost milky. I also believe that the orange blossom plays a significant role here. This perceived creaminess also persists for me. So far, it's a very youthful, feminine scent! If it stayed like this, I would recommend this fragrance to my younger friend who is 24 years old.

But then the transformation: After about 60 minutes, something woody comes to light. However, it’s not delicate, feminine woody tones, but rather as if you were allowed to do an internship at a sawmill for a day. The floral, creamy aspects gradually disappear completely; after 2 hours, they are gone.

For me, the scent becomes very masculine and strongly woody. In the end, patchouli makes a brief appearance, but it hardly stands a chance.

I don’t get any shower gel vibes, nor any freshness; I can't find any marine notes at all. The same progression occurs in the 2nd and 3rd tests.

Is my nose broken? Or did the house of Rasasi think: "Unisex? Then first feminine and then masculine, we'll build a fragrance in stages!" I don’t know.

The longevity is really good at around 8 hours; it clings well to clothing for 1-2 days. The scent trail is moderate; it doesn’t annoy anyone, but "Sotoor - Taa' | Rasasi" is easily detectable in my immediate vicinity.

The test was worth the experience, and for those who like woody fragrances and are willing to embrace the sweet-floral start, it’s worth the purchase.