Kobraa

#766 in my "Tour de Fragrance" Another user asked my opinion of Maison Alhambra Malachite as a clone of either Le Gemme Kobraa or Humbert God of Fire, and I had planned to buy Malachite to check it out, so I've done so with sprayettes of Kobraa and God of Fire from FragranceLine. Given that I wasted $300 on Tygar last year (I know that's not a widely held opinion) I was not about to spend $300+ for Kobraa, another "Le Gemme", only to find it isn't. Well it is a gem, no doubt about it. But like many gems, not cheap. The geranium, oilbanum and oud are a nice simple combo, but with a potent opening you should just ignore. It has a calm, silky dry down that makes it fine for car pool, elevator, small office. This isn't so oudy that it will annoy anyone. Now on to the controversy with the crowds out there insisting Maison Alhambra's Malachite is a clone of Kobraa and those insisting it's a clone God of Fire. It's closer to God of Fire, but not a clone of either. You can get samples of both from FragrancesLine, compare them to Malachite, which you should absolutely buy, and smell for yourself. The openings of Kobraa and Malachite are close enough I wasn't sure if I was imagining a difference or not. But there's definitely a difference in the openings you will notice but could talk yourself into ignoring. Not so five minutes later. That's when the fruitiness of the Malachite comes out, which is why the "God of Fire" guys are sweating with excitement. But it's citrus and currants, not mangoes and berries. GOF is a touch more tropical than Malachite and I do like it a tad bit better than Kobraa or Malachite. One caveat here is that simple formula wood-focused scents like Kobraa will always outlast complex, more fruit-focused scents like God of Fire and Malachite. The molecular nature of fruit scents provides strong initial projection that disappears relatively soon in the evolution of the scent on our skin. The lemon, tangerine, grapefruit, mango, pineapple, currants, berries, all ephemeral. Woods last all day long. So Kobraa will get through the work day. God of Fire and Malachite barely make it to lunch. I find having to respray midday annoying and often utterly inconvenient if not impossible. It's why I abandoned Colognes and Eau de Toilettes and seldom buy them no matter how much I like them. That said guys, the Malachite is dirt cheap at $23 and close enough to Kobraa and God of Fire to make fans of both happy, and using more Malachite applied more often is not the financial tragedy it is with a $750 bottle of Maison Francis Kirkdjian. So I'm glad I bought a bottle of Malachite instead of dropping the price of a car payment for full bottles of Kobraa or God of Fire. My recommendation is just get the Malachite and be happy. And I will repeat all this in a separate reviews on the Malachite and God of Fire pages. But if you're one of the fortunate few for whom cost is no consideration, I'd get the Kobraa. And if you really don't care, all three.

H.L Menken said; "“Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.” Those days, I reach for Bvlgari Kobraa. In a sea of sweet bublegum, airy Florals, sweet fruity frags, Kobraa is an Island of amazing, masculine, sharp resinous wood. I absolutely love this Frag. I remember my reaction when I first smelled it. My face recoiled like I inhaled smelling salts. When you used to sweet you grow to expect something sweet or airy. Suddenly you get hit with a deep resinous note - you are shocked. My 20-something nephew was having a ball smelling my collection.... Flaminco- "mmm so good", JPG Elixer - 'thats soo good" and so on with the sweets.....then he got a spray of Kobraa and he nearly jumped back; face crooked. What does it smell like---Pine trees will release a thick, sticky, flammable resin when they get injured. Oudoorsmen use that sap as a firestarter. Kobraa smells like this fresh resin. Its green and pine tree woody. No sweetness at all. It lasts a good 4-6hrs and has moderate projection(which is actually great for this scent profile). This is something you wear for you. Its top3 in my collection. Its a 12/10. Its really the contrast that gets you.....how can something be dark and resinous and also but also refreshing ? Not for everyone...but its for me.

The only reason this fragrance isn’t stealing the show is because its “furball sibling” somehow charms the crowd with its feline antics. But make no mistake, the real alpha of the jungle is Kobraa (with a double "a" for maximum alpha energy). I can appreciate the merits of Tygar, and I tip my hat to its clone, Turathi Blue (shoutout to Afnan for that "gem"). Still, Kobraa operates on a whole different level. Sure, the scent profile is relatively simple, but its genius lies in making a notoriously tricky note - frankincense - surprisingly wearable. Paired with geranium, it achieves a sweet, smoky incense accord that's versatile enough for all seasons. Just remember to dial back the sprays during a heatwave unless you want to fumigate your audience. Performance? Absolutely stellar, 10+ hours. It’s has a good projection, enveloping you in a scent bubble that is equal to Tygar's. Unfortunately, it also mirrors Tygar’s price tag, which, while reflective of its quality, still feels steep. Thankfully, I managed to snag a smaller bottle at a reasonable price, or I’d never have had the pleasure of meeting this hypnotic serpent.

I don't know why but I feel that my understanding of this is quite different: different from the official notes and other reviews. The bottle I have is 30 ml from an airline set. This scent is very strong on PATCHOULI! It is patchouli together with something slightly sweet, maybe that is geranium? I don't know the smell of geranium though -- the plants my mother grows barely smell (but leaves, when touched, smell metallic and unpleasant -- the only plant or flower I've seen with such reversed smell between blossoms and leaves). I can compare with patchouli because I have the small bottle of pure/chocolaty patchouli (as it smells to me) by The Merchant Of Venice. I just sprayed this after Kobraa and there is no doubt. Anyway, the missing prominent patchouli note aside, it smells interesting. Too strong on my hand -- well, just spray a little then -- but much better on my shirt, the shirt tones down the strong patchouli. But where is oud and where is olibanum/frankincense? I wish they were there, it would be even better then.

First thing to say is that the bottle looks beautiful, it does capture and reflect the smell perfectly. A green scent, this is fresh/spicy with incense and oud. Blended really well as expected, it does remind me of Nuit De Feu but this one is definitely fresher and more spicy, not as skanky, not redundant to own both, they are similar but also very different, each one has it's uniqueness. Really strange and a unique scent, you'll stand out wearing this and i'm sure people will find it interesting, this isn't your typical mass appeal fragrance, very niche like in my opinion. Lasts really long on me around 10 hours with decent projection for the first hour then it stays closer to skin but you'll definitely get whiffs of it from walking or moving around. Can easily be worn all year round except really hot days. Not a safe blind buy tho, i'm sure some people will not like this but it's worth trying/sampling if you can do so. This gets 10/10 from me.

Kobraa is a sharp and paradoxically fresh incense fragrance that's hard to dislike, provided you aren't averted to woody amber bases. The bitter green geranium leaf is perfectly dosed to complete the lemony frankincense of the heart; this linear accord gives off the sensation of a sharp, inky green freshness that strangely enough reminds me of the smell of colored construction paper I used back in elementary school. This is mixed with some spices, traces of oud, synthetic musks and a generous dose of ambery woods. The finished product is surprisingly alluring and modern and offers tremendous longevity and projection. In short, Kobraa leaves off a very sharp but well-blended woody impression. It can be worn year-round, preferably for formal occasions. Scent: 8.5/10 Longevity: 9/10 Projection: 9/10 Originality: 8.5/10 Overall (not an average): 8.5/10 Batch used for review: 01J24AE3

Bvlgari Kobraa opens with a cool, leafy snap of geranium that sets a green, elegant tone before sliding into a vein of smoked incense and a deep oud hum, polished and restrained, and more refined than the green woody buzz you might know from Oud for Happiness, though in truth they smell nothing alike. It paints two scenes at once: you are lost in a dense forest where a lone wooden hut breathes incense, yet you are also stepping from a Bangkok backstreet into a sleek nightclub after a bold sip of cobra liquor. The aura is quiet money, status without flex, magnetic and self-possessed, the vibe of a diplomat’s son who knows exactly who he is. It smells dangerous, fitting its name, and it is my absolute favorite from the Le Gemme line. Built on geranium leaf, black incense heart, and oud, the composition wears like tailored silk and stays modern through the drydown.

Writing my review after living with this fragrance for a while and wearing 5 or 6 times. If you love geranium, try this scent. If you like incense (I am picky about incense) try this scent. The regular line of Bvlgari has always disappointed me, but this is my first try of Le Gemme, and it does not disappoint. Cold, green, spicy, dark and sleek, all in one perfume. There's a big dose of incense heaped on the geranium but it does not remind me of church. It starts out astute, perfect for a black tie event or suit, and gradually warms up on skin. Smooth as silk, ice cold, and dark scent that smells as smooth as snakes skin. Smells like you are wearing something special and expensive (because you are) and is perfect for a night out. -------------------------------------------------------- Scent 95/100 Performance 90/100 (°,,°)

Kobraa is one of the best fragrances I've experienced and a standout in the excellent Le Gemme collection. It is unique, but also has a familiar fougere-ish aspect. The Le Gemme fragrances share a lot of themes and overall character, in this case the smoky frankincense accord, safraliene (saffron/leather), dark musk accord, oud and geranium. There's also some supporting notes in a very slightly sweet powdery rose, citrus, coumarin, labdanum and maybe patchouli. This one takes some time to appreciate as it's pretty unconventional so the brain isn't sure what to make of it. Not a safe blind buy, but for those who can appreciate it, this is truly stunning, unique, and versatile, great for any occasion. It's a signature-scent worthy fragrance that's at the pinnacle of modern perfumery.

Greeny geranium with incense, including a touch of smoke, over greeny oud woods (no barn-yard here). A classic scent with fair amount of soapiness mixed (maybe Jasmin?). I can easily imagine a Brazilian Rosewood edge to this, as if it's Brazilian Rosewood - Reimagined. If you know the line, it's almost a mix of Gyan, Garanat, and (toned down) Falkar. Le Gemme is rich, powerful and professional. As a fragrance connoisseur, there is some left to be desired from Le Gemme as far as "niche creativity." But smelling "niche" can have its drawbacks, too, in the professional circles. Le Gemme is for that respected professional, who needs to dress up (at least a little) and be taken seriously. . .but still wants a fragrance with the performance and high quality of niche.

This stuff is great. Not a ton of hype most likely because you can only get it from Harrods. Alot of people say this is linear, and yes it is, BUT linear only in the regard that it doesnt change much. Linear doesnt mean its not complex. I find this to be pretty complex. I definitely get the Oud which is a band-aidy oud BUT theres just the perfect amount of it lingering in the background to give the floral blast more masculinity and backbone. This is extremely classy to my nose. Projection is pretty big and longevity is excellent. I feel like it has similar texture to LeMale Le Parfum, not that it smells like that but thats the kind of powdery it is for me. I think over 25 gentleman should give this one a try if you can get your hands on it.

I found out that Jacques Cavallier is one of the most creative perfumers especially in the designer realm of fragrances I wasn’t told about it I experienced it myself From tygar to noir de noir going back to falkar ending with pasha by Cartier (last one is debatable) This man is a perfume machine Not always on point but hits more than he misses which commands respect About Kobra it is a frankincense scent with the pepperiness of the geranium which gives it a spicy feeling that results in a very unique combination Performance was great Yes the price is a little steep and might be a little overpriced But the fact that the perfumer created something from scratch that from experience was never tested or done before is enough reason to buy it

Another gem. Fresh, green, spicy, luxurious. As typical for this line every note is deftly blended creating a harmonious balance. Has the perfect hint of sweetness to balance the sharp green notes as well as the spicy ones. Someone else mentioned leather and maybe that's it but there's something smooth and luxurious in the base. Performance is solid, I'm sure if you oversprayed this would be a beast. Easily lasts 8+ hours too. Certainly signature scent worth as it is unique and captivating. 30ml bottles are available in some airline amenity kits and are being sold second hand for $100. Certainly worth picking up and I wish Bvlgari would offer 30ml bottles across the Le Gemme line.

Bvlgari Le Gemme Kobraa is a fragrance by Jacques Cavallier with a mysterious, exotic and enigmatic charm. A magical alchemy, a perfect and harmonious union: between the mystical and spiritual power of smoky black incense and the profound and magnetic elegance of oud. The olfactory experience is inspired by the most sacred element of nature: black incense. An ingredient of rare quality, expertly dosed, maintains the lively freshness and purity of white incense, enriching it with enveloping, sensual and powerful smoky notes. A fragrance that evokes remote exotic atmospheres of great charm.

So this was originally an exclusive to Harrods, which is why the bottle is green. I discovered it in Harrods and loved it (it’s my only favourite in the range) and I always wished I’d bought it. Then a year later I find it for sale and acting not-so-exclusive in Holt Renfew about 3.6k miles away. It’s a dry, woody, slightly green, aromatic scent that (despite the geranium) isn’t floral, the geranium just lifts the resinous olibanum to a fresher level, so it resembles a dry, unburnt frankincense on a woody-amber base. Great longevity and unisex.

Maison Alhambra has put out a whole line cloning the Gemma line called sceptre , kobraa included. Will give a review once I receive mine. Might be a good alternative for those that have missed out on this beauty. UPDATE I have never put my nose on kobraa but if this clone by Alhambra is even 85% similar than I can see why the original is so highly regarded. It’s a powerhouse as well, super strong and long lasting. Definitely worth the $40

Someone below said this smells like a temple in the middle of jungle..I think that’s accurate.. Beautiful natural frankincense,minty geranium and sliced trees? Like this has the green,the woody and also the resinous facets..so spectacular and unique. It’s very strong but has a freshness to it so it can be worn in almost any weather. Jacques Cavallier created so many masterpieces these last few years for me he’s the goat perfumer.

Performance: Amazing Scent: Out of this world Kobraa is signature scent worthy: It just ticks all the boxes for me. I’ve even made sure to get a back up bottle of it because I love it so much. It sums up one of the reasons why I collect perfumes - I’m always searching for that one that will blow my mind when I first smell it - and Kobraa did that and more. This is just so special. A true 10/10 in every sense. Get your nose on it!

Really good quality here. smells amazing. in contrast to Nuit de Feu, Kobraa is linear but is preferable to me in every other way. I think it smells nicer, and the performance is more robust. Nuit has a sour animalic edge to the vanillic leather, where Kobraa leans aromatic. Their drydown's are close as mentioned by others. The frankincense in Armani bois incense is similar and fresh, adding smoke in the end however. Very Nice!

They should call this viper because damn that opening be fiercely green and spicy. Calms down and you get some synthetic dark oud, not fecal or stanky butt oud and some sweetness comes to the forefront. Projection and longevity are as massive as you want to spray. This is real hidden gem and signature scent worthy. I guess it is discontinued tho so even better as no one else will smell as unique and intriguing as you