Sheikh Al Shuyukh Luxe Edition

If you are also reckless like me, and you read my impressions, you should know that I am a blind buyer because I enjoy the surprise and excitement of the unknown. Sure, not completely blind, but I often rely on notes and chords and then rely on my instincts. The positive reviews here and on YouTube drew me, and when I saw the low price, I couldn’t help but order it online. Lattafa has a few scents named Sheikh Al Shuyukh, which I still need to get, and this one is Luxe, which features a rich and delicious caramel sauce. You will be surprised to find how this smells like natural caramel made of high-quality butter, toasted and melted white sugar, a pinch of cream, and a healthy amount of salt. And I want to stress white sugar since brown sugar and molasses are used for making butterscotch and toffee. Plain white sugar doesn’t have a strong smell on its own, but the real magic happens when it’s heated. Eerie enough, caramel seems not to be a purely American-made confection, as there are believe that Arabs discovered the caramel around 1000 AD; they called it “kurat al milh,“ i.e., sweet ball of salt. Therefore, what is better than an Arabian scent with a touch of caramel? Sheikh Al Shuyukh Luxe is the typical Middle Eastern style fragrance, solid and smooth, well rounded, and never pungent. The opening is intoxicating, like a boozy drink, a flavoured Armagnac with creamy amber and spicy nuances. A blast of sweet, rosy, and tangy cinnamon oozes at first. Followed by a detectable rose, balanced by the lovely, hay-like fresh saffron flower. The dark red spicy powder is not as medicinal as in other Middle Eastern fragrances. I get lots of oud sap along with rose or whatever smells like oud, as that note does not show anywhere. However, not the typical rose-oud combo. There is a twist here; the earthy oud is prominent while flowers and spices walk a few steps behind it. The first minutes are all about sweet booziness with a honeyed, waxy tinge, enjoyable and not obnoxious. Some people liken the initial aroma to a waxing salon’s smell because of the beeswax with the resin used there. The rose leads here, not too feminine, though you must like the rose to appreciate the fragrance. If the opening act is intriguing, the middle one is even better. I mentioned a pink-oud pairing with a twist, and that’s because of the caramel, a smoky and incensed caramel, toasty and not to be confused with burnt sugar. You must smell it to understand how good and beautiful dark oud feels when mixed with salted caramel. The scent begins to develop complexity in terms of smell, like the granulated sugar that melts when the heat increases and releases a nutty aroma. The smokiness and sweetness get more depth when dirty patchouli kicks in. The scent projects, and a kind of mysterious warmth wraps my body. And then comes the last act, where the scent softens to a woody and amber veil. Cedarwood adds a pencil shavings vibe to the creaminess of blond sandalwood. The vanilla gains thickness and its dustiness expands and joins the oud and the woods. A beautiful base full of powdery amber and sweetness, with a smoky oud background. The nearly chocolaty caramel turns into burnt sugar. Now it’s patchouli’s turn to lead the race; very earthy and sweetish, so you have to like patchouli too to appreciate the fragrance. What about amber and ambroxan? Well, the former is clean, no question about it. Instead, the latter shows up with salty and musky facets, not dominant and not on par with #Sauvage and all other modern releases. Sheikh Al Shuyukh Luxe has the same intensity and power as Montale’s perfumes without being a copy of them. It is a deep, dense, cold weather fragrance I will wear throughout the cutting chilly nights outdoors here in Italy. Not recommended in summer, as it might be annoying. It projects easily for a few hours and lasts many hours as a skin scent. I sprayed it on my backhand and pillow before going to sleep, and the warmth of the amber tinge lingered the day after. It seems the strongest and best performer among all the Lattafa items I’ve tested. The sweetness in there makes it a fragrance with a slightly feminine slant. Enjoy this great, dreamy jewel if you are a man with a penchant for sweet, cozy, and gourmand colognes. I base my feelings and opinion on a bottle I have owned since December 2022 (BC M81.0301291, PD 03.2022)

This is the best value proposition within the fragrance industry. What do I mean by that? This is the best fragrance you can buy for what you get in terms of smell and quality versus the price you pay. The caveat is obviously this fragrance is not for everyone. It has a very distinct Middle Eastern vibe. For those in the west only at the start of their fragrance journey this smell may overwhelm their noses. However, if you are deeper down the rabbit hole and have been exposed to Middle Eastern scents then it will be more palatable. Also you need to be into vanilla ambers. The scent is self to my nose leans slightly feminine. But it is a classic vanilla amber in the typical middle eastern style. Ambery, sweet, vanilla and a touch of oud with rose and some incense. This is where my gripe starts with the industry. And why I believe this is a true gem. It is around this time of the year I start bringing out the vanilla ambers in my collection. I have most of the heavy hitters. Amber Absolute by Tom Ford (£350 on average for 100ml). Serge Luten’s Ambre Sultan (£182 100ML). Grand Soire by MFK (£345 for 200 ML). Dior Mitzah (£345 for 250 ML). And my personal favourite of the bunch Dolce & Gabanna Velvet Amber Sun (£325 for 150 ML). Some of these are discontinued and have been reformulated and watered down etc. Now Sheikh Al Shayukh may not be as nuanced or complex as Mitzah. It may not be as resinous as Amber Absolute. But it smells as rich and luxurious as all the above. It performs better than all of them, well outlasting them in terms of longevity and better sillage. The scent profile is not cheap or synthetic. Granted out of the box it might not smell the best, but with time as the bottle ages it blooms. It stands toe to toe with all the high end and niche vanilla ambers out there. All of this can be had for £15. So how can all these other houses justify their prices for their juices? SAS doesn’t smell any cheaper or lighter than any of them. They all contain synthetics and aroma chemicals too. Sure the packaging and bottle aren’t on the same level as the others, but even then, it puts all these other brands to shame. I generally believe you get what you pay for, but when you come across something like this, it becomes hard to justify the high price tags of the other scents. How can Lattafa produce something like this at this price yet the other houses want to charge ten times more for scents that aren’t even as twice as good? For these reasons I believe this is an absolute must in every fraghead’s collection. Aside from clones/dupes this is the best fragrance out there for the money period. You can smell like a Middle Eastern millionaire for £15! A few sprays on colder nights and you’re good.

**Spellbound Fragrance Review: "Sheikh Al Shuyukh Luxe Edition"** Imagine this: You’re perched high atop a remote, snow-kissed mountain, the world below a canvas of shimmering white. Inside, the wooden chalet breathes rustic charm, its cedar planks soaked in warmth. The fire crackles seductively in the stone fireplace, illuminating a scene that blurs the line between fantasy and reality. A sumptuous fur rug sprawls across the floor, inviting you to sink into its opulent embrace. And there he is—an enigma of sensual masculinity, his olive-toned skin glowing in the firelight. He exudes a raw, smoldering sexuality that hints at both strength and tenderness, his every move steeped in confidence and allure. This moment is bottled in *Sheikh Al Shuyukh Luxe Edition*, a fragrance so evocative it blurs the boundaries between scent and sensation. It begins with a magnetic burst of *rose, cinnamon, and saffron*, a trio that immediately captivates with its rich, spicy warmth and a delicate floral sophistication. The cinnamon crackles like the fire’s glow, while saffron’s golden touch weaves an intoxicating allure through the opening notes. The heart of the fragrance deepens into an irresistible blend of *caramel and patchouli*. The caramel is creamy and decadent, wrapping you in gourmand luxury, while the earthy, slightly sweet patchouli adds depth and intrigue, grounding the sweetness with its enigmatic warmth. Together, they conjure the image of the spice-laced caramel mocha latte swirling through the air of the chalet. As the scent settles, the base unfolds in a sensual embrace of *woodsy notes, vanilla, amber, and ambroxan*. These notes evoke the rugged yet refined masculinity of the man across from you. The woodsy elements are robust and grounding, while vanilla and amber add a creamy, golden softness. Ambroxan, with its musky, slightly salty character, whispers of skin warmed by firelight, leaning in closer, teasing the promise of a kiss. *This isn’t just a fragrance—it’s an experience.* Sheikh Al Shuyukh Luxe Edition wraps you in a sensory embrace, transporting you to a world where every detail is crafted for seduction. It’s the essence of a stolen kiss, a fleeting glance, and the promise of something unforgettable. Wear it when you dare to captivate.

Okay. This one is a bit complicated to describe. First of all, it was 100% a blind buy. I never knew what I got. Didn't even tell the seller to spray it on a test strip which I kind of regret. It was still summer when I got it last Feburary (I live in the southern hemisphere) so there was no way I was gonna wear it after I read about the notes here and the first impression that followed. I did buy it because I wanted a fragrance for when it gets colder. The first spray (in my arm unfortunately) was bittersweet. A strong incense-like (or was it probably the oud?) smell hits my nostrils. It was way too powerful for my autistic senses and had to back away from it almost immediately. It lingered for a very, very long time. No matter how much I would walk around, that strong opener would continue hitting me. Hard. I only recall feeling that and nothing more. As with every Lattafa (or Arabic, or Middle-Eastern fragrances in general) fragrance, people always advise you to let them macerate. So I did. I left it in a dark and cold spot in my home for a month, and continued using my main frag which was CDNIM at the time. Fast forward to March. Another spritz in my arm and... wow. Well, first off, the incense-like/oud smell was still there, but it got softer and creamer. It was bearable now. Not only that but giving it 15 minutes approx. the drydown IMO now feels like a rich, seductive and playful combo of vanilla and roses, with touches of caramel and cinnamon. All enclosed in a bubble of powder which softens everything. In-cre-di-ble. Longevity and sillage are both loooooong. Not Sauvage Elixir-like levels tho. I can recall that fateful first spray lasting an entire day on my arm, even after two showers since all I felt there was the then-sickening opener. Yes, even after a day. The second spray after that month of maceration lasted almost the same, if not slightly more. I paid $13 for the bottle on a duty-free store. The verdict? I really... love this, even though it leans more on the feminine unisex side than just unisex. Despite that, I'll wear it anyway, but not yet. Qaed Al-Fursan is my current Fall frag atm, so I'll let this macerate even more before Winter comes. Fingers crossed for June. June '24 update: lol

Omg i first got this around an year ago (it was at summer) and i immediately sold it because of how much strong and nose destroying it was. My nose was not ready by then. Luckily i sold to a friend of mine and after a few mounts (when it was winter in the same year) i smelled it on my friend and it was so beautiful that i bought it again. This fragrance is for someone who like middle eastern smells. The rose, the oud and saffron on this lattafa are superbly smelling. I am incredibly surprised that lattafa made this. It smells like something that mancera or montale would do, but the price is more than amazing. Definitely top 3 lattafas. Well the bottle is classy and fine, but the cap looks and feels really cheap. The box is also not charming. The longevity is more than 10 hours and filing room projection for the first few minutes and at least 2 meters for 5-6 hours. Even after that it still projects pretty good. Don't spray on clothes because you will need to wash them if you want to remove the scent. Don't get me wrong, the scent is amazing, but not for all occasions. Bottle Design: 6.5 Longevity: 8.5 Projection Power: 7 Projection Time: 8 Scent: 9 (you probably not like it that much) Price: 10 Overall: 8.16 HOW DO I RATE PERFUMES: | V Bottle Design: How much do I like the bottle, the cap, the box and the sprayer Longevity: On skin 10 (16+ hours), 9 (12-16 hours), 8 (10-12 hours), 7 (8-10 hours), 6 (6-8 hours), 5 (3-6 hours) Projection Power: 10 (Fills a street), 9 (fills a room), 8 (can smell from 5 meters), 7 (3 meters), 6 (within arms reach bubble), 5 (20cm from skin) Projection Time: 10 (10+ hours), 9 (8-10 hours), 8 (6-8 hours), 7 (5-6 hours), 6 (4-5 hours), 5 (2-4 hours) Scent: How much do I like the scent Price: Self explanatory I am experienced and i always buy original fragrance. I only rate fragrances which i tested for at least a month in different environment and with different people. Also i am spraying them on my girlfriend (she hates it) to test if i go nose blind to them and to see if it feels different on someone else's skin. I always give my honest opinion. Greetings from Bulgaria.

re- reviewing to say that this one took a long journey for me. I loved it the first couple months, where it was all rose + saffron and then rich smokey wood. Put a pretty good dent in the juice. But then it shifted and for like a year had a sour crushed sticks and burnt rubber -- not even oudy, more like an attempt at leather gone wrong -- base that obliterated every other note quickly into the drydown, and then finished into a fatty, squeaky musk that gave me a headache. I put my bottle away but tried it again bc I love the ard al zaafaran oud mood and the SAS Luxe is in every 'similar' list, so it seemed like i should give it another chance. Finally it had shifted again, the burnt rubber is gone and is now much more sweet and rich, i can smell the caramel and vanilla and amber as well as the rose and incense/wood. Almost a cocoa vibe to it as well. Still a bit of unlisted yellow soap musk in the drydown but not at all oppressive anymore and goes with the rose note. I guess my bottle must have been very new or something because it took a long time to stop being so rough, also confusing that it was nice though linear straight out of the gate before seemingly turning. I really enjoy this type of fragrance with the sweet/rose/spice/oud-wood, and this one did get good again, but i might recommend spending a little more for a more refined version of the type. I'll certainly use my bottle! but i don't think i'd buy it again knowing that it took more than a year of testing it for it to shake back out.

I just received this today from overseas so I’m not sure if the fragrance must “settle” as many say is required but I’ll update if my opinion changes. Spoiler alert: you must be patient with this fragrance and do not over spray one area of skin (or at all really cause this is a beast) If you’re familiar with MFK Satin Mood the first spray reminds me of the opening of that for the first few minutes and then on my skin turns into a jammy rose. If I really concentrate I can get the cinnamon but overall a very sweet strong rose jam scent (I’d say it’s like a more expensive, stronger version of Lush rose jam with a slight cinnamon spice added to it). I personally liked but also wasn’t crazy over the initial scent and thought it’s too simple but oh my goodness when the scent develops it’s heavenly!!! I may have sprayed too much on my arm but after about 2.5 hours on the areas where the fragrance is less concentrated on my skin it smells exactly like MFK grand soir; a luxurious warm sensual amber. At times along with this I get faint whiffs of a warm vanilla but it’s fleeting. Mostly that confident sensual warm amber, yet still that rose jam scent on the parts of my skin where the fragrance is most applied. About 3 hours later the rose seems to dissipate fully and you’re left with a warm woody amber. This can easily make you feel sick if you spray too much, especially with that rose it can be quite cloying for sure so I’d say not for the faint hearted or best kept for cooler weather and evenings.

After a successful blind buy with Raghba by Lattafa, i decided to explore their brand on Fragrantica and see what other possibly good fragrances they had to offer. I stumbled upon Sheikh Al Shuyukh. After reading and watching reviews, i was convinced this would another successful blind buy. Upon first spray, it didn't meet my expectations, but i wasn't that disappointed. The most prominent 3 notes voted on Fragrantica was Woods, Vanilla and Caramel. So i was not expecting a spicy blast of Rose & Cinnamon. That spicy Rose instantly reminded me of the spicy Rose in KKW's Ruby Diamond. Though I've grown fond of Ruby Diamond, i was expecting something more gourmand like in the opening from Sheikh Al Shuyukh. As this settles, the Cinnamon calms and i can begin to detect a hint of Woods and Caramel, but that warm spicy Rose remains at the forefront. It is then followed by Vanilla that softens this fragrance and sweetens the Rose. It's not gourmand sweet, but it definitely makes this so much more enjoyable. The performance of this definitely did not disappoint. Sheikh Al Shuyukh has a powerful sillage with very few sprays and lasted about 7 hours on my skin. This definitely is a Fall/Winter fragrance only. Despite this not being quite what i expected, i still find myself frequently reaching for this. But i don't think I'll repurchase when i run out. If you're a Rose fan, you may LOVE this. Scent: 7/10 Packaging: 8/10 Performance: 8.5/10

Creamy vanillic sweetness, cut by the bright radiance of saffron, all with a lightness of being which imparts a nice versatility. This is meant to be a dupe of Oud Bouquet Lancôme & Shaghaf Oud Swiss Arabian. To the person who commented about getting a urine note (peepee du chat) I'm guessing this is likely the saffron note. Shaghef Oud has less prominent saffron. [ I initially loved this, and wore it with gusto, but read my update below]. Contrast to Shaghef Oud Swiss Arabian: I blind bought this as it was reviewed as similar to Shaghef Oud Swiss Arabian, which I love. I can definitely tell them apart - for Shaghef lovers: Sheikh is more of a sheer version of Shaghef Oud, as it's missing the oud notes, and the saffron note is a little more prominent. I think I like it a little better than Shaghef, which I find a bit too heavy for summer and touch on the sweet side. Sheikh has that vanillic sweetness but it has more of an airiness to it. Contrast to Oud Vanille Franck Olivier: On a sliding scale of sheer to heavy where Sheikh Al Shuyuk is on the sheer end and Shaghef Oud is on the heavy end, Oud Vanille is in between but quite a bit closer to Sheikh Al Shuyuk. Update 06/02/24: This has gotten a lot stronger over time, with more forward vanilla & saffron, and a creaminess coming out in the sillage. I suggest testing first, as depending on your skin chemistry, the saffron may turn ammonia-like up close on the skin.

I may be among the minority here, but I was reminded of Raghba - with saffron and more oud! It's clearly related also to many another oud-rose-saffron-incense combination. My favorite thing about this lovely scent is the saffron opening and rich warmth throughout. My least favorite thing? That it has an almost masculine dry down without rose, causing me to respray. But I am not complaining! I will say those noting this is a rather simple scent aren't far wrong. It's more sophisticated than Raghba, but less so than several budget Arabian oils I own and enjoy. Where Sheikh Al Shuyukh Luxe shines is in the LAYERING! Layered with Gentle Gold, Avon Timeless, Rasana, etc - a beautiful depth and lovely chameleon quality emerges. I can see myself wearing this with many more fragrances as the season of winter progresses. A true delight to spray and respray. For those who enjoy Saffron based fragrances, a winner. At the moment, sillage and longevity are rather moderate. I hope this will improve over time but either way it's an enjoyable wear and wonderful bargain. Recommended. Update: To me this is primarily a simple and wonderful saffron-incense. I want saffron-incense with MORE, so I prefer this layered with Rose and Vanilla. <3 LOVELY. In fact, if anyone knows of a scent like this with an abundance of rose and/or vanilla, let me be the first to know!

When I tested Sheikh Shuyukh for the first time, the scent was so overwhelming that it gave me an instant headache. A synthetic cinnamon note dominated, mingled with an overpowering element I couldn’t quite identify. I tried everything to remove it from my arm - scrubbing, washing with soap - but nothing worked. If nothing else, its longevity is undeniable. I tested it again a week later. The opening was still slightly aggressive, but that sensation faded quickly. What followed was an elegant and sensual fragrance. It opens with a bold and almost unsettling burst of cinnamon, which soon softens to reveal an elegant caramel note intertwined with a long-lasting rose. As it settles, the base unfolds into amber, vanilla and woods - beautiful, enveloping, and deeply alluring. This is a truly surprising fragrance, unique in a way that sets it apart from anything I’ve encountered. It has a comforting quality, yet demands to be tamed. If the opening feels unsettling, be patient: allow it to mature, this fragrance genuinely deserves a chance. That said, don’t assume this fragrance - or any fragrance, really - is meant to please everyone. No scent can appeal to all. If it could, we’d all be wearing the same thing, and what a dreadful thought that would be.

This stuff is gorgeous, though I have to disagree with the notes, I just don't think the spice note smells like cinnamon, maybe cardamon? or nutmeg? I also get a lot of smokey sweet incense and a mild oudiness, not listed, and 0 ambroxan. Plenty of rose, saffron and caramel, though! Rich, smooth, round and well balanced, and very sweet but not in a food-y way, with a leathery suppleness that gives it body without musk or 'pencil shavings' notes. It's extremely nostalgic to me, though I can't put my finger on why, maybe it reminds me of some of the import and tea and health food shops my mom used to take me to, or maybe my aunt or one of my friends' mothers wore something very similar. I find it incredibly comforting. interestingly, I'm my experience with SASLE performance runs counter to many of the reviews. For me it sits close, not a lot of projection just a nice, solid but close personal bubble. The longevity is great on clothes but only a noticeable 4-ish hours on skin and another few as a skin scent. I'm actually relieved about this because if it was the giant monster scent people are describing it would probably be overwhelming, but I was definitely surprised to find it so close and moderate.

Ok... I don't know if I dreamed it, or I left a negative review about this one here somewhere. Now I can't find it to fix my mistake . When I first got a decant of this it was just a headache inducing Bulgarian rose all the way, from the beginning to the end that you can't really see because it lasted forever. I was sad because I really wanted to feel all the hype and the caramel and all the rest other ppl were smelling in this one. After aprox 1 month I decided to give it another try, in case that I was wrong and that it was me, and not the perfume. And am I glad I did that! The rose is still there, very potent at the opening, but it is somehow blended very nicely and it surrounds me with it's wonderful smell. Let me tell ya, 3 sprays of this is too much! After about half an hour, the rose takes a step back and the creamynes and the sweetness step forward. I can't tell apart any other note besides the rose, but it so warm, sweet, comforting... I ceep burring my nose into my blouse for days now. I don't know what happened, but now I am considering getting a full bottle of this richness. Btw, it does smell a lot like Shaghaf oud, only more potent, and more rosy to me.

I adore this one. Its probably the most well behaved oudh I've ever owned and its thanks to the reviews here that prompted me to blindly buy this. The rose and the saffron mix are heavenly and the sweetness from the caramel blends beautifully with the patchouli and oudh. There's nothing here that has a barnyard/fecal smell and to my nose it leans very feminine. Simply stunning. I dont care when you're recommended to wear a fragrance, I say wear it as and when it makes you feel good and this makes me feel good all the time. I'm looking at the notes on the website and they dont list cinnamon but cardamom instead: Fragrance Notes: Top Note: Rose, Saffron, Cardamom Middle Note: Caramel, Patchouli Base notes: Agarwood (oud), Vanilla, Amber Whatever is in this magical elixir it wraps me up and makes me feel mysterious. Take a chance on this one and you'll be (hopefully) as delighted as I am. I'm in the UK and the site I purchased this from for the next to nothing price of £14.99 is: tawakkalperfumes.co.uk. Give these guys a go if Middle Eastern fragrances intrigue you.

Para oler como princesa del medio oriente, maravilloso. Compre este perfume despues de ver algunas opiniones por redes sociales y no me arrepiento, es un perfume denso, oscuro y profundo. Es calido por el amber, amaderado, dulce con rosas y rambien especiado. Es cargado a la canela , te tiene que gustar la canela para que te agrade este perfume ( como Khamra de lattafa o angels share) Primero siento el azafran y la canela como por 4 min. Luego percibo la rosa, la canela y el caramelo. La canela siempre esta presente y se va suavizando con la precencia del caramelo. Es un perfume acogedor , como para dias fríos , de lluvia y al mismo tiempo misterioso por las especias. Hasta que sientes una vainilla amaderada pero al mismo tiempo dulce, que te termina de enganchar. . Es un perfume adictivo. Me encanta. Tiene una gran estela, ( use con precausión) con un rendimento muy bueno y longevidad extraordinaria, casi veinticuatro horas en mi piel. Buena opción para iniciarse en el mundo de la perfumería árabe. No tiene oud Este junto a Raghba son buena opción.

Sweet, delicious bomb!!! You have to be very careful with it, though. First time I wore it, I sprayed 4 time and almost threw up. The smell was overwhelmingly strong, and made me ridiculously nauseous. I scrubbed it off after 30 mins, because I couldn't stand it any longer. I gave it another chance, after a week or so, and sprayed it on each wrist, then lightly tapped the wrists on the sides of my neck. All I have to say is “Wow!”. It's sweet, delicious and projects like crazy. Saffron and cinnamon give the scent an interesting depth and nuance to what would otherwise be a straightforward fragrance. Now it's anything but. It's a very particular scent, though, and I would not recommend a blind buy. It's a darling fragrance, but it might not fit your needs or not develop on your skin the way it did on mine. I lent it to my sister for a bit, and she was disappointed by the way it smelt on her. A sweet, toasty caramel with a hint of wood and vanilla, with a somewhat linear development. She liked it, but expected more.

Goodness Gracious. Sheikh Al Shuyukh is quite beautiful, and yes! pretty much similar to Oud Mood. However, if compared with YouTube video quality, Oud Mood is 240p whereas Sheikh Al Shuyukh is like 1440p lol. They have the same type (and amount) of oud, which has a sharp medicinal hint like synthetic Cambodian oud oil in green colour, but created in different techniques or styles. - Sheikh Al Shuyukh: 'more' incensy, spicy, smoky, resinous, ambery, oriental. Oud is on the same wavelength as the other notes (1440p). Sillage is a beautiful cloud. Drydown is if you cut off oud and caramel from Oud Mood. - Oud Mood: remain the vanillic amber in SAS but add tons of caramel, so this is much more gourmand. Oud is peppery sharp as though pictures are all fragmented in 240p. Sillage & projection is fast and robust as the loading time of 240p. I enjoy both but easily prefer SAS. Great for layering with some oud oil or heavier oriental frags. (Got this idea from 'A Fragrant Glance'. Go watch her pls!)

I ordered this about two months ago, and wasn't sure about it. It took a few weeks, testing, taking breaks, to turn my 'like' into a LOVE. I have fallen in love with this DNA, this warm resinous comforting golden elixir. And now I want more, I want more OUD and I am so drawn to it, I want heavier and thicker and whatever this is but MORE. The good news is that I do get whiffs of this, my beloved Sheikh al Shuyukh even hours after I spray, so there is a silage and a prominent projection, not too much, I can't smell this on my skin the morning after - my true test for great longevity. But it is long lasting and it's gorgeous - to me. It's a middle eastern fragrance, not to forget, there's a deep and dark gorgeous red rose in this, some caramel laced saffron - it's gorgeous. Update after 8 months: This one takes time. This bottle has become better with time and so fine. Gorgeous. Practice patience and you will be rewarded. It's half full now (the bottle, not my heart.)

So I am delving further and further into my journey with Middle Eastern perfumes and discovered this gem. The first time I sprayed it it was too sweet for me and I was somewhat disappointed and almost wrote it off but give it a few minutes. The notes marry together so well, I definitely prefer this to Oud Mood. I like Oud Mood and probably think it is safer for beginners with ME fragrances compared to SAS Luxe Edition as the Amber is not as dry in oud mood. The saffron and rose pair together perfectly and the cinnamon is a comforting touch. I am accustomed to unisex scents and I can see a man wearing this but it does lean more feminine to me personally but I believe a confident man could pull this off. Sweet but not sickly to me. I cannot pick up on the patchouli here but maybe that’s what saves this from becoming a sugar bomb. I’m not sure if this is a safe blind buy I would say if you liked Oud Mood and want to venture out to something more mature then yes.

I recently obtained a 100ml bottle of this fragrance from an online retailer “The Oud Store” as part of a much larger order. Lattafa (and it’s subsidiary companies) has proven itself to be a quality brand and manufacturer of great products. Ive been following Lattafa for quite some time now & I’ve never had a bad experience. Sheikh Al Shuyukh : WOW! What a great fragrance! Luxuriously sweet & decadent. Very very rich. Great staying power & great sillage. Easily identifiable as an Arabian fragrance...so unique and so very far from the standards of Western perfumery. Every time i smell it, i think of Ancient Egypt...and the pyramids..the palm tress...incense at the bazaar....love it! Somewhat similar to Oud Mood.....but with much less rose and more cinnamon. If you like sweet , rich fragrances...and exotic blends of notes you will surely enjoy Sheikh Al Shuyukh. I will definitely replace this fragrance when its gone. The Verdict: EXCELLENCE!