Rose/Oud? For many, it's now outdated, boring, dull, and repeated a hundred times. Why this one could really grab me and why I not only own my own bottle but also keep bringing this fragrance from the Emirates to friends again and again, is what this review will be about.
Rose/Oud is a well-known and discussed topic in the perfume world. Time and again, brands venture into this combination; it's almost become the standard for all designer fragrances that somehow have "Oud" in their name - and rightly so, because the rose counters the dry, woody oud with a pleasant sweetness, allowing the characteristics of the respective notes to complement each other beautifully and create a truly lovely scent. The only problem: Most of these fragrances don't really stand out from one another; many scents smell very similar despite different brands, leading to a certain saturation and people simply getting tired of Rose/Ouds.
This fragrance is different.
Although oud is listed in both the top and heart and base notes, what is most noticeable here is: Rose. Those who know their roses and enjoy one or two more will find satisfaction here, as the typical Arabic rose emerges: Deep red, sweet, and far from green French rose or woody Bulgarian rose. This one is truly dark, beautiful, and sweet, but not nearly as sweet as, for example, Oud Satin Mood. The oud appears more as a companion and is clearly synthetic, though this is not a negative point, as this is by no means a true oud scent. It's much more about the composition and the feeling, and this is an extremely Arabic one, primarily created by the spices and patchouli. While other Rose/Ouds bring a certain freshness or sterile component, this fragrance is thoroughly Arabic in its DNA, and this is partly due to the fact that it somehow doesn't feel quite rounded. It's not a bug - it's a feature! And strangely enough, it really works here. The feeling is exactly that, and when sprayed, it teleports you directly into the Arabic sun, into a certain setting of warmth, relaxed mood, and a place that simply feels good. Unlike many Rose/Ouds, this fragrance does not want to smell rich or expensive; it does not want to be worn at a gala, in an opera, or in the theater. It is for the here and now; it is not a mask to feel rich and expensive, nor is it a candidate that needs to hide behind the expensive - quite the opposite! It is what it is, it is proud of it, and presents itself with its chest out next to the sometimes overpriced, awkwardly marketed, and luxuriously appearing niche brands, doing its own thing.
The performance is decent but not exceptionally strong. You can certainly get through a day with it, though it tends to stay closer to the skin in the evening. Relatively linear and synthetic, but less synthetic than, for example, Shaghaf Oud from the same house. The bottle does not match my style, but it's fine and feels valuable and heavy - especially the cap. The packaging is really impressive, very nice to look at and unpack, as is usual with Arabic fragrances.
Overall, a great fragrance, and while it doesn't do everything better than its competition, it is significantly cheaper, more confident, and simply great to wear. Suitable for those on a tighter budget, as well as for those who just want something slightly Arabic without diving too deep into the world while still getting a certain setting and feeling. For me, it's a truly great fragrance that I love bringing back from Arabic countries. It simply pleases, and that goes for almost everyone, and the association comes through immediately - even though it is "just" a Rose/Oud. Really beautiful and absolutely recommendable.
Top Notes 
Oud
Spices
Heart Notes 
Rose
Base Notes 
Patchouli
Vanilla
Roboteer
Einfachich
Nefretem
MichH
Loubitz
Basti87
Sobaro
Liesa
Irini
Annape
