This does not smell like halwa one bit, I get no sesame or pistachio, no nutty notes at all. But otherwise, I can't complain about it. What a beautiful, complex winter gourmand!
The opening is very spicy. I could have sworn I smelled cinnamon here, but apparently it's not in the official notes. Only saffron and cardamom, which makes sense when you know it, too. The sharp zing of saffron and the warm, sweet spiciness of cardamom together give a similar impression to cinnamon. This is not the medicinal or leathery kind of saffron scent though, so fear not if you don't like that.
The main notes are syrupy dates and deep vanilla. A hint of honey compliments the sticky texture of the dates, a dash of rose rounds the scent and adds complexity. This feels multilayered and slightly mysterious, unlike some other spicy gourmands that give off a basic holiday candle vibe. It turns beautifully balsamic on the skin in the drydown.
Halwa Kiss is very much an autumn and winter only scent to me though. Not necessarily only for Christmas time, I still would wear it right now in January, but once I get in the mood for spring, I would feel smothered by its warmth. Some might find it more reminiscent of the desert or the middle east, but my brain is conditioned to think of winter when I smell this kind of scent.
