Arashi Reef

So I went to a fragrance store today looking for some unique scents. I despise most guys scents. You know, the ones for guys that know what a carburetor is? Or ones that a lumber jack would wear? Gag. I wanted something different and slightly masculine. After countless colognes the lady offered me this sample. Love at first sniff. It's definitely strong and kind of indescribable. It's kind of spicy, kind of fruity, and kind of aquatic all at the same time. Definitely strong and bold but softens a bit as it dries down. I would absolutely recommend this one, but would suggest that you sample first. This was my favorite out of the Michael Malul scents I tried today. Bought an atomizer to sample it with my skin first and wore it out of the store around 2pm. It's now 10:50pm and it settled nicely on me. I'll be buying a full size bottle for sure.

Personally my favorite cologne in my collection, not sure why a lot of people have hated on this I think it smells great. I can get the comparisons to erba pura but I don't think its remotely close to a 1 to 1. Sure it has some similarities but smelling them side by side I can tell the differences. Really does give me the vibe of being on the beach on vacation. 10/10 would recommend.

Notes sounded good, so I tried it yesterday. Good scent, projected at arms reach for a good couple hours, and lasted a solid 8-9 hours where I sprayed it on my hand, even after a few hand washes. Great if you like fresher, fruity tropical, and beachy types of scent profiles

The comparisons to Erba Pura are overblown. They are clearly similar in profile, but there are major differences. Yes the fruit is still up front but the citric edge knocks back the cloying sweetness. Further balance is provided by a more floral ambroxan mid instead of "falling into the middle of an atomic fruit basket" of EP. It's not a radical departure, but the wearability difference is clear. I would be happy to wear this, whereas EP is a hard pass for me. I won't replace my decant once its done, as I have other fruit florals I prefer and its not a profile I wear often. It is a nice summer profile, low on originality but well executed.

Nice scent. The main scent surprised me, since Ash (Gents Scents), who collaborated with the brand, has been vocal about not being a fan of Erba Pura. I say this because past the opening, which is fresh and citrusy, the mid and the drydown are in the same space as Erba Pura. Just like Michael Malul's Citizen Jack Absolute (which I also own), this one carries the Erba Pura DNA, like a fruit salad heavy in melons with a sweet vanilla undertone in the base. I would say this one is also unisex. It smells clean and fun.

Stepped into a perfumania to sniff this. I was underwhelmed. Expected something better, but it’s synthetic-y in the same vein as Erba Pura. It’s not as synthetic as EP, but it just wasn’t that great. I actually really liked French Quarter. It was a much more interesting and approachable scent. Shame, GentScents had some good ones with the ones that got discontinued. But they all kind of fell short of being amazing.

Reminded me of Rayhaan Tropical Vibe with toned down fruits. Sandalwood gives it a vanillic dry down hour 3-6 where the fruits are less perceptible.

If you ever needed reminding that the whole 'INFLUENCER' disease in FragCom was rife. It's Arashi Reef. A fragrance 'creatively directed' by a certain 'Gents Scents'. Smells incredibly similar to a certain 'Erba Pura'...a fragrance that he has... in no uncertain terms, stated he HATES! MULTIPLE TIMES. All that aside, apparently gets up one day, contacts Malul and pitches an idea to co-create a fragrance that smells EXACTLY LIKE FUCKING ERBA PURA!!! What are we even doing here anymore!? All of this is fucking bullshit. What's real, what's not. Who fucking cares. I can't even look at his embrassed little face when he's squirming KNOWING he simply HAS to mention that its veryyyyy similar to his nemesis fragrance. Absolutely ridiculous. Boycott all this egregious nonsense. K Bye.

You may read 10000 emails, but it won't make you a writer; you may try 10000 scents, but it won't make you a perfumer

Nope! Smells like every cheap earba pura clone mixed into one. This is insanely cloying.

Influencer branded fragrances are always a controversial topic, and I have to say Arashi Reef - “creatively directed” by Ashton from Gents Scents - doesn’t do anything to erase the stigma. Ashton must be getting compensated handsomely by Michael Malul, because I can’t figure out any other reason why he’d attach his name to a fragrance that’s so similar to one that he repeatedly says he doesn’t like. Arashi Reef is suspiciously close to Xerjoff’s Erba Pura. If there’s any real difference, it’s in the dry down where you get a strange metallic undertone instead of Erba Pura’s harsh musk. Even more strange is that Michael Malul already has a fragrance that smells like Erba Pura: Citizen Jack Absolu. So, yeah, this is wildly redundant. Honestly, if you’re looking for a better version of Erba Pura, go for Al Haramain’s Amber Oud Gold. Not only is it more affordable than Arashi Reef, but it’s far smoother with no weird dry down.

Opens up very tropical and musky. Some florals, some citrus. As it dries down, it was driving me nuts trying to figure out what it reminded me of.......it just hit me. It dries down into Acqua Di Gio Absolu. Almost exactly (there’s a little more going on.....maybe some vetiver so it’s not as sweet, but it’s close) It’s nice. 7.25 out of 10. Performance and sillage above average.

@gentelmancode really thought he cooked with that comment... no, ashton has never once said he was a perfumer; he probably made something that he personally enjoys better than erba pura, and he probably saw the success that tropical fragrances are having right now.

Very disappointed. Ocean Noir Parfum is Hawas Ice and this is Erba Pura. I have purchased both of them in decant size only thank God. Do better going forward MM.

Is this one that gentscents was involved with? I’ll have to come check it out once people have gotten their nose on it