Kalemat

Living in Dubai, UAE, I have the opportunity to sample a lot of fragrances. We have the usual European and American fragrances in the major retail outlets, as well as the indigenous Arabic perfumes obtained through a host of Gulf-based perfume houses, each with their own characteristic styles and fragrances to appeal to the massive market for fine fragrances in this region. It is no exaggeration to state that I am spoiled for choice and even within a few kilometres from my house, I can obtain the best of designer, niche and local fragrances (mukhallats, attars, etc) as I wish. Indeed, it is a terrible temptation.... :) Every now and then, however, a cross-over product appears...one which tries to merge something from Western and Middle Eastern perfume traditions to give an expression which is greater than the sum of its parts. Needless to say, the history of perfumery is littered with the wreckage from this risky Franco-Arabian stratagem ... But once in a while, one such adventure succeeds. To my mind, Kalemat EDP by Arabian Oud is one such fragrance and one which deserves truly stellar acclaim. For a start, this is an oriental fragrance from the Gulf but one without oud, the characteristic Middle Eastern fragrance note that can often be too much for Western noses. Instead, the focus here is upon honeyed-amber, an absolutely delicious concoction which spells out beauteous luxury and sensuality. It is very, very special. The opening here with blueberry and anise quickly becomes engulfed by honey rising from the base. I found myself thinking of of the honeyed-tobacco of Pure Havane, though this does inevitably go in a different direction. When the amber and rosemary follow through, it becomes clear that this is a really superbly blended fragrance, and a real treat for those who like orientals without them being too traditional. With Kalemat, it also has the feel of an Arabian fragrance but it never becomes offensive to an open-minded wearer. I agree with the comments that suggest it is a comfort scent, which may feel like it sits close to the skin - yet it is projecting all the time. As a man, I find that the anise - which very often can veer a fragrance towards a barbershop vibe - is very modest and well-balanced, giving it a focus more like the anise in L'Instant de Guerlain rather than YSL Rive Gauche PH or Azzaro PH. This masculine note certainly does not get in the way of a woman wearing and enjoying the fragrance. All said, Kalemat EDP by Arabian Oud is definitely worth a try if you have the opportunity. Here in Dubai it is very often the case that the Arabian Oud outlets have 50% discount sales going on in this competitive market. So I was able to purchase a 100 ml bottle for just over $40, but it is clearly worth so much more (and the presentation is lovely as well). Highly recommended try for a beautiful oriental.

2013, I was in a doctor’s waiting room in Saudi Arabia, when a young couple walked in holding hands. The room became filled with a most heavenly, delicious scent. I wasn’t sure if it was coming from the man or the woman (probably both). It was a sweet, warm, fuzzy aroma..rich, soft and intoxicating. There was a sensual and mystical quality to the scent, it wasn’t your ordinary sweet scent. For a split second, I actually wondered if it was one of the exclusive Mugler scents (Mugler is popular there, so it wasn’t too far-fetched of a thought). Anyways, back to the aroma, it smelled like clouds, golden fluffy clouds, made of amber, honey and vanilla...that smell became imprinted in my memory for years. I smelled a light touch of booziness or spice? Maybe resin or incense? I wasn’t sure what it was at the time. I couldn’t muster up the courage to ask what fragrance it was, but I went on Fragrantica as soon as I got back home (with my old account), I did an extensive note search, and even posted in the forum, describing what I’d smelled and asking for suggestions. All of this effort, led me to believe that the couple were wearing Gaultier 2, and the notes and reviews fit. I excitedly ordered a bottle blind (it was expensive too), and was sorely disappointed when I recieved it. Nope. It was a harsh vanilla, thick, boozy and masculine. Where were the fluffy amber clouds of honey? I gave away that bottle to a male friend. I went to my favorite perfume guy next, and he recommended Guerlain L’Instant (very lovely! But nope, not it either). So I gave up. Fast forward to January 2020, I have FINALLY found it!! THIS! Kalemat! This is it! And Gawd, it’s scrumptious. Looking at the notes, I now know that the ‘fuzziness’ of the scent was the cashmere wood note. I can’t believe vanilla isn’t listed, because I sure do smell it. I have been staying at my mom’s for a while, and she recently pulled out two bottles hidden away at the back of her closet, Kalemat and Kalemat Black, they had been gifts and she told me they were too strong for her tastes. What a marvelous twist of fate. She’s become more sensitive to smells with age, favoring light florals and soft white musks, so I could have them. I am ridiculously happy about this. They’re both similarly delicious and warm, with Kalemat Black being abit smokier and darker (I’m thinking maybe the couple had worn a combination of the two). I love them both, they’re totally unisex, but for Westerners, these scents probably lean feminine. I highly recommend these to lovers of sweet, warm, and cozy smells...sillage and longevity are both beasts, but your nose gets used to the smell...trust me, people over 6 feet away can smell you, and they’ll be able to smell you many hours after (or many years later :) .

This is the perfume that got me into perfumes. My dad was at work one day, when he walked into the elevator. He said it smelled like literal heaven. He went up to his floor, only to find that his friend was the one wearing it. He asked him what he was wearing and he bought it on the spot online. A week later, I went to see my mum, and I was surrounded by the most glorious aroma. The definition of intoxicating. I bought a bottle for myself that night. I have spent YEARS trying to find the perfect perfume, nothing quite really hitting the mark, until I smelled this. It comes in a box that looks like a book. You open it up, and you see another book. Underneath it, is the bottle, wrapped in a small ribbon. "Kalemat" means "words" in Arabic, with words like love, feelings, beauty, happiness, and respect also engraved on the bottle. The atomiser dispenses a generous amount of fragrance and it comes out in a fine mist. On the first spritz, it's a sweet aroma of... nothing you can quite make out. It's so well blended, I can't smell anything separately. And there's no other perfume that smells quite like this. The easiest way to describe it is a honeyed, cashmere amber. It smells like heat. The sweetness and smokiness is so well balanced, its the most unisex thing I have ever smelled. The blueberry sweetness only slightly appears on the first spritz, but I only say that because it gets deeper, darker, muskier with time. That's what it "smells" like, but it's so much more than that. This just hits the pleasure centers of the brain, like a drug. I can see how this might just smell "nice" to some people, but it truly is unique and an amazing composition. I don't know how they did it. "Kalemat" is and is not the perfect word for it. You can't describe it with words, and yet it can only be described as poetry. The old Arabs were masters of poetry, writing about life, love, happiness, fear, the divine, and Kalemat is the embodiment of poetry. Not any specific poem, just poetry in general. This might be a little cloying in the summer, but I honestly don't care. I will wear this all day, every day. I want to smell like someone out of Aladdin, a personification of Arabian Nights. The projection, as demonstrated above, is enormous. One spray is enough to fill two rooms and a half, any more and people will smell you from across the street. It will also last until you take a shower (or two) or wash your clothes (with some heavy duty detergent). If it doesn't last or project this long, something's wrong with the juice (or your nose). Arabian Oud, I don't know what sorcery this is, what heavenly compounds you used to compose this, but please keep using them.

What a complex piece of work. Upon first application there are so many notes hitting my nose, changing, like a classical piece of music. They waft in and out, changing even more according to the distance between my face and skin. On first application I get a very heavy sense – yes sense! – of cool menthol pastilles, with a woody note, this is intriguing, however odd, the menthol stays for a short while as a sensation on your skin and in your senses making room for a sort of patchouli/lemon/star anise concoction, I also get a slight tang of lily in there... It gives a bit of a graveyardy/slab of granite with a bouquet of flowers on top, a bit noir! But it’s a cooling sensation which I suppose is of great value if the weather is hot, as it mostly is I’d say where this perfume is made. Shortly after this unusual but addictive and suggestive little dance of notes, the honey comes out, sweet, wonderful honey, there are pieces of honeycomb floating about indeed, the lily takes a back seat but stays and makes room for some other floral exotic notes which I wouldn’t be able to identify since I’m not familiar with them. But the scent is very yellow, warm, sandy, sunny and sweet but not cloyingly so. I also get a bit of tangs of coffee, and as star anise is close in scent to licorice, as this scent goes into it’s middle notes it turns from noir/goth/sexy vampire catacombs, to sunny, open gourmand desert. There is vanilla, cinnamon, dates, I can see belly dancers and I can smell the sweet tea in little cups and the baklava being shared among friends. The dry down goes mellow but stays yellow, sweet, warm and sunny. The honey is blended slightly with sweet candied lemon, cinnamon, cloves and pistachios... musk.... To be honest I think this is THE most interesting and complex fragrance I have ever smelled in my life. Just the change in the notes, the different images it gives me... Get yourself a test or a decant pronto. Please do not miss out. This will literally take your breath away. As a side note, I wonder how this compares to Back to Black by Killian as that is also a honey-based fragrance? I might update once that smell test has been done. Sillage is not huge, projection is not massive, this is a very close to heart scent but you won’t be able to stop sniffing yourself, that is an absolute guarantee. PS, I don't look at the notes when I write a fragrance review but now that I did, I can definitely smell a bit of blueberry and it's very, very lifelike!

the first time i went to Arabian Oud shop in Makkah i got Kalemat and Kalemat Black for test, and more of their other collection. i sprayed it at the back of my left hand and the Kalemat Black at the right, and another EDP and attars in another spot. the monsterous but beautiful projection of Black Kalemat taken over another perfume i have applied and moreover i could hardly smell any other perfume that night. so i instantly purchased a bottle of that gem. several weeks later i went to Arabian Oud again to compare Kalemat and Kalemat Black side by side and wasn't trying another of their collection. and again, i was only smell Kalemat Black in my left hand and could only smell Kalemat faintly. and several days later before I was leaving Saudi, i went to Arabian Oud shop again to try Kalemat only. i was surprised that night when finally i clearly could smell Kalemat projects beautifully. it reminds me of opening brand new sealed book combined with velvety honey+amber and that's the first time i got real olfactorgasm to that opulent, expensive, smooth luxurious fragrance. i didn't know how Cashmere wood smells like, but i thought the smooth new book notes of it was how Cashmere wood smell. the next day when i was arrived to Indonesia, after good hot shower i sprayed 4 times in my neck and chest at 09.00AM and was going to work. i could clearly smell that luxurious scent all day long with moderate projection and didn't even get cloying although it was sweet and the weather was hot and humid. and i didn't get showered until next morning i woke up and still can clearly smell it with me. and i hang my shirt for several days before i throw my dirty clothes to my machine wash i was surprised i could smell it on my shirt i was wearing that day and couldnt resist to smell the good aroma of velvety honeyed new book before i finally started laundrying. for SAR 150 or USD 40 or feels like USD 60 after Rupiah inflation (SAR 300 before discount) it's literally my best bang to the bucks of all my collection as a beginner. i love kalemat black too but i thought i'm more addicted to Kalemat. scent: 20/10 Sillage:8/10 Projection: 9/10 Longevity:10/10 price: 100/10 packaging:9/10 the book shaped box totally ensemblence with the juice blind buy worthy: yes! full bottle worthy: absolutely yes!