Dubai - Abraj The Spirit of Dubai 2015 Eau de Parfum

The “Old Money” style has been making waves for years now —
that effortless sense of confidence, comfort, and quiet opulence that comes with knowing you’re covered.
Who could say no to that?

Abraj gives us its olfactory version:
a fresh, fruity, and masculine opening — bergamot, lavender, and saffron in the lead.
It’s a classic, time-tested blend (remember, we’re talking Old Money here).
Why change for the sake of change, after all?

At first, you feel slightly out of place.
You’ve been invited, though you’re not quite sure how.
You hesitate before calling out to the waiter gliding by, champagne tray in hand —
he’s already figured out you don’t quite belong.

Then, as the evening settles in, leather, cedar, and above all, rose emerge.
They put you at ease, reminding you that true class —
the kind that transcends generations (my European side resists saying aristocratic, but not for long) —
is also about making others feel comfortable.

You relax.
You loosen the bow tie you barely managed to tie. Maybe even unbutton a shirt or two.

Amber, musk, vanilla, and patchouli finish the job —
they wrap you in warmth, in that rare mix of charm and calm.
Far from the nouveau riche, far from pretenders —
just the comfort of an evening you wish would never end.

Insta: switzer_scent

At the beginning, Abraj presents itself as a fresh summer companion with old school vibes!

It starts citrusy and spicy with bergamot, petitgrain, cardamom, and lavender. The lavender, in particular, brings a good dose of old money vibes before the fragrance gently and thoughtfully drifts into creaminess. Here, it slightly reminds me of Renaissance by Xerjoff.

A good scent that is definitely office-friendly.

Sillage and longevity are very good for a summer fragrance.

Everyone knows that one person who wore the ugly glasses in childhood, often the outsider.. 20 years later it happens to everyone.. WOW who is that? Is that not the glasses snake - but that is exactly HIM/HER!!! Mouth closed, swallow once and then you start to wonder how that was possible, from UII - HUI! That's exactly how it was with this fragrance. For me, it starts off quite piercing, really not my thing. Over time, it becomes soft in its own way but still strongly fresh - magnificent!

Three different bottles tried, three different scents explored.
On one side:
A very beautiful fullness, intertwined and reminiscent for me of Creed Green Irish Tweed or Acqua di Parma Quercia. With a perceivability of the scent lasting for many hours.
And on the other side:
Extremely flat, with only a brief freshness and an almost direct transition to woodiness. Garnished with a longevity of just a few hours.
And the third attempt in the bunch?
Right in between!

Now one could approach this mathematically and say the extreme values have been found and further attempts fall in between, but I would rather leave the solution to this equation out...
Accordingly, I would also prefer to leave out the rating. Too many variables and too few constants to provide a serious assessment.

The Dubai - Abraj Eau de Parfum is one of the SoDs that doesn't get much attention. However, it’s not easy to step out of the shadow of so many grand fragrances that the house delivers. Nevertheless, this scent definitely deserves more recognition, as it is very European in its character despite its oriental origins and finally office-appropriate!

How do I perceive the Dubai - Abraj Eau de Parfum and why might a purchase be worthwhile?

- Well, the fragrance has a magnificent opening; vintage-like, yes, but multi-layered. Alongside the fresh bergamot, numerous supporting notes join in; a bit of spice, a hint of green, citrusy bitterness from petitgrain, and overall, with the other notes, a noble touch of vintage freshness comes through (pine is also noticeably present). This blends in the next phase with a bit of rose and various floral notes, but everything is very subtle, with the spicy-green freshness remaining the main player.

- Only in the drydown does a woody-creamy note emerge, which does not completely take away this freshness but rather complements it brilliantly. Also well integrated in the drydown is this mossy nuance, which never lets this green undertone fade away completely and maintains the overall freshness and professionalism. Please don’t be alarmed by the cypriol and oud; these are extremely minimized in the background, supporting the fragrance but are not perceivable as such, especially not for untrained noses; an untrained person wouldn’t even notice it if they didn’t know. A beautiful harmonious drydown with a lovely oriental touch, but not too much, so this fragrance is effectively suitable for everyday wear all year round.

- The longevity and sillage are both top-notch for this type of DNA; I can’t complain at all, the fragrance radiates for several hours and lasts long.

In summary, the Dubai - Abraj Eau de Parfum is indeed a brilliant everyday fragrance for the office and a thousand other situations, which is simultaneously European in its flair but never forgets its oriental roots. If you want a bit of vintage freshness and want to test a slightly more complex freshie, you’ve come to the right place.