Yaa Gaali

Aboriginal Australians, indigenous people of the Australian mainland, have been using Melaleucas for their health, rafts, and rooftops for centuries. It’s been well documented that the Bundjalung Aborigines in eastern Australia have used tea trees to treat ailments, including coughs, colds, and sore throats, by inhaling the smell of the crushed leaves and drinking an infusion of Melaleuca tea. They would use tea trees to treat skin infections, bug bites, stings, and minor wounds by putting crushed leaves from the plant on the affected area and sometimes covering them with a warm mudpack. I am very excited about Khashab Al Oud, an oriental-style woody amber scent with hints of warm spices, dry woods, and resins surrounding a natural oud that is a little powdery and a little musky. And that’s why I blindly bought both Dahaab Saafi and Yaa Gaali. If of the former, it is clear that the rosé and vanilla accords echo the best-sellers of Montale and Mancera, of Yaa Gaali, little is found on the web, and the notes reported on the commercial sites are very different from each other and improbable. Therefore, I must rely on my nose and intuition to describe this mysterious essence enclosed in a bottle that looks opal, black, and shiny. Yaa Gaali starts with a sweet, slightly spicy aroma, with a camphorated touch in the background. There are few citruses, perhaps just a bite of bergamot zest, but overall the opening is not citric. I recognize the strong character of woods and musks, which ooze from the bottom. The animalic musk makes me think of For Him EAU DE TOILETTE, that violent slap of violet and musk, powdery and musky, a caress in a fist. I hardly perceive vanilla, which should be the dominant theme of this fragrance. Perhaps because I expect something sentimental and sweet, I can confirm that it is not a gourmand vanilla but an orchid pod with a black and spicy heart. In the heart comes an unexpected floral bouquet of fresh and aquatic flowers, such as freesia and peony. But the dewy aspect of rose petals and the slightly indolic aspect of white jasmine is not missing. I continue to feel the camphor note, which now grows and intertwines with more herbaceous scents, which I assume are those of the tea tree leaves, which give that sensation of moist, semi-tobacco foliage, a bit camphor when crushed. This tea plant is better known as Melaleuca. It took me a while to recognize this note, which I was sure I knew, but couldn’t associate. I own a bottle of tea tree oil that I use to treat skin infections or for relief after insect bites. In the dry-down, musk is dominant, with leathery reflections, perhaps originating from oud wood. They are smoky shades of burnt woods mixed with leather and musk. Also, if I smell the perfume next to my skin, I feel an earthy edge, like there are liquorice roots. There is poetry, something powdery that contrasts with the strong notes of the woods, an iris root. The perfume settles on sweetish, slightly spicy accords and with smoky facets of oud, beautiful, soft, never animalic or barnyard. To conclude, I like this essence. Despite being an EDP concentration, I find it a non-invasive, intimate fragrance that can be felt on the skin but does not annoy those around us. It is suitable for the cool months, those of autumn are perfect. But I also like to wear it in spring. Today April 1st, I’m wearing it, and I find it fitting for this fresh and sunny day. It seems more appropriate for the afternoon and evening, a meeting, dinner, or a not-too-demanding event. It’s not a bomb as far as performance is concerned. It stands as moderate both in projection and in duration. But the price-performance ratio is guaranteed for the ridiculous price of around €15. I recommend it if you like the musky animal genre. I'm basing my impression on a bottle I've owned since March 2023.

This smell like a cheaper nabeel maghateer, which I love and I wasn't expecting this. It's completely unisex, it's not of the same quality as maghateer but again it's much cheeper. It's completely unisex. The scent profile is difficult to explain, it's a niche scent dna, it's sweet, it's warm spicy, it has a touch of oud blended with the spices, it's has aldehydes at the top and mid, it's sweet spicy fresh, warm, seductive. It's less challenging then Maghateer, it rounded, powdery, candy like but not bubblegum. This profile can be interpreted as a little feminine I usually wear heavy masculines but I don't care since it's a niche, recommended for anyone wanting to explore a weirder scent profile. On further testing it's more floral than maghateer, it has a bit of a feel of Mugler Alien for women, I do sense a jasmine in this.

I cant believe how good AND UNIQUE this is and for 10€? No, im sorry, but im not gonna respect anyone who tries to look down on UAE perfumery anymore. Unless there is a very good ethical (employee rights, animal/ambiental violations) or medical reason not to respect these houses, i dont think there is any doubt anymore that they will lead the way for the next years to come. Edit: continues to be top 5 quirkiest fragrances ive ever come across. It really feels like trying to mask smoke with a musky fragrance. Maybe its emulating the experience of bakhoor + attar? While being completely impossible for me to discern any specific notes, im absolutely intrigued by a reviewer below me mentioning melaleuca - somehow its so specific that i completely believe it and will try to hunt down said foliage.

Thank you, TYSONTORNADO, for the mention about the similarity with Safari Extreme. Indeed it's pretty close to SF ( which i already own and in my opinion is one of the best fragrances ever made). Of course Yaa Gaali has not the same quality in ingredients like Safari Extreme but anyway it's one of my best blind buys ever. Bakhoor smoke, honeyed florals, a little touch of vanilla, oud and leather in the background. A beautiful juice with moderate towards long longevity. For its price is a must have 100%.

I agree with reviews below, this was such a surprise for me. I blind buy it as it was very cheap and I have fell in love with it immediately. It is sweet, floral, honey/nectar like. There is a touch of smokiness and spice beneath that makes it a male fragrance with no doubt.