Kismet

Prada l’eau ambrée fans beware! The opening of this perfume is an abstract and weird blend of citruses, it doesnt feel sharp or zingy but it doesnt feel juicy either. It feels like a medicinal tea with some form leatheriness (probably from the bergamot). Sounds exactly like Shalimar, but its nothing like Shalimar at all to me. Shalimar’s opening is bergamot heavy to the point where the first minute basically smells of bergamot extract with lightly spicy touches. Kismet however opens exactly like the opening of the discontinued l’eau ambrée... which isn’t shocking, as theyre both citrus rose opoponax fragrances. It is warm but not too warm, it is resinous yet sheer and translucent and it is medicinal without being green. And there is 0 spiciness and 0 sweetness. Very different from other ambers. Kismet starts off like l’eau ambrée, but that perfume lacked depth and layers. L’EA quickly becomes a thin and sheer skin scent and fades quickly too. Kismet however decides that it’s time to give the underrated resin opoponax some love. Resins like benzoin or frankincense are rather common in perfume for different reasons. Benzoin is more caramel vanilla-y, with sometimes a hint of funk that only i seem to pick up on. But it is used in a lot of modern perfumes because of vanilla’s popularity. It is also a rather simple note. It blends really well with other things and that is beautiful as well, just less special than opoponax. Frankincense is a typical church incense which tends to be more cold and bitter smelling. It works in a lot of green perfumes but also typical churchy incense forward perfumes. Who even uses opoponax anymore? It isn’t an easy note to cram into note pyramids because of its duality. I find that opoponax blends the sweetness/warmth of benzoin and bitterness/spirituality of frankincense amazingly, striking a perfect balance of something powdery vanillic but also medicinal and bitter. And that is exactly what kismet focuses on. The opoponax in here is opoponax in its fullest; a warm medicinal resin that is never too sweet but also never too dry. It is strong, powdery and elegant. But never overbearing. This is a very transparent amber, which doesn’t mean that its not noticeable or that the longevity is bad. On the contrary, its one of the most longest lasting things i’ve smelled. But it behaves like a veil of amber. A golden brown sunset on a late summer night. And i’m very happy about that. I have been searching for an opoponax perfume that actually focuses on opoponax instead of using it solely as a base note or an addition to something else. The opoponax here is indeed supported by a rose in the beginning, but they’re not separate notes. I dont smell rose + opoponax. I smell opoponax with a rosiness. The vanilla is not sugary sweet or really that present, it once again blesses the opoponax. It really reminds me of the diptyque opoponax candle, which is a good thing as i’ve been looking for something that smells like it. Shalimar???? I dont find these two similar at all. Shalimar is elegant and sparkling but also bold and edgy. The opoponax is only there in the far drydown and the texture is much more grainy. Kismet is much more spiritual... maybe even cerebral... and ancient. Without being overly complicated or high brow. Kismet is far more airy for sure and definitely has no strong bergamot opening or leathery smoky animal nuances like Shalimar. Less complex maybe, but still exactly what im looking for. Might even be my favorite perfume of this year. We’ll see! One of my favorite perfume YouTubers(Eloise scents) said that kismet might be redundant for someone who owns shalimar, but I think theyre different enough to warrant owning both. Or maybe layer them if you wanna he an opoponax bomb!

Kismet is well named, at least as far as my own experience with it is concerned: based on the note list I never would have picked it out for myself, and when I got my sample I was quite ready to place it in the category "good, but not my thing" - but instead it ended up broadening my definition of "my thing", because I really fell in love with it. Reading this page of reviews, I guess I shouldn't be surprised, because it seems like I'm far from the only one who feels this way about it. It's such a wonderful, warm scent, at the same time super comfortable and wearable, and very complex and elegant. It's very much an oriental fragrance to my nose, which is a category that usually leaves me cold, but Kismet is exceptional in every sense. Opoponax and labdanum are prominent from the very start; at first they're joined by rather bitter citrus notes, which is nice, but the magic starts to happen a little later on when the vanilla joins the party. It settles down deliciously powdery and sweet, but in a balanced way - the resins make sure of that, and this combination is really a match made in heaven, and executed to perfection. This balanced character makes it very versatile as well; I can imagine wearing this in almost any situation and even any type of weather except high summer, and never getting tired of it. It also projects just right, and lasts all day. For me, it falls into the category of scents I could imagine having as a signature if I were still that kind of perfume wearer. So I've found a new indisputable love - I mean to get a bigger amount of this as soon as I can, and I definitely see a full bottle of Kismet somewhere in my future. This is my second sample from Lubin, and the second one that's a big hit with me; I have to dive deeper into this house as soon as possible! Also, I've never given Shalimar much thought, but if it's anywhere in the vicinity of this one, I guess I'll have to remedy that...

TFW you order $75 worth of samples from luckyscent and a wild card turns out to be a love. I have already ordered a bottle. I thought I didn’t like opoponax, but it turns out I just hadn’t met the right opoponax because I love it in Kismet. Kismet opens with sparkling lemon & bergamot. Next, a creamy vanilla & deep opoponax accord with a touch of herbal patchouli, with the citrus top notes in the background. It’s really beautiful. As the top notes fade, the vanilla becomes powdery. I don’t really get that much rose, maybe just enough to round things out. Edit: I have a white blush rose called Earth Angel in my garden that has just begun blooming. Earth Angel has a fresh lemony scent, and I can now see the rose in Kismet’s pyramid. Kismet reminds me of Sublime Vanille by Creed, but so much better! Kismet is more complex, has superior longevity and sillage, and doesn’t cost as much as down payment on a house. I see also comparison to Shalimar...I haven’t smelled Shalimar in a million years, but I remember it being leather and incense laden, and so to me the two are very different. It’s like people who point out that Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin are both British bands that originated around the same time, both playing doomy blues rock. Yes they are contemporaries in a similar style, but they are still very different. Speaking of longevity and sillage, I sprayed my sample onto a T-shirt yesterday. Tonight, my boyfriend smelled it from a couple feet away and told me he loved it, that it was sexy. Did I mention I’ve already ordered a large bottle? ;) Update: although a lot of folks feel the opoponax resin & vanilla accord of Kismet denotes winter time, I have been wearing this in late May and don’t plan to stop until I can’t stand it. Kismet hasn’t turned heavy or cloying, and the citrus is seasonally appropriate.

I LOOOOOOOOVE this perfume. I meant to write a review last time I wore this; I'm not wearing it at the moment so can't really do it justice. However... Having drifted to this page, I felt compelled to mention that Kismet is stunningly beautiful. Fragrantica editors have allocated this to the "Floral" category; if you buy it on the basis that it's a floral perfume, you are going to be desperately disappointed. Kismet is an Oriental. It DOES bear similarities to Shalimar (allocated to the Oriental Spicy category); they also smell as if they're from the same era. It may even be that the original Kismet helped inspire Jacques Guerlain's Shalimar, as it predates it by four years or so. This Kismet is more "user friendly" than the current Shalimar. I'd love to get my hands on the original in that gorgeous bottle, to compare it to its current formulation. Finally, I do wish people wouldn't think that "Reminds me of..." = Dupe. Unless a company (Alexandria, DUA, La Rive, Armaf etc) is going out of its way to produce a dupe, the designer and niche houses strive to bring something new to the market, albeit in line with current trends. Niche houses - obviously - are often more experimental. Producing dupes of other fragrances (in the same price range as the original) would soon force companies out of business. For example, no one would be interested in buying the same fragrance from Dior when it was available from YSL for the same price. The reason Armaf etc are thriving is because they produce - what are often - very good quality dupes of high end products at a fraction of the £££$$$$£££.

This is Shalimar-esque-- most resembling the eau de cologne version-- but I find Kismet to be slightly better. There’s not so much vanilla or incense, so it comes across more harmonious and citric. Opening is clear bergamot, like earl grey tea, then dries down to a powdery scent. I’m at a point in amber sampling where most feel more sour and spicy than sweet, and opoponax is the lime to benzoin’s lemon. The rose being listed here surprises me, because this doesn't have a distinct rose note, instead having some rosy qualities: cosmetic, fresh and delightful, if a little dated. The more modern twist here is a lack of animalics, setting it apart from similar scents like Musc Ravageur or Labdanum 18. Personally, I can’t get enough of this soft sweet citrus, and it makes me want to try more on the gourmand side of the aisle.

I purchased a sample of this beauty from Lucky Scent and what a delight she is. The breezy crisp opening blossoms into an unusual and luscious combined note of lemon and petitegrain. Very different from a Guerlain accord. Then the deepest, spiciest blood red roses emerge in a bed of patchouli. And it gets even better with a haunting but warm base of labdanum entangled with a restrained vanilla. Very complex, rich and satisfying. Longevity is 10- 16 hours on me with moderate to enormous sillage. I can't compare Kismet to Shalimar - Shalimar is cloyingly sweet and powdery on me, while Kismet is surprising at every turn; fresh, crisp, spicy, velvety rather than powdery with that stunning labdanum drydown. Nothing compares to it - the closest relative to Kismet is probably Papillon's Salome. Perhaps her darker sister?

What a elegant one this is. The first 10 minute are nice. But after that Magnificent. A king may wear this. This is unisexy. This starts cordial classy. Then midway attreactive and more and more prestigious. This is a universal beauty. The kind thats beauty doesnt fade It could easily be the royal kin to my beloved Shalimar. Yet very different with glimpses of some how resemble. The opening has a few moments that reminds me of Creed.but wayyy better. Then neither Shalimar nor Creed. Even Chanel Exclusive lind but Better. this is a low key extremely anytime appropriate perfume. Its very lovely. Would i buy this. I hope so. this is really easy for someone to get attached and never tire. 10/10

I've loved Shalimar for a few decades now and also own opus 1144. I feel I should comment as Kismet has only very vague similarities with the afore mentioned beauties. I own all three and they are like the three graces. Lovely and each unique. Kismet is very much centered on the lush resinous oppopanax note. Shalimar is more bergamot, vanilla and leather. Opus is like a journey back through time to the great scents of the early 20th century. Shalimar briefly appears then l heure bleu. It's quite an olfactory ride. So please, do try Kismet. She's a beauty in her own right and not just a copy of other great classics.

Definitely shalimaresque, and the version this reminds me of the most right off the bat is the new Millesime iris, but much better and minus the overly synthetic touches. Lasts all day and keeps getting better- I am encountering the sillage and swooning as I move and re-enter a room. Liking this is a first- most scents that do this are far too potent or synthetic for me to enjoy. As someone comments below, I also find this is somehow both fairly present and projecting but soft and quiet at the same time. The dry down is divine. This is gorgeous, I may need it. Now I must smell everything else from the brand.

Immediately I’m picking up vanilla and citrus. I like Kismet even though it’s behaving unexpectedly on my skin. Opoponax is reminding me of leather in the opening, and like another reviewer, concrete in the drydown. Powdery and soft is the end result of the combination of rose and patchouli... at least that’s what I think is going on. Kismet is much more luminous and complex compared to Shalimar. It’s comforting and easy to wear. I have space in my perfume wardrobe for Kismet, it’s quite lovely. PS: Projecting softly in the first phase, my partner loves this one, so full bottle worthy.

There is definitely a resemblance to Shalimar but this is of course minus the leather and is more warm, approachable and resinous. It bears some similarity with The Shalimar of my youth in the 80s. The labdanum is now very evident along with some rose after half an hour. If Shalimar is too strong and too leathery for you then you should love this. This is an easy fragrance to love. Warm and sweet resins which smells natural. A very warm fragrance that would be perfect on a chilly day. Moderate silage with very good longevity.

This is divine! I was so surprised by this! Unfortunately, Shalimar is not for me so I was a little worried about the comparisons, but I needn't have. They are similar but so different. This is soft and womanly and very ethereal to me. I fell in love with it at once and asked for it at the next holiday. I get the citruses, vanilla, opoponax, petitgrain and labdanum. It lasts 8+ hours on me and this is Signature Worthy! I didn't think they made perfumes like this anymore. GORGEOUS.

This could be a Shalimar flanker. So of course, I love it. If I were blind testing it, I would think it was one of the newer versions of Shalimar with all of the aspects some people find difficult toned down. This perfume really shines in the dry down as it gets warmer and richer and the Labdanum takes center stage. It was a very thoughtful gift since I'm a Shalimar lover and I'm so grateful to have it as it is not something I would have purchased for myself.

oh wow, this is beautiful from the beginning! i get some citruses, vanilla and resins. it doesn't seem to change much over time, though the vanilla becomes a bit less pronounced and the resins become stronger. i believe i get a hint of rose, but it's not a strong or sweet rose. i don't seem to get much patchouli from this, but maybe that's a skin chemistry thin. it's a rich, gorgeous, soft, deep, warm scent. immediately shot to the top of my want list.

The initial spray kind of slapped me in the face, but a few minutes later it dried down to a warm, inviting scent that I can’t stop sniffing. I’d imagine anyone who hugged me while I was wearing this wouldn’t let go right away. I don’t remember what Shalimar smells like, so I can’t agree or disagree with the comparison. I’m probably going to use this sample up rather quickly and go in search of a full bottle.

At first, I thought I was going to hate it because it smelled like old-fashioned aftershave. But it quickly shifts to a powdery, feminine, ozonic fragrance. Honestly, it doesn’t stay just one thing. Sometimes it’s floral and herbal. I could have sworn I smelled heliotrope at some point, and now I’m mainly getting powdery, ozonic iris. It doesn’t know what it wants to be, and maybe that’s part of its appeal.

This smells like the gourmand parts of Shalimar without the funky leather bag note. Smooth, powdery vanilla and opoponax, warm, rich and intoxicating. The lemon and verbena lifts it into the nose where the balmy sweetness disperses and lingers gently. No rough edges here, all soft and diffused. Very lady-like and charming.

It was just amazing, especially if you like vintage Shalimar. To me this is a superior version of Shalimar. Thomas Fontaine did a really good job to re-orchestra this 1921 oriental fragrance. The base was so beautiful. Hardly any fragrance excites me these days. Kismet is the one after Puredistance M.

The most luminous, magical amber that glows around you like diffused light. So well blended, I can only really pick out the bergamot, opoponax and vanilla - I can’t perceive rose or patchouli at all. Light and airy yet rich and warm, I’m in awe of this creation.

That’s what it smells like a much much better Shalimar!

I own both Shalimar and Kismet and I have to say that there is not much resemblance between the two. However, this beauty is much closer to Shalimar Parfum Initial, my beloved Guerlain. I dare to say this is improved, stronger and better blended PI. When I first tried Kismet I fell in love the same moment. I was in a store, searching for musky fragrances (it was (still is) my mission, to find the perfect musk- my favourite note. haven't found one yet) Anyways, I randomly tried this one and big, stupid smile froze on my face. Like people when they are desperately in love over heels. Planned musk shopping ended with Kismet, yet another vintage-powder-vanilla fragrance, along with all Parfum Initial versions I already have. I admit: I bought this beauty because PI is discontinued and I am making backups of anything even similar. Fresh, citrus/powdery opening, like a sunny morning in a vintage bedroom. Then the warm mid notes and base pop out. The vanilla, opoponax and labdanum create that delicious waxy vintage make up smell, which i adore. Kismet is warm, but the vanilla is not sweet and eatable , it is powdery and classy. Later becomes creamy, complex ... like a mixture between otherworldly and "something old and comforting" . The creaminess makes it feel like there is tone of musk in it, but other notes create the feel. Kismet has that magic, that uniqueness you will not find in other fragrances.

Kismet really reminds me of Shalimar. In fact, it smells so much like Shalimar that if I didn't know better, I would think I was testing Shalimar. I owned Shalimar years, and years ago and never felt the need to rebuy. As this goes along, I do like it better than Shalimar. It is softer and it isn't a cedar/leather bomb that Shalimar is. I'm a big fan of Opoponox and this perfume has that note in abundance. Labdanum is present as well. This is zesty w/ lemon/petigrain in the beginning but give it like 10 mins to settle and it turns into a beautiful vanilla amber fragrance that is very cozy while still smelling grown up. A softer Shalimar for those who think Shalimar is a bit too much.

The opening is the typical oriental but with a bitter herbal scent. Warms up to a loud symphony of animalic oriental floral and incense. Very beastly, quite a statement, and goes on and on. The performance is like magic. On me it lasts overnight. The dry down is honey, resin, and herbal medicine. The vibe is formal, and night. Very sexy in a powerful woman kind of way. Doesn’t smell like Shalimar although share some similarities.

A warm sticky Parisian night, walking barefoot back from a gala, swinging your heels in one hand. The buzz of florescence from a nearby street vendor. Like a quiet, natural moment returning from a dizzying elegant event. Naturally warm and alluring. Artistic, but not dirty. Genderless with a mild spice. It is unique to have a “fresh” kind of spicey/musk scent. But this one is beautiful with a mildly soapy dry down.

My blue sample vial, I am sure it must be the newer verison of Kismet, is warm, delicious powdery. I get the Shalimar vide but Shalimar is much spicier. This little fragrance is like a sweet kiss, powdered sugar. Shalimar was and is for "grown ups." I would wear this is the winter. Just the thing to warm up. Also would be amazing in a summer evening but then I would be tempted to layer with a gourmand...

Agree it is very shalimar without the fecal note. Big citrus burst which is very enjoyable at opening, and on drydown I get a concrete smell, like the material concrete.

Classy, genderless, sparkly and elusive.

I'm kinda testing this blind, getting samples from the lovely reps for the brand at an event. While they had the whole brand on display, this is one that stood out to me to test at home. Kismet opens up amber, a little oudy, with elements of varied spice and dried fruit. The dry down is deep and rich and reminds me of Versace Dream for reference, but more powdery, floral/fruity, and layered. The opening is unisex, but smelling Kismet side by side with Dream (which is quite unisex) the powdery dry down and specific tones of Kismet lean more feminine. Looking at the notes there's no surprise. The opoponax provides the deep body while the citruses and roses float in, around, and through it. The combination is what pulls the floral and citrus into a more mesmerizing and dreamlike affair. I like the richness and particular floral/fruity element, and its initial opening (that is more musky and is what initially drew me to this fragrance), but for me the dry down is too feminine, but that is no fault of the fragrance.

Opened as a sweet, very powdery rose with something seductive and resinous lurking beneath the surface. After about half an hour, the powderiness transformed into a balsamic candied lemon scent, which faded into a fresh rose-vanilla skin scent after about three hours. I am surprised that amber is listed as the top accord - I would only list it as the fourth after balsamic, citrus, and sweet. I waffled between hitting "like" or "ok" for this fragrance, but the early drydown has an overbearing Ricola cough drop aspect which precludes me from wanting to buy it.

Too powdery, like baby powder.

I ordered a sample of this on a whim when I was ordering some other perfume samples. I was intrigued by other reviews saying it was like Shalimar, the vintage Shalimar, with the divine powdery drydown but lacking the animatic rough edges. I doubted I’d be impressed. I’ve been trying for years to find a perfume that I remember one of the teachers wore when I was in second grade. She wasn’t my teacher, but every time she came into our room or we passed her in the hall, there was this wonderful, comforting , ultra feminine powdery scent. Shalimar and Emeraude sort of capture that scent in the drydown, but I find both the exp and edt of Shalimar either too spicy or too smoky/incense-y. The cologne is the closest, but it’s a little too animalic. Emeraude is a little too citrusy. So I didn’t really have high hopes for Kismet, but had to smell it. When I first applied it, I admit, I was a little disappointed. Another reviewer mentioned that it smells like Vol de Nuit in the opening,mind that is spot on. I like Vol de Nuit, but that wasn’t what I was going for. The opening also reminded me a bit of those little Wash N Dry moist towelette packets my mom used to keep in her purse for us to clean our hands with. Obviously not the smell I was going for either. After a few minutes, the scent started to develop. I began to smell a distinct similarity with the middle/drydown of Eclats d’Amandes by Comptoir Sud Pacifique, which I just sampled a week ago and really liked. Then came the drydown. Wow! This is what I have been looking for! A beautiful, smooth, powdery sereneness. I have to say I really like it. Too bad it’s so expensive. Maybe I’ll put it on my Christmas list if my husband needs ideas!

I am really enjoying this latest release from Lubin. Kismet is a delicious, balmy vanilla scent, super cuddly and perfectly suited to the cooler months. Despite the rose note featuring prominently in Kismet's official scent pyramid, I honestly wouldn't classify this fragrance as a rose scent. The rose accord is very subtle and smells more like dried potpourri, which mind you works beautifully alongside the opoponax, patchouli and labdanum notes. The vanilla accord is at its most fascinating in the drydown of Kismet. On my skin, it is velvety smooth, sensual and dusty. Kismet is easily one of the prettiest oriental vanilla scents I have smelt in a long time. I don't, however, find any similarities between Guerlain's Shalimar and Lubin Kismet. Shalimar is far more powdery and has a much more prominent lemon accord. Kismet is its own stand-alone scent. I patiently await the cooler weather so I can start wearing my generous decant of Lubin Kismet. The rich, resinous notes found in this fragrance do unfortunately nauseate me if I attempt to wear this perfume during Summer. It's also important to go light on the sprays, as a little bit goes a long way. I am pleased to find Lubin still creating outstanding fragrances worthy of their niche standing. Their scents pair beautifully with their stunning bottles and intricately detailed packaging.

I don’t know why after reading the official description on Lubin’s the site I was expecting more of a chypre-oriental. It’s not. It’s Shalimar. More floral, less on the amber leather notes of the latter but Shalimar cousin nevertheless. Its a beautiful well done fragrance with quality materials. If I was not having enough Shalimar around, I would gladly take it. But I don’t wear it enough to decide I need a fresh take on it. But for those who wear Shalimar a lot and look for a different take on it, Kismet is a more bright citrusy less bergamot opening, that morphs mostly into the flowery part of Shalimar without reaching the amber base with the same depth. It is more esparkling, transparent (in the good sense) and overall easier to wear. Nice take on the 1920 vibe on the very wearable side. However if I were to go in that direction I think I would rather go for Tauer’s Les Annees 25 which is the dryer more daring interpretation of that 20’s Shalimar larger family.

-I initially thought Kismet had the Shalimar sort of barbershop vibe to it. -Kismet has this amber-styrax DNA unique to the house of Lubin; -Dries down clean-smelling despite the patchouli note. -Reminiscent of the clean patchouli you'd find in Patchouli Intense by Nicolai. -Overall, a soft, refined and elegant scent. -A gem from the house of Lubin. *Update* -It's a soft, comforting scent with good silage and projection. -Pretty unique scent that straddles the line between modern and vintage. It's what I wanted Hdp- Ambre114 to be. -Has an ethereal quality to it, just like Iris Silver Mist by Serge Lutens (Bell jar line) -Overall, a pretty and wearable amber even in a tropical climate, where it's summer year round. *Update* -A couple of hours have passed since my last update. -I'm beginning to get a mothball vibe from Kismet. (-) -I guess there's a reason amber scents go better with cooler climates. -Fbw if you live in a cooler climate!

This is a very complex, oriental and sweet perfume. Definitely not my kind of fragrance, but I got a sample from Fragrance Counter, and I just had to try. Tons of balsamic notes and a lot of vanilia with a little citrus, and noticeable myrrh accent, which is trying to balance out the sweetness. I also can smell a little patchouli in it, but unfortunately no rose on me. It is a warm perfume, great for winter, but you have to like vanilla, otherwise this is not for you. The sillage is moderate, the longevity is 6-8 hours on skin, more on clothes.

I love Shalimar on other people, but on me it's a sticky cake-y vanilla with sour citrus in a stomach-turning combination. On paper, Kismet sounds like a Shalimar I could wear, so I was excited to try it, but sadly, it isn't any better. The citrus notes are like bug spray on me and kill the otherwise gentle vanillic base notes. It's not quite the total scrubber of Shalimar, but pretty close. Annoyingly sharp, medicinal citrus effect over defeated, resigned vanilla/benzoin.

Got a 100ml of that very beautifull flask now, a christmas gift to my wife. What a wonderfull oriental, enlightened by citrus peel and subtended by and old powdery rose. A great creation with great materials and performances. Agree with what Stelladoro wrote, not so close to Shalimar or Habanita, more elegant and complex, more luminous as well. Brilliant !

Shalimar-inspired amber bringing a bit more incense to the table on top of steamy clean Lubinade also found in Galaad. Not bad, but fails to escape smelling like a Shalimar flanker. 6/10 This has been another edition of "LittleDinkums Reductive Reviews."

This is a beautiful mix of citrus, patchouli and vanilla...not necessarily in that order. Similar to long gone Shalimar Light in some ways.