powlifume

I took part in the campaign where Kai Porten was giving away fragrance samples in exchange for shipping. As the Oud 31 is too expensive for me, I naturally bought it straight away. I also received a sample of Beach Klub, but that's another story.

So here is my "take" on Oud 31.

Seriously guys? Why are you tearing this fragrance down like this...Why is it so hard for people these days to distinguish between fragrance and person, personal opinion and objective facts? Somehow I want to pin the state of society on this fragrance - never mind on with the review.

The Oud 31 starts very oudy-animalic. You have to like that. Many oud fragrances do this and some do it even worse (Amir One *cough* ).
Does that make it a bad fragrance that deserves a 1?
No! Because I don't like something doesn't mean it's bad! You just don't like it.
The fragrance here is well made, as you can read in detail in the reviews, which do not want to reflect their personal dislike of Kai via the review. The drydown is even really, really good! For me even one of the best in the field of oud fragrances.
There are points of criticism, of course. The top note is too unbalanced for me, the oud really pops very noticeably. Which is not a bad thing, but it seems untidy, chaotic, like a sound check. The instruments are in tune, but somehow the composition is missing. But this comes after 30 minutes at the latest. Then you get a wonderful, slightly spicy rose on a buttery bed of oud.

Nothing has been reinvented here, simply a good to very good oud fragrance has been created.
Whether Kai or whoever.

There is also food that I personally don't like, but I can still tell if it has been cooked well. And that's the case here. With the small difference that the food tastes good to me too.

Maison Alhambra has launched a cherry fragrance that smells very intensely cherry-like and slightly marzipan-like. It is said to be inspired by Lost Cherry Eau de Parfum. In my opinion, Forbidden Love captures the fragrance impression quite well. However, the longevity here is really strong. As is so often the case with fragrances from Maison Alhambra.

The cherry is synthetic, but in a good way. Has a nice spice/depth and never gets squeaky or tiring. Some aging is good for the fragrance, it becomes even stronger. The longevity is also above average, which contributes to the fact that you will still smell cherry and some bitter almond/marzipan hours later.

Price-performance is a grenade here. The old bottles, which are no longer available, were very bold and very close to the original. The newer ones are rather ugly in my opinion, but would stand up to any copyright lawsuit.

Why you should afford the massively (too) expensive Tom Ford fragrances when you can find really good alternatives here is beyond me.

MA has completely different "boards" in stock. So far they are not listed here. I'll just say "Dark Aoud", "Toscano Leather" etc.

Conclusion: Say goodbye to Tom and say hello to Alhambra. It's worth it.

...to smell damn good.
I spent a long time looking for adequate and really good replacement perfumes for Reflection Man. I found nothing. Not even in Guilty Elixir de Parfum pour Homme . But what I did find was a really intense and great olfactory experience based around RM DNA. The Guilty Elixir de Parfum pour Homme is sweeter and spicier, altogether louder, more seductive and therefore also more intrusive than the Reflection Man and comes closer to the "Shiyaaka Silver / شياكة | Khadlaj / خدلج" than to the RM. However, it trumps the Shiyaaka in all respects, especially because it is significantly sweeter, smoother and rounder.

I find the top note in particular very strong. It reminds me of 1 Million Eau de Toilette. Sweet, spicy, somehow synthetic, but in a very good way. At the same time, the fragrance is mature and far removed from Talahon tendencies. The opening lasts surprisingly long and at some point it becomes creamier, softer, but by no means light. On the contrary, the spiciness and depth remain, but with less of a neroli bang and more of a neroli background.

Unfortunately, it is now summer and the fragrance does not tolerate 30° upwards. It then becomes almost stressful, if not for you, then for your environment. Everything below 25° is ideal. However, the best perception probably takes place at a pleasant room temperature of around 20°.

So if you're looking for a really great designer with great longevity and sillage, a rather extroverted or even extravagant appearance, this fragrance is the perfect choice. Just please don't wear it to the office. It is simply too strong and omnipresent for that. Three sprays are quite a statement. In your free time, when going out, in the evening or on cooler (summer) days, the fragrance is a bank. And generally more something special than for everyday use.

It is by no means a substitute for Reflection Man. The Guilty Elixir de Parfum pour Homme fragrance is independent. A family member, like its more impulsive Italian cousin, but by no means a brother or even a twin. Nor does it have anything to do with Le Mâle Eau de Toilette. Even if you could place them roughly in the same direction. How do people come up with such comparisons?

I would advise against blindbuys here, especially for those who are looking for a RM replacement. You will be disappointed. Mmn there is no adequate good replacement or comparison for the RM so far, even a "Shiyaaka Silver / شياكة | Khadlaj / خدلج" doesn't come close.

Enough has already been said about the bottle here. The sprayer is good, the bottle is solid, nothing I would put at the front of my shelf, but the juice pops, which is what most people here are interested in.

Maybe I'll keep looking, maybe not. When such gems emerge during research, the RM is not replaced but supplemented by joyful new discoveries.
Until then, I'm still guilty of smelling damn good.

Today I'm holding a bottle of Herod in one hand and the full bottle of Hercules in the other. To be honest, I'm surprised to be able to make a direct comparison and realize that the Maison Alhambra is so much stronger.

The Hercules projects very strongly and has a wonderful cinnamony, creamy and vanilla note. This is rather static and does not change so much over the course of the fragrance, but remains absolutely consistent in its intensity. Somehow, a note of cherry creeps through again and again, which I find very pleasant but also restrained. Gorgeous! I love this fragrance.

I perceive the Herod as rather weak. However, the fragrance notes are very similar, but much softer.

How did Maison Alhambra do it? I have no idea. But the fragrance rocks. Absolutely blind-buy safe.

Next to Cassius, really the best of the horse series.

Here too, just as with Centro, I made a special trip to the expensive perfumery to find out. How closely Maison Alhambra has now captured the original. "And honestly, I don't understand why people copy this fragrance at all".
I find it as challenging as possible. Both here in the black Philospelz and in the fine Flakönchen by Xerjoff. And not challenging in the sense of oud and cool and exciting. But rather in the sense of, what smells so funny here?

It does smell interesting. And you can also sniff out the specified fragrance notes. But is it really? I mean just because it smells "different funny". Do I want to smell like that? No - not even if I were constantly receiving compliments from the greatest whores on earth. To me, it all just smells like something mixed together. Medicinal, weird, old, as if I've salvaged something from my grandmother's cupboard, who died 10 years ago, that has anything remotely to do with cosmetics and is possibly just historical.

I think it's gotten through that I can't do anything with the fragrance.
Well, back to the important thing. Is Opera similar to Opus Noir? Yes, I think so. Are there others who see it the same way? Yes, see below.
Does the fragrance fizz? Yes, really bad. You can hardly get it off your skin. Unfortunately. But others will be happy.

Maison Alhambra does a good job. However, the fragrance is by no means as finely tuned as the more expensive juice from Xerjoff, but in DD nobody notices that, I think. Then everyone just thinks. "Boy, why do you smell like that?" Be smart and at least don't spend so much money on it. Wink smiley.