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Victoria x Delicious Bouquet = Shouq
Acquired as a sample and tested in direct comparison to "Victoria / فيكتوريا | Lattafa / لطافة" and
Delicious Bouquet.
Shouq starts lemony, sweet, creamy. More lemony and fresh than Delicious Bouquet, but it doesn't quite reach the level of Victoria in this regard. However, it is creamier, lighter, initially without a floral note.
Slowly, the orange blossom and rum come through, becoming more floral and spicy. Not as spicy as Delicious Bouquet, less citrusy than Victoria, but creamier.
In the drydown, almost exclusively vanilla remains, while Delicious Bouquet retains its spiciness. Here, Shouq aligns itself with Victoria, although Victoria still appears fresher in the drydown and the citrus notes are still detectable.
Overall, Shouq strikes me as the small, shy daughter of Victoria and Delicious Bouquet. Creamier, lighter than both mentioned, with a hint of spice and at the same time less depth (although I wouldn't necessarily describe Victoria as having depth, it does seem a bit more complex to me).
Nevertheless, a lovely scent that could be the right mix for some.
Longevity and sillage feel lower to me than those of the parent fragrances, but still not bad. Unfortunately, Shouq quickly becomes close to the skin.
A pleasant fragrance, but it probably won't make it into my collection, as Victoria and Delicious Bouquet make it feel "redundant" to me, even though they are not identical.

Shouq starts lemony, sweet, creamy. More lemony and fresh than Delicious Bouquet, but it doesn't quite reach the level of Victoria in this regard. However, it is creamier, lighter, initially without a floral note.
Slowly, the orange blossom and rum come through, becoming more floral and spicy. Not as spicy as Delicious Bouquet, less citrusy than Victoria, but creamier.
In the drydown, almost exclusively vanilla remains, while Delicious Bouquet retains its spiciness. Here, Shouq aligns itself with Victoria, although Victoria still appears fresher in the drydown and the citrus notes are still detectable.
Overall, Shouq strikes me as the small, shy daughter of Victoria and Delicious Bouquet. Creamier, lighter than both mentioned, with a hint of spice and at the same time less depth (although I wouldn't necessarily describe Victoria as having depth, it does seem a bit more complex to me).
Nevertheless, a lovely scent that could be the right mix for some.
Longevity and sillage feel lower to me than those of the parent fragrances, but still not bad. Unfortunately, Shouq quickly becomes close to the skin.
A pleasant fragrance, but it probably won't make it into my collection, as Victoria and Delicious Bouquet make it feel "redundant" to me, even though they are not identical.
Translated · Show original
Lemon Cake with Rum Aroma and Honey Glaze
I already had the "Victoria / فيكتوريا | Lattafa / لطافة" in my possession, but when I discovered another
Devotion Eau de Parfum alternative, I had to add this bottle as well!
I love the Victoria - fresh, sweet, citrusy, light. The fragrance pyramid of the
Delicious Bouquet sounded significantly spicier.
And lo and behold, the scent reflects the pyramid well!
Delicious Bouquet starts pleasantly sweet, vanilla-like, citrusy with a touch of spice, presumably from the rum in the heart note. The lemon and bergamot are somewhat subdued under the spice, which is why the fragrance doesn’t radiate much freshness for me - but that’s not a negative aspect. Besides the lemon and bergamot, I also detect a hint of orange (even though it's not listed), but really just subtly. The white flowers are only faintly discernible.
Over time, the rum comes more to the forefront and the honey joins in. The spice gains depth and the citrus moves further into the background, being drawn from the fruity direction into the floral by the orange blossom. Additionally, it becomes sweeter without becoming sticky.
In the drydown, the vanilla paired with caramel becomes more prominent again. Honey is still detectable. Here, the fragrance is mainly warm, sweet, and only slightly spicy.
From my memory, I would say that the Delicious Bouquet is closer to the OG than the Victoria.
Due to the warmth and spice, it is more of an autumn/winter candidate for me or suitable year-round for milder to cold temperatures.
The longevity for me is about 7 hours, and the sillage is quite good if you spray generously. The bottle gives a high-quality impression, and the spray head does a decent job.
My favorite remains the "Victoria / فيكتوريا | Lattafa / لطافة", as here the lemon and freshness are in the foreground, but for the colder days, I might actually prefer the
Delicious Bouquet.

I love the Victoria - fresh, sweet, citrusy, light. The fragrance pyramid of the

And lo and behold, the scent reflects the pyramid well!
Delicious Bouquet starts pleasantly sweet, vanilla-like, citrusy with a touch of spice, presumably from the rum in the heart note. The lemon and bergamot are somewhat subdued under the spice, which is why the fragrance doesn’t radiate much freshness for me - but that’s not a negative aspect. Besides the lemon and bergamot, I also detect a hint of orange (even though it's not listed), but really just subtly. The white flowers are only faintly discernible.
Over time, the rum comes more to the forefront and the honey joins in. The spice gains depth and the citrus moves further into the background, being drawn from the fruity direction into the floral by the orange blossom. Additionally, it becomes sweeter without becoming sticky.
In the drydown, the vanilla paired with caramel becomes more prominent again. Honey is still detectable. Here, the fragrance is mainly warm, sweet, and only slightly spicy.
From my memory, I would say that the Delicious Bouquet is closer to the OG than the Victoria.
Due to the warmth and spice, it is more of an autumn/winter candidate for me or suitable year-round for milder to cold temperatures.
The longevity for me is about 7 hours, and the sillage is quite good if you spray generously. The bottle gives a high-quality impression, and the spray head does a decent job.
My favorite remains the "Victoria / فيكتوريا | Lattafa / لطافة", as here the lemon and freshness are in the foreground, but for the colder days, I might actually prefer the

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Amore Caffè Alternative with Caveats
After falling head over heels for "Amore Caffè | Mancera," I still wanted to look for an alternative for a budget. "Caffé Latte | Khadlaj / خدلج" is not an alternative for me and rather a nose-scruncher.
Could
Tiramisu Coco be an alternative or, as the fragrance pyramid suggests, a dupe? At first, I would say no, but the longer you wait, the more
Amore Caffè becomes recognizable again.
But in detail:
Tiramisu Coco starts with a strong and realistic amaretto note. I also smell a dark chocolate note - perhaps from the coffee, but I can't identify it clearly.
The amaretto lasts for about 10 minutes and then gives way to pastry and vanilla. These also smell very edible, but still more synthetic than in "Amore Caffè | Mancera." A spicy note lingers, and even now the coffee can be recognized.
In the drydown, you mainly get vanilla and a light coffee note.
Overall,
Tiramisu Coco is darker, more amaretto-heavy, and there is also a chocolate note that is not present in "Amore Caffè | Mancera."
At first, I would have said that the fragrances only go in the same direction, but the longer you wait, the more they resemble each other.
I also have a sample of "Caffé Latte | Khadlaj / خدلج" at home and must say in comparison that I see it as neither an alternative to
Amore Caffè nor to "Tiramisu Coco | Zimaya."
The longevity and sillage are significantly weaker in comparison. With 3 sprays on the wrist, the scent is only close to the skin and weak after 3 hours.
Conclusion:
Tiramisu Coco is certainly an affordable alternative, even a dupe in the drydown of the fragrance, to "Amore Caffè | Mancera," but I will stick with the OG.
Could


But in detail:

The amaretto lasts for about 10 minutes and then gives way to pastry and vanilla. These also smell very edible, but still more synthetic than in "Amore Caffè | Mancera." A spicy note lingers, and even now the coffee can be recognized.
In the drydown, you mainly get vanilla and a light coffee note.
Overall,

At first, I would have said that the fragrances only go in the same direction, but the longer you wait, the more they resemble each other.
I also have a sample of "Caffé Latte | Khadlaj / خدلج" at home and must say in comparison that I see it as neither an alternative to

The longevity and sillage are significantly weaker in comparison. With 3 sprays on the wrist, the scent is only close to the skin and weak after 3 hours.
Conclusion:


Translated · Show original
An Iced Coffee with Amaretto, Please
I don't like coffee. Latte Macchiato - sure, Cappuccino - okay. But a regular one with a splash of milk? No - more milk with coffee than coffee with milk. I also have many associations of black coffee with ashtrays.
If that weren't enough reason to be skeptical about "Amore Caffè | Mancera," I'm also not a big gourmand when it comes to perfumes, and coffee as a fragrance note hasn't been my thing so far. Nevertheless, on the recommendation of a friend, I ordered a sample of "Amore Caffè | Mancera," and what can I say - I'm in love!
Amore Caffè is somehow different. It starts with a very realistic, sweet coffee and light amaretto note, with a cookie / speculoos note already swinging in relatively early. As some have already pointed out, you can actually detect a licorice note in the opening - but I only smell it when I really imagine licorice, and even then not always.
Slowly, the vanilla comes in, but not artificial, rather very edible and soft - you can envision an iced vanilla coffee with a shot of amaretto. It practically makes your mouth water (the only other fragrance that has done this for me is "Victoria / فيكتوريا | Lattafa / لطافة").
In the drydown, you are surrounded by a cookie-like vanilla scent, with the coffee still lingering.
For me, it is actually wearable all year round - as long as the temperatures are right. I simply orient myself based on my feeling of whether I would want to drink a warm coffee in that weather/temperature. If yes, then it’s not too hot for the scent. Because even though I smell iced coffee in the fragrance, it is very warm, sweet, and edible, and in hot temperatures, it would probably be too much for me.
The longevity and sillage are, as I know from Mancera, very good! It lasts well on the skin for 8-9 hours and even longer on clothing. My surroundings also notice me.
The bottle is of high quality, as always, but visually not exactly eye-catching.
If that weren't enough reason to be skeptical about "Amore Caffè | Mancera," I'm also not a big gourmand when it comes to perfumes, and coffee as a fragrance note hasn't been my thing so far. Nevertheless, on the recommendation of a friend, I ordered a sample of "Amore Caffè | Mancera," and what can I say - I'm in love!

Slowly, the vanilla comes in, but not artificial, rather very edible and soft - you can envision an iced vanilla coffee with a shot of amaretto. It practically makes your mouth water (the only other fragrance that has done this for me is "Victoria / فيكتوريا | Lattafa / لطافة").
In the drydown, you are surrounded by a cookie-like vanilla scent, with the coffee still lingering.
For me, it is actually wearable all year round - as long as the temperatures are right. I simply orient myself based on my feeling of whether I would want to drink a warm coffee in that weather/temperature. If yes, then it’s not too hot for the scent. Because even though I smell iced coffee in the fragrance, it is very warm, sweet, and edible, and in hot temperatures, it would probably be too much for me.
The longevity and sillage are, as I know from Mancera, very good! It lasts well on the skin for 8-9 hours and even longer on clothing. My surroundings also notice me.
The bottle is of high quality, as always, but visually not exactly eye-catching.
Translated · Show original
When Oud Overshadows Everything - Luckily There Are Dupes
It was early March in London when I was strolling with my husband through a street market on Inverness Street in Camden. My eyes spotted a small stand in the distance with many unmarked bottles and well-known Arabic perfume brands on a small wooden shelf. As I approached, I quickly realized that the Arabic perfumes were merely a customer magnet and were meant to show what kinds of fragrances could be purchased there. They were perfume oils, and we tested a few. Quickly, I found a perfume oil reminiscent of
Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum for my husband, but I couldn't find anything for myself so quickly; apparently, I don't have the typical women's taste.
Why am I telling you all this? Psssht, here it comes:
I was asked what fragrance notes I liked, I showed my Parfumo list and instinctively said saffron, tonka, jasmine, ... . The seller's eyes lit up. He pulled out a bottle and handed me the cap. I smelled it and just said "Wow." After a quick skin test, I decided to take it home. 63 ml of oil for about €50. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask what fragrance it was supposed to be.
Once back in Germany, I wore the perfume oil regularly and planned to visit a perfume store to ask which original it might correspond to. But the next day, I received some sought-after samples. Among them was the original
Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum and coincidentally also
Arabians Tonka.
When I sprayed it on the test strip, I immediately said to my husband, "That's it. That's the original of my perfume oil!" I quickly grabbed the perfume oil and sprayed/applicated both on my arms.
And now I come to the original:
On paper, a wonderful fragrance! On my arm, however, came the disappointment: sweet saffron, a hint of rose, and foremost a dirty, earthy note - as if I were repotting plants. That must be the oud and the leather. Every few minutes, I compared them again. The "dirty note" lingered for a good half hour and unfortunately overshadowed the other notes.
Once it subsided, the fragrance became noticeably more pleasant, and saffron and rose were clearly recognizable. The saffron is by no means medicinal or metallic, and the rose doesn't have that old-lady touch. The tonka bean was now also distinctly perceptible, and after a while, the amber joined in. I can guess the remaining fragrance notes, but they mostly stay in the background.
In the drydown, I can still recognize the saffron and the rose, but the tonka takes the lead, and you get a sweet, warm, elegant scent that simply smells luxurious.
The longevity and sillage are very good (9h+) and if you like these oud and leather notes, you get a nice Arabic scent that isn't too spicy, with a recognizable character for a good price-performance ratio.
Maybe it's just my skin, but this "dirty note" is really strong and unfortunately a deal-breaker for me - it's a shame, but I'm all the more grateful to have accidentally found this perfume oil, as the oud is more of a woody background note there.

Why am I telling you all this? Psssht, here it comes:
I was asked what fragrance notes I liked, I showed my Parfumo list and instinctively said saffron, tonka, jasmine, ... . The seller's eyes lit up. He pulled out a bottle and handed me the cap. I smelled it and just said "Wow." After a quick skin test, I decided to take it home. 63 ml of oil for about €50. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask what fragrance it was supposed to be.
Once back in Germany, I wore the perfume oil regularly and planned to visit a perfume store to ask which original it might correspond to. But the next day, I received some sought-after samples. Among them was the original


When I sprayed it on the test strip, I immediately said to my husband, "That's it. That's the original of my perfume oil!" I quickly grabbed the perfume oil and sprayed/applicated both on my arms.
And now I come to the original:
On paper, a wonderful fragrance! On my arm, however, came the disappointment: sweet saffron, a hint of rose, and foremost a dirty, earthy note - as if I were repotting plants. That must be the oud and the leather. Every few minutes, I compared them again. The "dirty note" lingered for a good half hour and unfortunately overshadowed the other notes.
Once it subsided, the fragrance became noticeably more pleasant, and saffron and rose were clearly recognizable. The saffron is by no means medicinal or metallic, and the rose doesn't have that old-lady touch. The tonka bean was now also distinctly perceptible, and after a while, the amber joined in. I can guess the remaining fragrance notes, but they mostly stay in the background.
In the drydown, I can still recognize the saffron and the rose, but the tonka takes the lead, and you get a sweet, warm, elegant scent that simply smells luxurious.
The longevity and sillage are very good (9h+) and if you like these oud and leather notes, you get a nice Arabic scent that isn't too spicy, with a recognizable character for a good price-performance ratio.
Maybe it's just my skin, but this "dirty note" is really strong and unfortunately a deal-breaker for me - it's a shame, but I'm all the more grateful to have accidentally found this perfume oil, as the oud is more of a woody background note there.
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