Scheherazade

Another banger. A measured, calculated, subtle, and comforting scent that walks the line between being an opulent showcase for high-quality ingredients and functioning as an entirely versatile, wearable perfume. The oud dose in this isn’t rude enough to raise the eyebrows of any normies in your day-to-day orbit; the sandalwood is pillowy and soft; the fruit and spices are harmonious and vibrant. Just keep in mind that buyers should not expect a huge monster of a scent or honestly anything that might be termed “challenging,” which might be a downer for Bortnikoff fans who are after a certain degree of stank in their scents, but for those who enjoy fruity, woody gourmands and prefer for their perfumes to contain ingredients of a singularly high quality, I’d urge a sample be procured posthaste. This is the first scent I’ve smelled that I’d call characteristic of Rajesh’s works thus far, and it’s no less enjoyable for it, but I do feel like if someone sprayed it blind for me and asked who I thought made it, I’d be likely to guess that it’s a Rajesh collab. This is probably owing to its similarities to Santa Sangre, which further down in the thread has already several times been noted as a sibling to Scheherazade, so I’ll forego a side-by-side comparison. However, I did enter into the experience already a fan of Santa Sangre, specifically the creamy sandalwood present there, so the high dose of it here happens to be particularly welcome in my case. Scheherazade opens with a shower of candied fruit, limoncello, freshly snapped green stems, rock sugar, and a distinct feeling of being in a cool, damp, shaded spot on a hot day. This feeling is fleeting however as there is an immediate impression of stepping into the sun, at which point the experience becomes dryer– a warm, fuzzy ride of sandalwood and cedar only just barely kissed by a touch of oud, vanilla (not listed), sweetened intermittently with brief glimpses of apricot and blackcurrant. I feel there’s a reverence for Di Ser at play here, a brand about which I wish I were more knowledgeable, but which I know Rajesh has reviewed extensively. I’ve been exposed to their offerings enough to have gotten a broad impression of their approach, and I own one called Mizu that immediately came to mind when I smelled this, not so much in terms of exact scent similarity, but more to do with how both Mizu and Scheherazade both open with such bright, invigorating celebratory blasts of citrus and then very quickly mellow out into pillowy comforting territory with touches of pepper. It could be that the high degree of naturals used in both Scheherazade and Di Ser’s fragrances is creating that impression, but either way, I think Di Ser fans could potentially find a lot to love here. This is a perfume that hits a sweet spot for me. It’s unique enough to stand on its own, but it doesn’t broadcast any sort of divisive aspect that might cause me to tire of it. Will you like this if you don't enjoy candied citrus and sandalwood? Unlikely. Is this a hedonistic, drunken tale of conquest and debauchery? Well no, I think it’s rather more of a tender bedtime story, but it’s top notch for what it is. And as with bedtime stories, my only wish is that this lasted just a bit longer, but that’s sometimes the price paid for wearing a composition this dominant in naturals, and luckily in this case, the story can be retold with another simple press of an atomizer. Good story. Tell us another one, Rajesh.

I’m always hesitant when I try to write up review of a fragrance that I think is a masterpiece. It’s not as if I have not tried to do this in more than a few of my reviews, it’s just that I fear that my ability to use language to capture the sensual nature of this fragrance is may not be up to the task. But here goes. Before talking about the scent itself, I should comment on the exceptional presentation. Bortnikoff fragrances come in a multilayered box with gold lettering that invokes a regal quality. More importantly, the bottle itself is high art. The glass is thick but also has a tapered glass that holds the perfume. The label features Scheherazade’s name in Arabic. On the back, the description of the genesis of this fragrance includes these words: “Combining the finest gourmand absolutes sourced from around the world...” Knowing this sets up very high expectation, which I believe are not just met but, exceeded. The opening is spiritual experience. This is not hyperbole for me. It is quite powerful without being anything close to overwhelming. The listed notes for the opening are Black Currant and Bergamot. As with the other two fragrances created by the team of Dmitry Bortnikoff and Rajesh Balkrishnan, Sayat Nova and Santa Sangre, every ingredient is of the absolute highest quality. I find the opening of Scheherazade almost leaning green and earthy. But there is not a green scent that I can compare it to. It is sui generis. I can say the black current and bergamot are a part of the opening that help it reach its heights. If you want to have a scent experience that is unlike any other, then the opening alone should get you searching to purchase a sample. What happens next is an example of what happens when mater perfumers combine talents to bring together notes that take us on a journey that has its twists and turns but always in was way that raises the overall effect to exquisite heights. The apricot is ripe, the black pepper spicy as we begin to pass through the middle notes. It doesn’t take long, however to notice the distilled Malaysian oud. This is a very rare ingredient and enters us to what make a high-end fragrance worth its price. I have a large number of the great ouds, but this one is not trying to an in-your-face experience. It is subtle and classy a bit like hiking up through woods to discover views of the lights of stars above and the lights of cities below. The Lebanese Cedar and the Indian Sandalwood join the Oud to form the base. I must emphasize again this is a subtle scent even if its overall longevity is long lasting and resonant. I would categorize, after the opening, the silage as moderate. But I cannot recall a scent that makes me bring my wrist to my nose nearly as often as I do this. I have been wearing Scheherazade each day since I received it last week. Each time I discover something new. I feel blessed to know that this fragrance exists. I look forward to another partnership between these two creators. The price point is well worth it. At the rate I am using it I think I will have to get another bottle before it sells out. The fragrance is unisex and can be worn any season, night or day.

#sotd Scheherazade by Bortnikoff 3rd collaboration between these 2 talented people, @rbalkris and @bortnikoffparfum and I love all three for sure. Let's start with a major question that am getting from people, is it similar to Sayat Nova? Based on my personal humble opinion, no, it's not even close to Sayat Nova by any means. Scheherazade is all natural and yet, it lasts more than 8 hours with a magnificent scent bubble around you. It's not loud or abrasive since it has Oud at the base but surprisingly very uplifting, specifically in this scorching heat. From the first spray when you get that juicy bergamot, savoury red mandarin and black current which open up in different facets. Starting from green, sulphurous, fruity, a little woody, liquorous, vinous, bitter, balsamic. Which keeps the fragrance very balanced and unisex. The heart has apricot, I love apricot the fruit and after Sayat Nova, I love apricot as a smell in perfume so this one does have Apricot but as I said, not similar to Sayat Nova, as this one is more uplifting, with green grass vibe thanks to pepper which works wonder with apricot and black current is still present which has evolve to bitter and balsamic hence the fragrance is never over sweet for me. The dry down is very woody thanks to cedar and Oud which is not skanky but very smooth and delicate thanks to creamy sandalwood. Overall, it's a fragrance which everyone would love and would like to wear. It's not loud, not synthetic for sure hence don't expect super monsterous projection but a subtle scent bubble which lasted more than 8 hours on me and am more than happy. Now don't be a cry baby because you can't handle the truth 😂 and if you want loud fragrances buy blunts spray 🤫 (satire for one favorite person, not so much)

Something fairly unique with familiar tones. I didn't know what to think at first as I'm always hoping for something heavier on the oud side, and took me a few wearings, but starting to really enjoy this perfume. The oud profile in this reminds me of Filaria Oud by ASQ smooth yet creamy almost industrial in a good way it fits the tone of the fragrance. The Sandalwood for me is the star. My first artisanal bottle was Santa Sangre as the sandalwood in it just blew my mind, I definitely detect that same sandalwood here and it's gorgeous. The opening for me I'm still trying to figure out I'm not sure what I'm getting, but pretty sure it's the black currant, but the bergamot is bright so it makes whatever I can't decipher ok and enjoyable. This is nowhere near the apricot I experience in Sayat Nova. These fragrances are worlds apart. The apricot to me is very light and almost thought it was papyrus at first making me think I was smelling a santal 33 without all the overdoses of aroma chemicals, but as it dried down the apricot is more of just a sweetness and light touch in this, where as in Sayat Nova (which is much more dark , gourmand, vanillic) the apricot is more like a apricot reduction in a dessert. This is not that apricot much lighter, sweeter, natural. Overall I like this fragrance. It's a unique offering. Always happy to see a new bortnikoff drop with oud in the mix. This oud note though is much more tame than some of the other bases that you'd see in like some of the darker more animalic offerings. I hope to see darker oud/musk juices in the near future!

SHEHEREZADE Bright green cypress fresh citrus and powdery buds open up A mandarin peel can be detected First sniff like a cold Norway wind getting into the warmer Mediterranean spring Fruitier with time like Cambodi ouds with dried fruits, especially peach and apricot Beautiful woodsy almost cypress like Cedar notes are present all over, a fresh woody green aroma, Now imagine a peppercorn tanning in the desert sun, warming up with dried heated pepper and sweet apricots and dates, Sweetness is balanced not powerful but just enough Mandarin notes enter the heart and its sweetness ends in the base Very refined and elegant Simple but depths Personally I feel it's a very calming scent, almost Japanese style Blended in beautiful harmony and elegance Initially I thought it must be an Arabic spicy gourmet scent which has volume complexity and depths, I always think about spices and resins when it comes to "arabic" but Sheherazade is quite the opposite, refined, elegant, fresh and sweet with structured complexity and structured depths. If I would give the scent a phrase that fits in my personal opinion it would be: A sweet North Wind. The opening reminds me of countries like Norway or the Taiga region in Russia. It dries down in a fine slight powdery sweetness, Projection is soft but present. A very calming & refined scent, actually I would also add: timeless Thank you for reading and thank you to my dear friend Rajesh and to Mr. Bortnikoff for this beautiful creation. My most sincere Greetings.