Enigma Aoud Roja Parfums 2018 Parfum

Enigma Aoud Parfum, what a fascinating name! What olfactory splendor might be hidden behind it?

Surprisingly, I found not a single review on Parfumo. This puzzled me and made me curious, so I decided to ask Google for advice. There, I immediately stumbled upon three mysteries:

Mystery No. 1: Only four videos about this fragrance.
Mystery No. 2: Are those really aldehydes?
Mystery No. 3: Often referred to as Enigma Aoud Pour Femme - yet I thought this fragrance was unisex. The listed formula also seemed to differ from the one I was familiar with. Enigma Aoud remains a mystery.

As a result, I contacted Roja Parfums, and the response was enlightening: Enigma Aoud is definitely unisex, and there have been no changes to the formula. One mystery was thus solved.
Nevertheless, on Parfumo, the community is divided on whether the fragrance is more suitable for women (ratio 2:1 compared to men). However, some emphasized that this fragrance is indeed unisex.

In summary: Few internet videos or reviews, and the little information available is often incorrect. So I decided to test the fragrance myself.

After a few days of waiting, the sample finally arrived, and I could hardly wait to test it. So I grabbed a test strip and sprayed it on.

The opening is breathtaking - bergamot and aldehydes(?)! I was already familiar with aldehydes from N°5 Parfum, but these smell completely different; I detect artemisia but not quite as spicy. The scent is voluminous, rather fruity-sweet and slightly alcoholic, reminding me of fermented plum. This mystery I probably won't unravel.
The oud from the base also announces itself with a slight smoky-spicy note.

After the opening, the fragrance becomes more seductive, ylang-ylang makes an appearance, accompanied by peach and the slightly cucumber-like jasmine. In between, may rose and geranium appear like through a curtain, only to disappear again; similar to a jewel that shows its facets depending on the light.

The oud in the base, which I had already perceived as slightly smoky-spicy in the top note, re-emerges, this time more leathery, but it is a bright oud, accompanied by sandalwood and vanilla. The fragrance becomes more powdery. Iris and labdanum rounded off the overall picture.

This fragrance is incredibly complex. One is tempted to keep smelling it to explore it and discover new nuances. Yet it is never fully revealed, and that is a good thing. It remains a mystery.

The longevity and sillage are extraordinary. The fragrance lasts easily over 10 hours on me. My friend recently said: "Don't move so much!" because he thought I would otherwise constantly exude this incredible scent.
Another friend, who had also researched the fragrance, asked: "Why does it say everywhere that it's for women? It's way too smoky/spicy for a woman." That probably says it all on this topic.

In conclusion, I can state: This fragrance deserves far more than just a review. It is as multifaceted and mysterious as its name suggests. Perfect for special occasions like a romantic dinner, a wedding, an art opening, or ...