Durra The Spirit of Dubai 2017

Durra by The Spirit of Dubai is an olfactory journey where ocean breezes meet the depths of the forest, culminating in a treasure trove of scents. It opens with invigorating sea notes and ozonic accords, intertwined with hints of clary sage, nutmeg, coconut, and a medley of spices. The heart reveals a rich blend of agarwood (oud), leather, incense, and sandalwood, complemented by delicate floral touches of jasmine, rose, and lily-of-the-valley. The base settles into a warm embrace of amber, vanilla, musk, and vetiver, leaving a lasting impression. This unisex fragrance is ideal for evening wear and special occasions, particularly in cooler seasons.

The name Durra has Arabic origins and means "pearl," associated with light and beauty.
This name was often used to denote women of great beauty. Durra is a fragrance with a multitude of notes, which to my nose is warm, wild with its animalic tones, tasty with its honeyed undertone, intense and sweet at the same time.
Amber and woody notes close it all out.
It is important, forceful and exudes impressiveness from every pore.
It is certainly impressing and appropriate for those who want something truly distinguishing.
It beautifies only those who know how to take it, as indeed would a splendid pearl necklace.
"Woman with a pearl necklace" painted by Mary Stevenson Cassatt.

"More is more!" or: "Too much is unhealthy!"
Both statements come to mind when looking at the fragrance pyramid of "Durra," a scent from the "Ultra Niche Collection" by "The Spirit of Dubai."
It is truly impressive - or rather frightening, overwhelming?

During the wear, in the scent progression of this composition, which has plenty of time to develop, it becomes clear once again that it is the sum of everything that creates such opulent sophistication.
Of course, the classic division into top, heart, and base notes is also maintained here, even if the boundaries are cleverly obscured.

Right from the start, the aquatic sea breeze marries with the dry wind of the desert, which has already brushed through the alleys of the bazaar, sampling the various fruit, herb, and spice aromas, sipping here, tasting there, and skillfully mixing these collected impressions.
Thus, we encounter familiar citrus, garden, and berry fruits, united with green kitchen herbs, such as basil and mint, as well as a rich blend of spices that tantalizes and awakens the senses.
Nothing particularly exotic: For cloves, nutmeg, cumin, cinnamon, and various types of pepper have long since been virtually integrated.
We no longer see them as the precious spices they once were, which established the wealth of many trading houses.
A hint of coniferous woods, sun-warmed and correspondingly spicy-scented, completes this pleasant and enjoyable opening.
Familiar flowers (especially the two white beauties jasmine and lily of the valley, as well as the delicate cyclamen), earth, resins, and woods open the gate to the fragrance paradise wide: What a magnificent and exceedingly harmonious "olfactory delight," into which a dirty-animalistic, dark oud note blends sonorously, with patchouli and civet playing no small, already sensual role.
Dark leather soaked in sweetness and balsamic scents further intensifies these animalistic components, as does the alluring creaminess of sandalwood and the warm sensuality of vanilla, which briefly appears earlier in the form of the orchid.
All of this is woven into a single monumental fragrance opus, whose selection of components flows together so intricately that in the end, only a roaring, yet quite mournful finale rises from numerous scent notes.
Throughout the scent development over many hours, individual facets flash repeatedly, partly fruit, partly flower or earth, wood, smoke, and of course leather.

"Durra" is "The Spirit of Dubai" and thus a fragrance kaleidoscope that will surely be exhausting for many to wear, while others will be continually surprised by the magic and mysteries of the Orient.

I gladly followed it into the unfamiliar yet very tempting world of 1,001 Nights.
This vividly colorful olfactory experience once again showed me how wonderful it can be to leave the well-trodden path and embrace the adventures waiting on the side roads.

Hello everyone, I received the fragrance as a 5 ml sample. I had high expectations due to the price and was unfortunately very disappointed. I enjoy oud scents, but the oud in Durra really smells like a stable. If you are into this type of fragrance, you might be very happy as fruity sweet notes also come into play later on. I don't think I need to say much about the longevity and sillage. Simply incredibly strong.

Durra is a big surprise for me within the 2nd Generation. Practically no one knows it, no one talks about the scent, but it has such a unique character that it actually deserves much more attention.

Durra takes you on a precious journey along a maritime coast, where the ocean meets dense forests and exotic markets. A symphony of aquatic accords and intense spices.

Let's get into it:

- In the opening, the fragrance begins with a fresh punch of almost iodine-like marine notes, airy ozone, and salty accords give the opening this maritime soul from the start. This aquatic feeling is accompanied by subtle pepper and warm nutmeg. The fruity accords are embedded, but not individually detectable. However, they provide a certain sweet fruitiness to the fragrance.

- After a few minutes, the scent transports you deep into a forest, the oud comes into play with a beautiful animalic touch, along with cedarwood which adds a lovely woodiness, and the olibanum with its smoky character creates a luxurious touch. Here, the fragrance can become a bit challenging for many.... but only briefly, as a beautiful subtle honey note emerges, mingling with the incense and providing contrast to the dark woodiness. Gradually, a certain balsamic vein rises, before slightly floral aspects come into play.

- In the drydown, the civet and oud elevate the animalic aspect slightly, while the amber and praline, despite their resinous and sweet nature, have little effect, as the animalic still dominates for a long time. Only later does a gentle tobacco come in, along with a bit of tonka bean and vanilla, which begin to tame this animalic quality.

A truly complex fragrance, and the individual notes are really hard to discern; I had to concentrate very hard for a long time. Nevertheless, the scent feels harmonious when you understand the idea behind it. Yes, it is a play of oceanic/maritime and woody-animalic-sweet accords, and at times the dance partners meet until the drydown, as the maritime aspect temporarily disappears but then rises again.

The performance is truly powerful; the scent lasts long and projects strongly, like many of the SoD.

A really great fragrance that executes this oceanic concept extremely well and creates a truly opulent aura. However, one must definitely be ready for this complexity.