The most important thing first: Blonde Amber is, despite all the hype in recent years, my favorite fragrance. One that I wouldn’t want to wear every day, but it triggers a lot for me personally, and I give it a 10/10. The price is irrelevant in comparison - it’s purely about the scent. I assert here that Faris al Arab is meant to be a clear interpretation!
Faris al Arab sounds promising. As for the progression:
It starts off quite harsh and a bit flat, just like 2 or 3 other Blonde Amber interpretations I’ve tested. The BA also needs its moment to settle - here it takes about 10 minutes until the scent becomes more complex and especially sweeter. Just like with the original, I find it very difficult to pick out individual notes. Amber and something alcoholic-fruity is clear, otherwise it radiates a pleasantly warm aura.
However, I do catch a whiff that reminds me of peach iced tea from a Tetra Pak, which I drank by the liter in the early 2000s. Not very prominent, but noticeable.
I would generally see the similarity at about 85% of the DNA from the OG. The iced tea eventually fades away as well.
Especially in the drydown, Faris al Arab becomes more similar to the original. BA has more punch and is significantly more complex. That’s perfectly
OK - it smells good as it is! 2 hours after application, I can hardly detect any difference directly on the skin.
The question I ask myself is: Would I smell the direct difference blind and in the air? Maybe not! Maybe yes, but like with many well-made imitations, it often doesn’t come down to the scent itself, but whether I am just as happy with the "dupe" as I am with the original. Here I can say: No! It doesn’t make me just as happy - but the bar is set exceptionally high.
I also own fragrances from Arab manufacturers that I prefer over the original scents because they suffice for me and make me just as happy personally.
I find the longevity completely acceptable. Several hours clearly noticeable. I only have a decant, and the performance is good. Projection is also present, but becomes noticeably more subtle after 2 hours. However, I’m not a fan of scents that cling forever and still stick to me even after washing.
Conclusion: I actually expected a bit more similarity based on some reviews. If I didn’t know the original, this one would definitely already be in my collection (if it were available...). I like Faris al Arab and can encourage anyone who enjoys this DNA to give it a try.
As mentioned, I only have a decant, so I can’t comment on the bottle quality. From the pictures, it’s not something I would place in the front row. Personally, I like straightforward shapes, clear edges, and distinct geometries in design, including with bottles.
Good scent, good interpretation, and for the price, a very good opportunity to wear the Blonde Amber DNA for a fraction of the price.
