Shaikhah

Shaikhah was my first arabian scent. And my first oil perfume. And my first heavy-oud perfume. A lot of "firsts" attached to a tiny, 3ml, cute and quite stylish for the price roll-on bottle with silver cap. It was also a happy accident with reading and deciphering notes incorrectly - I wanted something heavy, spicy and oriental while also being a bargain price - Shaikhah checked those boxes having "warm spicy" as top. It was also an oil in roller, something new and exotic for me. What I missed from notes were oud and "earthy" notes - I had general idea about "green/moss/wood" notes and being a "vanilla/sweet" type of person at time they ringed more masculine for me or even worse - wet earth after rain - scent I genuinely don't like (like, "who in their right mind would want to smell like wet earth or musty cellar). But it was cheap, it was "warm spicy" - couldn't be that bad, right? Well, about that. I like to smell the cap/dispenser on new perfumes so I did the same here - won't say it was mistake but certainly it was an "experience." The smell was strange - it was nose-wrinkling, sharp menthol-like (reminded me of some really old nasal stick I've found at my grandparent's) but at the same time it smelled alluringly sweet. Ok, YOLO as teens would say - I rolled the ball on my wrist. First rule of oils: apply sparingly. I learned it the hard way. In an instant I was overwhelmed in the scent of new car tyres mixed with something sweet, medicinal? Alluring in their own strange way but far from being in-vogue. Reading reviews I've patiently let it sit on my skin and after a 30 minutes or something - the magic started. Tyres and rubber vanished giving place to a dark, sweet wood with something spicy - an old, heavy and ornated cabinet in grandaprents room that's always cold, because there are robust trees growing outside, blocking the sun. There is also rose. A Queen. She's slowly emerging from between her woody companions who are always one-step behind her, while carnation and cardamon - her young children - are mischieviously playing hide-and-seek, running among the suite. Rose is beautiful and she knows it, standing proud in front of her suite. She mixes well with wood but she knows she's queen here. Intoxicatingly sweet but in dark and opulent way. She's lush and captivating. Sweet and dark. You can almost smell rain on her petals. She's flirting unabashed with jut as opulent and dark, wet wood and resins. The sad thing with this perfume is fact that spice notes aren't as prominent as they could be as the time goes on. They are still there but are so blended in that are only sometimes noticeable (or when you bury you nose and take a good whiff). As the dry-down progress the scent is getting warmer and dryer and rose more pronounced and sweeter - I totally love this part and have troubles staying away from my wrist, the rose is a b s o l u t e l y amazing! I would risk saying it goes from sweet to sickly-overripe-rose scent with woodsy/musky background. The word on longevity and sillage: this thing is a monster. It stays on my skin for hours, I can still sniff the good amount of dry-down way into the next day after applying it (for comparison I have Dior Addict and can't smell it in the evening of the same day if applied in the morning) And as of sillage - yes, it does makes an aura around you and yes, it does fill the room. It's not a close skin scent at all for me - you will get wafts of it as you move around. Word of warning: I don't know if it's my skin that's so easily irritated or what but after 3-4 days of consecutive use my skin starts to get itchy and red. It's probably because of high concentrates or something. Not like it will stop m from using it anyway. It went from "what the hell did I bought myself into" to pure sniffing addiction. Went from "I don't want to smell like wet forest and moss" to actively looking for oud/rosy scents thanks to Shaikhah. My must-have from now for a bargain-price, will make sure to check more Al-Rehabs from now on.

This review is for the 6ml attar oil my favorite perfume in all the world (so far). The moment I first opened the bottle I knew this was not one of your modern eau de la cupcake fragrances. "No fruit salad or cool aid for me thank you. I am a Royal Woman!" True to her name Shaikhah is the scent of royalty with out the cost! This is not for every lady! I too was terrified by the intense and unfamiliar language bursting from the little unassuming roll-on but at 35yo I am a big girl now! I told my self this and bravely applied a scarce amount. What was to occur 1/2 hour later was beyond my wildest expectations! At first I was impaled with the sharpest agarwood (oud) and I suffered but with the days that followed I began to respect and even grow to adore this slap in the face. It was as if she was saying "wake up and hold on!" Eventually the oud still bitter softened a bit and was joined with a somber rose. Together they guided me through a head spinning whirlwind romance with precious spices, heady flowers and sacred woods! Each note appearing only long enough to seduce and than leave just as I was falling in love. Some notes lingered to dance together as if to different music. yet they were not incoherent or muddled and just added to the dark exotic sensuality of Shaikhah. These notes that would arrive kiss and disappear reminded me of the lurid trysts and romantic love affairs of my reckless youth. They would begin oh so beautiful, end all too soon usually (but not always) one at a time! However the affairs of those days always seemed to have sour or dirty dry down. This is not true of Shaikhah! This seductive middle eastern temptress makes love with out ever uncovering her mysterious veiled form. The last remnants of this Beauty is a soft clean white musk that actually left me feeling fresh from the dryer! Shaikhah reminds me of a middle eastern mystery woman. She is completely veiled with only heavily done up eyes visible. Like the scent itself she is untouchable and not understood by most westerners. When the romance ends and the day is over I realize I have not reapplied all day! the longevity is amazing but the oil stays quite close to the skin. Try mixing a bottle of attar oil with 30ml of Everclear in a spray bottle and let it sit for a week. It makes a good eau de parfum!

Beautiful ambery, sweet, skanky leather pantyhose filled with barnyard oud, a touch of spices and rose, getting some hints of sweaty skanky notes think vintage Balenciaga/Kouros dirtyness mixed with some Tom Ford style Leather . That's the first impression I get when this is on my skin. It smells much more niche and expensive than other Al-Rehab offerings—the quality of oil used in this blend is very high. Its Al-Rehab contemporaries fall in the same style as Musk Makkah, Saat Saffa, Al Sharquiah, and Musk Oud. A very punchy, animalic saffron oud leather. After a few hours, the middle and base start opening up. Hints of musky gothic florals appear while the leathery barnyard oud calms down a bit. Then the beauty of ambergris, rose, and amber becomes more pronounced, adding a sweet, gothic, smoldering rose note. Strangely, the balsamic twang from the saffron playing on the leathers gives me hints of dark imperial beers and ales hours into the fragrance—raisins, honey, spices, yeasty fermentation along the lines of Chimay Grande Réserve, La Chouffe, St. Bernardus Abt 12. Shaikah is some seriously impressive perfumery. This oil constantly reminds me of popular niche house offerings. The churchy gothic rose note in Dominique Ropion's Portrait of a Lady is found in Shaikah. There's a dark balsamic twang, as stated in previous reviews. I would assume it’s the saffron playing on the cardamom and resin along the lines of gothic old church/indian supermarket, dimly lit with camphorous torches, dusty walls, and leather-bound books. It’s absolutely beautiful. In my opinion, one of the best fragrances from the whole Al-Rehab line. It’s skanky barnyard S&M leather and bondage, filled with midnight nuances, yet just enough sweetness to be worn in any season other than maybe very hot summer days. Even then, this is a perfect summer night scent. If you love fragrances that are leather-forward middle eastern, gothic, and have an air of darkness to them, this must be in your collection. A true masterpiece...

Sometimes we meet a scent and say 'oh no!' only to have her steal our heart and leave us addicted. Happily, in the case of Shaikhah this is not a financially devastating experience. ;) I've often found perfumes grow on me. But my favorite fragrances are usually either Instant Love or THIS IS WEIRD, followed by the haunting need to smell it again. I have an absorbing, inexplicable urge to find it once more and figure out what on earth that crazy thing was! The following sniffing sessions (often over the space of years) create an unexpected attachment to that weirdness which comes as a bit of a shock, even to me. Attachment stemming from a growing awareness of the special qualities of the once despised fragrance, suddenly a Cinderella in full blown regalia. Transformed before my eyes (& nose!), while fundamentally the same.... Uniqueness is not merely weird, but we all know people mistaken as such by their unappreciative peers. What their detractors cannot see is their immensely attractive INDIVIDUALITY. Unique, in a sea of plastic doll beauty. :) This is Shaikhah for me. Yes, I know she likely has many siblings in the massive Eastern world of attars, and I look forward to meeting more! In the current Western market, however, she stands alone with a striking exoticism not gauged to please the average consumer. She is that ravishing model with the crooked teeth or roman nose who takes the world by storm and does it with such panache you are left breathless. Her aura is more appealing for that endearing 'imperfection', and her appeal far more than glowing outer beauty. All of which to say: I rate Shaikhah right up there with Youth Dew and Aromatics Elixir as among my most treasured finds. Initially unappreciated, now ADORED. And yes, they DO have something in common. They are all woody, complex, unsweetened sirens transcending time or era. In short, wildly successful, unexpected beauties who don't bore and never disappoint! If possible, 6 stars. <3

Review for 6 ml attar: The notes listed here are no doubt absolutely correct, but what I smell most of all in the dry down is: Regal, UNsweetened Rose and Persistent, POWDERY Sandalwood! The opening is somewhat tangy-gasoline-oud,and quite loud enough to scare a newcomer away. At this phrase many will run for the hand sani in panic! Happily Shaikhah quickly becomes warm and woody and almost therapeutic in nature. Not heavy or overbearing now (compared to Balkis this is quiet indeed), Shaikhah becomes restrained for a middle eastern scent. It lasts approx. 5 hours on my skin, and I am happy to re-apply at any point during the day. Very soothing and grounding. Interestingly, my initial review for Shaikhah three years ago labeled it a men's rose cologne.... possibly owing to the spray version I sampled? It was a fascinating scent to me even then, but not one I could envision wearing. Probably it's my nose that has altered, but I also suspect the spray to be a trifle less warm and powdery. Everything about this fragrance is unisex, but taste and chemistry differences being what they are, people will find Shaikhah (meaning 'female Sheikh') to be more pour homme or pour femme on them. I think some men are going to be happily surprised at finding a scent by this name smelling so muscular, while others will mostly notice Grandma's roses.... You decide. ;) Personally I would be happy smelling Shaikhah on ANY one. A little like Oak moss based Chypres in effect, it gives a calm and centered feeling to the wearer and those around them. Definitely a treat. If you love sweet, modern roses, look elsewhere. (Particularly, consider Al Rehab's Moroccan Rose.) But I don't see how a woody-rose lover could go wrong with Shaikhah's dignified and amazing take on roses and wood. A beauty! Highly Recommended Update - Layers gorgeously with Al Rehab Sultana Perfumed Cream....

Shaikhah Al-Rehab perfume oil arrived rather unexpectedly, as an addition to some other attars I had ordered. Already before I opened the parcel, which arrived in my office, the scent was noticeable. I cautiously tried the other fragrances, but put Shaikhah Al-Rehab in the drawer, intimidated by the strong oud scent. Within a couple of hours the entire office smelled faintly but distinctly of oud, even though the little roll on bottle had not even been opened, By now my bag smells like a hiding place for djinn, my umbrella emits wafts of the Middle East and my cat's fur is perfumed since he has been sleeping on a sweater which briefly came into contact with the oil. In other words, this is a truly long lasting fragrance with considerable sillage! Along the way, I have learned to love Shaikhah Al-Rehab. The main note is oud: Intoxicating, addictive. I am very cautious about when to wear it, as I realize it has a huge impact on everyone around. There is still a bottle in my car, so I can get a fix just by sitting there on my way to work. Is this a safe blind buy? Absolutely not! For me this was an acquired taste, but once hooked there seems to be no way back. On the other hand, why not spend a couple of euros, dollars or whatever your currency is, and give it a try? At best you will have found one more love, and at worst you will have increased your experience with Middle East perfumes for a very insignificant sum!

It's been years (a decade?) now since I first tested Shaikhah, and each year it just seems to improve! For starters, I prefer the oil. It's less sharp in the opening and longer lasting overall, but the dry down is so similar it's hardly worth noting if you love to spray. I have both and layer. :D I didn't initially love her, shall we say? I thought it was a bright, men's rose cologne. Literally. Then I tried again after more Arabian oils were under my belt. What a change! I could smell the sweet(er) rose notes under the saffron better and found her rather intoxicating. Later I had my first experience with fresh, green cardamom pods from the Asian store. Wow, is that perfectly represented here, mixed with that marvelous saffron and happy, bright rose. Everything is balanced so well, but I would still avoid if you hate either fresh, green cardamom or carnation. By now I feel the scent dries down to a gorgeous sandalwood and is more femme than butch. Men may want to layer with leather, more oud, or another woody scent for a more masculine punch. For me, it is unsweetened, exotic PERFECTION. The only thing I could wish for is an EDP offerng - that's how much I want Shaikhah (female Sheik!) to linger about me all day. For a budget scent, I give Shaikhah 5 stars. So long as you understand how unsafe a blind buy she is and how exotic a discovery for those who love this sort of thing. Delightful!

I received this from a kind person I met here. This is a wonderful oil. The oud here is very leather like and a very animalic type. I get the spices, ambergris and musk w/ a beautiful damask rose oil and a HUGE saffron. That metallic twang from saffron comes through really big for me here. I adore saffron so that is a win for me but if you dislike saffron don't blind buy this. This reminds me a bit of my bottle of Smolderose but it isn't a dupe. This is less complex but it will be perfect to layer w/ that. I like to put fragrant oil in my hair to tame fly aways. If you are looking for a low cost rose/saffron/musky/leather/oud perfume oil this, is it. Don't think because this is inexpensive that it isn't good. This smells so authentic, the rose in here is very true to nature. It is a true rose oil. There is an aromatherapy quality to this oil as well. Soothing, rich, warm but cooling because of the rose, the rose here is cool and dewy, like after a rain shower. Just upgraded to a love. This is gorgeous, true to nature perfume oil.

One of my favourite Al Rehab oils. Today I even got a compliment for it! Someone said it reminded them of Indian ayurvedic oils.... and in fact I do admit that as I was walking outside (and prior to getting this comment) the thought crossed my mind that Shaikhah has something of those ayurvedic rose petal jam concoctions (or the amla preparations) that are sold as health remedies. Now before you think this makes you smell like a pharmacy, fear not. But it's probably safe to say you should have good associations with indian spices, rosepetals and oud in order to like Shaikhah. I believe the notes on this pages have been updated and they do seem to reflect the scent appropiately now. If you are after something less rose heavy, you could try Al Sharquia like another reviewer said.

It opens with a pungent, medicinal, almost unbearable oud so strong that burns your eyelashes. But be patient: if you wait this monster will gift you the most beautiful, the darkest roses veiled with inciense, amber and spices. Only if you dare. A rare, exotic beauty not for everyone, not something easy, almost nasty at first but after a while one of the most mysterious and intoxicating rose-oud combos. This lasts for many, many hours and fades into a soapy, clean, skin musk, roses and spices reminiscent of Sales by La Toja soap. Unisex. Not for people who like smelling like a fruit smoothie or sugar frostings. Sophisticated, different, luxurious, dark, not Western friendly, wonderful. I love it. This is one of my favorites Al-Rehab, after Nebras and Cobra.

Shaikhah is odd and comforting and regal as hell. These days, I'm only wearing Al Rehab perfume oils even though I have an extensive collection of niche and mainstream perfumes. Somehow, these oils seem more authentic. And after rubbing one into your skin -the preferred method of application - it becomes part of your molecular structure. Goodyear tires lead out in the top notes of Shaikhah, but soon the oud and jasmine make an appearance to balance any irregularities caused by the juvenile delinquent that is saffron. Al Rehab has produced several favorites, such as Saat Safa, Bakhour, Aseel, Lovely, Dalal and Al Sharquiah. I love them all. Nothing on the market smells quite like Shaikhah, which is all the more reason to joy this unique beauty.

Leather...oud...flowers...Yes!! This is a wonderful scent! It opens with a strong oud note ( and i love oud),then the flowers notes starts to develop. It's deep, misterious and yes, it's sexy. I was not sure if it could work well on me but...it works! This scent is UNISEX. I'm a man and i love this perfume. Of course, you should be "trained" to the East Fragrances, it's very very strong! Extremely long lasting and the sillage is enormous! So be careful. A 6ml roll on oil will last for ages! It smells way more expensive. Great stuff. 7.5/10 ----- I reccomend to buy/try the OIL version of Al-Rehab perfumes. The oils are much more better than the spray version.

I love this oil, wore it for the first time yesterday and it immediately went into the favourite category. The first half hour or so is quite strong and bitter as others have said but I didn't find it too off-putting in fact. Then it turns into a rich exotic confection of woods, spices and florals, with a bit of musk. The dry down is oud-dominated and long lasting, and I found it really delightful. Restraint is indicated when applying, one or possibly two small swipes of the rollerball is quite enough.This is powerful. Just the thing to make you feel like an arabian queen.

Very different to western scents. I really love it. It is just right, however, my husband doesn't like it :( I suspect it is a mix of the musk and cardamom that my husband doesn't like but oh well. I will still wear it; we don't have to agree on everything! If you like warm, spicy, musky scents, go for it on the proviso you like cardamom also. I love these sort of spices and am quite happy with them in my perfume. If you are not, perhaps this is not for you. Very good sillage! Lasts a while and dries down very sweet and powdery, not really like Shalimar to me though.

This is a reverse parfume. :) When i put just a dub its a rosy Sweet not so interesting.. When i put too much It bacomes a leather candy sweet Rosy juicy butifull feminine that i man Could force himself to not care and have it also. Like me this is butiful one of those i can put when on rehearsel with the band. Really good i realy like this one. Also i think very smart composition and blending. Enjoy..

A true oriental floral oud! I smell flowers, musk and smoke, with incense, cardamom and wood notes. Very strong and long lasting, with a gorgeous dry down. Shaikhah is a complex fragrance, and you need patience to truly appreciate it. This oil develops slowly into a glorious spicy oud that many high end perfumes would envy. I can't stop sniffing my wrists when I wear it.

I first bought this before I got used to oud based oils and didn't like it. I mixed it with perfume parlours copy of tobacco vanille and I liked that. Its predominantly the shaikka I like now, without the need to add anything to it. The sharpness it opens up with soon softens and it gorgeous

From this I get a leather, library, old book shop kinda vibe. Oud, resins and amberguis are dominant on me and it's just addictive ! It's not got great sillage or longevity on me, but I wish it did have as it smells amazing.

A lovely musty rose oud like the rain soaked garden of an old house with just a hint of saffron and ambergris and cardamom adding a piquant exoticism to the English garden scent

To anyone who's tasted it: this smells like a sweet, rich betel nut. This cheap little roller is definitely going to stay in my collection! 8/10