Maxparfums

Who doesn't know it, the "Shaghaf Oud / شغف عود (Eau de Parfum) | Swiss Arabian," a beast in the bottle! For me, the scent is an extremely sweetened rose oud oriental with an unbelievable longevity that is so strong that it personally gives me a headache after just a few minutes. In my opinion, the fragrance smells slightly synthetic, with a lot of rose, oud in the background, and extreme sweetness from the praline and vanilla. However, for those looking for an affordable oriental and who enjoy the rose oud combination, this scent is just right. Especially the price-performance ratio is extremely good with this fragrance. You get a very inexpensive scent with unbelievable longevity, and you may love or hate the fragrance, but you have to admit that you will definitely be noticed with this scent and possibly receive a compliment or two, as long as you don't overdo it with the sprays!!!

When I tested the Nasomatto fragrances, I liked the Baraonda Extrait de Parfum the most by far. I was also close to buying it, but 30ml for €130 was a bit too much for me. So I searched on Parfumo for fragrances that smell similar, and the first one that came up was Kutay. Due to the extremely good reviews, I was immediately drawn to the scent and bought a sample in the Souk, and when the sample arrived, my expectations were met 110%. The fragrance starts with a strong alcoholic whiskey note. This subsides after a few minutes, and a very delicious caramel note comes in, which is not too sweet. Subtle oud, vanilla, and woods join in the drydown, resulting in a much more masculine, stronger Baraonda Extrait de Parfum without that rose note. Although the fragrance is labeled as unisex, I find it very masculine. A statement fragrance for the cold days and not for everyone. The scent is something special, with a very potent sillage and addictive quality. My personal discovery of 2024 and soon to be a part of my collection in a full bottle. Whiskey, caramel, and wood! 100ml can be had for about €170-200, which is much better compared to Baraonda Extrait de Parfum. In my opinion, the better Baraonda…

I have never really written a review, but rather just given short statements about fragrances. I think it's time for something more detailed, as this scent has really convinced me…

Before I get into the smell and the ingredients, a quick note about the bottle and the packaging. For those who have never owned a Xerjoff fragrance. The scent comes in a luxurious leather box. When you open it, you see how the bottle lies in its fabric bed, waiting to be sprayed. The packaging is already superb. The bottle is made of blue glass with a golden cap and the well-known X in the center of the bottle, also very high-quality and beautiful. The spray head is also of high quality… But now to the most important part, the scent itself.

In my opinion, the scent is definitely unisex, that’s for sure. A very clean and, as it should be for the Xerjoff brand, a very high-quality smelling piece. The 40 Knots is not the typical aquatic scent one usually imagines, as this shower gel freshness or an abundance of citrus fruits are absolutely not perceivable here. The scent smells like a sea breeze, salty-sweet and, in my perception, effervescent. Coumarin, a very sought-after ingredient that can be used in many ways, is meant to give the scent a subtle sweetness in this case. Of course, the base is ISO E Super, an ingredient that helps prolong the scent of other fragrance notes while preventing them from dissipating quickly. This results in the longevity and sillage of the fragrance being very good, especially for an “aquatic.” Alternatively, one could build such a scent on a Hedione base, another ingredient, but then this fragrance would not be as deep and rich, but rather very airy and light. Dihydromyrcenol is another ingredient that gives the 40 Knots this sea feeling. By that, I mean no citrus or beach vibes, but rather pure aquatic.

With the 40 Knots, you have a very high-quality, rounded, special aquatic that can actually be worn well even on colder days. For me, it’s a nice all-rounder. The interplay of sweet and salty, along with this effervescence, is very pleasant. Price-wise, the fragrance is in the upper niche segment, meaning €180-200. But that’s quite reasonable if you are willing to pay that much for a perfume. I give the scent a 10 and a 10 in the H+S. I rated this a 10, not because the scent radiates like a Megamare or Shaghaf Oud, but because the longevity, but especially the sillage, is extremely pleasant for me. You are noticeable, but absolutely not intrusive, even for yourself.

This fragrance is a legend, a gentleman in a bottle!

The top note of the perfume is dominated by lavender. Lavender gives the scent a fresh and calming note. It’s like a breath of freshly cut lavender flowers. I have even sprayed the fragrance next to my bed a few times just to experience the calming effect of lavender, and it actually worked.

The heart note of the perfume is iris. The iris note adds an elegant and floral component to the fragrance. This makes the scent slightly powdery and pleasant…

The base note consists of leather and vetiver. The leather gives the fragrance a masculine and sensual note. It exudes a hint of luxury and adds a certain depth to the scent. The vetiver, on the other hand, imparts an earthy and woody nuance.

Regarding the price-performance ratio, I must say that the Dior Homme perfume is in the higher price segment. Especially for a “designer,” the price of €140 is not insignificant. However, I have long counted this fragrance among the niche due to its uniqueness and quality!

As for longevity and sillage, it must be said that everything is top-notch here as well. The scent lasts long and projects strongly.