Africana

Dark, syrupy cherry-flavored novelty wax lips slowly melting on a shelf in a smoky African tent city located somewhere below the Tropic of Cancer. The tents are surrounded by jarred fruits honeybees and small birds,a Berber wedding next door has been carrying on since last evening showing no signs of stopping. The musk of 20 camels subtly floats in the breeze along with date syrups drizzled on fresh-baked sahara pastries each filled with exotic jams. A small oasis garden growing all sorts of purple flowers blossom in the heated, smoky haze of twilight. Africana is similar to golden sand in style; it’s almost comically gourmand and linear with its dominant note, a mixture of synthetic cherry teas, melon, and mandarins in heavy syrup that eventually turns into a beautiful dark, sweet, boozy, powdery, sharp, musky frankincense amber. It is described perfectly in most reviews on this site, but the magic is in the subtle breakdown of notes, which takes about 12 hours and could last for days thats right days. To my nose, cherry is the maestro, and as the middle and base settle, hints of purple flowers, medicinal ouds, and bitter green floral musky sugars play their notes. Think of opening a 10,000-year-old wooden cask of overproof blackberry mead, found in the sarcophagus of some forgotten mummy’s tomb. Bouquets of ancient flowers and resins still permeate the pyramid’s cavern, the leathery, tannic, musky scent of the mummy’s flesh and bandages slowly seeping into the air. As this happens, someone’s great-grandmother applies a cheap cherry-flavored chapstick to her parched lips—she pulled the chapstick out of an old pocketbook filled with assorted fruit candy found at your local drugstore—you will arrive at Africana. Probably the most cherry-forward scent I have ever tried, and it works. Unisex, Gothic, Dark Yet Light, Ancient Yet Youthful, Sacred Yet Irresistible—the subtle unyielding power of Africana could easily become a olfactory nightmare for those who are not prepared for what it offers... Like golden sand, Africana can be layered with other fragrances to add dimension and complexity. There’s a beautiful oud and iris note that really brings this fragrance to another level. The florals in this resemble the African bush at night—dark, sticky, smoky resinous air with hints of animal musk blending with poison plants and tropical fruits—making this one of Al-Rehab’s most paradoxical yet complex masterpieces. I own over 20 different fragrances from this house, and Africana is the most enigmatic. It will make people talk, and those who you thought wouldn’t like it will love it—a must-have for those who enjoy cloyingly sweet gourmand sorcery or vintage androgynous aldehyde bombs from yesteryear. This scent invokes memories in people. It’s one of Al-Rehab’s greatest creations in terms of originality through complex simplicity. You will either love it or hate it, but once it crosses your path, you will never forget it.

Truly a difficult scent to review. In a good way. :) There is so much here, and it all smells searingly sweet, fruity, and very appealing. That is odd thing for me to say, as I do not like fruity scent in general. However, Africana is quite unique! Here we have a sweet fruit and floral vibe that is not one fruit or flower so much as a wonderful melange. (I persist in feeling there are some fruits here that I've yet to see in any supermarket!) It's heady and overwhelming at this point, and I am now getting hints of YEAST??? But so it is. Therefore, I'm not a bit surprised at people's mention of the scent smelling of beer! Thankfully, no brewery on me, but fresh baked rolls mixed into the fruit and flowers and greenery. So far it resembles the smell of a fantastic tropical green house with an outdoor market nearby? The fruity greenness juxtaposed against the yeast is also that of lush growing plants. You can see why descriptions fail me at this point.... Looking at the notes, I should have immediately guessed the orange, but never in a million years would have guessed pink pepper. NO! I seldom ever get on with this note in perfumery, and here not only do I not smell pink pepper, but it behaves perfectly on my skin. Yay. Another lovely surprise is that one of the flowers I'm smelling turns out to be IRIS. Oh, Iris, how I love thee! Once I saw the note listed here I could readily begin to smell and associate some of the floral aspect of Africana with this heady flower. I have a happy history with IRIS. For me, Iris goes a long way to explaining how something this exotic could at once feel so familiar and beloved! To sum up, this is one of the few Al Rehabs I fell in love with almost instantaneously, and also one of their power houses. I feel like I'm wearing a playful, super-concentrated Niche without the high price tag. Not a safe blind buy, obviously. Only the adventuresome need apply. Be prepared to be blown away by your own sillage trail! Five Star <3

I'm working my way through the Al Rehab roll-on line. The majority are good and wearable, better than your average drugstore brew. A few not so much for various reasons. Maybe a sixth though, are excellent, which is a very high success rate for a budget line. Africana is one of the excellent ones, albeit a bit polarising. This will definitely not a fragrance everyone will love and it's not subtle. It's a bit like that friend you have that always says EXACTLY the wrong thing at the wrong moment but is kind and tonnes of fun, so you forgive her. Africana is loud, impolite and bit artless but fabulous. It reminds me a LOT of fruit incense from my youth but in the best way. This scent isn't trying to be Western or too familiar and personally I think that's when Al Rehab does its best work. It opens with a big, dirty fruit musk, similar to the musk in Al Rehab Elena. Elena is a thing of the twilight; Africana is bright sunlight. It's also fresher than Elena though, has fizzy citrus aldehydes and incense. As it develops on the skin, a whiff of dirty jasmine passes through and, over time, a powderiness from the iris develops. The dry down features a surprisingly, different and lovely vanilla note. The longevity is exceptional. If you like Lush Karma or Al Rehab Elena, this is for you.

I have a tiny bottle of this perfume oil and it ́s literally so, so good. Very yummy. Let me tell you something... this smells exactly like some candies from my childhood, or something like that. And I am sure it will smell like that to you, too, no matter in which part of the world you grew up... it ́s one of those familiar scents of life... The comments below mentioning bananas, syntetic strawberry scent, grapes, etc. are all right. This has a little bit of everything candy-like, gummy-bear style, sweet soda style. Sadly, I can ́t describe the scent better than that... but, once you smell it, you will know. :) I am about to test it ́s longevity and sillage but I can smell it very well even after shower and I had only a drop on my arm like three hours ago. Also, I want to mention this has tropical vibe to it, so I can imagine this will be great for summer (and by the way, normally I am not that fond of tropical perfumes, but this is perfect). However, I am going to wear it in the winter days, too. :)

This is a memory. It is a hot one, and that is how I associate this scent with the name. I've been to Africa, but this is not pulling me there. It is pulling me to the sweltering hot of Caribbean island interiors. This is the smell of wandering around a hot island to a local standup pub made of a few boards. There they make only one drink, some kind of tropical punch with a goofy name, but it is always like drinking straight out of the warm concentrate can, as there is no ice to be found. It is hyper sweet fruity and syrupy, and has dripped all over the ground, soaking into the wooden floor, and disappearing into the packed dirt outside. The heavy fruit floats in the humid air and you can almost taste it. The sun is setting and the fairy lights flick on. It is hot and we are thankful for the small breeze the sunset brings as we worked up a good sweat just finding this place. You can't stay too late or it can get dangerous. Here's to Smurfs Cafe and every other place like it.

Ooh I really like this. It smells like bubblegum mixed with tropical fruit/cherry. I definitely understand the comparisons to Montale Mukhallat and Makkah from Al Haramain but I like this so much more than either of those. Makkah and Mukhallat have a very incense-y base which makes the whole composition smell like a fruity incense stick. No matter how much I tried, I just couldn't handle that aspect. The crazy loud cherry and bubblegum aspect, totally fine with me. I'm a gourmand lover to the extreme and the sweeter, the better. But the incense just ruined those for me. Africana is like all the cherry bubblegum goodness without the incense for me, thankfully. It's super strong, super long lasting. The base has the slightest powdery vibe but it's minimal. I'm glad I tried this because it's a great alternative to Mukhallat, which I was sad that didn't work for me. Also the price for quality is amazing.

I've been wanting to try exotic perfume oils. I found Africana as part of a set of 3 Al-Rehab 6ml Perfume Oils on Amazon. It came with (2) other roller ball fragrances, Saat Safa & Al Fares both of which I thought I was going to love but Africana stole the show! I am so very pleased with Africana's performance over the other two oils. Africana showcases bright satsuma mandarin and luxe beautiful iris! It's so lovely and quite the sillage monster; a little goes a long way. This set was a great value for only $13. I will definitely buy a full size of Africana and it will have a permanent place in my fragrance rotation!

It took me a while to work out what this reminded me of (and it's something I still have stashed away as I liked it bit it was discontinued) UK superdrug melon crush body spray...but it also has a little of something else in a little bit like champagne (pre yvresse) or fiori di krizia..I don't know if it's a floral note or fizzy vanilla or a bit of both. I like it anyway. It is definitely unusual and definitely strong.

I'm not normally into fruity fragrances but this one really makes my mouth water. It is extremely fruity to my nose, it smells like juicy mangoes and melons but also has a slight powdery texture to it. On my skin the overall performance is excellent. ( I am reviewing the oil version ) The only minor negative i can see is finding the right situation to wear this because it is very fruity.

The quest for awkward fumes has brought me here: Africana. Breathtaking, mystical, haunting dark sorcery. Smokey sweet resins, tuberose turned liquid amber with dirty vintage vibes. Orange peel and overripe fruits: mango, bananas, cherries... with all their glorifying turning liquor nuances. Rehabilitation required with guaranteed relapse.

I treat this fragrance oil not like a typical perfume; to me, it's more like an almost surreal experience — a vehicle that transports you to unfamiliar yet oddly close places, reminiscent of dreams. It evokes a sense of nostalgia, like walking through a bazaar in the 90s with your grandmother by your side, her gentle hand clasping yours as you meander through stalls brimming with treasures. Suddenly, the scene dissolves, and you're in a realm of neon dreams, like stepping into an AI creation that feels simultaneously foreign and familiar. This is Africana — a kaleidoscope of nostalgia and imagination. Africana is ever-changing, with no single note standing out distinctly; nor could I pinpoint one with precision. It is both syrupy-sweet and incense-like, with earthy undertones. At times, it recalls the aroma of a vape shop or freshly lit shisha with an intriguing twist — candy-like tutti frutti, bubblegum, and even a hint of fizzy soda. It carries a slightly herbal quality, reminiscent of fine tea, as well. Undoubtedly, it can be described as a powerhouse of sweetness. The fragrance is incredibly potent and long-lasting, absurdly affordable for what it offers. It lingers in space long after you've left. Versatile yet unconventional, a unisex scent is suitable year-round, perfect for moments when you want something offbeat. Reviews suggest it is polarizing, with opinions ranging widely, further emphasizing its uniqueness. The only comparable product I've encountered isn't similar in scent but in its emotional effect: Al Haramain's Makkah oil. Makkah shares Africana's knack for stirring childhood nostalgia and transporting the wearer to extraordinary mental landscapes. These oils could complement quirky event outfits and add a fun touch, enhancing your ensemble with an unexpected sensory dimension. While they're undeniably synthetic, that quality doesn't detract from their charm — at least not for me. I even use them to refresh a room or wardrobe with a cotton wool swab dipped in the oil. This enigmatic creation is exceptionally original, boasting ultra-high novelty value. Africana is a mystical adventure in a bottle, daring everyday cosmetics to experiment with intriguingly unconventional scents. If you're ready to take a step off the beaten path, Africana offers a rabbit hole portal. Opening note: 7 Sillage/Projection: 9 Drydown: 7 Longevity: 9 Blend/Composition: 7- Versatility: 8 Uniqueness: 9+ Value for money: 10 Bottle design/Aesthetics: 5- Overall experience: 7+ Blind-buy rating: 5-

This is what I'm getting- I could be way off: Head: orange peel, papaya, mango, melon Heart: cassis, vanilla, fig, tuberose, licorice, cumin, cinnamon, clove Base: benzoin, vetiver, tonka, patchouli, leather, sandalwood, nitro-musk Very unusual... prominent spiced-fruit, woody floriental. Back in the 70's, a friend of my mother wore either a perfume or scented lotion not unlike 'Africana'. I have no clue what it was, but upon smelling this fragrance, my mind was immediately brought back to those years. I actually begin to like 'Africana' after about 30 minutes as the overpowering candied-orange peel note mellows a bit; at this point, it calls to mind mulled wine/glühwein... or a mixture of fruits stewing in a kettle. So, if you're just trying this one, give it some time to settle. Longevity on me at ~70F: prominent/noticeable until about 12h with a heavy sillage at first, slowly fading down to moderate; trails off to the lower heart and base after that, but can still be detected as a skin-scent (ie: "close") at the 17h mark. And the 24h mark. If you dig it, check out 'Balkis' in the same line- which is far less fruity, but obviously by the same nose and much-more accessible, in my opinion. EDIT 29Feb16: I had an urge to experience this fragrance again for some reason; I seem to be intrigued by its oddness! This time, I wore it on my ankles... yes, not on my wrists or anywhere close to my face... and found it rather delightful as I caught occasional, diluted wafts. Africana is powerful, powerful stuff... and it lasts beyond 24 hours on my skin. The far drydown is my favorite part, after the fruit recedes and the musky-ambery base is unshrouded. EDIT 2Oct17: I forgot how nuclear this stuff was... and rolled my forearms with 2-3 paths each. It's been an hour now, and the scent is a bit overwhelming. It is much better to apply this to the lower-body (ankles or knees, etc.). Hopefully I'll remember this next time!

Oh my oh my. This is an absolute kick in the...nose. In quite a positive way, I have to say. It's extremely strong, so go easy with this one. The first spray is a blast, the first 5 minutes are a blast, the first half an hour is a blast.... It's an extremely potent concoction, albeit quite screechy. What I get is a personification of overly sweet and ripe fruit (not specific fruit, but almost like a "tutti frutti" mix in bubblegum, hard candy or jellies; the reason I chose the word "personification" is because this dimension is definitely synthetic) laid on top of super sweet, almost gooey amber. Even though it's way too violent for my tastes and even what I define as kitschy, it is not disturbing. In fact, it almost makes me smile because it's so loud, happy, juicy and just overall too much of everything. If this was an outfit / look, it would be a skin tight dress in animal print with some additional ruffles, stiletto shoes and a big, fragrant, red rose in the hair. Classy? No. Horrible? Not necessarily. Actually, it could be quite charming, in a naive way, when done right. As I and many others said already, this is a sillage and longevity monster.

I brought this for my brother, he is starting secondary school and he begged me to get him a perfume. We both decided to get the oil roller on this, and we weren't disappointed! I tried this fragrance to myself, and all I got was fruit syrup/golden syrup. Don't get me wrong, it's nice, but it didn't suit my body chemistry, nor did I like it for myself. I got two baths that day and the scent was still stuck with me, and my clothes. When my brother tried it... oh my! It was fabulous! It reminded me of visiting the Indian pastry shops. It was syrupy, with a nice spicy depth to it which isn't overwhelming. I couldn’t pick up any banana that everyone keeps talking about, it smelled more of the mango/fruit syrup, with a caramelised fruit note. It's so nice that our mother has started wearing it. 😆 She gets a lot of compliments regarding the fragrance. Conclusion: This might not be everyone's cup of tea, but for £3 it's worth trying. It's a nice fun fragrance, works well for both the younger and older crowd. It's a true unisex fragrance.

Для меня по началу это пахнет женщиной с бокалом вина. Я не пью, поэтому без понятия что за вино. Женщина на банкете, где стол уставлен мокрыми фруктами, в основном кислыми, но в этом аромате нет ничего свежего от зелёного яблока. Вино очень быстро развеевается и остаётся только сладкр-кислый аромат, который постепенно становится похож на облепиху. Когда мы поехали с семьёй на отдых, сестра сказала "от кого так вкусно пахнет облепихой?". Этот аромат был идеален чтобы носить его на пляж, и наносить после душа. Он грелся на солнце и звучал очень по летнему, при этом не свежо, а густо. Однако, есть в нем то что мне не нравится. Это нота не очищенных молочных зубов за которыми в целом хорошо следят. Когда ты ребенок с молочными зубами и просыпаешь посреди ночи пить. И когда ты делаешь первый глоток, есть привкус. Вот это я чувствую в Afrikana.

When I first sprayed this I was expecting something extremely synthetic and something smelling like bubblegum and bananas? but the first thing I did was run to Fragrantica and check to see if it reminded anyone of Mukhallat by Montale and I saw that there was one person who voted. This smells 100% exactly like Mukhallat by Montale- a plastic, strawberry bubblegum barbie doll head scent.... crazy. Pleasant smell, I'm not sure why it's called Africana but I feel annoyed that I spent so much money on Mukhallat and yet this smells exactly the same and costs pennies. I recommend this if you like juvenile-smelling perfumes!

This is in regards to the roller oil: It smells very reminiscent of old-school gumballs (before being chewed). My particular oil is a BEAST. I'm currently wearing a 1/2 inch applied to one arm, and rubbed to the other. 2 hours later and it is projecting enormously....and I'm wearing long sleeves! If you decide to try, go really light, and maybe try to apply a decent distance from your face - maybe your waist? Trust me, your clothing won't interfere with this one at all...

First of all, I am glad I heeded the warnings of others and applied this on my ankles because this is STRONG. Projection is HUGE. It is no joke. I am getting something totally different than everyone else. Something almost nutty or chocolate but very sweet. Also some earthy undertones. I feel very Earth Mamma when I wear this. Not sure if that is my vibe. I am eager to see how long it lasts.

I have the roll-on oil and it’s all of the fruitiest of fruity things. Juicy fruits gum, fruity sherbet, those fruit syrups you can get to make cocktails, fruity shampoo. It’s potent, sweet, lots of fun...and very, very fruity! Proceed with caution. An absolute beast. One dab on my forearm and the whole downstairs of my house smells like those old school fruit salad sweets. Oooofff!

Totally fun...but could go wrong so fast though! This is the SWEETEST perfume I have ever smelled. It is a mix of banana taffy and juicy fruit gum..not to be taken too seriously. I can't wait to wear it hanging out this summer by the pool and enjoying time with family..not really a church or work scent.

There is definitely some kind of flower in there - altough I'm not sure if it's really iris, but it's the dominant note for me. Definitely not the typical scent you would think about Africa or what the packaging may suggest - it's a rather sweet smell, but not bad at all. Just not what you'd expect.

Smells like one of those shops you find incense, jewellery, crystals & rag rugs in, but as you enter someone hands you some jelly cherry sweets to chew on. Candies, cherry bubblegum, incensey, powdery. It’s fun and scrumptious! It’s like walking in to The Very Bazaar in Leicester. 🥰

I hava a sample, thanks SailorV! ---- Fun orange-ish candy! Sweet and fragrant, and fruity in a candy way. Feels like I am wearing a lollipop scent. I wouldn't want to wear it everyday, but it is fun, cheeky and childishly happy. Enjoyable!

Smells like very strong sweet cherry fizzy drink which later morphs on your skin into bubblegum. It's nice if you're in that kind of mood. The sillage is excellent, leaves a nice trail.

I get some strong candied bananas with powdery background. Definitely Love Don't Be Shy vibes. Reading @wattie now and yes! I do get some banana bubblegum in the dry down.

A weird scent. The listed notes on fragrantica won't prepare you for this. The site I bought my sample from additionally lists fruity notes and musk, and these two are the most intense notes to my nose. Africana is extremely fruity, very sweet, loud and also perfumey. It's thick and oily, even though I tried the EDP spray and not the oil roll-on. Some reviewers call it dusty, but I disagree, it has a very lush, 'wet' texture with no dust in sight. It also reminds me of bubblegum, a bit like the bubblegummy note I sometimes get from sweet white florals, but turned up to eleven. Smells like a blend of banana, strawberry and tropical fruit, all quite artificial and screaming loud, based on a sweet musky body oil. I'm one of those crazy people who enjoy some intentionally synthetic scents that smell like sweet plastic, but I wouldn't wear this one. It was fun testing it, it's really unique, but it's just not what I want to smell like. Especially not all day long. This is intense even by Al-Rehab standards (everything I tried from this brand performed well), it's tiring after a while. I don't hate it, but I understand why some others do. If you're adventurous, try it for the experience, but don't be too disappointed when it doesn't turn out to be your new favorite.

Ignore the note composition here, seriously. Can ya say CANDY?! I couldn't resist obtaining a 35ml spray for $5...But I'm thinking...I should have saved. 'Africana' is linear but gets a bit creamier & sweet-powdery as it dries down. From the opening you get this SUPER-sweet assorted fruits candy or bubble-gum. It's intense, slightly boozy and fizzy . I don't get any banana at all but instead a fruit-bowl scent. This sweetness lasts forever. Surprisingly 'Africana' doesn't get cloying or suffocating on my skin, which shook me ngl. This is actually a very pleasant scent! It's in the same olfactory family as 'Snow Fairy' by Lush, except this is fruits candy and better composed imo. But there are other candy-sweet scents I much prefer to this one, so I'll be passing mine on. If you're looking for a fruit punch and bubble-gum perfume, look no further than 'Africana'!

A true powerhouse but not a "fragrance" in my world. I can smell a single drop on the pulse point of my ankle most of the day...I get the fake banana note or cheap incense vibe. Also a bit like a port-a-potty cake deodorizer . On the rare occassion I wear it, I use an extremely light hand an layer with Shamama out of Kannuj (Smokey) so I can pretend I ́m burning incense...I mostly keep it for self defence...someone doused with a whole rollerball of this would be pretty easy to track down 😏

As many have said, the scent is elusive and hard to define. Almost bubblegum-y at times, grandma-y at others, soapy at others still. Somewhat smells like incense. Warm and cool at the same time-- like spices and mint. It will last a healthy 6 hours and still be detectable. While others will usually like the scent, it is the sort of heavy scent that is easy to get sick of and start to despise if you use it too often. Edit: upon second use, I already am sick of the smell. Not for me.

Starts off strange, hard to describe, I get a cleaning solution type smell. Green juice but nothing green about this. After 15-20mins I get sweets, skittles and fruits mixed together, it reminds me of a pack of squidgy sweets the half pink and white ones! This smells longer than the sweets last in my mouth! And not beast mode by a long shot or even 10 shots of this. Lord, Randa and Avenue last way longer than this. Way too feminine for myself so gifted one to my partner and one to my daughter, both enjoy this as a nice summer scent. Not as nice as Hawaii by Al Rehab, Soft or Fantastic but worth a go if you enjoy a nice sweet fruity scent thats a lil different for the summer.

This literally smells like I am chewing some cheap candy! Not my favourite perfume. I have two perfumes sprayed on my each arm and I can barely smell the other one.. Just this candy like smell and I feel it deep in my nose (not the feeling I would say I like) Do check the profile of person and their perfume choices before taking their opinion seriously.

Very strong fruity scent but not the usual fruity at all. It reminds me of overripe fruit or brewing liqueur or perhaps of pink bubble gum incense. Certainly not meh at all but rather I am asking myself would I want to smell like this? Hmm. If the idea of a fruity floral attar appeals to you, I recommend checking out Al Haramain Makkah.

I actually finally joined here as a public service 2 hopefully help people as this is hands down the WORST fragrance I've had in...maybe ever!?! I realize tastes vary so keep in mind the following when considering my thoughts: -I blind bought the oil as it came in a 3 pack of 2 other scents I was hoping 2 check out and thought it may be safe by looking on here seeing woodsy and powdery as top notes (NOT!) -I love gourmand fragrances and am not afraid of sweet nor strong fragrances and also wear some men's fragrances at times -I love Al Rehab's fragrances But this... THIS is going 2 a carwash and inside where the overpowering STENCH of those hideous tree air fresheners r punching u in the nose, eyes and gut. (And what in the WORLD is someone having in their car that they need 2 replace the air with any of those scents?!?) Whatever the most offensive one is--maybe its the red one, I think wild cherry?--they have way more of that than any other. This is being TRAPPED in the laundry aisle at the store that is concentrate with all the toxic fumes of fabric freshener (again, fresh?!) but in that aisle they ALSO sell the Godforsaken tree car air fresheners and some disgusting smelling cheap candy! U try 2 escape but even though u didnt touch it, it's in your nose, on your clothes in your hair... u can NOT GET AWAY. SICKENING. Head spinning nauseating vertigo! I took one from the team and in spite of the trauma of just smelling OOB, I put the slightest dab of oil on my wrist before bed thinking at least i can pass out of its too bad. I woke up with the cloying scent of horror on me. Somehow it got on my shirt too and still haven't been able 2 get it out of that quite yet!!! I'm going 2 try 2 add vinegar in the next few washes. Basic notes I detect is a synthetic medicinal candied syrup ---a mix of grape? and cherry? Where Fragrantica gets woody citrus or powdery as top or ANY notes I will never understand. The one positive I can say is that the oil is incredible lasting however this is of course adds 2 my trauma and like most Al Rehab's it is very affordable. Like the last reviewer said, I don't know how 2 get rid of this fragrance and would b embarrassed 2 try 2 offer it up. But I wish there was a way 2 exchange or something on this site. I'm not one that wastes things -- I always try 2 repurpose or use things up vs TRASH... so I may experiment in seeing if bugs and mice hate as much as i do 2 maybe put it on a sachet 2 keep in the garage or something. I mean if it disorients and horrifies me... good chance it may work 2 repel others! I hope u find this helpful and saves at least one person from this trauma my poor nose can't get over! Happier sniffing journeys 2 u....

یک فاجعه‌ی تمام عیار اصلا معلوم نیست این بو حاصل ترکیب چه نُت هایی هست فضای سنتتیک و کاملا آشفته که بوی عطر فروشی های درجه 3 دم حرم رو میده که تسبیح و سربند و ... از دیوار و سقف اش آویزنه یا بوی ستون و در و دیوار های حرم رو میده وقتی که زوار(خصوصا عرب ها)مختلف بهشون تکیه داده اند و عطر روغنی با ماندگاری مادام العمرشون روی هم اومده و وقتی دستتو بذاری روی اون دیوار تا ساعت ها بوش روی پوستت هست بوی روغنی و بالزام،مرکبات بسیار بی کیفیت و نت هایی مجموعا ترکیب بسیار زشت ای رو رقم زده اند دنبال هیچ کدوم از نت ها و آکورد ها نباشید و از خیر تست کردن اش هم بگذرید -تست شده از نسخه‌ی روغنی- **************** scent:1/10 longevity:10/10 sillage:10/10 purchase value:1/10 ******** overall: ;( /10

Words cannot express how horrible this perfume oil smells🤮🤮🤮🤮 I was intrigued by reviews especially the ones that said it was super sweet I don’t get any sweetness. I actually can’t work out what it smells of but I do smell something very, very, synthetic. I normally pass on unsuccessful blind buys to the charity shops but I would be embarrassed

******************Update***************** Layered it beneath Chanel No 5 EDP and it made what is an awesome but at times much too fleeting scent, much more long lasting. It was the perfect accompaniment and I received compliments that I smelled very fresh and nice all day. The iris in both compositions play well together (which makes sense as they are likely the same aroma chemical for both since the advent of IFRA regs have given all of the major houses the impetus to veer more toward lab created scents than natural). *********************************************************************** I believe that our sense of smell is connected to our memories and to that which we experienced growing up. As such, our sense of smell both collective in a national or regional sense and individually is first informed by the cultures in which we live. Culture is not just a shorthand for ethnicity but also the religions in which we were reared, the immediate communities in which we socialized, the languages, the food, and the overall style in which we lived our lives. Perfect example: Pumpkin pie does not remind me of comfort or fall or the holidays. Sweet potato pie reminds me of those things. Even better than sweet potato pie? Candied yams...cooked until the sugar caramelizes in a gooey sauce layered with rum and loads of butter and then nestled beneath a cloud of marshmallows baked until slightly golden brown. That being said...Africana is culturally relevant to me. I put some on my skin and it felt so familiar and safe. Africana reminds me of the oil men that used to roam the neighborhoods in which I once lived in their kufi caps and thobe garments. These oil men would sell you perfumed potions named things like "Butt Naked" and "Lick Me All Over" in addition to an imitation of any designer perfume on the market all for $5-10. They were the hood Bergdorf and Saks. Some even sold jewelry and little accessories that one could not do without but that weren't sold in the local corner store/bodega. These men carried sticks of incense in their belts and that incense would leave a trail of velvety resins everywhere they went---in the subway station, across the busy intersections. Africana is that full on incense smell complete with the smoldering ember at the tip, the smoke that floats into the atmosphere and the charred ashy residue that coats your fingers and the counter. Incense? Yes. Incense. Often in mainstream culture, there is a limited association with incense--to that which is merely burned for high mass in whatever church. However, in my culture, incense is so much a part of the background of our everyday lives in some capacity. We burn it in our homes...and many of us want to smell like it outside of our homes as well. The green mandarin is simply an accord that is great as a substitute for the classic citruses, lime and lemon, in that green mandarin lasts much longer. The tropical fruit notes are there but they're stripped of their protective skins such that the juice readily flows from their ripe flesh, until skewered and then seared over an open flame. The sandalwood, cedar, vetiver, and iris all play together to create an accord of the finest and most resinous African olibanum (frankincense and likely why the name "Africana" was chosen as some of the best frankincense is harvested from centuries old trees on the African continent. Frankincense also features heavily in ancient African civilizations) in all of it's pungent smoky sweet and calming glory. It's frankincense incense y'all plain and simple.

Heavens to Murgatroyd! The is probably the most fruity fragrance I ever smelled. It's sweet, but not in a sugar kind of way, but more of a riped fruit vibe, Almost like fruit cocktail in the can - if that makes sense. I can imagine parts of the African jungle smelling like this with a blend of mango, banana, coconut, and mix of exotic fruits. As much as I like it (don't love it) I just can't pull it off because it's too feminine for my style. It reminds me of my wife's shampoo, but can't think of the name, and a fruity scented tanning lotion she uses sometimes. It's intriguing to smell because it's so different, and I do enjoy it on my wife more so than on me. Maybe there are some men that can never pull this off, but on me it would be polar opposite of who I am. On my wife it makes her smell even yummier. As with many Al Rehab fragrances this gem is utter beast mode! It easily lasts all day, and the time I tested it on my arm I could smell it even after a shower. Africana has "tropical" and "summer" written all over it. It reminds me of an African store I visit sometimes in NYC... the kind of perfume a beautiful ethnic woman would wear, or any woman that is more of an laid back kind of gal. I can see her sitting at the beach wearing only her bathing suit and a grin while sipping on one of those umbrella drinks on a tropical Island chatting with her friends. It's not a fragrance you wear on special occasions - it's a fun time kind of scent. And I disagree with those reviews that call this perfume immature or for young teens. If that's how you feel... then you really need to get outside more and have fun people! Africana is unquestionably a 'having fun in the sun' kind of perfume. I don't see it as a work scent, evening scent, date scent, or any special occasion. As for romantic encounters, this is the sex on the beach perfume that is guaranteed to make it a memorable moment It's strictly for letting your hair down and enjoying the exotic scent of tropical climates, particularly Africa. Projection 9/10 Longevity 9/10 Uniqueness 10/10 Value 10/10 ($2.99 is a no brainer) Scent:for Men: 5/10. Scent for Women: 8/10

Shout out to @shadymoss for their compelling review, which, after reading it, prompted me to go on eBay and immediately purchase this...fragrance? Specifically, this part: “Think of opening a 10,000-year-old wooden cask of overproof blackberry mead, found in the sarcophagus of some forgotten mummy’s tomb. Bouquets of ancient flowers and resins still permeate the pyramid’s cavern, the leathery, tannic, musky scent of the mummy’s flesh and bandages slowly seeping into the air. As this happens, someone’s great-grandmother applies a cheap cherry-flavored chapstick to her parched lips...” “Wtf?” I thought naively. “They’re full of shit. How does a person even know what that would smell like?!” Well, dear reader, they were correct. And I am appalled. Frightened. Africana is nothing short of SINISTER to my American nose. I’ve never smelled anything like this - but it isn’t exactly foul or putrid by any means. I don’t know WHAT this is. There’s no way that note pyramid is accurate. My friends...I didn’t even apply it. I unscrewed the cap. The scent jumped onto my fingers. It will not leave. My nose will never be the same. I have removed the bottle from my home and placed it outside on the back porch. Africana is under investigation until further notice. I will return to report my findings - if/when I can muster up the courage. No promises. Here is my takeaway thus far: When in doubt, maybe wear gloves. UPDATE: I hate to admit defeat but...yeah, no. Straight to the trash. I never do that, I will always find a home for a fragrance. But this? I just do not know.

An Al Rehab supplier sent me this in error, so was able to keep at no cost. I have a few Al Rehab fragrances and tend to like the Oudy/Rose/Spicy ones. Africana is not in any of these categories. It is the 35ml spray that I have and had 4 sprays at 11a.m ,can still smell this 10 hrs later and my skin is prone to make fragrance disappear quickly. As to the smell ,it reminds me of jelly ( Jello for those the other side of the pond!) plus some sort of pungent tropical fruit. Then after an hour this dies down to a juicy fruit /bubblegum sort of smell with the jelly not being in the foreground. It certainly is unique but I'm glad I was around the house and not in an enclosed environment because I think people would possibly not react favourably to this. Personally I don't mind it but would have to be in the mood on a cool day. Oh and also I can smell a sweety/ coca cola element too , that is now, after the all day wear. Unsure on this but perhaps worth buying for the novelty value to see if you have encountered anything else as STRANGE!!

The first time I tried this, I absolutely loathed it, but I’ve realised that’s how a lot of the powerhouse Al Rehab fragrances are, don’t make your judgement after the first whiff, give it weeks or even months and come back to it with a fresh perspective. On second try, Africana is a little less cloying, but she still shrieks, a little goes a long way and if you overapply her, you will feel nauseous and get a chemical, metallic taste in your mouth, so beware. She smells sickly sweet, as others have also noted, but in a warm, comforting way. She reminds me of a grandmother who always carries a handbag filled with candy to pass out to her grandkids. I see a beautiful, mature woman in her 60s with a pretty shawl around her shoulders wearing this fragrance. Thus, I gifted this to my mother; it suits her very well and she loves it.

Here are some things I associate with Africa (sorry if they are on the stereotypical side) * red-hot chili spiciness (like some of the food in Ghana) * black musk, like the pelts of animals (another Arabian oil, musk al-Kaaba, smells of this) * dusty dryness, maybe a bit of vetiver * mimosa or night-blooming jasmine kind of sweetness Al-Rehab Africana is none of this. Instead, it is all about a rich, sweet fruit paste, infused with oil, maybe. A review I once read (negative review) likened it to synthetic apples and nothing much else. I disagree. I do get the apple note, but it is tempered with a sweet floral and it is not of the green, acidic variety. Africana has no citrus nor sour tones whatsoever. However, I am hard put to identify what the constituent fruits might be. It may, however, have a tiny bit of synthetic oud.

I received Africana today, and I'm going to heartily agree with paxtaran... overripe fruit/brewing liqueur. It smells like alcoholic, fermented fruit with incense swirling in the background. If I had to pin down which fruit, I'd say it would be pears. While Africana isn't exactly offensive, it doesn't do much for me. I could live without it. While my experience has been that Al-Rehab attars not only radically unfold on the skin during the day, many of them also smell different to me after a few weeks. I find myself thinking, "Even if I thought this oil smelled gorgeous after a month, would other people smell what I did when I first bought it and think to themselves, 'she smells like liqueur'?" I'm going to try blending Africana with a few other oils.

Resisted for a while but oh why did I do that?. I am not a fruit lover in general cos they tend to get over sweetened, but I love this fruity smell. Forever interesting is how I describe this even in the dry down it rings of the heady sparkling tale the opening announced. And it announces powerfully so it will last for an age. And it feels like its made with ancient notes . Bright composition with ancient hallowed essences. The drydown has an incensey sweetness that lingers. I think I am in love. Be meaner than a snake with application to get the full bloom of this beauty. Am gonna apply my little roll on a cotton bud and scent my bath. its that kind of smell for me. Intimate but loud as hell if you over-apply.

I have the roll-on oil version of it, and this is the single strongest perfume I've ever tried. None of the monsters of longevity from the big Western perfume houses can compare with this beast. On my skin, Africana doesn't mutate at all – it stays on, for ever and ever a heavy blanket of musk and powder and oils over a bed of fruit. The scent brings forth dusky ancient imagery, which is why I particularly like wearing it with my medieval and folksy dresses. If with so many perfumes the case is that, though pleasant, they feel like they're not worth the price, with Africana it's the opposite - this baby is worth much more than the circa 3 dollars that I got it for.

Well this is different! The notes and the accords do not seem to apply to Africana. Africana is a carbonated, sweet alcoholic beverage. It starts off very powdery with a pink bubble gum nuance and then veers off into this sweet carbonated beverage (Campari?). It's like a sweet, fruity-citric beer. It's definitely not a liqueur or wine.You can feel the "fizzy" and bubbles on your nose as you smell this. It's very strong and lasts for days if you get it on your jacket/clothes. Hipsters and those searching for unique signature fragrances are sure to enjoy this. Very interesting, but not my personal style.

I have a lot of fragrances and I find something I like in all of them some more than other. This is the worse thing I have ever smelled. Previous reviews have mentioned the brewing fruit smell and I agreed 100% it smells like rotting fruit turning to alcohol. I can't wear it at all it makes my stomach turn I had to bin it it's shocking. Suppose the longevity is very good although do you want to smell like rotting fruit for 8 hours. Honestly I know it's only £4 but buy one of the other rehab fragrances instead or buy bleach and dose yourself in that you will still smell better

very different as a perfume but very much the same smell as shrimp sweets from the 70's and 80's. You know those foamy pink shrimp shaped sweets they sometimes sell nowadays with yellow foam banana sweets. Bought Aroosah at the same time, which was very strong on the saffron. Mixed the two together and makes a very nice perfume. The sweet, candy Africana turned Aroosah into a loveable different perfume. Hey presto!! So now don't have to through away Aroosah or give the Africana to a young teenager :)

I bought the rollerball. I find it very pleasing. It smells firstly like cherry bubblegum, then mostly like banana flavoured candy to me. There's a sweet mixed spice aroma to it that develops as well, like cinnamon and nutmeg. When it dies down it's a bit like a sweet creamy rice pudding covered in fragrant cooked banana, and lots of cinnamon. I don't get any of the listed notes, not going to lie though I'm not sure what amber and vetiver smell like though. Definitely a keeper.

A very nice, sticky-sweet, juicy-fruity fragrance. Smells like pears on me? Completely linear. Good longevity. It's noticeable close-up, but no huge projection - just as well, as this might easily become choking. Despite its sticky sweetness this is very much a summer scent to me, to be worn during the day. Casual and fun and rather yummy. Excellent price and a little bit unusual, a great replacement for the more common fruity celebbyscents.

this one is strong really strong. Its that strong that ist makes me sick. Always got a roller in my collection to troll my bro and sis. I put it on them when there sleeping and they wake up to wash it off, but guess what its stays looool. I hide it afterwards so they cant use it agianst me. hahahhahha i know its not nice.