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Love from Tradition?
Is this again a fragrance that one can either love completely or hate deeply? I don't think so. This scent, in my opinion, needs to be understood properly. At least I am convinced that a certain category of perfume lovers should take the time to rethink this fragrance.
During my first test, I had, like many here on Parfumo apparently, the association with old people. Personally, the scent directly reminds me of the grandfathers and uncles from the mosque. This might be because similar scent compositions are sold in many places in Turkey or at almost every corner during the pilgrimage to Mecca. Of course, I was initially put off. Who wants to smell like a grandpa?
I then thought for a long time about whether the scent is simply an old man’s fragrance or if it’s just the association that has ruined the scent in my eyes, meaning whether the Fars or similar is basically the One Million or Dior Sauvage for grandpas.
The scent itself, with its interplay of Oud - geranium - lavender, is, when considered on its own, a masterpiece. Even though the Oud takes on a very delicate supporting role, it is still present and should not even overwhelm beginners.
The question was, of course, quickly answered. It was indeed due to the association. Everyone connects certain scent notes with specific feelings and memories. In fact, it would even be unnecessary to raise this question here at all if it hadn’t led me to the next point.
Is this association something bad? Is it bad to be reminded of our grandfathers or uncles? Think through the association properly in your mind and don’t jump to the first visualization of an old person. Once thought through, I see much more, for example. I see myself as a little boy entering the mosque, and everyone looks at me and is happy to see their grandson or nephew and to be able to hug him and spend time with him. I see a summer morning in my grandparents' garden with a picnic blanket on the lawn and breakfast on it. The smell of black tea and simit while the sun is shining and it’s not too hot yet. The gathering during Ramadan with my brothers, my cousins, my aunts, my uncles, and my grandparents in the middle, and in me, only the realization that those grandparents created this whole family.
It is the generation that has given everything so that their children and grandchildren can live a better life. I could never be disgusted by this association or this scent. On the contrary. I would and will now wear this fragrance with pride.
During my first test, I had, like many here on Parfumo apparently, the association with old people. Personally, the scent directly reminds me of the grandfathers and uncles from the mosque. This might be because similar scent compositions are sold in many places in Turkey or at almost every corner during the pilgrimage to Mecca. Of course, I was initially put off. Who wants to smell like a grandpa?
I then thought for a long time about whether the scent is simply an old man’s fragrance or if it’s just the association that has ruined the scent in my eyes, meaning whether the Fars or similar is basically the One Million or Dior Sauvage for grandpas.
The scent itself, with its interplay of Oud - geranium - lavender, is, when considered on its own, a masterpiece. Even though the Oud takes on a very delicate supporting role, it is still present and should not even overwhelm beginners.
The question was, of course, quickly answered. It was indeed due to the association. Everyone connects certain scent notes with specific feelings and memories. In fact, it would even be unnecessary to raise this question here at all if it hadn’t led me to the next point.
Is this association something bad? Is it bad to be reminded of our grandfathers or uncles? Think through the association properly in your mind and don’t jump to the first visualization of an old person. Once thought through, I see much more, for example. I see myself as a little boy entering the mosque, and everyone looks at me and is happy to see their grandson or nephew and to be able to hug him and spend time with him. I see a summer morning in my grandparents' garden with a picnic blanket on the lawn and breakfast on it. The smell of black tea and simit while the sun is shining and it’s not too hot yet. The gathering during Ramadan with my brothers, my cousins, my aunts, my uncles, and my grandparents in the middle, and in me, only the realization that those grandparents created this whole family.
It is the generation that has given everything so that their children and grandchildren can live a better life. I could never be disgusted by this association or this scent. On the contrary. I would and will now wear this fragrance with pride.
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An Eternal Back and Forth
I have to say that deciding whether I like Salam has been extremely difficult for me. Overall, I ordered a sample twice and even bought a bottle once, which I then sold again. But what exactly was the problem?
I ordered the first sample because of the hype and the name, just to see what it was all about. I read the fragrance notes and off I went. When it arrived and after the first spray, I was immediately disappointed. I found the scent not pleasant at all, but rather sticky and overly sweet. It was a clear decision for me to let the sample go.
However, something about the scent wouldn’t let me go. After it left my apartment, I wanted it back for some reason. It was like after the end of a beautiful relationship, when you’re outside and everything reminds you of your ex. I felt like I was being followed by clouds of salam. It quickly became clear to me that I had to give the scent another chance. The new sample arrived relatively quickly, and what can I say? I was disappointed again. The DNA of the fragrance was far too overwhelming for me. It felt sticky in my nose the whole time, and after 30 minutes, I simply washed it off and, out of frustration, gifted the scent to my brother, who then found it great.
Life went on, spring arrived, and every time I opened the Parfumo top 100, this scent cheekily grinned at me. In every second video on YouTube, this fragrance was still being praised, and to not make this too long - the story repeated itself - this time with the whole bottle. I don’t know if it was the presentation of the scent or the fresh feelings that spring brought, but I began to understand the pleasant aspects. The sticky became warming. And when I was sitting on the balcony and started to fall in love, it happened. The scent was completely gone after about an hour. Completely stunned, I checked Parfumo again, where, to my recollection, an 8.0 was indicated. That was indeed the case, but apparently not for me. Given our history, it became clear to me that we would have no future together, and Salam ended up in the souk.
I had moved on and closed that chapter. At some point, however, the topic came up again with a very good perfume friend. He shared my opinion about the scent and then simply said: “Brother, you can think what you want about this fragrance, but what it’s supposed to do, it does best.”
He was somehow right, and the fire was back. Ultimately, I found myself in an interview with Asim Al Qassim, who talked a bit about the origin story of Anfas and explained what Salam is about, namely something inviting, cozy, and warm. A scent that says, “Come, hug me brother, how are you?” I generally started to understand the entire concept and change my overall understanding of the fragrance world.
I now have a lot of fragrances. For a long time, it was often about longevity and being prepared for the right occasion, and to enjoy the exclusivity behind it, to be honest. I hadn’t experienced deeper emotions or even a blossoming of my personality through a fragrance in ages. The endless collecting and the urge to keep testing had made me forget what beautiful experiences the fragrance world brings and that the journey is the goal. Every fragrance tells a story. Salam reminded me of that.
How could it have turned out any differently - I ordered Salam again, and now I understand. It’s incredibly interesting to observe how the mandarin dances with the amber in this fragrance, creating a symbiosis of warmth and coolness, while the floral notes watch in delight. And the amazing thing is that this bottle suddenly lasts a solid 8-10 hours on the skin. Even if it’s probably just due to a different batch, I also like to believe that the fragrance wanted to be understood first before fully embracing me.
When I talk about this scent today, it’s not as if I’m infatuated with rose-colored glasses. No, I’m really talking about love. A love that has opened my eyes.
I ordered the first sample because of the hype and the name, just to see what it was all about. I read the fragrance notes and off I went. When it arrived and after the first spray, I was immediately disappointed. I found the scent not pleasant at all, but rather sticky and overly sweet. It was a clear decision for me to let the sample go.
However, something about the scent wouldn’t let me go. After it left my apartment, I wanted it back for some reason. It was like after the end of a beautiful relationship, when you’re outside and everything reminds you of your ex. I felt like I was being followed by clouds of salam. It quickly became clear to me that I had to give the scent another chance. The new sample arrived relatively quickly, and what can I say? I was disappointed again. The DNA of the fragrance was far too overwhelming for me. It felt sticky in my nose the whole time, and after 30 minutes, I simply washed it off and, out of frustration, gifted the scent to my brother, who then found it great.
Life went on, spring arrived, and every time I opened the Parfumo top 100, this scent cheekily grinned at me. In every second video on YouTube, this fragrance was still being praised, and to not make this too long - the story repeated itself - this time with the whole bottle. I don’t know if it was the presentation of the scent or the fresh feelings that spring brought, but I began to understand the pleasant aspects. The sticky became warming. And when I was sitting on the balcony and started to fall in love, it happened. The scent was completely gone after about an hour. Completely stunned, I checked Parfumo again, where, to my recollection, an 8.0 was indicated. That was indeed the case, but apparently not for me. Given our history, it became clear to me that we would have no future together, and Salam ended up in the souk.
I had moved on and closed that chapter. At some point, however, the topic came up again with a very good perfume friend. He shared my opinion about the scent and then simply said: “Brother, you can think what you want about this fragrance, but what it’s supposed to do, it does best.”
He was somehow right, and the fire was back. Ultimately, I found myself in an interview with Asim Al Qassim, who talked a bit about the origin story of Anfas and explained what Salam is about, namely something inviting, cozy, and warm. A scent that says, “Come, hug me brother, how are you?” I generally started to understand the entire concept and change my overall understanding of the fragrance world.
I now have a lot of fragrances. For a long time, it was often about longevity and being prepared for the right occasion, and to enjoy the exclusivity behind it, to be honest. I hadn’t experienced deeper emotions or even a blossoming of my personality through a fragrance in ages. The endless collecting and the urge to keep testing had made me forget what beautiful experiences the fragrance world brings and that the journey is the goal. Every fragrance tells a story. Salam reminded me of that.
How could it have turned out any differently - I ordered Salam again, and now I understand. It’s incredibly interesting to observe how the mandarin dances with the amber in this fragrance, creating a symbiosis of warmth and coolness, while the floral notes watch in delight. And the amazing thing is that this bottle suddenly lasts a solid 8-10 hours on the skin. Even if it’s probably just due to a different batch, I also like to believe that the fragrance wanted to be understood first before fully embracing me.
When I talk about this scent today, it’s not as if I’m infatuated with rose-colored glasses. No, I’m really talking about love. A love that has opened my eyes.
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