Dakar

Al-Rehab Dakar is supposed to be one of many clones of Drakkar Noir. How does it stack up? Al-Rehab Dakar is essentially a concentrated version of the basenotes of vintage Drakkar Noir. Vintage Drakkar Noir has a nuanced and varied evolution through its dry down, before ultimately settling as a very green scent with a hint of soapiness. The current, reformulated Drakkar Noir doesn't have that amount of green-ness at the base and is not as smooth. Al-Rehab Dakar, from beginning to end, is that green base of vintage Drakkar Noir, but the green is a little more potent, doesn't seem to have the soapiness, or at least no the same amount, and maybe there's a leather note amplified to make it a bit edgier. But it's still the most accurate representation of vintage Drakkar Noir being produced today, at least as far as the basenotes go. Current Drakkar Noir feels like it's been updated almost. It still smells very close to the original but it leans closer to men's deodorant/shower gel. Al-Rehab Dakar feels more classic in comparison. I've tried just about every Drakkar Noir clone out there, and I consider Al-Rehab's entry to be best. COMPARISONS: The first batches/formulation of vintage Drakkar Noir is more patchouli-heavy, has the most varied dry down, of all formulations and imitators, smells more natural, and is probably the most "sophisticated" of them all. Al-Rehab Dakar doesn't have all those things, as it's like the tail end of the basenotes of vintage Drakkar Noir, highly concentrated, far more green, and the pine note a bit stronger. Side-to-side, vintage Drakkar Noir is the most interesting fragrance, yet oddly, a bit more dated. The Al-Rehab Dakar is louder and bolder. CONCLUSION If don't mind missing out on the opening and middle, Al-Rehab Dakar is better blended, longer lasting, better projecting, and smells more "old school" than current Drakkar Noir. However, I think that reformulated Drakkar Noir is sportier and more "athletic" smelling. It's great that there's two options available for purchase and I highly recommend both. But if you want to recapture the nostalgia of an ELEMENT of the vintage formulation, Al-Rehab is the way to go. 8.5/10

So I got the 50 ml edp of Al Rehab's Dakar. I also own a new formulation of Guy Laroche's Drakkar Noir. In being able to compare the two, they are indeed VERY similar in the opening. The Al Rehab seems just a tad bit greener and is much more "Camphorous " than the OG Drakkar Noir is. That said I find the spices in Drakkar Noir more well blended and "Vivid". I just LOVE the opening of the original a bit more than Al Rehab's opening. The dry-down for Drakkar Noir is more woody and more enjoyable imo. I don't get much of the wood's at all in the Al Rehab which stays much more 'green" and even like a Camphorous/eucalyptus-menthol during the mid and dry-down. With that said, Dakar is still an excellent dupe for Drakkar Noir and what I do is just layer plenty of Drakkar Noir over a bit of the Al Rehab. Now about the performance, Both open strong, but yYEPp! of course the Al Rehab performs way, WAY better than Drakkar Noir (Longevity has been eviscerated), which is why it's perfect for layering maybe a spritz or two under the OG so I can still get the intoxicating spices of opening of Drakkar Noir along with the (fast appearing) gorgeous woodyness of the dry down while still getting a bit of camphor from the Al Rehab thus extending the life of this over-all AWESOME scent dna. Now, Al Rehab's Dakar lasts about 6 to 7 hours on skin before becoming a skin-scent and till the following day on clothes. For comparison's sake, after 2 months of maceration, Drakkar Noir lasts about 2 hours on skin before its a woody skin-scent and maybe 5-6 hours (ON CLOTHES!) Anyhow, Al Rehab's Dakar was only about $12 (again for a 50ml of the edp) and is still fantastic to use on it's own wo layering. 7.5 outta 10 frag and a great buy, recommended!😉 Thanks to whomever took time to read my review on Al Rehab's Dakar! Blessings! 🙏

I will agree with the posts below... What I have ordered from Al-Rehab I like this Dakar and Silver the best. Most of the Al-Rehab scents that I have smelled are very Middle Eastern feel to them... these are what I would call more of an Western Scent or knock offs... Knocks offs are not always bad if they are done right! As for Dakar, yes it definitely smells like Drakkar Noir! With some extra Oud in the base. but not as sharp as Caesars Man. A Simple refreshing piney scent just like the 80's power house we all remember. This is a scent that I have been looking for... I remember Christmas time at my Grandmothers and the smell of Pine candles burning somewhere in the house... In the search of a pleasant pine scent that brings to me memories of my past, this hits the mark! Longevity is O.K.- for about 2 hrs like a Christmas candle then it softens slightly darker to a pleasant smell of the spices and woods coming forth that goes for about 2-3 hrs more. After the 5-6 hour point it softens so much that it is really close to the skin, to my nose... My wife can still smell it on me for a few more hours after that. I think my nose just gets use to the scent. With that said 5-7 hours for a great scent for just under $4 You do have to be careful with these Al-Rehab roll-on perfumes at first cuz they go on very heavy. Just a nickle size blob and rub it in on your pulse points. Remember a little goes a long way or you'll be trying to wash it off!

I have the halal roller ball oil of this from the market stall selling Asian perfumes -- a novel delivery method to me, but one presumably smiled upon by the prophet, and it checks out because you don't have to apply very much to get a rich scent. I have no idea what Ye Olde Drakkar Noir smelt like, but this is a very similar collection of dank, rank greenery, and this is definitely danker. It is also closer to the big drakkar-shaped ghost of copycat fragrances used in slightly old-fashioned gentlemen's grooming product, which I think the mainstream Drakkar Noir has tried to differentiate itself away from. No need because this is great and that's why everyone copied this ferniest of fougeres. From the first application, close up, this had a urinous scent that is entirely missing from my Drakkar Noir -- the sort of thing I could imagine people in the 80s had more patience for -- but of course it soon settled because if it didn't people wouldn't wear it. The other difference I noticed on this first trial is in the drydown -- towards the end of the day, a rather mysterious citronella note emerged. I do not think it unlikely that even if the prophet smiles on this perfume, the European Union may not, so the stranger richness may come from that. I am still not entirely sure what oakmoss is supposed to smell like... A different path through the D(r)akkar jungle, more to the Arab taste, whatever that might be.

This is my first review, so take it with a grain of salt. I definitely urge you to read the other reviews, since that is what I referred to before getting my own piece. Bought the roll on as a substitute for the Drakkar Noir perfume, since availability is scarce where I live. I’ve sniffed a sampling of the Drakkar formulation and found it quite mild and thought Dakar would be somewhat similar. Suffice to say, the strength and sillage of the oil threw me off and the smell itself was a LOT greener than DN. The smell starts off like a very mossy version of Drakkar Noir, and slowly becomes more and more similar to the current formulation of DN. The base of the fragrance, which quite unlike other reviews I’ve read, reminds me of mild coconut oil, even though coconut isn’t in the ingredients list. Regarding usage, I’ve found it to be great for daily wear, though I really only dab it as opposed to rolling it on, due to the strength of the oil. One could smear the oil, but that greatly reduces the longevity of the oil and completely bypasses the opening notes, which defeats the purpose of getting Dakar in the first place. So, in all, Dakar is a great scent for if you want a Drakkar Noir dupe. Or if you’re going for a blind buy (which is also fine), remember that it smells close to teenage cologne from the ‘90s-00s; fougere and borderline-barbershop scents.