Avoirdupois

Chanel No.5 was the first perfume launched by French couturier Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, and has been going strong since 1921. It was this fragrance that saw the introduction of aldehydes into perfumes, by the perfumer Ernest Beaux -- a revolutionary move.

This wondrous fragrance is surely eternal. It was my elder sister's keynote which I remember so well from the days of my youth! Yes, I am biased -- and happily so!

What can one add to what has already been said? This perfume has everything... beautiful ethereal opening tones, marvellous floral follow-through, and a charming, elegant seductively long finish that lingers and lingers.

The box is starkly lovely, the bottle a simple design that gives no indication of the little miracle inside; clever!

This is a 100% perfume in all respects; for many, it is THE perfume: perfection.

Clearly, from the ratings here, this is not a favourite! There is, undeniably, an initial soapy, plastic feel to this fragrance, with the pineapple not immediately evident... as it develops, that hard edge is sublimated and the sweet, dusky ingredients take over -- and endure. Still, there is a slight bite in the tail. Labdanum, one of the base notes, is a very ancient oil, possibly over-used here.

Salma is a very intense, even harsh perfume, to be used sparingly. It is not one I would wear every day, but I believe it has a place in a man's armoury of colognes. It is not one of Al Haramain's best, but an intriguing eastern flavour.

The floral notes come through immediately, producing a soft, happy tone to this scent. There is an overall powdery sense to Bvlgari pour Homme, a feel which I find alluring and attractive, though not especially masculine. This is not a macho macho product. The heavy, strong base notes are not overplayed, show themselves well in drydown. Coriander, which, like Cinnamon, does not appeal to me, is a very minor player in this cologne (happily for me).

Decidedly a major league cologne which is a staple in my collection. The bottle is a classic style, but not the easiest to use. I recommend BpH without hesitation. I would add that this is a fragrance that will pull compliments.

Opening this bottle was like finding a treasure chest of exotic, alluring scents.

It opens with a seductive sweet, spicy note, develops into a wide, fresh, tingling deep fruitiness, showing base notes of musk, vanilla and powdery trails.

I've experienced many of the world's leading perfumes: this has to rank among the very top, yet its price is very low. My cost was only GB£4.15 (less than US$7) for the 15ml bottle (half ounce) including inland UK postage.

Al Haramain offers a marvellous range of alcohol-free perfumes. For me, Makkah is the best. I rank it far above my three other most recent purchases: L'eau D'Issey, CH Men, and Bvlgari pour Homme. I'm a private individual, not associated with Al Haramain. As a hobby, I make perfumes and colognes.