Essence of Casablanca Swiss Arabian 2023 Extrait de Parfum

When i sprayed this perfume, it reminded me immediately of silky woods but with a touch of fruitiness. The opening is fruity with notes of apple and peach, but in the drydown is were the magic happens and it becomes a slightly sweeter silky woods. Definitely will recommend for the price tag. If you could get your hands on it for under 50 bucks, i would recommend it!

It is said in the English original of the classic "Casablanca".
One can understand this as a kind of flirtatious toast, a toast made while clinking glasses with a loved one.
Since there is no equivalent in German, it became "Schau mir in die Augen, Kleines". A dynamic equivalence. The dimension of the "toast" has completely fallen away; what remains is the romantic-flirtatious part to preserve the emotional dynamic.

I feel similarly about this perfume from Swiss Arabian, which is part of the "Cities" series and thus refers not to the film but to the city.

When I think of the city of Casablanca, I think of a place of longing. A place that one should experience and that should be part of every bucket list.

I initially associate Casablanca with perfumes that smell similar to "Sugar Leather | Une Nuit Nomade," "Maasaï Mara | Berdoues," or Ambre Tabac Eau de Parfum - sweet and oriental, with cinnamon and possibly tobacco.

However, this association is completely absent in Essence of Casablanca Extrait de Parfum - and therein lies the charm.

For here too, a dynamic equivalence is at play: not through words, but through the scent itself. Through grapes and vanilla that one can catch a whiff of in the markets of Casablanca. Through the balsamic scent of the streets and alleys that are actually just made of concrete and plaster but give the impression of being made of sandstone in the sun.

The protagonists here are clearly grape and balsam.
I had not previously perceived grape in a fragrance, but the two complement each other here like Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.
The scent evokes a sense of everyday elegance. In my opinion, it can be worn as a daring daily fragrance as well as a subtle evening scent for the entire year.

It is quite unisex, but I see it leaning slightly more towards the feminine side.

Overall, as a self-proclaimed fan of Swiss Arabian, I am once again impressed by their price-performance ratio. The house offers a top-notch niche fragrance at the price of an average designer scent. Clear recommendation for purchase for - in principle - everyone.

I unfortunately have to say a few negative words about the online sensation Essence of Casablanca. Don't forget, everyone has a subjective experience.

This fragrance appears with seemingly every TikTok influencer and is constantly referred to as one of the best fragrances ever. That's exactly why I had to try it. The sample arrived, and to be honest, I can't understand this hype at all.

The scent opens with a synthetic fruitiness. I can't particularly identify apple or grape clearly. When I think of a realistic grape note, I think more of "Karagoz | Nishane," because that fragrance captures the note really well and deliciously. An apple from Layton is nowhere to be found. Here, it simply comes across as an undefinable artificial fruit mix. Not quite as overwhelmingly sweet as Erba Pura, but still very synthetic.

Then, a lot revolves around the vanilla in this fragrance. It is definitely present, but I really don't understand how some users can say that it's the best vanilla they've ever smelled. To me, it also comes across as artificial and synthetic. If I were to smell this fragrance blindly, it could just as easily be another Khamrah flanker, where the date sweetness is somewhat reduced and a bit more fruitiness is added.

In the end, it’s just a pretty typical and absolutely average gourmand fragrance for me: artificial, sweet, fruity in the opening, and lacking complexity or depth of vanilla in the drydown. Not bad, but certainly not particularly good. Nothing about it really stands out to me. The longevity is decent to good, but to be honest, you expect that from such gourmand DNAs nowadays anyway.

For me, this fragrance is extremely overhyped, and I'm glad that I didn't buy a full bottle but only tested a sample first. I think it should definitely be tested beforehand and not blindly succumb to the hype.

And to be honest: There are definitely much nicer gourmand fragrances than this one. When I think of basic vanilla drydowns like "Ani (Extrait de Parfum) | Nishane," "Lira (Eau de Parfum) | Casamorati," "Babycat | Yves Saint Laurent," or "Althaïr | Parfums de Marly," then this vanilla from Essence of Casablanca Extrait de Parfum definitely does not have the same depth and quality. I personally cannot understand why it is so extremely hyped.

The positive aspect of the fragrance:
Beautiful bottle, it will reach an absolutely wide range of men and women who don't want to delve too deeply into the whole perfume game. It doesn't offend and is absolutely wearable.
But this ratio of "being praised to the skies" and what it actually is... is incomprehensibly far apart.

Thanks to sharings, I came across this fragrance from Swiss Arabian. I will eventually tattoo "Parfumo" on my chest.
So now close your eyes and let yourself be inspired by this scent. Lean back and enjoy the warmth that this fragrance radiates. Warmth? Yep, warmth because it envelops you with a beautiful musk vanilla note. The accords are so beautifully delicate that it reminds me a bit of "Musc Ravageur (Eau de Parfum) | Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle." Why? Because it is just as beautifully delicate and perfectly balanced as "Essence of Casablanca | Swiss Arabian."
The top notes of grape and apple disappear very quickly. You actually only enjoy them for a few minutes, and that's it. I would have wished for more here.
The drydown is a perfect symbiosis of musk, amber, and vanilla; however, the vanilla is not dominant. It is definitely the musk with amber. And that surrounds you for about 6 hours.
It is not a beast and also not a room-filler as others have described it. I cannot confirm that. It is not a beast. It shouldn't be. It is in the background and is more perceived close to the body. If you are looking for a room-filling scent, this one is not for you.
I also find it more feminine than masculine, but that doesn't mean a man can't wear it. It fits perfectly with a clean outfit in white. Like freshly washed.
Women will find this scent more suitable for daily wear than men.
Is it worth a blind buy? Yep, you definitely can't go wrong with the Citis line from Swiss.
So buy it and enjoy.

Continuing with the Cities collection from the brand Swiss Arabian based in Dubai. I managed to get a sample set from this collection that includes 5 fragrances. I wanted to start with the Essence of Casablanca, which is already one of the most popular from the line. I know the DNA from the original "Casablanca (Eau de Parfum) | Swiss Arabian," which I have owned for several years. A great DNA that has a very cozy gourmand character. So here we have an Extrait that is also available as "Essence of Casablanca (Concentrated Perfume Oil) | Swiss Arabian." I can also recommend these small oils in 12ml, as they are very economical. But now back to the Extrait, which comes in 100ml and is not exactly cheap by Dubai standards: The bottle costs from 60€ upwards to 100€. In terms of quality, the fragrance is absolutely worth it, so the elevated prices can certainly be justified.

In the overall package, you naturally get a lot from Dubai with a wonderful elegant packaging and a bottle that already has niche-quality, at least visually.
The scent, as mentioned, leans very much towards the original. Those who already own this do not necessarily need this Extrait, although in my opinion, it is an upgrade. Not only is it enhanced by the concentration from EDP to Extrait, but it is also slightly more finely balanced and truly harmonizes wonderfully between fruity sweetness and gourmand notes. For those who are not yet familiar with this entire DNA: It somewhat reminds me of "Silky Woods | Goldfield & Banks," but here it is a bit fruitier. The fruity top note of apple & grape smells really cozy and sensual. This is also due to the vanilla-amber combination that sets in very early and is active not just in the base. A spicy, slightly earthy patchouli note quickly adds depth. The iris root also contributes its charming vibes, fitting wonderfully into this fruity top note. The fruity-sweet-gourmand notes come across as extremely elegant, making them quite wearable in everyday life, especially in not too warm weather. The base becomes beautifully warm with a lot of clean musk and also a balsamic-cared note that is very attractive. Overall, this is a truly beautiful fragrance that captivates me. In terms of quality, I also see a really high-quality scent that I can wholeheartedly recommend, especially for this price. The fragrance is suitable for both genders, from young to old, but is rather modern.
Performance lives up to an Extrait, but it’s not beast mode. Longevity is 8-10 hours, and the sillage is really good, maintaining a high level for a long time. It is worthwhile for everyday wear and in the evening, especially during cozy hours.

Overall, I recommend it. Great fruity top note with a wonderful warm base. Definitely worth a test.