Scirocco

This is my latest acquisition and I am impressed! In general, I have a difficult relations with saffron as a note and here it is a main one. And I can say that this is the first addictive saffron I come across. In summary about the fragrance - this is saffron blended to perfection with resins, spices and fruits, spicy and sweet enough to create a Christmas mood and fresh enough to wear it on cool summer evenings. The perfume definitely lean masculine, but could also be worn by confident ladies. The bottle is a masterpiece in itself, and on an offer the price is more than good, especially considering the quality. This was an easy 10/10 from this Black Friday for me!

Amazing warm spicy and sweet frag. You van feel the cardamom and saffron and the apple note is very prominent in the first hour. Feels like apple preserves with alcohol e.g. whisky. Easily wearable yet complex smell. Definitely my fav from Moresque!

I also get similarities to PDM Habdan. Whereas that one opened with sweeter red apples, this one goes for a pleasant and equally sweet green apple opening. This is also more piquant with a heavier lean on saffron If Habdan is a winter farmer’s market with red apples and cooled incense, Scirocco is a saffron infused kulfi with a touch of leather. But these are just slight deviations from a largely shared theme. 7.8/10

This seemed very promising on paper, but when worn on skin, I got a little bit of cardamom and tons of saffron. That's it. Couldn't distinguish any of the notes beneath all the saffron. Such a bummer, I had hoped to be loving this.

Nefs from Nishane is frequently brought up in discussions around Scirocco, but to my nose, the comparison is largely superficial. Despite the number of fragrances Nefs has been likened to over the years, I don’t personally associate it with any of them, and Scirocco is no exception. Nefs is dense, opulent, and utterly complex in its construction—built around an elegant, honeyed sweetness, rich amber, and a polished Oud that feels regal yet approachable. It wears thick and enveloping, with a smooth and luxurious presence that announces itself immediately. Scirocco, by contrast, moves in a different direction. Where Nefs feels ceremonial and indulgent, “quiet luxury” among Oud scents - Scirocco is heavier, stickier, and more textural. The sweetness is pronounced, it’s more syrupy and the overall impression is rougher and somewhat raw rather than plush. If Nefs feels like multicoloured and multilayered, Scirocco feels like brown and one dimensional. Any overlap exists more in mood-adjacent richness than in actual structure or scent profile, and wearing them side by side makes the differences unmistakable. The two fragrances do share many notes: Saffron, Rose, Jasmine, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Amber, Cedarwood, leather and Vanilla, roughly half of the total composition. However, this alone is not enough to make them smell similar. If we set vanilla aside, the structure of Scirocco is significantly weighted towards different spices and a spice driven profile. The combination of Saffron, Cardamom, Cinnamon and Tonka, with nutmeg adding a spicy depth - forms a central part of its aroma. In Nefs, by contrast, Cinnamon and Nutmeg play a much subtle role. Honey is a key element in Nefs, contributing both its sweetness and its character, alongside a noticeable Oud that has been refined to feel exceptionally smooth. Rose and Jasmine serve as supporting notes in Scirocco, whereas in Nefs, although florals are not dominant, the floral heart and the delicate presence of rose are clearly perceptible. As for leather, I find little similarity between the two. In Scirocco, the leather is more prominent, while Nefs is not a “leather scent,” even though leather appears as a note. The leather in Scirocco is closer to what one finds in Orchid Leather: dark, resinous, sticky, and thick, even leaning more toward a Plum-like impression than Apple. Overall, Scirocco is not a bad fragrance, and none of its notes are unpleasant. It just can't be compared to Nefs, unless you have little experience with oriental fragrances, in which case it's easier to find similarities in fragrances in the same category. However, it lacks the uniqueness, masterful blending, and addictive charm that make Nefs stand out. Whether it's a good thing or a bad thing, price is something I generally leave out of my reviews.. However, in this case, I want to mention that the price/quality ratio is excellent. Scirocco, even though suitable for women, is clearly more masculine than Nefs. Scirocco is definitely a winter scent, while Nefs is suitable for year-round use. Thank you for reading, I would appreciate if you follow me on my IG and/or YouTube (English subtitles available): @ninamariahperfumes It gives me a lot of motivation to write more.