Saffron Lazuli

This is a fragrance I'd wanted for a while, along with most of the Confidential line from Carolina Herrera. Lets get this out of the way first: this line is quite astonishingly good and is widely eschewed by the "FragCom" ostensibly it seems, because Herrera isnt a niche brand but is charging niche money for these fragrances. Avoiding them on this basis is a mistake, in so far as I can tell. The Confidential line is an evolving range of very high end niche-style fragrances with some serious perfumer noses behind them, including Jordi Fernandez, Quentin Bisch and Veronique Nyberg amongst several others. They are characterised by rock solid performance, very powerful projection/sillage and each iteration representing a study on a central theme of one accord. They are in some cases quite unusual takes and many are fairly heavy hitters. They are not to be taken lightly. I own the (fantastic) Stallion Leather, Nightfall Patchouli, Sandal Ruby and Iris Empire, with Neroli Boheme, Cedar Chic and Gold Myrrhe Absolute coming in the next couple of months. As I say, I very much enjoy this line. Saffron Lazuli is one of the nicest in the lineup and as might be expected from the name, is a bold and somewhat in-your-face study on sweet, spicy saffron. It is an incredibly powerful fragrance, but is surprisingly forgiving of a bit of aggressive over-spraying. The opening is a sweet and spicy hit of saffron, tonka bean and vanilla that somehow manages to stay fresh despite being so powerful. The drydown is fairly linear with the floral mid notes and woody base there from the outset and not emerging later as you often see with the accompanying notes to saffron fragrances. The sweetness seems to be more tonka bean than vanilla to my nose. There isnt an overpowering floral core to this: it is quite subtle and serves to keep the saffron honest in terms of not being cloying or sticky. It is one of the sweeter saffron fragrances I've come across and is right on the knife edge of being slightly too sweet because of how powerful it is. As it settles down the sweetness does back off a little but the formidable projection remains. It is very well blended and judged, as with all the Confidential line. It isnt an immediate love but it is a definite enduring love that stays with you once you spray it and get used to it. The movement from projection and sillage beast to skin scent is a slow process here but it is startlingly attractive when the drydown starts in earnest and you get a little more of the leather and woods in the basement here. I've written a bit lately in my reviews about my blossoming understanding that there is no such thing as gender in fragrance and that most things are unisex really. Saffron Lazuli is a brilliant example of this. It defines unisex in that it is both rich, sweet, sensual and pretty for the traditional definition of a female wearer and sexy, spicy, leathery and refined masculine for the traditional definition of a guy, at the same time. It is quite impressive in that it manages to be both and sit right in the sweet spot (pun intended) between both traditional gender profiles and the grey (blue?) area between where these cease to matter. If ever there was a "you do you, wear what you want if you love it" fragrance, this is it. It isn't a daily wearer but has enough versatility to be able to wear to the office and in casual settings if you want to. Something this powerful and spicy that projects like this does isnt usually office safe but it sort of manages it. Again, quite impressive. I'd suggest it is probably a safer blind buy for a woman than a man, but conversely, more office safe for guys than for women, purely because women may find something as powerful as this more of a challenge to wear in these surroundings. But it takes all sorts and I'd contend any woman wearing this to the office would be on safe ground with me. Many of the Confidential line require a little bit of bravery to wear properly and this cobalt blue colossus is no exception. I think your body tells you when you really love a fragrance because you notice yourself sniffing your wrists without realising it. You take in a big breath, close your eyes and allow your mind to wander a little and this fragrance brings this out in me as well as any I've tried. It isn't evocative for me really, it isn't trying to tell a story I don't think, and this is perhaps one of the reasons the niche end of the "FragCom" continues to sleep on this collection. Modern niche perfumery loves a story, to sell the daydream of an alternate reality, and for all the wonderful things about the Confidential line, it isn't selling that. It is directed at offering you a series of genuinely interesting, fantastically presented, very high performance takes on popular accords that smell fantastic, in really beautiful bottles. It is hard to imagine a saffron fragrance on this brief being produced any better, in all honesty. Three word summary: WILD BLUE YONDER. Scent - 9/10 Sillage - 10/10 Drydown - 9/10 Bottle/packaging - 10/10 Performance - 9/10 47/50 a very powerful score for a very powerful fragrance.

I was incredibly curious to try this one. Does anyone know- who is the nose that created this? At first spray, it was just ok. Underwhelmed. A few minutes later, bam. It blows up. A seductive hold that never let me go. I can’t explain why the initial blast leaves me indifferent and then, within minutes it blooms so magnificently, it’s truly weird. This is strong, assertive. It’s not safe for blind buys. You think you’ve smelt it before but when you sniff again and again, you realise that, actually, no, it’s a stand-alone recipe. This is the very first leather that works beautifully on me (probably because there’s no leather but a combination of gaiac wood, tonka and vanilla). I also loathe tonka, so please don’t think this is just its notes dropped together. It’s a well thought-out symphony of strong notes. The jammy fruit is divine and boosts the allure factor, the rose is a supporting player in the background. The orris root is grounding, carnal but not too animalic. As a juice, it’s both sweet (fruit) and dry (saffron)- deep and sexy but hyper-sophisticated. I adore saffron and this is an ode to the note, it absolutely satisfies that desire. It stays true and multi-layered for many hours, after which it still smells strongly of cleanliness but is more linear. To my nose, it’s the love child of BR540 and Oud Satin Mood (I am a long-time lover of both). If combining two so distinct formulas sounds freakish, hold the reservation and try it anyway. You might be surprised, as I was. I got a full bottle already. It’s very expensive but I got it on a 35%-discount-day and I consider that a very fair price, given that this lasts so well in the day and it’s a 100ml bottle.

An invitation arrives in the middle of a quiet Omani winter, handwritten and sealed, guests allowed but only those chosen. The venue is a white palace perched high on the hill. As you arrive, the air inside folds around you, thick with bukhoor, soft smoke curling through the halls like a whispered spell. Drums and traditional music rise and fall, marking the bride’s entrance, “Zaffat Alaroos,” the grand procession. Each beat vibrates through marble floors and walls that gleam with a quiet, almost otherworldly light, as if lit from within. The guests are draped in traditional Omani attire and rich Arab garments that shimmer in the dim glow. An attendant approaches with a tray of crystal glasses filled with saffron sherbet, red as blood. You take one sip, hypnotic and mysterious, and the world tilts slightly, as though you’ve stepped out of time. Hours later, you step outside into the cold night, and the palace behind you blurs, dissolving into the hill. The next morning, you tell your coworker what happened, the music, the sherbet, the weight of the night. They go quiet, then say the palace has been abandoned for years. That is when you realize the wedding had been hosted by Djinn. To me, that is Saffron Lazuli: elegant, atmospheric, dark.

This will be my 400th review! And in those 400 samples I have found myself becoming more and more of a niche fragrance snob. I love the indie and small batch producers who are able to take chances. They have the latitude to mix unique notes and come up with a scent that captivates in a fresh, unique, and out of the box way. That is why I thought I would not love this fragrance as much as I did. I generally think that designer brands must cater to the masses so they create things that fall in the safe zone. Saffron Lazuli is not that..it is gorgeous. Yes...it does resemble Initio Side Effect. Similarly priced and with notes of saffron, wood and vanilla. Here the mix comes across more warm, lightly leathered, and spicy/sweet, It is beautiful and alluring. If you've read any of my other reviews you know I am not a sweet gourmand gal - hence my surprise! This also lands in beast mode for sillage and longevity. You cannot go wrong.

DAMN this is a good ass smell. bold and bright, spicy, woody, smoky, intoxicating. im getting a good dose of saffron, but it really takes you through all of the layers of notes (there is leather in this according to the CH website), and it becomes a lovely comforting mix of the base notes in the drydown. very well-blended and opulent-smelling... lasts for 8+ hours on me and the dry down lasts a good 12, and it smells incredible from beginning to end. big compliment getter as well, this and sandal ruby are well-executed concepts for scents in my opinion, though this one is more my taste. not much else to say other than try it for yourself!!!

STUNNER ... I don't get the comparisons to Initio's Side Effect, which is sweeter and a bit boozy. Saffron Lazuli is more unique, to my nose, and is just as smooth as a satin sheet. Saffron Lazuli has some easygoing florals that aren't present in Side Effect. I think that Side Effect does have slightly greater longevity though. But, both are pretty close in overall performance. Full bottle worthy. Don't get me wrong! I love both fragrances and I wear both! I just don't find them to be overly similar. Just for the record, I purchased the full bottle of Saffron Lazuli. Glad I did.

This is one of my favs from the Herrera Confidential line. It is absolutely gorgeous. The scent opens with an embrace of warm saffron and wood, quickly followed by an iris/orris note. The iris is not cool- a brief bright iris lilt w some earthy orris. I would swear there is cognac or bourbon, neither of which are listed by Herrera. Maybe the leather w the saffron and iris are creating the boozy note? The notes are extremely well-blended. It is sexy, addicting, sultry and a unisex winner. Performance strong.

I get the comparisons to Side Effect, if I was pushed I'd say that SL is slightly stronger but for me nearly identical.Both are similarly priced in the Uk so I'd say it's down to whichever Brand you like but this is definitely a case of not needing both! This is definitely Beast mode, especially the first couple of hours & then turns into a pleasant skin scent. I had SE & this on my buy list so now it's a toss of a coin.

Another smashing scent in this line up. I’m converting large decants to a bottle like I did with Mystery Tobacco. For me this is virtually just the top notes for 24 hours - blackcurrant smoothed with tonka bean smothering some saffron. Nose to skin I pick up the remaining notes. Awesome buy deserving a cult following.

Amazing perfume for warm enveloping scents lovers! The ingredients listed on Fragrantica are a little off Reading notes from the actual card that came with the perfume; Top notes: Saffron, Cardamom, Blackcurrant Heart notes: Orris, Rose Bottom Notes: Guaiac Wood, Tonka Bean, Vanilla

An intoxicating, saffron with freshness and a tiny bit of sweetness. If your a lover of leather fragrances, and want a mysterious, elegant, light, leather scent. It’s sexy but not a powerhouse. I do get whiffs of it all day. Unisex Smells nothing like side effect.

This fragrance smell very delicious and luxury, the Saffron here is slightly sour and sweetness, Carolina Herrera private line is stunning and niche quality, longevity is around 6 - 7 hours with moderate projection, its smell unique and amazing overall 9.5/10

DIVINE! This smells amazing, I love the note of rose in the background mixed with that leathery saffron and something sweet and fruity. Another solid release from this line and from the house that doesn’t release the best fragrances....at least to me.

This fragrance is dominant by very juicy black currant, and has a touch of leather and saffron, Side Effect is smell like cherry, rum and tobacco, they both smell nothing alike, oh no, that comparion is so misleading .......

All the above mentioned notes are well balanced, there is no harsh note coming from saffron and after it cools down you start smelling sweetness mixed with spiciness. overall performance (longevity and sillage) is excellent

This is a gorgeous, sexy scent, but Fragrantica, you’ve messed up the ingredients again. There is no leather in this and there is cardamom.

Mouthwateringly fruity combo of cassis and saffron with a spicy base of amber and leather.

Omg I need it! Warm spicy and delicious

I have had the fortune to smell this new creational beauty just recently from my sister who managed to get herself a 5ml sample from Dubai in Dubai Mall, I think it might only be sold there but not sure yet. This fragrance...I mean I have not smelled alot of iris - to be honest - in my fragrance journey, but this smells very unique to my nose. Very captivating and interesting smell. There is no harsh animalic/skanky notes in this one to my nose and according to my 1 year younger sister (25 years old) this is a feminine fragrance and she told me she would save her 5ml sample for her future wedding. I told her that I felt it was atleast unisex to my nose if not a bit masculine. We both actually thought there was Oud inside that could have given it this rich and full elegant oppulence, but apparently there is no Oud in it. My sister describes this fragrance as the best smell she has ever smelled and something she has never encountered before. In my own opinion I feel this is a very unique and beautiful perfume, I dont think anybody smells like this in the western world where I live (Europe) I also got the feeling by smelling this that it could possibly be a good projecting fragrance cause it did smell potent and exclusive/rich to my nose. but I have not tested it since she would not let me put it on lol. I only smelled it from her little blue bottle and the fragrance was opulent and rich enough for me to get a really good smell out of it. I have decided that I must have this blue crystal in my future collection god willing. If anybody know where this can be found, would be grateful if you could let me know, thank you!

Ohh paying premium price for a clone of a fragrance you can get with the same price range Let me explain...... If you ever tried initios side effect you will definitely be reminded by it when you smell this one It’s is incredibly pleasant and very warm and cozy but it lacks one of side effects main facets It’s the “booze” I won’t say it ruins the scent but it definitely feels lacking for me My advice is sample both fragrances and decide what you like more and by any chance if you already have side effect from initio just save your money it becomes a redundant purchase Longevity is very good and projection for the first while it fills the room