Aylan

Today's review continues my exploration of the house of Day Three with Aylan. After beginning this journey with the outstanding Ambar Dominicano and following it with the wonderfully atmospheric Desert Rain, I've quickly come to appreciate Day Three's willingness to build fragrances around strong artistic concepts while never losing sight of wearability. So far, the house has demonstrated an impressive ability to balance creativity with accessibility, and that has made each new release feel genuinely exciting to explore. Aylan appears to venture into entirely different territory. Rather than recreating a specific place or moment in nature, it embraces one of perfumery's most enduring themes: the marriage of rich vanilla, luxurious florals, precious woods, and oud. On paper, however, this doesn't appear to be the dense, challenging Middle Eastern interpretation that many enthusiasts associate with agarwood. Instead, the composition suggests a softer, more contemporary take, combining vanilla absolute, Bulgarian rose, saffron, and cashmeran to create a fragrance that promises elegance and refinement over sheer intensity. Having been consistently impressed by Day Three's ability to present familiar ideas through a fresh lens, I'm especially interested to see whether Aylan can distinguish itself within a genre that is already crowded with exceptional fragrances. The question is whether Day Three can once again deliver a composition that feels both artistic and original, or if Aylan ultimately becomes another pleasant, but familiar, interpretation of the modern rose-oud formula. Let's find out whether Aylan continues the house's impressive momentum or becomes my first real point of hesitation since discovering the brand. Opening: The opening is floral, spicy, and woody. The primary notes I get are Bulgarian rose, saffron, agarwood, and vanilla absolute, with the Bulgarian rose and saffron leading the composition. The Bulgarian rose immediately commands attention, presenting as a rich, velvety floral accord with the unmistakable aroma of deep crimson rose petals. Beneath the floral richness lies a subtle jammy sweetness that gives the note elegance without ever pushing it into syrupy territory. Following closely behind is the saffron, introducing a warm, luxurious spice that carries soft suede-like nuances rather than an overt leather accord. The agarwood works beneath the rose and saffron as a deep, dark woodiness. While it avoids the aggressively animalic or barnyard qualities associated with traditional Middle Eastern oud oils, it still possesses a distinct funky edge that separates it from the clean, westernized oud accords commonly found in designer fragrances. Finally, the vanilla absolute rounds out the opening with a lush, natural vanilla bean accord. Rich, creamy, and remarkably smooth, it wraps the composition in a comforting sweetness without ever becoming overtly gourmand. The result is an opening that clearly draws inspiration from the classic Middle Eastern rose, oud, and saffron formula, but modernizes it through restrained oud and a beautifully integrated vanilla accord that makes the fragrance considerably more approachable. Dry Down: The dry down is sweet, woody, and spicy. The primary notes I get are vanilla absolute, agarwood, saffron, and Bulgarian rose, with the vanilla and agarwood now taking center stage. The vanilla absolute, which played more of a supporting role during the opening, has now become the dominant force in the composition, delivering an enormous wave of creamy, natural vanilla bean that transforms the fragrance into something noticeably richer and more comforting. Alongside it, the agarwood also grows considerably stronger, contributing a larger dose of its signature dark, resinous woodiness while maintaining the same restrained funkiness that distinguished it from more western interpretations earlier on. The saffron retreats into a supporting role, continuing to contribute its smooth suede-like spice while becoming softer and more refined than it initially appeared. Meanwhile, the Bulgarian rose fades gracefully into the background, leaving behind gentle traces of its velvety, slightly jammy floral character. The result is a dry down that literally inverts the opening, replacing floral prominence with a luxurious interplay between vanilla and oud that immediately reminded me of Montale's Dark Vanilla, albeit with a noticeably softer oud and the addition of rose. Performance: The projection during the first hour is enormous, easily filling even a large room with very little effort. The sillage is equally impressive, producing a dense, almost tangible scent trail that lingers long after you've left the room. Even after three to four hours, the fragrance shows virtually no signs of slowing down, continuing to project with the same authority as it did immediately after application. When I revisited it roughly ten hours later, Aylan was still projecting confidently at around four to five feet while maintaining a clearly noticeable scent trail. It didn't officially become a skin scent until well beyond the twelve-hour mark, delivering truly exceptional technical performance. When to Wear: Aylan is unmistakably a fall and winter fragrance that feels most at home during the evening. Its rich blend of vanilla, oud, saffron, and rose creates a luxurious warmth that makes it an outstanding choice for date nights, anniversaries, and other special occasions. Despite the prominent vanilla, the fragrance never becomes overly gourmand thanks to the balancing influence of the rose and agarwood, allowing it to transition comfortably into formal settings where many sweeter fragrances would feel out of place. However, its commanding presence makes it far too intentional for casual everyday wear, and its sheer strength would quickly overwhelm most office environments. Blind Buy: Aylan is not what I would consider a safe blind buy. While the composition is noticeably more approachable than many traditional Middle Eastern oud fragrances, the agarwood still ventures beyond what many people will find comfortable, introducing a level of funkiness that won't appeal to every wearer. Likewise, the prominent Bulgarian rose dominates the opening with very little restraint, and strong rose accords remain one of the more polarizing elements in modern perfumery, particularly among those who prefer traditionally masculine fragrances. Finally, the fragrance's enormous performance means there is very little room for error if the profile doesn't resonate with you. For all of these reasons, sampling on skin before purchasing is absolutely essential. Final Verdict: I'll admit from the outset that I'm generally not the biggest fan of the traditional rose, oud, and saffron combination. While I can absolutely appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship behind that style of perfumery, it's a DNA I've encountered countless times over the years, and it no longer carries the same sense of excitement or discovery that it once did. Aylan, however, manages to breathe some new life into that familiar formula. The addition of the prominent vanilla transforms the composition into something that feels both more modern and considerably more approachable without sacrificing the luxurious character that defines the genre. Rather than masking the rose and oud, the vanilla softens their sharper edges and gives the fragrance an inviting richness that makes it easier to wear while still respecting its Middle Eastern inspiration. That being said, throughout my wear I found myself repeatedly comparing Aylan to my bottle of Montale Dark Vanilla. Both fragrances build themselves around the beautiful contrast between creamy vanilla and dark oud, and both deliver exceptional technical performance to support that profile. Where Aylan leans into rose as one of its defining features, Dark Vanilla replaces that floral heart with leather and additional spices, an approach that ultimately aligns more closely with my own personal preferences. Looking at Aylan strictly on its own merits, I think it's an outstanding interpretation of this style of perfumery. The quality of the materials is immediately apparent, the blending is seamless, and the vanilla adds a level of refinement that genuinely elevates what could have been a very familiar composition. For someone who enjoys rose-forward oud fragrances, I think Aylan is one of the better modern examples of the genre. For me personally, however, it occupies too much of the same space as Dark Vanilla. While the two fragrances are certainly not identical, they satisfy a very similar role within my collection, and when given the choice, I know I would consistently reach for the Montale instead. Because of that, I'll be passing on adding Aylan to my collection. That decision shouldn't be mistaken as a criticism of the fragrance itself. Quite the opposite; I think Aylan is one of Day Three's strongest offerings so far, and I would enthusiastically recommend it to anyone looking for a refined, modern interpretation of the classic rose, oud, and saffron DNA. Scent: 8/10 Longevity: 10/10 Sillage: 10/10 Versatility: Average Compliment Factor: Gender: Unisex Value: Good

Wow was this one a pleasant surprise! I heard a lot of praise after its release at Scent Explore 2024, so I immediately ordered some samples from Day Three’s website and boy were both my wife and I impressed! Just gorgeous! Aylan is a beautiful Oud and Vanilla based fragrance, which may sound like old news, but this one’s far from old news! From start to finish, Aylan is blended to absolute perfection, and the wearing experience is delightful and borderline addictive! Aylan opens with a burst of Bergamot, Pink Pepper and a touch of Orange Blossom welcoming you and inviting you to experience what’s in store! It evolves effortlessly revealing subtle notes of Bulgarian Rose, a delicate Saffron, and even a hint of Cashmeran, but just enough to clean up the aroma and prevent it from becoming too heavy or cloying. There is also a beautiful Elemi Resin lingering in the background giving it a bit of edge and a subtle incense facet helping prevent it from leaning too heavily into feminine territory. My only qualm, if I’d even call it that, is that I am uncertain as to whether or not Day Three uses genuine Oud... Their website states that they use the highest quality ingredients available to them as well as plenty of rare extracts and naturals which I really appreciate, but regardless whether or not the Oud used in Aylan is an accord or indeed authentic, the end result is truly stellar and nothing short of quality. As previously mentioned, Aylan is also perfectly unisex which I also appreciate, and it smells stunning on both my wife and myself, so needless to say I don’t think our bottle will last very long! For those out there looking to support an up and coming indie/niche brand, I would whole heartedly recommend Aylan and Day Three Fragrances. It’s clear that they care very deeply about what they do, and it definitely shows in their quality, and I am happy to say that I look forward to my next purchase from them which will most likely be Filosofia which I also highly recommend! All the best, and thanks for reading my review!

Sampling the most recent release for the now-award-winning Day Three Fragrances, Aylan, a spicy, sweet blend with vanilla as the most prominent note but also a certain interesting sharpness that I have a difficult time placing my finger on, perhaps a mix of the top notes of pink pepper and elemi and the heart note of saffron. Rose and oud are also in the mix, adding further color and depth. It’s a neat multifaceted approach to what might otherwise be a tobacco/vanilla blend, replacing the tobacco with pepper/saffron/rose/oud. It’s classy, a bit seductive, and while a much easier sell in cooler weather, something that one could wear on a summer evening, and pleasantly unisex. Overall, I think it’s great, a clear winner for many that has modern sensibilities but is reasonably easy to wear for something with depth and complexity. Aylan’s price point is slightly higher than the house’s existing catalogue, at $180 for 50ml, in extrait concentration, but it features a new bottle and is still in the range of lots of independent houses’ pricing. It performs quite well, though, among the house’s strongest-performing fragrances. So far, I believe it’s only for sale via the house’s website, as it’s a limited edition of 300. 8 out of 10

Aylan is a beautiful, sugary, sweet vanilla fragrance that is very ethereal but is very prominent on the skin and in the air. It starts out very similar to Vanagloria and Babycat, but after a couple of minutes, it transforms into its own design, and there lies the magic. It's gourmand, but very playful. You can almost taste Its cotton candy airy effect while also enjoying the depths of the fragrance. The pink pepper brings the spice, while the musk centers the fragrance so that vanilla can sweeten it up. Saffron acts as a booster that binds it all together, and although it's very faint, the rose adds that extra depth that separates it from its previously mentioned counterparts. I don't detect any oud, so if it is there, it is very faint to nonexistent. It is beautifully delicious and it's own beast. You will get the Vanagloria/Babycat initial familiarity, but don't be fooled by the opening. What develops in the instant dry down is a complex work of art. A spicy, sugary, ethereal, musky vanilla fragrance that lasts for hours on the skin and is playful in its wear. Perfectly unisex, wonderfully blended. Aylan is a gift to those who love sweet, musky fragrances. A solid 9 out of 10.

I know you're all thinking "not another rose/oud/vanilla fragrance," but this....this is THEE rose/oud/vanilla fragrance to end all rose/oud/vanilla fragrances. It far surpasses any other offerings of the DNA by a long shot and I would say a must have if you love rose/oud. This is a masterful blend of high quality oils no doubt about it. The elemi and pink pepper in the opening start out similarly to Babycat but they stop there. The mid notes of rose, cashmere, and orange blossom aren't overly powdery or stuffy; quite the contrary. The florals here are juicy, unctuous, and silky...it just smells like REAL old money. And don't get me started on the vanilla and saffron wafting through the background the entire time with such sweet sensuality...just absolute perfection. The dry down is heady and dense, intoxicating but also ethereal. If I could give this scent a personality it would be soft c***. I wore this to dinner one night in a busy restaurant and I shit you not everyone who passed by my table stopped to ask what perfume I had on. It's a work of art. 100/10. Spray my me down one last time with this one before you seal the lid on my casket.