Ishq Absolute

Hamidi Ishq Absolute is definitely a safe blind buy, but keep your eyes closed because that citrus might make you cry. The official website lists grapefruit and pink pepper in the opening, violet and sea water in the heart, with amberwood and guaiac wood in the base. On paper, that sounds fresh, modern and easy to wear. In reality, the opening is aggressively citrusy. If you enjoy the feeling of someone squeezing lemon juice directly into your eyes, you might love the first few minutes. For me, it needs around 30 minutes to breathe and calm down before it becomes more wearable. After that, the violet starts to come through, adding a softer floral touch, while the sea water gives it a salty freshness. But the citrus stays loud for a long time. Citrus, citrus and more citrus. Only after around 2 hours does it develop into something much nicer, smoother and easier to wear. At that point, it becomes very pleasant and likeable, but also quite ordinary and without much character. Longevity is around 3–4 hours and after that it becomes a pleasant skin scent. Projection is basically nonexistent, which actually makes it quite suitable for the office, quick errands, daytime use or any situation where you want to smell fresh without bothering anyone around you. Still, what you pay is what you get. Not bad, just not exciting.