Minerva

Just received Minerva. And this is my first impression. And did it wow me boy. I can't believe I get this quality without even having let it sit for a while. As others have already mentioned fragrantica has got the notes wrong. This is at first a lush earthy green tuberose scent( somehow similar to Tuberosis by Laboratorio Olfattivo) and then becomes a tad sweet and creamy and fresh spicy while keeping the earthiness intact to some degree. A gem of a cheapie that smells way more expensive than its price and packs a punch. I'm wowed. Thanks Allykat. Your reviews on YouTube saved me from throwing my money around like a fool. Caveat Emptor: just buy this if you're into serious tuberose scents. It ain't bubblegumy and cute. It's a dame. Happy happy happy Ps: I somehow understand Why the person below me says they smell something like wet cigs. in the opening there's the same quality of stale cigs+white florals as that of # to be rose blossom by police. Despite the transient initial similarity Minerva is a love for me but this wasn't the case for to be rose blossom (though it was certainly a good frag. Just a matter of taste)

I hope no one is buying this fragrance because of the Fragrantica listed notes, they are WAY WRONG. This is a gorgeous fragrance but it is not a blind buy. Tuberose heavy through out the wear of this creamy, sweet, heavy floral scent. There is a wet cigarette note that comes up in the first 5 minutes after spraying and lasts about 2-3 minutes. It is a wet, never lit cigarette with NO SMOKE at all detected. Some days I spray this and don't even catch it during that 2-3 minute period. I suspect those that do pick up on it are the 'deep sniffers'. You know the people, the ones that spray a scent and while still wet shove their nose down on the damp skin and inhale like a bloodhound. IF you do that, you will hate Minerva. LOL, thankfully I never have that happen to me by others. If you are only into tuberose that smells like cotton candy or some other type of food, you might not like this one. Tropical florals are a scent that I believe you must develop an appreciation of. Much the way you acquire a taste for something by widening the experience of your palate. I LOVE this one. Alhambra hit it out of the park this time

(This is one polarizing frag based on comments, wows) I've had this one for about a month, and I ADORE this fragrance. It starts out 'perfumey' nutmeg for me (I think this might be wet cig for others), then green and tuberose which makes me swoon. Like goddess vibes, more Athena in a gold sheath, just like the dupe name (and less sunny, solar, or salt-water Aphrodite leaning, which is how I feel about PR Olympea). Then, when it dries down, I'm enjoying this marvelous white musk, and I've never liked musk as a base before this one; this one converted me. But the green, creamy tuberose alone makes this a 'pounce when it's available' scent. So elegant and sexy in a 'you're going out to a fancy dinner in a slinky dress' way. I love it to bits.

Stunning! I figured I would love this based on the notes, but there’s never a guarantee. This one didn’t let me down! I love each note listed. I never got a wet cigarette smell whatsoever! This was perfect as soon as I opened it today. However, my bottle leaks a tiny bit, so air probably was able to get in and help with the maturation process. I’ll probably decant most of it so it lasts better. I want to keep this one around! I love how one review stated it seems like a flower from another planet! Ha! It kind of does! It’s so uniquely beautiful but you can’t really place what you’re smelling. I’ve never smelled Marfa so I can’t compare the two. This was a blind buy for me and I absolutely love it!

I’ve had this for close to six months. There were no other notes except wet dog hair mixed with old cigarettes. Zero anything else. I let it sit and sprayed it out from time to time. And then all of a sudden today it’s a completely different perfume. This is absolutely gorgeous. I’ve never had a fragrance change this much just by sitting! Now it smells just like I would expect from the notes listed. Some weird science happening here. I don’t even know how it’s possible for a fragrance to change this much.

Just when I thought that white flowers had nothing new to offer me, this one came into my life! An incredible blend, I get plenty of spicy aromatics, but at no point does it overpower the sweetness. The scent is very sweet, almost fruity and the beautiful white flowers with ylang-ylang seem to melt to mild spices. The base is given by a slightly earthy element, it balances the scent beautifully . Unbelievable.

I absolutely love this! Have not smelled the OG however, just as is with all middle eastern fragrances this too needs to sit after a few sprays. I recommend this if you like creamy white florals like me, it's not heady at all despite the ylang ylang being quite prominent. Gorgeous!!

I agree with the latest post. Fragrencia has the notes wrong. I smelled Marfa several times and this is a BEAUTIFUL clone. Perhaps a tad bit less “green” notes from agave and a bit hevier on initial citrus notes.. Still I’d say they are identical.😍

Its like a flower from another planet. <3

Definitely agree that notes stated by Fragrantica here are wrong, yet I can't agree with the notes noted by people here neither (who just copied Marfa's notes). I wouldn't say it is a dupe of Marfa but a close take on it. Orange blossom on top is def little sharper, and I have a feeling there is a lily of the valley and nutmeg note. The first spray I really didn't like it (while I love Marfa). It smelled like a room refresher, nice one but still just a refresher trying to cover cigarette smell (agree with the wet cig/heated tobacco aspect - once you see it you can't unsee it). The second chance I gave it was better - creamy, green, fresh(er), sweet(er)...I prefer it on fabric than on the skin somehow. I have it on now while working at home and it makes me feel very clean, calm and serene....has a lotion aspect. The dry down is a winner for me, creamy, smoother and sweeter than the opening. But since I like perfumes that smells like perfumes and not just a nice fabric softeners or body milk, this is not my favourite. Somehow too green, with little bitter almondy note (both from orange blossom as from tuberose I assume). I'll give it tho some maceration and might change the opinion. Or mature myself and my nose into this greener version of tuberose. EDIT: after ca 2 months; I take it back. It is Marfa!!!! 98% to Marfa with a little sharper nuance (still believe it's the lilly of the valley). I love this! But somehow I love to wear it more when I'm at home, to have the spa-like vibe. It's still more as an expensive body cream to me, but worth the price, since it makes me feel put together while relaxed, clean and luxurious.

I have had my bottle for a few months now, and I simply can’t stand it. I feel so let down! Mine absolutely reeks of pungent, linear neroli, not even a hint of the other white florals of Marfa I was hoping would be the stars of the show. A very astringent, sharp, kitchen cleaner-esque scent, nearly unwearable, it’s so offensively tart. I’m usually the biggest fan of Lattafa/maison Alhambra’s dupes, but my goodness this one is a miss. I’m so gutted! I’ll keep a close eye on it for the next year as chances are I probably won’t be able to get rid of it.

So many fragrance with this DNA but it has a better performance than this one. But, the presentation is another level. (Almost tricked everyone)

I have a like new bottles if anyone would like to purchase this. I’m in Canada.

I bought this at the beginning of my journey into Arab fragrances and absolutely adored it at first. It was a creamy, luxurious and expensive smelling Ylang Ylang fragrance. I even bought a backup bottle. Unfortunately, over the past few months it has transformed into something really unpleasant. I definitely get that cigarette smoke first, which does eventually go away, but the dry down is still nauseating. UGHHHH. It's really strong too. If anyone wants to buy a bottle still in the package, let me know...

I can't get past the wet cigarette smell. Puke. Gave mine away to my nephew who loved it.

It smell like cigarettes to me. It's a no

My nose must be broken. I hate this one. I get the wet cigarette, a deep forest and then chili peppers, which are loud and overwhelming. No, I don't mean a hint of something peppery, this, to me, smells like a bowl of spicy Mexican salsa. :-(

I did'nt like it at all. In the opening there is a note like a wet cigarette ash,later it gets a little bit creamier.I will let it macerate hoping it will improverl.For now it is an apsolute no.My worst blind buy😒

I liked this right away. It’s a beach smell without smelling cheap. It’s the sun tan oil smell from the 70s or 80s. The presentation is just beautiful. I recall watching a fragrance YouTuber explain why frags are so expensive even with the average “sustainable” note profile. His answer? Packaging. The presentation alone is how he justified a $500 bottle. This brand blows that excuse out of the water. The box, the paper on the box.. the bottle.. it is presented very luxuriously. It feels so much more expensive than what I paid for it. Bravo Maison Alahambra.. keep killing it. For those who are loyal to the costly stuff; you can still buy clones while also honoring your favorite house and supporting the art. Keep the original on display while only using it for special occasions. Get the clone to keep in your drawer. It’s nice to have an inexpensive version you can spray recklessly.

Timing is everything with cheap middle-eastern fragrances. I’ve had my Minerva now for two months and though it’s strong (when sprayed in the air) it’s unwearable due to a nauseating, strong plasticky note. Some refer to this as a suntan lotion vibe and I found the same accord in Jil Sander's Sun. I’ve bought plenty of Maison Al Hambras and understand well that they undergo quite a dramatic journey to maturation in many cases both in the way they smell and their performance. I’m very much hoping for a complete transformation as per the review by aheading lower on this page and will update in 6 months or so. 28 October 2025: and the initial nauseating notes are really disappearing. Still doesn't grab me. Will update again later. 30 June 2026: Somebody described it as smelling like a flower from another plantet. This is 100% perfect.