Badr Al Badour

This is not really a review, it is a warning. Amouage has rereleased a lot of their attars (in red boxes again) for distribution in the local Omani market only. They are very different from the original red box releases. The first release of Amouage Attars were in a white box. The second was a red box, with a clear Amouage sticker on the outside of the cellophane that would be gone when a person opened the package. The third batch was also a red box, but with the sticker on the inside of the cellophane so it stayed on the bottom of the box when opened. The fourth batch are the black boxes. And now the new red boxes that also have no sticker on the bottom of the box. Each batch is quite different. I have a 3ml sample of the new Omani local release of Badr al Badour as well as a full 12ml original red box Badr al Badour. It is a different fragrance altogether than the new red boxes. The new Omani red box is NOTHING like old Badr al Badour, it is much closer to Tribute actually. It is now a dark smoky rose with some sharp greeness. There is no detectable Oud now. The old red box is a beautiful and very well balanced Rose/Oud. It is important to know what kind of box your samples came from, and if you’re buying a red box, to know when it was purchased. These Amouage attars are not cheap so it’s prudent to research exactly what you’re getting.

First impression sampling for the first time is of a rose drizzled with gunpowder and motor oil, or turpentine, something aggresive but comforting at the same time. It really reminds me of a tool box! I love industrial smells in general and garage smells in particular so this was not a deal breaker. After an hour the rose intensified and the scent turned very womanly, I wonder what kind of rose they used because it doesn't smell red or pink or yellow. A couple of hours later I'm sorrounded by the unique fragrance that can only emanate from high end antique furniture and heavy carpeting in a tastefully decorated room that is clean although it's well lived in. The quality of this attar is unparalleled, the concept might be too daring for casual wearers but I love it and plan to sample more Amouage attars. This review is for the red box version

This is my favourite Amouage attar. It is a step up from Tribute which i love too. The rose is more intense, not as smoky as Tribute and a beautiful oud drydown.

Beautiful, but strong. Probably depends on your climate, but in the cold here it's too strong for me. The ambergris is nice 'though!

Ayoon Al Maha on me, but it souns like the love story of Ayoon Al Maha blossomed into something much more mature. Good.