African Magic

I love this! Wow. Not much to add to the previous reviews but this fragrance is exactly what I needed in my collection. I don’t have the original to compare, but I am planning to try it eventually so will update once I do. For now I am going to enjoy AM for what’s left of winter and maybe even into the colder spring days, the spice snd leather are divine and warming. And for the price point im super happy. I got a 30ml and now I wish I got the full bottle. It could be thought of as traditionally masculine I guess but as a woman I love wearing it. I’m obsessed. Edit: I've had a chance to try the OG and wow they're eerily similar. As expected, African Magic is a little messier, but that also contributes to the fact that it's more performative (lasts longer, stronger). The original is much more delicate, the notes are much more in harmony, it's a little bit more floral, and there's a cheap tobacco note in african magic that makes it lean a tad more traditionally masculine than the original. But honestly they are really similar and I'm really happy to have both just because I can use AM more for the price point and enjoy the DNA more frequently. Wonderful fragrance for the spicy leather lovers.

Never had a chance to try African Leather but this is phenomenal stuff. Good performance, beautiful sweet leathery smell. Worth twice the price easily. Edit: I did end up smelling the original at the duty free shop in London. After having experienced a full bottle of this and sampling the original, I couldn’t tell a difference. I wasn’t in a position to do a side by side but they were so close that I can confidently say no one smelling this on you would be able to tell the difference

A stunning juice. I can clearly pick out leather, vetiver, saffron and oud. From start to finish this a ROCK STAR fragrance. Above average longevity on my skin with average projection for 3 hours. For the price and the stunning similarity with African Leather by Memo I would say GO FOR IT! FULL BOTTLE WORTHY!

At first, it smells a lot like African Leather. Today im wearing it and it smells a little different. I smell a leather accord that's not as well blended or as smooth as the OG. It's worth getting the original. I still like this but I LOVE the OG.

An interesting modern take on Memo’s African Leather (which I reviewed last week), it’s not so much a copy as an inspired reinterpretation. Firstly, there appears to be a boozy note in the opening of AM that’s absent in AL, it sticks around and never quite goes away. The prominent spicy notes of cumin and cardamon are there too, but they are a little more distinct in the original (AL). The beautiful fine leather note that swiftly follows is smoother and more refined in AL. I could go on to the other notes in detail, but overall African Magic’s notes are less clearly defined than those in African Leather. AL is in some ways more spicy than leathery, but in AM the leather is really more front and centre, the supporting notes have been toned down, making it actually more of a leather fragrance than the original and this could give it a broader appeal. One of my favourite parts of African Leather occurs very late in the dry down, when the florals sink deeper into the base and the composition takes on a soapy vibe, reminiscent of vintage soap bars like Imperial Leather. I didn’t get that with African Magic, the soapy florals aren’t nearly as prominent, though some might prefer that, it certainly gives the fragrance a much more modern vibe. I’m in no doubt that this was an intentional move to appeal to a wider audience, who might consider the changes as an improvement. Projection and longevity are actually better than the original. It’s a very good fragrance - a clever, updated interpretation of a classic and should be of great interest to leather lovers but I just feel it lacks some of the refinement evident in AL. I’m a super fan of Alexandria Fragrances, most of their stuff is truly extraordinary in terms of quality and accuracy, but I have to admit I prefer African Leather to African Magic. However I think that younger fragrance fans might well think otherwise.

I've never tried African Leather, so cannot comment on how close African Magic is to it. To sum up, I came into this with certain expectations - since it was "inspired by" African Leather, assumed there would be a strong leather accord. With the cumin, musk and oud notes, I was hoping for a funky base to support the leather. African Magic turned out to be completely opposite these expectations. The leather here is surprisingly subtle. You really have to be paying attention to get the leather in each sniff. What I did get a strong whiff of is a spicy food smell. I don't know what caused it - maybe the combo of the cardamom and the cumin. It's sorta the smell of clothing coming out of a restaurant with poor ventilation. Anyway, whatever caused it, definitely not my style. Longevity was pretty good - got about 9 hours out of it however the sillage and projection were both pretty mild after about the first hour.

One of the few AF fragrances I’m disappointed with. Sadly, all I get with this is cumin. Straight up cumin. Even on the dry down, no other notes come to the forefront...no cardamom or leather. Just cumin. I have never tried Memo’s African Leather, so have no way to compare. Longevity was not the best for an AF. 5/6 hours maybe. Projection was above average for first hour before quickly working its way back in to a skin scent. For me, I can not recommend this particular offering from AF. If you do like the note of cumin, I would get a sample and get your own opinion.

Imagine someone who's gone about 4 days without bathing and then spent the last day getting sour in the sun and heat. If you like body odor, you'll love this.

Very nice and leathery with a strong essence of something like Oudy tobacco. A nice Autumnal scent for cool evenings. Longevity is a bit less than I wished for. I got 4 hours which is still great. Worth a purchase for the price. UPdate: with the recent Autumnal drop in temperature, this is really going higher up my list of likes. Its more aromatic than I first thought, with the sweet muskiness coming through. Gorgeous on a scarf in cool weather.

A LOVE I have never put my nose to the original African Leather from Memo, but it doesn't matter because this fragrance smells amazing: Spicy, exotic, leathery and intense. And, it projects like a monster and lasts forever too. African Magic!

Just ordered cos I figure these notes are great for Autumn and Winter! Excited. Will update.