Musamam Black Intense

I am speechless. At loss for words. I am not being dramatic. For countless months I had my eyes on this, I saw it on TikTok shop discounted to £27 only a week after it had released. I did not buy it as I had purchased a few other fragrances at that point and I also wanted to try it first. Months went buy and it never dropped in price again, it stayed in the mid-30's. Went to Freshity in Sheffield to try it, I got overwhelmed by the sheer choice and almost walked out without trying it, by the time I tried it, I had smelled a ton of different fragrances and I could not really pick anything memorable up in particular. It was £40 over there approximately which I found too pricey as well. Fast forward a few months later, discounted on TT shop for £25. I bought it. I just received the parcel and oh man, what a journey. I cannot fathom how this is being released for this price. Truly stunning fragrance. I wanted this to be my 100th review but Guerlains BPRN came through first. This will go down as the best bang for your buck fragrance even if you get it without discounts because it's so good. Now currently I am only referring to scent profile because I havent been able to test it out properly of course. But what a scent profile this is. Aromatic but not too much, gourmand-esque but not too much, fresh but not a fresh fragrance, sweet but not sticky at all, dark but not a dark fragrance. If this can out perform Teriaq Intense it will dethrone it based on the fact that Musammam Black Intense is so versatile. This level of blend and quality is surreal for this price. This cocoa pulse is not just a marketing ploy, it really does have this cocoa butter like dry down but it’s not sickly sweet, I think the woody elements balance the sweetness out perfectly. Call me crazy but the dry down ever so slightly reminds me of Gissah La Luna, please note this is not a La Luna clone at all but in the dry down I pick up this faint remnant of La Luna which also happens to be one of my favourite Gissahs. Can I also say that whilst I usually do not care for packaging and bottle, this one took the gold medal for that too. All in all. If you are on the fence because you got a decent collection and are scared to blind buy this because you don't just want another similar scent, do not fear because this one will not let you down. EDIT 15.4.26 Wore it a lot since, most recently yesterday. I sprayed it on my chest and undershirt and genuinely could smell it radiating off of me more than 12hrs later. Performance is insane. The wearability is good but it's not a daily driver. I think during warmer days it will be too dense.

GOOD LORD, I was skeptical, this stuff was getting so much hype by influencers and they were making some crazy claims about it, but let me tell you, somehow, this stuff isn’t getting enough hype😭🙏 and I know that sounds crazy considering everybody’s talking about it, but if you sprayed this on a tester strip and told me it was a $400 Amouage frag, I would genuinely believe you and I wouldn’t even question it, this stuff is actual niche quality and for 40$ this shouldn’t even exist, and the fact that it’s not even a dupe is literally just insane, it’s so unique too, to my nose in the opening, I get a spicy aromatic lavender that’s kind of floating over this really rich sweet tonka and maybe a little dark chocolate, and then in the dry down, the chocolate and the maple come through, it’s really rich and dark and somewhat gourmand and it’s just so addicting, and the best part about it all is that even though it’s extremely unique in my opinion and very rich and strong , it’s actually extremely wearable and mass appealing, I couldn’t imagine anyone smelling this and not liking it at least a little bit, I haven’t tested it out yet but I’m sure this stuff is a compliment magnet as well, especially with how far it projects, I’d be willing to say this is the absolute highest quality you can possibly get in a fragrance under 50$ and it’s not even close, I see some knobs in the comments saying it’s overhyped, and I’m genuinely convinced they’re just coping bc they can’t handle the fact that a 40$ fragrance made by a dupe brand is rivaling there high end niche fragrances , but who knows maybe this stuff is just special to me, if you haven’t tried this already please do🙏

Musamam Black feels like an important release for Lattafa. It doesn’t come across as another “inspired by” fragrance, but rather Lattafa stepping into true original creation. The involvement of Jordi Fernández and the use of Givaudan captives like CocoaPulseTM and AmbrofixTM make that clear. Opening: Smoky, resinous, almost tar-like and slightly abrasive, lifted by bergamot and softened by lavender. It’s divisive, but I enjoy it. Mid: The sharp resin begins to soften into a creamy, well-blended floral-woody affair with a creamy chocolate slowly emerging. Dry-down: it takes a while to get to this point ... Smooth, creamy, lightly chocolate-tinged and almost gourmand. Mass-appealing, modern and polished with the early smokiness fading away. This may be too rich for some, but it works well if you enjoy sweet, creamy scents. Performance: Average projection (around an arm’s length). Around 5–6 hours on skin, longer on clothes where it performs noticeably better. Overall, it starts niche and finishes with a high-quality, designer-like dry-down whilst still retaining some niche characteristics as the richness of that creamy, chocolatey dry-down isn’t something I’ve personally encountered before, to this extent at least. 31/01/26: EDIT: it’s been around 4 weeks now and I’ve noticed that the spicy and resinous opening isn’t as challenging and things seem much smoother. It also seems like that chocolatey creaminess subtly makes its self known earlier than it once did. And yes, I still adore this fragrance ❤️

Even though I'm pretty sure many of the better smelling and more successful clones were already ghost-perfumed by known names in the industry, I was intrigued to see that a rising star from Givaudan has worked with Lattafa for a new, original release. This is cheap and will become cheaper as time goes by, so I wasn't expecting it to blow my mind, but it has impressed me. A "gourmand that's not gourmand" chocolate-based three-season scent, something like a higher quality Asad Bourbon, an alternative CH Bad Boy Extreme, like a fresher Invictus Victory Elixir with less vanilla and geranium instead of patchouli. I love the way the aromatics are used to cover up the syntheticness of the blend (and also give a modern fresh touch). Also, the maplewood combination with the cocoa notes makes this very delicious but not cloyingly sweet. It doesn't smell the same as other stuff in the AXE Dark Temptation category, but it does belong there. EDIT: This is also loosely similar in the air to YSL 6 place Saint Sulpice, this is like the carefree younger brother of it, without the leather accord and a fresher creamy aspect. Performs extremely well, projects for more than 4 hours and lasts on clothes an entire day. Also has gotten compliments all three times I've worn it out. Overall a safe blind buy if you like the description and notes. Replace your Asad Bourbon with it. Good one!

With this perfume, Lattafa joins niche corners of the perfume world. This is definitely NOT a safe blind buy. This is not your ordinary fragrance. The opening may be quite harsh for some - not that it smells bad. It's just very aromatic and spicy/smoky. It pretty much punches you right in the face with hit of woody/earthy scents - I can't really find there bergamot unless I'm looking for it. It is there just to soften it down a bit. The scent is very complex and deep, with drydown unleashing fatty aromatic spicy dark chocolate scent that goes more into the warm, welcoming choco-soapy finish (after 5-6 hours on my skin) that lasts for another couple of hours. This is definitely a perfume you have to know how to wear, or it will wear you. Is it unisex? I honestly can't tell - it would definitely suit a certain type of women during certain occasions, but it will be probably mostly worn by men as a daily high-class meeting signature, or sensual high self-esteem dating night frag. Definitely a huge recommendation for every season except summer (I can't imagine it during summer heat, but will try it) , but don't buy it unless you try it first.

God I don’t know where to start with this one, went for a simple browse in the local Arab fragrance shop and my mate pulled this one. Had a smell and was just hit with this very pleasant opening. I’m no scent expert but best description I could give is this really warm but kind of sharp smell but it wasn’t an overbearing sharp. I’m fairly certain it’s the nutmeg which in my opinion is very dominant in the opening to my nose and I love it. Already loved the opening but damn it just got better and better as you let the notes progress. After around 3 hours that nutmeg type smell is still there but something else comes in with it that just makes me want to inhale my damn wrist, it’s like the comfort you get from a cozy skin scent but magnified so it’s an insanely projecting scent and somehow it’s still not overbearing or harsh. Later into the final drydown it’s this warm cozy scent with a tiny touch of gourmand that ties it together so well. I will emphasize this is the type of scent I will go out of my way in public just to stop and smell my wrist for like 2 minutes. Can’t get enough of it

Super Smokey and super soapy right now - sprayed about 10 mins ago and there is not an ounce of bright bergamot in sight - will see how it drys but it’s very odd and low key old school barber shop esc.... Interesting? I’m not sure, but I did only get it today. It’s not a gourmand, it’s far too savoury, also like not strong at all which is odd - gotta get my nose right up in there to figure it out - could be my first disappointing frag this. If so, the influencers (Cal cologne, FB fragrances and Fragrance flan) were chatting pure SH*T Edit: I can admit when I’m wrong. I revisited this today after getting my expectations smashed and hen I got it. Today, with no preconceived idea to disappoint, this smells like money. It’s thick, creamy, powdery, intoxicating. The chocolate is a nuance, not a main player (this was where I felt let down before). To put it super simply, this smells like an insanely expensive Cacau, lavender and shea butter soap. I am in love with it today. Never have I done such a 180 and I’m not mad about it. The moral to the story - test it first. 9/10 stunning fragrance.

You can tell that somebody very skilled did this frag, I have a number of Jordi frags and this is incredible along with all the others I own. A $300 frag but done very affordable by Lataffa and a house I'm really enjoying now that's doing some original and interesting perfumes. A huge thumbs up for them! Alongside PDM, Roja, Amouage I'm becoming quite the fan boy of this house. This opens up a bit harsh but after 30 mins the harshness goes and it becomes such a interesting and different scent profile which I have not come across before. This is so many things at once and it works so well, its woody, fresh and sweet and it all combines to create a very addictive scent that keeps you coming back for more. The initial blast is very woody and can be a bit in your face and I was initally a bit put off by it but give it time because as it dries down it becomes something special and will surprise you cause for an extremely affordable fragrance this really does come across faaaar more expensive and exudes an aura of class and sophistication. Would not recommend for younger guys.

For the price, this is an absolute must-buy. The level of complexity punches well above its price point. It opens with a bright blend of woods, lavender, and sage that immediately creates a dark, spicy character. Performance is no joke—this stuff projects hard and can easily fill a room if you’re not careful. As it dries down, subtle touches of rose and cedar begin to emerge, adding just enough refinement without taking away from its rugged personality. Eventually, the chocolate note comes forward, though it leans more toward dark chocolate, almost reading as leather to my nose. The maple remains in the background alongside the patchouli, giving the fragrance a gritty, dark, almost “dirty” edge. Overall, this fragrance checks a lot of boxes. At around $40, you’d be hard-pressed to find another scent with this level of performance and depth. It’s unapologetically a fall and winter fragrance, and I have a feeling it’ll only improve after another three or four months of maturation. Rating: 8/10

Winter sexy stuff. Woman will love this on you (tested and confirmed with different subjects). Masculine alpha particle radiation. Well blended spiceness, soapness, freshness and aromatics. Niche level for a fraction of the niche price usual range. It projects well, lasts well and It takes you to a non-linear trip. If you are a designer sweet fairy who enjoys the Axe body spray like drydown stench, you won't understand this. However, if you enjoy stuff like HB Bottled Absolu or Lattafa ASAD Elixir, this is one level up in the game. I am not here to hype up all these middle eastern clone / "inspired" fragrance houses. But this concotion is doing its own thing and is the perfect blend between western elegance and eastern spiceness (without an Oud accord). Women tend translate this into untamed and misterious, which certainly provokes the desired effect on them. I'd say this is more for a first or blind date, perhaps in an upscale piano or wine bar rather than for cozy up nights.

Later edit: I came here just to say fuck yeah again. Fuck yeah. The first three dimensional smell I've felt in a perfume, ever. How tf did this guy manage to create a smell that feels like a 3D object in my brain? I can literally visualize this smell in my mind's eye and it's like this: a smoky, woody base that feels thick (no homo) and a fresh, shower gel-like clean top (no homo). And all of this feels very 3D spaced, like, imagine a cube where these top notes are on top, the bottom notes at the bottom and in the middle there's this clear, empty space that feels airy and fresh like how it feels when it's windy in the spring, if that makes sense. Straight out the box, projection and longevity are both decent and after spraying it on me at work, one of my female colleagues went crazy for it. I've just popped its cherry and, as you all know, it will only get better after the first time, but at this point it's a "fuck yeah" from me. fuck yeah/10

No wonder it took me forever to track down Musamam Black Intense from an actual reputable U.S. reseller and not a guy operating out of a semi-rural Texas storage unit with an CompuServe email address. Like Assaf’s Glitch, which I basically had to smuggle in from Dubai last month to avoid tariff taxes, this is another Middle Eastern banger that makes you question why you ever bothered with Macy's counters in the first place. And let’s be clear: Jordi Fernández hasn’t sold his soul. If anything, he’s leasing it at niche prices to the traditional perfume houses while the Gulf houses are out here reverse-engineering the Notre Dame cathedral and selling tickets at Aldi rates. I can’t believe it’s not butter. And I definitely can’t believe this perfume was $33 USD. At this price point, I expected a scented shrug. Instead, I got something that smells like it accidentally wandered out of a fragrance tax bracket three tiers higher than my own.

I had an interesting experience with this yesterday. I have been testing this for a while so I know how it smells. (Amazing) So yesterday I sprayed the first sprays of the new and first bottle I bought. Did a couple of sprays and almost immediately it almost felt like I can't smell it, even smelling my two hands close up was different. It was there but very soft. After two hours it was still soft and could hardly smell it. Until later in the afternoon, something happened and one of my work colleagues said: "damn the whole office smells of your perfume". I also realised by then that it had become more airy and on my way home in the car it was all around me and the person driving with me also gave me a compliment and said: "it smells nice and sweet." Yes it has a very sweet maple 🍁 drydown that is very strong and perfumy if there is such a thing. This is not a boring scent at all and it performs very well.

When I first smelled this fragrance, it was 2 months after all the hype. So I was seeking out why it shouldn't be hyped. It's just good! It's undeniable... the compliments are on par with vintage radio, liquid brun and teriaq intense. It's closer to a vintage radio kind of fragrance, meaning it's sweet, but it's not super dark. In fact it's very aromatic which helps it to be not just a winter fragrance but also a spring fragrance. As I write this i sprayed it on my arm and SMH... this stuff is really hard to beat. Most designers and niche can't hold a candle to this fragrance. My very first rating was an 8.5 after the first smell. And remember my goal was seek out the negative. So 8.5 with goals to hate on it speaks volumes. After day 3 and the flood of compliments... I couldn't hate anymore... it's just a beast! I bought a second bottle. BTW... its a monster performer

Seeing this all over social media and I caved. At first I was worried being that it was a blind buy, but I’m glad and pleased to say this is a top tier for date night or maybe even special occasions or corporate dinners. It’s not a signature scent unless you are the dark knight who is putting on his Bruce Wayne mask. The projection and longevity and the compliments are something I’d expect from a designer fragrance with the price tag to match. However this Lattafa won’t break your bank but will give the impression that you paid good money for this. Being someone that has a small collection I’m glad this one was added. Be fare warned, the opening is strong and masculine then the dry down is perfect. It’s one of those I find myself smelling on my wrist throughout the night.

Here is a short and honest review. No overhype here. This is a fragrance you might not love at first, but one you'll grow to appreciate the more you sit with it. I blind bought it, and I'll admit I was unsure the first time I tested it. It wasn't until I sprayed it on my younger brother that I really started to notice its beauty. Most people who dismiss this scent only smelled it once, off a test strip, one quick spray, and that's it. But this isn't a fragrance that reveals itself in a single wear. Revisit it a few times, let it develop on your skin, and you'll start to understand why it's considered one of the best fragrances ever made. It's unlike anything else out there, you just have to give it the chance to grow on you. For me it's a 8.5/10

Just a little update after I’ve had some more time since my first review, this stuff is absolutely amazing It might become my new signature, I know someone else said something similar, but since this stuff is so unique, if you’re thinking about blind buying the best way, I can describe the scent is 65% A*Men Fantasm and 35% Sauvage elixir , and then just add some extra sweetness, obviously that’s not a spot on description , but I get the unique chocolatey vibe from A*Men Fantasm with just a little bit of that massive healing spiciness from Sauvage elixir, and it makes this thing a perfect mixture of uniqueness while still being mass appealing, I wore it out yesterday and got four compliments from just last night, this stuff is amazing

This is a “softer” spicy in comparison to Asad elixir and some of the other mentioned similar scents. Fits the same profile as Asad elixir but the scent isn’t really close at all. Maybe not a safe blind buy but in my opinion a very inoffensive darker profile. I get the nice lavender and nutmeg off the top, but that “cocoa pulse” note really smoothes everything out and makes this quite nice and addictive. It’s not very sweet but there is a subtle sweetness edge to it with the tonka notes. I don’t get any maple out of it to my nose. Longevity is good, doesn’t project insanely off me but it’s not the kind of scent I would want to. I may be nose blind to it, it’s happened before. Perfect date night scent.

This is godly. It's masterfully blended, and I dunno where people are getting CH Bad Boy or even Rayhaan Italia vibes, this is totally different from either. Only thing that I think smells 60% similar would be Asad Elixir. This one outperforms it by a mile. As some have mentioned this is the best Lattafa ever to be created, up to this point. It's unique, it has a development that you can find in very expensive perfumery, it projects for a long time, it's not offensive, and it dries down very beautifully. I could smell this on my skin 14h later. Hell, 6h after I first sprayed on my hand, I took a shower and after another 6h I can still smell it here on my hand. This, is, amazing.

I purchased this for the maple and stayed for the gorgeous blend. I hope Lattafa has more like this in the future. It feels original, it's interesting, it feels intentional, and the projection and longevity are impressive. I can't say that I have anything like this in my collection, and I love that I can say that. The only thing that comes even remotely close I don't think is a match at all, but the same vibe. That date night, out clubbing vibe that 9 PM Night Out gives. If that is in your wheelhouse, then you would enjoy something like this. It doesn't take itself too seriously while simultaneously being neat as a pin.