Randa

I purchased this perfume based on the reviews that I'd read from other folks here. Initially it's a lovely smoky/burnt out candle smell that I just love. In fact it was the review of some folks here that said that they got a candle/wax scent that made me want to buy this perfume, as I've got another perfume with an expensive burnt out candle scent that I love! Bear in mind it's a very expensive burnt out candle smell, not some cheap 99p one! There is some spiciness there and an almost green/medicinal note that I find very intriguing! It is pretty potent and so a little would go a long way! I can smell the jasmine and saffron notes and I find that they compliment each other beautifully. I'm not a huge fan of super-sweet scents, and so am glad that the sweetness mixes well with the spiciness here. Then after a while the potency of the scent dies down, it's still strong but in a more settled way-if that makes any sense. The lovely saffron/jasmine combo is still there but now we get the amber coming through. There is a small hint of rose, but it's hidden behind the other notes. Now it's changed from sweet-spicy to spicy with an edge of smoky, there is still that burnt out candle scent that it just brilliant. Wow I love the dry down:) This perfume smells very expensive-no cheap notes, no chemical smelling notes, its beautifully blended and it exudes class. Personally I'd prefer to wear this perfume in colder months, as it would be a bit too much in summer.

I have never smelled Rumba. The first thing that came to my mind smelling this was "I've smelled this before". And then I remembered an old flask of Avon one of my aunts kept in her bathroom shelf. Could it have been Timeless?. This is a difficult scent: I quite like it, but I think I could only wear this in very cold weather, and living in a hot Andalusian hell I'm afraid I won't have many opportunities to wear this, not even in winter nights. Perhaps I'll wear this only to bed in winter. I’s a lovely aldehyde, inciense, jasmine, tuberose, smoky and juicy vintage. I really love it but it's almost unwearable in Southern Spain. What a pity, sometimes climate is a b**** Edit: now that the nights are getting cooler, around 18-20Co, I dared to wear this on a night out and applied it in homeopatic doses: only a ball roll for both wrist and then rubbing my wrists on my nape and decolletage. It worked ok and wasn ́t too cloying. Perhaps I ́ll dare to wear this more this autum and winter nights. It layers very well with Choco Musk. Curious that something inspired by a perfume called Rumba could be so difficult to wear in Andalusia :) it seems more suitable for freezing countries like Sweeden or Germany I think, a more propper name for this would be Chimney Fumes, Fallen Leaves or Roasted Chesnuts. Yes, it has a wax candles feeling to it like someone else stated here before.

Прошло уже 2 года с покупки этого аромата в виде масла. Пузырек все ещё на половину полон, хотя у меня не большая коллекция. Пришла тоскливая апрельская весна, с ее вечными истериками. Сегодня за день у нас два раза выпал и растаял снег, пекло солнце и дули страшные сильные ветра. В такую погоду Ранда - подруга которая поможет пережить меланхолию. Я училась на ветеринарного врача и мы делали опыт. Во время этого опыта мы жгли в специальной печке разные травы, затем омывали кислотой и ещё много разных манипуляций чтобы узнать состав белков и зольных веществ. Я не помню какая трава досталась нам с напарницей, но после ее сжигания, она пахла сухим-сухим сладким мёдом. Я слышу в "Ранда" эту медовую сладкую траву, жасмин который индолит в сочетании с амброй (мне нравится этот индол). Ещё ощущаю немного сгоревших благовоний и что-то свежее, вроде мяты, но точно не мята. Что-то что холодит нос, не эвкалипт. Анис имеет такой охлаждающий аромат, но я не уверена что это он. Когда аромат дошел до базы, мой муж вернулся с работы и сказал "О! Именно так пахнет Церковь!" Я не была в православной Церкви и не знаю как она пахнет. Но я в восторге от этого аромата, жаль что у нас его очень трудно найти.

This perfume is very nice. I could wear it on its own or with my Paris Rumba. I like to mix them together. They both smell good long silly age great fragrance it doesn't smell like an old woman in any shape form or fashion whoever said that it just doesn't go with your pH. Al rehab is one of the best quality inexpensive fragrance houses out there. I have made well over 50 purchases from them and I'm still going strong. Another beautiful bottle from my perfume collection which goes from expensive to cheapies. I love all my fragrances and I love to mix and match making my own sense Miranda to me is a keeper I don't see anything synthetic about it whatsoever the longevity is a beast get it you'll see. Oh yeah I'm not getting the whole candle thing I don't know where people get that from or why they're saying it.

Rose isn't my favourite floral note, but I have found a few rose perfumes I really like. And this one has become one of my favourite rose fragrances. It's simply stunning! It smells like a deep, blood red, voluptuous rose that's on fire in the middle of the desert. That's the best way I can describe it. It's smoky, sizzling hot and quite intoxicating. It has a sweetness to it, that reminds me of thick, golden, animalic honey. This scent is pure fire and heat and sensuality and power. So temperamental and passionate. So empowering. It feels like wearing a lions roar. Longevity is monstrous, it just lasts and lasts. And the sillage is beastly. Don't put too much on or you might knock someone unconcious with it. This is seriously one of the strongest perfumes I own, if not THE strongest. Gorgeous creation! <3

The perfume oil has a softness I can't quite identify. When I close my eyes, I see flashes of red and white with jagged brown. All thanks to traumatic brain injuries--one of the few upsides. There's just enough amber and oud to bring it all together and give the florals a little depth. Like the saffron. After bad experiences with Alrehab sprays, which appear to use an alcohol base more suited to industrial cleaning than perfumerie, experimenting with the oils is an inexpensive adventure. I'm a vintage lover and can't abide the current trends of candy floss and vanilla. Randa feels transitional, liminal. I know I've come across this scent before living in Egypt but can't quite place where or whom. Maybe a Christmas candle or another old lady like me. Could use a little more skank....

This smells like an arabian auntie's house on an afternoon in late feburary. Insence is actively burning, a small raw potato is being used as an incense holder. The sticks are halfway done, their ashes are coating the potato. A faint haze fills the room. All the windows and doors are sealed, except one which is slightly opened. The window overlooks a bayleaf tree, a lemon tree with no fruit yet, and a rose bush. You can get whiffs of the outside every now and then when a dry cold breeze blows through the window. Little shortbread biscuits have been sitting out on the table for a while now. Your aunt had just cleaned the floors. She is airing out the winter blankets, covers and carpets, and letting them all soak in the scent of the almost extinguished insence.

Это идеально для меня. Это то что я искала в парфюмерии. Это горько на старте и сладко в раскрытии, не гурманская сладость. Плотный. Меня не душит, даже если я намажусь с ног до головы

Heavy , deep , animalistic , realistic green and musky Oriental . Everything I have ever wanted from the scent . Perfection ...

This would make the most amazing candle! It's a very nag champa fragrance..smokey sweet..completely delicious. Two thumbs up!

A star that comes from a cabaret called "Ungaro and Balenciaga" And she smokes a cigar called "Lapidus" Iykyk 🙏🏻

This is for the 6ml oil I had a review on this before but as my nose gets use to Randa I think I should add a bit more insight. My skin amps tuberose so I still think this is the bomb. The tuberose bomb! I do get the rose, jasmine, and amber but there is so much more going on here! Aside from the distinctive tuberose I also get some creamy white flowers other than jasmine. It's spicy but my nose is saying it's more carnation spicy than saffron and I don't get a ton of oud maybe just a pinch. Randa is incredibly heavy and will give me a headache every time if I use too much. Just a tiny dab on the wrist and rubbed together is enough for me. I never ever put it on my neck or close to my face. I have to say I like it in moderation. It follows me around creating a warm fuzzy blanket of sexy almost smutty scent. Red and black are the perfect colors to use on the packaging! I can't say it's dirty or animalic at all but it is loud, brash and not at all apologetic about its sexuality! Randa is a very confident woman and more than a little intimidating. I'm a little embarrassed to say this because I know it's been said before about other heavy scents but I think Randa is a 1980's business woman who is a hooker on the side. Just for fun! I don't know Rumba so these are just my impressions of Al Rehab Randa. You have to take Al Rehab Fragrance notes with a grain of salt because many are sorely lacking. For instance Randa and Rasha have identical notes but are completely different! In fact Rasha's notes are completely wrong.

Having never tried Rumba, I can't in all honesty compare the two. But I have tested Randa with great interest and curiosity! Here's what I've observed... For the most part, Randa seems to be nothing like the main accords listed. But this isn't unusual for an Arabian oil, in my experience. They're an adventure all the way! :D The main notes I smell would be more like this: *Sharp Marigold *Smoky Leather *Typical Oud *Plus a touch of something fruity, green, and tart-sweet... While I'm sure the expert nose could sense amber and rose as well, the notes listed are intense enough to drive all thoughts of analysis away. Randa seems to combine sharp, fruity, smoky, and More Sharp! I'm a little puzzled at the combination, to say the least. It's delightful - in that I would Never have thought to combine such accords myself. And it's equally intriguing to ponder what Randa is trying to be. Perhaps a dynamic chypre? Certainly not a subtle or delicate composition. :) For now I'm just pleased to test this little mystery, continuing to satisfy my urgent craving to smell more Arabian oils! Update ~ A memorable experience and EXTREMELY long lasting. I've woken up with it still present on my skin after a good 8 hours of sleep.

I've just noticed that my previous review from 2014 was written before I'd tested 'the real' Rumba! Well, I did finally get my hands on that unique creation - the Ted Lapidus one - and can easily say they are intensely similar. If anything, Randa is STRONGER! So I gifted my Rumba to a friend and kept Randa. They are both decidedly Old fashioned and only suited to those who enjoy marigolds and oakmoss in their florientals. I learned to enjoy marigolds in fragrances, so hey ho! This is not an elegant scent, and it's a bit gaudy, but given the right mood and weather it's downright FUN - in a vintage kind of way. Randa doesn't care what anyone thinks about her - she enjoys having fun, wearing bright lipstick, burning wax candles, and playing dress up from yesteryear. Time travel in the best way!

Bubblegum rose! I'm not a very sophisticated note analyser - the above is what hit my nose when I put Randa on. As it dries down, more 'redness' comes out I think, and the rose incense (that's what I get, rather than rose wax) quality stays throughout. Some of these oils can be beautiful at the top but dry down into something completely different - and sometimes just meh, or even downright horrible - hello Jalwa! But this doesn't do that, I'm really liking it. I've never smelled Rumba so am glad to get to (sort of) smell it through this. :) Would just add that Randa is not monster strong, like a lot of these oils are, at least not on me.

I got it today as it was extremely cheap here ( I live in an Arab country )..I had had the original Rumba long time ago and I remember giving it to my sister . I have reviewed the original Rumba here if you 're interested..I tested Randa today on my wrist and I have to say ; it smells much more subtle and clear than the original old one, which reminded me of a lusty and a bit messy Rumba dance ..but this seems more in harmony with it's name sake ...It's funny since I was never a fan of the older version :) ..but it seems I will be wearing this more ..

yes - initially thisis very similar to vintage Rumba (did a side by side), however, the drydown is slightly different. Rumba showcases powdery raspberry there, while Randa remains slightly oud-y woody. If you're looking at the Ted Lapidus version of Rumba, then this is close enough, if the Balenciaga version you fancy, this may fall slightly short.

when first sprayed it's really strong. can't see myself wearing it much but somehow can't stop smelling where i sprayed it.. the amber is so beautifully blended with the roses and the saffron is nice in here (i really don't like saffron) but it's good because it's not dominant.. i'll wear it around the house to see how i fell about it

smells like a rich old lady, its a strong amber saffron with a light hint of floral notes, for me i use it for layering because it adds a depth for the scents, if you dont like heavy perfume dont buy its really heavy but lovely and nostalgic.

I can't smell any of the notes listed here except rose. This is a sign of a well-blended perfume. It's a heavy smelling fragrance suitable for an older lady. But what the heck! Younger people can wear it too!

The most powerful fragrance I’ve yet to encounter. This is nuclear beast-mode done the Arabian way. I loved it at first, as it was like a luxury Parisian hand soap, mixed with an unlit incense stick from a new age shop. It was bohemian and vintage with hippy highlights, so I’d thought I’d found my ultimate scent. But its power increases and along the way someone lights that incense stick, and it shouts at you with the smoky clothes of a hippy that just won’t quit. It does have a candle scent but as it develops, to me it just smells like musty fabric that’s been left around a house that relentlessly burns incense. It’s a legend and a powerhouse of a creation, but I’m not brave enough to handle the potency.

I rarely criticize, cause all kind of scents have their admirers. I had Randa roll-on and for good I must admit it is very longlasting, big sillage and not boring at all. So much and loud going on, that I can stand it at all. Its not my pair of shoes. It is one on milion that repulsed me,have headache and nausea. Maybe my chemistry doesnt work with it. So be careful, its not safe blindbuy, but price is so little... Worst thing is, I wanted badly Rumba by T. Lapidus and now, so many people compare to Randa, so I am scared, cause Rumba sounds greener, mossy and earthy, and Randa is to me aldehydic, dark floral with oily woody tone. Im confused. Randa till now was only one arabic oil I don't understand and dislike. I admire people who can be happy with this and can smell it completely different from me.

I am very much into vintage fragrances but this is not my cup of tea. It reminds me of Rare Gold from Avon, they share a note that completely disagree with my skin chemistry. I don’t know Rumba so I can’t say anything about that, it’s just something heavy and stuffy in this concoction that puts me off. It does smell vintage-y and it’s veeery long lasting, so it’s worth a try for vintage lovers, especially for this incredibly small price.

I don't judge anyone and any human being has personal tastes regarding perfumes but i don't get it, how someone can like this scent ? In the first 2 hours it smells exactly like a bottle of cat pee spilled on a bush of bulgarian roses. After the 2 horror hours, when you think it can't go worse, you are wrong. The roses are gone and only the pee smell remains. Not to mention it has great sillage and longevity. A real nightmare.

This one is strong. I didn't like this at first, but it is very long-lasting and I can smell it on my skin the second day. It has finally settled into a very heavy incense smell, which I don't mind, it just took way too long to get there. As so many people said, smells very old and vintage. I don't see myself using it very often.

Waxy, soapy, incense powerhouse. Immediately reminiscent of the aforementioned Christmas candles, almost literally so. Light floral top notes, deep spices and resins in the heart, aldehydic base. Randa is surprisingly complex and clean for a cheap attar, and easy to appreciate if you love vintage style fragrances.

Realy old fasion smell. I dont like it much but if you mix it whith other fragrances gives it logivity.

No oud, it's a throwback amber floral. Citruses and fruity top notes with tuberose, jasmine, rose. There are soft herbal notes. It doesn't smell like incense, but it has the same smoky musks used in Dior Poison. The chypre base has that thick, syrupy, sweet 90s amber note. I am hypersensitive to it and I find it overpowering here. Another strong, dense, long lasting oil. Liable to cause headaches to sensitive people. I haven't tried Rumba, so I can't comment on how similar they are.

wow this ia the strongest fragrance projection i think. be carefull if using randa. but this is not favorite. i give dissapointed score.this is female frag.

I have to thank the beautiful and well scented ladies and gents of Fragrantica for adding this gem in my collection. This is for the oil version. When I first smelled it I was struck by its vintage vibe yet with an undeniable oriental heart. I knew this smell, and, indeed, it is just like like Rumba. References to wax and candles are true, this is probably the Amber note together with Rose and jasmine. Oud here is gentle and soft and adds depth and a slight woodsy feel, but is not dominant. This is a wonderful combination of waxy amber, rose and jasmine, gently spiced with Saffron , deep, sultry and long lasting. This will appeal particularly to those who love vintage scents, but a lot cheaper to acquire. All in all a very beautiful and memorable concoction. Update Use sparingly, on my skin it lasted 9 hours and even after shower I could still smell it, and my skin absorbs scent like mad. Huge sillage too. Not for the faint hearted!

This is a very interesting scent! Imagine you are sitting around a campfire and someone tosses half a can of Pepsi into the flames...and the smell of smoke combines with the toasted-sugar sweetness and the spiciness of the drink. The smokiness is quite rich and woody, almost a vetiver-ish note and also a tiny herbal-grassy note. It vaguely reminds me of Toujours Moi, but more subdued. After a few hours, it is fading a bit to just a toasty, lightly spiced smell; could definitely be unisex, and absolutely for fans of oriental or floriental fragrances. I'm not usually a fan of Oud (too chemically for my nose), but it is not noticeable here. I'm not sure I would recognize saffron, and I don't really smell jasmine or rose...but this is an interesting take on an amber, a very warm golden amber.

I bought the 35ml edp. Knew it wouldn't be a safe blind purchase. But this surpasses all my worst expectations. It is so bad. It is nauseating. It just smells like really cheap unpleasant air freshener. the only note I can really detect is powdery, and skunky. The longevity is forever. I have a terrible headache now and it won't scrub off. Such a shame. If only Al Rehab could make some more pleasant smelling perfumes with this incredible longevity. I like Lovely, Tooty Musk, Choco Musk, Fantastic. Come on Al Rehab, consign this to the bin and make some more crowd pleasers please.

The oud is present here for the whole longevity of this scent on me. It starts off really strong and stays that way for a while. I get a lot of smokiness and something really sharp that reminds me of mint. This soon subsides though. As it starts to dry down I get a perfumes plastic doll`s head, Which isn`t realy a bad thing. The musk then starts to come in. I don`t get a lot of rose, more fruitiness. I`m trying to think what this reminds me of. I don`t know Rumba so I can`t compare. I`ll be back to finish this review after a few wearings.

This is a review for the oil version. Randa smells like a sexy grandmother who has long, red nails, a leather jacket and a mink stole. Mature, sexy and a touch of class. VERY oriental. She’s an incensy, rosy, amber bomb, and she’s not your warm, cozy amber. She’s a sticky, resinous, ancient amber. Definitely not a safe blind but unless you love YSL Opium or Red Moscow.

This smells exactly like ungaro diva and incense. Even the hairspray vibe of diva is here. If you're a fan of diva and 80s powerhouse scents, I can't really think of anything else of this caliber on the market.

THIS IS RUMBA BY BALENCIAGA! I put both on and it intensified the fragrance because I love Rumba. They did a good job in mimmicking some of the perfume houses out there.

Amber and Oud. This is all I get out of this perfume. No jasmine at all. It's very heavy. I kind of like it, but I wouldn't wear it, it doesn't suit me at all.

A very rich femine oil. Strong old school perfumery. For 3$ a bottle ... all mainstreams form Macys are nothing compare to it.

Very similar to the original Rumba. Extremely long lasting and potent. Too synthetic for my liking.

Smelled like Rumba by Balenciaga