Raghba

Linear and pretty flat honey, caramel, cedar, vanilla, a touch of spice/incense on fadedown. Sounds simple enough. medium projection and longevity, cheap. mmmmmm probably not a keeper then? On the contrary......... This is amongst my favourite fragrances of all time because it was my introduction to the world of fragrances beyond French and American big name department store ones. This opened my doors of perception of what a scent could be and the effect fragrances can have, not just something functional to smell Ok to go to work or to go to dinner or a club, but a fragrance can also be life affirming and a magically pleasurable experience, a massage of sensory pleasure through the nose to the emotional nerve centres of the heart, i discovered a kind of aromatherapy almost. I'll never forget that feeling when i first discovered arabian fragrances and the complexity of them, the multiple hours on a journey from top to middle to base, each phase offering a new delight. Raghbah was an education for me and so its got a special place in my heart. Because of the oakmoss reduction and the new global laws restricting its useage in perfumes, Raghbah is sadly not the same anymore or as strong, but its still a gem and you might love it too if you've never tried it. Its sweet but doesn't cloy at you, its woody and not overly smoky, its vanilla but with honey to accentuate it rather than overpower. Its strong but never chokes the air around you. Its right exactly down the line unisex and works beautifully on men and women from all walks of life. There are lots of vanilla and sweet and woody and arabian scents out there, by the bucketload...yeah khamrah too recently is getting all the attention, yet many years after this came out its still on its own someplace and nothing smells the same that i have yet discovered. It hits the perfect pitch between every note. It starts gorgeous, fades beautifully and ends gently, a smooth ride from start to finish (maybe 1 to 5 hours wear, depending on weather, humidity etc) A gorgeous blend in every way of smooth, spicy,sweet and smoky. It's the smell of happiness and contentment, peaceful tranquility and joy. I have loved Raghbah since the evening a stranger came up to me in Morocco and sprayed some on my wrist. I had no idea what it was and i liked it so i asked him. In true typical Moroccan spirit, without me even asking he gave it to me, a sample size 5ml and smiled. Keep it he told me, its a gift from Allah, not me. I went to give him some money and he refused. I thanked him and went to the souk and bought it later that week. That was about 10 years ago. I've never grown tired of it. Its a hot weather one, its sweet and some people might hate it. Its not a long stayer, especially in the cold. Smell is very indididual and subjective, i understand the criticisms aimed at Raghbah. Its probably an arab thing and some people won't like it. I get such a flood of happiness when i smell this that i now own and use the Raghbah room fresheners, incense, fabric spray and deodorant. Its not only gorgeous, it costs almost nothing. Fantastic scents don't have to cost the earth. Its the special one, indeed a gift from Allah as the man said WARNING UPDATE...over the years i have owned many bottles of this. In 2024 i brought one back from a Souk in Morocco that was the normal good quality for about 150 dirham, a normal price (10-15 USD/EURO). However i'm living in Europe now and don't have the luxury of try before you buy because nobody sells perfumes in Europe in shops or markets you can try for free. So, having no other choice, the last two i bought blind from Amazon and they were both as weak as water. Price is the same but quality sucks. REALLY sucks. This could be reformulated? I don't know. Be warned. Maybe there's a lot of fakes about and it would be better to buy from retailers in the arab world and pay the extra mailing costs to get a correct bottle, and whilst you do that you'll give your money to muslims who need it rather than exploitative khuffar multi-national corporations who destroy the planet and the world economy and don't need your money. Perhaps its been changed and reformulated recently, but it sure isn't as strong as it used to be, even in summer. Bear this in mind.

Stepping into the world of Middle Eastern fragrances, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Raghba, one of the first strictly Middle Eastern fragrances that wasn't a clone, immediately introduced me to a world of bold, resinous sweetness, smoky warmth, and unexpected nuances. It has since set a standard for what I seek in this style. My bottle is an older, pre-aged one, which may have influenced my experience compared to those who review it in its freshest state. The dominant theme is burnt sugar blended with warm, ambery vanilla and a touch of incense. Despite being a creamy scent, the opening has a somewhat metallic edge, which I personally find an intriguing addition — a sharp contrast to its otherwise smooth texture. Perhaps this explains why some people perceive a saliva-like nuance — without a trained nose, I might have made a similar association. The scent does not undergo any major transformation; what emerges in the first few minutes largely defines the entire wear, though subtle shifts in balance occur. The drydown introduces mineral, salty nuances, resembling a woody oud infused with liquor. The overall impression carries a certain nostalgia, reminiscent of a sweet dessert with sticky, stretchy caramel poured over charred wood. It also evokes the cozy imagery of a cabin in the woods by a crackling fireplace. Performance-wise, it boasts very good longevity with above-average projection, though it is not a powerhouse. It is one of the most universally wearable and unisex fragrances, fitting seamlessly for anyone, anywhere, in any season. In summer, its animalic facets become more pronounced, but it finds its true rhythm in cooler months when it settles beautifully into crisp air. I find it misplaced when people label this an 'unsafe' blind buy. If you're venturing into this style of perfumery, you likely have an idea of what to expect. Complaining about Raghba feels like buying a super-hot pepper and being surprised when it burns. For those who enjoy layering, Raghba serves as a versatile base — linear enough to complement other scents while still maintaining its distinct identity. For me, it remains a cornerstone of Middle Eastern perfumery — a timeless composition that perfectly captures the essence of this genre. Opening note: 8 Sillage/Projection: 7 Drydown: 8 Longevity: 9- Blend/Composition: 8+ Versatility: 9- Uniqueness: 7+ Value for money: 9 Bottle design/Aesthetics: 5+ Overall experience: 8 Blind-buy rating: 8+

When I sprayed Raghba once, the first thing that came to mind was the scent of a temple. Yes, that familiar aroma often encountered in Japanese temples—the scent of 沈香(jinkō), or aloeswood. It struck me as a little odd, because although I enjoy the scent of jinkō and I also appreciate oud in perfumes, I’ve always felt that the scent of jinkō in Japan and oud in perfumery are quite different things. And yet, the aroma I detected in Raghba was unmistakably reminiscent of true jinkō. Perhaps it’s the sweetness underneath the oud that brings out this resemblance, or maybe it reminds me of a particular type of incense blended with aloeswood. In any case, instead of the exotic Arabian atmosphere I was expecting, I was suddenly met with something strangely familiar and nostalgic. If this were one of those strong, traditional Arabic oud fragrances, I believe I could enjoy it just as easily. Raghba opens on my skin as a very smoky oud. Beneath it lies a sweet, toasted note—like burnt caramel. As I mentioned, it evokes the scent of a temple, which makes it feel meditative and a little sentimental. That may be because, for many of us in Japan, temple scents can carry memories of funerals. After a little while, the oud begins to soften, and vanilla starts to emerge— a warm, soft, slightly toasted vanilla. It’s sweet, but the oud remains present throughout, so instead of a gourmand impression, it feels more like sweet incense. Because of the temple-like quality of the scent, I do worry just a little that it might come across as an "older person’s fragrance." This heaviness doesn’t suit Japan’s hot and humid summer, I think. I wear it occasionally on cooler days, but once summer arrives, I plan to let it rest and mature—a maceration period, until I can fully enjoy it again in autumn and winter.

After Lattafa Khamra (which i loved) i was intrigued by middle eastern perfumes. I decided to give this one a try because the notes seemed spot on for me. Dont blind buy this like i did, luckily I LOVED IT. Not a safe blind buy if you are picky with spices and oud, or not comfortable in the unisex area of perfumes. Definitely spicy at first with the oud and incense, but after dry down the vanilla and sugar come out beautifully. Although i must note that the sweetness is not giving “edible cupcake” that people may think from reviews labeling it “very sweet gourmand”... and this is what was worried about. I don't like the childish sweet cloying scents of cakes and candy. So i really like this one. Longevity is crazy, this one is a beast so don't overspray it as this type of scent should only be noticed, not present all times. especially in closed spaces. For sure unisex. As for the saliva smell some people get: Yes, i can see how some get the sour, bad breath smell. To me it's spicy, rather than sour BO. Not sure what note is responsible for this shift could be tobacco of some sort? It goes away pretty fast tho and it’s not that bad. I would speculate some people get it pretty bad only for skin chemistry and maybe temperature and humidity where you live. I conclusion, loved it. Try it out before you buy it, but give it the benefit of sitting on your skin for sometime. *note: some people said they let Raghba macerate and it does wonders. I will let it macerate for about 2 months while still using it and i’ll make sure to update on that.

I do like this scent. As a woman, I would consider wearing it, but would incline towards layering it with something that leans feminine...there is something a little resinous and ethnic about this perfume. To the uncultured Western nose this may be off putting, but something about this is very comforting of a protective male figure...it reminds me of the winter I spent in the southern mountains of Turkey. My brother in law said this reminds him of the smell of his grandfathers cigar drawer. I get that one. It reminds me a little of Sultan al Oud by Al Rehab... I picture an older Turkish man with both a gruffness and tenderness to him. Picture a salt and peppered man with a beard in the mountains of Turkey coming home from a long day of hard work. His boots are dirty, but his hair is neatly combed in a side part. He sits into an old wooden chair that lets out a wheeze in a room with wooden antique furniture. The room is dimly lit. He pulls out a cigar and begins to smoke it with a quiet power to him. His wife brings him a cup of hot tea in a small glass cup. He takes it from her and kisses her hand tenderly with a twinkle in his eye. She smiles bashfully and returns to the kitchen to take the bread out of the oven. He closes his eyes and leans back in the chair as the smoke escapes his mouth, the streaks of the setting sun can be seen in the smoke.

Got this for Christmas in 2023 so it's fully macerated and lived in by the time I write this. It leans very sugary and inscense heavy on my skin. Don't get the bad rep in some of these comments. I've gotten so many compliments on this perfume from both men and women! They usually say i smell kind of like a burnt sugar cristmas treat! Or just a sexy sugary dark vanilla. I personally love it! It lasts until I wash it off on my skin. I do prep with a good moisturizer and oil most times but even without it's super long-lasting!! They way I see it this scent reminds me of either a sexy man who is wise and old school (not old but mature). Or a dark feminine type (not mature, just grown) who's alluring and mysterious. Great value for the price! Love layering it with other fall or winter spiced perfumes as well. The dry down is really sweet and smokey on my skin. So if you like a sweet yet mysterious and dark vibe it's worth a try. The deodorant is an even safer blind buy if you are not sure, since it's cheaper. I got both in a kit.

Just got this beauty in today and WOW! I am impressed. Personally I don’t think this fragrance is too sweet. Don’t get me wrong, there is a good dose of sweetness on the opening but once it starts drying down the incense and Oud become more prominent, the vanilla and amber still present but much lighter. Very well blended for the price tag of ~20 dollars. Can’t say much on performance yet but I’ll be back to edit this later. Edit: Performance was exceptional for the price tag. Full 8hrs+ on my skin with solid projection for the first 2hrs, this won’t offend anyone. Occasion wise, this is great for casual outings, date night, and potentially suitable for the office just be mindful of the sprays. Overall a fantastic pickup, and a solid blind buy if you enjoy amber and vanilla fragrances. Also the Oud in this is not skanky, it more so just adds a nice addition of woodiness. Very happy with this purchase, and I can honestly recommend this for both men and women.

It's my first time wearing Raghba this winter and to be honest, I forgot about it given all the new scents I've acquired in the last year, so this evening I thought feck it, I'll wear it! This scent is stunning to me, it's sweet vanilla, sugar and incense with a hint of woodiness. I can understand people thinking it's too cloying but the dry down of this perfume is where the magic is. After about 40 minutes, it just becomes this beautifully sweet and warm hug of a perfume. It's doesn't have a huge amount of dept to it but I think that's fine, it's perfect for a cozy comforting scent. Now I must also state that I live alone and haven't worn this around people so I'm unsure if it may be considered an assault to the senses to others but for me, sitting in front of the fire, reading, on a cold rainy night in Ireland, this perfume does something for my soul. If you like sweet, incense scents with a slight woody accord, this is one to definitely try.

Sugar shack season is where this scent takes me. Small-scale wood-fired maple syrup evaporators near the end of the season when the syrup is at its most potent point both in smell and flavour. Darkly sweet, woody, and smokey. Raghba makes this Canadian a very happy cookie. Like maple syrup season, this scent is best kept in the cooler months unless you really like sugary smells. I recently wore 1 spray under my shirt on a 29° (35 with humidity, bleh) day and the sweetness was overwhelming for the first hour or two. That evening though, it was a lovely lightly smoked vanilla skin scent. On cooler days it's lovely the whole way through. The manufacturing date on the box was roughly a year and a half prior to purchasing and the colour in my bottle matches the dark amber pictured above. My review is based on using this right out of the box, without the month's-long ageing many reviewers reported they needed.

Don’t let these reviews scare you (go read them first for a good laugh). Most of them are so over dramatic it’s comical. The saliva thing kills me because WHAT?? It must be like the “cilantro tastes like soap” gene where a select few share the same bizarre experience. But like one (sane) review says - it’s not that serious it’s just a warm, woodsy, amber - caramel scent and that’s it. I don’t even like oud and I like this scent. It’s not super strong at all - idk where that comes from either - but it does last a long time staying close to the skin/clothes. The amber is the strongest note to me. It’s not at all offensive - it doesn’t project enough to be offensive. It’s unisex to the point that I never wear remotely masculine fragrances but I will wear this ( if the temp ever drops below 80 where I live). It’s a great fall/winter scent. Gives warm & cozy vibes. Great price point too.

i honestly just love this fragrance so much. no idea what makes it so addictive to me. it's not a scent that evolves much on the skin, however i find it very, very complex. i get a lot of incense, the good kind, oud, sandalwood and a ton of sugar. those notes combined somehow remind me of a cola-like (the best fit would be a vanilla flavored coke) scent and i think that's what is truly unique about this fragrance. quite a common scent profile, sure, but the way this combination is carried out in raghba is just addictive. the only thing i dislike about it is that it definitely doesn't go too well with my skin chemistry :( it's beautiful on clothes but while wearing it directly on skin, it's less sweet, more incense-y and slightly bitter, smells a little like cough syrup or saliva. a bummer.

I love my Arab perfumes. I sprayed this one, after a year+ maceration, on me at 8pm last night and I can still smell it now, 18 hours later. This is a BEAUTIFUL eternal frangrance. I smell like a bakery filled with sweet breads and glazed cinnamon rolls. And thats 18 hours after application! When I sprayed it, it was incredibly strong and didnt smell quite like it does now. It takes some time from initial sprays, for this fragrance to settle into the gorgeous, sweet scent it has been for hours. You really get maximum bang for your buck with this one. And it can be found for a great price, which makes it even more of a deal. Im not sure whether this could be considered a date frangrance, but it sure is a comforting, hanging around the home scent for me.

I so love this!!! For me, the incense is really coming through at the initial sprays, but once it settles on my skin it smells so nicely sweet, it really reminds me of Christmas pastries! A lot of people in my circle smell cinnamon in this, including I, and it just tops off that gingerbread scent, because it really does smell like it. This is really a beast, I sprayed it at 6am and my mom asked about it literally at 10PM as she could still smell it on me arm's length. I get lots of compliments on it, even my boyfriend who has a very weak sense of smell could smell it from a meter away! This definitely isn't a blind buy but I surely am happy with my bottle, can't wait till it matures a bit more!

Nose Note #72 Great thick not overly sweet scent that's long-lasting and good in every sense that laughable money can buy. Smells sophisticated and no joke, it reminds me, my wife and my best friend of Lost Cherry. It's definately not a dupe and apparently there is no cherry note in it, but believe me, you will recognize the Lost Cherry vibe in the drydown. And it's a beautiful dry down. Nothing cheap about it in any way. It's like people have never smelled cheap crap... This is high-level quality Joy Amin said it's one for a sweet tooth. Honestly, I've tried sweeter and I think it's just sweet enough. But the bottle and the juice color, oh man... So beautiful. Stands out really well.

Amazing fragrance! Very yummy and delicious, and the smell is very mysterious and dark with the oud in there. This kind of gives me a lighter version of Sehr as far as the scent goes. Raghba is a beast in its own right, but after you let it dry down, it's a very beautiful and subtle scent that shows itself, and the power and performance is very much up there consistently. This is a very dark, yummy, boss, professional, sexy, gourmand that I feel most people would like if they enjoy that sweetness with the balance of the oud and musk. The silage and projection is top tier in my opinion as well and it stays on me for a good amount of time. Great buy and definitely would recommend!

When I first tried this, I thought it was the less sophisticated cousin to Liam, which I was mad ❤️about. But this summer I’ve gone head over heels for ouds of all types and this is in regular rotation with Oud Mood, Almeer Al Oud Intense and Shaghaf Oud/s. Also Sugar Leather. And Liam 🤷♀️ I kinda hate cinnamon perfume and this flirts with cinnamon without actually *being* cinnamon. It’s very sweet and I love it. It’s summer and I’ve been wearing Oud anyhow, nonstop, for about 6 weeks straight (very unlike me). Now we’re sliding into Autumn and Winter, the seasons these fragrances should truly perform best in & I’m so ready to see how they might change. 🍁 🍂

When I first got this and sprayed on, it smelled like vanilla, heavy insence and oud and a bit of that saliva note that some people mentioned. The saliva note was not too strong, but still, a bit disappointing. Now, a month and a half later, this smells like vanilla, sugar and cinnamon/ spicy. No more saliva smell!!! Let this baby sit for a bit before getting rid of her. It may surprise you!!! For 19 euro I bought the 100 ml perfume + 50 ml deodorant spray in the package One of the best buys ever!!! Very nice on its own and for layering as well!! One of my favourite perfumes is Khamrah and I layered these two the other day.. stunning!!!

Raghba my beautiful little baby. Got a 2nd bottle last week after blowing through an entire 100ml bottle last February. I could not stop coating myself in it just to lay in bed and read. I sniffed it from the lid today and thought "smells like safety and happiness." Heavy vanilla incense when first sprayed. Quickly quiets down to a powdery slightly spicy oud. Honestly I could wear only this througout fall and winter. Never too heavy, not brash or loud. Fits every situation. Not bad breath or spit, those are wild to me. I just don't get that at all. This is very western, neutered oud. Smells like wood, nothing distinctly oudy about it.

Just received my bottle today. OH MY DEAR LORD! I'm totally smittened madly crazily in love with it. It's the perfect fragrance that I was searching and found it after so many years. Sweet vanilla, perfect dosage of oud! I Wil get few bottles more in case I will not find this anymore. Bought it 13$ per 100 ml bottle. It's crazy. Perfectly blended perfectly sweet and spiced. As per the comparison with 24 Gold, this last longer and the notes are more defined. But for sure there are similarities between the two. Love it a lot and lot and lots more. Edit: ordered two more bottles, and they arrived today. Heyyyyy

At first, I had mixed feelings about it, but then I started loving it. Probably one of the only perfumes I own that has a powerful sillage and longevity like this. This was my first 'woody' and smoky fragrance and I would definitely purchase it again. Maybe not right after finishing it, but later as a backup, just to have it. I can say though, that this fragrance is not for everyone, I feel like you will either love or hate it. I always feel the urge to spray it as room fragrance, but hold back(even though a few sprays are enough to last for a long time) because I want it to last as long as it can