Amber of Yemen

This is something seriously special. I’m used to the cheap Al Rehab roll-on oils, which are fun but often a little tinny, synthetic but never the luxurious alternative that you hope for. I’m also used to the high-end Arabian attars, where one expensive drop is all you need, but it’s often a smokey swirl of faecal oud which I can’t appreciate. I’d almost given-up, until I found this. I ordered directly from El Nabil which didn’t take too long to arrive from overseas. The tiny 5ml bottle seems like a sample, so I rolled it generously on my wrist which was a huge mistake. Only a few delicate dots of this rich, brown-honey nectar is all you need. Tomorrow I will be wearing only a few dots on my pulse points and I’ll update then. But the scent! It’s divine! It immediately struck me, that it smells very close to ‘Amour De Palazzo’ by Jul Et Mad (which I love) and shares 80% of its chewy, woody, amber, smooth gourmand DNA. There is a similar Grand Soir sweet amber vibes but Grand Soir is just too vanilla for me. 10% of it reminds me of Arabian Oud’s ‘Kalemat’ as there is a similar warm vanilla amber which increasingly warms against my skin with time. The final 10% reminds me of the honey-trap that is Spirit of Dubai’s ‘Baz’ as it shares a similar rich golden honey, smooth leather with soft vanilla and is also a honeycomb of golden resins and balsamic amber caramel. But Baz is ultra high-end perfumery and costs thousands. But this costs under £10. I expect (well, more like, I always HOPE) that an affordable oil will perform like an ultra high-end fragrance, and this is the ONLY one that’s ever done this. The quality and performance is outstanding. This is the gem in affordable Arabian attars that I’ve been looking for. Forget your rubbery, medicinal, screechy synthetic (often with oud) junky roll-on oil. This is the smoothest, balsamic amber-caramel, golden honeycombed, amber-leather in the world. And as sweet as it is, luckily for me, I actually don’t think there’s vanilla in this.

I have just tried this on paper - it is a very creamy, kind of Rosey amber. Seems really high quality too and I only paid £5. I will use it in a few weeks or when it gets a bit cooler. It feels quite warm. I can't rate it fairly yet but I know I like it. I've tried it on my skin and this is lovely. Very creamy and alluring, like a warm dessert. I think it's unisex but slightly more leaning masculine. This is amongst the best £5 you can spend on a fragrance surely. Latest: This transforms overnight, by hour 8, you will smell a different, slightly musky sandalwood dominant scent. This is a sweet scent but far from immature, just sweet enough to be interesting. It's the best fiver you can spend in perfumery. This is a work of art and should be in everyone's collection. Any season but weather dependent. Wouldn't wear this in 20 plus degrees but would be amazing in a warmer night. Fine for winter too. This really is outstanding. If it had Tom Ford or Bodacia on it, would cost £300 plus. I adore this. The patchouli really takes over by the dry down too. It's magnificent. I can't wait to try more from El Nabil.

This is a pretty straightforward fragrance. I don't get much bergamot, rose, geranium or ylang-ylang. What I do get is the amber, patchouli and sandalwood forming an accord that smells smooth and warming with chocolaty nuances. It smells fantastic. The longevity is excellent. On me it lasts for over 12 hours. The only minor criticism that I can think of is that the oil is pretty thick and dark in colour. For a while you can clearly notice it on your skin. You should also be careful not to get it on your clothes because it will stain them.

This is one of the best oils from El Nabil (Black Afghan is very good too). Long lasting, wonderful smell of amber and there is a very distinctive resemblance with Amouage - The Library Collection Opus VI (The Amber of Yemen smells like the 6-hour into the drydown of the Opus VI - and if you know how extremely opulent the Opus VI is, you would know what I am talking about). Recommended blind buy - for its price.

This is nice for pennies! I'm not sure how to add notes but I'm getting a strong beeswax note from it which is delicious. I'm also picking up frankincense and a very creamy sandalwood. Every note in this has been put together thoughtfully and although it projects well it doesn't scream in people's faces. I don't pick up much of the rose or bergamot but the ylang ylang is to die for.