Tommychen

Now that my Qahwa has matured for seven weeks, I have finally tested it in direct comparison with Khamrah and "Angels' Share | Kilian" from my niche perfumery
-And waiting was an important factor, as we will see. I originally thought Qahwa was essentially just a khamrah in a different color packaging. But today I see things differently.

Khamrah Qahwa begins with an intense alcoholic note that quickly dies out like a blazing fire and makes way for the praline, which I hadn't really noticed before: Cardamom. Cardamom and more cardamom. It has become much more realistic and present, as if it were proclaiming with every breath: Here I am! Now it is also able to sing a serenade together with the praline and the Christmas cookies. After a few minutes, the cardamom recedes and remains a subtle companion in this olfactory orchestra.

But how does Qahwa compare to its role model, the Khamrah?
When I put my nose to the OG before and compare it directly with the Qahwa, I can't smell anything other than the cardamom. It comes across a little edgier than the real thing, but only in direct comparison. But it is precisely because of the cardamom that many people describe Qahwa as less sweet. I would agree to a certain extent. It is simply kahmrah with an additional accompanying note. The sweet fragrance profile remains.

And how does Qahwa compare to the "OG of OGs" "Angels' Share | Kilian"?
These fragrances could hardly be more different within their category. Angels Share opens with a mild, elegant COgnac, which slowly develops into a precious apple pie that dominates my surroundings for a good half hour. Finally, a dark, tart chocolate note joins in, taking the fragrance to a new, richer level... i say yes, these two fragrances could not be more different.

Coffee? yes, but there's none of that in Qahwa. Many people mention the coffee note with the addition that it is slightly noticeable (even youtubers/"perfume experts"), but I couldn't find it. So how is it that so many still talk about it?
My explanation for this goes back to when I came across a coffee in a Turkish market that is probably as well-known in the Arab world as Melitta is here: it's called HASeeB Coffee. It is available in many variations, some of them with cardamom (!). I have the "Deluxe Cardamom" at home and EVERYONE who has ever drunk or even just smelled this coffee is immediately reminded of it by Qahwa. It seems as if Khamrah Qahwa has captured precisely this cardamom essence and integrated it into its fragrance profile. Therefore, the name "Qahwa" (coffee) makes perfect sense from Lattafa's point of view, especially for those who have already experienced this aromatic coffee with cardamom and can therefore associate it with it. But in this country, I doubt it. Either way, I unfortunately can't detect any coffee notes in Qahwa.

Do you need the Khamrah Qahwa if you already have the Khamrah? Probably not.
Is it worth trying "Angels' Share | Kilian" even if you already have one of the other two fragrances? Definitely! (Provided you have around €250 lying around)
And how does Khamrah Qahwa stand up as a single fragrance?
Unique, sweet, grown-up.

The performance in comparison:
7/10 "Angels' Share | Kilian"
9/10 Khamrah
8/10 Khamrah Qahwa

Please comment if you have any questions

This perfume arrived about 3 months ago and made an impressive first impression. The discreet faux leather packaging is lined on the inside with a slightly rough satin. Hidden inside is the golden bottle... made of plastic, but still appealing.

I took it out and sprayed five times on a piece of paper: Phewhh, brutal, petrol-like and pungent. There was no clear scent, so I put it aside for the time being. Over time, these perfumes often become more pleasing and balanced. In the meantime, I no longer put perfumes in a drawer immediately after my first impression, as I know for sure that they will surprise me.

7 weeks later, I took it out again and sprayed it on paper again. As expected, Qaa'ed had changed - the petrol-like quality had faded and a dry, spicy note had emerged. Nevertheless, it remained strange and did not match the (then) rating of 8.1.
Shortly afterwards, during a walk, I passed a restaurant whose kitchen fumes were spilling out onto the street. A gust of wind hit me and immediately reminded me of Qaa'ed: indefinably spicy, slightly fishy and slightly like currywurst sauce. I couldn't shake this thought. I put Qaa'ed away again, with the plan to pass it on.

A few weeks later, I was in Galeria Kaufhof and tested the Spicebomb Extreme again. With the aim of being able to compare it more precisely with the Odyssey Homme from Armaf.
Perhaps some of you have already guessed what this article is about.
The opening of Spicebomb was, as always, deliciously spicy, followed by a pleasant sweetness. However, the Odyssey lacks this opening, but that can be fixed!
Because I had my own spice bomb at home: Qaa'ed !!!
As soon as I got home, I put everything aside, opened the cupboard and took out my two hopefuls. I sprayed on Qaa'ed and then Odyssey Homme. OH MY GOD!!! What a creation! It was as if a parallel universe to Spicebomb Extreme had opened up! It's not the same fragrance, but a perfect, complex parallel fragrance of the two inspirations. Since then, I'm glad I kept Qaa'ed, because it's exactly these kinds of unexpected surprises that excite me in this hobby.

Strong comeback Qaa'ed !!!

Strong performance. Strong DNA. If you want to keep it short, you can stop reading here.
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For those who want to delve deeper into the world of this fragrance, here is the full version:

The #"Evoke Gold Edition for Him|Ajmal" by Ajmal could be a cornerstone of our male floral fragrances. It starts off strongly in a sweet, metallic and somewhat floral direction. Just 2 to 3 spritzes are enough to fill both yourself and any room within minutes. After a short time, this fragrance becomes more and more engaging, it spreads out and increases in intensity.

During the first two tests, I was completely overwhelmed. The fragrance progression is very steep at the beginning, until it decreases again with a very flat curve - an ideal fragrance progression. However, it can happen that the increasing potency becomes too much at some point.
I want the people around me to find the fragrance just as pleasant as I do and not have them run away in the first 30 minutes. But that subsides and we can enjoy the fragrance.
It lasts a surprisingly long time for a fresh fragrance. I could smell it for up to 8 hours. It projects very well for the first hour, some perfume houses could learn a thing or two from it.

Speaking of copying. There was also something else. When Prada launched L'homme back then, it initially caused waves of enthusiasm, but these quickly died down again - similar to the durability of L'Hommes. Back then, I applied 12-13 sprays and drowned the test strip with it. Four hours later, I could have easily used the dried strip for any other perfume.

The "Evoke Gold Edition for Him|Ajmal" did a much better job. However, mainly in terms of performance. In terms of the floral note, L'homme still has the upper hand.

But apart from that, why didn't Evoke take off like Khamrah after Angels Share? Well, as mentioned at the beginning, it could have been the cornerstone according to me. Can. If you could buy it at all...

Obviously there are problems in production or the supply chain that prevent this. What a shame, really.

But there is one ray of hope, I recently stumbled across L'homme Intense and applied it out of curiosity. Boom. What Evoke gold for him was for L'Homme, L'Homme Intense is for Evoke. Very good blend and above all even projection and long lasting.

However, if you don't want to spend so much money, you can confidently try to get hold of an Evoke.

I've had the "Détour Noir|Al Haramain / الحرمين" with me for quite some time now. It is my constant companion through cold, warm days, university, bib and appointments of all kinds. The fragrance is simply like a buddy that you can take with you almost everywhere and always goes down well. Apart from its appearance, it simply shines with its personality!

And yet there is this OG from whom he has learned a lot. I think we all know who he is by now. And you secretly take a look at him too. I did that again yesterday and compared him with my Detour Noir. Holla the woodland fairy!

I like my cheap, ugly buddy more! In direct comparison, it's a little "fruitier" and brighter than "Layton|Parfums de Marly". The perfomance is about the same and the sillage of Detour Noir is better. Although many people, influencers and reviewers claim that there is no difference, as a "layman" I definitely recognize differences. In principle, the DN stays in the first 30 min of the Layton opening, while Layton just moves on, gets darker and adapts. I'm still not quite sure why I like the DN more. One theory could be that I'm just so used to the scent.

But I shouldn't give out too many compliments to my buddy, otherwise he could run the risk of being targeted by strict perfume purists
Instead, keep beating up on his appearance so that he doesn't come across as too perfect.

All in all, though, you can save yourself the OG. It won't blow you away or offer any special surprises.

...they must have drunk something like that over there before they went into the lab to invent this creation.

It starts very briefly in the opening with lots of pineapple. Shortly afterwards, the creamy sweetness takes me by the hand and doesn't let me go for hours. I tested this fragrance on a sunny, warm day and had nothing but a vacation feeling when I wore it.
You feel relaxed, free and really just want to enjoy the day. It's just a shame that I had a lot to do that day...

Nevertheless! I wouldn't want to be without this beautiful fragrance on vacation or on carefree weekends.

In conclusion, I would say that this fragrance would not be suitable for work, meetings, state visits or serious events.
I probably find the fragrance even more attractive on women than on me, but it is definitely unisex. I don't draw any boundaries in terms of age either. That's why I think everyone, whether man, woman or diverse, will like it