Almas

"Almaaz Pure and simple Born in a World where love survives Almaaz Pure and simple Almaaz You lucky, lucky thing." Before 'Almaaz' (or 'Almas' - transliteration issues) meant three things to me. One is the gorgeous song by Randy Crawford. Another is the star in the constellation of the Charioteer that goes dim for a couple of years every 23 years or so. Thirdly, a ship of that name got involved in some diplomatic incident or other a long long time ago ... you've got to be very heavily into history to know anything more than that about it, it was so minor an incident. And now it means a fourth thing - it's the name of this perfume. I was going to get Green Sapphire, but I was introduced to this one at the last moment. The two are very similar, being different only in particular detail. I mean like when two paintings done in a certain very distinctive style are different only in what particular landscape each is of. There is actually another oudy perfume available at the place where I got this - Blue Sapphire, but to my mind that is a different style as well as a different particular landscape. It happens not to appeal to me in the way the first two do, but I would not venture that it is innately inferior. Others may well prefer it, and no doubt do. I am not a great notes-analyst, so really I cannot review this further except by expanding yet more on the virtues of the oud note as I perceive it. There is a notes-analysis type review below, and mine could not be other than inferior to it. So I'll do that then! These two perfumes - GS and this one have brought me a very very long way from finding the oud note dubious; although it does transpire that there have been occasions when I have enjoyed it without realising that I was doing, and I suspect there may be many others. I cannot quite get over the 'trick' that is pulled here - and in GS: the way that it is not so much that the skank is not there anymore, but that it is now actually the CAUSE of the fragrance being such a sparkling and tinkling one, like drops of crystal water plinking into a crystal pool, rather than it being that kind DESPITE the oud note. I think this oud stuff is determined never to let us forget that it originates in rot! No matter what bouleversement that funk of rotten-ness might undergo by virtue both of its own intrinsic glamour, and the acrobatics that the parfumier coaxes it into performing for us, it never quite quite completely surrenders its ultimate identity and lineage. It seems I've become yet another oud poet, sighing and waxing lyrical about it! I'm sure the world has more than enough already!

Spendy, but trust me when I say this is hands down the best fruity-rose-oud combo. We all know (or should know by now) that Boadicea is not going to reinvent the wheel- they are going to take what is already timeless, popular or successful, and elevate it. So I am assuming that those complaining about cheaper alternatives are not familiar with Boadicea a house, or the quality that they offer. I say all that to basically say that Almas was a much needed offering because most fruity-musky-ouds that share similar accords are synthetic and reek of chemicals. I do not find Almas to be synthetic or overly musky at all. In fact, I was concerned that the Oud would be a little to "funky" for day-to-day or office wear. However those feelings quickly disappeared when I was told how good I smelled while wearing Almas around brutally honest family members. While I do not wear perfume for compliments, it does feel gratifying when you love a perfume and others love it on you as well. The opening is a dark seductive, sweet and lightly spiced pineapple rose combo. As it dries down the vanilla and amber harmoniously emerge. There is a temporary mid point where the oud feels a little funky/animalic, but it tampers down and prevents this from being too sacharrine. I would say Almas is 80% linear to the opening spray so if you love the initial sprays, you'll be pleased with the final dry down which lasts and projects for hours on end. Again, spendy stuff but it easily dethrones all other fruity-oud combos.

The first time I wore this, sprayed from my new bottle bought blindly, I recognized the smell. I have smelled this before but can not think where. The more I think of it the more I open my mind to the idea that it was from a past cycle. I have many great scents but since I received this bottle I can not stop spraying it. Predominantly spray on skin but for this one I agree wholeheartedly that applying to fabric is the way to go as it allows the details to be enjoyed during the progression as well as overall longevity. With Almas, the liquid magic can happily live anywhere on my body once its mist is summoned from the bottle. The zesty and tart pineapple paired with rose and a mild Oud is gorgeous. Those notes dominate until the scent cools off and a powdery leather, we can call suede, dusted with the perfect amount of saffron emerges. This spiced suede is formed into a luxurious vintage satchel which radiates its wisdom through a sweet musk full of earthy and woody tones. The satchel holds the roses, juicy diced pineapple and woods (Agar and Santal) like a cornucopia most closely associated with Thanksgiving here in the US. An appropriate image for this beautiful creation.

Exquisite and potent, Almas wears differently each time. My first impression was pineapple-rose-oud that morphed into coriander and labdanum. I wasn't thrilled with the heavy labdanum drydown but kept my decant to try again later. There is something bewitching about Almas that kept calling to me, so I wore it a second time, spraying the back of my neck instead of my chest. Now it's apricot (not pineapple), rose, oud, and jasmine with a touch of cardamom and a wormwood bite. It smells somewhat dated, reminding me of Tresor with a heavy Middle-Eastern slant. I now love it though. I will probably never buy a full bottle, but can tell you that Almas smells like - and performs like - the better part of a grand. Update: I've gotten two compliments on this already. While potent rose-oud, it's so finely executed that if not oversprayed, it leaves a pleasant trail.

I love this fragrance. Bright pineapple and cassis sparkle at first, then saffron, rose and cardamom melt that brightness into warm, honeyed incense. The base is pure, tactile seduction. Oud and amber press close like a velvet glove, suede and sandalwood smooth every edge. Vanilla and white musk soften the trail into something intimate and skinlike. It is densely concentrated (do not overspray) yet it settles into the skin and lasts all day, leaving a lingering trail that draws compliments. Oriental, opulent, and quietly magnetic, Almas feels like wearing a secret worth keeping. It brings to mind Bouquet Ideale by Casamorati, only Bouquet Ideale is softer and blooms with greater sweetness and floral intensity.