Nik88

Café Mystique is not your typical coffee fragrance. Here, coffee plays a supporting role in a much broader and more refined composition, where spices and exotic florals take center stage.

The opening is vibrant and slightly sharp, with black pepper and Calabrian bergamot setting the stage for a spicy, captivating heart. The star of the show? Without a doubt, the Guatemalan cardamom, which, blended with frangipani and ylang-ylang, creates a warm, sensual, and enveloping trail.

More than a café scent, this feels like being in front of a steaming cup of Turkish coffee—spiced, sweet, and aromatic—served slowly in a space rich with atmosphere and tradition.

A fragrance that is truly well-crafted, original, seductive, and deep.

Borneo Zen is, for me, one of the most wearable, likable, and elegant creations from Ensar Oud. It has a clean yet rich aura—natural, refined, and incredibly easy to wear without ever feeling ordinary.

It’s a beautiful meeting point between oud and musk, featuring two of my favorites: Papua oud, with its green and airy brightness, and Tonkin musk, blended to perfection. Together with Mysore sandalwood, they create a soft, creamy base that feels warm and silky without being heavy.

In the heart, hints of honeysuckle, jasmine, and rose add an elegant floral transparency, while Malayan oud, Tibetan musk, and Mongolian musk give structure and depth.

This fragrance has quickly made its way into my top 5 from the brand—a rare blend of high-quality ingredients and true wearability. Delicate, meditative, and simply beautiful.

Sultan Black Rose is, in my opinion, one of the true hidden gems from Ensar Oud. It’s often compared to Black Gris, but I find it quite different in character.

While Black Gris leans heavily into dark mineral and marine tones, Sultan Black Rose is more smoky, floral, and elegant. If Black Gris is the ocean viewed from the shore, Sultan Black Rose is the same island, but deeper inland, among woods, resins, and soft florals warmed by golden light.

The rose isn’t loud or overpowering—it’s deep, mysterious, and persistent, subtly anchoring the composition. The drydown shares that mineral character, but it feels smoother, more sensual, with layers of oud, musk, coffee, and bourbon vanilla adding warmth and depth.

It’s a refined and poetic fragrance, one of my favorites from Ensar.
Only downside? The price is a bit high, but for something this special, it might just be worth it.

What a journey this perfume takes you on. The Oud Man and the Sea opens with a beautifully layered blend of dry oud, immediately wrapped in a cool, mentholated breeze, almost marine-like—likely coming from the mix of Papua oud, blackcurrant, and cubeb. It feels like standing by the ocean on an autumn night, next to an old wooden boat left ashore as a silent witness of time.

There’s also a distinct mineral and earthy facet, thanks to the mitti attar and the dry depth of Sri Lankan and Sumatran ouds, while the Japanese roses and Mongolian musk add elegance and roundness without stealing the spotlight.

This isn’t your typical Ensar oud—there’s something poetic and almost melancholic here, subtle yet unforgettable. A refined, atmospheric, and truly original creation, perfect for those looking for an oud off the beaten path.

INK by Mallo is a true gem for lovers of unconventional fragrances. The opening, marked by a distinct ink note, is unexpected yet incredibly elegant—mysterious and deeply captivating.

This is a dark fougère, almost gothic, unlike anything I’ve smelled before. The ink lends it an intellectual and refined aura, softened by green and aromatic touches that add balance and depth.

Once again, Antonio Mallo proves to be an unbeatable perfumer, capable of translating abstract ideas into olfactory emotion.

The only downside is its longevity and projection, which are a bit below average compared to his other works—but the beauty of the composition more than makes up for it.