Shaghaf Oud Aswad Swiss Arabian

Shaghaf Oud Aswad is a bold and captivating fragrance that seamlessly blends Oriental opulence with French elegance. This ardent and fiery mix, infused with Arabian incense oud, is a dream for lovers of Bakhoor. The sultry base of musk, sandalwood, leather, agarwood, and vanilla adds depth and sensuality, creating an addictive scent that's hard to resist. Initially skeptical, I've now become a convert. This beast mode rose and oud fragrance truly captures the essence of the Middle East, a traditional Arabian scent that, while an acquired taste, is utterly captivating. The compliments speak for themselves – a true oud experience. With impressive longevity and an unbeatable price, Shaghaf Oud Aswad is a must-try for those who appreciate the rich traditions of Arabian perfumery.

I'll open this review by saying that I struggle with the Shaghaf Oud line. I think Oud Tonka is (for me) over-sweet tonka with not enough oud, Oud Royale is claggy and has something greeny in the drydown I cannot get on with. Oud Elixir is a very sweet, very loud and overpowering myriad of notes that I cannot really imagine myself wearing. No disrespect to SwissArabian: they make some great fragrances and you cannot argue with the quality or value proposition of what they sell. I own seven of their fragrances. It's just that the Shaghafs tend to pass me by a little bit because of personal preference.

Oud Aswad though is a little bit different.

You get a burst of oud accord in the opening that feels like a blessed relief after missing it in all the other Shaghafs I've tried. Then in the early stages of the drydown you get this whacking great juicy rose accord coming in which is stopped from being too sweet by some really nice saffron and some dry spices. The patchouli in the base is gorgeous. This is the Shaghaf for me. I dig this. It is like a more wearable, less socially irresponsible take on the Montale Black Aoud DNA and I love it. The oud accord in this is heavier and vastly more prevalent than with the other Shaghafs and I think - in fact I know - that is why I really get on with it. I'd go as far as saying Shaghaf Oud Aswad is what I wanted Oud 07 to be like. I think there comes a time in the journey of committed oud heads like me, that the garden variety ouds just do not do it for you and you want something a little more present. Aswad is very much that. I get a decent 6-7 hours from this and it projects much nicer than any of the other Shaghafs I've tried, but in a nice, adult, non-aggressive way that makes it a great pick for the office.

Swiss Arabian absolutely smashed it out of the park here. Outstanding. The rose/oud combo has been done to death but this is right at the vanguard of that DNA in my opinion and I can name a dozen or more bottles that cost multiple factors of what this does, that do not get anywhere near to this. Love it.

Three Word Summary - Up My Street

Layering combination - a tried and trust favourite yes, but Velvet Oudh by Rituals as a base layer with this over the top. Fantastic. I've also tried it with an oud oil also from Swiss Arabian and the effect was captivating to the extent that I wonder if I might have been Bedouin in a past life.

Scent - 8/10
Sillage - 8/10
Drydown - 7/10
Value - 10/10
Blending - 7/10
Emotional Connection - 9/10
Bottle/packaging - 7/10
Performance - 7/10

64/80

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to test "Shaghaf Oud," and I was thrilled. So, I had to try "Shaghaf Oud Aswad" as well, whose spicier notes intrigued me. Many thanks to @Claudio78 for the sample.

I also really like this scent. While I don't think the Oud notes are as well-executed as in "Shaghaf Oud," it does offer a strong dose of animalic notes, which can also occur with Oud, but it still lacks a bit of the typical Oud aroma. I agree with other commentators who have identified a strong urine note here. However, it is not as pervasive as, for example, in Zoologist's "Bat (2020)." I can also recognize the sweat note - presumably the usual suspect cumin - here, albeit much more subtly.

In other respects, it reminds me of fragrances from Zoologist. I initially perceive the rose as not very strong. Instead, I smell dried fruits, similar to "Camel."

After a few hours, it becomes softer and sweeter. It almost aligns itself a bit with its big brother.

I find it very wearable if you like animalic scents. And for those who find Zoologist fragrances too expensive, this offers an excellent and affordable alternative.

I ordered a sample of Shanghaf Oud Aswad because I was really damn impressed with the regular Shanghaf Oud! A great, sweet fragrance with rose and wood notes. Fantastic!
Unfortunately, I can't say the same about Shanghaf Oud Aswad.

Upon the first spray, the scent immediately reminded me of my grandmother. In the initial moments, you are overwhelmed by the rose like never before! A little later, a very light sweetness and a hint of wood come into play. Essentially, I can also sniff out the fragrance DNA of the regular Shanghaf Oud, but the Aswad is just fully turned up on rose.

The performance is fantastic! Even after 24 hours and a shower, as well as multiple hand washes, it is still detectable. Especially for the price, it's another great performer from Swiss Arabian.

Anyone looking for an affordable and performing rose fragrance will surely be very satisfied with Shanghaf Oud Aswad.

So now I have to share my first review here. This fragrance is perfect for me and is completely underrated. It is mystical, elegant, powerful, and at the same time pleasant. You always stand out, and in a positive way.
At work, my colleagues knew I was there without having seen me :D (with an FP2 mask)
It simply lingers in the air even after you’ve left the room for minutes.
The blend of spice, subtle sweetness, roses, oud (not too animalic for me), and something fresh, bright, that I can't quite name is just dreamy. I found the golden one in the line simply terrible and had to wash it off quickly. However, I perceive the longevity and sillage as similarly atomic.
I think there’s nothing to say about the price; in my opinion, it puts many expensive fragrances to shame. It shows how expensive some brand names really are. To all rose/oud lovers, you must definitely try this.